精彩英語(yǔ)故事12

PAGE精彩英語(yǔ)故事12父親一定能看到我贏了Ateenageboylivedalonewithhisfather.Thetwoofthemhadaveryspecialrelationship.Eventhoughthesonwasalways"warmingthebench,"hisfatherwasalwaysinthestandscheering.Henevermissedafootballgame.Thisyoungmanwasstillthesmallestoftheclasswhenheenteredhighschool.Buthisfathercontinuedtoencouragehimbutalsomadeitveryclearthathedidnothavetoplayfootballifhedidn’twantto.Buttheyoungmanlovedfootballanddecidedtohanginthere.Thesonwasdeterminedtotryhisbestateverypractice,andperhapshe’dgettoplaywhenhebecameasenior.Allthroughhighschoolhenevermissedapracticebutstillremainedabenchwarmerallfouryears.Hisfaithfulfatheralwaysinthestands,alwayswithwordsofencouragementforhim.Whentheyoungmanwenttocollege,hedecidedtotryoutforthefootballteamasa"walk-on."Everyonewassurehecouldnevermakethecut,buthedid.Thecoachadmittedthathekepthimontherosterbecausehealwaysputshisheartandsoultoeverypracticeand,atthesametime,providedtheothermemberswiththespiritandhustletheybadlyneeded.Thenewsthathehadsurvivedthecutthrilledhimsomuchthatherushedtothenearestphoneandcalledhisfather.Hisfathersharedhisexcitementandwassentseasonticketsforallthecollegegames.Thispersistentyoungathletenevermissedpracticeduringhisfouryearsatcollege,buthenevergottoplayinthegame.Itwastheendofhisseniorfootballseason,andashetrottedontothepracticefieldshortlybeforethebigplay-offgame,thecoachmethimwithatelegram.Theyoungmanreadthetelegramandhebecamedeathlysilent.Swallowinghard,hemumbledtothecoach,"Myfatherdiedthismorning.IsitallrightifImisspracticetoday?"Thecoachputhisarmgentlyaroundhisshoulderandsaid,"Taketherestoftheweekoff,son.Anddon’tevenplantocomebacktothegameonSaturday."Saturdayarrived,andthegamewasnotgoingwell.Inthethirdquarter,whentheteamwastenpointsbehind,asilentyoungmanquietlyslippedintotheemptylockerroomandputonhisfootballgear.Asheranontothesidelines,thecoachandhisplayerswereastoundedtoseetheirfaithfulteammatebacksosoon."Coach,pleaseletmeplay.I’vejustgottoplaytoday,"saidtheyoungman.Thecoachpretendednottohearhim.Therewasnowayhewantedhisworstplayerinthiscloseplayoffgame.Buttheyoungmanpersisted,andfinallyfeelingsorryforthekid,thecoachgavein."Allright,"hesaid,"youcangoin."Beforelong,thecoach,theplayersandeveryoneinthestandscouldnotbelievetheireyes.Thislittleunknown,whohadneverplayedbeforewasdoingeverythingright.Theopposingteamcouldnotstophim.Heran,hepassed,blockedandtackledlikeastar.Histeambegantotriumph.Thescorewassoontied.Intheclosingsecondsofthegame,thiskidinterceptedapassandranallthewayforthewinningtouchdown!Thefansbrokeloose.Histeammateshoistedhimontotheirshoulders.Suchcheeringyou’veneverheard!Finally,afterthestandshademptiedandtheteamhadshoweredandleftthelockerroom,thecoachnoticedthattheyoungmanwassittingquietlyinthecornerallalone.Thecoachcametohimandsaid,"Kid,Ican’tbelieveit.Youwerefantastic!Tellmewhatgotintoyou?Howdidyoudoit?"Helookedatthecoach,withtearsinhiseyes,andsaid,"Well,youknewmydaddied,butdidyouknowthatmydadwasblind?"Theyoungmanswallowedhardandforcedasmile,"Dadcametoallmygames,buttodaywasthefirsttimehecouldseemeplay,andIwantedtoshowhimIcoulddoit!"有一個(gè)男孩，他與父親相依為命，父子感情特別深。男孩喜歡橄欖球，雖然在球場(chǎng)上常常是板凳隊(duì)員，但他的父親仍然場(chǎng)場(chǎng)不落地前來(lái)觀看，每次比賽都在看臺(tái)上為兒子鼓勁。整個(gè)中學(xué)時(shí)期，男孩沒(méi)有誤過(guò)一場(chǎng)訓(xùn)練或者比賽，但他仍然是一個(gè)板凳隊(duì)員，而他的父親也一直在鼓勵(lì)著他。當(dāng)男孩進(jìn)了大學(xué)，他參加了學(xué)校橄欖球隊(duì)的選拔賽。能進(jìn)入球隊(duì)，哪怕是跑龍?zhí)姿苍敢狻Ｈ藗兌家詾樗恍校蛇@次他成功了——教練挑選了他是因?yàn)樗肋h(yuǎn)都那么用心地訓(xùn)練，同時(shí)還不斷給別的同伴打氣。但男孩在大學(xué)的球隊(duì)里，還是一直沒(méi)有上場(chǎng)的機(jī)會(huì)。轉(zhuǎn)眼就快畢業(yè)了，這是男孩在學(xué)校球隊(duì)的最后一個(gè)賽季了，一場(chǎng)大賽即將來(lái)臨。那天男孩小跑著來(lái)到訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)，教練遞給他一封電報(bào)，男孩看完電報(bào)，突然變得死一般沉默。他拼命忍住哭泣，對(duì)教練說(shuō)：“我父親今天早上去世了，我今天可以不參加訓(xùn)練嗎？”教練溫和地?fù)ё∧泻⒌募绨?，說(shuō)：“這一周你都可以不來(lái)，孩子，星期六的比賽也可以不來(lái)?！毙瞧诹搅?，那場(chǎng)球賽打得十分艱難。當(dāng)比賽進(jìn)行到3/4的時(shí)候，男孩所在的隊(duì)已經(jīng)輸了10分。就在這時(shí)，一個(gè)沉默的年輕人悄悄地跑進(jìn)空無(wú)一人的更衣間，換上了他的球衣。當(dāng)他跑上球場(chǎng)邊線，教練和場(chǎng)外的隊(duì)員們都驚異地看著這個(gè)滿臉自信的隊(duì)友。“教練，請(qǐng)?jiān)试S我上場(chǎng)，就今天?！蹦泻⒀肭蟮?。教練假裝沒(méi)有聽(tīng)見(jiàn)。今天的比賽太重要了，差不多可以決定本賽季的勝負(fù)，他當(dāng)然沒(méi)有理由讓最差的隊(duì)員上場(chǎng)。但是男孩不停地央求，教練終于讓步了，覺(jué)得再不讓他上場(chǎng)實(shí)在有點(diǎn)對(duì)不住這孩子?！昂冒?，”教練說(shuō)，“你上去吧。”很快，這個(gè)身材瘦小、籍籍無(wú)名、從未上過(guò)場(chǎng)的球員，在場(chǎng)上奔跑，過(guò)人，攔住對(duì)方帶球的隊(duì)員，簡(jiǎn)直就像球星一樣。他所在的球隊(duì)開(kāi)始轉(zhuǎn)敗為勝，很快比分打成了平局。就在比賽結(jié)束前的幾秒鐘，男孩一路狂奔沖向底線，得分！贏了！男孩的隊(duì)友們高高地把他拋起來(lái)，看臺(tái)上球迷的歡呼聲如山洪暴發(fā)！