Cherokee was the civic father of Yellowhammer. —
切罗基是黄鹂镇的开创者。 —

Yellowhammer was a new mining town constructed mainly of canvas and undressed pine. —
黄鹂镇主要由帆布和未经修饰的松木建造而成。 —

Cherokee was a prospector. —
切罗基是一名探矿者。 —

One day while his burro was eating quartz and pine burrs Cherokee turned up with his pick a nugget, weighing thirty ounces. He staked his claim and then, being a man of breadth and hospitality, sent out invitations to his friends in three States to drop in and share his luck.
一天，当他的驴正在吃石英和松树刺时，切罗基用镐刀挖出了一个重三十盎司的金块。他立即立下了自己的权利，并且以他宽广和好客的心灵向来自三个州的朋友们发出邀请，分享他的好运。

Not one of the invited guests sent regrets. —
受邀宾客中没有一个人表示遗憾。 —

They rolled in from the Gila country, from Salt River, from the Pecos, from Albuquerque and Phoenix and Santa Fe, and from the camps intervening.
他们从吉拉乡村、盐河、佩科斯、阿尔布开基和凤凰城以及各个矿山营地都赶来了。

When a thousand citizens had arrived and taken up claims they named the town Yellowhammer, appointed a vigilance committee, and presented Cherokee with a watch-chain made of nuggets.
当一千个居民赶到并且申领了权益时，他们将镇子命名为黄鹂镇，成立了一个警戒委员会，并向切罗基赠送了一个由金块制成的表链。

Three hours after the presentation ceremonies Cherokee’s claim played out. —
在颁奖仪式结束三小时后，切罗基的权益用尽了。 —

He had located a pocket instead of a vein. —
他发现的只是一个矿袋，而不是一个矿脉。 —

He abandoned it and staked others one by one. —
他放弃了它，逐一抵押给了其他人。 —

Luck had kissed her hand to him. —
运气给了他一次机会。 —

Never afterward did he turn up enough dust in Yellowhammer to pay his bar bill. —
此后，他再也没有在Yellowhammer挖到足够的灰尘来支付酒吧账单。 —

But his thousand invited guests were mostly prospering, and Cherokee smiled and congratulated them.
但是他邀请的一千名客人大多都发了财，切罗基微笑着祝贺他们。

Yellowhammer was made up of men who took off their hats to a smiling loser; —
Yellowhammer的人都愿意向一个微笑的失败者脱帽致敬， —

so they invited Cherokee to say what he wanted.
所以他们邀请切罗基说出他想要的。

“Me?” said Cherokee, “oh, grubstakes will be about the thing. —
“我？”切罗基说，“噢， grubstakes(寻找财富)可能是个好主意。 —

I reckon I’ll prospect along up in the Mariposas. —
我想我会在Mariposas一带找找。 —

If I strike it up there I will most certainly let you all know about the facts. —
如果我在那里发现了什么，我一定会告诉你们真相的。 —

I never was any hand to hold out cards on my friends.”
我从来没有向朋友们掏出牌来。”

In May Cherokee packed his burro and turned its thoughtful, mouse- coloured forehead to the north. —
五月份，切诺基装满他的驴子，朝北走去，驴子的前额呈现出一种思考的、灰色的颜色。 —

Many citizens escorted him to the undefined limits of Yellowhammer and bestowed upon him shouts of commendation and farewells. —
许多市民护送他到黄鹂的未定界限，向他致以赞扬和告别的欢呼声。 —

Five pocket flasks without an air bubble between contents and cork were forced upon him; —
有五个口袋瓶子，瓶内和瓶塞之间没有空气泡。这些瓶子被逼着给了他。 —

and he was bidden to consider Yellowhammer in perpetual commission for his bed, bacon and eggs, and hot water for shaving in the event that luck did not see fit to warm her hands by his campfire in the Mariposas.
并向他表示，如果运气不愿意为他的篝火提供温暖，那么他可以永久使用黄鹂的床，培根和蛋，以及刮胡子的热水。

The name of the father of Yellowhammer was given him by the gold hunters in accordance with their popular system of nomenclature. —
黄鹂的父亲之名是根据淘金者们流行的命名系统给他的。 —

It was not necessary for a citizen to exhibit his baptismal certificate in order to acquire a cognomen. —
一个市民要想获得一个别名并不需要出示他的洗礼证书。 —

A man’s name was his personal property. —
一个人的名字是他的个人财产。 —

For convenience in calling him up to the bar and in designating him among other blue-shirted bipeds, a temporary appellation, title, or epithet was conferred upon him by the public. —
为方便叫他去酒吧，并在其他穿蓝衬衫的两足动物中指认他，公众给他暂时起了一个称号、头衔或绰号。 —

Personal peculiarities formed the source of the majority of such informal baptisms. —
个人的特点成为这类非正式命名的主要来源。 —

Many were easily dubbed geographically from the regions from which they confessed to have hailed. —
很多人都因自称来自某地区而被戏称为该地名。 —

Some announced themselves to be “Thompsons,” and “Adamses,” and the like, with a brazenness and loudness that cast a cloud upon their titles. —
有些人傲慢地大声自称为“汤普森”、“亚当斯”之类的，这给他们的封号蒙上了阴影。 —

A few vaingloriously and shamelessly uncovered their proper and indisputable names. —
为数不多的人自吹自擂地揭示了他们正确而无可争议的名字。 —

This was held to be unduly arrogant, and did not win popularity. —
这被认为是过于傲慢，没有赢得人们的欢心。 —

One man who said he was Chesterton L. C. Belmont, and proved it by letters, was given till sundown to leave the town. —
一位自称为切斯特顿·L·C·贝尔蒙特的人，通过信件证明了自己的身份，被要求在日落之前离开这个城镇。 —

