For a year Jo and her Professor worked and waited, hoped and loved, met occasionally, and wrote such voluminous letters that the rise in the price of paper was accounted for, Laurie said. —
一年来，乔和她的教授一起努力工作、等待、希望和相爱，偶尔见面，写了如此之多的信件，以至于纸张价格上涨都有影响，劳瑞说。 —

The second year began rather soberly, for their prospects did not brighten, and Aunt March died suddenly. —
第二年开始的时候比较低迷，因为他们的前景没有变亮，而且安妮姨突然去世了。 —

But when their first sorrow was over–for they loved the old lady in spite of her sharp tongue–they found they had cause for rejoicing, for she had left Plumfield to Jo, which made all sorts of joyful things possible.
但是当他们的第一次悲伤过去时，他们发现他们有了庆祝的理由，因为安妮姨把普来姆菲尔德留给了乔，这使得各种喜庆的事情成为可能。

“It’s a fine old place, and will bring a handsome sum, for of course you intend to sell it,” said Laurie, as they were all talking the matter over some weeks later.
“那是个不错的地方，而且会带来很可观的金额，当然你打算卖掉它了吧？”劳瑞在几个星期后大家都在讨论这个问题时说道。

“No, I don’t,” was Jo’s decided answer, as she petted the fat poodle, whom she had adopted, out of respect to his former mistress.
“不，我不打算卖。”乔坚决地回答道，同时抚摸着她养的肥胖的波娃娃，她出于对它前任主人的尊重而收养了它。

“You don’t mean to live there?”
“你不打算住在那里吧？”

“Yes, I do.”
“是的，我打算。”

“But, my dear girl, it’s an immense house, and will take a power of money to keep it in order. —
“但是，亲爱的，那是一座巨大的房子，要维持它的秩序需要花费大量的金钱。” —

The garden and orchard alone need two or three men, and farming isn’t in Bhaer’s line, I take it.”
花园和果园仅需两三个人，而农业不是Bhaer的专长，我猜是这样。

“He’ll try his hand at it there, if I propose it.”
“如果我提议，他会尝试在那里种地。”

“And you expect to live on the produce of the place? Well, that sounds paradisiacal, but you’ll find it desperate hard work.”
“你们指望靠这个地方的产出生活？听起来真是太美好了，但你们会发现这是非常辛苦的工作。”

“The crop we are going to raise is a profitable one,” and Jo laughed.
“我们种植的庄稼是有利可图的。”乔笑了起来。

“Of what is this fine crop to consist, ma’am?”
“请问，这个丰收指的是什么，夫人？”

“Boys. I want to open a school for little lads–a good, happy, homelike school, with me to take care of them and Fritz to teach them.”
“是男孩们。我想开一所为年幼男孩们服务的学校——一所好的、快乐的、有家的学校，我负责照顾他们，而弗里兹负责教育他们。”

“That’s a truly Joian plan for you! —
“这真是像乔一样的计划！ —

Isn’t that just like her?” cried Laurie, appealing to the family, who looked as much surprised as he.
是吗？”劳瑞向一家人求证，他们看起来像是被惊到了。

“I like it,” said Mrs. March decidedly.
“我喜欢这个主意。”马奇夫人断然说道。

“So do I,” added her husband, who welcomed the thought of a chance for trying the Socratic method of education on modern youth.
“我也是。”马奇先生补充道，他欢迎有机会在现代年轻人身上尝试苏格拉底教育法的想法。

“It will be an immense care for Jo,” said Meg, stroking the head of her one all-absorbing son.
“这将是乔的一项巨大责任。”梅格抚摸着她那个唯一占据她所有注意力的儿子的头。

“Jo can do it, and be happy in it. It’s a splendid idea. —
“乔可以做到，并且会对此感到快乐。这是个绝妙的主意。 —

Tell us all about it,” cried Mr. Laurence, who had been longing to lend the lovers a hand, but knew that they would refuse his help.
告诉我们所有关于它的事情，”劳伦斯先生大声说道，他一直渴望能够帮助这对情侣，但知道他们会拒绝他的帮助。

“I knew you’d stand by me, sir. —
“我知道您会支持我，先生。 —

Amy does too–I see it in her eyes, though she prudently waits to turn it over in her mind before she speaks. —
艾米也是这样——我从她的眼神中看出来，尽管她聪明地在说话之前会先考虑一下。” —

Now, my dear people,” continued Jo earnestly, “just understand that this isn’t a new idea of mine, but a long cherished plan. —
现在，亲爱的人们，”乔认真地继续说道，“只要明白这不是我新的想法，而是一个长期怀抱的计划。 —

Before my Fritz came, I used to think how, when I’d made my fortune, and no one needed me at home, I’d hire a big house, and pick up some poor, forlorn little lads who hadn’t any mothers, and take care of them, and make life jolly for them before it was too late. —
在我养弗里茨之前，我就曾经想过，当我发了大财并且家里没人需要我的时候，我会租一所大房子，挑选一些没有母亲的可怜的小男孩，照顾他们，让他们在来不及时度过快乐的生活。 —

