“Where do you come from？And what do you know？”asked the mice，who were full of curiosity.“Have you seen the most beautiful places in the world，and can you tell us all about them？And have you been in the storeroom，where cheeses lie on the shelf，and hams hang from the ceiling？One can run about on tallow candles there，and go in thin and come out fat.”
“你知道什么东西？”耗子问道。“你是从什么地方来的？”它们现在非常好奇起来。“你见过世界上最美丽的地方吗？你到那儿去过吗？你到储藏室去过吗？那里的架子上放着许多乳饼，天花板下面挂着许多火腿；那儿，我们在蜡烛上跳舞；那儿，我们走进去时瘦，出来的时候胖。”
“I know nothing of that place，”said the firtree，“but I know the wood where the sun shines and the birds sing.”And then the tree told the little mice all about its youth.They had never heard such an account in their lives；and after they had listened to it attentively，they said，“What a number of things you have seen？You must have been very happy.”
“这个我可不知道，”枞树说。“但我对于树林尤其熟悉，那儿太阳照着，鸟儿唱着歌。”于是它说了一些关于它的少年时代的故事。小耗子们从来没有听到过这类事情，它们静听着，说：“嗨，你以前肯定很幸福吧！你见过的东西真多！”
“Happy！”exclaimed the firtree，and then as he reflected upon what he had been telling them，he said，“Ah，Yes！after all those were happy days.”But when he went on and related all about Christmaseve，and how he had been dressed up with cakes and lights，the mice said，“How happy you must have been，you old firtree.”
“幸福？”枞树说，同时把自己讲过的话想了一想，“是的，那的确是非常幸福的一个时期！”于是它叙述圣诞节前夕的故事……那时它身上装饰满了蜡烛和糖果。“啊，”小耗子说，“你这株老枞树，你曾是多么幸福啊！”
“I am not old at all，”replied the tree，“I only came from the forest this winter，I am now checked in my growth.”
“我并不老呀！”枞树说。“我只不过是今年冬天才离开树林的。我是一个青壮年呀，虽然此时我已经不再生长！”
“What splendid stories you can relate！”said the little mice.And the next night four other mice came with them to hear what the tree had to tell.The more he talked the more he remembered，and then he thought to himself，“Those were happy days，but they may come again.Humpty Dumpty fell down stairs，and yet he married the princess.Perhaps I may marry a princess too.”And the firtree thought of the pretty little birchtree that grew in the forest，which was to him a real beautiful princess.
“你的故事讲得有多美啊！”小耗子说。 第二天夜里，它们带来另外四个小耗子听枞树讲故事。它越讲得多，就越清晰地回想起过去的一切。于是它想：“那的确是非常幸福的一个时期！但是它会再回来！它会再回来！泥巴球滚下了楼梯，结果得到了公主。或许我也会得到一位公主哩！”这时枞树想起了长在树林里的一株可爱的小赤杨：这棵赤杨真算得是一位漂亮的公主，在枞树看来。
“Who is Humpty Dumpty？”asked the little mice.And then the tree related the whole story，He could remember every single word，and the little mice was so delighted with it，that they were ready to jump to the top of the tree.The next night a great many more mice made their appearance，and on Sunday two rats came with them.But they said，it was not a pretty story at all，and the little mice were very sorry，for it made them also think less of it.
“谁是那位泥巴球？”小耗子问道。枞树将整个故事讲了一遍，每一个字它都能记得清清楚楚。这些小耗子乐得想在这株树的顶上翻翻跟头。第二天晚上有更多的小耗子来了，在礼拜日那天，甚至还有两个大老鼠出现了。不过它们认为这个故事并不好听；它们对这个故事的兴趣也淡下来了，小耗子们也感到很惋惜。
“Do you know only one story？”asked the rats.
“你只会讲这个故事吗？”大老鼠问道。
“Only one，”replied the firtree，“I heard it on the happiest evening of my life，but I did not know I was so happy at the time.”
“只会这一个！”枞树回答说。“这故事是我在生活中最幸福的一个晚上听来的。那时我并不觉得我是怎么幸福！”
“We think it is a very miserable story.”said the rats，“Dont you know any story about baconbacon n.咸肉，熏肉，or tallowtallow n.牛脂，动物脂vt.涂脂油于in the storeroom.”
“你不会讲一个有关腊肉和蜡烛的故事吗？这只不过是一个很蹩脚的故事！不会讲一个关于储藏室的故事吗？”
“No.”replied the tree.
“不会！”枞树说道。
“Many thanks to you then.”replied the rats，and they marched off.
“那么谢谢你！”大老鼠回答道。于是它们全走了。