New York, November
纽约，十一月

Dear Marmee and Beth,
亲爱的妈妈和贝丝，

I’m going to write you a regular volume, for I’ve got heaps to tell, though I’m not a fine young lady traveling on the continent. —
我要给你们写一整本书，因为我有很多事要告诉你们，虽然我不是一个在欧洲旅行的漂亮年轻女士。 —

When I lost sight of Father’s dear old face, I felt a trifle blue, and might have shed a briny drop or two, if an Irish lady with four small children, all crying more or less, hadn’t diverted my mind, for I amused myself by dropping gingerbread nuts over the seat every time they opened their mouths to roar.
当我看不到父亲亲爱的老脸时，我感到有点伤感，如果不是一个爱尔兰妇女带着四个小孩，他们都在哭泣不止，我可能会掉下一两颗咸水珠。

Soon the sun came out, and taking it as a good omen, I cleared up likewise and enjoyed my journey with all my heart.
我在她们张嘴哭的时候，还逗自己玩，一边扔下一块块姜饼果仁。

Mrs. Kirke welcomed me so kindly I felt at home at once, even in that big house full of strangers. —
很快太阳出来了，我把它看作一个好兆头，我也开心起来，全心全意地享受我的旅程。 —

She gave me a funny little sky parlor–all she had, but there is a stove in it, and a nice table in a sunny window, so I can sit here and write whenever I like. —
柯克太太很热情地欢迎我，我立刻就感觉到在那个陌生人满满的大房子里，我有了家的感觉。 —

A fine view and a church tower opposite atone for the many stairs, and I took a fancy to my den on the spot. —
她给了我一个有趣的小天空小屋，虽然只有这一间，但里面有一台火炉和一个阳光明媚的窗户旁的漂亮桌子，所以我可以坐在这里随时写字。 —

The nursery, where I am to teach and sew, is a pleasant room next Mrs. Kirke’s private parlor, and the two little girls are pretty children, rather spoiled, I fancy, but they took to me after telling them The Seven Bad Pigs, and I’ve no doubt I shall make a model governess.
我将在托儿所教书和缝纫，这个房间十分宜人，就在柯克夫人的私人客厅旁边，这两个小女孩是漂亮的孩子，我想她们可能有点宠坏，但是在我给她们讲了《七只坏猪》之后，她们对我很亲近，我相信我会成为一个模范女家庭教师。

I am to have my meals with the children, if I prefer it to the great table, and for the present I do, for I am bashful, though no one will believe it.
如果我愿意，我可以和孩子们一起吃饭，而不是和大家一起坐到那张大桌子旁边，而目前我确实更愿意这样做，因为我很害羞，尽管没人会相信。

“Now, my dear, make yourself at home,” said Mrs. K. in her motherly way, “I’m on the drive from morning to night, as you may suppose with such a family, but a great anxiety will be off my mind if I know the children are safe with you. —
“亲爱的，不要拘束，把这里当作你的家”，柯克夫人用母性的语气说道，“我从早到晚都在忙碌，你也可以想象到有这样一个家庭是多么的让人担心，但是如果我知道孩子们和你在一起安全，那么一个大大的忧虑会离我远去。” —

My rooms are always open to you, and your own shall be as comfortable as I can make it. —
我的房门随时向你敞开，而你自己的房间会让你感到舒适。 —

There are some pleasant people in the house if you feel sociable, and your evenings are always free. —
家里有一些和蔼可亲的人，如果你想要社交，你的晚上总是自由的。 —

Come to me if anything goes wrong, and be as happy as you can. —
如果有什么问题发生，就来找我，尽力让自己快乐。 —

There’s the tea bell, I must run and change my cap.” And off she bustled, leaving me to settle myself in my new nest.
铃响了，我得跑去换帽子。她匆匆忙忙地离开了，让我安顿在新的巢穴里。

As I went downstairs soon after, I saw something I liked. —
我下楼的时候，看到了一件我喜欢的事情。 —

The flights are very long in this tall house, and as I stood waiting at the head of the third one for a little servant girl to lumber up, I saw a gentleman come along behind her, take the heavy hod of coal out of her hand, carry it all the way up, put it down at a door near by, and walk away, saying, with a kind nod and a foreign accent, “It goes better so. —
这座高楼的楼梯非常长，在我站在第三层楼梯的顶端等待一个小女仆慢悠悠地上来的时候，我看到一个绅士跟在她后面，从她手里拿过那把沉重的煤头，一路扛上楼，放在附近的一扇门口，然后走开，带着友好的点头和一种外国口音说道：“这样更好。 —

The little back is too young to haf such heaviness.”
这个小家伙太小了，不能承受这么重的东西。

Wasn’t it good of him? I like such things, for as Father says, trifles show character. —
他真好啊！我喜欢这样的事情，因为正如父亲所说，小事情能显示出一个人的品格。 —

When I mentioned it to Mrs. K., that evening, she laughed, and said, “That must have been Professor Bhaer, he’s always doing things of that sort.”
当我在晚上向凯瑟琳夫人提起这件事的时候，她笑着说：“那一定是巴尔教授，他总是做这样的事情。”

Mrs. K. told me he was from Berlin, very learned and good, but poor as a church mouse, and gives lessons to support himself and two little orphan nephews whom he is educating here, according to the wishes of his sister, who married an American. —
夫人K告诉我他来自柏林，非常博学和善良，但是穷得跟教堂里的老鼠一样，他给自己做家教以供养他在这里教育的两个小孤侄子，这是他妹妹的愿望，她嫁给了一个美国人。 —

Not a very romantic story, but it interested me, and I was glad to hear that Mrs. K. lends him her parlor for some of his scholars. —
虽然这不是一个很浪漫的故事，但它让我感兴趣，而且我很高兴听说夫人K愿意借给他她的客厅来上课。 —

There is a glass door between it and the nursery, and I mean to peep at him, and then I’ll tell you how he looks. —
客厅和儿童房之间有一道玻璃门，我打算偷看他，然后告诉你他长什么样子。 —

