英文優(yōu)美小散文：樓梯上的陌生人
A brief act of kindness brings an unexpected insight.
I was shopping at a department store and had just boarded the down escalator when I noticed a woman standing to the side. She looked about 65, and her expression told me she was scared.
I turned toward her and asked, " Do you need help?"
As the escalator continued moving I heard the woman reply softly, " I’m afraid." There was a hint of incredulity in her voice.
" Want me to come back and get you?" I called to her. She nodded. But by the time I reached her, the woman had reconsidered. " I don’t think I can do it," she said.
I was suddenly aware that I had made a far greater investment than I expected." I know we can do it," I said. " I can hold on to you." She looked down at the beast.
Then her eyes came back to mine, looking doubtful. " This has never happened to me before," she said, as much to herself as to me. I felt that her sudden fear had to do with the escalator’s mechanical nature, its basic inhuman untrustworthiness.
I took her arm. " Shall we?" She made a little sound of alarm as we stepped on, but we’d passed the point of no return. She relaxed slightly as the stairs moved us downward." I don’t understand this at all," she said. As we neared the bottom, her grip tightened again, but we did fine." I’m so grateful..." she began." It was nothing," I said. " I was happy to do it."
Happy, yes. I do very little to help others. I am busy caring for a family and working full time. For a brief moment, I had a flash of insight into why someone would become a nurse or a social worker or a minister. When I helped the woman, I felt pure and whole, purposeful. It was a happier moment than I’d had in weeks.
一次簡(jiǎn)單的善意幫助卻帶來(lái)了出乎意料的領(lǐng)悟。
我到一家百貨商店買(mǎi)東西，就在我踏上自動(dòng)扶梯剛要下樓時(shí)，突然注意到扶梯邊站著一位婦女。她看上去差不多有65歲，從她臉上的表情可以看出她很害怕。
于是我轉(zhuǎn)向她問(wèn)道：“需要幫忙嗎?”自動(dòng)扶梯載著我向下移動(dòng)著，我只聽(tīng)到她用低低的聲音回答："我很怕。"聲音中流露出一絲遲疑。
“要我回來(lái)幫你嗎?”我沖著她叫道，她點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)頭。我又回到了樓上，可老人卻改變了主意。“我不行。”她說(shuō)。
直到這時(shí)，我才突然意識(shí)到這件事并不像我原想的那樣簡(jiǎn)單。“我們能行，”我說(shuō)，“我會(huì)攙扶著你。”
她低下頭，看著那個(gè)龐然大物，隨后她轉(zhuǎn)回來(lái)，看著我，目光中滿(mǎn)是疑慮;“我以前從未遇到過(guò)這種情況。”她說(shuō)道，既像是在對(duì)我，又像是在自言自語(yǔ)。
我覺(jué)得老人這種突如其來(lái)的恐懼與自動(dòng)扶梯的機(jī)械性質(zhì)有關(guān)--它歸根結(jié)底是非人性的東西，很難給人以安全感。我拉起她的胳臂，問(wèn)道：“可以嗎?”我們邁上扶梯時(shí)，她輕輕地尖叫了一聲。然而，既然我們已踏上了扶梯，也就不能再回頭了。
直到扶梯載著我們下行了一段，她才略微放松下來(lái)。“我一點(diǎn)也不明白這種東西，”她說(shuō)。我們接近扶梯底部時(shí)，她又一次緊緊抓住我，但我們順利走下了扶梯。“我不知怎么謝你才好……”她開(kāi)口說(shuō)道。“這沒(méi)什么，”我說(shuō)，“我很高興這樣做。”
我很高興，的確如此。平時(shí)我很少幫助別人，整日忙于工作和照顧家庭。就在這一剎那，我突然明白了。
英文優(yōu)美小散文：最珍貴的話(huà)
In a class I teach for adults, I recently did the “unpardonable.”
最近在我執(zhí)教的一個(gè)成人班級(jí)里，我干了一件“不可饒恕的”事情。
I gave the class homework!YouTheme論壇
我居然給班上的學(xué)生布置了一份家庭作業(yè)!
The assignment was to “go to someone you love within the next week and tell them you love them.
任務(wù)是“下周之內(nèi)要走到你所愛(ài)的人面前，告訴他們你愛(ài)他。
It has to be someone you have never said those words to before
此人必須是一位此前你從未對(duì)之說(shuō)過(guò)此話(huà)的對(duì)象，
or at least haven''t shared those words with for a long time.”
或至少很久沒(méi)有與他們交流過(guò)這些愛(ài)意盎然的話(huà)語(yǔ)了。”
Now that doesn t sound like a very tough assignment, until you stop to realize that most of the men were over 35
聽(tīng)起來(lái)這不像是一份苛刻的任務(wù)，直到你意識(shí)到這個(gè)班里多數(shù)男生已年逾35歲。
and were raised in the generation of men that were taught that expressing emotions is not “macho.”
