LESSON 27

THE NEW YEAR

新　年

1．One pleasant New-year morning, Edward rose, and washed and dressed himself in haste. He wanted to be first to wish a happy New Year.

2．He looked in every room, and shouted the words of welcome. He ran into the street, to repeat them to those he might meet.

3．When he came back, his father gave him two bright, new silver dollars.

4．His face lighted up as he took them. He had wished for a long time to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore.

5．He left the house with a light heart, intending to buy the books.

6．As he ran down the street, he saw a poor German family, the father, mother, and three children shivering with cold.

7．"I wish you a happy New Year," said Edward, as he was gayly passing on. The man shook his head.

8．"You do not belong to this country," said Edward. The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak our language.

9．But he pointed to his mouth, and to the children, as if to say, "These little ones have had nothing to eat for a long time."

10．Edward quickly understood that these poor people were in distress. He took out his dollars, and gave one to the man, and the other to his wife.

11．How their eyes sparkled with gratitude! They said something in their language, which doubtless meant, "We thank you a thousand times, and will remember you in our prayers."

12．When Edward came home, his father asked what books he had bought. He hung his head a moment, but quickly looked up.

13．"I have bought no books," said he, "I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry and wretched."

14．"I think I can wait for my books till next New Year. Oh, if you had seen how glad they were to receive the money!"

15．"My dear boy," said his father, "here is a whole bundle of books. I give them to you, more as a reward for your goodness of heart than as a New-year gift.

16．"I saw you give the money to the poor German family. It was no small sum for a little boy to give cheerfully.

17．"Be thus ever ready to help the poor, and wretched, and distressed; and every year of your life will be to you a happy New Year."

【中文阅读】

1．新年第一天，这是一个令人愉快的清晨，爱德华起床后匆忙地梳洗、穿衣。他想成为第一个去祝贺新年快乐的人。

2．他大声说着喜迎新年的话，冲进每个房间。然后，他又跑到街上，向每一个见到的人问候新年快乐。

3．回家后，爸爸给了他两枚锃亮的新银元。

4．拿到这些银币，他的脸上立刻光彩照人。许久以来，他一直想去书店里买那些早已看好的书。

5．他满怀喜悦地离开家，准备去买书。

6．跑到街上后，他看到了一家贫穷可怜的德国人，爸爸、妈妈和三个孩子都在寒风中瑟瑟发抖。

7．“祝你们新年快乐！”爱德华带着愉快的心情从他们身旁经过。这个男人摇了摇头。

8．爱德华问道：“你不是本国人。”这个男人继续摇着头，因为他根本不明白爱德华说的话，又或者他不会讲我们的语言。

9．但是，他指了指自己的嘴，然后又指了指孩子们的嘴，仿佛在说：“这些小家伙很久没吃东西了。”

10．爱德华马上明白了，这些可怜人遇到了困难。他拿出自己刚得到的钱，取出一块银币给了那个男人，另一块给了他的妻子。

11．感激之情从他们的眼中流露出来！他们用自己的母语说了些什么，毫无疑问，他们可能在说：“我们真是万分地感激你，我们将永远记得你，为你祝福。”

12．爱德华回家后，爸爸问他买了些什么书。他低下了头，但是很快就抬了起来。

13．“我没有买书，”他说，“我把钱给了一些穷人，他们看上去又冷又饿，一副悲惨的样子。”

14．“我想，我可以等到下一个新年再去买书。哦，要是你看到他们收到钱时高兴的样子就好了！”

15．“我的好孩子，”爸爸说，“这里有一捆书，我全都给你，这是对你的回报，如此善举的意义远远超过了任何新年礼物。”

16．“我看到你把钱给那家可怜的德国人了。只要能够高高兴兴地施与，对一个小男孩来说，钱多钱少都不重要。”

17．“就这样时刻准备着帮助穷苦之人、不幸之人、痛苦贫困之人；你生命中的每一年都会快乐幸福。”