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'What does your torch do, spirit?' asked Scrooge.
“你的火把是作什么用的，幽灵？”斯克罗吉问。
'It gives a special taste to people's dinners on this day,' answered the spirit.
“它能给人们今天的晚餐带来特殊的味道，”幽灵回答说。
'Why do you use it most on poor people?' said Scrooge.
“你为什么大多把它用在穷人身上？”斯克罗吉问。
'Because poor people need it most,' was the reply.
“因为穷人最需要它，”幽灵回答说。
They went on through London, and came to the small house where Scrooge's clerk lived.
他们继续前行，穿过伦敦，来到了斯克罗吉雇员居住的狭小住处。
Here the spirit smiled, and held his torch high over the door.
在这儿幽灵笑了，把他的火把高高地举过房门。
Inside, Bob Cratchit's wife and second daughter, Belinda, in their everyday dresses, but looking clean and pretty, were putting plates on the table for their Christmas dinner.
屋里，鲍勃·克拉奇蒂的妻子和二女儿贝琳达身穿她们平日的服装，但看起来干净漂亮，她们正往桌子上摆圣诞晚餐用的盘子。
Bob's son Peter was helping to cook the potatoes, and two smaller Cratchits, a boy and a girl, were running round excitedly.
鲍勃的儿子彼得正帮着烧土豆，两个再小点的克拉奇蒂，一男一女，正高兴地来回跑着。
Just then the eldest daughter, Martha, arrived home from work.
这时大女儿玛莎下班回来了。
'Here's Martha, mother!'cried the two young Cratchits happily.
“玛莎回来了，妈妈！”两个小克拉奇蒂高兴地喊着。
'We're having a really big chicken for dinner, Martha!'
“晚饭我们能吃到一只真的很大的鸡了，玛莎！”
In fact it was only a small chicken, but it seemed large to the excited children.
实际上它不过是一只很小的鸡，但对这些兴奋的孩子们来说它似乎很大。
'My dear, how late you are!' said Mrs Cratchit, kissing her daughter several times.
“我亲爱的，你这么晚才回来！”克拉奇蒂太太边说边吻了女儿好几下。
'We were so busy yesterday, mother!' replied the girl. 'That's why we didn't finish until this morning!'
“我们昨天非常忙，妈妈！”女孩回答说。“所以我们直到今天早晨都没有干完！”
'Well! Never mind, now that you're here. God bless you! Sit down by the fire, my dear!'
“哎！既然你回来了就没关系了。愿上帝保佑你！亲爱的，来坐到火边来！”
'No, no! Father's coming!' ried the two young Cratchits. 'Hide, Martha, hide!'
“不，不！爸爸回来了！”两个小克拉奇蒂嚷道。“藏起来，玛莎，藏起来！”
So Martha hid herself, and in came Bob in his thin coat and long white scarf, with his son Tiny Tim in his arms.
所以玛莎藏了起来，鲍勃身穿他的薄大衣戴着白色的长围巾走了进来，怀里抱着小蒂姆。
Poor Tiny Tim! He had not walked since he was born, and although he could pull himself and his thin little legs along with the help of a wooden crutch, he was not strong enough to travel far alone.
可怜的小蒂姆啊！自从他降生就没行走过。尽管他借助于一个木拐杖能够拖着身躯和他那瘦骨嶙峋的腿往前走，但他毕竟太弱了，一个人走不了多远。
'Why, where's Martha?' cried Bob, looking round.
“怎么了，玛莎呢？”鲍勃高声喊道，并朝四周看了看。
'Not coming,' said Mrs Cratchit.
“还没回来呢？”克拉奇蒂太太说。
'Not coming!' repeated Bob, his cheerful smile disappearing. 'Not coming on Christmas Day!'
“还没回来！”鲍勃重复了一遍，他欢快的笑容不见了。“圣诞节了，还没回来！”
