THE ORPHAN LARKS
孤儿百灵鸟
1.A meadow-lark was killed by the stroke of a scythe while in her nest，and of course her poor baby-larks were motherless.The gentleman，who saw what happened，felt sorry for the helpless family，and what to do with them was the next question.
2.He thought of a robin’s nest built on a tree near his door，and so he said to himself，“Perhaps Robin will adopt them.”Watching his chance when the robins were away，he took out their eggs，and put the little larks in their stead.
3.Mrs.Robin soon came home，and was just about to hop in，when lo！what caught her eye but three little baby-birds！Shespread her wings，and looked very much astonished indeed.
4.She looked at them，first with one eye，and then with the other，cocking her small head to the right，and to the left，as if to be sure there was no mistake.
5.Then she flew away as fast as she could，and presently came back with Mr.Robin；and Mr.Robin was as much surprised as his mate was.They chirped and chattered together a long time over this strange state of things，and then both suddenly darted off.
6.“Oh，”thought the gentleman，who was on the watch，“they mean to leave the poor orphans to their fate！”But just as he was coming to this sad conclusion，back they came with worms in their bills.“No，no！”said the gentleman，“I wronged the good robins.”
7.The little strangers were kindly fed；the robins adopted them，and brought them up as tenderly as if they were their own；and I feel sure the young larks were as grateful and good as young larks could be.
【中文阅读】
1.单身的百灵鸟妈妈在鸟窝里被长柄镰刀砍死了，因此她可怜的孩子们就没了妈妈。一位绅士看到了这番情景，非常同情这窝无助的小鸟，决定帮助它们。
2.他想到在他家门口附近的树上有一个欧洲鸲的窝，于是自言自语地说：“也许欧洲鸲可以领养他们。”他一直观察着欧洲鸲的窝，等待着欧洲鸲离开巢穴的机会，机会一来，他就把欧洲鸲的蛋从窝里拿出来，又把小百灵鸟放了进去。
3.母欧洲鸲不久后飞回了家中，刚要飞进去，哦！闯入她眼中的竟然是三只小鸟儿！她展开双翅震颤着，看样子的确是万分惊异。
4.她看着他们，开始用一只眼睛，然后用另外一只，头轻轻地摆到左边，又摆到右边，仿佛是在确定自己是不是看花了眼。
5.后来她又迅速地飞走了，很快把公欧洲鸲带了回来。公鸟也和母鸟一样惊讶，他们叽叽喳喳讨论了很久，然后猛然间一起飞走了。
6.“噢，天啊，”那位一直在旁边观察的绅士想，“看来他们是要离开这几个可怜的小鸟了！”然而他刚刚要确定这个结论时，两只欧洲鸲又飞回来了，嘴里还叼着虫子。“噢，不！”绅士感叹，“是我想错他们了。”
7.小家伙们被喂得饱饱的，欧洲鸲领养了它们，照顾它们就像照顾自己的宝宝。我确信小家伙们就像被亲生父母养育的一样又好又壮。
TWO MARKET BOYS
两个集市小贩
1.Two lads came at an early hour to a country market-town，and spreading out their little stands，they sat down to wait for customers.One sold melons and other fruits，the other dealt in oysters and fish.
2.The market hours passed along，and each little dealer saw with pleasure his stores steadily decreasing，while the money was filling his pockets.
3.The last melon lay on Harry‘s stand.A gentleman came by，and placing his hand upon it，he said，“What a fine large melon！I think I must buy it.What do you ask for it，my boy？”
4.“The melon is the last I have，sir；and though it looks very fair，there is an unsound spot on the other side，”said the boy，turning it over.
5.“So there is，”said the man；“I think I will not take it.But，”he added，looking into the boy’s face，“is it very business-like to point out the defects of your fruits to customers？”
6.“It is better than being dishonest，sir，”said the boy，modestly.
7.“You are right，my boy.Always remember to speak the truth，and you will find favor with God and man.You havenothing else I wish for this morning，but I shall not forget your little stand in future.
8.”Are those oysters fresh？“he continued，turning to BenWilson‘s stand.