I see so many going to ruin for want of help at the right minute, I love so to do anything for them, I seem to feel their wants, and sympathize with their troubles, and oh, I should so like to be a mother to them!”
我看到很多人因为缺乏及时的帮助而走向毁灭，我非常愿意为他们做任何事情，我似乎能感受到他们的需求，同情他们的困扰，哦，我非常想成为他们的母亲！

Mrs. March held out her hand to Jo, who took it, smiling, with tears in her eyes, and went on in the old enthusiastic way, which they had not seen for a long while.
马奇太太伸出手给乔，乔接过，眼里含着泪水，以他们已经很久没有见到的热情的方式继续说下去。

“I told my plan to Fritz once, and he said it was just what he would like, and agreed to try it when we got rich. —
“我曾经告诉过弗里茨我的计划，他说那正是他想要的，并同意在我们变得富有之后尝试。 —

Bless his dear heart, he’s been doing it all his life–helping poor boys, I mean, not getting rich, that he’ll never be. —
祝福他亲爱的心，他一生都在这样做–帮助穷孩子们，我是指，不是变得富有，他永远不会富有。 —

Money doesn’t stay in his pocket long enough to lay up any. —
钱不会在他的口袋里停留足够长的时间来存下来。 —

But now, thanks to my good old aunt, who loved me better than I ever deserved, I’m rich, at least I feel so, and we can live at Plumfield perfectly well, if we have a flourishing school. —
但是现在，多亏了我那位比我应得的更爱我的好姑姑，我很富有，至少我觉得自己很富有，而且我们可以在普拉姆菲尔德生活得很好，只要我们有一所兴旺的学校。 —

It’s just the place for boys, the house is big, and the furniture strong and plain. —
这对男孩来说正合适，房子很大，家具坚固而简单。 —

There’s plenty of room for dozens inside, and splendid grounds outside. —
里面有足够的空间容纳几十个人，外面有美丽的庭园。 —

They could help in the garden and orchard. —
他们可以帮忙种花园和果园。 —

Such work is healthy, isn’t it, sir? —
这样的工作对健康有好处，对吧，先生？ —

Then Fritz could train and teach in his own way, and Father will help him. —
然后弗里茨可以按照他自己的方式进行培训和教学，父亲也会帮助他。 —

I can feed and nurse and pet and scold them, and Mother will be my stand-by. —
我可以喂养、照顾、宠爱和责备他们，而母亲会一直在我身边。 —

I’ve always longed for lots of boys, and never had enough, now I can fill the house full and revel in the little dears to my heart’s content. —
我一直渴望有很多男孩，但总觉得不够，现在我可以让房子装满他们，尽情享受这些可爱的孩子们。 —

Think what luxury– Plumfield my own, and a wilderness of boys to enjoy it with me.”
想想看，Plumfield是我的，而且还有一群男孩和我一起享受它，太奢侈了。

As Jo waved her hands and gave a sigh of rapture, the family went off into a gale of merriment, and Mr. Laurence laughed till they thought he’d have an apoplectic fit.
当琼挥挥手，兴奋地叹息时，整个家庭都陷入了欢笑之中，劳伦斯先生笑得他们以为他要中风。

“I don’t see anything funny,” she said gravely, when she could be heard. —
“我不觉得有什么好笑的，” 她认真地说道。 —

“Nothing could be more natural and proper than for my Professor to open a school, and for me to prefer to reside in my own estate.”
“没有比我的教授开一所学校更自然和合适的事了，而我更愿意住在自己的地产里。”

“She is putting on airs already,” said Laurie, who regarded the idea in the light of a capital joke. —
“她已经摆架子了，”劳里说，把这个主意当成了一个绝佳的笑话。 —

“But may I inquire how you intend to support the establishment? —
“但我可以问一下你打算如何养活这个机构吗？ —

If all the pupils are little ragamuffins, I’m afraid your crop won’t be profitable in a worldly sense, Mrs. Bhaer.”
如果所有的学生都是些小无赖，恐怕你的收益会在世俗意义上不是很可观，巴尔太太。

“Now don’t be a wet-blanket, Teddy. Of course I shall have rich pupils, also–perhaps begin with such altogether. —
“别操心，泰迪。我当然会有富有的学生，也许一开始就是这样。 —

Then, when I’ve got a start, I can take in a ragamuffin or two, just for a relish. —
然后，等我有了一些起步，我可以接纳一两个乞丐孩子，增加点情趣。 —

Rich people’s children often need care and comfort, as well as poor. —
富人的孩子通常也需要关怀和安慰，和穷人一样。 —

I’ve seen unfortunate little creatures left to servants, or backward ones pushed forward, when it’s real cruelty. —
我见过不幸的小孩子被交给仆人照顾，或者落后的孩子被逼着超前发展，这真是残忍。 —

Some are naughty through mismanagment or neglect, and some lose their mothers. —
有些孩子是因为管理不善或者疏忽导致不听话，有些人则是没有妈妈了。 —

Besides, the best have to get through the hobbledehoy age, and that’s the very time they need most patience and kindness. —
而且，最优秀的孩子遭遇蹒跚不定的年龄阶段，那时候最需要耐心和友善。 —

People laugh at them, and hustle them about, try to keep them out of sight, and expect them to turn all at once from pretty children into fine young men. —
人们嘲笑他们，推来搡去，试图把他们藏起来，期望他们从可爱的孩子一下子变成优秀的青年。 —

