【资料图】

I have just received a letter from my old school, informing me that my former headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiring next week. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed towards the gift will sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster's home.

我收到一封母校的来信，告诉我，我的前校长，斯图亚特·佩奇先生，下周就退休了。学校里的师生，老的和新的，将送他一件礼物。所有凑钱买礼物的人都会把他们的名字签署在一张大的签名簿上，然后送去校长家里。

We shall all remember Mr. Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when we went so unwillingly to school. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour next Thursday.

我们都记得佩奇先生的耐心和理解，和在我们不想去学校的时候给与我们善意的鼓励。好多老师生将会在下周四参加纪念他的告别晚宴。

It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years. After he has retired, he will devote himself to gardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby. But this does not matter, for, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn.

佩奇先生退休前的那一天正好是他教学40年的纪念日。在他退休后，他将致力于做一名园丁。对于他来说，这是一个全新的爱好。但是这都不重要，正如他经常说的那样，人要活到老学到老。