James Selton was one of the most insolent boys in the village where he lived.
詹姆斯.塞尔顿是他们村子里最无礼的男孩之一。
He would rarely pass people in the street without being guilty of some sort of abuse.
他在街上和人们迎面而过的时候，很少不犯出言不逊的过错。
If a person were well dressed he would cry out, "Dandy!"
如果有人穿得很讲究，他会大声地叫：“花花公子！”
If a person's clothes were dirty or torn, he would throw stones at him, and annoy him in every way.
要是有人的衣服弄脏了或是被撕破了，他会向他扔石头，想尽办法激怒他。
One afternoon, just as the school was dismissed, a stranger passed through the village.
一天下午，刚刚放学的时候，有一个陌生人经过村庄。
His dress was plain and some what old, but neat and clean.
他衣着普通，显得有点旧，但干净整齐。
He carried a cane in his hand, on the end of which was a bundle, and he wore abroad-brimmed hat.
手里拿着一根拐杖，拐杖的末端有个包袱，头上戴着一顶宽边帽。
No sooner did James see the stranger, than he winked to his playmates, and said, "Now for some fun!"
詹姆斯一看见这个陌生人，就向他的玩伴使了个眼色，说：“这下有好戏看了！”
He then silently went toward the stranger from behind, and, knocking off his hat, ran away.
然后他默不作声地从后面向那位陌生人走去，把他的帽子打下来，接着就逃跑了。
The man turned and saw him, but James was out of hearing before he could speak.
那个人转过身来看着他，可是在他还没来得及说话之前，詹姆斯已经跑出去好远，听不到了。
The stranger put on his hat,and went on his way.
陌生人把帽子戴上，继续往前走。
Again did James approach; but this time, the man caught him by the arm, and held him fast.
詹姆斯又走过来了，不过这一次，陌生人抓住詹姆斯的手臂，紧紧地按住他。
However, he contented himself with looking James a moment in the face, and then pushed him from him.
然而，他只是盯着詹姆斯的脸看了一会儿，就把他往前一推，松开了他。
No sooner did the naughty boy find himself free again, than he began to pelt the stranger with dirt and stones.
顽皮的男孩一看到自己被放了，马上就开始向陌生人投掷泥块和石头。
But he was much frightened when the "rowdy," as he foolishly called the man, was struckon the head by a brick, and badly hurt.
可是当这个他口里称之为“流氓”的人被一块砖砸到头部，而且伤得很严重的时候，詹姆斯吓坏了。
All the boys now ran away, and James skulked across the fields to his home.
这时所有其他男孩都跑了，詹姆斯偷偷摸摸地越过田野，往家里走去。
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.
当他靠近屋子的时候，妹妹卡洛琳跑出来迎接他，拿着一条漂亮的金项链和几本崭新的书给他看。
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;
她用她最快的语速，告诉詹姆斯，他们几年前离开家的叔叔回来了，现在就在家里；
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.
他为全家人带了漂亮的礼物；他把马车留在了一两英里外的旅店里，走着来的，为的是要给他的哥哥、他们的爸爸一个惊喜。