They don’t complain much–plucky little souls–but they feel it. —
他们不怎么抱怨，是勇敢的小家伙，但他们感受到了。 —

I’ve been through something of it, and I know all about it. —
我经历过这些，了解其中的一切。 —

I’ve a special interest in such young bears, and like to show them that I see the warm, honest, well-meaning boys’ hearts, in spite of the clumsy arms and legs and the topsy-turvy heads. —
对这样的年轻熊我有特别的兴趣，我喜欢向他们展示，无论笨拙的胳膊和腿，还是颠倒的头，我都看到了温暖、诚实、善意的男孩之心。 —

I’ve had experience, too, for haven’t I brought up one boy to be a pride and honor to his family?”
我也有经验，毕竟我曾经带大一个男孩，使他成为家族的骄傲和荣誉。

“I’ll testify that you tried to do it,” said Laurie with a grateful look.
“我可以作证你是个很努力的人，” 劳里感激地说道。

“And I’ve succeeded beyond my hopes, for here you are, a steady, sensible businessman, doing heaps of good with your money, and laying up the blessings of the poor, instead of dollars. —
“我所期望的成功已经超乎我的预期，因为你现在已经成为一位稳重、明智的商人，用你的财富做了许多善事，为贫困者积攒福报，而不是金钱。 —

But you are not merely a businessman, you love good and beautiful things, enjoy them yourself, and let others go halves, as you always did in the old times. —
但你不仅仅是一个商人，你热爱美好的事物，享受它们，同时也让别人同样分享，就像你在过去一样。 —

I am proud of you, Teddy, for you get better every year, and everyone feels it, though you won’t let them say so. —
泰迪，我为你感到骄傲，你每年都变得越来越好，每个人都感受得到，虽然你不让别人说出来。 —

Yes, and when I have my flock, I’ll just point to you, and say ‘There’s your model, my lads’.”
是的，当我有了我的羊群，我会指着你说，’ 这就是你们的榜样，伙计们’。

Poor Laurie didn’t know where to look, for, man though he was, something of the old bashfulness came over him as this burst of praise made all faces turn approvingly upon him.
可怜的劳里不知道往哪里看，虽然他是个男子汉，但这场赞美之后，一丝旧日的害羞感又涌上心头，所有人的脸都投以赞许的目光。

“I say, Jo, that’s rather too much,” he began, just in his old boyish way. —
“我说，乔，这也太过分了”，他用以前那种孩子气的方式开始说话。 —

“You have all done more for me than I can ever thank you for, except by doing my best not to disappoint you. —
“你们为我做的事情比我能感谢的多，除了尽力不让你们失望之外，我别无他法。 —

You have rather cast me off lately, Jo, but I’ve had the best of help, nevertheless. —
你最近对我冷落了，乔，但我还是得到了最好的帮助。 —

So, if I’ve got on at all, you may thank these two for it,” and he laid one hand gently on his grandfather’s head, and the other on Amy’s golden one, for the three were never far apart.
所以，如果我有任何进步，你们要感谢这两位”，他轻轻地抚摸了一下祖父的头，另一只手放在艾米金色的头上，因为这三个人从来都不离开彼此。

“I do think that families are the most beautiful things in all the world!” burst out Jo, who was in an unusually up-lifted frame of mind just then. —
“我真的认为家庭是世界上最美丽的事物！”乔爆发出来，她的心情异常舒畅。 —

“When I have one of my own, I hope it will be as happy as the three I know and love the best. —
“当我有了自己的家庭时，我希望它能像我现在所认识和最爱的这三个家庭一样幸福。 —

If John and my Fritz were only here, it would be quite a little heaven on earth,” she added more quietly. —
如果约翰和弗里茨在这里就好了，那将是个真正的人间天堂”，她更加平静地补充道。 —

And that night when she went to her room after a blissful evening of family counsels, hopes, and plans, her heart was so full of happiness that she could only calm it by kneeling beside the empty bed always near her own, and thinking tender thoughts of Beth.
那晚，当她在一个充满幸福的家庭会商、希望和计划的夜晚回到自己的房间时，她的心里充满了幸福，只能靠跪在离她自己的床很近的空床边，思念伯斯的温柔。

It was a very astonishing year altogether, for things seemed to happen in an unusually rapid and delightful manner. —
整个年度非常令人惊讶，因为事情以异常迅速而令人愉快的方式发生。 —

Almost before she knew where she was, Jo found herself married and settled at Plumfield. —
就在她还不知道自己身处何处时，乔发现自己已结婚并定居在普拉姆菲尔德。 —

Then a family of six or seven boys sprung up like mushrooms, and flourished surprisingly, poor boys as well as rich, for Mr. Laurence was continually finding some touching case of destitution, and begging the Bhaers to take pity on the child, and he would gladly pay a trifle for its support. —
然后，一个有六七个男孩子的家庭突然出现，就像蘑菇一样茁壮成长，无论是贫穷的孩子还是富有的孩子，劳伦斯先生总能找到一些令人感动的困境，恳求拜尔一家悯悯这个孩子，而他很愿意支付一点钱来支持。 —

In this way, the sly old gentleman got round proud Jo, and furnished her with the style of boy in which she most delighted.
通过这种方式，这位狡猾的老绅士打动了骄傲的乔，为她提供了她最喜欢的男孩风格。