當(dāng)看臺(tái)上的人們漸漸走空，隊(duì)員們沐浴過(guò)后一一離開(kāi)了更衣間，教練注意到，男孩安靜地獨(dú)自一人坐在球場(chǎng)的一角。教練走近他，說(shuō)：“孩子，我簡(jiǎn)直不能相信，你簡(jiǎn)直是個(gè)奇跡！告訴我你是怎么做到的？”男孩看著教練，淚水盈滿了他的眼睛。他說(shuō)：“你知道我父親去世了，但是你知道嗎？我父親根本就看不見(jiàn)，他是瞎的！”“父親在天上，他第一次能真正地看見(jiàn)我比賽了！所以我想讓他知道，我能行！”燕雀處室Theswallowsandsparrowsareverypleasedtofindaplaceontheroofofthehallfortheirnests.Themotherbirdsarefeedingtheirbabieswithpleasure,whichassumesasceneofpeaceandharmony.Buttheyhaveneverthoughtofthefollowingscene:thechimneyatthetopofthekitchenmightbreak,thefiremightleapuptotheroofandtheburningpurlingmightdestroytheirnests.Butthoseswallowsandsparrowsareunmindfulofthecomingdisaster.Theygoonwiththeirsuperficialhappinessbroughtbypeaceandcalm.燕雀處室燕雀為擁有屋頂下面的一個(gè)位置而欣慰不已。母鳥(niǎo)用叼來(lái)的食物喂養(yǎng)啁啾鳴叫的幼鳥(niǎo)，整個(gè)兒是一派歡樂(lè)自得的祥和景象。它們完全沒(méi)有考慮到：爐灶上的煙囪有可能會(huì)炸裂，火苗將會(huì)竄上屋梁，燒著的椽將會(huì)摧毀它們的巢穴。不知大禍將要降臨到自己頭上的燕雀?jìng)冋诎踩蛔匀舻仄肺哆@表面上的安寧所帶來(lái)的幸福。男孩和單車It’swonderfultobebackinmyboyhoodhometownagaintovisitwithmynowelderlymother.ItseemslikecenturiesagowhenIwasgrowinguphere.Backthen,thissmalltownwasjustabackdropthatformedtheunremarkableenvironmentinwhichIlivedmyeverydaylife.與年邁的母親一起重游童年的故鄉(xiāng)，是一件很美妙的事情。我在這里的成長(zhǎng)像是幾個(gè)世紀(jì)前發(fā)生的事情一樣?；叵氘?dāng)初，這個(gè)小鎮(zhèn)只是我童年生活一個(gè)絲毫不起眼的背景。Mom’sdoinggreatforherage,butshe’smovingslowerthesedays.Afteralengthybutheartwarmingtalkinthedenaboutmywife,thekidsandhowwellworkisgoingbackinthebigcityfarfromhere,wehavereachedthepointofbeingalltalkedoutfornow.照她的年齡來(lái)說(shuō)，母親的身體還很好，但這些天行動(dòng)遲緩了一些。我們?cè)跁坷镞M(jìn)行了一次溫馨的長(zhǎng)談，說(shuō)到我的妻子，孩子，以及離這里很遙遠(yuǎn)的大城市里工作的事情。我們把現(xiàn)在所有的一切都說(shuō)了個(gè)遍。Whataperfecttimetogoforawalkandgetsomefreshair.Theoutsideloudlycallsforalookaroundtheneighborhoodtoseehowthingshavechanged,andhowthingshavestayedthesame.AsIwalkdownthestreet,it’slikeI’monmytrustedbicycleridingaroundasayoungboy.I’monyetanothergrandmissiononmybikeagain.Oh,theplacesmybikecouldtakeme,anddid.這可是出門散步，呼吸新鮮空氣的完美時(shí)刻。整個(gè)世界都在呼喚著我，要我看看周遭的一切，看世事如何變遷又如何保持原樣。我走過(guò)街道，像是又騎上了我心愛(ài)的單車，回到了我的少年時(shí)代。我又要開(kāi)始單車上的莊嚴(yán)旅程了。啊，那些單車帶我去過(guò)的地方！There’sthesmallcornerstore,justaquickbikeridedownonestreetandupanother,whereIcangetanice-coldsodainaglassbottlewiththeredmetalcap.InsideisthelongcandyaislewhereImustcarefullyconsidermychoices;willitbeacandybar,orpackoffootballcardswiththebonusflatpieceofbubblegum,orahandfuloffireballjawbreakers?