1.THE innocent prattle of his children takes out the sting of a man’s poverty.But the children of the very poor do not prattle.It is none of the least frightful features in that condition，that there is no childishness in its dwellings.“Poor people，”said a sensibleCharles Lamb by Henry Hoppner Meyerold nurse to us once，“do not bring up their children；they drag them up.”The little careless darling of the wealthier nursery，in their hovel，is transformed betimes into a premature，reflecting person.No one has time to dandle it，no one thinks it worth while to coax it，to soothe it，to toss it up and down，to humor it.There is none to kiss away its tears.If it cries，it can only be beaten.It has been prettily said，that “a babe is fed with milk and praise.”
2.But the aliment of this poor babe was thin，unnourishing；the return to its little baby tricks，and efforts to engage attention，was bitter，ceaseless objurgation.It never had a toy，or knew what a coralmeant.It grew up without the lullaby of nurses；it was a stranger to the patient fondle，the hushing caress，the attracting novelty，the costlier plaything or the cheaper off-hand contrivance to divert the child，the prattled nonsense，（best sense to it，）the wise impertinences，the wholesome fictions，the apt story interposed，that puts a stop to present sufferings，and awakens the passions of young wonder.
3.It was never sung to；no one ever told to it a tale of the nursery.It was dragged up，to live or die，as it happened.It had no young dreams.It broke at once into the iron realities of life.A child exists not for the very poor as any object of dalliance：it is only another mouth to be fed，a pair of little hands to be betimes inured to labor.It is the rival，till it can be the co-operator，for food with the parent.It is never his mirth，his diversion，his solace；it never makes him young again，with recalling his young times.
4.The children of the very poor have no young times.It makes the very heart bleed to overhear the casual street talk between a poor woman and her little girl，a woman of the better sort of poor，in a condition rather above the squalid beings which we have been contemplating.It is not of toys，of nursery books，of summer holidays，（fitting that age，）of the promised sight or play，of praised sufficiency at school.It is of mangling and clear-starching，of the price of coals，or of potatoes.The questions of the child，that should be the very outpourings of curiosity in idleness，are marked with forecast and melancholy providence.It has come to be a woman，before it was a child.It has learned to go to market；it chaffers，it haggles，it envies，it murmurs；it is knowing，acute，sharpened；it never prattles.Had we not reason to say，that the home of the very poor is no home？
（FROM LAMB ）
中文阅读
查尔斯·兰姆（1775-1834），英国作家，他的诗歌与散文以良好的品味、哀婉动人的伤感力和精致的幽默而著称。
1.孩子天真无邪的话语能够揭露一个人贫穷的痛楚。可是最穷的穷人家的孩子不会说出那样孩子气的话。生活在那样的环境下最是恐惧，穷人的屋子里根本就没有童年。一次，一个知情的老护士告诉我们：“穷人不会抚养孩子，他们只会放养孩子长大。”这些没人关心的小家伙住在破屋陋室里的富裕些的儿童室里，会迅速变成习惯于深思熟虑的早熟孩子。谁也抽不出时间去给他摇摇篮，没人觉得有必要去哄他、安慰他、把他抛上抛下地逗他笑，更没有人去亲吻他脸上的泪珠。如果他哭了，就会被打。“婴孩是需要牛奶和奖赏抚养大的。”这句话说得多么漂亮。
2.但是给穷人孩子的食物是很少的，是没有营养的。对穷人孩子的恶作剧或者要吸引大人的注意力的行为的回馈，就是不停地责骂孩子。穷人孩子从来没有过玩具，也不会被告知什么是珊瑚。穷人孩子长大了，没有保姆给唱摇篮曲，对耐心的爱抚和乖乖抱更是陌生，没有吸引人的新奇和昂贵的玩具，也没有便宜的自动玩具来消遣。没有意义的孩子气的话（对穷人的孩子来说，没有意义是最好的意义）、聪明的答非所问、健康的幻想、在故事之间适当地插话，这些都会中止现实的痛苦，唤醒年轻人好奇的情绪。
3.从来没有人给他唱歌，也没人给他在儿童室讲故事。他就那样被放养，生和死，全都听天由命。他没有儿时梦想，这样的梦想马上会被铁一般的现实打碎。对于穷人来说，一个孩子的存在不是为了成为一个被逗弄的对象。他的存在仅仅是又多了一张嘴需要喂养，又多了一双小手去干体力活。在他能去帮父母干活之前，是父母的敌人，需要父母供给食物。他儿时从来就没有欢乐、休闲和安慰。他回忆儿时时光，也绝不会让他变得年轻。
4.穷人的孩子是没有童年的。一次无意中听到一个穷苦的母亲与小女儿在街上说的闲话，让我的心流血。这个女人的情况要好一些，要比我们平时所鄙视的肮脏不堪、道德败坏的穷人好一些。这段对话不是关于玩具的，不是关于童书的，不是关于暑假假期的（适合这个年龄孩子的话题），不是关于允诺出去观光游玩的，更不是关于在学校得到很多奖励的。她们的谈话是关于轧布和洗衣服的，关于煤和土豆价格的。这个孩子的问题，本该童言无忌、充满好奇的，然而却充满着预见和忧伤的宿命意味。此前她还是个孩子，此时已经成长为一个成年妇女。她要学会去市场购物，去讨价还价，去羡慕，去抱怨。她是懂事的、敏锐的、尖刻的，却不是孩子气的。难道我们有理由说，穷人的家就不是家吗？
