名著阅读

"Once upon a time, there were four girls, who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents who loved them dearly, and yet they were not contented." (Here the listeners stole sly looks at one another, and began to sew diligently.)

“从前，有四个姑娘，她们衣食不愁，安逸舒适，有好心的朋友和深深爱着她们的父母，然而她们并不满足。”这时听众们狡黠地互相交换个眼色，又继续飞针走线。

"These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, 'If only we had this,' or 'If we could only do that,' quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many things they actually could do. So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, 'When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful.'" (Here Jo looked up quickly, as if about to speak, but changed her mind, seeing that the story was not done yet.)

“这些姑娘们都想做个好孩子，并作了许多宏图大计，但总是不能持久。她们老说：'如果我们有这些东西就好了。'或'如果我们能够这样多好。'完全忘记了自己已身处福中。于是她们问一位老妇人有什么魔法可以使她们幸福。老妇人说：'当你们感到不满足时，想想自己所拥有的东西，并为此而心存感激。'"（这时乔马上抬起头来，似乎有话要说，但想到故事尚未结束，便把话咽了回去。）

"Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn't keep shame and sorrow out of rich people's houses, another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn't enjoy her comforts, a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to go begging for it and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behavior. So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman's advice."

“姑娘们是聪明人，决定采纳这个建议，不久便惊奇地发现她们是多么富有。一个姑娘发现，金钱并不能使有钱人家免受羞辱和痛苦；另一个发现虽然自己没有钱，但却拥有青春活力和健康的身体，远比愁眉苦脸、年老体弱、不会享受生活乐趣的人幸福；第三个发现下厨做饭虽然不是件快事，但被迫去讨饭的滋味更难接受；第四个发现良好的品行比红玉戒指更加珍贵。于是她们不再牢骚满腹，而是尽情享受已经拥有的一切，并力图报答天恩，唯恐失去而不是更多地享受它们。我相信她们没有后悔接受了老妇人的建议。”

词汇释义

1.contented adj. 满足的，心安的 动词content的过去式和过去分词形式

Happy is he who is contented with what he has.
知足者常乐。

2.sly[slai] adj. 狡猾的，诡密的，偷偷摸摸的

She's a sly puss.
她是个刁滑的姑娘。

3.diligently adv. 勤奋地

He studies more diligently than his friend.
他比他的朋友更勤奋地学习。

4.resolution n. 决心，决定，坚决，决议，解决，分辨率

He made a resolution to read something profitable for one hour every day.
他下决心每天要读一小时有益读物。

5.discontented adj. 不满意的 动词discontent的过去式和过去分词

He was discontented with his salary.
他对自己的薪水感到不满。

6.sensible adj. 可察觉的，意识到的，实用的 n. 可感知物

That sounds very sensible to me.
我觉得这很合理。

7.disagreeable adj. 不愉快的，厌恶的，不为人喜的

Some fruits are disagreeable to the taste.
有几种果子味道不好。

8.carnelian n. 红玉髓，玛瑙

9.possess vt. 持有，支配

The police asked me if I possessed a gun.
警察问我是否有枪。

10.deserve vi. 应该得到 vt. 应受，值得

You deserve it.
这是你应得的。

难句解析
　　
1.These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well,

【难句解析】be anxious to...“急于做某事”；例句：She was anxious to get home.她急于想回到家里。

【句子翻译】这些姑娘们都想做个好孩子，并作了许多宏图大计，但总是不能持久。

2.Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were.

【难句解析】being sensible girls这句的逻辑主语是they，这里是动名词结构作状语；

【句子翻译】姑娘们是聪明人，决定采纳这个建议，不久便惊奇地发现她们是多么富有。