马克·吐温《给小女孩的建议》

译者 carrieshen

It is difficult for us to imagine what a strange impression Advice to Little Girls, a children’s story by Mark Twain, must have had on its audience when it was written in 1865 and eventually published as part of The 30,000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories.

American children’s literature in those days was mostly didactic, addressed to some imaginary reader—an ideal girl or boy, upon reading the story, would immediately adopt its heroes as role models. Twain did not squat down to be heard and understood by children, but asked them to stand on their tiptoes—to absorb the kind of language and humor suitable for adults.

The unexpected idea to illustrate Twain’s text came from the editor Bianca Lazzaro of Donzelli Editore in Rome, who also translated the text in to Italian. I still feel envious that she originated it because I’m always trying to find unusual or provocative subjects for my children’s books.

Trying to follow Twain’s style, I wanted to make something along the lines of a scrap-book or an album that you could buy in any paper-goods store at the time. Children used these small albums to paste in various curious objects, or for drawing, or just for doodling.

The only missing elements in the design of the book are stains and dog-ears, but I hope those will come with time.

这本书设计上的遗漏只有着色和摺角方面，不过我希望在将来可以完善。

面对老师轻微的冒犯，乖乖女不要每次都对老师做怪相。这种报复要在事态非常严重的时候用。

如果乖乖女什么都没有，只有一个塞满锯末的布娃娃，而你的一位小伙伴呢，幸运地有一个中国产的娃娃，价钱很贵，这时候的你还是要对她摆出友好姿态。抢换娃娃的念头不应该动，除非你良心过得去，嗯，你知道你可以的。

想拿弟弟的泡泡糖？永远都别正面交锋；给他下套吧，信誓旦旦告诉他你看到有两美元半搁在一块磨石上，磨石顺着河水飘走了。人生的这一时期尚且天真蒙昧，你弟弟会认为用泡泡糖换情报相当公平。在世界发展的长河中，这个几可乱真的经典谎言诱使多少愚钝的小毛孩破产啊！

每当你觉得有必要修理一下哥哥，任何时候都不要扔泥巴——永远都不要，不管什么情况。因为会弄脏哥哥衣服嘛。应该给他浇点开水，你就能得到满意的结果。

因为这样他会立刻注意到你对他的谆谆教诲。而且热水有清洁功效，可以洗去身体的污垢。

有一点要牢记在心，布施给你食物的是你善良的父母，在你闹不舒服时也是他们给你旷课呆在家里的特权。

所以你应该尊重他们小小的偏见，迁就他们小小的奇思怪想，忍受他们小小的缺点，直到你被逼得太紧忍无可忍之时。

乖乖女在老人跟前从来都敬重有加。决不要言语放肆，他们先无礼除外。