粗魯的男孩 

　　詹姆斯為他的粗魯無禮付出了代價，誰會喜歡這樣一個惹是生非的男孩？人和人的相處就像照鏡子，你怎么對待別人，別人就會怎樣對待你。如果你想讓自己顯得更迷人些，就需要遵守和人相處的基本禮節。

　　詹姆斯·賽爾頓是村上最粗野的孩子。對于路上經過的人，他很少有不去用某種方式羞辱一下的。

　　如果碰到衣著講究的人，他就會大喊：“花花公子”；如果碰到穿著破爛的人，他就會朝他丟石塊，或用各種方法騷擾他。

　　一天下午，他放學回家，剛好碰到一個陌生人從村子里經過。那人衣著樸素，衣服略顯陳舊但卻不失干凈和整潔。他手里拿著一根細木棍，棍的一端挑著一個包裹，頭上戴著一頂寬邊遮陽帽。

　　很快，詹姆斯打上了這個陌生人的主意。他朝同伴擠了一下眼睛，說：“有樂子了。”他偷偷地走到那人身后，打掉他的大帽子，撒腿就跑。

　　那人轉身看到了他，還沒等他開口說什么，詹姆斯就已經跑遠了。陌生人撿起帽子戴上，繼續走他的路。詹姆斯又悄悄接近了他，想再次耍弄那個人，可是這次他被那人緊緊地抓住了胳膊。

　　陌生人盯著詹姆斯的臉看了一會兒，就把他推開了。頑皮的男孩一發現自己獲得了自由，就開始朝陌生人扔泥土和石塊。

　　可是，當他用石塊把那個他稱作好斗士的人的頭砸破后，他真的害怕了。其他的孩子都跑了，他也偷偷摸摸地穿過田野，跑回了家。

　　當他快到家時，妹妹卡羅琳剛好出來碰到他。卡羅琳的手里拿著一條漂亮的金項鏈和一些新書，得意地讓他看。

　　卡羅琳語速飛快地告訴詹姆斯，幾年前離開他們的叔叔回來了，現在就在他們的房子里。他還給全家人買了許多漂亮的禮物。為了給他的哥哥和父親一個驚喜，他把他的馬車停在了一兩英里外的一家客棧里，自己走回了家。

　　卡羅琳還說，叔叔穿過村莊時，有幾個壞孩子朝他扔石塊，砸到了眼睛上面一點，不過母親已經給他包扎好了傷口。“你的臉看起來怎么這么蒼白？”卡羅琳換了種語氣問詹姆斯。

　　詹姆斯告訴她沒有什么事的，就跑回了家，爬到自己樓上的房間。不一會兒，他的父親叫他下來見見他的叔叔。詹姆斯嚇得渾身發抖，但也只好下樓來，快到客廳門口時，他站住了，不敢進去。

　　他母親問：“詹姆斯，你怎么不進來呢？你平常可沒有這么害羞的呀！看看這塊表多漂亮，是你叔叔給你買的。”

　　詹姆斯現在羞愧極了。小卡羅琳抓住他的手，把他拽到客廳。可是詹姆斯低著頭，還用雙手捂住了臉。

　　他叔叔來到他的身旁，親切地把他的手拿開，說：“詹姆斯，你不歡迎叔叔嗎？”可是他很快退了幾步，說：“哥哥，他是你的兒子嗎？！他就是在街上砸我的那個壞小孩。”

　　善良的父親和母親知道了事情的原委，既驚訝又難過。他叔叔忘記了傷痛，準備原諒他。可是父親卻怎么也不讓詹姆斯要那塊金表和那些好看的書——那些都是他叔叔買給他的。

　　其他的孩子們都得到了禮物，詹姆斯卻只能看著他們快樂的樣子。他永遠也不會忘記這次教訓，這讓他改掉了粗魯無禮的陋習。

　　The Insolent Boy

　　James Selton was one of the most insolent boys in the village where he lived. He would rarely pass people in the street without being guilty of some sort of abuse。

　　If a person were well dressed he would cry out, "Dandy!" If a person's clothes were dirty or torn, he would throw stones at him, and annoy him in every way。

　　One afternoon, just as the school was dismissed, a stranger passed through the village. His dress was plain and somewhat old, but neat and clean. He carried a cane in his hand, on the end of which was a bundle, and he wore a broad-brimmed hat。

　　No sooner d James see the stranger, than he winked to his playmates, and sa, "Now for some fun!" He then silently went toward the stranger from behind, and, knocking off his hat, ran away。

　　The man turned and saw him, but James was out of hearing before he could speak. The stranger put on his hat, and went on his way. Again d James approach; but this time, the man caught him by the arm, and held him fast。

　　However, he contented himself with looking James a moment in the face, and then pushed him from him. No sooner d the naughty boy find himself free again, than he began to pelt the stranger with dirt and stones.    

　　But he was much frightened when the "rowdy," as he foolishly called the man, was struck on the head by a brick, and badly hurt. All the boys now ran away, and James skulked across the fields to his home。

　　As he drew near the house, his sister Caroline came out to meet him, holding up a beautiful gold chain and some new books for him to see。

　　She told James, as fast as she could talk, that their uncle, who had been away several years, had come home, and was now in the house; that he had brought beautiful presents for the whole family; that he had left his carriage at the tavern, a mile or two off, and walked on foot, so as to surprise his brother, their father。

　　She sa, that while he was coming through the village, some wicked boys threw stones at him, and hit him just over the eye, and that mother had bound up the wound. "But what makes you look so pale?" asked Caroline, changing her tone。

　　The guilty boy told her that nothing was the matter with him; and running into the house, he went upstairs into his chamber. Soon after, he heard his father calling him to come down. Trembling from head to foot, he obeyed. When he reached the parlor door, he stood, fearing to enter。

　　His mother sa, "James, why do you not come in? You are not usually so bashful. See this beautiful watch, which your uncle has brought for you."

　　What a sense of shame d James now feel! Little Caroline seized his arm, and pulled him into the room. But he hung down his head, and covered his face with his hands。

　　His uncle went up to him, and kindly taking away his hands, sa, "James, will you not b me welcome?" But quickly starting back, he cried, "Brother, this is not your son. It is the boy who so shamefully insulted me in the street!"

　　With surprise and grief d the good father and mother learn this. His uncle was ready to forgive him, and forget the injury. But his father would never permit James to have the gold watch, nor the beautiful books, which his uncle had brought for him。

　　The rest of the children were loaded with presents. James was obliged to content himself with seeing them happy. He never forgot this lesson so long as he lived. It cured him entirely of his low and insolent manners。