48个幸福感爆棚的英语故事

A cobbler passed his time in singing from morning till night;it was wonderful to see,wonderful to hear him;he was more contented in shoes,than was any of the seven sages.一个皮匠从早到晚在唱歌中度过。无论见到他本人或听见他的歌声都使人觉得很愉快。His neighbor,on the contrary,who was rolling in wealth,sung but little and slept less.he was a banker;when by chance he fell into a doze at day-break,the cobbler awoke him with his song.他对于制鞋工作比当上了希腊七对还要满足。与此相反，他的邻居是个银行家，拥有万贯家财，却很少唱歌，晚上也睡得不好。他偶尔在黎明时分迷迷糊糊刚入睡，皮匠的歌声便于工作把他吵醒了。The banker complained sadly that providence had not made sleep a saleable commodity,like edibles or drinkables.having at length sent for the songster,he said to him,"how much a year do you earn,master gregory?"银行家郁郁寡欢地抱怨上帝没有睡眠也制成一种像食品或饮料那样可以买卖的商品。后来，银行家就叫人把这位歌手请来，问道：“格列戈里师傅，你一年赚多少钱？”"how much a year,sir?"said the merry cobbler laughing,"i have reckon in that way,living as i do from one day to another;somehow i manage to reach the end of the year;each day brings its meal."“先生，你问我一年赚多少钱吗？”快乐的皮匠笑道：“我从来不算这笔帐，我是一天一天地过日子，总而言之坚持到年底，每天挣足三餐。”"well then!how much a day do you earn,my friend?""sometimes more,sometimes less;but the worst of it is,-and,without that our earnings would be very tolerable,-a number of days occur in the year on which we are forbidden to work;and the curate,moreover,is constantly adding some new saint to the list."“啊，朋友，那么你一天赚多少钱呢？”“有时多一点，有时少一点；不过最糟糕的是一年中总有些日子不准我们做买卖，牧师又常常在圣徒名单上添新名字，否则我们的收入也还算不错的。”The banker,laughing at his simplicity,said,"in the future i shall place you above want.Take this hundred crowns,preserve them carefully,and make use of them in time of need."银行家被皮匠的直率逗笑了，他说：“我要你从今以后不愁没钱用。这一百枚钱你拿去，小心放好，需要时拿来用吧。”The cobbler fancied he beheld all the wealth which the earth had produced in the past century for the use of mankind.皮匠觉自己好像看到了过去几百年来大地为人类所需而制造出来的全部财富。Returning home,he buried his money and his happiness at the same time,no more singin;he lost his voice,the moment he acquired that which is the source of so much grief.他回到家中，埋藏好硬币，同时也埋葬了他的快乐。他不再唱歌了；从他得到这种痛苦的根源那一刻起，他的嗓子就哑了。Sleep quitted his dwelling;and cares,suspicions,and false alarms took its place,all day,his eye wandered in the direction of his treasure;and at night,if some stray cat made a noise,the cat was robbing him.at length the poor man ran to the house of his rich neighbor;"give me back." said he,"sleep and my voice,and take your hundred crowns."睡眠与他分手；取而代之的却是担心、怀疑、虚惊。白天，他的目光尽朝埋藏硬币的方向望；夜间，如果有只迷途的猫弄出一点声响，他就以为是有人来抢他的钱。最后，这个可怜的皮匠跑到他那富有的邻居家里说：“把你的一百枚钱拿回去，还我的睡眠和歌声来。”

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street， going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.一位年轻的总裁，以有点快的车速，开着他的新 Jaguar 经过住宅区的巷道。他必须小心游戏中的孩子突然跑到路中央，所以当他觉得小孩子快跑出来时，就要减慢车速。As his car passed， one child appeared， and a brick smashed into the Jag's side door. He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car， grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car，shouting， "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam， he went on"That's a new car and that brick you threw is gonna cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"就在他的车经过一群小朋友的时候，一个小朋友丢了一块砖头打到了他的车门，他很生气的踩了煞车并后退到砖头丢出来的地方。他跳出车外，抓了那个小孩，把他顶在车门上说：「你为什么这样做，你知道你刚刚做了什么吗？接着又吼道：「你知不知道你要赔多少钱来修理这台新车，你到底为什么要这样做？“Please， mister， please， I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do!”pleaded the youngster. "It's my brother，" he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.小孩子求着说：「先生，对不起，我不知道我还能怎么办？」 他接着说：「因为我哥哥从轮椅上掉下来，我没办法把他抬回去。」Sobbing， the boy asked the executive， "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words， the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts， checking to see that everything was going to be okay.那男孩啜泣着说：「你可以帮我把他抬回去吗？他受伤了，而且他太重了我抱不动。」这些话让这位年轻的总裁深受感动，他抱起男孩受伤的哥哥，帮他坐回轮椅上。 并拿出手帕擦拭他哥哥的伤口，以确定他哥哥没有什么大问题。"Thank you， sir. And God bless you，" the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother to the sidewalk toward their home.那个小男孩感激地说：[谢谢你，先生，上帝保佑你。]，然后他看着男孩推着他哥哥回去。It was a long walk backs to his Jaguar... a long， slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.年轻总裁返回 Jaguar 的路变的很漫长，他也没有修他汽车的侧门。他保留着车上的凹痕就是提醒自己Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes， when you don't have the time to listen... Life throws a brick at your head. It's your choice: Listen to the whispers of your soul or wait for the brick! Do you sometimes ignore loved ones because your life is too fast and busy leaving them to wonder whether you really love them?生活的道路不要走的太匆忙，否则需要其他人敲打自己来注意生活的真谛。当生命想与你的心灵窃窃私语时，若你没有时间，你有两种选择：倾听你心灵的声音或让砖头来砸你！请问你是否曾因为生活太快、太忙碌而忽略了你所爱的人，然后让他们开始开始怀疑起你是不是真的爱他们呢？

Years of storms had taken their toll on the old windmill. Its wheel, rusted and fallen, lay silent in the lush bluegrass. Its once animated silhouette was now a tall motionless steeple in the twilight sun.多年的风雨毁坏了古老的风车。车轮已经锈了，倒了，静静地躺卧在茂盛的六月禾丛中。在落日的衬托下，曾经散发着生气的风车如今如耸立的尖塔般冰冷、生硬。I hadn‘t walked across our old farm in fifteen years. Yet the sensations came flooding back. I could smell the freshness of new mown alfalfa. I could feel the ping of the ice cold summer rain, and the sun‘s sudden warmth on my wet shoulders when it reappeared after a brisk July thunderstorm.我已经有十五年没有走过我们的农场了。然而，那些感觉又汹涌而至。我仿佛闻到了新割的苜蓿的清新气息，感觉到了冰冷夏雨敲打在身上，还有七月的雨后阳光照射在湿漉漉的身上骤然传来的暖意。Rain or shine, I used to walk this path each day to see Greta. She always made me smile, even after Sis and I had just had a big squabble. I would help Greta with her chores. Then we would visit over a generous helping of her delicious homemade chocolate cookies and ice cream. Being confined to a wheel chair didn‘t stop Greta from being a fabulous cook.无论雨天或晴天，我曾经天天沿着这条小径去探望葛丽塔。即使我刚和姐姐大吵了一场，她也总能使我舒怀微笑。我会帮葛丽塔做些家务。然后，我们会大快朵颐，品尝她亲手做的巧克力曲奇饼和冰淇淋。以轮椅代步并不妨碍她成为一名出色的厨师。Greta gave me two of the greatest gifts I‘ve ever received. First, she taught me how to read. She also taught me that when I forgave Sis for our squabbles, it meant I wouldn‘t keep feeling like a victim. Instead, I would feel sunny.Mr. Dinking, the local banker, tried to foreclose on Greta‘s house and land after her husband passed away. Thanks to Pa and Uncle Johan, Greta got to keep everything. Pa said that it was the least he could do for someone talented enough to teach me to read!在葛丽塔的丈夫去世后，当地的银行家丁肯先生曾经要收取她抵押给了银行的房子。幸亏有爸爸和约翰叔叔的帮忙，葛丽塔才保住了一切。爸爸说，对一位聪明得能教会我认字的人，这只是他力所能及的一件小事！Soon folks were coming from miles around to buy Greta‘s homemade cakes, pies, breads, cookies, cider, and ice cream. Hank, the grocery store man, came each week to stock his shelves and bring Greta supplies.很快，方圆数英里的人们都来买葛丽塔做的蛋糕、馅饼、面包、曲奇饼、苹果酒和冰淇淋。每周，杂货店老板汉克都会给她送来材料，并从她那里进货。Greta even had me take a big apple pie to Mr. Dinking who became one of her best customers and friends. That‘s just how Greta was. She could turn anyone into a friend!葛丽塔甚至让我给丁肯先生送去一个大苹果馅饼。他也成为了她的顾客和朋友。这就是葛丽塔。她可以把任何人都变成朋友！Greta always said, "Dear, keep walking in sunshine!" No matter how terrible my day started, I always felt sunny walking home from Greta‘s house-even beneath the winter starlight.葛丽塔常说：“亲爱的，记得要走在阳光里！” 每天，不管一开始怎么糟糕，从葛丽塔的小屋走回家时，即使是披着冬夜的星光，我都会感觉心情舒畅。I arrived at Greta‘s house today just after sunset. An ambulance had stopped a few feet from her door, it‘s red lights flashing. When I ran into the old house, Greta recognized me right away.这天，太阳刚下山我就来到葛丽塔家了。她门前几尺外已然停着一辆救护车。车上的红灯闪烁不停。当我冲入那所旧房子时，葛丽塔立刻认出了我.She smiled at me with her unforgettable twinkling blue eyes. She was almost out of breath when she reached out and softly touched my arm. Her last words to me were "Dear, keep walking in sunshine!"她冲我微微一笑，令人难忘的那双蓝眼睛闪着光芒。当她伸手轻抚我的手臂时，她已经奄奄一息了。她最后对我说的话是：“亲爱的，记得要走在阳光里！”I‘m sure that Greta is walking in the brightest sunshine she‘s ever seen. And, I‘m sure that she heard every word I read at her memorial service.我肯定葛丽塔此时正漫步在她所见过的最明媚的阳光里。我也肯定她听见了我在她的追悼仪式上所念的每一个字。I chose a beautiful verse by Leo Buscaglia. It‘s one that Greta taught me to read many years ago…我选了利奥·巴斯卡格里亚的一首优美的诗，正是那首葛丽塔多年前教我念的诗。"Love can never grow old. Locks may lose their brown and gold. Cheeks may fade and hollow grow. But the hearts that love will know, never winter‘s frost and chill, summer‘s warmth is in them still."“爱能历久常新。华发或会失去原有的光彩。双颊或会日显消瘦黯淡。然而，有爱的心中，从无寒冬霜冰，只有夏之温热。”