He’s almost forty, so it’s no harm, Marmee.
他快四十岁了，所以没有问题，妈妈。

After tea and a go-to-bed romp with the little girls, I attacked the big workbasket, and had a quiet evening chatting with my new friend. —
晚饭后，和小女孩们玩了一阵，我就开始整理大工作篮，和我的新朋友愉快地聊天了一晚。 —

I shall keep a journal-letter, and send it once a week, so goodnight, and more tomorrow.
我会写一封日志信，每周发送一次，所以晚安，明天再聊。

Tuesday Eve
星期二晚上

Had a lively time in my seminary this morning, for the children acted like Sancho, and at one time I really thought I should shake them all round. —
今天早上在学校里有很多活动，孩子们闹得像桑丘一样，有一段时间我真的以为我要把他们都摇醒。 —

Some good angel inspired me to try gymnastics, and I kept it up till they were glad to sit down and keep still. —
有一位善良的天使启发我尝试体操，我一直坚持下去，直到他们高兴地坐下休息。 —

After luncheon, the girl took them out for a walk, and I went to my needlework like little Mabel ‘with a willing mind’. —
午饭后，女孩带他们出去散步，我像小梅布尔一样开心地做着针线活。 —

I was thanking my stars that I’d learned to make nice buttonholes, when the parlor door opened and shut, and someone began to hum, Kennst Du Das Land, like a big bumblebee. —
我感谢上苍我学会了绣制漂亮的纽扣眼，就在这时，客厅的门打开又关上，有人开始哼起《你认识那个国家吗》，像只大大的蜜蜂。 —

It was dreadfully improper, I know, but I couldn’t resist the temptation, and lifting one end of the curtain before the glass door, I peeped in. —
我知道这是非常不恰当的，但我忍不住诱惑，拉起窗帘的一边，透过玻璃门偷看。 —

Professor Bhaer was there, and while he arranged his books, I took a good look at him. —
布尔教授在那里，他整理着书籍，我好好地瞧了他一眼。 —

A regular German–rather stout, with brown hair tumbled all over his head, a bushy beard, good nose, the kindest eyes I ever saw, and a splendid big voice that does one’s ears good, after our sharp or slipshod American gabble. —
他是个典型的德国人，相当魁梧，浑身乱糟糟的棕色头发，一把浓密的胡须，好鼻子，我见过的最仁慈的眼睛，还有一副擅长的低音炮声，听起来比我们尖锐或随意的美国式嘟哝要好得多。 —

His clothes were rusty, his hands were large, and he hadn’t a really handsome feature in his face, except his beautiful teeth, yet I liked him, for he had a fine head, his linen was very nice, and he looked like a gentleman, though two buttons were off his coat and there was a patch on one shoe. —
他的衣服沾满了锈迹，手很大，脸上除了漂亮的牙齿，其他地方都没有什么好看的地方，但我喜欢他，因为他有一颗美好的头脑，他的衬衫非常漂亮，看起来像个绅士，尽管他的外套上有两个扣子掉了，鞋子上有个补丁。 —

He looked sober in spite of his humming, till he went to the window to turn the hyacinth bulbs toward the sun, and stroke the cat, who received him like an old friend. —
他看起来很冷静，尽管哼着小曲，直到他走到窗前，将风信子的球茎转向阳光，并抚摸着那只像老朋友一样接受他的猫。 —

Then he smiled, and when a tap came at the door, called out in a loud, brisk tone, “Herein!”
然后他笑了，当有人敲门时，他大声而活力地喊道：“进来！”

I was just going to run, when I caught sight of a morsel of a child carrying a big book, and stopped, to see what was going on.
我正准备逃跑，突然看见一个小家伙抱着一本厚厚的书，于是停下来看看发生了什么。

“Me wants me Bhaer,” said the mite, slamming down her book and running to meet him.
“我想要我的巴尔先生，”小家伙边摔下书边跑过去见他。

“Thou shalt haf thy Bhaer. Come, then, and take a goot hug from him, my Tina,” said the Professor, catching her up with a laugh, and holding her so high over his head that she had to stoop her little face to kiss him.
“你终于要见到你的巴尔先生了。来吧，来一个好好的拥抱，我的蒂娜。”教授笑着抱起她，把她举得很高，以致她不得不弯下小脸亲吻他。

“Now me mus tuddy my lessin,” went on the funny little thing. —
“现在我必须要学习我的功课了，”这个有趣的小东西继续说道。 —

So he put her up at the table, opened the great dictionary she had brought, and gave her a paper and pencil, and she scribbled away, turning a leaf now and then, and passing her little fat finger down the page, as if finding a word, so soberly that I nearly betrayed myself by a laugh, while Mr. Bhaer stood stroking her pretty hair with a fatherly look that made me think she must be his own, though she looked more French than German.
于是他把她安排坐在桌子旁边，打开她带来的大字典，给了她纸和铅笔，她一边瞎写，一边翻动着书页，用小胖手指着页面，仿佛在找词，看起来一脸认真，差点被我笑出声来，而巴尔先生却用一种慈父的眼神抚摸着她漂亮的头发，让我觉得她一定是他的亲生女儿，尽管她看起来更像法国人而不是德国人。

Another knock and the appearance of two young ladies sent me back to my work, and there I virtuously remained through all the noise and gabbling that went on next door. —
又有人敲门了，两个年轻女士的出现让我回到了工作中，我在那里勉为其难地忍受着隔壁传来的所有喧闹声和闲聊声。 —

One of the girls kept laughing affectedly, and saying, “Now Professor,” in a coquettish tone, and the other pronounced her German with an accent that must have made it hard for him to keep sober.
其中一个女孩一直做假笑，用撩人的口气说着“教授”，另一个女孩则用带有口音的德语发音，一定让他难以保持冷静了。

Both seemed to try his patience sorely, for more than once I heard him say emphatically, “No, no, it is not so, you haf not attend to what I say,” and once there was a loud rap, as if he struck the table with his book, followed by the despairing exclamation, “Prut! It all goes bad this day.”
两人似乎都让他忍无可忍了，因为我不止一次听到他强调地说：“不，不是这样，你没有注意到我说的话”，而且有一次，我听到他重重地敲了一下桌子，伴随着绝望的呼声：“该死！这一天真是糟透了。”

