1. Who was the first man?

A teacher said to her class: "Who was the first man?"

George Washington, a little boy shouted promptly1.

How do you make out that George Washington was the first Man? Asked the teacher, smiling indulgently2.

Because, said the little boy, "he was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

But at this point a larger boy held up his hand.

Well, said the teacher to him, "who do you think was the first man?"

I don't know what his name was, said the larger boy, "but I know it wasn't George Washington, ma'am, because the history book says George Washington married a widow3, so, of course, there must have been a man ahead of him."

Notes:

1. promptly 及时地，立即

2. indulgently 和蔼地，宽容地

3. widow 寡妇

谁是第一男人

有个老师问班上的学生：“谁是第一男人？“

“乔治·华盛顿?！币桓鲂∧泻⒌奔唇械?。

“你怎么知道乔治·华盛顿是第一男人呢？”老师问道，宽容地微笑着。

小男孩说：“因为他在战时第一，和平时代第一，国人心中第一?！?

这时一个大点儿的男孩举起手来。

“那么”，老师对他说，“你认为谁是第一男人呢？”

“我不知道他的名字”，大点儿的男孩说，“但我知道不是乔治·华盛顿，老师。因为历史书上说，乔治·华盛顿娶了一个寡妇，所以在他前面肯定还有一个男人?！?

Useful link:

玛莎·卡斯蒂斯，乔治·华盛顿的夫人，与华盛顿同年出生，父亲也是一个大种植园主。16岁那年，父母把她嫁给一个年纪比她大一倍的富翁。几年后，丈夫去世，玛莎成了一个年轻而富有的寡妇。后来她遇见了华盛顿，两人一见钟情。1759年，两人结婚?；⒍俨唤龅玫搅艘桓瞿昵崦烂驳钠拮?，还获得了一大笔财产，这使他成了北美殖民地最富有的人之一。