One of my patients, a successful businessman, tells me that before his cancer he would become depressed unless things went a certain way. Happiness was "having the cookie." If you had the cookie, things were good.我有一位病人，他是一个成功的商人，告诉我，在他患癌症之前，凡事如果没有确定下来他就忧心忡忡。对他而言，幸福是“拥有小甜饼”。If you didn't have the cookie, life wasn't worth a damn. Unfortunately, the cookie kept changing.如果你拥有了小甜饼，一切都一帆风顺。如果你没有小甜饼，生活就一文不值。Some of the time it was money, sometimes power, sometimes sex. At other times, it was the new car, the biggest contract, the most prestigious address.不幸的是，小甜饼总是不断变换着，有时是金钱，有时是权力，有时是欲望。在其他时候，它是一辆新车、一份数额最大的合同、或者一个享有声望的通讯地址。A year and a half after his diagnosis of prostate cancer he sits shaking his head ruefully. "It's like I stopped learning how to live after I was a kid.在他被诊断出患有前列腺癌的一年半之后，他坐在那里，悲天悯人地摇着头，说：“长大以后，我好像就不知道怎样生活了。When I give my son a cookie, he is happy. If I take the cookie away or it breaks, he is unhappy.当我给我儿子一个小甜饼时，他心花怒放。如果我拿走甜饼或者是小甜饼碎了，他就闷闷不乐。But he is two and a half and I am forty-three. It's taken me this long to understand that the cookie will never make me happy for long.不同的是，他只有两岁半，而我已经 43 了。我花了这么长的时间才明白小甜饼并不能使我长久感到幸福。The minute you have the cookie it starts to crumble or you start to worry about it crumbling or about someone trying to take it away from you.从你拥有小甜饼的那一刻，它就开始破碎，或者你就开始担心它会破碎，抑或你开始担心别人拿走它。You know, you have to give up a lot of things to take care of the cookie, to keep it from crumbling and be sure that no one takes it away from you.为了守护你的小甜饼，为了防止它破碎或者确定别人不会从你手中夺走它，你不得不放弃许多东西。You may not even get a chance to eat it because you are so busy just trying not to lose it.你忙于不让自己失去它，甚至没有时间享受它。Having the cookie is not what life is about." My patient laughs and says cancer has changed him.拥有小甜饼并不是生活的全部内容。”我的病人笑着说癌症已经改变了他。For the first time he is happy. No matter if his business is doing well or not, no matter if he wins or loses at golf. "不论他的生意是否一帆风顺，不论他在打高尔夫球时是输是赢，他有生以来第一次感到幸福。Two years ago, cancer asked me, 'Okay, what's important? What is really important?' Well, life is important.“两年前，癌症问我‘什么重要？什么才真正的重要？’对，生命重要。Life. Life any way you can have it, life with the cookie, life without the cookie. Happiness does not have anything to do with the cookie; it has to do with being alive. Before, who made the time?" He pauses thoughtfully. "Damn, I guess life is the cookie."生命。生命，无论如何你拥有生命。有小甜饼也罢，没有小甜饼也罢，幸福与小甜饼并非息息相关，而是与生命的存在有关。可是，时光一去不复返，谁又能让时光倒流呢？”他停顿了一下，若有所思，说：“该死，我觉得生命就是那块小甜饼”。

