Murdoch's Path

Murdoch's Path, A Story of Ireland, by Julianna Horatia Ewing. Illustrated by Maria Voris.

《默多克小径：爱尔兰故事》，作者朱莉安娜·霍雷西娅·尤因。 玛丽亚·沃里斯 绘图

Chapter One Pat was a poor delivery boy, and all the townsfolk loved him. He was as trustworthy as a clock, and always delivered goods and payment on time. And he always returned any change. He had as much work as he could handle. If it only paid well, he would have been a rich man. But Pat was so poor that when he walked on the highway he kept his shoes in his pockets until he got to town. That way the shoes would not wear out.

第一章 帕特是个穷苦的送货少年，镇上所有人都喜欢他。 他像时钟一样可靠，送货和交款从来都准时。 而且每次都会把找零一分不少送回来。 他手头的活多到做不完。 要是这些活报酬能丰厚点，他早就成有钱人了。 可帕特太穷了，走大路的时候，他会把鞋子揣进兜里，走到镇上才穿上。 这样鞋子就不会被磨坏了。

One night, his deliveries had kept him so late that he rushed down the dark road, his shoes still on his feet. This is what he was saying to himself. A dozen balls of gray yarn for Mistress Murphy. Three dozen bright buttons for the tailor. Half an ounce of throat drops for Father Andrew. These were the items he had been sent to fetch. He repeated them so he would be sure to remember

一天晚上，送货耽误了太久，帕特急匆匆地摸黑赶路，鞋子还穿在脚上。 他嘴里一直念叨着要取的东西。 给墨菲太太带十二个灰毛线团。 给裁缝带三十六颗亮闪闪的纽扣。 给安德鲁神父带半盎司润喉糖。 这些就是他要取回来的货品。 他一直反复念叨，生怕自己记不住

Now, everyone knew that there were two ways home from town. One was the proper highway, and the other was Murdock's path. The path was nothing more than a wet, swampy, brambly, overgrown ditch. No one dared go there because it was infested with fairies. In all the years Pat had gone to and from town, he had always taken the highway. But poor Pat was so late and so deep in thought that when he came to the fork where the path split off, he didn't even look up. He marched right down Murdoch's path without even noticing.

所有人都知道，从镇上回家有两条路。 一条是平整的大路，另一条就是默多克小径。 这条小径其实就是一条湿软的水沟，到处是沼泽、荆棘，杂草丛生。 没人敢去那里，因为那里有精灵出没。 帕特这么多年来往镇上，一直都走大路。 可可怜的帕特那天太晚了，又一直在想事情，走到岔路口的时候，他连头都没抬。 他没注意，就径直走上了默多克小径。

Chapter 2 He wasn't sure how far he'd gone when suddenly a full moon came from behind the clouds. It made the land as bright as day. Pat looked up and realized he had taken the wrong turn. For right in front of him was a circle of dancing fairies. They danced around and around until Pat's feet tingled. Fairy music makes anyone want to dance no matter how late it is and no matter how tired he is Pat simply waited and watched after a long time a little man in a black hat a green coat and red shoes Beckoned him into the circle

第二章 他不知道走了多远，突然一轮满月从云后钻了出来。 把大地照得跟白天一样明亮。 帕特抬头一看，才发现自己走错了路。 因为就在他面前，有一圈正在跳舞的精灵。 她们不停转着圈跳舞，跳得帕特脚都发痒了。 精灵的音乐不管你多晚多累，都会让人忍不住想跳舞，帕特就只是站在一旁看着，过了好久，一个戴黑帽子、穿绿外套、红鞋子的小矮人招手让他进到圈子里

Won't you dance a song with us, Pat?" asked the little man, bowing till he nearly touched the ground. He didn't have far to go, for he was barely two feet high. I'll be proud to dance with you, replied Pat. Before he could look around, Pat jumped in the circle and began dancing as though his life depended on it.

"帕特，你要不要和我们跳支舞呀？"小矮人边问边鞠躬，腰弯得都快碰到地面了。 他也不用弯多少，毕竟他才不到两英尺高。 帕特回答说："能和您跳舞我十分荣幸。" 帕特还没反应过来，就跳进圈子跳了起来，拼尽全力地跳着舞。