Poor man, I pitied him, and when the girls were gone, took just one more peep to see if he survived it. —
可怜的人，我对他十分怜悯，当女孩们走了之后，我又偷偷看了一眼，看他是否撑过来了。 —

He seemed to have thrown himself back in his chair, tired out, and sat there with his eyes shut till the clock struck two, when he jumped up, put his books in his pocket, as if ready for another lesson, and taking little Tina who had fallen asleep on the sofa in his arms, he carried her quietly away. —
他似乎疲惫地往椅子上一仰，闭上眼睛坐在那儿，直到钟敲响两点时，他突然跳了起来，将书放进口袋里，好像准备上下一堂课一样，然后抱起睡在沙发上的小蒂娜，悄悄地把她带走了。 —

I fancy he has a hard life of it. —
我想他的生活很辛苦。 —

Mrs. Kirke asked me if I wouldn’t go down to the five o’clock dinner, and feeling a little bit homesick, I thought I would, just to see what sort of people are under the same roof with me. —
柯克太太问我是否想去参加五点钟的晚餐，因为我有点思乡，所以我想去看看与我住在同一屋檐下的人是什么样子。 —

So I made myself respectable and tried to slip in behind Mrs. Kirke, but as she is short and I’m tall, my efforts at concealment were rather a failure. —
所以我把自己弄得体面些，试图悄悄跟在柯克夫人的后面，但由于她个子矮而我个子高，我的掩藏努力相当失败。 —

She gave me a seat by her, and after my face cooled off, I plucked up courage and looked about me. —
她给了我一个座位，我脸冷静下来后，鼓起勇气四处看了看。 —

The long table was full, and every one intent on getting their dinner, the gentlemen especially, who seemed to be eating on time, for they bolted in every sense of the word, vanishing as soon as they were done. —
长桌上坐满了人，每个人都专心吃饭，尤其是那些绅士们，似乎按时进食，吃完后立刻消失。 —

There was the usual assortment of young men absorbed in themselves, young couples absorbed in each other, married ladies in their babies, and old gentlemen in politics. —
桌子上有那些沉溺于自我之中的年轻人，沉浸在彼此之中的年轻情侣，抱着自己的孩子的已婚妇女，以及对政治感兴趣的老绅士们。 —

I don’t think I shall care to have much to do with any of them, except one sweetfaced maiden lady, who looks as if she had something in her.
我想我不会和他们中的任何人有太多交往，除了一个面容甜美的未婚女士，她看起来好像有内涵。

Cast away at the very bottom of the table was the Professor, shouting answers to the questions of a very inquisitive, deaf old gentleman on one side, and talking philosophy with a Frenchman on the other. —
排在桌子最底部的是教授，在一边回答一个很好奇但耳朵有点聋的老绅士的问题，另一边与一个法国人谈论哲学。 —

If Amy had been here, she’d have turned her back on him forever because, sad to relate, he had a great appetite, and shoveled in his dinner in a manner which would have horrified ‘her ladyship’. —
如果艾米在这里，她会永远背弃他，因为他有着巨大的食欲，吃饭的方式会让”她的娘贵妇人”感到震惊。 —

I didn’t mind, for I like ‘to see folks eat with a relish’, as Hannah says, and the poor man must have needed a deal of food after teaching idiots all day.
我不在意，因为我喜欢“看人们用滋味吃饭”，就像汉娜说的那样，这个可怜的人一整天都在教一些白痴，肯定需要大量的食物。

As I went upstairs after dinner, two of the young men were settling their hats before the hall mirror, and I heard one say low to the other, “Who’s the new party?”
饭后，我上楼时，两个年轻人正在大厅的镜子前整理他们的帽子，我听到其中一个低声对另一个说：“那个新来的是谁？”

“Governess, or something of that sort.”
“家庭教师，或者类似的工作吧。”

“What the deuce is she at our table for?”
“她凭什么坐到我们的桌子上？”

“Friend of the old lady’s.”
“老太太的朋友。”

“Handsome head, but no style.”
“漂亮但没有风格。”

“Not a bit of it. Give us a light and come on.”
“一点也不是。给我点烟火，咱们走吧。”

I felt angry at first, and then I didn’t care, for a governess is as good as a clerk, and I’ve got sense, if I haven’t style, which is more than some people have, judging from the remarks of the elegant beings who clattered away, smoking like bad chimneys. —
起初我感到生气，但后来我不在乎了，因为一个家庭教师跟一个职员一样好，而且我有头脑，即使没有风格，也比一些优雅的人言必称之类的评论要好。 —

I hate ordinary people!
我讨厌普通人！

Thursday
星期四

Yesterday was a quiet day spent in teaching, sewing, and writing in my little room, which is very cozy, with a light and fire. —
昨天是一个安静的日子，我在我的小房间里教书、缝纫和写作，房间非常舒适，有灯光和火炉。 —

I picked up a few bits of news and was introduced to the Professor. —
我听到了一些新闻，并且认识了这位教授。 —

It seems that Tina is the child of the Frenchwoman who does the fine ironing in the laundry here. —
听说蒂娜是这里洗衣房里做精细熨烫的法国妇女的孩子。 —

The little thing has lost her heart to Mr. Bhaer, and follows him about the house like a dog whenever he is at home, which delights him, as he is very fond of children, though a ‘bacheldore’. —
这个小姑娘完全迷上了巴尔先生，无论他在家里什么时候，她都像一只狗一样跟着他，这让他很高兴，因为他非常喜欢孩子，尽管他是一个单身汉。 —

Kitty and Minnie Kirke likewise regard him with affection, and tell all sorts of stories about the plays he invents, the presents he brings, and the splendid tales he tells. —
基蒂和米妮·柯克也对他充满了爱，他们讲述了他发明的戏剧，他带来的礼物和他讲述的精彩故事。 —

The younger men quiz him, it seems, call him Old Fritz, Lager Beer, Ursa Major, and make all manner of jokes on his name. —
年轻人们开他的玩笑，称他为老弗里茨、拉格啤酒、大熊座，而且拿他的名字开各种玩笑。 —