Such names as “Shorty,” “Bow-legs,” “Texas,” “Lazy Bill,” “Thirsty Rogers,” “Limping Riley,” “The Judge,” and “California Ed” were in favour. —
像“矮子”、“弯腿”、“得克萨斯”、“懒汉比尔”、“口渴的罗杰斯”、“跛腿赖利”、“法官”和“加利福尼亚艾德”这样的名字很受欢迎。 —

Cherokee derived his title from the fact that he claimed to have lived for a time with that tribe in the Indian Nation.
Cherokee根据他自己声称曾经在印第安部落中与他们一起生活过的事实来得到他的称号。

On the twentieth day of December Baldy, the mail rider, brought Yellowhammer a piece of news.
十二月二十日，邮递员巴尔迪给Yellowhammer带来了一则消息。

“What do I see in Albuquerque,” said Baldy, to the patrons of the bar, “but Cherokee all embellished and festooned up like the Czar of Turkey, and lavishin’ money in bulk. —
“我在阿尔布开尔基见到了什么呢， “巴尔迪对酒吧的常客们说道，” 竟然是Cherokee穿着装饰華麗像土耳其沙皇一样，并且大方地挥霍金钱。 —

Him and me seen the elephant and the owl, and we had specimens of this seidlitz powder wine; —
他和我都目睹了这头大象和猫头鹰，我们还品尝了这款泡腾酒； —

and Cherokee he audits all the bills, C.O.D. His pockets looked like a pool table’s after a fifteen-ball run.
而Cherokee则审查所有的帐单，货到付款。他的口袋看起来像是打了十五个球后的台球桌。

“Cherokee must have struck pay ore,” remarked California Ed. “Well, he’s white. —
“Cherokee肯定发了大笔的標的，” 加州的Ed评论道，”唉呀，他真好。 —

I’m much obliged to him for his success.”
我非常感谢他的成功。”

“Seems like Cherokee would ramble down to Yellowhammer and see his friends,” said another, slightly aggrieved. —
“Cherokee应该顺道去看看他的朋友Yellowhammer，” 另一个有点生气地说道。 —

“But that’s the way. Prosperity is the finest cure there is for lost forgetfulness.”
“但这就是现实。成功是最好的忘却良药。”

“You wait,” said Baldy; “I’m comin’ to that. —
“你等等，”秃头说，“我就要说到这一点了。 —

Cherokee strikes a three- foot vein up in the Mariposas that assays a trip to Europe to the ton, and he closes it out to a syndicate outfit for a hundred thousand hasty dollars in cash. —
Cherokee在玛里波沙山上发现了一条三英尺宽的矿脉，每吨的含金量可达到一百万美元，他将其以十万美元现金的价格出售给一个财团。 —

Then he buys himself a baby sealskin overcoat and a red sleigh, and what do you think he takes it in his head to do next?”
然后，他买了一件婴儿海豹皮大衣和一个红色雪橇，你能想到他接下来打算做什么吗？”

“Chuck-a-luck,” said Texas, whose ideas of recreation were the gamester’s.
“掷骰子，”德克萨斯说，他对娱乐的理解是赌徒的方式。

“Come and Kiss Me, Ma Honey,” sang Shorty, who carried tintypes in his pocket and wore a red necktie while working on his claim.
“来亲吻我，亲爱的妈妈，”Shorty唱着，他口袋里装着银版照片，在采矿时还戴着一条红领带。

“Bought a saloon?” suggested Thirsty Rogers.
“买一个酒吧？”思斯提·罗杰斯猜测道。

“Cherokee took me to a room,” continued Baldy, “and showed me. —
“Cherokee带我去了一个房间，”秃头继续说，“他把那个房间堆满了鼓和玩偶和溜冰鞋和袋装糖果和跳跳人和玩具羊和哨子等跟婴儿相关的东西。 —

He’s got that room full of drums and dolls and skates and bags of candy and jumping-jacks and toy lambs and whistles and such infantile truck. —
“你猜他打算用这些没用的小玩意做什么？别猜了，”Cherokee告诉我。 —

And what do you think he’s goin’ to do with them inefficacious knick- knacks? —
“他打算给孩子们送礼物，”秃头说，“他打算去周围的小镇，找到那些没有财力买这些玩具的家庭，给他们的孩子们送礼物。 —

Don’t surmise none–Cherokee told me. —
他说他希望能给这些孩子们带去一些快乐。” —

He’s goin’ to lead ‘em up in his red sleigh and–wait a minute, don’t order no drinks yet– he’s goin’ to drive down here to Yellowhammer and give the kids–the kids of this here town–the biggest Christmas tree and the biggest cryin’ doll and Little Giant Boys’ Tool Chest blowout that was ever seen west of the Cape Hatteras.”
他驾着红色的雪橇将他们带领上去——等一下，还别点饮料——他将会开车来到Yellowhammer这个地方给这里的孩子们——这个镇上的孩子们——最大的圣诞树、最大的哭泣娃娃和迄今为止从Cape Hatteras以西看到的最好的”小巨人男孩工具箱”。

Two minutes of absolute silence ticked away in the wake of Baldy’s words. —
在巴尔迪的话语之后，两分钟的绝对寂静过去了。 —

It was broken by the House, who, happily conceiving the moment to be ripe for extending hospitality, sent a dozen whisky glasses spinning down the bar, with the slower travelling bottle bringing up the rear.
寂静被House打破了，他高兴地认为此刻是招待延伸的好时机，送出一打威士忌杯，杯子沿着吧台旋转，最后一瓶缓慢移动。

