第十六章 信件 C

CHAPTER SIXTEEN C
My precious Marmee:
我珍贵的妈咪：
Three cheers for dear Father! Brooke was a trump to telegraph right off, and let us know the minute he was better. I rushed up garret when the letter came, and tried to thank god for being so good to us, but I could only cry, and say, "I'm glad! I'm glad!" Didn't that do as well as a regular prayer? For I felt a great many in my heart. We have such funny times, and now I can enjoy them, for everyone is so desperately good, it's like living in a nest of turtledoves. You'd laugh to see Meg head the table and try to be motherish. She gets prettier every day, and I'm in love with her sometimes. The children are regular archangels, and I—well, I'm Jo, and never shall be anything else. Oh, I must tell you that I came near having a quarrel with Laurie. I freed my mind about a silly little thing, and he was offended. I was right, but didn't speak as I ought, and he marched home, saying he wouldn't come again till I begged pardon. I declared I wouldn't and got mad. It lasted all day. I felt bad and wanted you very much. Laurie and I are both so proud, it's hard to beg pardon. But I thought he'd come to it, for I was in the right. He didn't come, and just at night I remembered what you said when Amy fell into the river. I read my little book, felt better, resolved not to let the sun set on my anger, and ran over to tell Laurie I was sorry. I met him at the gate, coming for the same thing. We both laughed, begged each other's pardon, and felt all good and comfortable again.
为亲爱的父亲欢呼三声!布鲁克是个好样的，一好转就马上打电报告诉我们。信来了，我冲上阁楼，想感谢上帝对我们这么好，但我只能哭着说:“我很高兴!我很高兴!”这不是和常规祈祷一样有效吗?因为我心里有许多的感觉。我们有很多有趣的时光，现在我可以享受这些时光，因为每个人都非常好，就像生活在一窝斑鸠里。看到梅格坐到桌边，装出一副母性的样子，你一定会笑的。她一天比一天漂亮，我有时会爱上她。孩子们是真正的大天使，而我——好吧，我是乔，再也不会是别的什么了。噢，我必须告诉你，我差点和劳里吵架。我为一件愚蠢的小事解放了思想，他就生气了。我是对的，可是他没有说出我应该说的话，他就大步走回家去了，说除非我请求原谅，否则他不会再来了。我说我不会，然后很生气。它持续了一整天。我很难过，很想要你。劳里和我都很骄傲，很难求你原谅。不过我想他会说到这一点的，因为我是对的。他没有来，就在晚上，我想起了艾米掉进河里时你说的话。我看了我的小书，感觉好多了，决定不要让太阳落在我的愤怒上，然后跑过去告诉劳里我很抱歉。我在门口遇见了他，他也是为了同一件事而来的。我们俩都笑了，互相请求原谅，心里又舒畅起来。


My precious Marmee:
我珍贵的妈咪：
I made a 'pome' yesterday, when I was helping Hannah wash, and as Father likes my silly little things, I put it in to amuse him. Give him my lovingest hug that ever was, and kiss yourself a dozen times for your...
昨天帮汉娜洗脸的时候，我做了一个“梨子”，父亲喜欢我那些愚蠢的小东西，所以我放进去逗他玩。给他一个我从未有过的最深情的拥抱，再吻你自己十几次，为了你的……
TOPSY-TURVY JO
乱七八糟的乔
A SONG FROM THE SUDS
一首来自泡沫的歌
Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,
While the white foam rises high,
And sturdily wash and rinse and wring,
And fasten the clothes to dry.
我的浴盆女王，我快乐地歌唱，
白色的泡沫高高升起，
用力地洗，冲，拧，
把衣服系紧晾干。
Then out in the free fresh air they swing,
Under the sunny sky.
然后在外面自由的新鲜空气中摇摆，
在阳光灿烂的天空下。
I wish we could wash from our hearts and souls The stains of the week away, And let water and air by their magic make Ourselves as pure as they.
我希望我们能洗去心灵和灵魂上一周的污点，让水和空气用它们的魔力使我们像它们一样纯洁。
Then on the earth there would be indeed,
A glorious washing day!