But he enjoys it like a boy, Mrs. Kirke says, and takes it so good-naturedly that they all like him in spite of his foreign ways.
但是柯克夫人说，他像个孩子一样喜欢这些玩笑，非常乐观，所以尽管他有些外国习惯，他们都喜欢他。

The maiden lady is a Miss Norton, rich, cultivated, and kind. —
这位未婚女士是诺顿小姐，她富有、有教养而且善良。 —

She spoke to me at dinner today (for I went to table again, it’s such fun to watch people), and asked me to come and see her at her room. —
她今天在晚餐时跟我说话（因为我又去了桌子那边，看着人们真有趣），她邀请我去她的房间看看。 —

She has fine books and pictures, knows interesting persons, and seems friendly, so I shall make myself agreeable, for I do want to get into good society, only it isn’t the same sort that Amy likes.
她有很好的书和画，认识有趣的人，而且她似乎很友好，所以我要让自己变得讨人喜欢，因为我想进入上流社会，只是不是和艾米喜欢的那种社交圈。

I was in our parlor last evening when Mr. Bhaer came in with some newspapers for Mrs. Kirke. She wasn’t there, but Minnie, who is a little old woman, introduced me very prettily. —
昨晚我在我们的客厅里，巴尔先生带着一些报纸进来给柯克夫人。她不在，但是小妙凤（一个年纪有点大的女人）非常优雅地介绍了我。 —

“This is Mamma’s friend, Miss March.”
“这位是妈妈的朋友，玛奇小姐。”

“Yes, and she’s jolly and we like her lots,” added Kitty, who is an ‘enfant terrible’.
“是的，她很好玩，我们很喜欢她，”凯蒂补充道，她是一个可爱的小姑娘。

We both bowed, and then we laughed, for the prim introduction and the blunt addition were rather a comical contrast.
我们都点了点头，然后笑了起来，因为那个正式的介绍和直接的补充是相当滑稽的对比。

“Ah, yes, I hear these naughty ones go to vex you, Mees Marsch. —
“啊，是的，我听说这些淘气鬼让你生气，玛茜小姐。 —

If so again, call at me and I come,” he said, with a threatening frown that delighted the little wretches.
如果再有这样的事情发生，向我求助，我会来帮助你，”他威胁般地皱起眉头，令这些小淘气鬼欣喜若狂。

I promised I would, and he departed, but it seems as if I was doomed to see a good deal of him, for today as I passed his door on my way out, by accident I knocked against it with my umbrella. —
我答应过他会这样做，然后他离开了，但是看起来我注定要经常见到他，因为今天当我经过他的门时，我的伞不小心撞到了门上。 —

It flew open, and there he stood in his dressing gown, with a big blue sock on one hand and a darning needle in the other. —
门突然打开了，他站在那里穿着浴袍，一只手上戴着一只蓝色的大袜子，另一只手拿着一根补针。 —

He didn’t seem at all ashamed of it, for when I explained and hurried on, he waved his hand, sock and all, saying in his loud, cheerful way …
他似乎一点也不为此感到羞愧，因为当我解释并急匆匆地走开时，他挥舞着手，袜子也在跟着晃动，用他大声、开朗的口吻说着…

“You haf a fine day to make your walk. —
“你有个好天气去散散步。 —

Bon voyage, Mademoiselle.”
祝你一路顺风，小姐。”

I laughed all the way downstairs, but it was a little pathetic, also to think of the poor man having to mend his own clothes. —
我一路上都笑个不停，但是也有点可怜，想到这可怜人得自己修补衣服。 —

The German gentlemen embroider, I know, but darning hose is another thing and not so pretty.
我知道德国绅士会绣花，但是补袜子又是另一回事了，而且也不那么好看。

Saturday
星期六

Nothing has happened to write about, except a call on Miss Norton, who has a room full of pretty things, and who was very charming, for she showed me all her treasures, and asked me if I would sometimes go with her to lectures and concerts, as her escort, if I enjoyed them. —
除了去拜访了诺顿小姐，她有一个房间装满了漂亮的东西，非常迷人。她给我展示了她所有的珍宝，并问我是否愿意作为她的陪伴人，陪她去听讲座和音乐会，如果我喜欢的话。 —

She put it as a favor, but I’m sure Mrs. Kirke has told her about us, and she does it out of kindness to me. —
她说这是一种恩惠，但我确信柯克夫人告诉她了有关我们的事情，她是出于对我好的心而这样做的。 —

I’m as proud as Lucifer, but such favors from such people don’t burden me, and I accepted gratefully.
我骄傲得像魔鬼一样，但这样的恩惠并没有给我带来负担，我很感激地接受了。

When I got back to the nursery there was such an uproar in the parlor that I looked in, and there was Mr. Bhaer down on his hands and knees, with Tina on his back, Kitty leading him with a jump rope, and Minnie feeding two small boys with seedcakes, as they roared and ramped in cages built of chairs.
当我回到托儿所时，客厅里一片混乱，我瞧了一眼，发现巴尔先生双膝跪地，蒂娜骑在他的背上，基蒂用跳绳牵着他，而米妮则在用饲料饼干喂养着两个小男孩，他们在由椅子搭建的笼子里咆哮着。

“We are playing nargerie,” explained Kitty.
“我们在玩动物园，”基蒂解释道。

“Dis is mine effalunt!” added Tina, holding on by the Professor’s hair.
“这是我的小象!” 蒂娜补充说，一边抓住教授的头发。

“Mamma always allows us to do what we like Saturday afternoon, when Franz and Emil come, doesn’t she, Mr. Bhaer?” said Minnie.
“妈妈总是允许我们在星期六下午做自己喜欢的事情，当Franz和Emil过来的时候，不是吗，Bhaer先生？”小明说。

