Once upon a time, there were four mice that lived in a wall in the field.
很久以前，在田野中的一筑围墙里住着四只老鼠。
Summer was coming, and so the mice came out of the wall to collect berries, nuts, corn and straw. Everyone was working very hard, day and night. Everyone was working very hard, except, Frederick.
夏天来了，老鼠们走出墙外去收集浆果、坚果、玉米粒和稻草。他们从早到晚玩努力工作，除了弗雷德里克。
“Why aren’t you working, Frederick?” his friends asked him. “oh, but I am.” Frederick told them. “I’m collecting the sunshine for the cold, dark winter.”
“弗雷德里克，你为什么不工作？”他的朋友们问他。“我在工作吖。”弗雷德里克说,"我在为寒冷的深冬收集阳光呢。”
A few days later his friends asked him again “why aren’t you working, Frederick?” “Oh, but I am.” Frederick told them. “I’m collecting colors for the long, grey winter.”
几天过后，他的朋友们再一次问道，“弗雷德里克，你为什么不工作？”他的朋友们问他。“我在工作吖。”弗雷德里克说,"我在为漫长的灰白色冬天收集色彩呢。”
A few days later his friends asked him again “why aren’t you working, Frederick?” “Oh, but I am.” Frederick told them. “I’m collecting words for the long, quiet winter.”
几天过后，他的朋友们再一次问道，“弗雷德里克，你为什么不工作？”他的朋友们问他。“我在工作吖。”弗雷德里克说,"我在为漫长寂静的冬天收集言语呢。”