Spread out before them was a flag that the girls were making, red and white and blue. 女孩们面前展开的是她们正在做得国旗，它有红、蓝、白三色。

Our country was very young in those days, and Congress had just decided on a new American flag. 那时我们的国家非常年轻，国会刚刚决定了新的美国国旗。

It was to have thirteen red and white stripes 它有13条红白相间的条纹。

Up in one corner, on a field of blue, were to be thirteen white stars. 在国旗上方一角的蓝色区域是13颗白色星星。

The girls were making one of these new American flags from their silk dresses. 女孩们正用她们的丝绸连衣裙做一面新的美国国旗。

And the Captain? Sally knew that it must be the great Captain John Paul Jones, 那么上尉是谁呢？莎莉知道他一定是伟大的约翰·保罗·琼斯上尉，

for his ship had just sailed into the harbor. 因为他的船刚刚驶入港口。

Everybody was talking about the glorious victories he had won over the English warships. 人们都在谈论他在英国军舰上赢得的光荣胜利。

Yes, it must be Captain Jones who was coming to supper, 是的，一定是琼斯上尉来吃晚餐，

her mother had said there would be an important guest. 她的妈妈说过将会有一位重要客人来访。

"Oh, we must find some more white silk!" cried Caroline. “噢，我们必须再找一些白色丝绸！”卡洛琳叫道。

"Would, would my sash do?" said Sally, coming quickly into the room. “我的，我的裙带可以吗？”莎莉快速地进了房间，说道。

"Oh, Sally, where did you come from?" exclaimed Mary. “噢，莎莉，你从哪儿来的？”玛丽喊道。

"How nice you look! Is that the birthday dress mother told me about?" “你好漂亮！这就是妈妈告诉我的生日礼物连衣裙吗？”

"Yes," answered Sally, "but I will be glad to give the sash to make stars for the flag." “是的，但是我很愿意把裙带献出去为国旗做星星。”莎莉回答道。

She loved her beautiful silk sash, but she wanted to help as the older girls were doing. 她喜欢她的漂亮丝绸裙带，但她想帮助大姐姐们制作国旗。

With shining eyes she watched the girls' quick fingers cut the ribbon into stars and sew them on the field of blue. 她双眼闪着光，注视着女孩们快速把丝带剪成了星星，并把它们缝在国旗的蓝色区域。

"And now it's done!" cried Caroline. "Sally, aren't you proud that you gave your sash?" “它现在做好了！”卡洛琳说道。“莎莉，你不为自己献出裙带感到骄傲吗？”

"We shall have to hurry home," said Mary. “我们要赶快回家，”玛丽说道，

"Mother will be waiting for us, and perhaps the Captain has already come." “妈妈会等我们的，也许上尉已经到了。”

When the excited girls reached the Langdon home with the new flag, 当兴奋的女孩们带着新国旗到达兰登家时，

Captain Jones was sitting before the fire. He rose and bowed as the girls entered. 琼斯上尉正坐在炉火前。女孩们进来时，他站了起来，鞠了一躬。

Then Mary held out the beautiful flag. "Captain Jones," 然后，玛丽把美丽的旗子递了出去。她说：“琼斯上尉，

she said, "we have made this new flag for your ship. 我们为您的船制作了这面新国旗。

We shall be honored if you will take it." 如果您能接受，我们将不胜荣幸。”

"I am deeply thankful to you, my friends," said the brave Captain. “我非常感谢你们，我的朋友们。”勇敢的上尉说，

"Wherever my ship goes, she will always carry this bonny flag you have ma de for us." “无论我的船到哪里，她总会带着这面你为我们做得漂亮旗子。”

The next day all the girls were very happy. 第二天，所有的女孩都非常高兴。

For Captain Jones invited them to come on board his ship 因为琼斯上尉邀请他们上船，

so that they might see the lovely flag raised high in the air. 这样她们就能看见高高升起的可爱旗帜了。

When Sally came home from the ship, she took out her rosebud dress and put it on. 莎莉从船上回到家时，拿出了她带有玫瑰花蕾的连衣裙并穿上了。

How pretty it looked even without the white silk ribbon! 即使没有白丝带，它看起来也很漂亮。

She knew she would always love to wear it 她知道自己会一直喜欢穿它，

and think that the stars made from her sash were sailing far away on the ship of Captain Jones. 并且想着裙带制作的星星在琼斯上尉的船上远航。