He had travelled a long way， and was very tired. It seemed like a dream when he stood up after a sleep in the field. He looked over the wall， and saw the garden， and the flowers， and the children playing all about. He looked at the long road behind him， at the dark wood and the barren1 hills. It was the world to which he belonged2. He looked at the garden before him， at the big house， and the steps that led down to the green grass. It was the world which belonged to the children.
　　他走了很长一段路，很累。他在地里睡了一觉，起来后觉得好像做了一场梦，梦里他在墙的另一边看到花园、花儿，孩子们到处玩耍。他望着身后漫长的道路，望着黑暗的树林和荒山，那是属于他的世界。他望着眼前的花园，望着大房子，望着通向绿草坪的台阶。这是属于孩子们的世界。
　　“Poor boy，” said the elder3 child， “I will get you something to eat.”
　　“可怜的孩子，”大孩子说，“我给你弄点吃的。”
　　“But where did he come from？” the gardener4 asked.
　　“他是从哪里来的？”园丁问。
　　“We do not know，” the child answered， “but he is very hungry， and mother says we may give him some food.”
　　“我们不知道。”孩子回答说，“但是他很饿，妈妈说我们可以给他一些食物。”
　　“I will take him some milk，” said the little one. In one hand she carried a cup and with the other she pulled along her little broken cart.
　　“我給他拿些牛奶，”小家伙说。她一只手拿着一个杯子，另一只手拉着她那破旧的小车。
　　“But what is he called？” asked the gardener.
　　“他叫什么？”园丁问。
　　“We do not know，” the little one answered， “but he is very thirsty， and mother says we may give him some milk.”
　　“我们不知道，”小家伙回答，“但是他很渴，妈妈说我们可以给他一些牛奶。”
　　“Where is he going？” asked the gardener.
　　“他要去哪里？”园丁问。
　　“We do not know，” the children said， “but he is very tired.”
　　“我们也不知道，”孩子们说，“但他很累。”
　　When the boy had rested well， he got up saying，“I must not stay any longer，” and turned to go on his way.
　　当男孩休息好了，他站起来说：“我不能再呆下去了。”然后转身走了。
　　“What have you to do？” the children asked.
　　“你要去干什么呢？”孩子们问。
　　“I am one of the crew5， and must help to make the world go round，” he answered.
　　他回答说：“我是全体中的一员，必须让世界运转起来。”
　　“Why do we not help too？”
　　“为什么我们不帮忙呢？”
　　“You are the passengers.”
　　“因为你们是过客。”
　　“How far have you to go？” they asked.
　　“你要走多远？”他们问。
　　“Oh， a long way！” he answered. “On and on until I can touch6 the sun.”
　　“噢，还有好长一段路要走！”他回答说，“一直走到我能触摸到太阳为止。”
　　“Will you really touch it？” they asked.
　　“你真的能摸到太阳吗？”他们问。
　　“I dare say I shall be tired long before I get there. Perhaps without knowing it， though， I shall reach it in my sleep，” he said. But they could not hear the last words， for he was already left. 　　“我敢说，在我到那儿之前，我早就累了。”他说道，“也许在不知不觉中，我会在我的梦中摸到它。”但他们听不到最后一句话，因为他已经离开了。
　　“Why did you talk to him？” the gardener said. “He is just a working boy.”
　　“你为什么和他说话？”园丁说，“他只是个普通人。”
　　“And we do nothing！It was very good of him to notice7 us，” they said， humbly8.
　　“我们什么也没做！他能注意到我们就很好了，”他们谦卑地说。
　　“Good！” said the gardener in despair9.“Why， between you and him there is a great difference.”
　　“很好！”园丁绝望地说，“哎呀，你们和他之間有如此大的差别。”
　　“There was only a wall. Who set it up？” they asked curiously10.
　　他们好奇地问道：“只有一面墙，会是谁建造的？”
　　“Why， the builders， of course. Men set it up.”
　　“哎，当然是建筑工人，是他们建的。”
　　“And who will pull it down？”
　　“谁来拆除它呢？”
　　“It will not want any pulling down，” the man answered. “Time will do that.”
　　“不需要谁来拆除，”那人回答道，“时间会去做的。”
　　As the children went back to their play， they looked up at the light towards which the boy was journeying11. “Perhaps we too shall reach it some day，” they said.
　　当孩子们回去继续玩耍的时候，他们抬头看着那片照在男孩路途道路上的灯光，说道：“也许有一天我们也能到达。”