The Little New Year 小小新年

艾倫·羅畢那·菲爾德

One cold morning Maurice awoke from his dreams， sat up in bed and listened carefully. He heard a knock at his window， so he opened the window， and whispered， “Who is there？”

“I am，” replied a tinkling voice. “I am the little ‘New Year， and Ive promised to bring a blessing to everyone. But I am such a little fellow I need somebody to help me distribute them. Wont you please come out and help？” “Never mind the cold，” urged the “New Year”， “please help me！”

So Maurice hurried into his clothes， and was soon out in the yard. There he found a rosy-cheeked boy a little smaller than himself， pulling a large cart which seemed to be loaded with good things. On one side of this cart was painted the word “Love”， and on the other “Kindness”. As soon as the “New Year” saw Maurice he said， “Now please take hold and help me pull.” And down the driveway， up the hill they traveled until they came to an old shanty.

一個寒冷的清晨，莫里斯從睡夢中醒來，坐起來仔細聆聽。有人在敲他家的窗戶，于是他打開窗低聲問：“誰在那兒？”

“是我，”一個叮叮當當的聲音回答道，“我是小‘新年，我承諾給每個人帶來祝福的禮物。但我是這樣一個小不點兒，需要有人幫我分發它們。你愿意出來幫忙嗎？別怕冷，”“新年”懇求道，“請幫幫我吧！”

于是莫里斯迅速穿上衣服，很快來到屋外的院子。只見一個比他個頭小一點點的、臉色紅潤的小男孩，手里推著一個很大的似乎滿載著好東西的推車。推車的一邊漆著一個“愛”字，另一邊是“善良”。“新年”一看到莫里斯就說：“現在請握住車把手和我一起推吧。”于是他們沿著汽車道，爬上小山丘，來到一座老舊而簡陋的小屋前。

“Here is where I make my first call，” said the “New Year”. Maurice looked wonderingly at him，“Why， nobody lives here but an old man， and he hasnt any children！” “He needs my help，” said the “New Year”， “for grown people like to be thought of just as much as children do. You shovel out a path to his door， while I unload some of my blessings.” And the little hands went busily at work， piling up warm clothing， wood， and a new years dinner.

The “New Year” was singing as he worked， “Oh， I am the little ‘New Year. Ho， ho！ Here I come tripping it over the snow， shaking my bells with a merry din. So open your door and let me in.”

Old Joe， hearing some noise outside， came to the door and when he saw all the nice gifts the tears ran down his cheeks for gladness; and as he carried them into the house， he whispered， “The dear Lord has been here tonight.”

“Where are we going now？” asked Maurice， as they ran down the hill. “To take some flowers to a poor sick girl，” answered the “New Year”.

Soon they came to a small white house， where the “New Year” stopped. “Why， Bessie lives here，” said Maurice. “I didnt know she was sick.” “See，” said the "New Year”， “this window is open a little; let us throw this bunch of pinks into the room. They will please her when she wakes， and will make her happy for several days.”