那么地球上确实会有，
光荣的洗衣日!
Along the path of a useful life,
Will heart's-ease ever bloom.
在一条有用的人生道路上，
心安草将永远盛开。
The busy mind has no time to think
Of sorrow or care or gloom.
忙碌的头脑没有时间思考
悲伤的，忧虑的，忧郁的
And anxious thoughts may be swept away,
As we bravely wield a broom.
焦虑的思绪可能会被冲走，
当我们勇敢地挥起扫帚。
I am glad a task to me is given,
To labor at day by day,
For it brings me health and strength and hope, And I cheerfully learn to say, "Head, you may think, Heart, you may feel, But, Hand, you shall work alway!"
我很高兴有人给我任务，
劳动一天又一天，
因为它给我带来健康、力量和希望，我高兴地学会说:“头脑，你可以思考;心灵，你可以感觉;但是，手，你必须永远工作!”
Dear Mother,
亲爱的妈妈
There is only room for me to send my love, and some pressed pansies from the root I have been keeping safe in the house for Father to see. I read every morning, try to be good all day, and sing myself to sleep with Father's tune. I can't sing 'LAND OF THE LEAL' now, it makes me cry. Everyone is very kind, and we are as happy as we can be without you. Amy wants the rest of the page, so I must stop. I didn't forget to cover the holders, and I wind the clock and air the rooms every day.
这里只有我的空间来表达我的爱，还有一些从根部榨取的三色紫罗兰，我把它们安全地放在屋子里，让父亲看看。我每天早上读书，一整天都努力做好人，伴着爸爸的曲调唱歌入睡。我现在唱不了“土地的法律”，它使我哭泣。每个人都很善良，没有你，我们都很快乐。艾米想看剩下的部分，所以我必须停下来。我没有忘记盖上盖子，每天给钟上弦，给房间通风。
Kiss dear Father on the cheek he calls mine. Oh, do come soon to your loving...
亲吻亲爱的父亲的脸颊，他叫我的脸颊。哦，快来爱你吧……
LITTLE BETH
标签
Ma Chere Mamma,
妈妈，妈妈
We are all well I do my lessons always and never corroberate the girls—Meg says I mean contradick so I put in both words and you can take the properest. Meg is a great comfort to me and lets me have jelly every night at tea its so good for me Jo says because it keeps me sweet tempered. Laurie is not as respeckful as he ought to be now I am almost in my teens, he calls me Chick and hurts my feelings by talking French to me very fast when I say Merci or Bon jour as Hattie King does.
我们大家都很好。我一向上课，从不斥责女孩子们——梅格说我的意思是自相矛盾，所以我把两个词都说了出来，你们可以挑最恰当的。梅格给了我很大的安慰，每天晚上喝茶时她还让我吃果冻。这对我很有好处，乔说，因为它能让我有个好脾气。劳里没有他应有的尊重。我快十几岁了，当我像海蒂·金那样说“谢谢”或“祝您愉快”时，他叫我“奇克”，法语说得很快，伤害了我的感情。
The sleeves of my blue dress were all worn out, and Meg put in new ones, but the full front came wrong and they are more blue than the dress. I felt bad but did not fret I bear my troubles well but I do wish Hannah would put more starch in my aprons and have buckwheats every day. Can't she? Didn't I make that interrigation point nice? Meg says my punchtuation and spelling are disgraceful and I am mortyfied but dear me I have so many things to do, I can't stop. Adieu, I send heaps of love to Papa. Your affectionate daughter...
我那件蓝色连衣裙的袖子都磨破了，梅格换上了新的，但整个前襟都弄错了，而且比连衣裙还蓝。我感觉很糟，但并不烦恼。我很好地忍受了自己的困难，但我真希望汉娜能给我的围裙多上浆，每天吃荞麦。她不能?我刚才的提问说得好吗?梅格说我的标点和拼写很糟糕，我很惭愧，但是我有很多事情要做，我停不下来。再见，我向爸爸致以深深的爱。你的深情的女儿……
AMY CURTIS MARCH
艾米·柯蒂斯玛驰
Dear Mis March,
亲爱的玛驰小姐
I jes drop a line to say we git on fust rate. The girls is clever and fly round right smart. Miss Meg is going to make a proper good housekeeper. She hes the liking for it, and gits the hang of things surprisin quick. Jo doos beat all for goin ahead, but she don't stop to cal'k'late fust, and you never know where she's like to bring up. She done out a tub of clothes on Monday, but she starched 'em afore they was wrenched, and blued a pink calico dress till I thought I should a died a laughin.
