then  然后

usual  通常

cousin  表妹

fireside  炉边

sewing 针线

Katie  凯蒂

better  更好

crackle  裂纹

knitting  针织

perhaps 也许

Jane  简

reason  原因

tonight  今晚

happier  幸福、开心

instructive 启发

THE FIRESIDE 火炉旁

One winter night, Mrs. Lord and her two little girls sat by a bright fire in their pleasant home.  一个冬日的夜里，罗德太太和她的两个小女儿在舒适的家中围坐在火炉旁。

The girls were sewing, and their mother was busy at her knitting. 女孩们正在缝衣服，她们的妈妈正忙着织毛衣。

At last, Katie finished her work, and, looking up, said,  最后，卡蒂完成了她的工作，抬起头说：

"Mother, I think the fire is brighter than usual. How I love to hear it crackle!" “妈妈， 我觉得火堆比往常更亮了。它发出的噼里啪啦的声音多好听啊 ！”

"And I was about to say," cried Mary, "that this is a better light than we had last night." “我要说的是……”玛丽喊道，“这个亮度比昨晚的更好。”

"My dears," said their mother, "it must be that you feel happier than usual tonight.  “我亲爱的孩子们，”妈妈说道，“ 这一定是因为你们今晚比平时更快乐。 

Perhaps that is the reason why you think the fire better, and the light brighter." 也许这就是你们觉得火光更好、更亮的原因。”

"But, mother," said Mary, "I do not see why we are happier now than we were then;  “但是妈妈，”玛丽说，“我并不觉得我们现在比以往更快乐，

for last night cousin Jane was here, and we played 'Puss in the corner' and 'Blind man' until we all were tired." 因为昨天夜里我们的表妹简在这儿，我们一起玩挤墙角和躲猫猫，直到都累了才结束。”

"I know! I know why!" said Katie.  “我知道！我知道为什么！”玛丽说，

"It is because we have all been doing something useful to-night. We feel happy because we have been busy." “因为我们今晚都在做一些有用的事。我们觉得快乐，因为我们都很忙。”

"You are right, my dear," said their mother. " “你是对的，亲爱的。”妈妈说，

I am glad you have both learned that there may be something more pleasant than play, and, at the same time, more instructive." “我很高兴你们都懂得了有些东西比玩耍更能令人快乐，同时也更有益。”