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YOUNG GEORGE WASHINGTON Frederick Trevor Hill
年轻的乔治·华盛顿 弗雷德里克·特雷弗·希尔
We all know of George Washington as the wise and brave commander of the American army in our war for freedom,
我们都知道在自由之战中，乔治·华盛顿是最机智，最英勇的美国将领。
and as the first president of the United States. Both in war and in peace he served our country.
也是首位美国总统，不管是战争还是和平期间，他都为国家效力。
But what was he like as a boy? What did he enjoy doing; what lessons did he learn that helped him become a great leader of his people?
但他小时候是什么样子的？他喜欢干什么；他学习了哪些可以使他成为人民伟大领袖的东西呢？
THE PLANTATION PLAYGROUNDS
种植园操场
George Washington was a country boy. His father, Augustine Washington, owned three large farms or plantations,
乔治是一名乡村男孩，他的父亲奥古斯汀·华盛顿拥有三个大农场或是种植园，
not far distant from each other in Virginia. On one of these plantations, which was later called Wakefield,
位于弗吉尼亚，三个农场距离不远，其中一个种植园，之后也被叫作“韦克菲尔德”，
Washington was born on February 22, 1732. The farmhouse which the family then occupied was a queer little two-story structure,
华盛顿生于1732年2月22日，他们一家拥有的农舍是一栋奇怪的两层建筑，
with a steep sloping roof, two big chimneys, four rooms on the ground floor and perhaps as many more in the attic.
坡屋顶很陡，两个大烟囱，一层有四个房间，顶楼或许也是四个。
It was built close to the Potomac River, between two streams known as Bridge's Creek and Pope's Creek,
这里距离波托马克河很近，矗立在“桥河 ”和“波普河”两条小河流之间，
and all around it lay tobacco and corn fields fringed with forests. In later years this place became very familiar to the boy,
建筑周围种满了烟草和玉米地，周围都是森林，几年过后，小男孩熟悉了这里的环境，
but while he was still a mere baby, his family moved up the Potomac to another of his father's farms.
在他还是个孩子时，他们一家搬往了波托马克，他父亲的另外一个农场。
Here George lived until he was nearly eight years old. This plantation was then known as Hunting Creek.
乔治在那里生活到差不多8岁，这个种植园之后名为“狩猎溪”。
It was well named, for its creeks and rivers were fairly alive with fish, and the surrounding woods were full of quail,
这些名字都很贴切，这些小溪和河流充满了鱼，周围的草丛充满了鹌鹑、
grouse, wild turkeys, foxes, and deer. Indeed, the whole country was famous for its game,
松鸡、野火鸡、狐狸和鹿，整个乡村以打猎出名，
and from the Indians who lived in the neighboring forests Washington undoubtedly learned something about shooting and fishing.
印第安人就住在附近的森林中，华盛顿无疑向他们学习了一些开枪和钓鱼的本事。
