落花生
ThePeanut
许地山
XuDishan
我们屋后有半亩隙地。母亲说:“让它荒芜着怪可惜,既然称们那么爱吃花生,就辟来做花生园罢。”我们几姊弟和几个小丫头都很喜欢——买种的买种,动土的动土,灌园的灌园;过不了几个月,居然收获了!
Atthebackofourhousetherewashalfamuofvacantland. "It'sapitytoletitgotowastelikethat," Mothersaid. "Sinceyouallenjoyeatingpeanuts, letusopenitupandmakeitapeanutgarden.” Atthatmybrother, sisterandIwerealldelightedandsoweretheyounghousemaids. Somewenttobuyseeds, somedugthegroundandotherswatereditand, inacoupleofmonths, wehadaharvest!
妈妈说:“今晚我们可以做一个收获节,也请你们爹爹来尝尝我们底新花生,如何?”我们都答应了。母亲把花生做成好几样食品,还吩咐这节期要在园里底茅亭举行。
"Letushaveapartytonighttocelebrate," Mothersuggested, "andaskDadtocomeforatasteofourfreshpeanuts. Whatdoyousay?" Weallagreed, ofcourse. Mothercookedthepeanutsindifferentstylesandtoldustogotothethatchedpavilioninthegardenforthecelebration.
那晚上底天色不大好,可是爹爹也到来,实在很难得!爹爹说:“你们爱吃花生么?”
Theweatherwasnotverygoodthatnightbut, toourgreatdelight, Dadcameallthesame. "Doyoulikepeanuts?" Dadasked.
我们都争着答应:“爱!”
"Yes!" weallansweredeagerly.
“谁能把花生底好处说出来?”。
"Butwhorantellmewhatthepeanutisgoodfor?"
姊姊说:“花生底气味很美。”
"Itisverydelicioustoeat," mysistertookthelead.
哥哥说:“花生可以制油。”
"Itisgoodformakingcookingoil,” mybrotherfollowed.
我说:“无论何等人都可以用贱价买它来吃;都喜欢吃它。这就是它的好处。”
"Itisinexpensive." Isaid. "Almosteveryonecanafforditandeveryoneenjoyseatingit. Ithinkthisiswhatitisgoodfor."
爹爹说:“花生底用处固然很多;但有一样是很可贵的。这小小的豆不像那好看的苹果、桃子、石榴,把它们底果实悬在枝上,鲜红嫩绿的颜色,令人一望而发生羡慕的心。它只把果子埋在地底,等到成熟,才容人把它挖出来。你们偶然看见一棵花生瑟缩地长在地上,不能立刻辨出它有没有果实,非得等到你接触它才能知道。”
"Peanutisgoodformanythings," Dadsaid, "butthereisonethingthatisparticularlygoodaboutit. Unlikeapples, peachesorpomegranatesthatdisplaytheirfruitsupintheair, attractingyouwiththeirbeautifulcolours, peanutburiesitsfruitintheearth. Itdoesnotshowitselfuntilyoudigitoutwhenitisripeand, unlessyoudip 4 out, youcan'ttellwhetheritbearsfruitornotjustbyitsfrailsternsaboveground."
我们都说:“是的。”母亲也点点头。爹爹接下去说:“所以你们要像花生,因为它是有用的,不是伟大、好看的东西。”我说:“那么,人要做有用的人,不要做伟大、体面的人了。”爹爹说:“这是我对于你们的希望。”
"That'strue," weallsaidandMothernoddedtierassent. "Soyoushouldtrytobelikethepeanut,'Dadscenton, "becauseitisuseful, thoughnotgreatorattractive.” "Doyoumean,” Iasked, "weshouldteamtobeusefulbutnotseektobegreatorattractive?" "Yes," Dadsaid. "'IbisiswhatIwishyoutobe."
我们谈到夜阑才散,所有花生食品虽然没有了,然而父亲底话现在还印在我心版上。
Westayeduplatethatnight, eatingallthepeanutsMotherhadcookedforus. ButFather'swordsremainedvividinmymemorytillthisday.
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