Life is good, really good. Sometimes I feel like the good karma train picked me up, and simply refuses to let me off.生活不错，很不错。有时我觉得仿佛坐上了一列善有善报 的列车，想下车都不行。I have an amazing wife, a teenage son that makes me glow with pride, good health, a wonderful family and the best friends a guy could ask for. I have a lot to be grateful for.我有个人人夸好的妻子，有个给我脸 上增光的十几岁的儿子，我们身体健康，家庭美满和睦，还有 一帮世上最棒的朋友。我有好多值得感恩的东西。For many years now, “thank you” has become my meditation as I start each day.多年来，“感 谢老天” 经成了我开始每一天的默祷词。But the truth is, life was not always this good. It wasn’t all that long ago, when the resume’ of my life looked radically different.可是事实上，生活并不总是这么美好。就在不久前，我的 人生简历看上去还是迥然不同。At one time, my life was filled with nearly everything people try to avoid.曾经一度，我的生活充满了令 每个人都想躲避的东西。Experiencing everything from unhappy relationships to financial struggles, poor health, depression, and an endless stream of negative habits was a part of my daily life.从让人沮丧的婚姻,到困窘的经济状况， 糟糕的健康，抑郁的心情和无穷无尽的坏毛病，都是我每天生 活的一部分。It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, happiness was constantly eluding me and disappointment became my shadow.似乎不管我怎么努力，快乐总是躲着我走，而失 望则如影随形。It also seemed as if I was paving the way for a future that sadly resembled my father’s…until he took his own life at the age of 54.而且似乎我在亦步亦趋地把日子过成父亲那样， 他在54岁的时候自杀了。This was a defining moment for me. Once the shock of losing my father began to fade, clarity and a new sense of purpose became the dominant force in my life.那一刻成了我人生的转折点，一度失 去父亲所受的打击开始消退，慈善和生活的目标感开始支配我 的生活。I remember feeling as if I had “met myself” for the very first time while also becoming conscious of my life’s true purpose.我觉着好像有生以来第一次发现了自己，认识到了生 命的真正目的。It was in that moment that I had made a major decision. Not only would I change my own life, but I would also make a difference in the lives of others.从那一刻起，我便做了一个重大决定。我不仅 要改变自己的生活，而且要令别人的生活改观。Enlightenment and epiphanies can show up in some pretty strange ways. The Buddha found it under a Boddhi tree, Nelson Mandela in prison and spiritual guru Ram Dass through psychedelic drugs.令人茅塞顿开的灵光会以相当奇特的方式出现。佛祖在菩 提树下悟道；纳尔逊?曼德拉在狱中觉醒；灵魂大师瑞姆?达; 斯则在致幻剂中获得升华。Little did I know, mine would arrive in the form of a hard-shelled reptile simply trying to cross the road -- a turtle.我从未曾料到，我的启示会以一只 试图穿越马路的硬壳爬行动物的形象出现，它是一只乌龟。But this wasn’t just any turtle, this was the world’s most optimistic one. He was tenaciously determined to cross twenty feet of tar as cars zoomed by at 55 mph.但这可不是一只普通的乌龟，这是世上最乐观的一只乌龟。 它不屈不挠地打算穿越一条宽20英尺的柏油马路，路上是川流 不息的以时速55英里行驶的车辆。But today was his lucky day.可是今天是它的幸运日。My wife’s quick reflexes not only ensured that “turtle soup” would not be for dinner that night, but her act of kindness would eventually become the foundation for everything I teach today.我 妻子的快速反应不仅保证了它不会以“乌龟汤”的形式成为今 晚的餐桌一景，而且她接下来的善举还成就了我今天要讲述的 一切的基础。As unusual as this sounds, the simple act of pulling our car over, removing this little turtle from harms way, and placing him back into the wild, caused something extraordinary to happen inside of me.这听上去要多玄有多玄，一个简单的将车停到路边， 把这只小乌龟救离险境并将之归还给大自然的举动引发了我内 心深处一场惊天动地的变革。As I stood there holding this tiny creature in my hands, a wave of pure joy came over me. It was that warm, teary-eyed sensation that we feel during life’s greatest moments; like falling in love or the birth of a child.当我站在那里,手捧着这个小生命， 一种纯粹的喜悦感席卷了我。那是一种温暖的催人泪下的感觉， 往往发生在人生最伟大的时刻，比如坠入爱河，比如婴儿降生。I honestly felt as if my heart was completely opening up as everything stood still around me. In no way would I have described it as “enlightenment”, but there was no doubt about it—helping this little turtle just felt so damn good! But why? After all, it’s just a turtle, right?我真的觉得我的心完完全全地向着我周围静止的万物开启。我 不想把这称之为“启示”，但它又千真万确就是一一帮助这只小 乌龟感觉真是太棒了！可是，为什么会这样？它终究不过是一只乌龟嘛，是吧？And then it hit me. I finally realized what was happening. At that point, a flood of inspiring thoughts surged through me.然后事情发生了。我终于明白自己顿悟到了什么。彼时彼刻， 思想的潮水汹涌而至。I walked back to the car, opened my journal and wrote eight words that would later prove to be life changing for me: “kindness creates happiness” and “live a life of kindness”. It was the answer I had been looking for. The secret to inner peace and lasting happiness was kindness.我走回车里，打开笔记本，写下8个字， 事后证明这8个字成为了我的人生转折点：“善生乐”，以及“人 生须行善”。这就是我孜孜以求的答案。内心宁静和永远快乐的 奥秘就是善?Not “random acts of” or simply being nice, but rather as...a way of life. I had already known the benefits of kindness through studying many eastern philosophies, but I had never actually considered it as a lifestyle.不是“偶尔为之”或简单发发善心，而是变成一 种生活方式。我已经通过研究许多东方哲学知道了善的妙处， 但从没想过要把它变成一种生活方式。But, this day was just beginning…可是，这一天来临了。Just thirty minutes after my mini-epiphany, my wife and I arrived at our original destination—a country garden show. After walking around for just a few minutes, a gentle faced 60-something looking man waved me over to the front porch of his farmhouse, for no apparent reason.就在我小小顿悟完毕的30分钟后，我和妻子到了原定的目 的地，那是一个乡村花园展览所。四处走了一小会儿 一个60 岁左右的慈眉善目的男人在他的农舍门前向我挥手，好像没什 么明显的理由。The entire setting was like a scene out of an old movie -- weathered rocking chairs -- the smell of cookies baking -- and a coon cat that looked as old as the farmhouse itself. “Let her look around, come and sit with me” he said.这一幕完全像是老电影中的场景：老旧的摇椅， 烘烤糕点的气息，一只看上去和农舍一样老的长毛猫。“让她随 意走走，你过来坐坐。”他说，I had no idea what to expect, but as I sunk into the large wicker chair beside him, I couldn’t help feeling that he was going to say something profound.我不知道将要发生什么，但当我坐进他身旁那张宽大的藤 椅里，不由觉得他会对我说些意味深长的话。After all, if a turtle can change my life, why not a wise old farmer? After a brief hello and a polite introduction, we simply sat in silence and let the sunlight warm our faces.毕竟，要是一只 乌龟都能改变我的人生，为什么一个睿智的老农不能呢？After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke. “You know” he said, “I’ve often thought that the meaning of life is making things a little bit easier for those around us , what do you think?”.简单 寒暄之后，我们都静静地坐着，阳光温暖地照着脸庞。好像过 了—辈子那么久，他终于开□了。“你瞧，”他说，“我常以为， 生命的意义是让周围的人过得好一点，你说呢？”I was speechless. It felt like I had just been hit on the head again with life’s big karma stick.我哑口无言。 好像脑袋上又挨了人生的一记闷棍。He went on to tell me his version of “the secrets to life” and how “true happiness can only be found by loving and serving others”.他继续跟我说起他理解的“人生奥秘”，和“真正的快乐只能从关爱和服务他人中获得'Finally he finished with, “oh, and don’t forget…you really gotta’ love the one you’re with...yourself ”.最后他说，“喚，别忘了……你必须得爱你与之相伴的那个人, 就是你自己”。Life was obviously trying to tell me something. In the days and weeks that followed, the world looked completely different to me.显然，生活会让我领悟到些什么。随后的几天和几个星期， 整个世界在我眼中完全变了模样。The more I studied and tested my “kindness creates happiness” theory, the more I was blown away by its life-changing power.我越是研究和验证我的“善生 乐”理论，我越是为它那改变人生的力量所倾倒。I realized that most of my disappointments in life were simply because I had been unkind to others and especially to myself.我发现生活中 绝大多数失望都是源于我对别人的不善，尤其是对自己的不善。After spending much of my life thinking “what’s in it for me”, my new inner mantra became; “Am I being kind?”. This one simple question changed my life. So, whenever I feel the need to disagree with my wife, lash out at a rude employee in the mall or even before I shove ten cookies into my mouth, I go within and ask; “am I being kind?”. These four little words have become my source to inner peace.花了大半辈子琢磨人生的意义，我的新灵魂咒语变成，“我 有没有为善？”这个简单的问题改变了我的生活。当我想和妻子 争论的时候，当我想对粗鲁的商店售货员训斥的时候，甚至当 我想往嘴巴里狂塞饼干的时候，我都会自问，“我有没有为善广 这几个字成为我内心平静的源泉。It has created many positive changes in me such as recycling and acting more “green” and consciously respecting all of life. I even stopped setting the mousetraps in the garage. (My wife is going to kill me when she reads that last one).它在我内心生出许多好的变 化，比如循环再利用资源，做环保人士，而且有意识地尊重一 切事物。我甚至不再在车库里安置捕鼠器（我妻子要是读到这 最后一句可能会杀了我)。Another big change in my life was the irresistible urge to perform “spontaneous acts of kindness”. Things like buying coffee for strangers and giving money to the homeless just seemed natural. Each kind act felt like a blissful surge of energy through my chest.另一个大变化是我控制不住地要去做 “自然而然的善行”。比如给陌生人买咖啡，把零钱给流浪汉等， 这样的行为做起来是那么自然。每个蕃行都好似一股幸福的能 量在我胸膛里汹涌澎湃。But what became even more exhilarating were the intense feelings of warmth towards everyone around me -- especially difficult people. Whether there was someone who acted rude in traffic or an inconsiderate person in line at the grocery store, I no longer felt anxious or offended -- I simply wished for their happiness. That’s when I realized what it truly meant to be living kindness.但最让人愉快的是对我周围每一个人 的强烈的亲切感，尤其是对那些坏脾气的人。不管是粗野无礼 的司机，还是食品店排队加塞的家伙，我不再觉得焦灼不安或 是怒不可遏，我只是希望他们能快乐。那是当我明白了人生须 行蕃的真意之后。All thanks to an unexpected turtle crossing the street, that one day.所有这一切，都要归功于那天的一只不期而至穿过马路的乌龟。

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, “Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over.” I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead.好几次了,我女儿打电话来说：“妈妈，你务必得在那些水 仙花凋谢之前来看看它们。”我是想去，可从拉古娜到箭头湖要开两个小时的车。“I will come next Tuesday,” I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.“那我下周二去吧。”在她第三次打来电话时，我极不情愿 地答应道。Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there.到了那个周二，清晨很冷又下着雨，不过既然答应了， 我还是开车去了。When I finally walked into Carolyn’s house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said,等我终于到了卡罗琳家，拥抱问候过我的外 孙们，说:“Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!”“卡罗琳，别想那水仙了！天阴又有雾，路都看不清。 这世上除了你和这些孩子，没有什么能让我为想去看他们再开一 步车了！ ”My daughter smiled calmly and said, “We drive in this all the time, mother.”女儿平静地笑着说：“妈妈，我们一直都在这种天气里开车 的呀！ ”“Well, you won’t get me back on the road until it clears, and then I’m heading for home!” I assured her.“那反正你甭想让我再开车上路了，除非天晴了，然后我就 直接开车回家！ ”我重申道。“I was hoping you’d take me over to the garage to pick up my car.”“我本来指望你能开车捎我去修车厂取我的车呢！ ”“How far will we have to drive?”“我们得开多远啊？ ”“Just a few blocks,” Carolyn said. “I’ll drive, I’m used to this.”“就几条街，”卡罗琳说，“我来开，反正我习惯了这种天气。”After several minutes, I had to ask, “Where are we going? This isn’t the way to the garage!”“We ‘re going to my garage the long way,” Carolyn smiled, “by way of the daffodils.”过了几分钟，我不得不问：“我们这是去哪儿啊？这不是去修车厂的路啊！ ”卡罗琳笑了，“我们要去的那个修车厂很远， 要经过水仙花。”“Carolyn,” I said sternly, “please turn around.”“卡罗琳，”我严厉地说，“请你掉头回去。”“It’s all right, mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.”“没事的，妈妈，我保证。如果你错过了这次经历，你永远不会原谅自己的。”After about 20 minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that read, “Daffodil Garden.”大概过了 20分钟，我们转到了一条碎石小路上，我看到一个小教堂。在教堂的稍远一侧，我看见一个手写的牌子，上面写着：“水仙花园”。We got out of the car and each took a child’s hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.我们走下车，一人领着一个孩子。我跟着卡罗琳顺小道而行， 转到小道的一角，我抬头一看，惊住了。It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.在我面前是极为壮观的 景象，看上去仿佛有人把一大缸金子倾倒下来，覆盖了峰顶和山 坡。那些花栽种成宏伟的漩涡图案——宽宽窄窄的条纹有很多颜 色，有深橘、白、柠檬黄、橙红、番红和乳黄。每种不同色系的 多种颜色种植为一组，这样看上去每组都用自己独特的色调一圈 圈地在自己的河流中流淌。那有五亩花。“But who has done this?” I asked Carolyn.“这是谁种的呢？”我问卡罗琳。Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in nidst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. “Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking” was the headline.“就一个女人，”卡罗琳回答，“她就以这片花为生。那是 她的家。”卡罗琳指着一个整修得很好的A字形房子，在一片 壮丽的景象当中，这房子看起来小而朴素。我走到房子跟前’ 在院子里，我看到一张海报，标题是“答案-我知道你要问的这些问题”。The first answer was a simple one. “50,000 bulbs,” it read.第一个答案很简单，写着：“50，000株”。The second answer was, “One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain.”第二个答案是：“一次种一株，一个女人，两只手，两只脚，不需多动脑”The third answer was, “Began in 1958.”第三个答案是：“开始于1958年”There it was. The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than 35 years before, had begun—one bulb at a time—to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top.这就是“水仙定律”。对于我，那一刻是一次改变生活的经历。我在琢磨这个我从未谋面的女人，她，在35年前，开始一次种一株——给她自己带来了美的景象和花满山顶的快乐。Just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.就这样一次种一株，年复一年，这个不知名的女人永远地 改变了她所居住的世界，她创造了无法形容的壮丽、美好和感动。The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is , learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time—often just one baby-step at a time—and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time.在这个水仙花园中得出的定律是值得庆祝的最伟大的定律 之一。那就是，懂得向我们的目标迈进，只求一步一个脚印——懂通常一次就一小步——懂得去热爱正在做的事，懂得利用时间的 积累。When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magenificent things. We can change the world.当我们把时间的碎片叠加，再加上每天的一点努力，我们 会发现我们也能成就辉煌。我们也能改变这个世界。It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"“这让我在某种意义上有点丧气。”我跟卡罗琳说，“如果我 35年前有一个宏伟的目标，然后也像这样，次种一株’地做 下去，这些年我会有什么成就呢？想想我到底能做成什么！ ”My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.女儿直截了当地总结了那天的收获。她说：“从明天开始。”

