Edward  爱德华

　　receive  收到

　　wretched  可怜的

　　thousand  千

　　gratitude 感激之情

　　repeat  重复

　　language  语言

　　shivering  瑟瑟发抖

　　German  德国

　　understood 理解

　　THE NEW YEAR 新　年

　　One pleasant New-year morning, Edward rose, and washed and dressed himself in haste.  新年第一天，这是一个令人愉快的清晨，爱德华起床后匆忙地梳洗、穿衣。

　　He wanted to be first to wish a happy New Year. 他想成为第一个去祝贺新年快乐的人。

　　He looked in every room, and shouted the words of welcome.  他大声说着喜迎新年的话，冲进每个房间。

　　He ran into the street, to repeat them to those he might meet. 然后，他又跑到街上，向每一个见到的人问候新年快乐。

　　When he came back, his father gave him two bright, new silver dollars. 回家后，爸爸给了他两枚锃亮的新银元。

　　His face lighted up as he took them.  拿到这些银币，他的脸上立刻光彩照人。

　　He had wished for along time to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore. 许久以来，他一直想去书店里买那些早已看好的书。

　　He left the house with a light heart, intending to buy the books. 他满怀喜悦地离开家，准备去买书。

　　As he ran down the street, he saw a poor German family,the father, mother, and three children shivering with cold. 跑到街上后，他看到了一家贫穷可怜的德国人，爸爸、妈妈和三个孩子都在寒风中瑟瑟发抖。

　　"I wish you a happy New Year," said Edward, as he was gayly passing on.  “祝你们新年快乐！”爱德华带着愉快的心情从他们身旁经过。

　　The man shook his head. 这个男人摇了摇头。

　　"You do not belong to this country," said Edward.  爱德华问道：“你不是本国人。”

　　The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak our language. 这个男人继续摇着头，因为他根本不明白爱德华说的话，又或者他不会讲我们的语言。

　　But he pointed to his mouth, and to the children, as if to say, "These little ones have had nothing to eat for a long time." 但是，他指了指自己的嘴，然后又指了指孩子们的嘴，仿佛在说：“这些小家伙很久没吃东西了。”

　　Edward quickly understood that these poor people were in distress.  爱德华马上明白了，这些可怜人遇到了困难。

　　He took out his dollars, and gave one to the man,and the other to his wife. 他拿出自己刚得到的钱，取出一块银币给了那个男人，另一块给了他的妻子。

　　How their eyes sparkled with gratitude!  感激之情从他们的眼中流露出来！

　　They said something in their language, which doubtless meant, "We thank you a thousand times, and will remember you in our prayers." 他们用自己的母语说了些什么，毫无疑问，他们可能在说：“我们真是万分地感激你，我们将永远记得你，为你祝福。”

　　When Edward came home, his father asked what book she had bought.  爱德华回家后，爸爸问他买了些什么书。

　　He hung his head a moment, but quickly looked up. 他低下了头，但是很快就抬了起来。

　　"I have bought no books," said he, "I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry and wretched." “我没有买书，”他说，“我把钱给了一些穷人，他们看上去又冷又饿，一副悲惨的样子。”

　　I think I can wait for my books till next New Year.  我想，我可以等到下一个新年再去买书。

　　Oh, if you had seen how glad they were to receive the money! 哦，要是你看到他们收到钱时高兴的样子就好了！

　　"My dear boy," said his father, "here is a whole bundle of books. " 我的好孩子，”爸爸说，“这里有一捆书，”

　　I give them to you, more as a reward for your goodness of heart than as a New-year gift. 我全都给你，这是对你的回报，如此善举的意义远远超过了任何新年礼物。

　　I saw you give the money to the poor German family.  我看到你把钱给那家可怜的德国人了。

　　It was no small sum for a little boy to give cheerfully. 只要能够高高兴兴地施与，对一个小男孩来说，钱多钱少都不重要。

　　Be thus ever ready to help the poor, and wretched, and distressed; and every year of your life will be to you a happy New Year. 就这样时刻准备着帮助穷苦之人、不幸之人、痛苦贫困之人；你生命中的每一年都会快乐幸福。”