…Thefreedomtodecidecontinuesunabated?onlythestakesarehigherwithtime,requiringproportionallygreaterwisdom.在那街角有一間小小的商店，就在騎車從一條街轉(zhuǎn)進(jìn)另一條街的地方。在那兒可以買到一瓶冰凍汽水，玻璃瓶，紅色的金屬蓋子。商店里面是條長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的糖果長(zhǎng)廊，我得認(rèn)真考慮我的選擇：是買一個(gè)糖果塊、一套附贈(zèng)口香糖的足球卡、還是一把火球樣的硬球糖？自由決定的權(quán)利從未消減，只是隨著時(shí)間的推移，這其中的利害關(guān)系越來(lái)越復(fù)雜，需要更多適度調(diào)配的智慧。There’sthebridgeoverthelazyriverwhereIlovetoparkmybike,andjustsitonthetallledgetothinkpenetratingthoughts,asIlookdowntheriverintotheexpansivehorizon.Howfardoesthisrivergo,andwhatisbeyondtheriver,andevenwhatisbeyondthat?MaybesomedayIcantraveltoexperienceitonmyownwhenIgetolder…ManyaretheplacesI’vesincetraveled,onlytoenlargemycuriosityfurther,asmyawarenessoftheunknownhasgrown.我經(jīng)常把單車停在悠悠的河邊，坐在高高的橋上，眺望寬廣無(wú)盡的地平線，思考著我那些奇異的想法。這條河會(huì)流到哪里呢？河的前面是什么？前面的前面呢？也許當(dāng)我長(zhǎng)大了，我可以獨(dú)自去探索……我去過(guò)很多很多地方，都只是為了擴(kuò)大我的好奇心，因?yàn)樵絹?lái)越意識(shí)到我對(duì)這世界的無(wú)知。It’sonlyaquickridetoreachtheoldretireddoctor’shouse,whoselawnImowweekly.Hepaysmeamodestwagetohelpmaintainhislargeyard.Wealwaysenjoytalkingasweworktogether.Idon’trememberexactlyallthatwetalkedabout,butIdorememberthathealwayslistenedandIfeltappreciated.Hesuredidknowalotaboutwhatlifehasinstorethatiscommontoeveryman…Hisexampleofdeliberatekindnessandthoughtfulwisdomshowedmehowtopassonthesametoothersyoungerthanmyself,manytimesovertheyears.騎車到那個(gè)退休的老醫(yī)生家里只要很短的時(shí)間，我每個(gè)星期都去給他修剪草坪。他給我微薄的報(bào)酬，讓我?guī)兔Υ蚶硭拇笸ピ?。我們很享受工作時(shí)一起聊天的時(shí)光。我已經(jīng)不能確切地記得我們到底說(shuō)了些什么，但我記得他總是在聆聽(tīng)，這讓我覺(jué)得自己很受尊重。他當(dāng)然知道對(duì)每個(gè)普通人來(lái)說(shuō)，生活將會(huì)是什么樣子。很多年以來(lái)，他傳遞善意與智慧的榜樣一直激勵(lì)著我，讓我把這些繼續(xù)傳遞給比我年輕的人。Upaheadisherhouse,justthreehousesdownfromthatcorner.Isuredohaveacrushonher.Sheissolovelywithprettyblondhair.IneedtoridepastherhouseyetagaintoseeifImightfindheroutsidewhereIcouldmaybe,justmaybe,havethechancetotalkwithherafterschool.I’mnotsurewhattosaygiventhechance,butit’sworththerisk.Toobadsheneverreallynoticedmeatschool,eventhoughwesharedthesameclasses;Iwonderwheresheisnow…Yearslaterincollege,itwasjustasawkwardwhenIfirstmetmyfuturebrideandstruggledtostartaconversation,butthosemomentssurprisinglybecametheinitialsparkthatturnedintotherealcommunicationofournow25-yearmarriage.