Once there lived a king of great strength and wealth.Yet he was not happy.从前有一位国王，很有权力和财富，然而他并不快乐。He told his servants to find him things to make him happy,but each came back saying他告诉仆人去找可以使他快乐的东西，但是每个回来的人都说："Noting in the world can match the wonderful things you have already."“世界上没有什么比得上你已经拥有的极好的东西。”Then in that land,there lived a poor man with a patch over one eye and a crutch to help him walk.Although he had little,he was always happy.当时那个国家住着一个穷人，他一个眼睛戴着眼罩并靠拐杖走路。虽然他拥有的很少，但是他总是很快乐。When the king heard of this,he asked the man to teach him his secret. "I never push." the man replied,"and I never rush.当国王听说这件事的时候，他要求这个人教他快乐的秘决。 “我从来不强迫，”这个人答道，“而且我从不匆忙。Most of all,I never wish for too much."Then he smiled and was gone.最重要的是，我从不希望得到太多。”然后，他笑着离开了。If you would make a man happy,do not add to his possessions but subtract from his desires.如果你想使一个人快乐，不要增加他的财产，而是要减少他的欲望。

When I was 11, I found out I had a brain tumor. I had surgery to remove it, but the size and location of the tumor caused my optic nerve to atrophy. For three years afterward, I had partial sight, but my ophthalmologist told me that eventually I would go blind.11岁那年，我被诊断患有脑瘤。手术切除了脑疱.但肿瘤 的大小和位置却导致了我的视觉神经萎缩。3年后，我还能看见 一点点东西，但眼科医生说我最终会失明。At the end of my 14th year, doctors pronounced me legally blind and said there was nothing that could be done. I had a 5 percent chance of surviving the tumor, and I did, but somehow I could never deal with the fact that I was going blind. I tried to behave as if everything were just fine. When it happened, I was devastated.快过完14岁时，医 生断言我已经完全失明，并且亳无办法治疗，当时，我患上脑 瘤后，存活的几率只有5%，结果我活了下来，但对于即将失 明的现实，我却无能为力。我努力表现得一切正常，但当它真正 成为现实时，我却绝望了。My dad left us when I was 15, and I took that really hard. Because of that, and because I was blind on top of it, my greatest fear was that no one was ever going to love me, that I would never get married and have kids and a full life. I was afraid of being alone, and I guess that is what I thought blindness meant.15岁那年，父亲离开了我们，这简直令我无法承受。正因 为如此，再加上处于失明最痛苦的时期，我最大的恐惧是没有人 再爱我，我永远都不能结婚，不能有自己的孩子和一个完整的生 话。我害怕孤独，我想，这些就是我当时对失明的理Ten years later, on Nov. 16 of last year, I was cooking dinner and leaned over to kiss my guide dog, Ami. I lost my balance and hit my head on the corner of my coffee table and then on the floor. It wasn't unusual. When you are blind, you hit yourself all the time. I got up, finished making dinner and went to bed.10年过去了，去年11月16曰，我正在做晚餐?弯腰亲吻 我的导肓犬阿米时，突然失去重心，一头捶在了咖啡桌的一角，然后又摔在地这没什么大不了的，要是你失明了，你也总会 撞伤自己。我爬起来，继续做完晚餐，然后上床睡觉。When I woke up, I could see. Light was coming through my window, and the curtains were drawn. Of course, I was shocked, but not scared, not like when I lost my sight. There is a big mirror in my bedroom, but I didn't look at myself right away. I wanted to wash my hair and put on makeup first.当我醒来时，我能看见了。阳光从拉着窗帘的窗户透进来。 当然，我大吃一惊，但并不像失明时那样恐慌。卧室里挂着一 面大镜子，我并没有立刻去照。I do not look good in the morning, and I didn't want to be frightened. As I was showering, I caught my reflection . And just that left me speechless, really.我想先洗头，化妆，早展的模 样并不好看，我不想让自己受到惊吓。洗澡的时候，我看见了 自己的影子。顿时说不出话来，真的。The last time I saw myself, I had short hair, a pale complexion and features that didn't show because I had such light eyebrows and eyelashes. I looked awful, like a teenage girl, I suppose.最后一次见到自己时，我留着短短的头发，脸色苍白，面 容黯淡。因为我的眉毛和睫毛都很淡，看起来像一个十几岁的 小女孩，糟糕极了。Now, all of a sudden, I realized that it was true what people told me, that I was an attractive woman. When I stood in front of the mirror, I reached to touch my face.但是，现在，我突然意识到，别人跟我说 的都是真的，我是一个漂亮的女人。我站在镜子前，触摸着自 己的脸。That is what I had been doing for 10 years -- it was how I understood -- so it was a natural impulse. It was not until I saw myself that I realized how much my memory had faded of things I once could see.十年来，我一直这样做一我只是这样理解的一所 以这是一种自然冲动。直到我看见自己，才意识到曾经看见的 记忆^已经在很大程度上消退了。It was about four hours before I told anyone. I stayed with Ami. We looked at each other and played outside in the yard. I just wanted to be alone, and take it in. It was so much.大约四个小时后，我才告诉 其他人。我和阿米在一起，我们注视着对方，在外面的院子里 的玩儿。我只想独自接受这一事实，它对我的意义太大了。The strange thing was that I knew it was going to happen. About a week before, I was walking Ami and suddenly saw blue dots in front of my left eye, the one I would regain my sight in.奇怪的是，我很早就知道自己会复明。大概一个星期前， 我带着阿米散步，突然看见左眼前面有蓝色的圆点。后来正是这 只眼睛复明了。I told my mum because I found it funny; blue had been my favorite color and was the easiest color for me to see when I had partial sight. I took it as a sign.我告诉了妈妈，因为很有趣的是，我一直最喜欢 蓝色，这也是我还有部分视力时最容易看到的颜色。我把它当成 了某种信号。People don't treat me differently now. I was always completely independent. I lived in Auckland, New Zealand, in my own flat with my dog. I would have parties and go clubbing. I would listen to the beat of the music and go with it and hope for the best.现在，我不再享有人们的特殊对待了，我一直独立生活， 带着小狗住在新西兰奥克兰市自己的公寓里。我以前会参加聚 会，去俱乐部玩，会听着音乐,打着节拍，祈求最佳状态。When your friends grab you and point you in the other direction because they are actually over there, that is when you remember you're blind. I also loved movies. Going to the movies blind was like someone telling you a really good story with great sound effects, and you make up all the images in your head.当我 和朋友们一起疯玩时，只有当他们抓住我的手，指着另一个方向，告诉我，其实他们在那边时，我才想起自己是个盲人。我也喜欢看电影，盲人看电影就好像在听别人给你讲一个 非常好的故事，伴着精彩的^^响效果，你可以在脑海中想象所有 的情形。I haven't been back since I regained my sight. But I've been able to see my favorite soap, ''Shortland Street.'' And my friends took out magazines and pointed out Pamela Lee Anderson and Brad Pitt. The biggest surprise was Brad Pitt. I just thought, What is everyone going on about? The best was seeing my boyfriend.自从复明后，我还没有去看过电影，却在看我最喜欢的 肥皂剧《苏特兰街》。朋友们翻弁杂志，指着帕梅拉?李?安德 森和布拉德?皮特给我看，布拉德?皮特最令我吃惊，我只是想， 他有什么值得人们反复谈论的呢？最美妙的事是见到我的男朋 友。He rode the ferry over, and I knew him the moment I saw him. He was as sexy as I had imagined. I am not surprised that things are pretty much the same in my life. I didn't expect anything more than what I have now. I worked very hard to surround myself with genuine people and to create a normal life for myself.他坐渡船过来，我一眼就认出了他，和我想象中的一样性感4 我并不感到惊奇，生活还和以前一样。现在拥有的一切已 经让我感到很满足，我并不期望更多。我努力工作，置身于这些 诚恳的人群中，为自己创造正常的生活。I am still the same person. It just means that physically, perhaps, I can share more and put the two together: the feelings I had, with sight.我还是以前的那个人， 也许复明只是意味着，’我能从身体上分享更多的东西，而且，能 把以前的感受和现在的结合起来。;The same doctor who told me I would never see again told me I had regained 80 percent of the vision in my left eye. To be able to look him in the eye and tell him I could see again -- honestly, that felt pretty damn good.曾经说我再也不能复明的那个医生，现在又告诉我，我左 眼的视力已经恢复了 80%。能够看着他，说我又能看见了。老实说，这感觉简直再好不过了。He ran all the tests and made me read the eye chart, but he has no explanation. He said himself, and still says, that once the optic nerve is damaged, it cannot regenerate.他给我做了所有的测试，让我 读视力检查表，却没有做出任何解释，他依然像以前那样，自言 自语道，视觉神经已经损坏了，不可能再生的。I don't think the knock on the head had anything to do with it. If others want to believe that is how it happened, that is fine. But I consider this a miracle. There is no other way to describe it.我并不认为这和我那天撞到头有什么关系，如果别人要这 样认为，那也没关系。但我认为这是一个奇迹，除此之外，再也 没有其他方式可以形容了。Some things just cannot be explained. Of course, some people are skeptical . For me, it is precious. I try not to think about the possibility of going blind again. But my recovery would be no less a miracle even if I lost my sight tomorrow.有些事情就是无法解释。当然，有些 人会很怀疑，但对我来说，它无比珍贵。我努力不去想可能还会 失明，就是明天再度失明，我的恢复也依然是一个奇迹。

