This happened many many summers ago.

这个故事发生在很多很多个夏天以前。

There was a young flower in the desert where all was dry and sad looking...It was growing by itself...enjoying every day...

在一个周围充满着干燥与衰落景象的沙漠中，有一朵小花正绽放着……她孤单地生长着……快乐地过着每一天……

and saying to the sun "When shall¹ I be grown up"? And the sun would say "Be patient"---Each time I touch you, you grow a little"...

太阳回答说：“不要着急——我的光芒每接触你一次，你就会长大一点儿……”她对太阳说：“我什么时候才能长大呀？”

And she was so pleased. Because she would have a chance to bring beauty² to this corner of sand...

小花听了非常高兴。因为她有机会为这片沙漠增添一处绚丽的景色了……

And this is all she wanted to do---bring a little bit of beauty to this world.

这就是她梦寐以求的——为这个世界带来一点儿美丽。

One day the hunter³ came by---and stepped on her.---

一天，一个猎人经过这里——并从她身上踏了过去。——

She was going to die---and she felt so sad. Not because she was dying⁴ ---but because she would not have a chance to bring a little bit of beauty to this corner of the desert.

她即将死了——她感到十分悲伤。她悲伤的原因，并不是因为她将要死去，而是因为她再也没有机会为这片沙漠增添一处绚丽的景色了。

The great spirit⁵ saw her, and was listening.---Indeed, he said ...She should be living...And he reached down and touched her---and gave her life.

一个伟大的精灵看到了她，并听到了她的哭诉。——事实上，他说……她应该活下去……于是，他来到沙漠上抚摸着她，并赋予了她生命。

And she grew up to be a beautiful flower...and this corner of the desert became so beautiful because of her.

后来，她终于长大成了一朵美丽的花儿……这片沙漠也因她的存在而变得格外美丽。