You go to school on a cold winter morning.
一個寒冷冬日的清晨你來到學校。
A bright fire is blazing in the stove, surrounded with boys struggling to get near it to warm themselves.
爐子里火很旺,四周坐滿了取暖的男孩子們。
After you are slightly warmed, a schoolmate comes in suffering with cold.
在你稍微暖和后,一個同學走進來,渾身發(fā)冷。
"Here, James," you pleasantly call out to him, "I am almost warm; you may have my place."
“到這里,詹姆斯,”你友好地朝他喊道,“我暖和得差不多了,你坐我這兒吧。”
As you slip aside to allow him to take your place at the fire, will he not feel that you are kind?
當你走到旁邊讓他坐在你的位置時,他會感覺不到你的善意嗎?
The worst boy in the world can not help admiring such generosity; and, even though he be so ungrateful as not to return the favor,
世界上最壞的孩子也會贊賞這種慷慨;即使他不領(lǐng)情,沒有投桃報李,
you may depend upon it that he will be your friend as far as he is capable of friendship.
你也可以相信只要他具有交友的能力,他就會是你的朋友。
If you will always act upon this principle, you will never want for friends.
如果你始終奉行這個原則,你永遠不會缺少朋友。
Suppose, some day, you are out with your companions playing ball.
假設(shè)有一天你和伙伴在外面打球。
After you have been playing for some time, another boy comes along.
在你玩了一會兒后,一個男孩走過來。
He can not be chosen upon either side, for there is no one to match him.
他無法加入,因為哪邊都不缺人手。
"Henry," you say, "you may take my place a little while, and I will rest."
“亨利,”你說,“你可以打我的位置,我歇一會。”
You throw yourself down upon the grass, while Henry, fresh and vigorous, takes your bat and engages in the game.
你躺在草地上,而新來的亨利渾身是勁,接替你加入比賽。
He knows that you give up to oblige him, and how can he help liking you for it?
他知道你為了幫助他放棄了比賽,他會不喜歡你嗎?
The fact is, that neither man nor child can cultivate such a spirit of generosity and kindness without attracting affection and esteem.
事實是,不論大人還是孩子,培養(yǎng)了這種慷慨和善良的精神,沒有得不到情誼和敬重的。