As an airport skycap checked through a customer at curbside, he accidentally knocked over the man's luggage.一个机场行李搬运员在航站楼边帮一个旅客搬行李时无意 中撞翻了这个人的箱包。He quickly collected the fallen bags and apologized for the mishap. Unappeased, the traveler burst into an angry tirade, raging and swearing at the skycap for his clumsiness.他赶快收拾起掉落的行李，并且为他的 过失道歉。然而那个旅客一点不领情，他大发脾气，言辞激烈， 粗暴地骂那个行李员笨拙。Throughout the traveler's rant, the baggage handler simply apologized and smiled. The angry man continued to berate the skycap, until he finally headed off to catch his plane.叫骂过程中，那个行李员始终都是微 笑道歉。那个暴怒的旅客一直不停地训斥那个行李员，直到最后 他去赶飞机。Even then the baggage handler remained calm and passively smiled.即使这样，那个行李员依然保持着平静和微笑。The next customer in line witnessed the incident and marveled at the skycap's professionalism and control.排队等候的另一位顾客目睹了整个事件，对行李员的职业 水准和控制力赞叹不已。"I have never seen such restraint and humility," he said. "How do you keep your cool when somebody is attacking you so viciously?"“我从没见过如此的克制与谦卑。”他说， “当别人这么恶毒的攻击你时，你是怎么保持冷静的？”"It's easy," the skycap answered. "He's going to Denver, but his bags are going to Detroit."“很简单。”行李员答道：“他要去丹佛，但是他的行李会 去底特律。”That is certainly ONE way of managing attitudes, but here is a more constructive approach. Have you heard of the A-B-C method of managing your attitude? It's simple and effective.这当然是一种处事的态度，但我们还有更富建设性的方法。你听说过一个叫“A-B-C”的处事方法吗？这是个简单而 有效的方法。"A" stands for the "Activating Event." Let's say you get stuck in traffic. The traffic jam is the activating event.“A”表示“引发亊件”。比如说你遇到交通堵塞，塞车就是 那个引发事件。"B" stands for your "Belief System." You believe that traffic is only getting worse and you'll have more and more days like this ahead.“B”表示你的“信念系统”。你相信交通会越来越糟，以后 像这样的日子会越来越多，"C" stands for the "Consequence of the Event." You become angry. You want to honk your horn. Your stomach is tied in knots and you bang the dashboard with your fist.“C”代表“事件结果”。你开始生气，你想要鸣汽车喇叭, 你的胃扭成了一团，你用拳头使劲砸仪表盘。The problem is...most people jump directly from "A" to "C." They get stuck in traffic and become angry. They think the traffic jam made them upset. They don't realize that they didn't HAVE to get angry. They skipped an important step!问题是……很多人会从“A”直接跳到“C”。他们遇到塞车 就暴怒，他们认为塞车让他们难受，他们认识不到他们根本没必 要愤怒，他们漏掉了最重要的一步。Let's try it again:我们来再试一追："A" - you get stuck in traffic.“A” 一你遇到塞车。"B" - you believe that you were given some unexpected and extra time to spend in solitude, to listen to a great tape or to plan your day.“B” 一一你认为你得到了意外的或额外的时间可以一个人^ 待会儿，听听动听的音乐，或者计划一下一天的时间，"C" - the consequence is that you feel gratitude for the gift of time.“C”——结果就是你会感激这份时间的礼物。I have a friend who is fond of saying, "A traffic jam has no power to make us angry. It just stops our car." He is aware that between the activating event and the consequence is something that we control: our beliefs about what is happening.我有个朋友总喜欢说：“塞车本身没有让我们发怒的鹰力， 它只是让车子停下来而已。”他知道在引发事件和结果之间的东 西是我们所能控制的，即对于正在发生的事情的看法。The next time you have a problem -- at home or at work, big or small -- decide to manage your attitude toward it. Practice the A-B-C method.下次你遇到问题——无论在家里还是在单位，也无论大 小——先决定你对这件事要采取什么态度。You probably can't change "A," the activating event. But try changing "B," your beliefs about the problem. When you change your beliefs, you also change "C," the consequences of the situation.试试这个“A-B-C” 法，也许你改变不了 “A”，那个引发事件，但是试着把握“B”， 你对这个问题的信念。当你改变了信念，你也就改变了 “C”， 亊情的结果。It's as simple as A-B-C. Manage your beliefs, and you'll manage to be a lot happier!像A-B-C—样简单，掌握了你的信念，你就能获得更多的 快乐！

The railroad station was jammed. Students from Lafayette College were crowding onto the train platform eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Carlisle Indian School's track and field squad.火车站挤得水泄不通。拉斐德学院的学生们一齐拥上站台，热切地等待着卡莱尔印地安人学校田径队的到来。NO one would have believed it a few months earlier.倘若在几个月前，准没有人相信，A school that nobody had heard of was suddenly beating big， famous colleges in track meets.一个谁也没听说过的学校，会在田径场上突然大败许多有名的大学。Surely these Carlisle athletes would come charging off the train， one after another，like a Marine battalion .不用说。这些卡莱尔的运动员抵达后，准会象一营海军陆战队队员那样，一个接一个冲下火车。The train finally arrived and two young men——one big and broad，the other small and slight——stepped onto the platform.火车终于到站了，两个年轻人——一位，个儿高，体态魁梧；另一位，个儿矮，长相瘦弱——踏上了站台。“Where is the track team？” a Lafayette student asked.“This is the team，” replied the big fellow.“田径队在哪儿？”一位拉斐德的学生问道。“就在这儿，”大个子回答道。“Just the two of you？”“Nope， just me，”said the big fellow.“This little guy is the manager.”“就你们两个？”“不，就我一个，”大个子说。“这位小兄弟是领队。”The Lafayette students shook their heads in wonder.拉斐德的学生们诧异地摇摇头。Somebody must be playing a joke on them.一定有人在和他们开玩笑。If this big fellow was the whole Carlisle track team， he would be competing against an entire Lafayette squad.如果卡莱尔田径队就只有大个子一人，那他就得和整个拉斐德田径队比试高低了。He did. He ran sprints， he ran hurdles， he ran distant races.He high-jumped， he broad-jumped.He threw the javelin and the shot.确实如此。他短跑、跨栏、长跑、跳高、跳远。他又投标枪又掷铅球。Finishing first in eight events， the big fellow beat the whole Lafayette team. The big fellow was Jim Thorpe， the greatest American athlete of modern times.大个子赢得八项第一，一个人击败了整个拉斐德田径队。这位大个子就是美国现代最伟大的运动员吉姆索普。

