On the last evening of the year, a little girl walked through the snowy streets with matches in her apron. It was cold, and she was afraid to go home without selling any.
一年最后的那个夜晚，一个小女孩围着放火柴的围裙走在下雪的街道上。天气很冷，她没有卖掉任何火柴，所以害怕回家。
She sat in a corner between two houses and struck one match. For a moment she saw a warm stove, and she held her hands toward its bright fire. Then the match went out.
她坐在两栋房子之间的角落，划亮了一根火柴。片刻间，她看见一只温暖的炉子，便把手伸向明亮的火焰。随后火柴熄灭了。
She struck another match and imagined a table with a fine meal. A third match showed her a shining tree full of lights. Each small flame gave her comfort for only a moment.
她又划亮一根，想象一张摆着精美食物的餐桌。第三根火柴让她看见一棵挂满灯光的闪亮树。每一小团火焰只能短暂地安慰她。
Then she saw her grandmother, the one person who had always been kind to her. The girl lit all the matches she had so that the vision would not disappear.
接着她看见了祖母——那个一直善待她的人。小女孩点亮所有火柴，好让这个景象不要消失。
In the morning, people found the little girl in the snow with the burnt matches beside her. The story asks us to notice the people who need warmth and care.
第二天早上，人们在雪中发现小女孩，烧过的火柴放在她身旁。这个故事提醒我们注意那些需要温暖和关爱的人。