The ‘effalunt’ sat up, looking as much in earnest as any of them, and said soberly to me, “I gif you my wort it is so, if we make too large a noise you shall say Hush! —
“‘大象’坐起来，一脸认真地对我说：“我向你保证是这样的，如果我们太吵闹，你可以说嘘！对我们而言，我们会更加小声一点。” —

to us, and we go more softly.”
我答应了，但是我让门开着，和他们一样尽情地享受着乐趣，因为我从来没有见过这么精彩的嬉戏。

I promised to do so, but left the door open and enjoyed the fun as much as they did, for a more glorious frolic I never witnessed. —
他们玩追逐和士兵，跳舞唱歌，当天开始变暗时，他们都挤在沙发上围着教授，听他讲关于屋顶上的鹳鸟和骑着飘落的雪花的小精灵的迷人童话故事。 —

They played tag and soldiers, danced and sang, and when it began to grow dark they all piled onto the sofa about the Professor, while he told charming fairy stories of the storks on the chimney tops, and the little ‘koblods’, who ride the snowflakes as they fall. —
我希望美国人和德国人一样简单自然，你呢？ —

I wish Americans were as simple and natural as Germans, don’t you?
“They played tag and soldiers, danced and sang, and when it began to grow dark they all piled onto the sofa about the Professor, while he told charming fairy stories of the storks on the chimney tops, and the little ‘koblods’, who ride the snowflakes as they fall.”

I’m so fond of writing, I should go spinning on forever if motives of economy didn’t stop me, for though I’ve used thin paper and written fine, I tremble to think of the stamps this long letter will need. —
我非常喜欢写作，如果经济原因不阻止我，我会永远不停地写下去。尽管我用的是薄纸写得很好，但一想到这封长信需要多少邮票，我就颤抖不已。 —

Pray forward Amy’s as soon as you can spare them. —
请尽快将艾米的信转寄给我，如果你有空的话。 —

My small news will sound very flat after her splendors, but you will like them, I know. —
在她辉煌的消息之后，我的小消息听起来可能很平淡，但我知道你会喜欢的。 —

Is Teddy studying so hard that he can’t find time to write to his friends? —
泰迪学习那么努力，连给朋友写信的时间都找不到吗？ —

Take good care of him for me, Beth, and tell me all about the babies, and give heaps of love to everyone. —
请好好照顾他，贝丝，告诉我关于孩子们的一切，给每个人都带去许多爱。 —

From your faithful Jo.
来自你忠诚的乔。

P.S. On reading over my letter, it strikes me as rather Bhaery, but I am always interested in odd people, and I really had nothing else to write about. Bless you!
P.S.在阅读完我的信后，我觉得它有点奇怪，但我一直对奇怪的人很感兴趣，而且我真的没有其他可以写的事情了。保佑你！

DECEMBER
十二月

My Precious Betsey,
我亲爱的贝茜，

As this is to be a scribble-scrabble letter, I direct it to you, for it may amuse you, and give you some idea of my goings on, for though quiet, they are rather amusing, for which, oh, be joyful! —
因为这将是一封乱七八糟的信，所以我把它寄给你，因为这可能会让你开心，并给你一些我目前的情况的想法，尽管安静，但相当有趣，对此，哦，要高兴起来！ —

After what Amy would call Herculaneum efforts, in the way of mental and moral agriculture, my young ideas begin to shoot and my little twigs to bend as I could wish. —
在艾米所称的赫库拉内姆努力之后，我的年轻思想开始发芽，我的小枝条也弯曲得如我所愿。 —

They are not so interesting to me as Tina and the boys, but I do my duty by them, and they are fond of me. —
对我来说，他们不如蒂娜和男孩们有趣，但我会尽我的责任，他们也喜欢我。 —

Franz and Emil are jolly little lads, quite after my own heart, for the mixture of German and American spirit in them produces a constant state of effervescence. —
弗朗茨和埃米尔是快乐的小家伙，完全符合我的口味，因为他们体内混合着德国和美国的精神，会产生持续的兴奋状态。 —

Saturday afternoons are riotous times, whether spent in the house or out, for on pleasant days they all go to walk, like a seminary, with the Professor and myself to keep order, and then such fun!
无论在室内还是室外，星期六下午都是狂乱的时候，因为在晴朗的日子里，他们都会和教授一起去散步，像一个学院一样，而我和教授负责维持秩序，然后有很多乐趣！

We are very good friends now, and I’ve begun to take lessons. —
我们现在是非常好的朋友了，我已经开始上课了。 —

I really couldn’t help it, and it all came about in such a droll way that I must tell you. —
我真的没办法，这一切发生得太滑稽了，我一定要告诉你。 —

To begin at the beginning, Mrs. Kirke called to me one day as I passed Mr. Bhaer’s room where she was rummaging.
从头开始说起，柯克夫人有一天在我经过巴赫先生的房间时叫住了我，她正在那里翻找东西。

“Did you ever see such a den, my dear? —
“亲爱的，你见过如此凌乱的房间吗？ —

Just come and help me put these books to rights, for I’ve turned everything upside down, trying to discover what he has done with the six new handkerchiefs I gave him not long ago.”
来帮我整理一下这些书，我已经翻了个底朝天，试图找出他把我不久前送给他的六块新手绢放哪里了。”

I went in, and while we worked I looked about me, for it was ‘a den’ to be sure. —
我走进去，我们边工作边四处看了看，因为这确实是个“窝”。 —

Books and papers everywhere, a broken meerschaum, and an old flute over the mantlepiece as if done with, a ragged bird without any tail chirped on one window seat, and a box of white mice adorned the other. —
到处都是书和文件，壁炉架上有一个破旧的烟斗和一支旧长笛，像是被遗弃了。一个没有尾巴的破烂鸟在一张窗台上叽叽喳喳地叫着，另一张窗台上有一个盒子装着白老鼠。 —

Half-finished boats and bits of string lay among the manuscripts. —
半成品船只和一些线团散落在手稿中间。 —

Dirty little boots stood drying before the fire, and traces of the dearly beloved boys, for whom he makes a slave of himself, were to be seen all over the room. —
脏兮兮的小靴子正在火炉前烘干，他为了这些可爱的孩子们真是自甘堕落，房间到处都能看到他们的痕迹。 —

After a grand rummage three of the missing articles were found, one over the bird cage, one covered with ink, and a third burned brown, having been used as a holder.
在一番大搜寻之后，我们找到了三件失踪的物品，一件被放在鸟笼上面，一件被墨水弄脏，还有一件被烧焦了，估计被当作笔套使用过。