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。A man and his girlfriend were married. It was a large celebration.一个男人和他的女朋友结婚，举行了一场盛大的结婚庆典。All of their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony and to partake of the festivities and celebrations. All had a wonderful time.所有的朋友和家人都来到结婚典礼上参加欢宴和庆祝活动。大家都过得很开心。The bride was gorgeous in her white wedding gown and the groom was very dashing in his blacktuxedo. Everyone could tell that the love they had for each other was true.穿着白色婚纱的新娘漂亮迷人，穿着黑色礼服的新郎英俊潇洒。每个人都能看出他们彼此的爱是真诚的。A few months later, the wife came to the husband with a proposal,¨I read in a magazine,a while ago, about how we can strengthen our marriage," she offered. "Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix them together and make our lives happier together."凡个月后，妻子走近丈夫提议说：“我刚才在杂志上看到一篇文章，说的是怎样巩固婚姻。”她说：“我们两个人都各自把对方的小毛病列在一张纸上，然后我们商量一下怎样解决，以便使我们的生活更幸福。”The husband agreed. So each of them went to a separate room in the house and thought of the things that annoyed them about the other. They thought about this question for the rest of the day and wrote down what they came up with.丈夫同意了。于是化们各自走向不同的房间去想对方的缺点。那一天余下的时间里，他们都在思考这个问题，并且把他们想到的都写下来。The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would go over their lists.第二天早上，吃早饭的时候，他们决定谈谈彼此的缺点。I'II start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many items on it,enough to fill 3 pages. In fact, as she started reading the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were starting to appear in her husband's eyes.“我先开始吧。”妻子说。她拿出她的单子，上面列举了很多条，事实上，足足写满了三页。当她开始念的时候，她注意到丈夫眼里含着泪花。”What's wrong?" she asked. "Nothing," the husband replied, "keep reading your list."“怎么啦？”她问。“没什么，“丈夫答道，“继续念吧。”The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her husband. She neatly placed her list on the table and folded her hands over the top ofit.妻子又接着念。整整三页都念完之后她把单子整齐地放在桌上，两手交叉放在上面。Now, you read your list and then we'II talk about the things on both of our lists," she said happily.“现在该你念了，然后我们谈谈所列举的缺点。”她高兴地说。Quietly the husband stated,¨I don't have anything on my list.I think that you are perfect the way that you are.I don't want you to change anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and l wouldn't want to try and change anything about you."丈夫平静地说：“我什么也没骂，我觉得像你这样就很完美了，我不想让你为我改变什么。你很可爱迷人，我不想让你改变。”The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth of his love for her and his acceptance of her,tumed her head and wept.妻子被丈夫的诚实和对她深深的爱和接纳感动了，她转过头去哭起来。In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don't reallyhave to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise.生命中我们有很多的失望、沮丧和烦恼，我们根本不需要寻找。我们美妙的世界充满了美丽、光明、希望。Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can lookaround us, and see the wondrous things before us?但是，当我们放眼四周时，为什么浪费时间寻找不快、失望和烦恼，而看不到我们面前的美好事物呢？

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。Two friends and I moved into a house off campus when I was a junior at Iowa State University.在爱荷华州大学读大三时，我和两个朋友从宿舍搬出来，租了一间房子。We were all a bit afraid of our landlord, a gruff middle aged man who was "all business" when we signed the lease.房东是一个粗鲁的中年人，我们都有点怕他。He gave us a lecture about paying the rent on time and maintaining the house and appliances. We weren't really supposed to, but during the fall semester, my housemates and I threw a party.他交代我们要及时交房租，好好爱护房子和电器。下半学期，我和室友举办了一个聚会。We sent invitations to many friends and told everyone that we knew to come to our house on Friday night. We drew a large crowd and everyone had a great time. The last guests left in the wee hours of the morning.我们邀请许多朋友，让他们星期五晚上都到家里来玩。我们一大群人玩得很尽兴，最后一个客人在天快要亮时才离开。Exhausted, we decided to sleep in and clean the house and yard the next morning. Well, you guessed it!玩得筋疲力尽的我们决定先睡觉，第二天早上起来再清扫房子。噢，你猜怎么着。We were awakened about 7:00 a.m. by our landlord, who was knocking on the door. Sheepishly, we let him in, expecting to incur his wrath. Instead, he picked up a party invitation that had been laying on the sidewalk and asked, "Why didn't you girls invite me?"早上七点时，房东的敲门声把我们吵醒，我们不好意思地让他进来，料想会遭他怒骂。谁知，他捡起道边的一张宴会请柬，问道：“你们这些女孩子怎么不邀请我呢?”He came into the house, made a minor repair, and spent a few minutes helping us pick up trash from the yard. We weren't quite sure what to make of our unexpected luck, but we were thrilled that our landlord had been so understanding.他走进屋子，简单清理了一下，又帮我们把院子里的垃圾清扫了。我们也不知道怎么这么走运，兴奋地发现我们的房东竟如此通情达理。A few months later, I made a mathematical error while balancing my checkbook and my bank soon notified me that I had bounced a check. I was mortified when I discovered that it was my rent check and that I had to notify my landlord.数月后，由于计算失误，账户上没有余额了。银行很快给我发了退票。我羞愧地发现那是我给房东的月租支票，而我又不得不告诉房东.I figured that he viewed my housemates and I as irresponsible after the party incident and this would prove him right. I was certain that he would evict me. Somehow, I mustered the courage to call him and explained what had happened.He said, "I have a daughter about your age, and the same thing happened to her once. Would you like to wait until next month and send a double payment then?" I've never forgotten our landlord's kindness and understanding.那次聚会后，我想他一定以为我的室友们都是不负责任的人，现在更证实了他的看法。他一定会把我们赶出去的。可不知为什么，当我鼓起勇气给他打电话解释时，他说：“我有一个女儿，跟你们差不多大，她曾经也干过同样的事。你不想等级到下个月给我双份月租吗?”我永远都忘不了房东的善心和通情达理。He also taught me an important lesson about not judging a book by its cover. I'm proud to say that I have not bounced a check since (though I have thrown a few more parties)!他教给我一个重要的人生道理：不要以书皮来判断书的好坏(切勿以貌取人)。我自豪地说，从那以后银行再也没给我发过退票(尽管我又举办过几次聚会)。

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her ,She did not know she was going to make it and wantde to give up.女儿向父亲抱怨她的生活，她觉得凡事都很艰难，不知该怎样面对，想放弃。She was tired of fighting and struggling .It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.她厌倦了不断的抗争和奋斗，好像一个问题刚解决，另一个有出现了。Her father ,a cook ,took her to the kitchen ,He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high frie .Soon the pots came to a boil.她的父亲是名厨师，他把她带进了厨房，在三个壶里分别装了水，然后放到火上烧。很快， 壶里的水开了。In one he placed carrots,in the second he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans.He ler them sit and boil, without saying a word.他一句话也没说，往第一个壶里放了些胡萝卜，往第二个壶里放了鸡蛋，在最后一个里放了些磨碎的咖啡豆，让他们煮沸。The daughter sucked her teech and impatiently waited ,wondering what he was doing.In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners, He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.女儿撅着嘴，不耐烦得等着，对父亲的行为感到很纳闷。大约二十分钟后，父亲关了火炉， 把胡萝卜倒进一个碗里。He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl.Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a mug.Turning to her he asked,"Darling,what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs ,and coffee."she repled.又把鸡蛋拿出来放进另一个碗里，接着把咖啡倒进一个杯子里，然 后转过头来，对她说，“亲爱的，你看见了什么？” “胡萝卜、鸡蛋和咖啡。”她答道。He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots ,She did and noted that they were soft .父亲让她去摸胡萝卜，她觉得它们变柔软了。He then asked her to take an egg and break it,After pulling off the shell ,she obsered the hard-boiled egg.然后，他又让她去把鸡蛋敲破、把壳剥掉后，她看到了一个熟鸡蛋。Finally,he asked her to sip the coffee .She smiled ,as she tasted its rich aroma. "What does it mean ,Father?"she humly asked .最后，父亲要她喝咖啡。铲倒芳香四溢的咖啡，她笑了。 “这是什么意思，父亲/?"她谦恭的问道。He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water ,but each reacted differently,The carrot went in strong, hard ,and unrelenting ,But after being subjected to the boiling water ,it softened and weak.父亲解释说，这三洋东西面临着同样的逆境-----煮沸的水。但它们的反映却各不相同。胡萝 卜本是强硬，坚固而不甘示弱的，但受到开水的影响后，它变得柔软而脆弱。The egg had being fragile, Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior.But after sitting through the boiling water ,its inside became hard ened ,The ground coffee beans were unique ,however ,After they were in the boiling water ,they had changed the water . "Which are you?"he asked his daughter. When adversity knocks on your door ,how do you respond?Are you a carrot ,an egg ,or a coffee bean?鸡蛋本来易碎， 薄薄的外壳保护着内部的液体。但是开水煮过以后，它的内部却变得坚硬。不过，最独特的 却是磨碎的咖啡豆，经过沸腾的水后，它们却改变了水。“哪一个是你呢？”他问女儿。当不幸降临到你头上时，你该如何应对呢？你是胡萝卜、鸡蛋，还是咖啡豆？