前方是她的家，拐角過(guò)去再過(guò)三所房子就到了。我確定我是是迷上她了。她有著美麗的金發(fā)，十分可愛(ài)。我騎著車一次又一次地經(jīng)過(guò)她的門前，幻想著或許能碰見(jiàn)她出門，或許——只是或許，能在放學(xué)后有跟她說(shuō)話的機(jī)會(huì)。我不知道這機(jī)會(huì)能否降臨，但值得冒險(xiǎn)。不幸的是，她在學(xué)校從來(lái)沒(méi)留意過(guò)我，即使我們?cè)谝粋€(gè)班里上課。我很想知道她現(xiàn)在身在何方……幾年后，當(dāng)在大學(xué)里遇見(jiàn)我未來(lái)的新娘時(shí)，我還是那樣笨拙地，試著去開(kāi)始我們的談話。然而那些時(shí)刻，很意外的，成為燃起我們?nèi)缃?5年婚姻的星星之火。Whereisthatspecialtree?Iknowit’ssomewherearoundherebetweenthesetwohouses,orisitthenexthouse?Iguessthetreeisnowlonggone.Havingpackedapeanutbutterandjellysandwichlunchinmybicyclebasket,I’msettospendalmosttheentiredayclimbingaroundinit,whereIcanthinkanddreamunrestrained.ItishereIhavefoundagloriousrefuge;eachlargebranchisitsownlavishroomcomprisingmyexpansiveestate.WhatarichmanIamtohavefoundsuchaninterestingplacethatIcancallmyown!Ilovetoclimbtotheverytopwherethehighestbranchissonarrow,ImustholdontightasIswaywidelywithitinthewind–becausethehigherIgo,themoreIcansee.Icanevenseepastthesupermarket,withaglimpseoftheoceanamilebeyondthat.I’mgladmymotherneverknewhowhighIdaredtoclimb…Eversincethen,Ihavealwaysfounditwellworthpayingthepricetoreachthevantagepointthataffordslife’sbestperspective.那棵特別的樹(shù)在哪里呢？我知道它就在這兒的某個(gè)地方，在這兩所房子之間，還是在下一座房子旁邊？我猜那棵樹(shù)已經(jīng)消失很久了。那時(shí)我經(jīng)常把花生醬和果凍三明治裝好，放進(jìn)車籃里作為午餐，出發(fā)來(lái)到這里。我?guī)缀跽於即跇?shù)上，天馬行空地幻想著。我在這兒找到了輝煌的庇護(hù)所，每一根粗壯的樹(shù)枝都是一個(gè)寬大的房間，共同構(gòu)筑成我的私人莊園。能夠找到如此有趣的屬于我的領(lǐng)地，我是多么的富有啊！我喜歡爬上最高的地方——上得越高，我才能看得越遠(yuǎn)。因?yàn)闃?shù)枝太細(xì)，我必須得緊緊抓住它，隨風(fēng)搖擺。我的目光甚至可以越過(guò)商場(chǎng)，瞥見(jiàn)一英里外的海洋。我很高興母親從來(lái)不知道我爬得有多高。從那以來(lái)，我一直都覺(jué)得為了看見(jiàn)生活的光明遠(yuǎn)景，付出代價(jià)爬上那個(gè)制高點(diǎn)是十分值得的。Mybicycleenabledsomuchadventurealongthesafesidewalksandsleepystreetsofmytown.Itofferedgreatfreedomtoexplore.Thereweresomanyplacestoridemybike,includingspecialplacesthatonlyIknewabout.Therewereseeminglyendlessopportunitiesfordiscovery,compellingexperiences,andeventhethrillofimagineddanger.我的單車帶著我在這個(gè)小鎮(zhèn)經(jīng)歷了許多冒險(xiǎn)，穿過(guò)安全人行道和安靜的長(zhǎng)街。它為我提供了探索的自由?？扇サ牡胤教嗔耍ê芏鄤e人不知道的地方。似乎總有無(wú)盡的發(fā)現(xiàn)的機(jī)會(huì)、扣人心弦的歷險(xiǎn)，以及令人興奮的想象中可能出現(xiàn)的危險(xiǎn)。