《樅樹》，1845 年

the Fir tree, 1845

樹林裡立著一棵漂亮的小樅樹。

out in the woods stood a nice little Fir tree.

它所在的位置很不錯：陽光照耀著它；至於新鮮空氣，那也是充足得很，而且在它周圍長著許多高大的同類，有松樹也有樅樹。

the place he had was a very good one: the sun shone on him: as to fresh air, there was enough of that, and round him grew many large-sized rades, pines as well as firs.

但這棵小樅樹非常渴望長成一棵大樹。

but the little Fir wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree.

它不去想溫暖的陽光和新鮮的空氣；它也不在意那些在樹林裡尋找野草莓時跑來跑去、嘰嘰喳喳的小村童。

he did not think of the warm sun and of the fresh air; he did not care for the little cottage children that ran about and prattled when they were in the woods looking for wild-strawberries.

孩子們常常帶著滿滿一罐漿果來，或者把一長串漿果穿在一根草莖上，然後在這棵小樹旁坐下，說道：“哦，它多漂亮呀！多可愛的小樅樹啊！” 但這正是這棵樹聽不下去的話。

the children often came with a whole pitcher full of berries, or a long row of them threaded on a straw, and sat down near the young tree and said, “oh, how pretty he is! what a nice little fir!” but this was what the tree could not bear to hear.

一年過去了，它長高了不少，又過了一年，它又長高了一大截；因為對於樅樹來說，總是可以透過新長出的枝杈來判斷它們的年齡。

At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal, and after another year he was another long bit taller; for with fir trees one can always tell by the shoots how many years old they are.

“哦！我要是能像其他樹那麼高大就好了。” 它嘆著氣說。

“oh! were I but such a high tree as the others are,” sighed he.

“那樣我就能伸展我的樹枝，用樹頂去眺望廣闊的世界了！到那時鳥兒就會在我的樹枝間築巢：起風的時候，我也能和其他樹一樣優雅地彎腰了！”

“then I sh