“Such a man!” laughed good-natured Mrs. K., as she put the relics in the rag bay. —
“真是个怪人！”善良的K太太笑着说，在抹布箱子里放进这些零碎。 —

“I suppose the others are torn up to rig ships, bandage cut fingers, or make kite tails. —
“我猜其他人肯定把布料剪碎用来修船、包扎切破的手指，或者做风筝的尾巴。 —

It’s dreadful, but I can’t scold him. —
虽然很可怕，但我不能责骂他。” —

He’s so absent-minded and goodnatured, he lets those boys ride over him roughshod. —
“他太心不在焉又善良，总是让那些男孩随意对待他。” —

I agreed to do his washing and mending, but he forgets to give out his things and I forget to look them over, so he comes to a sad pass sometimes.”
“我同意帮他洗衣服和修裂口，但他总是忘记把衣物递给我，而我也总是忘记检查，所以有时他的衣物就遭殃了。”

“Let me mend them,” said I. “I don’t mind it, and he needn’t know. I’d like to, he’s so kind to me about bringing my letters and lending books.”
“让我修理吧，”我说。“我不介意，而且他不需要知道。我很愿意这样做，因为他对我非常友善，帮我送信和借书。”

So I have got his things in order, and knit heels into two pairs of the socks, for they were boggled out of shape with his queer darns. —
“所以我整理好了他的衣物，并且重新织了两双破掉形状的袜子的后跟，因为他用奇怪的织法把它们织得很乱。” —

Nothing was said, and I hoped he wouldn’t find it out, but one day last week he caught me at it. —
“没有人说什么，我希望他不会发现，但上周的某天他抓住我在修补。” —

Hearing the lessons he gives to others has interested and amused me so much that I took a fancy to learn, for Tina runs in and out, leaving the door open, and I can hear. —
“听他给别人上课的时候我感到很有趣并且很开心，所以我想学一学，因为蒂娜总是进进出出，不关门，我可以听到。” —

I had been sitting near this door, finishing off the last sock, and trying to understand what he said to a new scholar, who is as stupid as I am. —
我一直坐在这扇门附近，织着最后一只袜子，试图理解他对一个和我一样愚蠢的新学者说了什么。 —

The girl had gone, and I thought he had also, it was so still, and I was busily gabbling over a verb, and rocking to and fro in a most absurd way, when a little crow made me look up, and there was Mr. Bhaer looking and laughing quietly, while he made signs to Tina not to betray him.
那个女孩已经走了，我以为他也走了，因为这里非常安静，我正忙着喃喃自语动词，并且傻乎乎地前后晃动，突然一只小乌鸦引起了我的注意，然后我看见布赫先生正一边看着我笑，一边示意蒂娜不要泄露他的行踪。

“So!” he said, as I stopped and stared like a goose, “you peep at me, I peep at you, and this is not bad, but see, I am not pleasanting when I say, haf you a wish for German?”
“噢！这样啊，”当我停下来像个傻瓜一样盯着他时，他说，“你窥视我，我窥视你，这并不坏，但是你看，当我说，你是否希望学德语的时候，我并不是在开玩笑。”

“Yes, but you are too busy. —
“是的，但您太忙了， —

I am too stupid to learn,” I blundered out, as red as a peony.
我太笨学不会，”我结结巴巴地说，满脸红得像朵牡丹花。

“Prut! We will make the time, and we fail not to find the sense. —
“呸！我们会找到时间，我们一定会找到解决方法。 —

At efening I shall gif a little lesson with much gladness, for look you, Mees Marsch, I haf this debt to pay.” And he pointed to my work ‘Yes,’ they say to one another, these so kind ladies, ‘he is a stupid old fellow, he will see not what we do, he will never observe that his sock heels go not in holes any more, he will think his buttons grow out new when they fall, and believe that strings make theirselves.’ “Ah! But I haf an eye, and I see much. —
晚上我会非常高兴地给你上一堂小课，你瞧，玛什小姐，我有个债要还。”“是的，”他指着我的工作说，“这些亲切的女士们彼此说，‘他是个愚蠢的老家伙，他看不见我们所做的事情，他永远不会注意到他的袜子后跟不再破洞，他会认为他的纽扣掉了又会长出来，相信系带自己会解开。’”“啊！但我有双眼，我看见很多。 —

I haf a heart, and I feel thanks for this. —
我有颗心，我对此心怀感激。” —

Come, a little lesson then and now, or–no more good fairy works for me and mine.”
“来吧，小小的教训一下，否则——以后我和我的人就得不到好仙女的帮助了。”

Of course I couldn’t say anything after that, and as it really is a splendid opportunity, I made the bargain, and we began. —
当然，我之后什么也说不出来，而且这真是个绝佳的机会，所以我答应了，我们开始了。 —

I took four lessons, and then I stuck fast in a grammatical bog. —
我上了四节课，然后陷入了语法的泥潭中。 —

The Professor was very patient with me, but it must have been torment to him, and now and then he’d look at me with such an expression of mild despair that it was a toss-up with me whether to laugh or cry. —
教授对我非常有耐心，但对他来说肯定是折磨，有时他看着我时那种温和的绝望表情让我犹豫要笑还是要哭。 —

I tried both ways, and when it came to a sniff or utter mortification and woe, he just threw the grammar on to the floor and marched out of the room. —
我尝试了两种方法，但当他闻到或完全尴尬和不幸时，他只是将语法扔到地上，然后气冲冲地走出了房间。 —

I felt myself disgraced and deserted forever, but didn’t blame him a particle, and was scrambling my papers together, meaning to rush upstairs and shake myself hard, when in he came, as brisk and beaming as if I’d covered myself in glory.
我感到自己被耻辱和抛弃了，但却一丁点也不怪他，并且匆忙地整理好我的文件准备冲上楼去自己摇摇晃晃，但他却像个得意洋洋的人一样，活跃而充满笑容地走了进来，好像我获得了荣誉一样。

