English Original
In a small, pretty village in Nottinghamshire, there formerly lived a respectable Squire. He excelled all his friends in athletic amusements, and his manner of living was far from ascetic.
He had taken a wife for better or worse, whose temper proved an intolerable curse. To his great and unspeakable joy, she died while giving birth to a fine little boy.
Strange fancies men have. The father designed to watch over the dawn of his son's youthful mind, ensuring it was approached only by the masculine gender, leaving no room for tenderer feelings. "Had I never seen a woman," he would often sigh, "What Squire in the country so happy as I!"
The boy was intelligent, active, and bright, taking uncommon delight in his studies. No juvenile follies distracted his mind; no visions of bright eyes or unkind damsels, nor those fair, demisisterly beings so gay—yclept pretty cousins—ever popped in his way. At length, this remarkably singular son reached the age of twenty-one.
The father had settled that his promising son should conclude his studies at twenty-one. With a heart beating high with emotion, he went to launch the young man on life's turbulent ocean.
As they entered the town, a young maiden tripped by, with a cheek like a rose and a light, laughing eye. "O father, what's that?" cried the youth with delight, as this vision of loveliness burst on his sight.
"O, that," cried the cautious and politic Squire, who did not admire the youth's ardent glances, "is only a thing called a Goose, my dear son. We shall see many more ere our visit is done."
Blooming damsels now passed with their butter and cheese, whose beauty might even please an anchorite. "Merely geese!" said the Squire. "Don't mind them, my dear. There are many things better worth looking at here."
As they passed onwards, every step brought to view some spectacle equally curious and new. The joy of the youth hardly knew any bounds at the rope-dancers, tumblers, and merry-go-rounds.
As soon as the tour of the town was completed, the father resolved that the boy should be treated. Pausing an instant, he said, "My dear son, a new era in your life has begun today. Now, of all this bright scene and its gaieties, choose whatever you like. It is yours from this minute."
"Choose whatever I like?" cried the youthful recluse. "O, thank you, dear father. Then give me a goose!"
中文翻译
在诺丁汉郡一个美丽的小村庄里，曾经住着一位体面的乡绅。他在体育娱乐方面胜过所有朋友，生活方式也绝非苦行僧式。
他娶了一位妻子，无论好坏，她的脾气都是一种难以忍受的诅咒。令他无比欣喜的是，她在生下一个漂亮的小男孩时去世了。
男人总有奇怪的念头。这位父亲打算守护儿子年轻心智的萌芽，确保它只接触男性，不留任何滋生更温柔情感的空间。"要是我从未见过女人该多好，"他常常叹息，"乡间还有哪个乡绅像我这么快乐！"
男孩聪明、活泼、机敏，对学习有着非同寻常的喜爱。没有幼稚的蠢事分散他的心思；没有明亮的眼睛或不友善的少女的幻影，也没有那些被称为漂亮表妹的、快乐又半似姐妹的美丽生灵出现在他面前。最终，这位极其独特的儿子年满二十一岁了。
父亲早已决定，他前途无量的儿子应在二十一岁时完成学业。他怀着激动不已的心情，准备让年轻人投身于生活汹涌的海洋。
当他们进城时，一位年轻的少女轻快地走过，脸颊如玫瑰，眼睛明亮带笑。"哦，父亲，那是什么？"年轻人欣喜地叫道，这可爱的景象映入他的眼帘。
"哦，那个啊，"谨慎而精明的乡绅喊道，他并不欣赏年轻人热切的目光，"只是一种叫做‘鹅’的东西，我亲爱的儿子。我们这次出门还会看到很多。"
此刻，容光焕发的少女们带着黄油和奶酪走过，她们的美貌甚至能让隐士感到愉悦。"不过是些鹅罢了！"乡绅说。"别在意她们，亲爱的。这里有很多更值得看的东西。"
他们继续前行，每一步都带来同样新奇有趣的景象。年轻人看到走钢丝的、翻筋斗的和旋转木马时，喜悦之情几乎无法抑制。
城镇之旅一结束，父亲就决定要犒赏儿子。他停顿片刻，说道："我亲爱的儿子，你生命的新纪元今天开始了。现在，在这所有明亮的景象和欢乐中，选择任何你喜欢的东西吧。从这一刻起，它就是你的了。"
"选择任何我喜欢的东西？"年轻的隐士喊道。"哦，谢谢你，亲爱的父亲。那就给我一只鹅吧！"