下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
“My friends,” said the little monkey Zephir one day to Arthur, Pom,Flora and Alexander, “listen to the wonderful story I have just been told. On Christmas Eve, in the world of men,a kind old man with a long white beard, in a red coat and a pointed cap, travels through the air.
一天，小猴子泽飞尔、亚瑟、波姆、弗洛拉还有亚历山大在一起玩，泽飞尔说：“我亲爱的朋友们，我刚听来一个有趣的故事，给你们讲讲。在人类世界中，一到圣诞节前夜，就会有一个慈祥的老人，他的胡子又白又长，身穿一件大红袍，头戴一顶尖尖的帽子，穿梭在空中。
“He carries many toys with him which he gives to little children. He is called Father Christmas. It is difficult to see him,for he comes down the chimney while children are asleep. In the morning they know he has been, because their stockings are full of toys. Suppose we write to him and ask him to come to the land of the elephants?”
“他经常随身携带很多礼物，都是要送给孩子们的。人们都称他为圣诞老人。不过，人们看不见他，他总是会在孩子们睡觉的时候，通过烟囱进到屋里。清晨孩子们睡醒了，发现自己的袜子里塞满了礼物，那就证明圣诞老人来过了。我们也写封信给他，让他也来大象王国好吗？”
“Hurrah! What a splendid idea!” said Alexander.
“哇，这真是一个好想法！”亚历山大说。
“But what can we put in the letter?” asked Arthur.
“可是我们应该在信上写些什么呢？”亚瑟问。
“We must tell Father Christmas what we want,” suggested Pom.
“我们必须要告诉圣诞老人我们想要的东西。”波姆提出建议。
“Let us think first before we write,” added Flora.
“在写信之前，我们都再好好想想。”弗洛拉说。
They all paused for a moment and thought.
他们停下来一会儿，都在认真地考虑。
Zephir thought he would like a bicycle, Flora said she would love a doll.Alexander wanted a butterfly net, Pom a big bag of sweets and a baby bear. As for Arthur, he longed for a railway.
泽飞尔想有一辆自行车，弗洛拉特别想要一个洋娃娃，亚历山大希望有一个蝴蝶网，波姆想得到一大袋糖果和一只小熊，而亚瑟非常渴望能有一辆小火车。
When they had all decided what they wanted, it was arranged that Zephir, who had the best handwriting, should write the letter. So he set about it.
他们各自想好了自己想要的东西，大家一致同意由泽飞尔来执笔写信，因为他的字最漂亮。于是他坐在椅子上开始写信。
Arthur remembered that one must have a stamp on the envelop.Then they all signed the letter, and went happily to post it.
亚瑟突然想到，要想信能寄出去就必须在信封上贴邮票。他们在信上分别签上自己的名字，就开开心心地把信放进邮筒寄出去了。
Every morning the five friends waited for the postman to come. As soon as they saw him, they ran to meet him. But,alas!the postman searched in vain: there was no reply from Father Christmas. One day Babar saw them and said to himself:“What is the matter with the children? They look so sad.”
每天清晨，他们五个都会热切地盼着邮递员的到来。每当邮递员过来，他们就会马上跑过去迎接他。但是，唉！邮递员找了好久，却什么也没找到，圣诞老人还没有写回信给他们。一天，巴巴看到他们这样，默默地说道：“孩子们这是怎么了？怎么都是一副无精打采的样子？”
He at once called them and said: “Come, children, what is the matter?”
他马上喊他们过来，问道：“孩子们，都快过来，你们这是怎么了？”
Zephir told him all about the letter.
泽飞尔将他们给圣诞老人写信的事一五一十地告诉了巴巴。
“And haven't you had a reply?” asked Babar.
“你们还没有收到他的回信吗？”巴巴问。
“You must have forgotten to put a stamp on.”
“你们肯定忘记贴邮票了。”
“No,” they said, Arthur had remembered it.
“不是的。”他们说，亚瑟记得这件事。
“Then perhaps Father Christmas has not had time to answer. Don't worry.Go and play. I believe you have given me a good idea.”
“那也许是因为圣诞老人还没来得及给你们回信。不要担心了，都去玩吧！你们让我有了一个好想法。”
Babar got out his pipe and smoked it.
巴巴从口袋里拿出烟斗，边走边抽了起来。
He walked up and down, thinking hard.
他不停地来回踱步，认真地思考。