“Didn’t you tell him?” asked the miner called Trinidad.
“你没告诉他吗？” 叫特立尼达的矿工问道。

“Well, no,” answered Baldy, pensively; —
“嗯，没有，”巴尔迪沉思地回答道，” —

“I never exactly seen my way to.
我从来没有确切的计划过。

“You see, Cherokee had this Christmas mess already bought and paid for; —
“你看，切罗基已经买好并支付了这个圣诞混乱； —

and he was all flattered up with self-esteem over his idea; —
“他一直都自以为是地对自己的想法很满意； —

and we had in a way flew the flume with that fizzy wine I speak of; —
而我们也以一种方式吹过了那种我提到的气泡酒； —

so I never let on.”
所以我没透露出来。

“I cannot refrain from a certain amount of surprise,” said the Judge, as he hung his ivory-handled cane on the bar, “that our friend Cherokee should possess such an erroneous conception of–ah–his, as it were, own town.”
“我不禁感到有些惊讶，”法官说道，他将他的象牙手柄手杖挂在吧台上，“我们的朋友切诺基竟然对自己的城市有这样一个错误的理解。”

“Oh, it ain’t the eighth wonder of the terrestrial world,” said Baldy. “Cherokee’s been gone from Yellowhammer over seven months. —
“哦，这并不是地球上第八个奇迹，”巴尔迪说道，“切诺基已经离开黄铁矿镇七个多月了。 —

Lots of things could happen in that time. —
这段时间里可以发生很多事情。 —

How’s he to know that there ain’t a single kid in this town, and so far as emigration is concerned, none expected?”
他又怎么知道这个镇上没有一个孩子，也没有人来移民呢？”

“Come to think of it,” remarked California Ed, “it’s funny some ain’t drifted in. —
“想想吧，”加利福尼亚艾德说道，“真奇怪竟然没有人流入这里。 —

Town ain’t settled enough yet for to bring in the rubber- ring brigade, I reckon.”
这个镇还没有定居下来，所以应该不会有人来这里玩橡皮圈，我猜。”

“To top off this Christmas-tree splurge of Cherokee’s,” went on Baldy, “he’s goin’ to give an imitation of Santa Claus. He’s got a white wig and whiskers that disfigure him up exactly like the pictures of this William Cullen Longfellow in the books, and a red suit of fur-trimmed outside underwear, and eight-ounce gloves, and a stand-up, lay-down croshayed red cap. —
“在这个圣诞树项目里，切诺基大出风头， ”巴尔迪继续说道，“他要扮演圣诞老人的角色。他有一顶白色假发和胡须，让他看起来像书上的威廉·卡伦·朗费罗一样丑陋，还有一套红色的皮毛裁边的外套内衣，八盎司的手套，一个能站起来又能躺下来的红色帽子。” —

Ain’t it a shame that a outfit like that can’t get a chance to connect with a Annie and Willie’s prayer layout?”
真可惜这样一套装扮不能与安妮和威利的祈祷布局相结合。”

“When does Cherokee allow to come over with his truck?” inquired Trinidad.
“切诺基什么时候带着他的卡车过来？”特立尼达询问道。

“Mornin’ before Christmas,” said Baldy. “And he wants you folks to have a room fixed up and a tree hauled and ready. —
“圣诞节前的早晨，”巴尔迪说，“他希望你们把一个房间布置好，并且准备好一棵树。 —

And such ladies to assist as can stop breathin’ long enough to let it be a surprise for the kids.”
并且邀请像可以屏住呼吸让孩子们感到惊喜的女士们一起帮忙。”

The unblessed condition of Yellowhammer had been truly described. —
黄麻鸟的不幸境况被真实地描述了出来。 —

The voice of childhood had never gladdened its flimsy structures; —
孩子们的声音从未让这些脆弱的建筑物感到喜悦； —

the patter of restless little feet had never consecrated the one rugged highway between the two rows of tents and rough buildings. —
不安的小脚步声从未在两排帐篷和粗糙的建筑之间铺开过那一条崎岖的公路。 —

Later they would come. But now Yellowhammer was but a mountain camp, and nowhere in it were the roguish, expectant eyes, opening wide at dawn of the enchanting day; —
之后他们会来。但此刻，黄榉市只是一个山地营地，没有一个诡计多端、期待满满的眼睛，在迷人的早晨醒来时睁得大大的； —

the eager, small hands to reach for Santa’s bewildering hoard; —
急切的小手无法触及圣诞老人令人费解的珍宝； —

the elated, childish voicings of the season’s joy, such as the coming good things of the warm-hearted Cherokee deserved.
这个兴高采烈、孩子气十足的声音，象征着温情的切诺基民族诚意待来的节日喜悦。

Of women there were five in Yellowhammer. —
在黄榉市有五个女人。那位验金员的妻子， —

The assayer’s wife, the proprietress of the Lucky Strike Hotel, and a laundress whose washtub panned out an ounce of dust a day. —
那家Lucky Strike旅馆的老板娘，还有一位每天可从洗衣盆中淘出一盎司金砂的洗衣妇。 —

These were the permanent feminines; —
这些都是长期居住在这里的女性； —

the remaining two were the Spangler Sisters, Misses Fanchon and Erma, of the Transcontinental Comedy Company, then playing in repertoire at the (improvised) Empire Theatre. —
另外两个是斯邦格勒姐妹，范雯和埃尔玛，属于那时正在（临时搭建）帝国剧院演出的大陆喜剧公司。 —

But of children there were none. —
但是没有孩子。有时候， —

Sometimes Miss Fanchon enacted with spirit and address the part of robustious childhood; —
范雯小姐会活力十足地扮演顽皮的孩童角色。 —

but between her delineation and the visions of adolescence that the fancy offered as eligible recipients of Cherokee’s holiday stores there seemed to be fixed a gulf.
但是在她的描述和幻想中，她所设想的合格的青少年接受切罗基假日礼品店的幻想之间似乎存在着一道鸿沟。