Mylifethenhadspacewideenoughtoridebutsecureenoughwithallitswell-definedboundaries,whereIpurposedtosetmycoursetowardscreatinganengaginglifetoenjoy.Thiswasaplacethatcouldn’thavebeenmoreadventurous.我的生活中現(xiàn)在有足夠廣闊的空間去行駛，但有了更加安全的定義分明的界限。我已計(jì)劃好我的步伐，去創(chuàng)造、享受我充實(shí)的生活。這已經(jīng)成為一個(gè)沒(méi)有任何冒險(xiǎn)性的地方。It’sbeendecadessincethosedaysofboyhoodexploration,andI’msurethatrusthaslongsinceconsumedmyoldbike.Buteventhougheverythingisdifferentnow,nothinghaschanged.Liferemainsanadventurethatcontinuallybeckons.AlthoughIammoreestablishednow,IstillfashiontheplacesIcallmyownsothatImaylivelarge.Istillmustplantosetadirectionandbecarefultonavigateawisepath.少年時(shí)代的探險(xiǎn)已經(jīng)過(guò)去了幾十年，我的舊單車肯定也早已生滿了銹。然而，雖然現(xiàn)在一切都不一樣了，卻其實(shí)什么都沒(méi)有改變。生活本身就是一場(chǎng)冒險(xiǎn)，不停地在向我們召喚著。盡管我現(xiàn)在被越來(lái)越多的人肯定，但我依然在不停地構(gòu)筑屬于自己的領(lǐng)地，以獲得更大的生活空間。我仍然要計(jì)劃前進(jìn)的方向，小心地在智慧的道路上航行。Thiswonderfullittletown-thisspecialappointedplace-providedasignificanttimeofpreparationwhichwasamicrocosmofmylife,whereIlearned,withoutrealizingIwaslearning,themostimportantthingsbeforeIeverlivedthem.這個(gè)奇妙的小鎮(zhèn)，這個(gè)特別的地方，為我提供了一段意義非凡的準(zhǔn)備時(shí)間。這里曾是我的小小世界。我在這里接受潤(rùn)物無(wú)聲的教育，學(xué)會(huì)了那些我此后生活中最重要的事情。(作者：FranklinB.Holleman,哲學(xué)博士翻譯：梁明修)生活艱辛也不能丟下親情和尊嚴(yán)WhenMaryVanBekewasgrowingupinthe1920s,shelivedinNewark,N.J.,andwastheoldestoffourchildren.HerparentswereimmigrantsfromEurope.AndasMarytellsherson,Charles,herparentsmanagedamodestlif在20世紀(jì)20年代，瑪麗·范·貝克成長(zhǎng)生活在新澤西州的紐瓦克市。她是四個(gè)孩子中的老大。她父母是歐洲移民。正如瑪麗跟她兒子查爾斯說(shuō)的一樣，她的父母一直樸素地生活養(yǎng)家，直到有一天，一切都改變了。Mary'sfather,WilliamLuis,wasjust29whenhedied;Marywas5."Heworkedforanelectricalcompany,andhewasstandinginwater—andsomeonedroppedawireandelectrocutedhim,"shetellsCharles.瑪麗的父親，威廉·路易斯29歲就去世了，當(dāng)時(shí)瑪麗只有5歲。她跟查爾斯說(shuō)，“他在一家電氣公司工作，當(dāng)時(shí)，他站在水中，掉下一截電線，把他觸死了?！盬henWilliamdied,Mary'smotherwaspregnantwithheryoungestsister."Andsomymotherhadtogoouttowork,washclothesandcleanhousetotryandfeedfourchildren,"shesays.Asforclothes,thechildrenworewhateverMary'smother,EvaHornyak,managedtobringhomefromthehouseholdswheresheworked.威廉死時(shí)，瑪麗的媽媽身懷六甲，腹中是瑪麗的小妹妹。她說(shuō)，“從此，我媽不得不出去工作，替別人洗衣服、打掃房子，以養(yǎng)活我們四個(gè)孩子?！