When we were fortunate enough to find a nest I never allowed her to carry the eggs home, making her understand by emphatic signs that she might fall and break them.
运气好的话,我们就会找到一个鸡窝,可是我从来不会让玛莎把鸡蛋带回家,我会做出强烈的手势让她明白,她应该把鸡蛋扔在地上打碎。
The sheds where the corn was stored, the stable where the horses were kept, and the yard where the cows were milked morning and evening were unfailing sources of interest to Martha and me. The milkers would let me keep my hands on the cows while they milked, and I often got well switched by the cow for my curiosity.
像谷仓,马厩,还有每天早晚给奶牛挤奶的庭院都是我和玛莎最感兴趣的地方。挤奶工给牛挤奶的时候会让我把两手放在牛身上。为了满足自己的好奇心,我经常对牛又拧又掐。
The making ready for Christmas was always a delight to me. Of course I did not know what it was all about, but I enjoyed the pleasant odours that filled the house and the tidbits that were given to Martha Washington and me to keep us quiet. We were sadly in the way, but that did not interfere with our pleasure in the least. They allowed us to grind the spices, pick over the raisins and lick the stirring spoons. I hung my stocking because the others did; I cannot remember, however, that the ceremony interested me especially, nor did my curiosity cause me to wake before daylight to look for my gifts.
为圣诞节做准备总会令我欢欣鼓舞。当然,我并不知道这是一个什么样的节日,但是弥漫在房子里的香味令我陶醉其中,而花样繁多的美食也会让我和玛莎·华盛顿安静下来。我们俩也会有不顺心的时候,但是这丝毫也不妨碍我们享受节日的快乐。大人们会允许我们俩帮他们研磨香料,挑拣葡萄干,或者用勺子搅拌馅料。我也像其他人那样把自己的长袜挂起来,虽然不知道为什么这么做,可是这种仪式令我兴味盎然。这倒不是为了好奇,而是因为一觉醒来,我就可以在袜子里找到礼物。
Martha Washington had as great a love of mischief as I. Two little children were seated on the veranda steps one hot July afternoon. One was black as ebony, with little bunches of fuzzy hair tied with shoestrings sticking out all over her head like corkscrews. The other was white, with long golden curls. One child was six years old, the other two or three years older.
玛莎·华盛顿同我一样喜欢搞恶作剧。记得那年7月一个炎热的午后,有两个小孩儿坐在走廊的台阶上,一个是黑人小姑娘,梳着一束束俏皮的像螺丝锥一样的头发;另一个是白人小姑娘,有着一头长长的金色鬈发。其中一个孩子六岁,另一个只有两岁或三岁大。