Christmas would come on Thursday. —
圣诞节将在星期四来临。 —

On Tuesday morning Trinidad, instead of going to work, sought the Judge at the Lucky Strike Hotel.
星期二上午，特立尼达没有去上班，而是去了Lucky Strike酒店找法官。

“It’ll be a disgrace to Yellowhammer,” said Trinidad, “if it throws Cherokee down on his Christmas tree blowout. —
“如果这次切罗基的圣诞节派对被取消，对于Yellowhammer来说将是一种耻辱，”特立尼达说，“你可以说这个人让这个城镇起来。就我而言，我将尽力确保圣诞老人公正对待。” —

You might say that that man made this town. For one, I’m goin’ to see what can be done to give Santa Claus a square deal.”
特立尼达说：“你们看看我，你们就会看到老公费和方法的真相。如果需要，我会准备好一队队伍，为切罗基的圣诞老人表演找一大批孩子，即使我不得不抢劫一个孤儿院。”

“My co-operation,” said the Judge, “would be gladly forthcoming. —
法官说：“我会乐意提供我的合作的。我对切罗基过去的帮助表示感谢。但是，我并不明白， —

I am indebted to Cherokee for past favours. —
我之前一直认为没有孩子是一种奢侈，但在这种情况下，我仍然不明白。” —

But, I do not see–I have heretofore regarded the absence of children rather as a luxury–but in this instance–still, I do not see–”
特立尼达说：“看着我，你们会看到最有效率和最节约的方式和方法。如果需要，我会组织一队队伍，为切罗基的圣诞老人表演找一大批孩子，即使我不得不抢劫一个孤儿院。”

“Look at me,” said Trinidad, “and you’ll see old Ways and Means with the fur on. —
“看着我，”特立尼达说，“你们会看到最有效率和最节约的方式和方法。如果需要，我会组织一队队伍，为切罗基的圣诞老人表演找一大批孩子，即使我不得不抢劫一个孤儿院。” —

I’m goin’ to hitch up a team and rustle a load of kids for Cherokee’s Santa Claus act, if I have to rob an orphan asylum.”
法官说：“我会乐意提供我的合作。我对切罗基过去的帮助表示感谢。但是，我并不明白，我之前一直认为没有孩子是一种奢侈，但在这种情况下，我仍然不明白。”

“Eureka!” cried the Judge, enthusiastically.
“哎呀！”法官欣喜地叫道。

“No, you didn’t,” said Trinidad, decidedly. —
“不，你不是的，”特立尼达断然说道。” —

“I found it myself. I learned about that Latin word at school.”
是我自己找到的。我在学校学过那个拉丁词。”

“I will accompany you,” declared the Judge, waving his cane. —
“我会陪你一起去的，”法官宣布着挥动着手杖。” —

“Perhaps such eloquence and gift of language as I possess will be of benefit in persuading our young friends to lend themselves to our project.”
也许我拥有的雄辩和语言天赋能够在说服我们的年轻朋友参与我们的计划上起到帮助。”

Within an hour Yellowhammer was acquainted with the scheme of Trinidad and the Judge, and approved it. —
不到一个小时，黄雀就了解了特立尼达和法官的计划，并且表示赞同。 —

Citizens who knew of families with offspring within a forty-mile radius of Yellowhammer came forward and contributed their information. —
知道黄雀周围四十英里范围内有孩子的家庭的市民纷纷站出来提供他们的信息。 —

Trinidad made careful notes of all such, and then hastened to secure a vehicle and team.
特立尼达仔细记录了所有这些信息，然后迅速找到了一辆车和一队人。

The first stop scheduled was at a double log-house fifteen miles out from Yellowhammer. —
预定的第一站是离黄雀三十英里的一个双层木屋。 —

A man opened the door at Trinidad’s hail, and then came down and leaned upon the rickety gate. —
一个人在特立尼达的呼喊声下打开了门，然后走下来靠在摇摇晃晃的门闩上。 —

The doorway was filled with a close mass of youngsters, some ragged, all full of curiosity and health.
门口挤满了一群好奇和健康的穿着褴褛的孩子们。

“It’s this way,” explained Trinidad. —
“这边走，”特立尼达解释道。 —

“We’re from Yellowhammer, and we come kidnappin’ in a gentle kind of a way. —
“我们来自黄錘，我们以温和的方式绑架。” —

One of our leading citizens is stung with the Santa Claus affliction, and he’s due in town to-morrow with half the folderols that’s painted red and made in Germany. —
我们的一位杰出公民被圣诞老人的疾病所困扰，他明天将带着一半红色的玩意儿和德国制造的东西来到这个镇上。 —

The youngest kid we got in Yellowhammer packs a forty-five and a safety razor. —
我们在黄錘最小的孩子带着一把四十五口径手枪和一把安全剃刀。 —

Consequently we’re mighty shy on anybody to say ‘Oh’ and ‘Ah’ when we light the candles on the Christmas tree. —
因此，我们非常缺乏有人在我们点燃圣诞树上的蜡烛时说“哦”和“啊”。 —

Now, partner, if you’ll loan us a few kids we guarantee to return ‘em safe and sound on Christmas Day. And they’ll come back loaded down with a good time and Swiss Family Robinsons and cornucopias and red drums and similar testimonials. —
现在，伙计，如果你能借给我们几个孩子，我们保证会在圣诞节安全地把他们还回来。他们将带着愉快的时光、瑞士家庭罗宾逊、丰饶之角和红色鼓等礼物回来。 —

What do you say?”
你说怎么样？”

“In other words,” said the Judge, “we have discovered for the first time in our embryonic but progressive little city the inconveniences of the absence of adolescence. —
“换句话说，”法官说，“我们在我们这个胚胎但充满进步的小城市第一次发现了青少年缺失的不便之处。” —

