Marian Willard 作者玛丽安·威勒德

This story is called "A Surprise Christmas," but perhaps just as good a name would be "The Animals' Santa Claus." 这个故事叫做《惊喜圣诞》，但也许叫《动物们的圣诞老人》更合适。

As you read, see whether you think so, too. 在你阅读时，看看你是否也这么认为。

WHY BETTY AND BOB WERE UNHAPPY 为什么贝蒂和鲍勃不高兴

It was Christmas morning—the day when Bob and Betty should have been having the merriest time in the world. 那是圣诞节的早晨，鲍勃和贝蒂本该度过世界上最快乐的时光。

But they were not merry at all; they sat and looked at each other and hardly knew whether to laugh or to cry. 但他俩一点也不快乐；他们坐着看着对方，不知道该笑还是该哭。

"That letter is the best present we could have had, anyway,” said Betty as she looked again at the big special-delivery stamp. “不管怎么样，这封信是我们能收到的最好的礼物，”贝蒂一边说，一边又看了看那张大大的快递邮票。

"Mother is now out of danger, and we will be home in a few weeks." “妈妈已经脱离危险，我们几周后就能回家了。”

When Mother had become sick, just after Thanksgiving, the children had been sent to Uncle Ben's farm. 感恩节过后妈妈就生病了，孩子们被送到叔叔本的农场。

They had played in the meadows, gone to school in the little schoolhouse, and watched for the postman to bring letters from home. 他们在草地上玩耍，在乡村校舍上学，等着从家里捎来信件的邮递员。

Christmas at home meant days of shopping, fun with Uncle Tom when he came back from college, parties at the church and at the schoolhouse. 在家里过圣诞节可以去买东西，等汤姆叔叔从学校回来后一起玩耍，还能在教堂和校舍聚会。

Besides, Christmas at home meant planning a gift for some little child that was poor. 而且，在家过圣诞节还要为一些穷孩子准备礼物。

"I wish we could have some kind of Christmas this year," said Bob, "just to keep us from forgetting what day it is. “希望今年我们的圣诞节，” 鲍伯说，“能让我们记住今天是什么日子，

There isn't even snow," and he looked at the bare, brown fields. 都没有下雪，”他看着光秃秃的棕色田野。

"At home they've all been so worried about Mother that probably no one has had time to buy us any presents." “家里人都很担心妈妈，可能没人有时间给我们买礼物。”

"Well, Bobby, Mother is better, and that is the best present in all the world for us," and Betty smiled bravely at her brother. “哦，鲍比，妈妈好多了，这对我们来说是世界上最好的礼物。”贝蒂勇敢地对弟弟笑了笑。