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When I was about five years old we moved from the little vine-covered house to a large new one. The family consisted of my father and mother, two older half-brothers, and, afterward, a little sister, Mildred. My earliest distinct recollection of my father is making my way through great drifts of newspapers to his side and finding him alone, holding a sheet of paper before his face. I was greatly puzzled to know what he was doing. I imitated this action, even wearing his spectacles, thinking they might help solve the mystery. But I did not find out the secret for several years. Then I learned what those papers were, and that my father edited one of them.
在我五歲大的時候，我們從藤蘿覆蓋的小房子搬到了一個新建的大房子里。這個家庭由我的父母，兩個同父異母的哥哥，還有后來出生的小妹妹米爾德萊德組成。我最早而且印象最深的有關父親的記憶，就是我搖搖晃晃地穿過一堆堆的報紙來到他身邊，這時我就會發現他總是獨自拿著一沓報紙擺在面前。我會感到極其迷惑，很想知道他在做什么。我也會模仿他的動作，甚至戴上了他的眼鏡，因為我想眼鏡或許能幫我解開未知的秘密。但是若干年過去了，我沒有發現什么秘密。后來我才了解到那些報紙的來歷——我的父親是在對文章進行編輯校對。
My father was most loving and indulgent, devoted to his home, seldom leaving us, except in the hunting season. He was a great hunter, I have been told, and a celebrated shot. Next to his family he loved his dogs and gun. His hospitality was great, almost to a fault, and he seldom came home without bringing a guest. His special pride was the big garden where, it was said, he raised the finest watermelons and strawberries in the county; and to me he brought the first ripe grapes and the choicest berries. I remember his caressing touch as he led me from tree to tree, from vine to vine, and his eager delight in whatever pleased me.
我的父親是那種極其眷顧家庭的人，除了狩獵季節，他很少離開我們。他是一個出色的獵人，有著一手好槍法。在家庭之外，他最愛他的狗和獵槍。另外，他還是一個極其好客的人，這幾乎成了他的一個性格弱點，他很少有不帶客人回家的時候。他最引以為豪的地方就是我們家的大花園，據說，他培育的西瓜和草莓是全縣最好的，我還記得他把最先成熟的葡萄和精選的漿果摘給我吃。他充滿慈愛地領著我在果樹和藤蘿之間穿行，他積極樂觀的情緒時刻感染著我。
