第53章 接骨木樹媽媽 The Little Elder－Tree Mother(第1/15 頁)

《接骨木樹媽媽》，1845 年

the Little Elder-tree mother, 1845

從前有個小男孩，他著涼了；他出門去，把腳弄溼了。

there was once a little boy who had caught cold; he had gone out and got wet feet.

誰也不知道這到底是怎麼回事；天氣可是相當乾燥的。

Nobody had the least idea how it had happened; the weather was quite dry.

他媽媽給他脫掉衣服，讓他上床躺下，還吩咐把茶壺拿進來，這樣她就可以用接骨木花給他泡一杯好茶，接骨木花茶喝了很暖和。

his mother undressed him, put him to bed, and ordered the teapot to be brought in, that she might make him a good cup of tea from the elder-tree blossoms, which is so warming.

與此同時，住在這房子樓上、獨自生活的那位好心的老人進來了；他過著孤獨的生活，因為他沒有妻子和兒女；但他非常喜歡別人家的孩子，而且他能講那麼多的童話和故事，聽他講故事真是一種享受。

At the same time, the kind-hearted old man who lived by himself in the upper storey of the house came in; he led a lonely life, for he had no wife and children; but he loved the children of others very much, and he could tell so many fairy tales and stories, that it was a pleasure to hear him.

“現在，把茶喝了，” 媽媽說，“也許你能聽一個故事。”

“Now, drink your tea,” said the mother; “perhaps you will hear a story.”

“好的，要是我能想出一個新的來就好了，” 老人說，然後微笑著點了點頭。

“Yes, if I only knew a fresh one,” said the old man, and nodded smilingly.

“可這小傢伙的腳是怎麼弄溼的呢？” 他接著問道。

“but how did the little fellow get his wet feet?” he then asked.

“這個呀，” 媽媽回答說，“誰也弄不明白。”

“that,” replied the mother, “nobody can understand.”

“你能給我講個故事嗎？” 男孩問道。

“will you tell me a story?” asked the boy.

“好的，要是你能儘可能準確地告訴我，你上學走的那條小街上的排水溝有多深就行。”