Of course it was uphill work at first, and Jo made queer mistakes, but the wise Professor steered her safely into calmer waters, and the most rampant ragamuffin was conquered in the end. —
当然一开始是艰难的工作，乔制造了一些奇怪的错误，但明智的教授安全地将她引导到更平静的水域，最狂野的淘气鬼最终被征服了。 —

How Jo did enjoy her ‘wilderness of boys’, and how poor, dear Aunt March would have lamented had she been there to see the sacred precincts of prim, well-ordered Plumfield overrun with Toms, Dicks, and Harrys! —
乔是多么喜欢她的“男孩天堂”，可怜的、亲爱的玛琅姑婆若是在那里看到整洁有序的普朗菲尔德被汤姆、迪克和哈里们所占领，一定会哀叹不已！ —

There was a sort of poetic justice about it, after all, for the old lady had been the terror of the boys for miles around, and now the exiles feasted freely on forbidden plums, kicked up the gravel with profane boots unreproved, and played cricket in the big field where the irritable ‘cow with a crumpled horn’ used to invite rash youths to come and be tossed. —
这正是一种诗意的正义，毕竟这位老太太曾是周围几英里范围内男孩们的噩梦，而现在这些流亡者们可以尽情享用禁果，用不文明的鞋子踢起石子，还可以在那片曾经引诱冲动青年去被扔起来的大草地上打板球。 —

It became a sort of boys’ paradise, and Laurie suggested that it should be called the ‘Bhaer-garten’, as a compliment to its master and appropriate to its inhabitants.
这变成了一个男孩们的天堂，劳里建议将其称为“拜尔花园”，以向它的主人致敬并适应其居民。

It never was a fashionable school, and the Professor did not lay up a fortune, but it was just what Jo intended it to be– ‘a happy, homelike place for boys, who needed teaching, care, and kindness’. —
这所学校从来都不是一所时髦的学校，而且教授也没有存下一笔财富，但它确实是乔期望的那样——一个快乐、温馨的地方，为那些需要教育、关心和温情的男孩们提供帮助。 —

Every room in the big house was soon full. —
大房子里的每个房间很快就满了。 —

Every little plot in the garden soon had its owner. —
花园里的每个小块土地很快都有了主人。 —

A regular menagerie appeared in barn and shed, for pet animals were allowed. —
谷仓和棚里出现了一个规规矩矩的动物园，因为他们可以养宠物动物。 —

And three times a day, Jo smiled at her Fritz from the head of a long table lined on either side with rows of happy young faces, which all turned to her with affectionate eyes, confiding words, and grateful hearts, full of love for ‘Mother Bhaer’. —
每天三次，乔从一个长桌的首位向她的弗里茨微笑，桌子两边排满了一排排快乐的年轻面孔，它们都带着亲切的目光望着她，满怀感激之心，对“贝尔母亲”充满了爱。 —

She had boys enough now, and did not tire of them, though they were not angels, by any means, and some of them caused both Professor and Professorin much trouble and anxiety. —
现在她有足够多的男孩了，而且她并不厌倦他们，尽管他们并不是天使，有些人给教授和学员夫人带来了很多麻烦和焦虑。 —

But her faith in the good spot which exists in the heart of the naughtiest, sauciest, most tantalizing little ragamuffin gave her patience, skill, and in time success, for no mortal boy could hold out long with Father Bhaer shining on him as benevolently as the sun, and Mother Bhaer forgiving him seventy times seven. —
但她对调皮捣蛋的小顽童心中的善良之地的信念赋予她耐心、技巧，最终成功，因为没有一个凡人男孩能够在巴尔父亲像太阳一样慈祥地照耀他，巴尔母亲宽恕他七十七次后还继续坚持下去。 —

Very precious to Jo was the friendship of the lads, their penitent sniffs and whispers after wrongdoing, their droll or touching little confidences, their pleasant enthusiasms, hopes, and plans, even their misfortunes, for they only endeared them to her all the more. —
对于乔来说，男孩们的友谊是非常珍贵的，他们在犯错后的悔过的抽泣和窃窃私语，他们滑稽或感人的小秘密，他们愉快的热情、希望和计划，甚至他们的不幸，因为这些只会让她更加珍视他们。 —

There were slow boys and bashful boys, feeble boys and riotous boys, boys that lisped and boys that stuttered, one or two lame ones, and a merry little quadroon, who could not be taken in elsewhere, but who was welcome to the ‘Bhaer-garten’, though some people predicted that his admission would ruin the school.
学校里有一些慢慢的男孩和害羞的男孩，有些体弱的男孩和放荡的男孩，有口吃的男孩和结巴的男孩，还有一两个瘸子和一个欢快的四分之一黑人孩子，其他地方不收他，但他在“巴尔-花园”里受欢迎，尽管有些人预测他的入学会毁了学校。

Yes, Jo was a very happy woman there, in spite of hard work, much anxiety, and a perpetual racket. —
是的，乔在那里是一个非常幸福的女人，尽管工作辛苦、焦虑重重，还有持续不断的吵闹声。 —

