14.凯蒂从此以后再也没有被“噎”住过,她发现原来说“请”这个字非常容易,而且“请”这个字让她交上了许多朋友,小读者们,如果你们这样做也会交很多朋友。
WHAT THE BOYS WOULD BE
孩子们会成为什么样的人
1.Four or five good little boys were talking one evening,as boys often do,of the future.One asked the tallest of the group:
2.“What are you going to be when you are a man,Willie?”
3.“A lawyer,”answered Willie.“It is very important to havejustice done in our courts.”
4.“Yes;but I guess lawyers don‘t always look out for justice.I’ve heard that most of them will plead a case on either side,right or wrong,for the money,”replied Charlie.
5.“Well,that may be so;but that is not the kind of a lawyer I am going to be.I shall always take the right side,whether I get paid for it or not.I will look out for all the widows and orphans,to see that nobody cheats them,”said Willie.“What will you be,Charlie?”
6.“O,I‘m going to be a doctor,so that I can ride day and night.I’ll keep four horses,and change them often,and always have a fresh one.I‘ll not go poking along with a worn-out horse and a spattered gig,like Dr.Grey.”
7.At this,little Georgie sprang up,and cried very earnestly,as if already in the business,“Please,brother Charlie,let me shoe all your horses,for I am going to be a blacksmith.”
8.His brothers laughed,and Willie said,“I shall never be ashamed of you,Georgie,if you are a good,honest blacksmith;but you must always wash your face and hands before you come to my office.”
9.“Yes,I will,and put on my Sunday clothes,”replied thegood-natured little fellow.
10.“Well,that is settled then,that father is to have a lawyer,a doctor,and a blacksmith in his family,”said Willie.
11.Grandma sat all this time in her armchair,knitting away very fast on a little striped stocking.At her feet sat the family pet,Freddie,sticking pins into grandma’s ball of yarn.
12.Ah,it was for his tiny,plump feet that the yarn was flying over the dear old lady‘s needles.
13.“Boys,”said grandma,“here is one who has not told whathe is going to be when a man.“14.”O no,“cried tall Willie,stooping down,and taking Freddie in his arms.“What are you going to be when you are a big man like papa?”
15.Freddie put his little arms around Willie’s neck,and said,“When I am a great,high man,I‘ll be-I’ll be-kind to my mother.”
16.“You darling boy,”cried grandma,“that is a sweet little vision of your future.I would rather have you a humble workingman,with this same affectionate heart,than see you cold and selfish,in the seat of a Judge,or even in the President‘s chair.”
17.Willie and Charlie might be great and wise men in their professions,and yet be no comfort to their parents in old age,unless they were at the same time loving and kind.Greatness alone makes no one happy;but goodness,like the sun,sheds light and joy every where.
18.Whenever,after this,dear boys,you are laying plans for coming life,always add to your plans and promises,sweet Freddie’s words,“When I‘m a man,I’ll be kind to my mother!”
【中文阅读】
1.一天晚上,四五个小男孩在一起聊天、聊未来,他们经常这样。一个孩子问最高个头的那个男孩:
2.“你长大以后要当什么,威利?”
3.“我要当律师,”威利回答,“要让法律在法庭上公平,这一点非常重要。”
4.“是的,但是我认为律师不能总是做到公平,我听说那些律师大多数都是为了金钱才为案子的某一方辩护。”查理回答。
5.“可能是这样,但我不要做那样的律师。我会一直支持正义的一方,无论我能不能得到应得的报酬。我会更加关注所有的寡妇和孤儿,不让他们上当受骗,”威利继续说,“查理,你长大要做什么?”
6.“哦,我要做一名医生,那样我就可以在白天或黑夜出诊时坐马车了。我要养四匹马,还要经常换,总有新鲜的马骑。我不会拉破马去闲逛,也不会坐溅上了泥点的马车,就像格雷医生那样。”
7.就在这时,小乔治突然站起身来开始大声宣布,仿佛他现在已经开始做起了生意:“查理哥哥,请允许我给你的马钉马掌,因为我要做一名铁匠。”
8.大家都笑了起来,威利说:“乔治,如果你是一名诚实的好铁匠,我肯定会以你为荣的;但是每次你来我办公室之前,要洗干净脸和手啊。”
9.“我会的,而且我还会穿上最干净的衣服。”好脾气的小家伙回答。
10.“好,就这么定了,我们的父亲将来会有自家的医生、律师和铁匠了。”威利说道。
11.他们聊天的时候,祖母一直坐在扶手椅上埋头一针接一针地迅速织着条纹长筒袜,脚边坐着他们家人人宠爱的小家伙弗莱迪,而弗莱迪正在玩着线球。
12.哈,祖母就是为小弗莱迪的小脚丫织长筒袜的!
13.“孩子们,”祖母说话了,“我们这里还有一个没有说他长大以后要做什么呢。”
14.“哦,是的。”大威利喊了起来,弯下身,把小弗莱迪抱起来,“等你长到爸爸那样高大的时候你想做什么?”
15.小弗莱迪用小胳膊搂住威利的脖子说:“等我和爸爸一样高大时,我要对妈妈好。”
16.“亲爱的,”祖母大声说,“看来你的将来真是不错。在我看来我更希望你们将来成为一名普通的人,有一颗善良的心,也不愿意看到你们将来成为一名冷酷、自私的法官,甚至是一名总统。”
17.威利和查理都可能会成为有专业技能的伟大而有智慧的人才,如果同时充满善心,慈心待人,那么这对于父母来说将是巨大的安慰。因为仅仅伟大并不能使人幸福,如果还有慈善心,才能像太阳那样发出光和热,给世界每一个角落带来欢乐。
18.亲爱的孩子们,从此以后,你们要为自己的未来生活做出计划,而且还要把弗莱迪说的“等我长大后,我要对妈妈好”这句话加入到你们的计划和承诺中。