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。The difference a teacher can make老师的魅力-Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade.史蒂夫已经12岁了，他的父母都是酒鬼，他就要彻底脱离自己的学校生活了。然而很明显，他能够阅读，但他总不及格。从一年级开始，一年一年过去了，他依然不及格。Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.史蒂夫长得很健壮，看上去比12岁的孩子要大。但他一直都被人忽略，直到有一天怀特小姐的到来。Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love!怀特小姐总是笑容可掬，年轻，而且有一头迷人的红头发。她是史蒂夫喜欢的类型。For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White.这是他平生第一次，无法把眼睛从老师身上移开，然而，他还是不及格。他没有做作业，他总是找怀特小姐的茬。His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study.每次她说出尖刻的话时，他都感到自己的心已经碎了。每次完不成作业被罚的时候，他都感到非常痛苦。但他依然不学习。In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills.在第一学期的期中，整个七年级要进行基础技能测验。Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on.史蒂夫匆匆完成了自己的测验，并继续一天天地幻想其他的事情。His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home.他的心并不在学校，而在他经常独自躲藏的树林，在那里，他试图摆脱酒鬼之家的声响和气味。没有人关心他到底安不安全。No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.也没有人知道他已经走了，因为所有的人都兴奋地没有精力顾及其他。不过奇怪地是，史蒂夫从没有旷过一次课。One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.一天，怀特小姐急躁的声音打破了他的白日梦。"Steve!!" Startled, he turned to look at her.“史蒂夫！”他感到很吃惊，转过头去看着她。"Pay attention!"“注意力要集中！”Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.她宣布七年级测验结果的时候，史蒂夫用那种青春期特有的崇敬盯着怀特小姐。“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.她对全班说：“你们都考得很好。除了一个男生。告诉你们这个真让我感到伤心。但是……”她停顿了一下，眼光转向史蒂夫的座位，用犀利的目光在他的脸上搜寻着什么。"...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!"“我们七年级最聪明的孩子，我的科目竟然不及格！”She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.她盯着史蒂夫，全班同学都转过头来看着他。史蒂夫低下头，盯着自己的指尖。“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.“就试一下！一个星期也可以啊！”而他依然无动于衷。“You're smart enough! You'll see a change!” Nothing fazed him.“你非常聪明！你会有很大的变化！”任何话语都无法打动他。“Give yourself a chance! Don't give up on your life!” Nothing.“给自己一个机会！不要放弃自己的生活。”依然无动于衷。“Steve! Please! I care about you!”“史蒂夫，求求你。我很关心你！”Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM??!!哦！突然，史蒂夫好像明白了！有人关心他？有人竟然不可思议地关心他？Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around.那天下午，史蒂夫满怀思绪地回了家。走进屋子之后，他环顾了一下四周。Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench was overpowering!He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods.发现父母裸露着身子已经睡了。屋子里的恶臭让人无法忍受。他迅速找齐自己的露营装备，一瓶花生酱，一块面包，一瓶水，而且这次他还带上了自己的课本。脸上带着严肃和决心，他又去了树林。The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom.接下来的周一早上，他准时到了学校，等着怀特小姐走进教室。She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.她神采飞扬地走进来了，脸上带着微笑。天哪！她真是太漂亮了！他希望她能对他微笑，但是没有。Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework.怀特小姐立刻决定对周末的家庭作业进行测验。Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper.史蒂夫很快完成了测验，并且第一个交上了答卷。怀特小姐满脸惊奇地收下了他的卷子。Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest.很明显，她是满怀疑惑的批阅试卷。史蒂夫回到自己的座位，心怦怦直跳。As he sat down, he couldn't resist another look at the lovely woman.坐下之后，他禁不住再次看了一眼这位美丽的女士。Miss White's face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile.怀特小姐的脸上充满了惊奇。她瞟了一眼史蒂夫，然后又低下头去，但又再次抬起头来。The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!突然她的脸上绽放出了笑容。七年级最聪明的男孩终于第一次通过了测验。From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed.从那一刻起，史蒂夫如同换了一个人。虽然家里的生活依旧，但他的生活确实发生了变化。He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life.他发现自己不仅能够学习，而且能够学得很好！他发现，自己能够理解并牢牢记住知识，并能将学到的知识运用到自己的生活中。史蒂夫开始变得非常优秀。Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life.而且在他的整个学生生涯中，他一直非常优秀。After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career.高中毕业之后，史蒂夫应征加入了海军，并且在军队中也非常成功。During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves.那段时间，他认识了自己生命中的最爱，有了自己的家庭，并从Magna Cum Laude大学毕业。在他的海军生涯中，他激励了很多年轻人。Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor in a nearby college如果没有他，这些人可能无法认识到自己的价值。从海军退伍之后，史蒂夫开始了第二职业，他在附近的一所大学担任副教授，并继续启迪他人。Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know, because I am the love of his life.怀特小姐留下了宝贵的财产。她挽救了一个改变许多其他生命的男孩。我了解这些，因为我就是他生命中的最爱。You see, it's simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.看到了吗？其实就是这么简单。仅仅由于一个老师的关心，一个男孩的内心发生了巨大的变化!

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。Balzac once said artistic creation was “an exhausting strug-gle”．巴尔扎克说过，艺术创造是“一场累人的斗争”。He believed that only by tenacious work and fearing notafraid of difficulties could you show your talent．他认为，只有顽强地工作，不怕困难，才能把自己的才华表现出来。It was just likethe soldiers charging the fortress，not relaxing your effort foreven a moment．这就好象向堡垒冲击的战士，一刻也不能松劲。Once Balzac wrote for hours on end， he was so tired that hecould not hold out any longer．有一次，巴尔扎克一连写了好几个小时，累得实在支持不住了，He ran to a friend's home andplunged headlong on the sofa．He wanted to sleep，but he told hisfriend he must be woken up within an hour．跑到一个朋友家里，一头倒在沙发上。他想睡一觉，但他告诉朋友，一定要在一小时之内叫醒他。His friend，seeinghim so tired，did not wake him up on time．After he woke up，Balzac got very angry at his friend．Fortunately his friend had anintimate understanding of him and did not quarrel with him．他的朋友见他非常疲劳，就没有按时叫醒他。他醒来后，对朋友大发脾气。幸好他的朋友很了解他，没有和他争吵。Balzac did not smoke cigarettes，nor did he drink any alco－hol．巴尔扎克既不抽烟，也不喝酒。But he got one habit：while he was writing he always drankvery strong coffee that could almost anaesthetize his stomach．但他有个习惯：当他写作的时候，总是呷着几乎可以使胃麻痹的浓咖啡。Hedidn't add milk，nor did he add sugar in his coffee．It would notsatisfy him until it was made bitter．他的咖啡里既不加牛奶，也不加糖，要熬得发苦才满意。People generally did not liketo drink such bitter coffee．That had strange stimulus effect tohim，and could help him drive the sleepiness away，according to himself．象这样苦的咖啡，一般人都不愿意喝。据他自己说，这样对他有奇异的刺激作用，可以驱走睡魔。

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。a glass of milk一杯牛奶的温暖One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.一天，一个贫穷的小男孩为了攒够学费正挨家挨户地推销商品。饥寒交迫的他摸遍全身，却只有一角钱。于是他决定向下一户人家讨口饭吃。However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"然而，当一位美丽的年轻女子打开房门的时候，这个小男孩却有点不知所措了。他没有要饭，只乞求给他一口水喝。这位女子看到他饥饿的样子，就倒了一大杯牛奶给他。男孩慢慢地喝完牛奶，问道：“我应该付多少钱？”"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but it also increased his faith in God and the human race. He was about to give up and quit before this point.年轻女子微笑着回答：“一分钱也不用付。我妈妈教导我，施以爱心，不图回报。”男孩说：“那么，就请接受我由衷的感谢吧！”说完，霍华德·凯利就离开了这户人家。此时的他不仅自己浑身是劲儿，而且更加相信上帝和整个人类。本来，他都打算放弃了。Years later the young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where specialists can be called in to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly, now famous was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose and went down through the hospital hall into her room.数年之后，那位女子得了一种罕见的重病，当地医生对此束手无策。最后，她被转到大城市医治，由专家会诊治疗。大名鼎鼎的霍华德·凯利医生也参加了医疗方案的制定。当他听到病人来自的那个城镇的名字时，一个奇怪的念头霎时间闪过他的脑际。他马上起身直奔她的病房。Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room and determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to her case.身穿手术服的凯利医生来到病房，一眼就认出了恩人。回到会诊室后，他决心一定要竭尽所能来治好她的病。从那天起，他就特别关照这个对自己有恩的病人。After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was afraid to open it because she was positive that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words...经过艰苦的努力，手术成功了。凯利医生要求把医药费通知单送到他那里，他看了一下，便在通知单的旁边签了字。当医药费通知单送到她的病房时，她不敢看。因为她确信，治病的费用将会花费她整个余生来偿还。最后，她还是鼓起勇气，翻开了医药费通知单，旁边的那行小字引起了她的注意，她不禁轻声读了出来："Paid in full with a glass of milk."（Signed） Dr. Howard Kelly“医药费已付：一杯牛奶。” （签名）霍华德·凯利医生Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently: "Thank You, God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands."喜悦的泪水溢出了她的眼睛，她默默地祈祷着：“谢谢你，上帝，你的爱已通过人类的心灵和双手传播了。”

