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He practices standing on his head, in order to accustom himself to any position.
農場少年還得練習倒立，以使自己習慣任何不拘一格的運動姿勢。
Leapfrog is one of his methods of getting over the ground quickly.
蛙跳行進堪稱快捷走完路程的美妙方法之一。
He would willingly go an errand any distance if he could leapfrog it with a few other boys.
當然，能與其他幾個狐朋狗友互動互樂更好，這樣的話，他挺樂意四下跑腿，路再遠似乎也毫不在乎。
He has a natural genius for combining pleasure with business.
忙中作樂，對農場少年來說，似乎是與生俱來的。
This is the reason why, when he is sent to the spring for a pitcher of water, he is absent so long;
如果讓他去泉邊汲水，很長時間他都不會回來。
for he stops to poke the frog that sits on the stone, or, or, if there is a penstock, to put his hand over the spout, and squirt the water a little while.
他總會時而停留片刻，或者戳搗一番趴在青石上的青蛙。碰到木槽水管之類，他非得將手伸到木槽下，樂不可支地玩會水后才心滿意足地回家。
He is the one who spreads the grass when the men have cut it; he mows it away in the barn;
大人們割下田里的草，農場少年需要將青草攤開曝曬，還要將谷倉里干草堆成跺。
he rides the horse, to cultivate the corn, up and down the hot, weary rows;
他還要騎馬、種玉米，上上下下，整天屁顛顛地左右逢源。
he picks up the potatoes when they are dug;
馬鈴薯該收了，他跟著收莊稼；
he drives the cows night and morning; he brings wood and water, and splits kindling; he gets up the horse, and puts out the horse;
清晨，他趕著牛群外出放牧；黃昏，他牽著牛群打道回府；他還要揀柴、提水、劈柴、生火、喂馬、洗馬、拴馬、遛馬……
whether he is in the house or out of it, there is always something for him to do.
家里家外，每天的事情總也做不完。
Just before the school in winter he shovels paths; in summer he turns the grindstone.
冬天開學前，農場少年先要鏟除路上的堅冰積雪，夏天該找出磨石磨刀霍霍。
He knows where there are lots of wintergreens and sweet flags,
他知道哪里的鹿蹄草最多，哪里的白菖蒲最甜，
but instead of going for them, he is to stay indoors and pare apples, and stone raisins, and pound something in a mortar.
不過，他可不能急著出門摘采；他還得待在家里削蘋果，將葡萄干晾曬在石片上，把食材放進研缽臼爛。
And yet, with his mind full of schemes of what he would like to do, and his hands full of occupations, he is an idle boy, who has nothing to busy himself with but school and chores!
他滿腦子裝滿大大小小需要做的事，手上更是根本閑不住，難道他還能游手好閑？除去學業和家里家外的繁瑣雜活，他哪有心思想到自己。
He would gladly do all the work if somebody else would do the chores, he thinks;
農場少年覺得，如果有人愿意攬下這些龐雜瑣碎，他寧愿去做那些正兒八經的活兒。
and yet I doubt if any boy ever amounted to anything in the world,
不過，我懷疑，如果一個少年不喜歡受益于這種干雜活的自由式教育，
or was of much use as a man, who did not enjoy the advantages of a liberal education in the way of chores.
他將來是否能在世上找到自己可干點什么，能否做一個盡量有用之人。