She enjoyed it heartily and found the applause of her boys more satisfying than any praise of the world, for now she told no stories except to her flock of enthusiastic believers and admirers. —
她非常喜欢这样，她觉得孩子们的掌声比世界上任何赞美都更让人满意，因为她现在只对自己那一群狂热的信徒和钦佩者讲故事。 —

As the years went on, two little lads of her own came to increase her happiness–Rob, named for Grandpa, and Teddy, a happy-go-lucky baby, who seemed to have inherited his papa’s sunshiny temper as well as his mother’s lively spirit. —
随着岁月的流逝，她自己还有两个小男孩，罗布以爷爷的名字命名，泰迪则是一个快乐无忧的宝宝，他似乎不仅继承了爸爸阳光的脾气，也继承了妈妈的活泼精神。 —

How they ever grew up alive in that whirlpool of boys was a mystery to their grandma and aunts, but they flourished like dandelions in spring, and their rough nurses loved and served them well.
他们怎么能够在这个男孩的漩涡中长大并活得好好的，对于他们的祖母和姑妈们来说，这是个谜，但他们像春天的蒲公英一样茁壮成长，他们那些粗鲁的保姆们爱他们、照顾他们。

There were a great many holidays at Plumfield, and one of the most delightful was the yearly apple-picking. —
在普伦菲尔德有很多个假日，其中最令人愉快的是每年一次的采苹果日。 —

For then the Marches, Laurences, Brookes and Bhaers turned out in full force and made a day of it. —
因此，马奇、劳伦斯、布鲁克斯和贝尔一家人全家出动，热闹一整天。 —

Five years after Jo’s wedding, one of these fruitful festivals occurred, a mellow October day, when the air was full of an exhilarating freshness which made the spirits rise and the blood dance healthily in the veins. —
乔结婚五年后的一个富饶的节日到来了，一个温和的十月天，空气中充满了令人振奋的新鲜感，使精神振奋，血液在血管中健康地跳动。 —

The old orchard wore its holiday attire. —
老果园穿上了节日的盛装。 —

Goldenrod and asters fringed the mossy walls. —
金麒麟花和紫菀点缀着苔藓覆盖的墙壁。 —

Grasshoppers skipped briskly in the sere grass, and crickets chirped like fairy pipers at a feast. —
蚱蜢在枯草中跳跃，蟋蟀像仙子一样在宴会上吹奏乐器。 —

Squirrels were busy with their small harvesting. —
松鼠们正忙于他们的小小收获。 —

Birds twittered their adieux from the alders in the lane, and every tree stood ready to send down its shower of red or yellow apples at the first shake. —
鸟儿从巷子里的赤杨树上叽叽喳喳地告别，每棵树都准备好在第一次摇动时摇下一阵红色或黄色的苹果。 —

Everybody was there. Everybody laughed and sang, climbed up and tumbled down. —
每个人都在那里。每个人都笑着唱着，爬上爬下。 —

Everybody declared that there never had been such a perfect day or such a jolly set to enjoy it, and everyone gave themselves up to the simple pleasures of the hour as freely as if there were no such things as care or sorrow in the world.
每个人都说这是从未有过的完美的一天，从未有过这样愉快的一群人来享受它，每个人都毫不保留地投入到这个时刻的简单乐趣中，就像世界上没有忧虑或悲伤一样。

Mr. March strolled placidly about, quoting Tusser, Cowley, and Columella to Mr. Laurence, while enjoying …
三月先生轻松地漫步着，向劳伦斯先生引用着 Tusser, Cowley 和 Columella 的话语，同时享受着……

The gentle apple’s winey juice.
温和的苹果美酒般的汁液。

The Professor charged up and down the green aisles like a stout Teutonic knight, with a pole for a lance, leading on the boys, who made a hook and ladder company of themselves, and performed wonders in the way of ground and lofty tumbling. —
教授像一位笨重的日耳曼骑士一样在绿色过道上来回奔跑着，手中拿着一根杆子当作长矛，带领着孩子们，他们将自己组成了一个机器编织公司，并在地面和高台上执行了令人惊叹的翻转动作。 —

Laurie devoted himself to the little ones, rode his small daughter in a bushel-basket, took Daisy up among the bird’s nests, and kept adventurous Rob from breaking his neck. —
劳里全身心地投入到照顾孩子们中，他用一个布丁筐载着他的小女儿骑车，把 Daisy 带到了鸟巢们中，还保住了冒险的 Rob 不摔断脖子。 —

Mrs. March and Meg sat among the apple piles like a pair of Pomonas, sorting the contributions that kept pouring in, while Amy with a beautiful motherly expression in her face sketched the various groups, and watched over one pale lad, who sat adoring her with his little crutch beside him.
Mrs. March 和 Meg 坐在堆满苹果的地方，就像一对 Pomona 一样，整理着源源不断涌来的贡献，而Amy 则在她脸上表现出美丽的母性表情，勾画各种群体，并照顾着一位苍白的小伙子，他坐在她身边，拄着他的小拐杖，崇拜地看着她。

Jo was in her element that day, and rushed about, with her gown pinned up, and her hat anywhere but on her head, and her baby tucked under her arm, ready for any lively adventure which might turn up. —
那天，乔活蹦乱跳，着装得体，帽子随意摆放，一只手搂着婴儿，准备参与任何可能发生的有趣冒险。 —