9.”Yes，sir；fresh this morning，“was the reply；and apurchase being made，the gentleman went his way.
10.”Harry，what a fool you were to show the gentleman that spot in the melon！Now you can take it home for your pains，or throw it away.
11.“How much wiser is he about those oysters？I sold them at the same price I did the fresh ones.He would never have looked at the melon until he had gone away.”
12.“Ben，I would not tell a lie，or act one either，for twice what I have earned this morning.Besides，I shall be better off in the end，for I have gained a customer，and you have lost one.”
13.And so it proved；for the next day the gentleman bought quite a supply of fruit from Harry，but never spent another penny at the stand of Ben.Thus the season passed.
14.The gentleman，finding he could always get a good article of Harry，always bought of him，and sometimes talked a few minutes with him about his future hopes and prospects.
15.To become a tradesman was his great ambition；and when the winter came on，the gentleman，wanting a trusty boy for his shop，decided on giving the place to Harry.
16.Steadily and surely he advanced in the confidence of his employer，until he became at length an honored partner in the firm.
【中文阅读】
1.两个小伙子提早一小时来到集市上，把他们的货摊摆好，然后坐下来等待顾客光顾。他们一个卖瓜果，一个卖牡蛎和鱼。
2.开市时间一点点过去了，两个小伙子高兴地看着他们的货物越卖越少，而越来越多的钱装进了口袋。
3.哈利的货摊上还剩最后一个瓜了。这时，一位绅士走了过来，用手摸了摸瓜，说：“多好多大的瓜啊！我一定要买下来，孩子，这个瓜要多少钱？”
4.“先生，这是最后一个瓜了，虽然这边看起来不错，但是瓜的另一面有个地方坏了。”小伙子说完把瓜翻了过来。
5.“这是有点坏了，”绅士说，“我想我不买了。不过，”他又说，一边盯着小伙子的脸，“告诉顾客自己卖的水果的瑕疵是生意人该做的吗？”
6.“先生，这总比不诚实要好。”小伙子谦虚地说。
7.“你说得对，孩子。一定要记住说实话，你就会发现上帝和所有人都会眷顾你。今天早晨你这里虽然没有我想要买的东西，但是我在以后的岁月中不会忘掉你的这个小货摊的。”
8.“那些牡蛎新鲜吗？”他转到本o 威尔森的货摊前问道。
9“.
是的，先生，非常新鲜。”本o 威尔森回答。绅士买了牡蛎，然后走了。
10.“哈利，你告诉顾客瓜的瑕疵，这么做真是太愚蠢了！现在你只能带回家或扔掉了。
11.”他在买牡蛎时表现得聪明些了吗？我卖给他的牡蛎价格与新鲜牡蛎的价格一样，而且他直到走远也没再回头看一眼你的瓜。“12.”本，我不愿意说谎，也不会说谎，哪怕挣到比今早我挣的钱多两倍我也不愿意。另外，我肯定自己最后会更有钱的，因为我赢得了一个顾客，而你却失去了一位顾客。
13.事实也证明了这一点：第二天早晨那位顾客从哈利的货摊上买了相当多的水果，再也没有从本的货摊上买过一分钱的东西。就这样，几个月过去了。
14.那位绅士总是从哈利那里买东西，因为他总是能从他那里买到好东西。有时候还和哈利聊一会儿，谈谈自己的未来规划和愿景。
15.他想做生意，成为一名商人。到了冬天，这位绅士想找一位可靠的人帮他打理店铺，因此他决定把这个位置给哈利。
16.他非常确定对哈利很有信心，最后，哈利在公司里成了他最好的合作伙伴。
WILLIE’S SELF-DENIAL
威利的奉献
1.“Oh，mamma！”exclaimed Willie，as he ran eagerly into the room on his return from school，“we are to have a vacation all next week；and may I go with Dennis on Monday，when he goes to get those vegetables papa has bought of Mr.Morton？”
2.“If it is a pleasant day，I know of nothing to prevent yourgoing；that is，if Dennis is willing to take charge of you.”
