eyes from the sun，seemed to him to be floating through the air，nearer and nearer． We cannot take this money，，panted Hans，’though we know your goodness m gwmg lt．’ |Why not，indeed?f asked Hilda t flushing． Because，’repEed Hans，bowing like a clown，butlooking with the eye of a prince at the queenly sel，‘we have not earned it．’ Hilda was quick-witted．She had noticed a orettv wooden chain upon Gretel’S neck．
‘Carve me a chain，Hans，like the one your sisterwears．’
That 1 will，lady，with alI my heart，we have white—ood in the house．fine as ivow；you shall have one tomorrow，and Hans hastilY tried to retum the money．
No，no，‘said Hilda deddedly．’That sum wilI be but a poor price for the chain，，and off she darted，outstripping the fleetest among the skaters．
Hans sent a long，bewildered gaze after her；it was useless，he feIt，to make any further resistance．
‘It is right，’he muttered，half to himself,half to his faithfuJ shadow，Gretel，’I must work hard every minute，and／Sit up half the night if mother will let me burn a candle；but the chain shall be finished．We may keep the money，Gretel．’一What a good little lady!’ cried Gretel，clapping her hands with delight.’ Oh!Hans，was it for nothing the stork settled on our roof last summer?Do you rememberhow mother said it would bring US luck，and how she cried when Janzoon Kolp shot him?And she said it would bring him trouble．But the luck has come to US at last!Now，Hans，if mother sends US to town tomorrow you can buy the skates in the market—place．’
足够的钱能买一双更好的，再见！”希尔达把钱塞给惊愕得不知所措的汉斯，然后点了点头，抿嘴一笑，飞快而轻盈地朝她的同伴们滑去了。
“小姐!范赫莱克小姐！汉斯一边高声呼叫。一边竭尽全力；磕磕绊绊地向她追去，他的冰鞋还有一只没有系上鞋带。
希尔达转身滑来，一只手抬在额头遮挡阳光，在汉斯看来，她就像从空中飘来一样，越飘越近。
“我们不能收这笔钱，”汉斯喘着气说，“尽管我们知道您这样做是好意。”
“为什么?究竟为什么?”希尔达红着脸问道。
“因为，”汉斯一边解释，一边像小丑一样鞠了一躬，但眼神却像一位王子．他看着这位像女王般的姑娘说道，“因为这不是我们挣的。”
希尔达思维敏捷．她已经注意到格雷特尔脖子上戴着一串木刻项链，此时立即想到了一个主意。
“请为我刻一串项链吧。汉斯。就像你妹妹戴的那串一样．”
“这我会，小姐，我会精心雕刻。我家有白木，像象牙一样白。你明天就可得到，”汉斯急忙把钱递了过去。
“不。不，”希尔达一口拒绝，态度坚决。“这笔钱抵不过那串项链，”说完，她急速滑开。很快就将所有的滑冰者抛在了后面．
汉斯用困惑的目光久久地注视着她。他感觉到再度拒绝已没有任何用处。
“不错，”他喃喃地低声说道，一半像自言自语，一半像对他忠实的影子格雷特尔说话，“我必须抓紧每一分
Hans shook his head. The young lady would have given us the money to buy skates; but if I earn it, Gretel, it shall be spent for wool. You must have a warm jacket. "Oh! cried Gretel, in real dismay, "not buy the skates!Why, I am not often cold! Mother says the blood runs up and down in poor childrens veins humming "I must keep em warm! I must keep em warm."" Oh, Hans," she continued, with something like a sob,dont say you wont buy the skates, it makes me feel just like crying - besides, I want to be cold - I mean Im real,
awful warm - so now!" Hans looked up hurriedly. He had a true Dutch horror
of tears, or emotion of any kind, and, most of all, he dreaded to see his sisters blue eyes overfowing.
Now mind, cried Gretel, seeing her advantage, Ill feel awful if you give up the skates. I dont want them.Im not such a stingy as that; but I wantyou to have them,and then when I get bigger theyll do for me - oh-h -count the pieces, Hans. Did ever you see so many?
Hans turned the money thoughtfully in his palm.Never in all his life had he longed so intensely for a pair of skates, for he had known 0f the race, and had, boy-like, fairly ached for a chance to test his powers with the other children. He felt confident that with a good pair of steel runners he could readily distance most of the boys on the -.anal. Then, too, Gretels argument was so plausible. On
:he other hand, he knew that she, with her strong but ithe little frame, needed but a weeks practice on good unners to make her a better skater than Rychie Korbes or yen Katrinka Flack. AS soon as this last thought flashed pon him his resolve was made. If Gretel would not have ae jacket, she should have the skates.
"No, Gretel, he answered at last, "I can wait. Some day Imay have money enough saved to buy a rine pair You shall have these.
……
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当中国对外翻译出版公司约请我将美国著名女作家玛丽，梅普斯·道奇的成名之作《汉斯·布林克尔或银冰鞋》一书以英汉对照的形式翻译介绍给中国读者时，我曾犹豫再三，深恐自己因文学功底不足和文字修养不深，而糟蹋了原作。
然而，当我读完这本书之后，书中主人公汉斯。布林克尔一家的遭遇以及主人公正直善良的品德、坚韧不拔的精神和身处逆境但始终充满乐观的性格却深深地打动了我，使我不由得对书中的主人公生出了喜爱。同时，书中对荷兰风光和风土人情的细腻描绘以及对有关几座历史名城掌故的详细介绍也勾起了我对那片奇特的“低洼之地”的向往。一种想与他人分享这种感受的强烈愿望促使我硬着头皮、接过了这个也许是吃力不讨好的苦差事。
本书所讲的故事发生在19世纪40年代的荷兰。故事以阿姆斯特丹附近一个小镇举行的一场青少年滑冰大赛以及大赛前所发生的事为背景，以贫穷少年汉斯。布林克尔一家的遭遇为主线塑造了一群性格鲜明的荷兰男女少年。主人公汉斯是个15岁的少年，他的父亲在他。岁那年在一次抢修防洪大堤时摔伤，之后变成了白痴。家境贫寒迫使他替母亲分担起养家的责任。他渴望参加比正直善良、天生具有领导才干的彼得，性情憨厚、身材肥胖的雅各布，心地偏狭、说话尖刻的卡尔，能说一口流利的英语、对历史年代有着独特记忆功能的兰贝特以及从英国来的客人、对荷兰几座历史名城的掌故有着相当了解的本等等。这些男女少年，不论是可爱的，还是不那么可爱的，个个都性格鲜明，令人过目难忘。
本书还将让你坐在摇椅中，带着你去那个约五分之二的土地低于海平面的国家神游一番，使你在消遣之余开阔眼界，丰富知识。
本书作者1831：年生于美国纽约，早在青少年时代即在其父鼓励下开始儿童文学创作并写了不少成功的作品，是当时美国儿童文学界一位颇有影响的作家。
作者20岁结婚，28岁即成为寡妇，独自抚养两个孩子，其情形与她笔下的汉斯一家颇有某些类似之处。
本书1865年完稿于美国新泽西州的一幢农舍之中，作者时年34岁，在一家杂志做主编。作者完全凭借书本知识以及在美国的荷兰移民的回忆写成了这本据说连荷兰人看了也认为非常真实地反映荷兰与荷兰人生活的青少年文学精典之作。
本书于1865年出版后已被译成多种文字出版并被拍摄成电影。
在翻译过程中，译者力求严格忠实于原文，如实展现原作的风格，使译文最大限度地贴近原作。但由于水平所限，舛错在所不免，敬希读者不吝指正。
段吉勇
1996年于北京