The season of the year having approximately arrived during which it is a custom to bestow frivolous but often appreciated gifts upon the young and tender–”
年度季节即将来临，按照惯例给年轻嫩芽们赠送轻浮但常常受人欢迎的礼物。

“I understand,” said the parent, packing his pipe with a forefinger. —
“我明白了”，父亲说着，用食指整理着他的烟斗。 —

“I guess I needn’t detain you gentlemen. —
“我想我不必耽搁各位了。 —

Me and the old woman have got seven kids, so to speak; and, runnin’ my mind over the bunch, I don’t appear to hit upon none that we could spare for you to take over to your doin’s. —
我和老婆生了七个孩子，可以这么说；回忆着这一帮子，好像没有一个能让你们过去玩什么的。 —

The old woman has got some popcorn candy and rag dolls hid in the clothes chest, and we allow to give Christmas a little whirl of our own in a insignificant sort of style. —
老太太在衣柜里藏着一些爆米花糖果和布娃娃，我们想以一种微不足道的方式过个属于自己的圣诞。 —

No, I couldn’t, with any degree of avidity, seem to fall in with the idea of lettin’ none of ‘em go. —
不，我无法充满热情地同意让他们中的任何一个离开。 —

Thank you kindly, gentlemen.”
多谢你们的好意，先生们。

Down the slope they drove and up another foothill to the ranch-house of Wiley Wilson. —
他们驱车下坡，又爬上另一个山脚，来到了怀利·威尔逊的牧场。 —

Trinidad recited his appeal and the Judge boomed out his ponderous antiphony. —
特立尼达陈述了他的请求，法官厉声回应。 —

Mrs. Wiley gathered her two rosy-cheeked youngsters close to her skirts and did not smile until she had seen Wiley laugh and shake his head. —
威利夫人紧紧地拉着她两个红润的小孩，直到看到威利笑了一下，摇了摇头，她才微笑了。 —

Again a refusal.
再次拒绝了。

Trinidad and the Judge vainly exhausted more than half their list before twilight set in among the hills. —
在山丘之间夕阳下，特立尼达和法官徒劳无功地用掉了他们一半以上的名单。 —

They spent the night at a stage road hostelry, and set out again early the next morning. —
他们在一个驿路酒店过夜，第二天早上很早就出发。 —

The wagon had not acquired a single passenger.
马车上没有一个乘客。

“It’s creepin’ upon my faculties,” remarked Trinidad, “that borrowin’ kids at Christmas is somethin’ like tryin’ to steal butter from a man that’s got hot pancakes a-comin’.”
“我感到很困扰，”特立尼达说，“在圣诞节借孩子就好像是试图从正在准备好的热锅饼上偷黄油。”

“It is undoubtedly an indisputable fact,” said the Judge, “that the– ah–family ties seem to be more coherent and assertive at that period of the year.”
法官说：“毫无疑问，这是一个不争的事实，家庭纽带在那个时候似乎更加紧密和坚定。”

On the day before Christmas they drove thirty miles, making four fruitless halts and appeals. —
在圣诞节前一天，他们走了三十英里，四次徒劳地停车求援。 —

Everywhere they found “kids” at a premium.
到处都是稀缺的孩子。

The sun was low when the wife of a section boss on a lonely railroad huddled her unavailable progeny behind her and said:
太阳低垂时，一名孤寂的铁路区段长的妻子将她无法提供的后代拥在身后说：

“There’s a woman that’s just took charge of the railroad eatin’ house down at Granite Junction. —
“在Granite Junction的火车餐厅刚刚有一位女士掌管起了工作。 —

I hear she’s got a little boy. Maybe she might let him go.”
听说她有个小男孩。也许她可以让他过来。”

Trinidad pulled up his mules at Granite Junction at five o’clock in the afternoon. —
Trinidad在下午五点驾驶马匹停在Granite Junction。 —

The train had just departed with its load of fed and appeased passengers.
刚刚有一列满载乘客的火车离开了。

On the steps of the eating house they found a thin and glowering boy of ten smoking a cigarette. —
在餐厅的台阶上，他们发现了一个瘦瘦的、怒视着的十岁男孩在抽烟。 —

The dining-room had been left in chaos by the peripatetic appetites. —
餐厅里被来去如风的胃口弄得一团乱。 —

A youngish woman reclined, exhausted, in a chair. —
一个年轻的女人疲惫地斜靠在椅子上。 —

Her face wore sharp lines of worry. —
她的脸上带着忧虑的深深痕迹。 —

She had once possessed a certain style of beauty that would never wholly leave her and would never wholly return. —
她曾经拥有一种独特的美丽，这种美丽不会完全离开她，也永远不会完全回到她身上。 —

Trinidad set forth his mission.
Trinidad开始了他的使命。

“I’d count it a mercy if you’d take Bobby for a while,” she said, wearily. —
“如果你能收留一段时间的话，我会感激不尽,” 她疲倦地说道。 —

“I’m on the go from morning till night, and I don’t have time to ‘tend to him. —
“我从早到晚都在忙碌，没时间照顾他。 —

He’s learning bad habits from the men. —
他正在从那些男人身上学坏习惯。 —

It’ll be the only chance he’ll have to get any Christmas.”
这可能是他唯一有机会过一个快乐圣诞节的机会。”

The men went outside and conferred with Bobby. Trinidad pictured the glories of the Christmas tree and presents in lively colours.
男人们走到外面，与鲍比商讨了一下。特立尼达脑海中浮现出圣诞树和彩色礼物的壮丽景象。

“And, moreover, my young friend,” added the Judge, “Santa Claus himself will personally distribute the offerings that will typify the gifts conveyed by the shepherds of Bethlehem to–”
“而且，我的年轻朋友，”法官补充道，“圣诞老人本人将亲自分发这些礼物，象征着伯利恒牧羊人带去的礼物。”

