“最真實”的圣誕節

來源：查字典祝福語網  發布時間： 2015-11-03

  For many of us, one Christmas stands out from all the others, the one when the meaning of the day shone clearest. My own truest Christmas began on a rainy spring day in the bleakest year of my life.

  對我們許多人來說，總有某一個圣誕節因為我們充分感受到這一天的意義而顯得格外難忘。我自己的最真實的圣誕節發生在我一生中最為凄涼的那一年。

  Recently divorced, I was in my 20s, had no job and was on my way downtown to go the rounds of the employment offices. I had no umbrella, for my old one had fallen apart, and I could not afford another one. I sat down in the streetcar--and there against the seat was a beautiful silk umbrella with a silver handle inlaid with gold and necks of bright enamel. I had never seen anything so lovely.

  話得從春季的一個雨天開始說起，20多歲的我，剛剛離婚，沒有工作，正再一次趕往市中心的求職處。我沒帶傘，舊傘已經破損，而新的又買不起。我在有軌電車里坐下來，發現座位邊有一把漂亮的絲質傘，銀把手上面還鑲嵌著金子和亮麗的小片琺瑯。我從沒見過這么漂亮的東西。

  I examined the handle and saw a name engraved among the golden scrolls. The usual procedure would have been to turn in the umbrella to the conductor, but on impulse I decided to take it with me and find the owner myself. I got off the streetcar in a downpour and thankfully opened the umbrella to protect myself. Then I searched a telephone book for the name on the umbrella and found it. I called and a lady answered.

  我查看了把手，發現在金色的卷軸中刻著一個名字。在這種情況下，人們通常的做法是把傘交給售票員，但我一時沖動決定把傘留著，自己去找失主。我在傾盆大雨中下了車，感激不盡地打開那把傘遮雨。隨后我在電話簿里查找傘上的名字，確有其人。我打了個電話，接電話的是一位女士。

  Yes, she said in surprise, that was her umbrella, which her parents, now dead, had given her for a birthday present. But, she added, it had been stolen from her locker at school (she was a teacher) more than a year before. She was so excited that I forgot I was looking for a job and went directly to her small house. She took the umbrella, and her eyes filled with tears.

  是的，她詫異地說那是她的傘，那是她已故的雙親送給她的生日禮物。但是，她補充說，傘一年多前被人從學校的柜子里偷走了(她是個教師)。我聽出她很激動，我竟忘了自己還在找工作，直接到她家去了。她熱淚盈眶地接過傘。

  The teacher wanted to give me a reward, but--though twenty dollars was all I had in the world--her happiness at retrieving this special possession was such that to have accepted money would have spoiled something. We talked for a while, and I must have given her my address. I dont remember.

  那老師要給我酬金，盡管我當時身邊一共也不過20元錢，可看到她找回這件特別之物的巨大幸福時，接受她的錢無疑會破壞這種感覺。我們聊了一會兒。我很可能留下了我的地址。我記不得了。