LESSON 14

THE LITTLE BIRD’S SONG

melody unnoticed modest content Gracie

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，

歇在枝头吟唱；

歌声温柔轻细，

可如此清脆悦耳。

2. 人们从树下路过，

仰头望视小鸟；那美妙之音，

他们从未听见。

3. 众人明眼皆徒劳，

鸟宝贝实在太小；

身着朴实涤棕衣，

一点让人看不见。

4. “哦，爸爸，”小格雷斯说，

“鸟宝贝在哪呢？”

“要是我像它那样唱得好听，

我会坐得大家都能看见。”

5. “我期望我的乖女儿

能从小鸟身上得到教训

努力让自己做得更好，

不求让人看见或听到。”

6. “小鸟知足地坐在

不引人注目的地方，

甜美地唱着造物主的颂歌，

从黎明到日落。”

7. “我的孩子，生命本应如此度过，

无论其短暂或久远，

尽管他人会忘记你的容貌，

但他们不会忘记你的歌声。”