“Aw, come off,” said the boy, squinting his small eyes. —
“啊，住口吧，”男孩说着，眯起了小眼睛，“我才不是小孩子呢。 —

“I ain’t no kid. —
” —

There ain’t any Santa Claus. It’s your folks that buys toys and sneaks ‘em in when you’re asleep. —
“没有圣诞老人这种东西。是你们家人买来的玩具，在你睡觉时偷偷放进来的。” —

And they make marks in the soot in the chimney with the tongs to look like Santa’s sleigh tracks.”
“他们用火钳在烟囱上弄些痕迹，假装是圣诞老人的雪橇轨迹。”

“That might be so,” argued Trinidad, “but Christmas trees ain’t no fairy tale. —
“也许吧，”特立尼达辩解道，“但圣诞树不是童话故事。” —

This one’s goin’ to look like the ten-cent store in Albuquerque, all strung up in a redwood. —
“这个圣诞树会看起来像阿尔布开克的十分店，到处都挂满了红杉。” —

There’s tops and drums and Noah’s arks and–”
“上面有陀螺、鼓和诺亚方舟，还有…”

“Oh, rats!” said Bobby, wearily. “I cut them out long ago. —
“哦，算了吧！”鲍比疲倦地说道，“我早就对这些不感兴趣了。 —

I’d like to have a rifle–not a target one–a real one, to shoot wildcats with; —
我想要一把步枪，不是玩具的那种，是真的，可以用来打野猫的。” —

but I guess you won’t have any of them on your old tree.”
但是我猜你在你的古老的树上不会有这些。

“Well, I can’t say for sure,” said Trinidad diplomatically; —
“嗯，我不能确定，”特立尼达委婉地说， —

“it might be. You go along with us and see.”
“可能吧。你跟我们一起去看看。”

The hope thus held out, though faint, won the boy’s hesitating consent to go. —
虽然希望渺茫，但这个希望使男孩犹豫地同意去。 —

With this solitary beneficiary for Cherokee’s holiday bounty, the canvassers spun along the homeward road.
有了这个唯一的受益人，切罗基的假日福利人员沿着归途驰骋。

In Yellowhammer the empty storeroom had been transformed into what might have passed as the bower of an Arizona fairy. —
在耶洛哈默，空的储藏室变成了一个可能被称为亚利桑那仙女宝座的地方。 —

The ladies had done their work well. A tall Christmas tree, covered to the topmost branch with candles, spangles, and toys sufficient for more than a score of children, stood in the centre of the floor. —
女士们做得很好。一棵高耸的圣诞树，从顶部到最高的树枝都挂满了蜡烛、亮片和玩具，足够供二十多个孩子使用，竖立在房间的中心。 —

Near sunset anxious eyes had begun to scan the street for the returning team of the child-providers. —
接近日落时，焦急的眼睛开始扫视街道，寻找归来的儿童供应队。 —

At noon that day Cherokee had dashed into town with his new sleigh piled high with bundles and boxes and bales of all sizes and shapes. —
那天中午，切罗基带着一个新的雪橇冲进城里，车上堆满了各种大小、形状的包裹和箱子。 —

So intent was he upon the arrangements for his altruistic plans that the dearth of children did not receive his notice. —
他对他的利他计划安排得如此专心，以至于他没有注意到孩子的缺乏。 —

No one gave away the humiliating state of Yellowhammer, for the efforts of Trinidad and the Judge were expected to supply the deficiency.
没有人透露Yellowhammer的令人羞辱的状态，因为人们期望Trinidad和法官的努力能够弥补不足。

When the sun went down Cherokee, with many wings and arch grins on his seasoned face, went into retirement with the bundle containing the Santa Claus raiment and a pack containing special and undisclosed gifts.
当太阳下山时，切诺基带着装扮圣诞老人的捆绑包和一个装着特殊而保密的礼物的背包退休了。

“When the kids are rounded up,” he instructed the volunteer arrangement committee, “light up the candles on the tree and set ‘em to playin’ ‘Pussy Wants a Corner’ and ‘King William.’ When they get good and at it, why–old Santa’ll slide in the door. —
“当孩子们都聚集在一起时，” 他告诉自愿安排委员会，“点亮树上的蜡烛，让他们开始演奏《Pussy Wants a Corner》和《King William》。当他们玩得起劲的时候，嗯，圣诞老人就会溜进门口。 —

I reckon there’ll be plenty of gifts to go ‘round.”
我想应该会有足够的礼物供大家分享的。

The ladies were flitting about the tree, giving it final touches that were never final. —
女士们围绕着树忙碌着，给它最后的修饰，而这些修饰永远不会真正结束。 —

The Spangled Sisters were there in costume as Lady Violet de Vere and Marie, the maid, in their new drama, “The Miner’s Bride.” The theatre did not open until nine, and they were welcome assistants of the Christmas tree committee. —
穿着新戏剧《矿工的新娘》中的角色夫人维奥莱特和女仆玛丽的繁星姐妹队伍以戏装亮相。剧院直到九点才开放，她们作为圣诞树委员会的热情助手受到欢迎。 —

Every minute heads would pop out the door to look and listen for the approach of Trinidad’s team. —
每分钟都有人冒出门来看看和听听特立尼达的队伍是否接近。 —

And now this became an anxious function, for night had fallen and it would soon be necessary to light the candles on the tree, and Cherokee was apt to make an irruption at any time in his Kriss Kringle garb.
现在这变成了一项焦急的任务，因为夜幕降临，很快就需要点亮树上的蜡烛，而切罗基可能随时以克里斯·克林格尔（Kriss Kringle）的装束闯进来。

At length the wagon of the child “rustlers” rattled down the street to the door. —
最终，孩子”rustlers”的马车嘎啦嘎啦地驶过街头来到门前。 —

