牛津书虫系列《圣诞欢歌》Chapter3 附中英双语文本

‘What does your torch do，spirit？’asked Scrooge．
“你的火把是作什么用的，幽灵？”斯克罗吉问。
‘It gives a special taste to people's dinners on this day，’answered the spirit．
“它能给人们今天的晚餐带来特殊的味道，”幽灵回答说。
‘Why do you use it most on poor people？’said Scrooge．
“你为什么大多把它用在穷人身上？”斯克罗吉问。
‘Because poor people need it most，’was the reply．
“因为穷人最需要它，”幽灵回答说。
They went on through London，and came to the small house where Scrooge's clerk lived．Here the spirit smiled，and held his torch high over the door．Inside，Bob Cratchit's wife and second daughter，Belinda，in their everyday dresses，but looking clean and pretty，were putting plates on the table for their Christmas dinner．Bob's son Peter was helping to cook the potatoes，and two smaller Cratchits，a boy and a girl，were running round excitedly．Just then the eldest daughter，Martha，arrived home from work．
他们继续前行，穿过伦敦，来到了斯克罗吉雇员居住的狭小住处。在这儿幽灵笑了，把他的火把高高地举过房门。屋里，鲍勃·克拉奇蒂的妻子和二女儿贝琳达身穿她们平日的服装，但看起来干净漂亮，她们正往桌子上摆圣诞晚餐用的盘子。鲍勃的儿子彼得正帮着烧土豆，两个再小点的克拉奇蒂，一男一女，正高兴地来回跑着。这时大女儿玛莎下班回来了。
‘Here's Martha，mother！’cried the two young Cratchits happily．‘We're having a really big chicken for dinner， Martha！’In fact it was only a small chicken，but it seemed large to the excited children．
“玛莎回来了，妈妈！”两个小克拉奇蒂高兴地喊着。“晚饭我们能吃到一只真的很大的鸡了，玛莎！”实际上它不过是一只很小的鸡，但对这些兴奋的孩子们来说它似乎很大。
‘My dear，how late you are！’said Mrs Cratchit，kissing her daughter several times．
“我亲爱的，你这么晚才回来！”克拉奇蒂太太边说边吻了女儿好几下。
‘We were so busy yesterday，mother！’replied the girl．‘That's why we didn't finish until this morning！’
“我们昨天非常忙，妈妈！”女孩回答说。“所以我们直到今天早晨都没有干完！”
‘Well！Never mind，now that you're here．God bless you！ Sit down by the fire，my dear！’
“哎！既然你回来了就没关系了。愿上帝保佑你！亲爱的，来坐到火边来！”
‘No，no！Father's coming！’ried the two young Cratchits．‘Hide，Martha，hide！’
“不，不！爸爸回来了！”两个小克拉奇蒂嚷道。“藏起来，玛莎，藏起来！”
So Martha hid herself，and in came Bob in his thin coat and long white scarf，with his son Tiny Tim in his arms．Poor Tiny Tim！He had not walked since he was born，and although he could pull himself and his thin little legs along with the help of a wooden crutch，he was not strong enough to travel far alone．
所以玛莎藏了起来，鲍勃身穿他的薄大衣戴着白色的长围巾走了进来，怀里抱着小蒂姆。可怜的小蒂姆啊！自从他降生就没行走过。尽管他借助于一个木拐杖能够拖着身躯和他那瘦骨嶙峋的腿往前走，但他毕竟太弱了，一个人走不了多远。
‘Why，where's Martha？’cried Bob，looking round．
“怎么了，玛莎呢？”鲍勃高声喊道，并朝四周看了看。
‘Not coming，’said Mrs Cratchit．
“还没回来呢？”克拉奇蒂太太说。
‘Not coming！’repeated Bob，his cheerful smile disappearing．‘Not coming on Christmas Day！’
“还没回来！”鲍勃重复了一遍，他欢快的笑容不见了。“圣诞节了，还没回来！”
But Martha didn't like to worry her father for a minute，so she ran out from behind the door and kissed him， while the two young Cratchits showed Tiny Tim the chicken，now ready to eat．
但是玛莎不想让父亲为她多担心一分钟，所以她从门后跑出来，吻了父亲，这时两个小克拉奇蒂在给小蒂姆看那只已经烧熟了的鸡。
Scrooge and the spirit watched as the family sat down to eat．It was a poor enough meal，but to them it seemed wonderful，and they ate every bit of it．
当全家人坐好准备吃饭时斯克罗吉和幽灵看着。这是一顿粗茶淡饭，但对他们来说它似乎是很丰盛的，他们把它吃了个精光。
‘It's the best chicken I've ever tasted，’said Bob， smiling round at his family， who， with their mouths full，all agreed．
“这是我曾经吃到过的最好吃的鸡。”鲍勃说，并对全家人都笑了笑，每个人的嘴里都塞满了吃的，他们都表示同意。
And then，the most exciting moment of the day！Belinda put a clean plate in front of each person， and they all turned to look at Mrs Cratchit as she came in from the kitchen．Her face was hot from her morning's work， but she was smiling happily as she carried in-the Christmas pudding， in its little circle of blue fire！