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Lesson Eight The Kindness of Strangers
Mike Mclntyre
1. One summer I was driving from my home town of Tahoe City, Calif, to New Orleans. In the middle of the desert, I came upon a young man standing by the roadside. He had his thumb out and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time in the country when you' d be considered a jerk if you passed by somebody in need. Now you are a fool for helping. With gangs, drug addicts, murderers, rapists, thieves lurking everywhere, "I don't want to get involved" has become a national motto.
2. Several states later I was still thinking about the hitchhiker. Leaving him stranded in the desert did not bother me so much. What bothered me was how easily I had reached the decision. I never even lifted my foot off the accelerator.
3. Does anyone stop any more? I wondered. I recalled Blanche DuBois's famous line: "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." Could anyone rely on the kindness of strangers these days? One way to test this would be for a person to journey from coast to coast without any money, relying solely on the good will of his fellow Americans. What kind of Americans would he find? Who would feed him, shelter him, carry him down the road?
4. The idea intrigued me.
5. The week I turned 37, I realized that I had never taken a gamble in my life. So I decided to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. It would be a cashless journey through the land of the almighty dollar. I would only accept offers of rides, food and a place to rest my head. My final destination would be Cape Fear in North Carolina, a symbol of all the fears I'd have to conquer during the trip.
6. I rose early on September 6, 1994, and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge with a 50-pound pack on my back and a sign displaying my destination to passing vehicles: "America."
7. For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4223 miles across 14 states. As I traveled, folks were always warning me about someplace else. In Montana they told me to watch out for the cowboys in Wyoming, In Nebraska they said people would not be as nice in Iowa. Yet I was treated with kindness everywhere I went. I was amazed by people's readiness to help a stranger, even when it seemed to run contrary to their own best interests.
8. One day in Nebraska a car pulled to the road shoulder. When I reached the window, I saw two little old ladies dressed in their Sunday finest." I know you're not supposed to pick up hitchhikers, but it's so far between towns out here, you feel bad passing a person," said the driver, who introduced herself as Vi. I didn't know whether to kiss them or scold them for stopping. This woman was telling me she'd rather risk her life than feel bad about passing a stranger on the side of the road.
9. Once when I was hitchhiking unsuccessfully in the rain, a trucker pulled over, locking his brakes so hard he skidded on the grass shoulder. The driver told me he was once robbed at knifepoint by a hitchhiker. "But I hate to see a man stand out in the rain," he added. "People don't have no heart anymore."
10. I found, however, that people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or shared whatever they happened to have with them. Those who had the least to give often gave the most. In Oregon a house painter named Mike noted the chilly weather and asked if I had a coat. When he learned that I had "a light one," he drove me to his house, and handed me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker named Tim invited me to a simple dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me his tent. I refused, knowing it was probably one of the family's most valuable possessions. But Tim was determined that I have it, and finally I agreed to take it.
11. I was grateful to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter, and their gifts. But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of course.
12. One day I walked into the chamber of commerce in Jamestown, Tenn. to find out about camping in the area. The executive director, Baxter Wilson, 59, handed me a brochure for a local campground. Seeing that it cost $12, I replied, "No, that's all right. I'll try something else." Then he saw my backpack. "Most people around here will let you pitch a tent on their land, if that's what you want," he said. Now we're talking, I thought. "Any particular direction?" I asked. "Tell you what. I've got a big farm about ten miles south of here. If you're here at 5:30, you can ride with me."
13. I accepted, and we drove out to a magnificent country house. Suddenly I realized he'd invited me to spend the night in his home. His wife, Carol, a seventh-grade science teacher, was cooking a pot roast when we walked into the kitchen. Baxter explained that local folks were "mountain stay-at-home people" who rarely entertained in their house. "When we do," he said, "it's usually kin." This revelation made my night there all the more special.
14. The next morning when I came downstairs, Carol asked if I'd come to their school and talk to her class about my trip. I agreed, and before long had been scheduled to talk to every class in the school. The kids were attentive and kept asking all kinds of questions: Where were people the kindest? How many pairs of shoes did you have? Did anybody try to run you over? Did you fall in love with someone? What were you most afraid of?
15. Although I hadn't planned it this way, I discovered that a patriotic tone ran through the talks I gave that afternoon. I told the students how my faith in America had been renewed. I told them how proud I was to live in a country where people were still willing to help. I told them that the question I had had in mind when I planned this journey was now clearly answered. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the kindness of strangers.
