落花生 The Peanut

落花生Peanuts

我們屋後有半畝隙地．母親說：『讓他荒蕪看怪可惜，旣然你們那麽愛吃花生，Behind our house there was half a mou of vacant land. Mother said: "It would seem a pity to let it lie waste; since you all love to eat peanuts so much,

我们屋后有半亩隙地．母亲说：『让他荒芜看怪可惜，既然你们那么爱吃花生，

就闢來做花生園罷．』我們幾姊弟和幾個小丫頭都很喜歡——買種底買種，動土let's clear it to make a peanut garden." My brothers, sisters and I, along with a few little maidservants, were all delighted — some went to buy seed, others broke the ground,

就辟来做花生园罢．』我们几姊弟和几个小丫头都很喜欢——买种底买种，动土

底動土，灌園底灌園；others watered the garden;過不了幾個月，居然收穫了！in no more than a few months, we actually had a harvest!

底动土，灌园底灌园；过不了几个月，居然收获了！

媽媽說：『今晚我們可以做一個收穫節，也請你們爹爹來嘗嘗我們底新花生，Mother said: "Tonight let's hold a harvest festival, and also invite your father to come taste our fresh peanuts,

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？』我們都答應了．母親把花生做成好幾樣底食品，還吩咐這節期要在園裏底what do you say?" We all agreed. Mother made the peanuts into several kinds of dishes, and also told us that this festival was to be held in the

如何？』我们都答应了．母亲把花生做成好几样底食品，还吩咐这节期要在园里底

茅亭舉行．thatched pavilion in the garden.

茅亭举行．

那晚上底天色不大好，可是爹爹也到來，實在很難得！The weather that evening was not very good, but Father came all the same — truly a rare thing!爹爹說：『你們愛吃花生Father said: "Do you all love to eat peanuts

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

麽？』or not?"

么？』

我們都爭着答應，『愛！』We all vied to answer, "We do!"

我们都争着答应，『爱！』

『誰能把花生底好處說出來？』"Who can tell me the good points of the peanut?"

『谁能把花生底好处说出来？』

姊姊說：『花生底氣味很美，』Elder sister said, "The peanut's flavor is delicious,"

姊姊说：『花生底气味很美，』

哥哥說：『花生可以製油．』Elder brother said, "Peanuts can be made into oil."

哥哥说：『花生可以制油．』

我說：『無論何等人都可以用賤價買他來吃；I said, "Anyone, no matter who, can buy them cheaply and eat them;都喜歡吃他．這就是他底好處．』everyone likes to eat them. That is their good point."

我说：『无论何等人都可以用贱价买他来吃；都喜欢吃他．这就是他底好处．』

爹爹說：『花生底用處固然很多；Father said, "It is true that the peanut has many uses;但有一樣是很可貴的．這小小的豆不像那好but there is one thing about it that is very precious. This little bean is not like those fine-

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

看的蘋果、桃子、石榴，把他們底果實懸在枝上，鮮紅嫩綠的顏色，令人一望而發生羨looking apples, peaches, and pomegranates, which hang their fruit on the branches, their bright red and tender green colors making people feel a longing

看的苹果、桃子、石榴，把他们底果实悬在枝上，鲜红嫩绿的颜色，令人一望而发生羡

慕底心．他只把果子埋在地底，等到成熟，才容人把他挖出來，你們偶然看見一棵of admiration the moment they see them. It only buries its fruit in the earth, and not until it is ripe does it let anyone dig it out. If you happen to see a peanut

慕底心．他只把果子埋在地底，等到成熟，才容人把他挖出来，你们偶然看见一棵

生瑟縮地長在地上，不能立刻辨出他有沒有果實，非得等到你接觸他才能知道．』plant growing meekly on the ground, you cannot tell at once whether it bears fruit or not — you must wait until you touch it to know."

生瑟缩地长在地上，不能立刻辨出他有没有果实，非得等到你接触他才能知道．』

我們都說：『是的．』母親也點點頭．爹爹接下去說：『所以你們要像花生，因爲We all said, "Yes." Mother nodded too. Father went on to say, "So you should be like the peanut, because

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

他是有用的，不是偉大、好看的東西．』我說：『那麽，人要做有用的人，不要做偉大、體it is useful, not something great or good-looking." I said, "Then, a person should be a useful person, not one who seeks to be great and impressive-

他是有用的，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．』爹爹說：『這是我對於你們底希望．』looking." Father said, "That is my hope for you all."

面的人了．』爹爹说：『这是我对于你们底希望．』

我們談到夜闌才散，所有花生食品雖然沒有了，然而父親底話現在還印在我We talked until deep into the night before parting; although all the peanut dishes were gone, Father's words are still imprinted on my

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．heart even now.