Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory¹ smell of roast goose, for it was New-year's eve- yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled² herself together. She had drawn³ her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags.

　　Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out-"scratch!" how it sputtered⁴ as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass⁵ feet and a brass ornament⁶.

从每扇窗子透出的亮光和飘出的烤鹅肉香味，使她想起的只是今天是除夕之夜。街边一前一后坐落着两座房子，形成一个小墙角，她蜷缩在那里。她把一双小脚卷缩到身下，可还是不觉得暖和。她也不敢回家，因为她还没有卖掉一根火柴，没有挣到一个铜板，她的父亲一定会因此而打她；况且她家几乎和大街上一样冷。虽然屋顶上几个较大的裂口用草和破布堵住了，可风和雪还是不时地灌进屋里来。
　　她那双小手都快冻僵了。啊！如果她能从这捆火柴中取出一根，在墙上划着了就会好一些，也就可以暖手。于是她抽出了一根。哧！火柴燃起来了，冒出了火苗。当她双手覆在上面时，它变成了一朵光明、温暖的火焰，好像一根小蜡烛。多美的光啊。小姑娘觉得自己象坐在一个大火炉旁边，铁炉镶有铮亮的黄铜花边和底座。

点击收听单词发音  

1 savory
adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的
参考例句：
She placed a huge dish before him of savory steaming meat.她将一大盘热气腾腾、美味可口的肉放在他面前。 He doesn't have a very savory reputation.他的名誉不太好。

2 huddled
挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。 We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

3 drawn
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。 Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

4 sputtered
v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出
参考例句：
The candle sputtered out. 蜡烛噼啪爆响着熄灭了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The balky engine sputtered and stopped. 不听使唤的发动机劈啪作响地停了下来。 来自辞典例句

5 brass
n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器
参考例句：
Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。 Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

6 ornament
v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物
参考例句：
The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。 She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。