Catching Santa

Catching Santa. Illustrated by David Cockroft.

《捉住圣诞老人》 绘图：大卫·科克罗夫特

On Christmas Eve, the hoppers hung their stockings by the fire. They planned to stay awake until Santa Claus came. "'What can we do to pass the time?' asked Fluffy -Tail. "'One of us could tell a fairy tale,' said Floppy -Ears. "'Why don't we make some popcorn?' said Speedy -Legs. The hoppers munched popcorn and waited for Santa Claus.

平安夜那天，跳跳兔一家把长筒袜挂在了炉火边。 他们打算一直醒着，等圣诞老人来。 “我们做点什么来打发时间呀？”蓬蓬尾问。 “我们可以有人来讲个童话故事呀。”耷拉耳说。 “我们干嘛不做点爆米花呢？”飞毛腿说。 跳跳兔们咯吱咯吱吃着爆米花，等着圣诞老人。

Ten o 'clock came, then eleven o 'clock. The hoppers were wide awake except for Mother Hopper, who fell asleep in her chair. Then Speedy Legs said, I hear something. It sounds like sleigh bells, said Floppy Ears. Is it Santa? cried Fluffy Tail.

十点钟到了，接着十一点钟也到了。 跳跳兔们都还精神得很，只有兔妈妈坐在椅子上睡着了。 这时飞毛腿说：“我听到有动静。” “听起来像是雪橇铃的声音。”耷拉耳说。 是圣诞老人吗？ 蓬蓬尾大声喊道。

The sleigh bells came closer and closer. Soon they heard footsteps coming toward the door. Snubby Nose ran to the door and opened it. It is Papa, cried Snubby Nose. Sure enough, Papa Hopper was home late from getting the hoppers their presents. He had sleigh bells on his hat and boots.

雪橇铃声越来越近了。 很快他们听到有脚步声朝门口走来。 翘翘鼻跑到门口，把门打开了。 “是爸爸！”翘翘鼻大声喊。 果然是兔爸爸，他出门给孩子们买礼物，回来晚了。 他的帽子和靴子上都挂着雪橇铃呢。

Merry Christmas, hoppers," said Papa Hopper. He hugged all the hoppers and sat in a chair next to Mother Hopper. Snubby Nose hopped in his lap. Did you see Santa Claus? He asked. Santa Claus? said Papa Hopper, sitting up. You hoppers know that Santa won't come unless you're asleep.

“圣诞快乐呀，我的小跳跳们。”兔爸爸说。 他抱了抱每只小兔子，然后坐在了兔妈妈旁边的椅子上。 翘翘鼻蹦到了他的腿上。 你见到圣诞老人了吗？ 他问道。 “圣诞老人？”兔爸爸坐直了身子说。 “你们这些小跳跳都知道的呀，你们不睡着，圣诞老人是不会来的。”

That's right, said Mother Hopper. Off to bed, all of you." The Hoppers groaned, but they went to bed. Mother and Papa Hopper tucked them in and turned off the lights. It was very late, and soon all the Hoppers fell asleep. All except Snubby -Nose. I want to see Santa Claus, thought Snubby -Nose. I will creep downstairs with my flashlight.

“对呀。”兔妈妈说。 “你们全都上床睡觉去。” 小兔子们唉声叹气的，但还是乖乖上床了。 兔爸爸和兔妈妈给他们盖好被子，关了灯。 时间已经很晚了，很快所有小兔子都睡着了。 只有翘翘鼻还醒着。 我要见圣诞老人，翘翘鼻心里想着。 我要拿着手电筒偷偷溜下楼去。