The Stars (Excerpt)

Mark Twain

We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lie on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they were made or only just happened. Jim allowed they were made, but I allowed they happened. I judged it would have taken too long to make so many. Jim said the moon could lay them; well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn't say anything against it, because I've seen a frog lay most as many,so of course it could be done. We used to watch the stars that fell, too, and see them streak down. Jim allowed they'd gotten spoiled and was hove out of the nest.

我们头顶就是天空，布满了闪闪的星星。 我们常常躺在木筏上，看着夜空中的星星，讨论它们是造出来的还是偶然冒出来的。 吉姆认为星星是造出来的，但我认为星星是偶然冒出来的。我想如果要造那么多星星，得花费相当长的时间。吉姆说月亮可以把它们生出来，而这个说法似乎很有道理，我便不再反驳他了。 因为我曾见过青蛙下的卵，就和这满天的繁星一样多，所以月亮当然也能生出那么多的星星来。 我们还常常看那些掉下来的星星，看着它们划出一道亮光落下去。 吉姆认为它们恃宠而骄，所以才被赶出了自己的窝。