LESSON 14 THE LITTLE BIRD’S SONG 小鸟之歌

1.A little bird, with feathers brown,

Sat singing on a tree;

The song was very soft and low,

But sweet as it could be.

2.The people who were passing by,

Looked up to see the bird

That made the sweetest melody

That ever they had heard.

3.But all the bright eyes looked in vain;

Birdie was very small,

And with his modest, dark-brown coat,

He made no show at all.

4.“Why, father,” little Gracie said,

“Where can the birdie be?

If I could sing a song like that,

I’d sit where folks could see.”

5.“I hope my little girl will learn

A lesson from the bird,

And try to do what good she can,

Not to be seen or heard.”

6.“This birdie is content to sit

Unnoticed on the way,

And sweetly sing his Maker’s praise

From dawn to close of day.”

7.“So live, my child, all through your life,

That, be it short or long,

Though others may forget your looks,

They’ll not forget your song.”

【中文阅读】

1.一只小鸟，长着棕色羽毛，

坐在枝头吟唱；

歌声温柔轻细，

但却如此清脆悦耳。

2.树下路过的人们，

仰头观望小鸟，

这是他们听到的，

最美妙的旋律。

3.但众人明眼皆徒劳，

因为鸟儿实在太小，

再加上它穿着一件朴实的棕色外套，

根本就无法看见。

4.“哦，爸爸，”小格莉丝问道，

“小鸟会在哪里呢？

如果我歌唱得跟它一样好听，

我一定会坐在人们看得见的地方。”

5.“我希望我的乖女儿

会从小鸟那里学到东西。

努力做到最好，

却不求别人看见或听到。”

6.“小鸟知足地坐在

不引人注目的地方，

甜美地唱着上帝之歌，

从黎明直到日落。”

7.“我的孩子，生命本该如此度过，

无论短暂或久远；

尽管人们会忘记你的容貌，

但不会忘记你的歌声。”