爆旣惖哪赣H，伊娃·霍亞克從戶主那里討來(lái)什么衣服，她的孩子就只能穿什么衣服。"Idon'teverremembergoingtothestoretogetapairofshoes,'causeMamacouldn'taffordit,"saysMary,now94.Still,hermother,whohadgrownupinCzechoslovakia,taughtMaryandhersiblingstotakeprideinthemselves."I'mnotsayingthatwelookeddowdy,"Marysays."Shesaid,'Youdon'thavetobedirtytobepoor.'Ialwaysrememberthat."現(xiàn)年94歲的瑪麗說(shuō)，“在我的記憶中，我們從未進(jìn)商店買過(guò)一雙鞋，因?yàn)閶寢屬I不起。”然而，在捷克斯洛伐克長(zhǎng)大的媽媽還是教導(dǎo)瑪麗和她的姊妹們要以自己為榮?！拔沂钦f(shuō)，我們看上去并不邋遢，”瑪麗說(shuō)道，“媽媽說(shuō)過(guò)，‘雖然窮困，也須整潔?！覍?duì)此念念不忘?！盉uteventually,thefourchildrenneededmorethantheirmothercouldprovide.Theyweregrowingup,andtherewasn'tenoughfoodtogoaround.Marysaysthathermother"hadtoplacemeinahomewhereIwouldworkformykeep.AndIwouldcomehomeeveryotherSunday.Andthisishowwetriedtosurvive."但是，母親所提供的并不能滿足四個(gè)孩子的需求。她們?cè)诔砷L(zhǎng)，食物不夠吃的了?，旣愓f(shuō)，她媽媽“只好把我安置在一戶人家工作，讓我自己養(yǎng)活自己。我每?jī)蓚€(gè)星期，才有一個(gè)星期天可以回家。我們就是這樣生活下來(lái)的。”"Howlongdidyouworkforthatfamily?"Charlesasks.查爾斯問(wèn)，“你在那戶人家干了多久？”"Twoyears,'tilIwas16,"Marysays.瑪麗說(shuō)，“兩年，一直干到我16歲?！盇ndshehasavividmemoryofherlastdayonthejob.對(duì)于這份工作的最后一天，她仍記憶猶新。"Mamaworkedacrossthestreetfromthere,washingclothes.Anditwasahotsummerday,andshewaswalkingdownthestreet.AndIrantothefrontdoorandcalledherin,tovisitwithher."“媽媽在街對(duì)面洗衣服。那天酷暑難耐，她沿著街道朝我走來(lái)。我跑到前門，讓她進(jìn)來(lái)，跟她閑談?！盩hetwotalked—butthevisitdidn'tgodownwellwithMary'sboss.我們兩人聊了下，但這次拜訪讓瑪麗的雇主不開(kāi)心。AfterEvaleft,Marysays,"Mrs.Blaisdellsaidtome,'Don'teverletthehelpcomeinthefrontdoor!'伊娃走后，瑪麗說(shuō)，“布萊斯德?tīng)柗蛉藢?duì)我說(shuō)，‘以后別讓幫手進(jìn)家門！’"AndIsaid,'Well,Idon'twanttoworkhereifmymothercan'tcomeinthefrontdoor.'“我說(shuō)，‘如果不允許我媽媽進(jìn)這個(gè)門，我也不想在這兒干了?！?AndIpackedmylittlesuitcaseandcamehome.Icanrememberthatsowell."“于是，我整理了我的小行李箱，回家來(lái)了。這一切現(xiàn)在還歷歷在目?！盩heLoyalDog忠誠(chéng)的小狗"WhatshallIdo,"saidaverylittledogonedaytohismother,"toshowmygratitudetoourgoodmaster,andmakemyselfofsomevaluetohim?Icannotdraworcarryburdenslikethehorse;norgivehimmilklikethecow;norlendhimmycoveringforhisclothinglikethesheep;norproducehimeggslikethepoultry;norcatchmiceandratssowellasthecat.Icannotdiverthimwithsinginglikethecanariesandlinnets;norcanIdefendhimagainstrobberslikeourrelation,Towzer;IshouldnotbeofusetohimevenifIweredead,asthehogsare.Iamapoorinsignificantcreature,notworththecostofkeeping;andIdon'tseethatIcandoasinglethingtoentitlemetohisregard."Sosaying,thepoorlittledoghungdownhisheadinsilentdespondency.