粗鲁的男孩 

　　詹姆斯为他的粗鲁无礼付出了代价，谁会喜欢这样一个惹是生非的男孩？人和人的相处就像照镜子，你怎么对待别人，别人就会怎样对待你。如果你想让自己显得更迷人些，就需要遵守和人相处的基本礼节。

　　詹姆斯·赛尔顿是村上最粗野的孩子。对于路上经过的人，他很少有不去用某种方式羞辱一下的。

　　如果碰到衣着讲究的人，他就会大喊：“花花公子”；如果碰到穿着破烂的人，他就会朝他丢石块，或用各种方法骚扰他。

　　一天下午，他放学回家，刚好碰到一个陌生人从村子里经过。那人衣着朴素，衣服略显陈旧但却不失干净和整洁。他手里拿着一根细木棍，棍的一端挑着一个包裹，头上戴着一顶宽边遮阳帽。

　　很快，詹姆斯打上了这个陌生人的主意。他朝同伴挤了一下眼睛，说：“有乐子了。”他偷偷地走到那人身后，打掉他的大帽子，撒腿就跑。

　　那人转身看到了他，还没等他开口说什么，詹姆斯就已经跑远了。陌生人捡起帽子戴上，继续走他的路。詹姆斯又悄悄接近了他，想再次耍弄那个人，可是这次他被那人紧紧地抓住了胳膊。

　　陌生人盯着詹姆斯的脸看了一会儿，就把他推开了。顽皮的男孩一发现自己获得了自由，就开始朝陌生人扔泥土和石块。

　　可是，当他用石块把那个他称作好斗士的人的头砸破后，他真的害怕了。其他的孩子都跑了，他也偷偷摸摸地穿过田野，跑回了家。

　　当他快到家时，妹妹卡罗琳刚好出来碰到他。卡罗琳的手里拿着一条漂亮的金项链和一些新书，得意地让他看。

　　卡罗琳语速飞快地告诉詹姆斯，几年前离开他们的叔叔回来了，现在就在他们的房子里。他还给全家人买了许多漂亮的礼物。为了给他的哥哥和父亲一个惊喜，他把他的马车停在了一两英里外的一家客栈里，自己走回了家。

　　卡罗琳还说，叔叔穿过村庄时，有几个坏孩子朝他扔石块，砸到了眼睛上面一点，不过母亲已经给他包扎好了伤口。“你的脸看起来怎么这么苍白？”卡罗琳换了种语气问詹姆斯。

　　詹姆斯告诉她没有什么事的，就跑回了家，爬到自己楼上的房间。不一会儿，他的父亲叫他下来见见他的叔叔。詹姆斯吓得浑身发抖，但也只好下楼来，快到客厅门口时，他站住了，不敢进去。

　　他母亲问：“詹姆斯，你怎么不进来呢？你平常可没有这么害羞的呀！看看这块表多漂亮，是你叔叔给你买的。”

　　詹姆斯现在羞愧极了。小卡罗琳抓住他的手，把他拽到客厅。可是詹姆斯低着头，还用双手捂住了脸。

　　他叔叔来到他的身旁，亲切地把他的手拿开，说：“詹姆斯，你不欢迎叔叔吗？”可是他很快退了几步，说：“哥哥，他是你的儿子吗？！他就是在街上砸我的那个坏小孩。”

　　善良的父亲和母亲知道了事情的原委，既惊讶又难过。他叔叔忘记了伤痛，准备原谅他。可是父亲却怎么也不让詹姆斯要那块金表和那些好看的书——那些都是他叔叔买给他的。

　　其他的孩子们都得到了礼物，詹姆斯却只能看着他们快乐的样子。他永远也不会忘记这次教训，这让他改掉了粗鲁无礼的陋习。

　　The Insolent Boy

　　James Selton was one of the most insolent boys in the village where he lived. He would rarely pass people in the street without being guilty of some sort of abuse。

　　If a person were well dressed he would cry out, "Dandy!" If a person's clothes were dirty or torn, he would throw stones at him, and annoy him in every way。

　　One afternoon, just as the school was dismissed, a stranger passed through the village. His dress was plain and somewhat old, but neat and clean. He carried a cane in his hand, on the end of which was a bundle, and he wore a broad-brimmed hat。

　　No sooner did James see the stranger, than he winked to his playmates, and said, "Now for some fun!" He then silently went toward the stranger from behind, and, knocking off his hat, ran away。

　　The man turned and saw him, but James was out of hearing before he could speak. The stranger put on his hat, and went on his way. Again did James approach; but this time, the man caught him by the arm, and held him fast。

　　However, he contented himself with looking James a moment in the face, and then pushed him from him. No sooner did the naughty boy find himself free again, than he began to pelt the stranger with dirt and stones.    

　　But he was much frightened when the "rowdy," as he foolishly called the man, was struck on the head by a brick, and badly hurt. All the boys now ran away, and James skulked across the fields to his home。

　　As he drew near the house, his sister Caroline came out to meet him, holding up a beautiful gold chain and some new books for him to see。

　　She told James, as fast as she could talk, that their uncle, who had been away several years, had come home, and was now in the house; that he had brought beautiful presents for the whole family; that he had left his carriage at the tavern, a mile or two off, and walked on foot, so as to surprise his brother, their father。

　　She said, that while he was coming through the village, some wicked boys threw stones at him, and hit him just over the eye, and that mother had bound up the wound. "But what makes you look so pale?" asked Caroline, changing her tone。

　　The guilty boy told her that nothing was the matter with him; and running into the house, he went upstairs into his chamber. Soon after, he heard his father calling him to come down. Trembling from head to foot, he obeyed. When he reached the parlor door, he stood, fearing to enter。

　　His mother said, "James, why do you not come in? You are not usually so bashful. See this beautiful watch, which your uncle has brought for you."

　　What a sense of shame did James now feel! Little Caroline seized his arm, and pulled him into the room. But he hung down his head, and covered his face with his hands。

　　His uncle went up to him, and kindly taking away his hands, said, "James, will you not bid me welcome?" But quickly starting back, he cried, "Brother, this is not your son. It is the boy who so shamefully insulted me in the street!"

　　With surprise and grief did the good father and mother learn this. His uncle was ready to forgive him, and forget the injury. But his father would never permit James to have the gold watch, nor the beautiful books, which his uncle had brought for him。

　　The rest of the children were loaded with presents. James was obliged to content himself with seeing them happy. He never forgot this lesson so long as he lived. It cured him entirely of his low and insolent manners。