line 线

　　figure 数字

　　second 第二

　　perfectly 完美地

　　grain 一粒

　　verse 诗文

　　advice 建议

　　impatient 急性子的

　　study 学习

　　busily 忙碌地

　　followed 跟随

　　understand 理解

　　FRANK AND THE HOURGLASS 弗兰克和时漏

　　Frank was a very talkative little boy. 弗兰克是一个非常善谈的小男孩。

　　He never saw a new thing without asking a great many questions about it. 每当看到一件新东西，他都会无一例外地提出一大堆关于它的问题。

　　His mother was very patient and kind. 他的妈妈非常善良，也是个很有耐心的人。

　　When it was proper to answer his questions, she would do so. 每当弗兰克问的问题适合回答，她就会予以回答。

　　Sometimes she would say, 有时她会说：

　　"You are not old enough to understand that, my son. “你还小，这些问题对于你来说还理解不了，我的儿子。

　　When you are ten years old, you may ask me about it, 当你满十岁的时候，你再问我，

　　and I will tell you." 我会告诉你的。”

　　When his mother said this, 每当妈妈这样说的时候，

　　he never teased any more. 弗兰克从没取笑过妈妈。

　　He knew she always liked to answer him when he asked proper questions. 他知道只要他问的问题合适，妈妈总是很愿意回答他的问题。

　　The first time Frank saw an hourglass, 弗兰克第一次看见沙漏的时候，

　　he was very much amused; 他觉得非常有趣，

　　but he did not know what it was. 却不知道这是干什么用的。

　　His mother said, 妈妈说：

　　"An hourglass is made in the shape of the figure 8. “沙漏是按照数字8的形状做成的。

　　The sand is put in at one end, 沙子被放在一头，

　　and runs through a small hole in the middle. 然后穿过中间的一个细洞流到玻璃杯里。

　　As much sand is put into the glass as will run through in an hour." 沙子的总量刚好够它们流上一个小时。”

　　Frank watched the little stream of sand. 弗兰克注视着流下来的细沙。

　　He was impatient, because it would not run faster. 他很着急，因为沙子不能流得再快些。

　　"Let me shake it, mother," said he; “妈妈，让我摇摇它吧。”他说，

　　"it is lazy, and will never get through." “它们太懒了，根本不会流空的。”

　　"Oh yes, it will, my son," said his mother, “噢，是的，我的孩子。”妈妈说，

　　"The sand moves by little and little, “沙子一点儿一点儿地流，

　　but it moves all the time. 但它们却一直在流动喔。”

　　"When you look at the hands of the clock, “当你拿它们和钟表上的指针比较时，

　　you think they go very slowly, 你觉得它们走得非常慢。

　　and so they do; 它们走得的确很慢，

　　but they never stop. 但它们从没停下脚步。”

　　"While you are at play the sand is running, grain by grain, “当你玩得时候，沙子仍在一粒一粒地流下，

　　The hands of the clock are moving, second by second. 钟表上的指针也在一秒一秒地走。”

　　"At night, the sand in the hourglass has run through twelve times. 夜里，沙漏里的沙子会来回流十二次，

　　The hour hand of the clock has moved all around its great face. 钟表上的时针也会再钟表盘上转整整一圈。”

　　"This because they keep work every minute. “这是因为它们每分钟都在工作。

　　They do not stop to think how much they have to do, 它们从不停下来思考它们已经做了多少工作，

　　and how long it will take them to do it." 以及还需要多长时间来完成。”

　　Now, Frank's mother wanted him to learn a little hymn; 现在，弗兰克的妈妈想要他学一学圣歌，

　　but he said "Mother, I can never learn it." 他却说：“妈妈，我永远都学不会这个。”

　　His mother said, "Study all the time. 他的妈妈说：“一直都得学。

　　Never stop to ask how long it will take to learn it. 永远不要停下来问这个要学多长时间。

　　You will be able to say it very soon." 你很快就能学会的。”

　　Frank followed his mother's advice. 弗兰克听从了妈妈的劝告，

　　He studied line after line, very busily; 他勤奋地学了一行又一行。

　　and in one hour and a half he knew the hymn perfectly. 一个半小时之后，他完整地学会了圣歌。