Lesson 17　My Good-far-nothing　第17課　我百無一用的小兒子

busy mischief looked unto glee

contriving ringlets noddle drew nun

pressing fngers carpet wise lips

embrace ponder lashes climb true

"What are you good for, my brave little man?

Answer that question for me, if you can，—

You, with your fngers as white as a nun，—

You, with your ringlets as bright as the sun.

All the day long, with your busy contriving，

Into all mischief and fun you are driving；

See if your wise little noddle can tell

What you are good for. Now ponder it well."

Over the carpet the dear little feet

Came with a patter to climb on my seat；

Two merry eyes, full of frolic and glee，

Under their lashes looked up unto me；

Two little hands pressing soft on my face，

Drew me down close in a loving embrace；

Two rosy lips gave the answer so true，

"Good to love you, mamma, good to love you."

Emily Huntington Miller

“你能做點什么好事，我勇敢的小男人？

如果你能回答，就回答我的問題——

你，有潔白如修女一樣的手指，

你，戴著像太陽一樣亮的發卷。

一整天，你忙于設計，

忙于各種惡作劇，并以此為樂；

動用你那聰明的小腦瓜，看看是否能告訴我

你能做點什么好事。現在好好想想。”

可愛的小腳在地毯上走過來

吧嗒吧嗒地爬到我的座位上；

充滿嬉鬧和歡欣的明媚雙眼

在睫毛下朝我看過來；

兩只小手軟軟地撫摸我的面孔，

讓我不得不將他擁抱在懷；

兩片紅潤的嘴唇給了如此真切的答案，

“我能做的好事就是：我愛你，媽媽，我愛你。”

艾米麗·亨廷頓·米勒