我就写封信说我们能上一流的课。姑娘们聪明伶俐，聪明伶俐。梅格小姐会成为一个称职的好管家的。她很喜欢，而且很快就掌握了诀窍。乔领先了所有人，但她从不停下来先打个招呼，你永远不知道她喜欢说什么。星期一，她洗了一桶衣服，可是还没有拧，就把它们浆好了。她还把一件粉红色的印花布衣服染成了蓝色，弄得我简直要笑死了。
Beth is the best of little creeters, and a sight of help to me, bein so forehanded and dependable. She tries to learn everything, and really goes to market beyond her years, likewise keeps accounts, with my help, quite wonderful. We have got on very economical so fur. I don't let the girls hev coffee only once a week, accordin to your wish, and keep em on plain wholesome vittles. Amy does well without frettin, wearin her best clothes and eatin sweet stuff. Mr. Laurie is as full of didoes as usual, and turns the house upside down frequent, but he heartens the girls, so I let em hev full swing. The old gentleman sends heaps of things, and is rather wearin, but means wal, and it aint my place to say nothin. My bread is riz, so no more at this time. I send my duty to Mr. March, and hope he's seen the last of his Pewmonia.
贝思是一个最好的小女孩，对我来说是一种帮助，她是那样的手快和可靠。她努力学习每一件事，并真的去市场超过她的年龄，同样地记账，在我的帮助下，相当出色。我们已经非常节约了。我不按照你的要求，一星期只让姑娘们喝一次咖啡，而且只让她们吃一般的有益健康的食物。艾美过得很好，没有烦恼，穿着她最好的衣服，吃甜食。劳里先生和往常一样满嘴胡言，经常把屋子弄得乱七八糟，不过他给姑娘们打气，所以我也让她们尽情地玩玩。
Yours respectful,
Hannah Mullet
你尊敬的,汉娜米莱
Head Nurse of Ward No. 2,
2号病房护士长
All serene on the Rappahannock, troops in fine condition, commisary department well conducted, the Home Guard under Colonel Teddy always on duty, Commander in Chief General Laurence reviews the army daily, Quartermaster Mullet keeps order in camp, and Major Lion does picket duty at night. A salute of twenty-four guns was fired on receipt of good news from Washington, and a dress parade took place at headquarters. Commander in chief sends best wishes, in which he is heartily joined by...
拉帕汉诺克河上一切平静，部队状况良好，征粮部门管理良好，泰迪上校领导下的乡团一直在值班，总指挥官劳伦斯将军每天检阅军队，军需官穆雷在营地维持秩序，狮子少校在夜间巡逻。从华盛顿传来的好消息响起了24响礼炮，总部举行了盛装游行。总司令致以最良好的祝愿，其中……
COLONEL TEDDY
科洛内尔 特迪
Dear Madam:
亲爱的女士
The little girls are all well. Beth and my boy report daily. Hannah is a model servant, and guards pretty Meg like a dragon. Glad the fine weather holds. Pray make Brooke useful, and draw on me for funds if expenses exceed your estimate. Don't let your husband want anything. Thank God he is mending.
小女孩们都很好。贝丝和我儿子每天都来报到。汉娜是个模范仆人，像一条龙一样守护着漂亮的梅格。很高兴天气一直这么好。请让布鲁克发挥点作用，如果费用超出你的估计，请向我借钱。不要让你丈夫想要任何东西。感谢上帝，他正在好转。
Your sincere friend and servant, JAMES LAURENCE
你真诚的朋友和仆人，詹姆斯·劳伦斯