一天，一只小狗對(duì)他的媽媽說(shuō)：“我該怎么做，才能向我們?nèi)蚀鹊闹魅吮硎靖兄x，讓自己對(duì)他有價(jià)值呢？我不能像馬那樣背負(fù)重物；不能像奶牛一樣給他提供牛奶；不能像羊那樣用我的毛為他做衣服；不能像雞鴨那樣為他產(chǎn)蛋；不能像貓那樣抓老鼠；不能像鳥(niǎo)兒一樣為他歌唱；也不能像我們的親戚——大黃狗一樣為他趕走強(qiáng)盜。我就是死了，對(duì)我的主人也毫無(wú)用處，還不如大肥豬呢！我是無(wú)用的東西，沒(méi)有存在的價(jià)值。我不知道怎樣做才能引起他的關(guān)注?！笨蓱z的小狗說(shuō)著，失落地垂下頭。"Mydearchild,"repliedhismother,"thoughyourabilitiesarebutsmall,yetaheartygood-willissufficienttosupplyalldefects.Dobutlovehimdearly,andproveyourlovebyallthemeansinyourpower,andyouwillnotfailtopleasehim."“好孩子，”他的媽媽說(shuō)，“雖然你的本領(lǐng)不大，但你的好心腸足以彌補(bǔ)所有的不足。深深地愛(ài)主人，并在你力所能及的范圍內(nèi)用各種方式向他展現(xiàn)你對(duì)他的愛(ài)，就會(huì)使他快樂(lè)。”Thelittledogwascomfortedbythisassurance;and,onhismaster'sapproach,rantohim,lickedhisfeet,gambolledbeforehim,andeverynowandthenstopped,wagginghistail,andlookinguptohismasterwithexpressionsofthemosthumbleandaffectionateattachment.Themasterobservedhim."Ah!littleFido,"saidhe,"youareanhonest,good-naturedlittlefellow!"andstoopeddowntopathishead.PoorFidowasreadytogooutofhiswitsforjoy.媽媽的話使小狗得到了極大的安慰。主人過(guò)來(lái)了，小狗跑過(guò)去，舔他的腳，在他面前嬉戲，時(shí)不時(shí)地停下來(lái)，搖搖尾巴，非常恭敬而深情地看著主人。主人注意到了他，說(shuō)道：“哦，小費(fèi)多！你真是真誠(chéng)可愛(ài)的小家伙?！敝魅诉呎f(shuō)邊停下來(lái)拍拍他的頭?？蓱z的費(fèi)多高興得幾乎要發(fā)狂了。Fidowasnowhismaster'sconstantcompanioninhiswalks,playingandskippingroundhim,andamusinghimbyathousandsportivetricks.Hetookcare,how-ever,nottobetroublesomebyleapingonhimwithdirtypaws,norwouldhefollowhimintotheparlour,unlessinvited.Healsoattemptedtomakehimselfusefulbyanumberoflittleservices.Hewoulddriveawaythesparrowsastheywerestealingthechickens'meat;andwouldrunandbarkwiththeutmostfuryatanystrangepigsorotheranimalsthatofferedtocomeintotheyard.Hekeptthepoultry,geese,andpigsfromstrayingbeyondtheirboundsandparticularlyfromdoingmischiefinthegarden.HewasalwaysreadytoalarmTowzeriftherewasanysuspiciousnoiseaboutthehouse,dayornight.Ifhismasterpulledoffhiscoatinthefieldtohelphisworkman,ashewouldsometimesdo,Fidoalwayssatbyit,andwouldnotsuffereithermanorbeasttotouchit.Bythismeanshecametobeconsideredasaverytrustyprotect