落花生

那晚上底天色不大好，可是爹爹也到來，實在很難得！爹爹說：『你們愛吃花生麼？』

那晚上底天色不大好，可是爹爹也到来，实在很难得！爹爹说：『你们爱吃花生么？』

The weather that evening was not very good, but Father came too, which was really rare. Father said, "Do you like peanuts?"

我們都爭着答應，『愛！』

我们都争着答应，『爱！』

We all answered at once, "Yes."

『誰能把花生底好處說出來？』

『谁能把花生底好处说出来？』

"Who can tell me what is good about peanuts?"

姊姊說：『花生底氣味很美，』

姊姊说：『花生底气味很美，』

My elder sister said, "Peanuts taste very good."

哥哥說：『花生可以製油。』

哥哥说：『花生可以制油。』

My elder brother said, "Peanuts can be pressed for oil."

我說：『無論何等人都可以用賤價買他來吃；都喜歡吃他。這就是他底好處。』

我说：『无论何等人都可以用贱价买他来吃；都喜欢吃他。这就是他底好处。』

I said, "Anyone at all can buy them cheaply, and everyone likes to eat them. That is what is good about them."

爹爹說：『花生底用處固然很多；但有一樣是很可貴的。這小小的豆不像那好看的蘋果、桃子、石榴，把他們底果實懸在枝上，鮮紅嫩綠的顏色，令人一望而發生羨慕底心。他只把果子埋在地底，等到成熟，才容人把他挖出來，你們偶然看見一棵花生瑟縮地長在地上，不能立刻辨出他有沒有果實，非得等到你接觸他才能知道。』

爹爹说：『花生底用处固然很多；但有一样是很可贵的。这小小的豆不像那好看的苹果、桃子、石榴，把他们底果实悬在枝上，鲜红嫩绿的颜色，令人一望而发生羡慕底心。他只把果子埋在地底，等到成熟，才容人把他挖出来，你们偶然看见一棵花生瑟缩地长在地上，不能立刻辨出他有没有果实，非得等到你接触他才能知道。』

Father said, "Peanuts certainly have many uses, but there is one thing about them that is very precious. This small nut is not like the handsome apple, peach or pomegranate, which hang their fruit on the branches, bright red and fresh green, so that whoever sees them envies them at once. It buries its fruit in the ground, and only when the fruit is ripe does it let people dig it up. If you happen to see a peanut plant growing timidly on the ground, you cannot tell at once whether it has any fruit or not. You can only know when you touch it."

我們都說：『是的。』母親也點點頭。爹爹接下去說：『所以你們要像花生，因爲他是有用的，不是偉大、好看的東西。』我說：『那麼，人要做有用的人，不要做偉大、體面的人了。』爹爹說：『這是我對於你們底希望。』

我们都说：『是的。』母亲也点点头。爹爹接下去说：『所以你们要像花生，因为他是有用的，不是伟大、好看的东西。』我说：『那么，人要做有用的人，不要做伟大、体面的人了。』爹爹说：『这是我对于你们底希望。』

We all said, "That's true." Mother nodded too. Father went on: "So you should be like the peanut, because it is useful, not great and handsome." I said, "Then people should be useful, and not great and grand." Father said, "That is what I hope for you."