The ladies, with little screams of excitement, flew to the lighting of the candles. —
女士们兴奋地尖叫着前去点燃蜡烛。 —

The men of Yellowhammer passed in and out restlessly or stood about the room in embarrassed groups.
黄鹂的男士们不安地进进出出，或者站在房间里尴尬地成群结队。

Trinidad and the Judge, bearing the marks of protracted travel, entered, conducting between them a single impish boy, who stared with sullen, pessimistic eyes at the gaudy tree.
特立尼达和法官背负着长途旅行的痕迹，带着一个顽皮的男孩走了进来，他愤世嫉俗地凝视着花哨的圣诞树。

“Where are the other children?” asked the assayer’s wife, the acknowledged leader of all social functions.
“其他孩子在哪里？”检验官太太问道，她是所有社交活动的公认领导者。

“Ma’am,” said Trinidad with a sigh, “prospectin’ for kids at Christmas time is like huntin’ in a limestone for silver. —
“夫人，”特立尼达叹了口气说，“在圣诞节期间寻找孩子就像在石灰石里找银一样困难。” —

This parental business is one that I haven’t no chance to comprehend. —
这个养育孩子的事情我根本无法理解。 —

It seems that fathers and mothers are willin’ for their offsprings to be drownded, stole, fed on poison oak, and et by catamounts 364 days in the year; —
好像父母们乐意让他们的后代在一年中的364天里淹死、被偷、被毒橡树喂食和被猫熊吃掉； —

but on Christmas Day they insists on enjoyin’ the exclusive mortification of their company. —
但圣诞节那天，他们坚持要享受与孩子的独家痛苦。 —

This here young biped, ma’am, is all that washes out of our two days’ manoeuvres.”
夫人，这个小幼君子是我们两天演习所留下的唯一成果。”

“Oh, the sweet little boy!” cooed Miss Erma, trailing her De Vere robes to centre of stage.
“哦，这个可爱的小男孩！”艾尔玛小姐咯咯地说着，裙摆拖到舞台中央。

“Aw, shut up,” said Bobby, with a scowl. —
“哎呀，闭嘴，”博比皱着眉头说， —

“Who’s a kid? You ain’t, you bet.”
“谁是小孩？你肯定不是。”

“Fresh brat!” breathed Miss Erma, beneath her enamelled smile.
“真嚣张的小鬼！”艾尔玛小姐气愤地在她那装搪瓷的微笑下喃喃自语。

“We done the best we could,” said Trinidad. —
“我们尽力了，”特立尼达说， —

“It’s tough on Cherokee, but it can’t be helped.”
“对切罗基来说很难受，但是没办法。”

Then the door opened and Cherokee entered in the conventional dress of Saint Nick. A white rippling beard and flowing hair covered his face almost to his dark and shining eyes. —
然后门开了，切诺基穿着圣诞老人的传统服装进来了。一把银白色的胡须和飘逸的头发几乎遮住了他的脸，只露出他那深邃而闪亮的眼睛。 —

Over his shoulder he carried a pack.
他肩上背着一个包。

No one stirred as he came in. —
大家都没有动，当他走进来时。 —

Even the Spangler Sisters ceased their coquettish poses and stared curiously at the tall figure. —
甚至斯潘格勒姐妹也停止了她们妩媚的姿态，好奇地盯着这个高大的身影。 —

Bobby stood with his hands in his pockets gazing gloomily at the effeminate and childish tree. —
巴比双手插在口袋里，忧郁地凝视着那个娘娘腔且孩子气的圣诞树。 —

Cherokee put down his pack and looked wonderingly about the room. —
切诺基放下他的包，惊讶地打量着房间。 —

Perhaps he fancied that a bevy of eager children were being herded somewhere, to be loosed upon his entrance. —
也许他幻想着一群兴奋的孩子们正在被赶往某个地方，为了他的到来而解放。 —

He went up to Bobby and extended his red-mittened hand.
他走到巴比面前，伸出他那手戴红手套的手。

“Merry Christmas, little boy,” said Cherokee. —
“圣诞快乐，小男孩，”切诺基说道。 —

“Anything on the tree you want they’ll get it down for you. —
“树上有你想要的任何东西，他们会给你弄下来。 —

Won’t you shake hands with Santa Claus?”
你愿意和圣诞老人握手吗？”

“There ain’t any Santa Claus,” whined the boy. —
“没有圣诞老人，”男孩抱怨道。 —

“You’ve got old false billy goat’s whiskers on your face. —
“你脸上戴着旧假山羊的胡子。我可不是小孩子。 —

I ain’t no kid. —
” —

What do I want with dolls and tin horses? —
我对娃娃和锡马有什么兴趣？ —

The driver said you’d have a rifle, and you haven’t. I want to go home.”
司机说你会带来一支步枪，可你没有带来。我想回家。

Trinidad stepped into the breach. —
—

He shook Cherokee’s hand in warm greeting.
特立尼达代表他向切诺基热情地握手问候。

“I’m sorry, Cherokee,” he explained. —
“很抱歉，切诺基，”他解释道， —

“There never was a kid in Yellowhammer. —
“黄鹂镇从来没有孩子。” —

We tried to rustle a bunch of ‘em for your swaree, but this sardine was all we could catch. —
我们想要为你的聚会抓些孩子，但这位孩子是我们能抓到的唯一的一个。 —

He’s a atheist, and he don’t believe in Santa Claus. It’s a shame for you to be out all this truck. —
他是个无神论者，不相信圣诞老人。你为了这些东西不该白费劲了。 —

But me and the Judge was sure we could round up a wagonful of candidates for your gimcracks.”
但我和法官确信我们可以找到一车候选人来换你的小玩意。

