It was bitterly cold, and snow was falling on New Year's Eve.
那是一个寒冷的除夕夜，雪正纷纷扬扬地下着。
In the dark streets, a poor little girl walked barefoot, trying to sell matches.
在黑暗的街道上，一个可怜的小女孩赤着脚，试图卖火柴。
She had worn slippers when she left home, but they were too large and had fallen off.
她出门时穿着拖鞋，但拖鞋太大了，走着走着就掉了。
Her feet were now red and blue with cold as she wandered through the streets.
她的脚冻得红一块紫一块，踟蹰在街上。
In her apron, she carried a bundle of matches and tried to sell them to passersby.
她的围裙里装着一捆火柴，试图卖给路人。
But no one paid her any attention, and no one bought a single match.
可是没有人理会她，也没有人买一根火柴。
Cold and hungry, the little girl found a corner to sit in, huddling for warmth.
又冷又饿的小女孩找了个角落坐下，蜷缩着取暖。
She dared not go home, for her father would beat her if she returned without money.
她不敢回家，因为如果没赚到钱，父亲会打她。
Her hands trembled as she struck one match against the wall to warm her fingers.
她颤抖着点燃了一根火柴，试图让手指暖和些。
The match burst into flame, and she imagined sitting in front of a warm iron stove.
火柴燃烧起来，她仿佛看到自己坐在一个温暖的铁炉前。
But the flame went out, and the stove vanished, leaving her in the cold again.
但火柴灭了，铁炉也消失了，只剩下寒冷笼罩着她。
She struck a second match, and the wall before her seemed to turn transparent.
她又点燃了一根火柴，面前的墙仿佛变得透明了。
She saw a table laden with delicious food: roast goose, fruits, and desserts.
她看到一张桌子上摆满了美味的食物：烤鹅、水果和甜点。
The goose even hopped from the table toward her, but the match went out, and all disappeared.
烤鹅甚至跳下桌子向她走来，但火柴灭了，一切都消失了。
She lit a third match, and she found herself under a beautiful Christmas tree.
她点燃了第三根火柴，自己仿佛置身于一棵美丽的圣诞树下。
Its lights sparkled, and she reached out to touch them, but the match went out.
灯光闪闪发亮，她伸手去触摸，但火柴又灭了。
The lights from the tree rose to the sky, turning into stars.
圣诞树的灯光升上天空，化作星星。
One of the stars fell, and she thought, "Someone must be dying."
一颗星星坠落，她想：“一定有人要离世了。”
Her grandmother, the only person who had ever loved her, had told her this.
她唯一爱过她的外婆曾告诉她这是死去的象征。
The little girl struck another match, and her grandmother appeared, radiant and kind.
小女孩又点燃了一根火柴，外婆出现了，容光焕发，满脸慈爱。
"Grandmother!" the girl cried. "Take me with you. Don't leave me here."
“外婆！”小女孩喊道，“带我走吧，不要丢下我。”
Her grandmother smiled and reached out her arms as the girl lit match after match.
外婆微笑着伸出手臂，小女孩一根接一根地点燃火柴。
The warmth of her grandmother's presence filled the little girl's heart.
外婆的温暖填满了小女孩的心。
Together, they rose into the heavens, far away from the cold and suffering.
她们一起升上天空，远离寒冷和痛苦。
The next morning, the townsfolk found the little girl frozen in the corner.
第二天早晨，镇上的人们发现小女孩冻死在角落里。
She held a bundle of burnt matches and a peaceful smile on her face.
她手里握着一捆燃尽的火柴，脸上带着安详的微笑。
They did not know the wonderful visions she had seen or that she had found happiness.
他们不知道她看到的美好幻象，也不知道她已经找到了幸福。