关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。My life was saved by a smile一个微笑挽救了一条生命I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous.一想到自己明天就没命了，不禁陷入极端的惶恐。I fumbled in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes, which had escaped their search. I found one and because of my shaking hands, I could barely get it to my lips.我翻遍了口袋，终于找到一支没被他们搜走的香烟，但我的手紧张得不停发抖，连将烟送进嘴里都成问题。But I had no matches, they had taken those. "I looked through the bars at my jailer. He did not make eye contact with me.而我的火柴也在搜身时被拿走了。 “我透过铁栏望着外面的警卫，他并没有注意到我在看他。I called out to him 'Have you got a light?' He looked at me, shrugged and came over to light my cigarette. "我叫了他一声：‘能跟你借个火吗？’他转头望着我，耸了耸肩。As he came close and lit the match, his eyes inadvertently locked with mine.然后走了过来，点燃我的香烟。At that moment, I smiled. I don't know why I did that. Perhaps it was nervousness, perhaps it was because, when you get very close, one to another, it is very hard not to smile.当他帮我点火时，他的眼光无意中与我的相接触，这时我突然冲着他微笑。我不知道自己为何有这般反应，也许是过于紧张，或者是当你如此靠近另一个人，你很难不对他微笑。In any case, I smiled. In that instant, it was as though a spark jumped across the gap between our two hearts, our two human souls.不管是何理由，我对他笑了。就在这一刹那，这抹微笑如同火花般，打破了我们心灵间的隔阂。I know he didn't want to, but my smile leaped through the bars and generated a smile on his lips, too. He lit my cigarette but stayed near, looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing to smile.受到了我的感染，他的嘴角不自觉地也现出了笑容，虽然我知道他原无此意。他点完火后并没立刻离开，两眼盯着我瞧，脸上仍带着微笑。"I kept smiling at him, now aware of him as a person and not just a jailer. And his looking at me seemed to have a new dimension too. 'Do you have kids?' he asked. " 'Yes, here, here.'我也以笑容回应，仿佛他是个朋友，而不是个守着我的警卫。他看着我的眼神也少了当初的那股凶气，“你有小孩吗？”他开口问道。“有，你看。”I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family.我拿出了皮夹，手忙脚乱地翻出了我的全家福照片。He, too, took out the pictures of his family and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them.他也掏出了照片，并且开始讲述他对家人的期望与计划。My eyes filled with tears. I said that I feared that I'd never see my family again, never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his eyes, too. "这时我眼中充满了泪水，我说我害怕再也见不到家人。我害怕没机会看着孩子长大。他听了也流下两行眼泪。Suddenly, without another word, he unlocked my cell and silently led me out. Out of the jail, quietly and by back routes, out of the town.突然间，他二话不说地打开了牢门，悄悄地带我从后面的小路逃离了监狱。There, at the edge of town, he released me. And without another word, he turned back toward the town.出了小镇，就在小镇的边上，他放了我，之后便转身往回走，不曾留下一句话。"My life was saved by a smile." Yes, the smile―the unaffected, unplanned, natural connection between people..一个微笑居然能救自己一条命。是的，微笑是人与人之间最自然真挚的沟通方式。I really believe that if that part of you and that part of me could recognize each other, we wouldn't be enemies. We couldn't have hate or envy or fear.如果我们能用心灵去认识彼此，世间不会有结怨成仇的憾事；恨意、妒嫉、恐惧也会不复存在。

Today we are reading a story about two sisters . Their name were Sundy and Candy .今天我们来读一个关于两姊妹的故事。两姊妹的名字叫珊蒂与坎蒂。They were very lonely . When their mother died , Sundy was only junior high student and Candy was an elementary school student .她们非常寂寞。当她们的母亲去世时，珊蒂还只个是中学生，而坎蒂只是一个小学生。Their father was a gambler . He gambled nights and days . And finally ended up in high debt .她们的父亲是一个赌徒，从早到晚只知道赌博，最后落得债台高筑。So to avoid repaying the money , he ran away and left the two sisters behind .为了逃避赌债，他丢下两姊妹跑掉了。At that time their mother had being died for five years . After their father walked down them. The two sisters could only stay at friend's house because their own house was giving away to repay their father's debt .那时母亲也已经去世五年了。父亲遗弃她们后，两姐妹只能住在朋友家，因为她们自家的房子已经拿去抵债了。But the two sisters never feared hardship and did not lose hope for a better life .但两姐妹不害怕艰辛，仍然对未来抱持着美好的希望。They lived their life happily and actively . The two sisters were both wery hard working , after school Sundy the elder sister did every thing she could to support the family .开朗快乐地过着每一天,两姊妹都非常勤奋。珊蒂利用课余时间打工赚钱养家。She sold newspapers and sometimes worked as a tutor to earn extra money . And Candy the younger sister prepared meals and did all the trifles at home . Though the younger sister was small , she could manage money very well .她送报纸，有时做家教赚钱。妹妹坎蒂在家负责做饭、打扫等一切家事，她年纪虽小，却能掌管好金钱。The two sisters cared for each other and their school grades were excellent .两姐妹互相关心，两人在学校的成绩都很突出。Now the two sisters are still in poverty , but their stories have touched a lot of people .如今，她们依然贫困。但她们的故事感动了许多人，大家纷纷从各方面帮助她们。And they help the two sisters in any way they can . The landlord , the by house keeper, the shop owners ,their school mates and teachers and some neighborhood are all looking after them .住在同一社区的房东、管澡堂的婆婆、商店老板，以及她们的同学和老师，都照顾着她们。Poor as they are , they say : they are the happiest persons in the world because they can be with each other every day .虽然生活贫困艰辛，但对她们两人来说，每天都能在一起就是最大的幸福。关注公众号与新浪微博“双语文摘”，参与更多英语学习。

Love Needs No Words"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window.“我能看看我的孩子吗？”刚刚做了母亲的女人高兴地问。当襁褓被放到她怀里，她拿开挡着孩子小脸的布时，她倒吸了一口凉气。医生快速地转过身去，向外望去。The baby had been without ears. Time proved that the baby's hearing was prefect. It was only his appearance that the marred.孩子天生没有耳朵。事实证明他的听力完全没有问题。只是容貌有缺陷。When he rushed home form school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms. She sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks. He blurted out the tragedy, "A boy, a big boy … called me a freak."一天，他从学校飞奔回家，投入妈妈的怀抱。她叹息着，知道他的一生将有一连串的伤心。他说出了那件让人心碎的事情：“一个男孩，大个子男孩，叫我怪物。”He grew up, handsome but for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music.他长大了，尽管有那个悲惨命运，他还是长得很英俊。他人缘很好，如果不是因为那个残疾，他本可以做班长的，他在文学和音乐方面很有天赋。The boy's father had a session with the family physician,"Could you nothing be done?"男孩的爸爸去问家庭医生：“难道真的一点办法也没有吗？”"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be gotten." The doctor declared. They searched for a person who could make such a great sacrifice for the young man.“办法是有的。如果能找到一双合适的外耳，我可以帮他植入。”医生说。他们开始寻找看有谁愿意为年轻人做出这样的牺牲。Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But the identity of the donor is a secret."两年过去了。一天，父亲告诉儿子:“孩子，你终于可以做手术了。妈妈和我找到愿意为你捐耳朵的人了。但是，捐献者要求身份保密。”The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius. School and college became a series of triumphs. He married and enter the diplomatic service.手术非常成功，他脱胎换骨。他的才华宛如鲜花怒放般得到了释放。学业也取得了一连串的成功。后来，他结了婚，并做了外资官。He would ask his father："Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her."他问父亲：“是谁给了我耳朵？是谁如此地慷慨？我永远报答不尽。”"I do not believe you could." Said the father,"but the agreement was that you are not to know… not yet."“我不认为你有那个能力去报答，”爸爸说，“我们当初协议中规定你不能知道是谁，至少现在还不能。”The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth his hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal that the mother had no outer ears.父亲的守口如瓶使这个秘密保持了许多年，但是，这一天终于还是来了。他和爸爸站在妈妈的棺木前。慢慢地，轻柔地，爸爸伸出手撩起了妈妈那浓密的红色的头发，显露在孩子面前的竟是：妈妈没有耳朵！"Mother said she was glad she never got her hair cut," his father whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?"“妈妈说她很庆幸自己从来不用去理发，” 爸爸低声说道，“但没人会认为你母亲因此而减少了一丝一毫的美丽，不是吗?”

Kobe Bryant's growing road小乔丹科比·布莱恩的成长之路Kobe Bryant first started turning heads on the basketball court when he was in middle school.科比·布莱恩第一次关注篮球是他在上中学的时侯。His talents dominated the game so much that high schools from all over the Philadelphia area watched him grow up.他在篮球方面很有天赋，费城的各所中学都密切关注他的成长。The almost six-foot tall seventh grader definitely had the make-up and genes for the game, as his dad was former NBA forward, Joe Bryant.这个六英尺高的七年级学生的确有打篮球的基因，因为他的爸爸是前NBA前锋乔·布莱恩。Kobe developed his basketball skills under the watchful eye of his father, helping his mission to become a professional basketball player.科比在他父亲的关注下发展自己的篮球天赋，父亲帮助他成为了一个职业篮球运动员。He worked daily on his game, watching video, playing in the playgrounds and listening to his father.他每天都练习篮球，看录像带，在操场上练习，听爸爸的建议。When he entered high school at Lower Marion in Philadelphia, Kobe was a highly touted recruit.当科比进入费城的劳尔梅里恩高中时，他已经是一个接受了很好训练的新人。He proved that he had the skills and work ethic to be a star at the next level and the scouts noticed this.他证明自己有成为下一届球星的技术和职业道德，并且球探也发现了这一点。Kobe didn't let anybody down either, as he played on the varsity basketball team his freshman year.科比没有让任何人失望，他在高中的第一年就加入了校队。He wouldn't immediately be a superstar, though. Rather it was the countless hours of early morning workouts by himself in the gymnasium that escalated Kobe's talents.尽管他不能一下子成为超级球星。无数个清晨在体育馆的训练使他的才华得到了进一步的提升。Kobe became a better player every year he played at Lower Marion and soon enough, he had developed into one of the premier talents at the high school level.科比在中学时就成为一名出色的球员了。不久，他又挖掘自己的潜力，使自己的水平又得到了提升。He sold out the games everywhere he played during his junior and senior years and he didn't disappoint anyone.他在高中三年级和四年级期间每场比赛都备受关注并且没有让任何人失望。He once packed the school gym so much that it caused a traffic jam on the main highway just outside the school.他曾经使学校体育馆挤满了人，这造成了学校外面主要高速公路的交通堵塞。He went on to finish his high school career as the all-time leading point scorer in Pennsylvania history with a total of 2, 883 points.他继续完成他的高中学业，而此时他已经是宾夕法尼亚历史上创纪录的球员了，他的总分为2883分。Kobe's highly decorated high school career made him the 13th overall choice by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft.科比充满荣誉的高中生涯使他在1996年的NBA选秀中被夏洛特黄蜂队选中。