施惠于人 第11期

My mother through her fine example instilled1 within me the desire to help others. She taught me to notice those who others ignore (不理，忽视). She was compassionate2.

The railroad tracks were within a mile of our house. "Beggers" and "bums (流浪汉)" as they were known frequently,would knock on the doors in our neighborhood in the summer asking for food. They were often turned away3 or rebuked(叱责). Others simply ignored the knocks.

My mom always went to the door smiling. She would invite them to stay and have something to eat. She would have me open up the card table and carry a chair out onto the covered side porch(门廊). There was a nice view into the flower gardens,and it was cool even on the hottest days.

She would bringared and white checkered (有方格图案的) tablecloth and set the table as carefully as she did for any company.She would pour their coffee and pile4 their plate with food and dessert. Usually she sent a packed lunch with them when they were ready to go too.Sometimes she would take the newspaper to those who asked about work.

She listened to those who wanted to talk.

She never asked what led them to be in this predicament5. It did not matter.

She saw only the need. Some thought she should not extendthis courtesy(恩惠).

She would say, "In the depression (萧条期) when my father was scouring6 around for any work to feed us,thoughtful people fed him. I am just repaying their kindness.I cannot offer them money,but I can see they do not leave hungry and discouraged." My mom was quite a lady.

我母亲给我树立了良好的榜样，使我发自内心愿意帮助他人。她教会我如何关心那些被其他人忽视的人。她富有同情心。

铁路离我家不到一英里。那些人们熟知的“乞丐”和“流浪汉”会在夏天的时候，敲响我们邻里的门，乞讨食物。他们常常被拒绝或者受到责骂。也有些人根本不理会敲门声。

而我母亲总是面带笑容地去开门。她会请2他们留下来吃点东西。她会让我打开牌桌，搬张椅子放到有顶盖的侧廊。那里正好可以欣赏花园里的美景，而且即使在最热的日子也很凉爽。

她会铺上一块红白格子的桌布，然后就像招待任何客人一样，精心地摆放餐具。她会给他们倒咖啡，为他们摆满食物和甜点。当他们要离开的时候，她通常还会让他们带上一份包好了的午餐。有时，她会把报纸给那些打听工作的人。

她倾听那些乐于说话的人谈话。

她从来不打听他们为什么会落到如此困境。这些无关紧要。

她只看到了他们的需要。有人认为她不该滥施恩惠。

她会说：“大萧条时，我爸爸四处寻找任何一份养家糊口的工作，是好心人帮了他。我只是在报答他们的好意。我不能给他们钱，但我可以让他们不至于饿着肚子灰心丧气地离开。”我母亲算得上是个好心的女士。

注释：

1． instillvt. 逐渐灌输

2. compassionate adj. 有同情心的，深表同情的

3． turn away回绝，把…打发走

4． pile vt．把成堆物装上

5． predicament n．尴尬的处境，困境

6． scour vt．四处搜索