一批骡车来到北京东城马大人胡同西口，有几头骡子和几辆大车一直排到顺大佛寺红墙的那条南北向的小道上。
A party of mule carts were lined up at thewestern entrance of Matajen Hutung, a street in theEast City of Peking, part of themules and carts extending to thealley run-ning north and south alongthepink walls of theBig Buddha Temple.
北京东城马大人胡同西口儿，横停着好些骡子车，其中有几辆一直停到顺着大佛寺红墙南北向的那条胡同。
A party of mule carts were lined up at thewestern entrance of Matajen Hutung, a street in theEast City of Peking, part of themules and carts extending to thealley run-ning north and south alongthepink walls of theBig Buddha Temple.
五十上下的老人罗大是雇了这些骡车即将出远门的这家子的总管，正抽着旱烟管注视赶车的喂牲口；而赶车的则彼此说说笑笑，吵吵闹闹， 罗大是五十来岁的老年人，是这一家的管家，雇了这些骡子车，是准备走远道儿的。他现在正抽着旱烟袋，看那些骡夫们喂牲口，一边吵吵闹闹地开玩笑，
Lota, an old man of about fifty and head servant of thefamily that had engagedthecarts for a long journey, was smoking a pipe and watchingthedrivers feedingthemules; andthedrivers were joking and quarreling with each other.
从牲口逗到牲口的祖上，最后互相逗乐。
Whenthey could not joke about each other's animals andtheanimals' ancestors,they joked aboutthemselves.
从牲口取笑到牲口的祖宗。
Whenthey could not joke about each other's animals andtheanimals' ancestors,they joked aboutthemselves.
再没话可说了，就取笑到他们自己头上来。
Whenthey could not joke about each other's animals andtheanimals' ancestors,they joked aboutthemselves.
一个说：“这年头跑这么一趟，谁知道回来是死是活呢?” 一个骡夫说：“在这种年头儿，谁知道赶了这趟车回来是死是活呢？”
"In such times," said one, "who can tell whether one comes back dead or alive after this journey?”
一个赶车的见到茶缸就说：“你们家老爷，专做好事。
Noticingthejar, a driver remarked, "Your master does good deeds."
” 看见了这个茶缸，一个骡夫开口说：“你们东家是个大善人哪。
Noticingthejar, a driver remarked, "Your master does good deeds."
”
Noticingthejar, a driver remarked, "Your master does good deeds."
罗大答道，世上再没有比他们家老爷再善的人了。
Lota repliedthere was no better man on earth thantheir master.
罗大回答说：“世界上再没有比我们东家更好的人了。
Lota repliedthere was no better man on earth thantheir master.
”
Lota repliedthere was no better man on earth thantheir master.
他指指门柱边上贴的一张红纸条，赶车的可不识上面写的字；罗大就解释给他们听，纸上写的是免费发放霍乱、痧症和痢疾灵药。
He pointed to a slip of red paper pasted nearthedoorpost, whichthedriver could not read; but Lota explained to him that it said that medicines against cholera, colic, and dysen-tery would be given free to anybody.
他手指了指门柱旁边贴的一张红纸条儿，可是骡夫不认识上面写的是什么，罗大告诉他们说：“上面写的是赠送霍乱、痧症、痢疾特效灵药。
He pointed to a slip of red paper pasted nearthedoorpost, whichthedriver could not read; but Lota explained to him that it said that medicines against cholera, colic, and dysen-tery would be given free to anybody.
”
He pointed to a slip of red paper pasted nearthedoorpost, whichthedriver could not read; but Lota explained to him that it said that medicines against cholera, colic, and dysen-tery would be given free to anybody.
“这倒是要紧的，”赶车的说， 那个骡夫猛然想起来， 他说：“这倒很有用。
"That's something important," saidthedriver.
“您行个好给我们点，路上用得上的。
"You'd better give us some of that medicine for thejourney.”
” 你最好拿点儿给我们，在路上也放心。
"You'd better give us some of that medicine for thejourney.”
”
"You'd better give us some of that medicine for thejourney.”
“你们带和我们老爷带不是一样的?” 他老人家身边儿带着，和交给你带还不是一样？”
"Isn't itthesame whether you carry it or our master carries it?”
于是那帮赶车的想从罗大那里打听这份人家的情况。 骡夫们于是想探听这个行善人家的情形，
Thedrivers tried to pry out of Lota information aboutthefamily.
罗大只告诉他们，老爷是开设好些药铺的。
Lota merely toldthem that his master was an owner of medicine shops.
可是罗大只告诉他们说，他家主人是一家药铺的东家。
Lota merely toldthem that his master was an owner of medicine shops.