They could not claim a single friend,beneath the wide-spread sky; 广阔天地，没有人愿意做他们的朋友；

　　But to each other they were bound,by poverty's strong tie. 但他们彼此之间却因为贫穷而命运相连。

　　Though poor, they were too proud to beg, 虽然贫穷，他们依然一身傲骨，不愿乞讨；

　　Too upright far to steal; 虽然贫穷，他们依然品行端正，耻于偷窃；

　　And gladly would they sweep and clean,to gain an honest meal. 他们乐意以清扫街道换取一顿晚餐，心安理得。

　　But, sad to say, the only food，they often had to eat,was scraps of bread and broken fruit,they picked up from the street. 但不幸的是，他们能吃到的唯一食物经常是从街上捡来的面包屑和烂水果。

　　It was a bleak and bitter morn,just at the close of March, 三月底，每天早上单调痛苦的，

　　And they had slept the night before,within a market arch. 他们前一晚只能睡在商店门前。

　　As very hungry, very cold, 因为饥饿和寒冷，

　　They wandered down the street, 他们在街上晃荡，

　　Joe picked an apple from the ground, 乔从地上捡到了一个苹果，

　　And thought, "Why, here's a treat! 他想，“为什么，我找到了一顿大餐！”

　　"It has been rather kicked about,but it's a good one still;" “虽然被它已经被踢烂了，但还可以吃；”

　　And, turning to his mate, he said,"what have you picked up, Bill?" 然后，他转身问同伴：“比尔，你捡到什么了吗？”

　　"I haven't found a single scrap,"Bill mournfully did say— 比尔凄凉地答道：“我连一点面包屑都没看见。”

　　"Then, as you are the younger, Bill,Here—take and bite away." ——“比尔，我比你年长，你吃一口我的苹果吧”

　　The poor boy bit a small piece off: 这个可怜的男孩咬了一小口。

　　"Ha! that won't do!" cried Joe; 乔喊道：“哈！这样不行！

　　"Bite bigger, Billy—bigger yet! 咬多一点，比利——大口咬！

　　You're welcome—that you know!" 你知道我的，不用和我客气！”

　　A noble lesson this should teach, 从这个故事我们应该学到很宝贵的东西，

　　Dear children unto you: 亲爱的孩子们：

　　Do unto others as you would that they to you should do. 你希望人如何对待你，就如何去待人。