第八课 陌生人的仁慈
1 一个夏天，我正驱车从我的家乡加利福尼亚州的塔霍湖市前往新奥尔良。行驶到沙漠中部时，我遇到了一个正站在路边的年轻人。他竖起拇指请求搭车，另一只手里握着一个汽油罐。我径直从他身边开了过去。在这个国家曾经有一个时期，如果你对一个需要帮助的人置之不理，那你就被认为是一个愚蠢的人。但现在，你帮助了别人，你就是一个愚蠢的人。由于到处隐藏着歹徒、吸毒成瘾者、强奸犯和小偷，“我不想惹麻烦”就成了民族的箴言
2 驶过了几个州后，我仍然在想着那个搭便车的旅行者。把他束手无策留在沙漠并没有让我太烦扰。让我烦扰的是，我是多么轻易的就下了这个决定。我甚至都没有把脚从加速器上抬起来。
3 还会有人再停下来么？我很想知道。我想起布兰奇-杜包尔斯的著名的台词“我总是非常依赖陌生人的仁慈”。如今还会有人依赖陌生人的仁慈检验此事的一个方法就是让一个人不带钱，只依靠美国同胞的好心，从一个海岸到另一个海岸去旅行。他将发现什么样的美国人呢？谁将会给他食物、提供住处、载他一路？
4 这个想法激起我的好奇心。
5 在我步入37岁的那周，我意识到在我的一生中还从未冒过险。因此我决定身无分文的从太平洋到大西洋旅行。在这个金钱万能的国家，这将会是一次不花钱的旅行。我将只接受别人提供的搭车、食物以及休息场所。我最终的目的地将是被卡罗莱纳周的恐怖角，这是我整个旅行要克服的所有恐惧的一个象征。
6 1994年9月6日，我早早的起了床，动身前往金门桥。我背上背了50镑重的行李和一个向过往的车辆展示我此行目的地的标牌“美国”。
7 六周的时间，我免费搭车82次，穿越了14个省4223英里。当我旅行时，人们总是提醒我关于其他地方的事情。在蒙大拿州，他们告诉我要提防怀俄明州的牛仔。在内布拉斯加州，他们说艾奥瓦州的人不像他们那么友好。然而，我所到之处受到的是善意的款待。我对于人们欣然帮助一个陌生人而感到吃惊，甚至当这些行为与他们自己的利益背道而驰的时候。
8 在内布拉斯加州，一辆汽车驶向路的边缘。当我靠近车窗户时，我看见两个身着节日盛装的身材矮小的老妇人。“我知道我们不应该拉免费搭车的旅行者，但是这里距离前后两个镇太远了，对人置之不理感觉挺糟糕。”司机说，她向我自我介绍叫做维。我不知道是否应该为停车而亲吻她们或是责备她们。这个妇人一直告诉我说，她宁愿冒生命危险也不愿意对一个路边的陌生人置之不理而感到不安。
9 当我在雨周搭不到车时，一个卡车司机把车开到路边，由于刹车过猛，车子在草地上打滑。这个司机告诉我，他曾经被一位搭车者持刀抢劫过。“但是我不愿意看到一个人站在雨中，”他接着说。“人们不要在冷酷无情了”。
10 然而，我发现人们通常还是富有同情心的。一听说我身无分文，却也不会拿别人的钱，人们给我买食物，或是与他们分享他们碰巧带着的东西。那些拥有最少的人给予最多。在俄勒冈州，一个叫麦克的建筑油漆工注意到了寒冷的天气，并问我是否有大衣。当知道我只有“一件单薄的外套”时，他开车把我带到他家，并递给我一件大大的军用夹克衫。一个名叫提姆的锯木厂工人邀请我在他们破旧的房屋里与他的家人共进晚餐。他把他的帐篷给了我。知道这个帐篷可能是他们家中最值钱的财产之一，我拒绝了他的好意。但是提姆决心把他给我，我最终同意拿了它。
11 我感谢所有我遇到的人，感谢他们的搭载、他们的食物、他们提供的住处和他们送的礼物。但是我发现最另我感动的是他们做这些事时都认为是理所当然的。
12 我走进田纳西州詹姆斯顿的商会去查一下露营的地方。该商会的执行理事59岁的巴克斯特-威尔逊，递给我一本有关当地露营场所的小册子。考虑到他要花费12美圆，我回答说，“不用了。我在试试其他办法。”然后他看到了我的背包。“如果你愿意的话，这儿附近的大多数人都会让你在他们的土地上搭帐篷。”他说到。我认为他的话有理。“有具体的方向么？”我问道。“听我说，距离这儿往南十英里处我有一个大的农场。如果你五点半在这儿的话，你可以搭我的车。”
13 我接受了他的好意，我们开车来到了一所豪华的乡村房屋。我突然明白他是在邀请我在他家过夜。当我走进厨房的时候，他的妻子卡罗尔，一为七年级的理科教师，正在做炖肉。巴克斯特解释说当地人是“山区居家人”，他们很少在他们家里招待客人。“当我们在家里招待客人时”，他说，“那通常是亲属。”这个意外的发现让我呆在那儿的整个晚上更加特别。
14 第二天早上当我下楼的时候，卡罗尔问是否我愿意去她们的学校，并和她班上的学生谈谈关于我旅行的事情。我同意了，而且不久之后我就被安排和学校每个班级的学生谈话。孩子们很专心，而且还一直问各种各样的问题：哪儿的人最友善？你有多少双鞋？有人试图撞你么？你恋爱了么？你最担心的是什么？
15 尽管我没有做过这样的准备，我发现一种爱国气氛贯穿着那天下午的谈话。我告诉学生们我对美国的信任是如何恢复的。我告诉他们生活在这样一个人们仍然愿意帮助别人的国家我是多么的自豪。我告诉他们当我计划这次旅行时心中的疑问现在被清楚的解答了。不管发生什么事情，你仍然可以依靠陌生人的仁慈。
Lesson Nine After Twenty Years
O. Henry
1. The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was normal and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely ten o'clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had almost emptied the streets.