“Now we shall try a new way. —
“现在我们来试试新的方法。 —

You and I will read these pleasant little marchen together, and dig no more in that dry book, that goes in the corner for making us trouble.”
你和我一起阅读这些愉快的小童话，不再在那本沉闷的书里挖掘，那本书只会给我们添麻烦而已，放在那个角落就好了。”

He spoke so kindly, and opened Hans Andersons’s fairy tales so invitingly before me, that I was more ashamed than ever, and went at my lesson in a neck-or-nothing style that seemed to amuse him immensely. —
他说话很亲切，并且在我面前非常诱人地打开了安徒生的童话故事书，让我感到更为羞愧，于是我以一种拼命的方式开始学习，这似乎令他非常开心。 —

I forgot my bashfulness, and pegged away (no other word will express it) with all my might, tumbling over long words, pronouncing according to inspiration of the minute, and doing my very best. —
我忘记了我的害羞，全力以赴地努力学习（没有其他词能够表达），跌跌撞撞地念长单词，根据灵感瞬间发音，并尽我最大的努力。 —

When I finished reading my first page, and stopped for breath, he clapped his hands and cried out in his hearty way, “Das ist gut! Now we go well! —
当我读完第一页，停下来喘息时，他拍手大笑，用他那富有活力的声音喊道，“好极了！我们进展顺利！ —

My turn. I do him in German, gif me your ear.” And away he went, rumbling out the words with his strong voice and a relish which was good to see as well as hear. —
轮到我了。我用德语给他表演，倾听吧。”然后他开始用浑厚的声音喋喋不休地念着字，看起来看起来非常过瘾，让人既听得愉快又看得愉快。 —

Fortunately the story was The Constant Tin Soldier, which is droll, you know, so I could laugh, and I did, though I didn’t understand half he read, for I couldn’t help it, he was so earnest, I so excited, and the whole thing so comical.
幸运的是，我们读的是《不倒的锡兵》，你知道，那是一个滑稽的故事，所以我笑了起来，尽管我听不懂他读了一半的内容，但我无法控制，他如此认真，我如此激动，整个情景如此滑稽可笑。

After that we got on better, and now I read my lessons pretty well, for this way of studying suits me, and I can see that the grammar gets tucked into the tales and poetry as one gives pills in jelly. —
之后，情况变得更好了，现在我读课文很顺利，因为这种学习方式适合我，我可以看到语法被夹杂在故事和诗歌中，就像把药丸藏在果冻里面一样。 —

I like it very much, and he doesn’t seem tired of it yet, which is very good of him, isn’t it? —
我非常喜欢这种方式，他似乎还没有厌倦，这真是太好了，不是吗？ —

I mean to give him something on Christmas, for I dare not offer money. —
我打算在圣诞节送他一些东西，因为我不敢给钱。 —

Tell me something nice, Marmee.
告诉我一些好听的事，亲爱的妈咪。

I’m glad Laurie seems so happy and busy, that he has given up smoking and lets his hair grow. —
我很高兴劳里看起来如此快乐和忙碌，他已经戒烟并留长头发。 —

You see Beth manages him better than I did. —
你看，贝丝管理得比我好。 —

I’m not jealous, dear, do your best, only don’t make a saint of him. —
亲爱的，我并不嫉妒，尽你最大努力，只是不要把他当作圣人。 —

I’m afraid I couldn’t like him without a spice of human naughtiness. —
我担心如果没有一点人性的淘气，我可能无法喜欢他。 —

Read him bits of my letters. —
给他读我的信的片段就可以了。 —

I haven’t time to write much, and that will do just as well. —
我没时间写太多，那样也可以。 —

Thank Heaven Beth continues so comfortable.
感谢上天，贝丝的病情还算稳定。

JANUARY
一月

A Happy New Year to you all, my dearest family, which of course includes Mr. L. and a young man by the name of Teddy. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your Christmas bundle, for I didn’t get it till night and had given up hoping. —
祝你们全家新年快乐，亲爱的家人们，当然还包括劳里先生和一个名叫泰迪的年轻人。我无法形容我有多喜欢你们的圣诞礼包，因为我直到晚上才拿到，已经不再抱有希望。 —

Your letter came in the morning, but you said nothing about a parcel, meaning it for a surprise, so I was disappointed, for I’d had a ‘kind of feeling’ that you wouldn’t forget me. —
你的信是在早上收到的，但你没提及包裹，想给我个惊喜，所以我有点失望，因为我有种“感觉”你不会忘记我。 —

I felt a little low in my mind as I sat up in my room after tea, and when the big, muddy, battered-looking bundle was brought to me, I just hugged it and pranced. —
在茶后，当一个大大的、浑身带着泥泞，弄脏的包裹被送到我面前时，我心情有些低落。我紧紧地抱着它，跳了起来。 —

It was so homey and refreshing that I sat down on the floor and read and looked and ate and laughed and cried, in my usual absurd way. —
这样的温馨和清新使我坐在地板上，阅读、观察、吃东西、笑和哭，仿佛我一贯的荒谬方式。 —

The things were just what I wanted, and all the better for being made instead of bought. —
这些东西正是我想要的，因为它们是手工制作的，所以更好。 —

Beth’s new ‘ink bib’ was capital, and Hannah’s box of hard gingerbread will be a treasure. —
贝丝的新的“墨水围嘴”非常棒，汉娜的硬姜饼将成为宝藏。 —

I’ll be sure and wear the nice flannels you sent, Marmee, and read carefully the books Father has marked. —
我一定会穿上你寄来的漂亮的法兰绒衣服，仔细阅读爸爸标记的书。 —

Thank you all, heaps and heaps!
非常感谢你们，非常非常！

Speaking of books reminds me that I’m getting rich in that line, for on New Year’s Day Mr. Bhaer gave me a fine Shakespeare. —
说到书，我记起我在这方面变得丰富了，因为在新年的那天，巴尔先生给了我一本精美的莎士比亚。 —

It is one he values much, and I’ve often admired it, set up in the place of honor with his German Bible, Plato, Homer, and Milton, so you may imagine how I felt when he brought it down, without its cover, and showed me my own name in it, “from my friend Friedrich Bhaer”.
这是他非常珍视的一本书，在他的德语圣经、柏拉图、荷马和弥尔顿的旁边，我常常仰慕它。所以你可以想象当他把它拿下来给我看的时候，没有封面，但是里面写着我的名字，“来自我的朋友弗里德里希·巴尔”。

