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"Once upon a time, there were four girls, who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents who loved them dearly, and yet they were not contented." (Here the listeners stole sly looks at one another, and began to sew diligently.)
“從前，有四個姑娘，她們衣食不愁，安逸舒適，有好心的朋友和深深愛著她們的父母，然而她們并不滿足。”這時聽眾們狡黠地互相交換個眼色，又繼續(xù)飛針走線。
"These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, 'If only we had this,' or 'If we could only do that,' quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many things they actually could do. So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, 'When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful.'" (Here Jo looked up quickly, as if about to speak, but changed her mind, seeing that the story was not done yet.)
“這些姑娘們都想做個好孩子，并作了許多宏圖大計，但總是不能持久。她們老說：'如果我們有這些東西就好了。'或'如果我們能夠這樣多好。'完全忘記了自己已身處福中。于是她們問一位老婦人有什么魔法可以使她們幸福。老婦人說：'當(dāng)你們感到不滿足時，想想自己所擁有的東西，并為此而心存感激。'"（這時喬馬上抬起頭來，似乎有話要說，但想到故事尚未結(jié)束，便把話咽了回去。）
"Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn't keep shame and sorrow out of rich people's houses, another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn't enjoy her comforts, a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to go begging for it and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behavior. So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman's advice."
“姑娘們是聰明人，決定采納這個建議，不久便驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)她們是多么富有。一個姑娘發(fā)現(xiàn)，金錢并不能使有錢人家免受羞辱和痛苦；另一個發(fā)現(xiàn)雖然自己沒有錢，但卻擁有青春活力和健康的身體，遠比愁眉苦臉、年老體弱、不會享受生活樂趣的人幸福；第三個發(fā)現(xiàn)下廚做飯雖然不是件快事，但被迫去討飯的滋味更難接受；第四個發(fā)現(xiàn)良好的品行比紅玉戒指更加珍貴。于是她們不再牢騷滿腹，而是盡情享受已經(jīng)擁有的一切，并力圖報答天恩，唯恐失去而不是更多地享受它們。我相信她們沒有后悔接受了老婦人的建議。”