“That’s all right,” said Cherokee gravely. —
“没关系，”切诺基庄重地说道，” —

“The expense don’t amount to nothin’ worth mentionin’. —
费用不值得一提。 —

We can dump the stuff down a shaft or throw it away. —
我们可以把这些东西扔进深井或者丢掉。 —

I don’t know what I was thinkin’ about; —
我不知道我当时在想些什么， —

but it never occurred to my cogitations that there wasn’t any kids in Yellowhammer.”
但从来没有想到黄鹂镇没有孩子。”

Meanwhile the company had relaxed into a hollow but praiseworthy imitation of a pleasure gathering.
与此同时，公司已经转变成一个虚幻但值得称赞的娱乐聚会的仿真。

Bobby had retreated to a distant chair, and was coldly regarding the scene with ennui plastered thick upon him. —
波比退到了一个遥远的椅子上，冷冷地看着这一幕， —

Cherokee, lingering with his original idea, went over and sat beside him.
厌倦的情绪压在他身上。

“Where do you live, little boy?” he asked respectfully.
切罗基以他最初的想法坚持下去，走过去坐在了他旁边，“你住在哪里，小男孩？”他尊敬地问道。

“Granite Junction,” said Bobby without emphasis.
“Granite Junction，”波比毫不着重地回答道。

The room was warm. Cherokee took off his cap, and then removed his beard and wig.
房间里很暖和。切罗基摘下了他的帽子，然后取下了假发和假胡子。

“Say!” exclaimed Bobby, with a show of interest, “I know your mug, all right.”
“说吧！”波比瞪大眼睛表现出兴趣，“我很熟悉你的面孔。”

“Did you ever see me before?” asked Cherokee.
“你以前见过我吗？”切罗基问道。

“I don’t know; but I’ve seen your picture lots of times.”
“我不知道，但我经常看到你的照片。”

“Where?”
“在哪里？”

The boy hesitated. “On the bureau at home,” he answered.
小男孩犹豫了一下，“在家的梳妆台上，”他回答说。

“Let’s have your name, if you please, buddy.”
“请告诉我们你的名字，伙计。”

“Robert Lumsden. The picture belongs to my mother. —
“罗伯特·兰姆斯登。那张照片属于我妈妈。 —

She puts it under her pillow of nights. —
她把它放在枕头下面。” —

And once I saw her kiss it. I wouldn’t. —
“我曾经看到她亲它一下。我可不会亲。 —

But women are that way.”
但女人就是那样。”

Cherokee rose and beckoned to Trinidad.
切罗基站起身，向特立尼达招手。

“Keep this boy by you till I come back,” he said. —
他说：“在我回来之前，让这个孩子跟你在一起。 —

“I’m goin’ to shed these Christmas duds, and hitch up my sleigh. I’m goin’ to take this kid home.”
我要脱下这些圣诞装束，挽起我的雪橇。我要把这个孩子带回家。”

“Well, infidel,” said Trinidad, taking Cherokee’s vacant chair, “and so you are too superannuated and effete to yearn for such mockeries as candy and toys, it seems.”
特立尼达坐在切罗基空出的椅子上说：“嗯，不信仰者，看来你已经太老了，不再渴望糖果和玩具这样的虚伪了。”

“I don’t like you,” said Bobby, with acrimony. —
“我不喜欢你，”鲍比气冲冲地说道。 —

“You said there would be a rifle. —
“你说会给一支来福枪的， —

A fellow can’t even smoke. —
结果连抽根烟都不行。 —

I wish I was at home.”
我恨不得回家。”

Cherokee drove his sleigh to the door, and they lifted Bobby in beside him. —
切罗基把雪橇开到门口，他们把鲍比搀扶着坐上了雪橇。 —

The team of fine horses sprang away prancingly over the hard snow. —
一对漂亮的马儿欢蹦乱跳地冲过硬邦邦的雪地。 —

Cherokee had on his $500 overcoat of baby sealskin. —
切罗基穿着他价值500美元的婴儿海豹皮大衣。 —

The laprobe that he drew about them was as warm as velvet.
他披在他们身上的毯子像天鹅绒一样温暖。

Bobby slipped a cigarette from his pocket and was trying to snap a match.
鲍比从兜里掏出一支香烟，并试图弄断一根火柴。

“Throw that cigarette away,” said Cherokee, in a quiet but new voice.
“把那支香烟扔掉，”切罗基用一种平静而陌生的声音说道。

Bobby hesitated, and then dropped the cylinder overboard.
鲍比犹豫了一下，然后把烟蒂丢了出去。

“Throw the box, too,” commanded the new voice.
“把盒子也扔掉，”新声音命令道。

More reluctantly the boy obeyed.
这个孩子更加不情愿地照做了。

“Say,” said Bobby, presently, “I like you. I don’t know why. —
“说道，”Bobby随即说，“我喜欢你。我不知道为什么。 —

Nobody never made me do anything I didn’t want to do before.”
以前没有人能让我做我不想做的事情。”

“Tell me, kid,” said Cherokee, not using his new voice, “are you sure your mother kissed that picture that looks like me?”
“告诉我，孩子，”Cherokee说，没有使用他的新声音，“你确定你妈妈亲吻过那张看起来像我那样的照片吗？”

“Dead sure. I seen her do it.”
“绝对肯定。我看见她做过。”

“Didn’t you remark somethin’ a while ago about wanting a rifle?”
“刚才你是不是提到想要一支步枪了？”

“You bet I did. Will you get me one?”
“当然了。你能给我弄一支吗？”

“To-morrow–silver-mounted.”
“明天给你——银装的。”

Cherokee took out his watch.
Cherokee掏出手表。

“Half-past nine. We’ll hit the Junction plumb on time with Christmas Day. Are you cold? —
“九点半。我们准时赶上圣诞节在交汇处。你冷吗？靠近一点， —

Sit closer, son.”
孩子。”