“You say often you wish a library. Here I gif you one, for between these lids (he meant covers) is many books in one. —
“你经常说你希望有一间图书馆。那么我给你一间，因为在这两个封皮之间（他指的是封面）是许多本书。” —

Read him well, and he will help you much, for the study of character in this book will help you to read it in the world and paint it with your pen.”
好好读他，他会对你有很大的帮助，因为通过这本书对人物的研究，你将能够在世界中阅读并用笔描绘它。”

I thanked him as well as I could, and talk now about ‘my library’, as if I had a hundred books. —
我尽力感谢了他，现在说起“我的图书馆”，好像我有一百本书一样。 —

I never knew how much there was in Shakespeare before, but then I never had a Bhaer to explain it to me. —
我以前从未意识到莎士比亚有这么多内容，但是我以前没有巴尔来为我解释。 —

Now don’t laugh at his horrid name. —
现在不要笑他的可怕名字。 —

It isn’t pronounced either Bear or Beer, as people will say it, but something between the two, as only Germans can give it. —
人们会说它读起来像熊（Bear）或啤酒（Beer），但是实际上读起来像两者之间的某个音，只有德国人才能发出来。 —

I’m glad you both like what I tell you about him, and hope you will know him some day. —
我很高兴你们两个都喜欢我给你们讲的关于他的事情，并希望你们有一天能够认识他。 —

Mother would admire his warm heart, Father his wise head. —
母亲会钦佩他心地温暖，父亲则赞赏他聪明头脑。 —

I admire both, and feel rich in my new ‘friend Friedrich Bhaer’.
我则是对两者都敬仰，而且感到拥有了我的新朋友弗里德里希·巴尔。

Not having much money, or knowing what he’d like, I got several little things, and put them about the room, where he would find them unexpectedly. —
因为没有太多的钱，也不知道他想要什么，我买了几件小东西，放在房间里，让他能意外地发现它们。 —

They were useful, pretty, or funny, a new standish on his table, a little vase for his flower, he always has one, or a bit of green in a glass, to keep him fresh, he says, and a holder for his blower, so that he needn’t burn up what Amy calls ‘mouchoirs’. —
这些东西有用、漂亮或有趣，一个新的笔洗放在他的桌子上，一个小花瓶，他总是有一朵花，或者是一个玻璃杯里的一点绿色，他说这能让他保持清新，还有一个香烟灰缸，这样他就不用烧掉艾米称之为“口袋巾”的东西。 —

I made it like those Beth invented, a big butterfly with a fat body, and black and yellow wings, worsted feelers, and bead eyes. —
我做了一个像贝丝发明的样子，一个大蝴蝶，有着肥胖的身体、黑黄相间的翅膀、毛线触角和小珠子眼睛。 —

It took his fancy immensely, and he put it on his mantlepiece as an article of virtue, so it was rather a failure after all. —
他非常喜欢这个，把它放在壁炉台上当做是一件有价值的物品，所以它实际上是个失败。 —

Poor as he is, he didn’t forget a servant or a child in the house, and not a soul here, from the French laundrywoman to Miss Norton forgot him. —
尽管他很穷，但他没有忘记家里的仆人和孩子，也没有一个人在这里，从法国洗衣妇到诺顿小姐，都忘记了他。 —

I was so glad of that.
我为此感到很高兴。

They got up a masquerade, and had a gay time New Year’s Eve. I didn’t mean to go down, having no dress. —
他们举办了一场化装舞会，在新年前夜度过了快乐的时光。我本来没有打算去参加，因为没有衣服。 —

But at the last minute, Mrs. Kirke remembered some old brocades, and Miss Norton lent me lace and feathers. —
但在最后一刻，柯克夫人想起了一些旧金缎，而诺顿小姐借给了我蕾丝和羽毛。 —

So I dressed up as Mrs. Malaprop, and sailed in with a mask on. —
所以我扮演了玛琳夫人(Mrs. Malaprop)，佩戴着面具进场。 —

No one knew me, for I disguised my voice, and no one dreamed of the silent, haughty Miss March (for they think I am very stiff and cool, most of them, and so I am to whippersnappers) could dance and dress, and burst out into a ‘nice derangement of epitaphs, like an allegory on the banks of the Nile’. I enjoyed it very much, and when we unmasked it was fun to see them stare at me. —
没有人认出我来，因为我改变了声音，而且没人会想到那个沉默且高傲的玛奇小姐（大部分人都认为我很拘谨冷漠）能够舞蹈、打扮，还能够像尼罗河边的寓言故事一样大放异彩。我非常享受那一刻，当我们揭下面具时，看到他们目瞪口呆的样子真有意思。 —

I heard one of the young men tell another that he knew I’d been an actress, in fact, he thought he remembered seeing me at one of the minor theaters. —
我听到一个年轻人告诉另一个年轻人，他知道我曾经是一位演员，他甚至觉得自己记得在一个次要剧院见过我。 —

Meg will relish that joke. Mr. Bhaer was Nick Bottom, and Tina was Titania, a perfect little fairy in his arms. —
梅格一定会喜欢那个笑话。巴尔先生扮演尼克·博顿(Nick Bottom)，而蒂娜则是提坦尼亚(Titania)，在他怀中成了完美的小仙女。 —

To see them dance was ‘quite a landscape’, to use a Teddyism.
看着他们跳舞真是一幅美景，用泰迪式(Teddyism)来形容再贴切不过了。

I had a very happy New Year, after all, and when I thought it over in my room, I felt as if I was getting on a little in spite of my many failures, for I’m cheerful all the time now, work with a will, and take more interest in other people than I used to, which is satisfactory. —
我度过了一个非常快乐的新年，在房间里反思时，我发现尽管失败屡屡，但我似乎还是有所进步，因为现在我总是心情愉快，工作积极主动，并对他人更感兴趣，这是令人满意的。 —

Bless you all! Ever your loving … Jo
祝福你们！永远爱你们的……乔