2. Trying doors as he went, swinging his club with many clever movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the peaceful street, the officer, with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. The area was one that kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter; but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.
3. When about midway of a certain block, the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him, the man spoke up quickly.
4. "It's all right, officer," he said, confidently. "I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands — 'Big Joe' Brady's restaurant."
5. "Until five years ago," said the policeman. "It was torn down then."
6. The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His tiepin was a large diamond, oddly set.
7. "Twenty years ago tonight," said the man, "I dined here at 'Big Joe' Brady's with Jimmy Wells, my best friend, and the finest man in the world. He and I were brought up here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn't have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our fate worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be."
8. "It sounds pretty interesting," said the policeman. "Rather a long time between meetings, though, it seems to me. Haven't you heard from your friend since you left?"
9. "Well, yes, for a time we wrote," said the other. " But after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big place, and I kept running around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he's alive, for he always was the truest, best old friend in the world. He'll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door tonight, and it's worth it if my old partner turns up."
10. The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds.
11. "Three minutes to ten," he announced. "It was exactly ten o'clock when we parted here at the restaurant door."
12. "Did pretty well out West, didn't you?" asked the policeman.
13. "You're right! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of slow man, though, good fellow as he was. I've had to compete with some of the sharpest brains going to get my money. A man gets stuck in New York. It takes the West to make a man really keen."
14. The policeman swung his club and took a step or two.
15. "I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Are you going to leave immediately?"
16. "I should say not!" said the other. "I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time. So long, officer."
17. "Good night, sir," said the policeman, passing on along his beat.
18. There was now a fine, cold rain falling, and the wind had risen to a steady blow. The few foot passengers in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat collars turned high and pocketed hands. And in the door of the hardware store the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment, with the friend of his youth, smoked his cigar and waited.
19. About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long overcoat, with collar turned up to his ears, hurried across from the opposite side of the street. He went directly to the waiting man.
20. "Is that you, Bob?" he asked, doubtfully.
21. "Is that you, Jimmy Wells?" cried the man in the door. iwaiyu
22. "Bless my heart! "exclaimed the new arrival, grasping both the other's hands with his own. "It's Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I'd find you here if you were still in existence. Well, well, well! — twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant's gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?"
23. "It has given me everything I asked it for. You've changed lot, Jimmy. I never thought you would get so tall."
24. "Oh, I grew a bit after I was twenty."
25. "Doing well in New York, Jimmy?"
26. "Moderately. I have a position in one of the city departments. Come on, Bob; we'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times."
27. The two men started up the street, arm in arm. The man from the West, full of pride at his success, was beginning to outline the history of his career. The other, hidden in his overcoat, listened with interest.
28. At the corner stood a chemist's, brilliant with electric lights. When they came into this brightness each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other's face.
29. The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm.
30. "You're not Jimmy Wells," he said sharply. "Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change the size of a man's nose."
31. "It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one," said the tall man. "You've been under arrest for ten minutes, 'Silky' Bob. Chicago thinks you may have come over our way and telegraphs us she wants to have a chat with you. Going quietly, are you? That's sensible. Now, before we go on to the station here's a note I was asked to hand to you. You may read it here at the window. It's from Policeman Wells."
32. The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed
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