"If I were to be a bird, I should never choose to be a sea-gull," “如果我是一只鸟，我怎么都不会选择成为一只海鸥。”

　　said Ellen Burns, as she gazed forth on the rough waves and the stormy sky. 当Ellen Burns凝视着汹涌的海面和暴风雨似的天空时这样说。

　　"I would be a happy little lark, singing as I soared, and then dropping down into some pleasant field. “我希望做一只快乐的小云雀，当我飞翔时我就歌唱，然后落在快乐的土地上。

　　Or I would be a beautiful swan, gliding softly over still waters, with my nest amidst the tall rushes. 或者，我要成为一只漂亮的天鹅，轻轻地滑翔过水域，将自己的巢筑在高处。”

　　"Mamma, has the sea-gull any home, or does she fly up and down for ever as I see her now, with her white silvery wings flashing against the dark sky?" “妈妈，海鸥有家吗？还是它一直在上下飞，就像我们现在看到的那样，用在银白色的翅膀在黑暗的天空下振翅而飞？”

　　"She builds her nest upon the bare rock, and rears her young within sound of the dashing billows. “它把自己的巢筑在光光的岩石上，在凶猛的巨浪声中抚育它的后代。

　　God has fitted her for the restless, roaming life which she leads," said Mrs. Burns. 上帝给了它适合于生存在忙碌的，漫游的生活的身体。”Burns太太说。

　　"But where does she get food, mamma? There is no corn on the bare rock, no pleasant fruit on the tossing sea." “那么它从哪儿获得食物呢，妈妈？在光秃秃的岩石上没有玉米，在翻腾的海洋中没有可口的果实。”

　　"The sea is for her what the fruitful field is for the land-bird. “对它而言只需要海洋，充满果实的土地是对陆上的鸟而言的。

　　She is a bold and skilful fisher, and neither needs nor would care for the waving wheat or the sweet ripe berry." 它是勇敢的并且擅长捕鱼，因此它既不需要也不在乎摇曳的小麦和甜美的熟野果。”

　　"But is she never cold and wet in stormy winter nights, while we are shivering over the fire and she is skimming over the waves?" “但是它在暴风雨的冬天夜里从不感到寒冷和潮湿吗？当我们在火炉边冻得打颤而它却在海浪中穿行。”

　　"There is an oil on her feathers, Ellen, which prevents them from being wet. “Ellen，在海鸥的羽毛中有脂肪，可以防止她们感到潮湿。

　　Dry in the midst of water, safe in the midst of danger, the sea-gull, with her silvery wings, ever reminds me of some brave spirit, 在水中穿行能保持干燥，在危险中能保持安全，海鸥和它银色的双翅甚至让我想起勇敢的精神，

　　trusting in God, and never damped by the trials of life." 相信上帝并不被生活中的磨难打倒。”