《織補針》，1846 年

the darning-Needle, 1846

從前有一根織補針，它想象自己是如此精緻，以至於最後它認為自己是一根縫紉針。

there was once upon a time a darning needle, that imagined itself so fine, that at last it fancied it was a sewing-needle.

“現在，注意了，把我緊緊握住！” 織補針對著正要把它拿出來的手指說道。

“Now, pay attention, and hold me firmly!” said the darning-needle to the fingers that were taking it out.

“別讓我掉下去！如果我掉到地上，肯定就再也找不到了，我是如此纖細。”

“do not let me fall! If I fall on the ground, I shall certainly never be found again, so fine am I.”

“差不多就是那樣吧。” 手指回答道，說著，它們抓住了針的針身。

“pretty well as to that,” answered the fingers; and so saying, they took hold of it by the body.

“看，我後面還拖著一串東西呢！” 織補針說著，身後拖著一根長長的線，但線頭上沒有打結。

“Look, I e with a train!” said the darning-needle, drawing a long thread after it, but there was no knot to the thread.

手指把針對準了廚娘的一雙舊鞋子。鞋面的皮子破了，現在要把它縫起來。

the fingers directed the needle against an old pair of shoes belonging to the cook. the upper-leather was torn, and it was now to be sewed together.

“那是粗活。” 針說，“我可幹不了。我會折斷的！我會折斷的！” 結果它真的折斷了。

“that is vulgar work,” said the needle; “I can never get through it. I shall break! I shall break!” And it really did break.

“我不是說過了嗎？” 針說，“我太嬌弱了。”

“did I not say so?” said the needle; “I am too delicate.”

“現在它一點兒用也沒有了。” 手指說，不過它們還得捏著它；廚娘在它上面滴了些封蠟，然後用它把自己的圍巾別在一起。

“Now it’s good for nothing,” said the fingers, but they were obliged to hold it still; the cook dropped s