Little Teddy bore a charmed life, for nothing ever happened to him, and Jo never felt any anxiety when he was whisked up into a tree by one lad, galloped off on the back of another, or supplied with sour russets by his indulgent papa, who labored under the Germanic delusion that babies could digest anything, from pickled cabbage to buttons, nails, and their own small shoes. —
小泰迪的生活就像受了守护一样，从来没有发生过什么意外。乔对他从一个男孩手中被扔到树上、被另一个人骑着奔驰，或者被宠溺的爸爸给他吃酸苹果这些事都没有感到担心。她父亲沉浸在德国人的误解中，认为婴儿可以消化任何东西，从腌卷心菜到纽扣、钉子和鞋子。 —

She knew that little Ted would turn up again in time, safe and rosy, dirty and serene, and she always received him back with a hearty welcome, for Jo loved her babies tenderly.
她知道泰德很快就会再次出现，安全而红润，虽然脏但心情宁静。乔总是热情地欢迎他的回归，因为她深深地爱着她的孩子们。

At four o’clock a lull took place, and baskets remained empty, while the apple pickers rested and compared rents and bruises. —
下午四点，一切都平静下来，篮子里空空如也，采摘苹果的人们休息起来，比较着伤口和磕碰。 —

Then Jo and Meg, with a detachment of the bigger boys, set forth the supper on the grass, for an out-of-door tea was always the crowning joy of the day. —
然后乔和梅格与一群大男孩一起在草地上准备晚餐，因为户外茶会总是一天中最令人兴奋的时刻。 —

The land literally flowed with milk and honey on such occasions, for the lads were not required to sit at table, but allowed to partake of refreshment as they liked–freedom being the sauce best beloved by the boyish soul. —
在这种场合，土地上真的像奶和蜜一样涌流不止，因为男孩们不需要坐在桌子前，可以随心所欲享受美食–对男孩灵魂来说，自由就是最好的调味品。 —

They availed themselves of the rare privilege to the fullest extent, for some tried the pleasing experiment of drinking milk while standing on their heads, others lent a charm to leapfrog by eating pie in the pauses of the game, cookies were sown broadcast over the field, and apple turnovers roosted in the trees like a new style of bird. —
他们充分利用了这种难得的特权，有的尝试着趴在地上喝奶，有的在跳蛙游戏间隙吃派，饼干在田野上四处撒播，苹果翻饼则像新式的鸟栖息在树上。 —

The little girls had a private tea party, and Ted roved among the edibles at his own sweet will.
小女孩们进行了一场私人茶话会，而特德则任意地在食物中游走。

When no one could eat any more, the Professor proposed the first regular toast, which was always drunk at such times–“Aunt March, God bless her!” A toast heartily given by the good man, who never forgot how much he owed her, and quietly drunk by the boys, who had been taught to keep her memory green.
当没有人能再吃下去时，教授提议第一个正式的祝酒词，这在这样的场合总是会喝的–“玛奇姨妈，上帝保佑她！”一位善良的人给予了真心的祝酒，他永远不会忘记自己欠她多少，而这杯酒被那些被教导要永远珍惜她记忆的男孩们安静地喝下。

“Now, Grandma’s sixtieth birthday! —
“现在，祝奶奶六十岁生日快乐！ —

Long life to her, with three times three!”
愿她健康长寿，三生三世！”

That was given with a will, as you may well believe, and the cheering once begun, it was hard to stop it. —
这个祝酒的意愿非常强烈，你可以相信，一旦欢呼开始，很难停下来。 —

Everybody’s health was proposed, from Mr. Laurence, who was considered their special patron, to the astonished guinea pig, who had strayed from its proper sphere in search of its young master. —
为了向每个人的健康干杯，从被视为他们特别赞助人的劳伦斯先生，到一只惊讶的豚鼠，它迷失了自己的正常领域去寻找它的小主人。 —

Demi, as the oldest grandchild, then presented the queen of the day with various gifts, so numerous that they were transported to the festive scene in a wheelbarrow. —
作为最年长的孙子，Demi随后向生日女王赠送了各种礼物，数量众多，以至于它们被用手推车运到了庆祝现场。 —

Funny presents, some of them, but what would have been defects to other eyes were ornaments to Grandma’s–for the children’s gifts were all their own. —
一些又搞笑的礼物，在其他人眼里可能被认为是瑕疵，但在奶奶眼中却是装饰品：因为孩子们送的礼物都是他们自己做的。 —

Every stitch Daisy’s patient little fingers had put into the handkerchiefs she hemmed was better than embroidery to Mrs. March. Demi’s miracle of mechanical skill, though the cover wouldn’t shut, Rob’s footstool had a wiggle in its uneven legs that she declared was soothing, and no page of the costly book Amy’s child gave her was so fair as that on which appeared in tipsy capitals, the words– “To dear Grandma, from her little Beth.”
戴茜用耐心细致的小手指为手绢绣上的每一针，对玛奇夫人来说，比绣花还漂亮。黛米的机械技能奇迹，虽然盖子关不上，罗布的小脚凳四脚不齐地晃动，她却说给人一种舒缓的感觉，而艾米的孩子给她的那本昂贵的书上的页码也没那一页写得那么美，那页上用不齐的大写字母写着：“给亲爱的奶奶，来自你的小贝丝”。

