評論
打印
When they had laughed at Beth's story, they asked their mother for one, and after a moments thought, she said soberly, "As I sat cutting out blue flannel jackets today at the rooms, I felt very anxious about Father, and thought how lonely and helpless we should be, if anything happened to him. It was not a wise thing to do, but I kept on worrying till an old man came in with an order for some clothes. He sat down near me, and I began to talk to him, for he looked poor and tired and anxious.
大家聽到貝思的故事全笑起來，又請母親也來一個。母親略想一想，嚴肅地說：“今天我在工作間里裁剪藍色天鵝絨大衣時，非常掛念父親，我想如果萬一他遇到什么不測的話，我們將多么孤獨無援。這樣想很傻，但我不能自已。這時一個老人走進來交給我一張衣服訂單。他在我旁邊坐下，我看他模樣像個窮苦人家，顯得既疲倦又焦慮，便和他攀談起來。
"'Have you sons in the army?' I asked, for the note he brought was not to me."
“'你有兒子在部隊嗎？'我問，因為他帶來的條子不是給我的。
"Yes, ma'am. I had four, but two were killed, one is a prisoner, and I'm going to the other, who is very sick in a Washington hospital.' he answered quietly."
“'有，夫人。有四個，但兩個死了，還有一個在監獄，我現在去看另一個，他住在華盛頓醫院，病得十分厲害，'他平靜地說。
"'You have done a great deal for your country, sir,' I said, feeling respect now, instead of pity."
“'你為國家作出了巨大貢獻，先生，'我說，這時我對他不再感到憐憫，而是油然起敬。
"'Not a mite more than I ought, ma'am. I'd go myself, if I was any use. As I ain't, I give my boys, and give 'em free.'"
“'理應如此，夫人。如果用得上我的話，我也會去的；既然用不上，我就獻上我的孩子，無償地獻上。'”
"He spoke so cheerfully, looked so sincere, and seemed so glad to give his all, that I was ashamed of myself. I'd given one man and thought it too much, while he gave four without grudging them. I had all my girls to comfort me at home, and his last son was waiting, miles away, to say good-by to him, perhaps! I felt so rich, so happy thinking of my blessings, that I made him a nice bundle, gave him some money, and thanked him heartily for the lesson he had taught me."
“他聲調愉快，神情懇切，似乎奉獻自己的一切是一大樂事，我不禁暗自慚愧。我獻出一個人便思前想后，他獻出了四個卻毫無怨言。我在家里有四個好女兒來安慰我，他唯一能見到的兒子卻遠在數英
里之外，可能等著跟他道永別！想到上帝賜給我的恩典，我覺得自己已經很富足，也很幸福。我于是給他打了個漂亮的包裹，給他一些錢，并由衷地感謝他給我上了一課。”
"Tell another story, Mother, one with a moral to it, like this. I like to think about them afterward, if they are real and not too preachy," said Jo, after a minute's silence.
“再講一個，媽媽--講個帶哲理的，就像這個一樣。我喜歡聽完后再回味一遍，如果故事真實可信，說教味道又不濃的話，”喬沉默了一會后說。
Mrs. March smiled and began at once, for she had told stories to this little audience for many years, and knew how to please them.
馬奇太太笑笑，馬上又講開了。她跟這班小聽眾講了多年故事，知道怎樣迎合她們。
