When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed2 with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain3 I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind4 what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly5, that I cried with vexation6. Thinking about the matter gave me more chagrin7 than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted8 to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, “Don't give too much for the whistle,” and I saved my money. As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, “who gave too much for the whistle.”
When I saw one too ambitious9 of court favor10, sacrificing11 his time in attendance on levees12, his rest, his liberty, his virtue13, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself—“This man gives too much for his whistle.”
When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly14 employing himself in political affairs, neglecting15 his own business, and ruining them by that neglect, “He pays, indeed,” said I, “too much for his whistle.”
If I knew a miser16, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem17 of his fellow-citizens18, and the joys of friendship, for the sake of19 gathering and keeping wealth—“Poor man,” said I, “you pay too much for your whistle.”
When I met with a man of pleasure, who did not try to improve his mind, or his fortune, but merely20 devoted himself to having a good time, and ruining his health.“Mistaken man,” said I, “you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle. ”
If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine earrings, all above his fortune, for he had run into debt, and ends his career in a prison, “Alas!” say I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.”
In short, great part of the miseries21 of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.
我还是个七岁孩子的时候，有一个假日，朋友们在我的衣袋里塞满了铜币。我立刻向一家卖儿童玩具的店铺跑去，途中却被另一个男孩的哨音吸引，于是倾其所有换来了一只。回到家里，吹着哨子满屋子转，视哨子如至宝，却吵得全家不得安宁。我的哥哥姐姐和堂兄堂姐们知道了我所做的这笔交易，便告诉我，我为这个哨子付出了四倍的价钱。他们提醒我可以用多付的钱买许许多多好东西；还笑我是个傻瓜，笑得我大为懊恼，不禁哭了起来。现在想来，这件事带来的悔恨远远胜过那只哨子给我的欢乐。
不过，这件事后来对我却大有裨益，它一直深深地刻在了我的脑海里，所以每当别人怂恿我买一些其实不需要的东西时，我就对自己说，“不要为哨子付出太多，”于是钱便省了下来。当我长大成人，踏入社会，洞察了人世百态，我感到自己遇到了太多“为哨子付出过高代价”的人。
当我看见趋炎附势的人为了邀宠于宫廷，把自己的光阴荒废在侍候权贵、谋求接见之中，为此不惜牺牲自己的休息、自由、品德，甚至朋友，我就对自己说，“这个人为他的哨子付出了太高的代价。”
当我看到有人沽名钓誉，陷身于官场俗务而不得脱身，以至荒废正业弄得家道败落，我就说，“他的确也为他的哨子付出了太高的代价。”
我认识一个守财奴，为了积敛家财，宁愿放弃各种舒适生活和与人行善的乐趣，同胞的尊重，以及友谊的欢乐——“可怜的人啊，”我说，“你为了你的哨子，付出了太高的代价。”
我遇到一个浪子，既不思进取也不想发财致富，只顾寻欢作乐，结果却损害了自己的身体。“误入歧途的人啊，”我就说，“你不是在找乐子，而是自讨苦吃；你为你那只哨子，付出了太多。”
当我看到有人华而不实，孜孜于华丽的外表、精美的服饰、豪华的住宅、华美的家居、眩目的首饰之中，这一切远非他的财力所及，以致债台高筑，最后锒铛入狱。“唉，”我说，“他为他的那只哨子付出的代价太高太高了。”
简而言之，我认为，人类遭受的大部分苦难是由于他们对事物的价值作了错误估计——为他们的哨子付出了太高的代价。
1. whistle n． 哨子，汽笛
2． be charmed by 被……给迷住
3． bargain n． 契约；成交商品
4． put sb in mind (of) 提醒某人做某事，提醒某人想起某事
5． folly n． 愚蠢；荒唐事
6． vexation n． 恼怒，烦恼
7． chagrin n． 懊恼，委屈
8． tempt [tempt] v． 诱惑，引诱
9． ambitious adj． 有雄心的，野心勃勃的
10． court favor 宫廷恩宠
11． sacrifice v． 牺牲，献出
12． levee n． 接见
13． virtue n． 德行，美德
14． constantly adv． 不变地，经常地
15． neglect v．／n． 忽视，疏忽
16． miser n． 守财奴，吝啬鬼
17． esteem n． 尊敬，尊重
18． fellow n． 家伙，朋友
19． for the sake [seik] of 为了
20． merely adv． 仅仅，只
21． misery n． 痛苦，苦恼