何況在他們成長(zhǎng)的那個(gè)年代，他們受到的是這樣的灌輸：流露情感沒(méi)有“陽(yáng)剛之氣”。
Showing feelings or crying (heaven forbid!) was just not done.
人們不會(huì)輕易流露情感和哭泣(老天也不允!)。
So this was a very threatening assignment for some.
因此對(duì)某些人來(lái)說(shuō)，這是一項(xiàng)令人生畏的任務(wù)。
At the beginning of our next class,
第二次上課一開(kāi)始
I asked if someone wanted to share what happened when they told someone they loved them.
我就問(wèn)：當(dāng)你告訴別人你愛(ài)他/她時(shí)，結(jié)果怎樣?有沒(méi)有人愿意講一講?
I fully expected one of the women to volunteer6, as was usually the case,
我滿(mǎn)心指望像平常一樣，某位女士能自告奮勇，
but on this evening one of the men raised his hand.
但是這天晚上，一位男士舉起了手。
He appeared quite moved and a bit shaken.
他看上去很受感動(dòng)的樣子，還有一點(diǎn)顫抖。
As he unfolded out of his chair(all 6 2" of him),
當(dāng)他從座椅上直起身來(lái)時(shí)(他身高6英尺2英寸)，
he began by saying, Dennis, I was quite angry with you last week when you gave us this assignment.
他這樣說(shuō)道：“丹尼斯，上周你給我們布置任務(wù)時(shí)，我很生你的氣。
I didn`t feel that I had anyone to say those words to, and besides,
我認(rèn)為我沒(méi)有什么人需要我說(shuō)那些話(huà)，而且，
who were you to tell me to do something that personal8?
你是誰(shuí)?憑什么讓我們?nèi)ジ蛇@種涉及隱私的事?
“But as I began driving home my conscience started talking to me.
“但我驅(qū)車(chē)回家時(shí)，我的良知開(kāi)始與我對(duì)話(huà)。
It was telling me that I knew exactly who I needed to say I love you to.
它告訴我，我確實(shí)知道需要向誰(shuí)說(shuō)‘我愛(ài)你'這句話(huà)。
You see, five years ago, my father and I had a vicious disagreement and really never resolved it since that time.
“你瞧，5年前，我與父親發(fā)生了激烈的爭(zhēng)執(zhí)，而且從此再也沒(méi)有消除隔閡。
We avoided seeing each other unless we absolutely had to at Christmas or other family gatherings.
我們互相回避，除非絕對(duì)必須出席圣誕節(jié)聚會(huì)或其他的家庭聚會(huì)。
But even then, we hardly spoke to each other.
但甚至在那些場(chǎng)合，我們彼此幾乎也不說(shuō)一句話(huà)。
“So last Tuesday by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him.
“因此，上周二到家時(shí)，我確信自己做得不對(duì)，打算告訴父親我愛(ài)他。
“It’s weird, but just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load off my chest.
“這事兒有點(diǎn)怪怪的，但就是這個(gè)決定似乎搬走了一塊壓在我胸口的重石。
“When I got home, I rushed into the house to tell my wife what I was going to do. She was already in bed, but I woke her up anyway. When I told her, she didn’t just get out of bed, she catapulted out and hugged my, and for the first time in our married life she saw me cry. We stayed up half the night drinking coffee and talking. It was great!
到家的時(shí)候，我沖進(jìn)屋里，想告訴妻子我的打算。當(dāng)時(shí)她已經(jīng)上床睡了，但我無(wú)論如何還是叫醒了她。我如此這般告訴她，她不單是起了床，簡(jiǎn)直就是跳起來(lái)?yè)肀遥楹蟮谝淮嗡慷昧宋铱奁臉幼�。那一夜我們品著咖啡說(shuō)著話(huà)一直聊到半夜。這感覺(jué)真棒!
“The next morning I was up bright and early. I was so excited I could hardly sleep. I got to the office early and accomplished more in two hours than I had the whole day before.
“第二天一大清早我就起了床。我激動(dòng)得睡不著覺(jué)，提前到辦公室上班，兩個(gè)小時(shí)之內(nèi)就干完了比以前干一整天還要多的活。
“At 9:00 I called my dad to see if could come over after work. When he answered the phone, I just said, ‘Dad, can I come over after work tonight? I have something to tell you.’ My dad responded with a grumpy, ‘Now what?’ I assured him it wouldn’t take long, so he finally agreed.
“在九點(diǎn)的時(shí)候我打電話(huà)給父親問(wèn)問(wèn)能不能下班后去看他，當(dāng)他接電話(huà)的時(shí)候，我只是說(shuō)：‘老爸，今晚上下班后我能到你哪兒去嗎?我有事跟你說(shuō)。’父親不耐煩的應(yīng)答：‘什么事?’我向他保證花不了多長(zhǎng)時(shí)間，最終他同意了。
“At 5:30, I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, praying that Dad would answer the door. I was afraid if Mom answered that I would chicken out and tell her instead. But as luck would have it, Dad did answer the door.
