Johnny town-mouse was born in a cupboard. Timmy Willie was born in a garden. Timmy Willie was a little country mouse who went to town by mistake in a hamper. The gardener sent vegetables to town once a week by carrier; he packed them in a big hamper.
城市鼠约翰尼出生在一个橱柜里,而蒂米·威利出生在一个菜园里。蒂米·威利是一只住在乡下的小老鼠,他钻进一个菜篮子,误打误撞到了城里。菜园主把蔬菜装进菜篮子,每周让运货工送进城一次。
The gardener left the hamper by the garden gate, so that the carrier could pick it up when he passed. Timmy Willie crept in through a hole in the wickerwork, and after eating some peas—Timmy Willie fell fast asleep.
菜园主把菜篮子放在菜园门口,运货工经过的时候就会把它拿走。蒂米·威利从柳条菜篮的一个小洞钻了进去。他吃了一些豌豆,很快就睡着了。
He awoke in a fright, while the hamper was being lifted into the carrier's cart. Then there was a jolting, and a clattering of horse's feet; other packages were thrown in; for miles and miles—jolt—jolt—jolt! And Timmy Willie trembled amongst the jumbled up vegetables.
当菜篮子被拎到马车上的时候,蒂米·威利从睡梦中惊醒。接着,他感觉到了一阵颠簸,还听到了马蹄“踢踏踢踏”的声音。其他包裹一个个被扔上了运货车。车子走了很远很远,一直颠啊——颠啊——颠啊!蒂米·威利在堆得乱七八糟的蔬菜中间,不停地晃来晃去。
At last the cart stopped at a house, where the hamper was taken out, carried in, and set down. The cook gave the carrier sixpence; the backdoor banged, and the cart rumbled away. But there was no quiet; there seemed to be hundreds of carts passing. Dogs barked; boys whistled in the street; the cook laughed, the parlour maid ran up and down stairs; and a canary sang like a steam engine.
马车终于在一所房子前停了下来。菜篮子被人从马车上卸下来,搬进房子里,放在了地上。厨娘付给运货工六便士工钱。后门“砰”的一声关上,马车“轰隆隆”地走远了。但是四周还是一点儿都不安静,好像有无数马车从边上驶过。狗在汪汪叫;孩子们在大街上吹口哨;厨娘说说笑笑,客厅女仆楼上楼下跑来跑去;还有一只金丝雀在唱歌,声音听起来就像蒸汽机。
Timmy Willie, who had lived all his life in a garden, was almost frightened to death. Presently the cook opened the hamper and began to unpack the vegetables. Out sprang the terrified Timmy Willie.
蒂米·威利一辈子都住在乡下的菜园里,听到这些声音,都快被吓死了。过了一会儿,厨娘打开了菜篮子,开始把蔬菜往外拿,惊恐万分的蒂米·威利趁机从菜篮子里蹦了出来。