During the ceremony the boys had mysteriously disappeared, and when Mrs. March had tried to thank her children, and broken down, while Teddy wiped her eyes on his pinafore, the Professor suddenly began to sing. —
在典礼期间，男孩们神秘地消失了，当玛奇夫人试图感谢她的孩子们，却哽咽起来，泰迪用他的围裙擦拭她的眼泪时，教授突然开始唱歌。 —

Then, from above him, voice after voice took up the words, and from tree to tree echoed the music of the unseen choir, as the boys sang with all their hearts the little song that Jo had written, Laurie set to music, and the Professor trained his lads to give with the best effect. —
然后，他头上的声音接连不断，从一棵树传到另一棵树，隐藏的合唱团的音乐在回响，男孩们全心全意地唱着乔写的小歌，劳瑞谱曲，教授训练他们以最佳效果演唱。 —

This was something altogether new, and it proved a grand success, for Mrs. March couldn’t get over her surprise, and insisted on shaking hands with every one of the featherless birds, from tall Franz and Emil to the little quadroon, who had the sweetest voice of all.
这是全新的东西，证明是个很大的成功，玛奇夫人无法克制自己的惊喜，坚持要和每一只光秃秃的小鸟握手，从高个子的弗兰茨和埃米尔到拥有最甜美声音的小人种。

After this, the boys dispersed for a final lark, leaving Mrs. March and her daughters under the festival tree.
此后，男孩们散去进行最后一次开心的游玩，让玛奇夫人和她的女儿们留在庆祝树下。

“I don’t think I ever ought to call myself ‘unlucky Jo’ again, when my greatest wish has been so beautifully gratified,” said Mrs. Bhaer, taking Teddy’s little fist out of the milk pitcher, in which he was rapturously churning.
“当我最大的愿望如此美好地实现时，我觉得自己再也不应该称自己为‘倒霉的乔’了。”拿着快乐地搅动奶罐的泰迪的小拳头，巴尔夫人说道。

“And yet your life is very different from the one you pictured so long ago. —
“尽管如此，你的生活与你很久之前设想的那个有很大不同。 —

Do you remember our castles in the air?” asked Amy, smiling as she watched Laurie and John playing cricket with the boys.
你还记得我们心中的梦想吗？”艾米笑着问道，她看着劳里和约翰和男孩们一起打板球。

“Dear fellows! It does my heart good to see them forget business and frolic for a day,” answered Jo, who now spoke in a maternal way of all mankind. —
“亲爱的伙计们！看到他们忘记工作，为了一天的欢乐而嬉戏，我的心都好受了，”乔以一种母性的方式回答道，她现在以这种方式称呼全人类。 —

“Yes, I remember, but the life I wanted then seems selfish, lonely, and cold to me now. —
“是的，我记得，但当时我向往的生活现在对我来说显得自私、孤独和冷漠。” —

I haven’t given up the hope that I may write a good book yet, but I can wait, and I’m sure it will be all the better for such experiences and illustrations as these,” and Jo pointed from the lively lads in the distance to her father, leaning on the Professor’s arm, as they walked to and fro in the sunshine, deep in one of the conversations which both enjoyed so much, and then to her mother, sitting enthroned among her daughters, with their children in her lap and at her feet, as if all found help and happiness in the face which never could grow old to them.
我还没有放弃写一本好书的希望，但是我可以等待，我相信经历和这些插图会让它变得更好。”乔指着远处活泼的男孩们，然后指向她的父亲，他正倚在教授的臂膀上，在阳光下往返走动，深陷着他们都非常享受的对话中，然后指向坐在女儿们中间、孙子孙女坐在她腿上和脚边的母亲，仿佛所有人都在这张永远不会变老的脸上找到了帮助和幸福。

“My castle was the most nearly realized of all. —
“我建造的城堡是最接近实现的。 —

I asked for splendid things, to be sure, but in my heart I knew I should be satisfied, if I had a little home, and John, and some dear children like these. —
我当然要求了辉煌壮丽的事物，但我心里知道，如果我有一个小小的家，还有约翰，以及像这样可爱的孩子们，我就会感到满足了。” —

I’ve got them all, thank God, and am the happiest woman in the world,” and Meg laid her hand on her tall boy’s head, with a face full of tender and devout content.
“感谢上帝，我拥有了所有这些，我是世界上最幸福的女人。”梅格把手放在她高大的儿子头上，脸上满是温柔和虔诚的满足。

“My castle is very different from what I planned, but I would not alter it, though, like Jo, I don’t relinquish all my artistic hopes, or confine myself to helping others fulfill their dreams of beauty. —
“虽然我的城堡与我原先计划的很不一样，但我不会去改变它，尽管不像乔一样放弃我所有的艺术希望，或者把自己局限于帮助他人实现他们对美的梦想。” —

I’ve begun to model a figure of baby, and Laurie says it is the best thing I’ve ever done. —
“我已经开始塑造一个婴儿的形象，劳里说这是我做过的最好的作品。” —

I think so, myself, and mean to do it in marble, so that, whatever happens, I may at least keep the image of my little angel.”
“我自己也这么认为，并打算用大理石来制作它，这样无论发生什么事情，我至少可以保留着我小天使的形象。”