“五點(diǎn)半，我就來(lái)到父母家摁響了門(mén)鈴。我暗自禱告老爸會(huì)應(yīng)聲開(kāi)門(mén)。害怕如果應(yīng)聲開(kāi)門(mén)的是母親，我會(huì)因膽怯而對(duì)她說(shuō)出那幾個(gè)字。終歸我的運(yùn)氣好，老爸應(yīng)聲來(lái)到門(mén)口。
“I didn’t waste any time – I took one step in the door and said, ‘Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.’
“我抓緊時(shí)間———我一腳跨進(jìn)門(mén)檻說(shuō)：‘老爸，我來(lái)就是為了特地告訴你一聲我愛(ài)你。’
“It was as if a transformation came over my dad. Before my eyes his face softened, the wrinkles seemed to disappear and he began to cry. He reached out and hugged me and said, ‘I love you too, son, but I’ve never been able to say it.’
“聽(tīng)了這話(huà)，老爸似乎前后判若兩人。只見(jiàn)他臉變得柔和起來(lái)，連皺紋似乎也消失了，他泣不成聲。他伸出手擁抱我說(shuō)：‘兒子，我也愛(ài)你，但這話(huà)以前我從來(lái)沒(méi)能說(shuō)出口。’
“It was such a precious moment I didn’t want to move. Mom walked by with tears in her eyes. I just waved and blew her a kiss. Dad and I hugged for a moment longer and then I left. I hadn’t felt that great in a long time.
“這一刻如此寶貴以至于我不想挪動(dòng)半步。媽媽雙眼含淚走過(guò)來(lái)，我只揮了揮手，給了她一個(gè)飛吻。我和父親又相擁片刻，然后我離開(kāi)了。許久以來(lái)，我都沒(méi)有過(guò)那么棒的感覺(jué)了。
“But that’s not even my point. Two days after that visit, my dad, who had heart problems, but didn’t tell me, had an attack and ended up in the hospital, unconscious. I don’t know if he'll make it.
“但這并不是我說(shuō)這些的目的。那次上門(mén)之后過(guò)了兩天，我的父親———他患有心臟病，但沒(méi)有告訴我———突發(fā)心肌梗塞，結(jié)果被送往醫(yī)院，昏迷不醒。我不知他是否能挺過(guò)去。
“So my message to all of you in this is: Don’t wait to do the things you know need to be done. What if I had waited to tell my dad – maybe I will never get the chance again! Take the time to do what you need to do and do it now!”
“所以我要忠告全班同學(xué)的是：如果你知道有些事情需要做的話(huà)，千萬(wàn)不要等。要是我等到以后再對(duì)父親說(shuō)‘我愛(ài)你’那句話(huà)會(huì)怎么樣呢———也許我永遠(yuǎn)沒(méi)有機(jī)會(huì)了!抓緊時(shí)間去干你需要干的事情，現(xiàn)在就行動(dòng)!”
英文優(yōu)美小散文：山泉與金沙
A small mountain spring ran tinkling down the narrow stone crevices. Many years passed. An egg-sized shallow hole was washed out on the rock. Strangely, the mountain spring anyhow brought some bright yellow gold sand and got to fill the small hole.
One day, an old woodcutter hit on this secret. To his amazement, he cupped the gold sand carefully.
Since then, the old man furtively fetched the gold sand once every half a month or so, so he became rich soon.
When discovering his father's secret, his son advised:If they widened the stone crevice for more mountian spring, more gold sand could be washed here. The old man thought it over and felt it advisable. So the father and son chiseled the narrow stone crevise so widely that the mountain spring was several times than ever. But unexpectedly, the gold sand didn't increase but disappeared ever since.
They felt puzzled: Where had the gold sand gone?
一股細(xì)細(xì)的山泉沿著窄窄的石縫叮叮咚咚往下流淌，也不知道過(guò)了多少年，竟然在巖石上沖刷出一個(gè)雞蛋大小的淺坑。奇異的是，山泉不知從哪里沖來(lái)黃澄澄的金砂，漸漸的填滿(mǎn)了小坑。
有一天，一位砍柴的老漢偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)秘密，驚喜之下，他小心翼翼的捧走了金砂。
從此，老漢過(guò)個(gè)十天半月就偷偷來(lái)取一次金砂，日子很快富裕起來(lái)。
老漢的兒子發(fā)現(xiàn)了父親的秘密，他建議：拓寬石縫，擴(kuò)大山泉，不是能沖來(lái)更多的金砂嗎?老漢想了想，覺(jué)得有理，父子倆把窄窄的石縫拓寬了，山泉比原來(lái)大了幾倍，誰(shuí)知金砂不但沒(méi)有增多，反而從此消失的無(wú)影無(wú)蹤。
父子倆百思不得其解：金砂到哪里去了呢?
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