As Amy spoke, a great tear dropped on the golden hair of the sleeping child in her arms, for her one well-beloved daughter was a frail little creature and the dread of losing her was the shadow over Amy’s sunshine. —
当艾米说话时，一滴眼泪滴在她怀中睡着的金发宝宝上，因为她唯一爱的女儿是一个脆弱的小生命，失去她是艾米阳光下的阴影。 —

This cross was doing much for both father and mother, for one love and sorrow bound them closely together. —
这个十字架对父亲和母亲都有很大的帮助，因为一份爱和悲伤将他们紧密地连结在一起。 —

Amy’s nature was growing sweeter, deeper, and more tender. —
艾米的本性变得更加温和、深沉和温柔。 —

Laurie was growing more serious, strong, and firm, and both were learning that beauty, youth, good fortune, even love itself, cannot keep care and pain, loss and sorrow, from the most blessed for …
劳里变得更加认真、强大和坚定，二人都在学习，美丽、年轻、幸运、甚至爱情本身，都不能使那些最幸福的人免除烦忧和痛苦、失去和悲伤……

Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and sad and dreary.
人生中总会经历一些雨水，总会有些日子阴暗、悲伤和沮丧。

“She is growing better, I am sure of it, my dear. —
“她一定好起来了，亲爱的，我有把握。 —

Don’t despond, but hope and keep happy,” said Mrs. March, as tenderhearted Daisy stooped from her knee to lay her rosy cheek against her little cousin’s pale one.
不要气馁，要保持希望和快乐，”玛奇夫人说，慈心的黛西从她膝上弯下腰，把红润的脸颊贴在她小表妹苍白的脸上。

“I never ought to, while I have you to cheer me up, Marmee, and Laurie to take more than half of every burden,” replied Amy warmly. —
“我从不应该这样想，因为我有你来鼓励我，还有劳里来分担一半以上的负担，” 艾米热情地回答道。 —

“He never lets me see his anxiety, but is so sweet and patient with me, so devoted to Beth, and such a stay and comfort to me always that I can’t love him enough. —
“他从不让我看到他的忧虑，但是对我非常甜蜜和耐心，对贝丝非常关怀和安慰，对我来说一直都是支持和慰藉，我永远都爱他不够。 —

So, in spite of my one cross, I can say with Meg, ‘Thank God, I’m a happy woman.’”
所以，尽管有我的不顺，我可以和梅格一样说：‘感谢上帝，我是一个幸福的女人。’”

“There’s no need for me to say it, for everyone can see that I’m far happier than I deserve,” added Jo, glancing from her good husband to her chubby children, tumbling on the grass beside her. —
“没有必要我说出来，因为每个人都可以看到我比自己值得的要快乐得多，”乔补充道，她望向她的好丈夫和在她身边的肥胖孩子们，在草地上打闹。 —

“Fritz is getting gray and stout. —
“弗里茨变得头发花白和肥胖。 —

I’m growing as thin as a shadow, and am thirty. —
我变得瘦得像个影子，现在已经三十岁了。 —

We never shall be rich, and Plumfield may burn up any night, for that incorrigible Tommy Bangs will smoke sweet-fern cigars under the bed-clothes, though he’s set himself afire three times already. —
“我们永远不会富裕，而且普拉姆菲尔德随时可能被烧毁，因为那个顽劣的汤米·班斯总是在床上抽那种甜草莓雪茄，尽管他已经三次点着自己了。 —

But in spite of these unromantic facts, I have nothing to complain of, and never was so jolly in my life. —
“但是尽管这些非浪漫的事实，我没有什么好抱怨的，从来没有过这么快乐的生活。 —

Excuse the remark, but living among boys, I can’t help using their expressions now and then.”
“请原谅这番话，但是和男孩们住在一起，我不能不偶尔使用他们的说法。

“Yes, Jo, I think your harvest will be a good one,” began Mrs. March, frightening away a big black cricket that was staring Teddy out of countenance.
“是的，乔，我认为你的收获会很好，”马奇夫人说道，把一只大黑蟋蟀吓跑了，它一直盯着泰迪。

“Not half so good as yours, Mother. Here it is, and we never can thank you enough for the patient sowing and reaping you have done,” cried Jo, with the loving impetuosity which she never would outgrow.
“母亲，这根本不如您的好。这是您付出耐心播种和收获的结果，我们永远感谢不尽。” 乔喊道，她那永远不会长大的充满爱的冲动。

“I hope there will be more wheat and fewer tares every year,” said Amy softly.
“我希望每年都有更多的麦子，更少的杂草。” 艾米轻声说。

“A large sheaf, but I know there’s room in your heart for it, Marmee dear,” added Meg’s tender voice.
“一个庞大的捆，但我知道您的心中有空间来收纳它，亲爱的妈妈。”梅格温柔的声音补充道。

Touched to the heart, Mrs. March could only stretch out her arms, as if to gather children and grandchildren to herself, and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude, and humility …
被触动到心底的玛奇太太只能伸出双臂，仿佛要将孩子和孙子都拥抱在自己身边，并带着母爱、感激和谦卑的表情和声音说道. ..

“Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this!”
“哦，我的女儿们，无论你们活多久，我永远不会希望你们有比这更大的幸福！”