第三类读物主要是小说故事类文章。编者做了必要的改动和删节，并加了题目。
有人说，文学就是人学。还有人说，文学不同于新闻报道，因为新闻报道不会给人多少启发性的东西；文学也不同于历史，因为文学既虚构又真实，是虚构的真实。历史好比自然光，而文学好比人工光，可以照到天然光无法照到的地方——人类心灵的深处。虽然有不少人认为，只有通过阅读文学作品才能真正学好外语，但这未必是唯一的途径。我们所选择的这些文章虽非经典短篇小说，但是通过阅读这些文章，你会发现，每个轻松有趣的故事都含有很深刻的人生哲理。还有不少东西是你在其他文章里很少能见到的。
1.A Common but Rare Experience
见怪不怪
As my train wasn't due to leave for another hour，I had plenty of time to spare。 After buying some newspapers to read on the journey，I made my way to the luggage office to collect the heavy suitcase I had left there three days before。There were only a few people waiting，and I took out my wallet to find the receipt for my case。The receipt didn't seem to be where I had left it。I emptied the contents of the wallet，and railway tickets，money，scraps of paper，and photographs fell out of it；but no matter how hard I searched，the receipt was nowhere to be found。
When my turn came，I explained the situation sorrowfully to the assistant。 The man looked at me suspiciously as if to say that he had heard this type of story many times and asked me to describe the case。I told him that it was an old，brown-looking object no different from the many cases I could see on the shelves。The assistant then gave me a form and told me to make a list of the chief contents of the case。If they were correct，he said，I could take the case away。I tried to remember all the articles I had hurriedly packed and wrote them down as they came to me。
After I had done this，I went to look among the shelves。 There were hundreds of cases there and for one dreadful moment，it occurred to me that if someone had picked the receipt up，he could have easily claimed the case already。This hadn't happened fortunately，for after a time I found the case lying on its side high up in a corner。After examining the articles inside，the assistant was soon satisfied that it was mine and told me I could take the case away。Again I took out my wallet：this time to pay。I pulled out a ten-shilling note and the“lost”receipt slipped out with it。I couldn't help blushing and looked up at the assistant。He was nodding his head knowingly，as if to say that he had often seen this happen before too！
2.Doing Right Things at the Wrong Time
好心未必有好报
I found out one time that doing a favor for someone could get you into a lot of trouble。 I was in the eighth grade at the time，and we were having a final test。During the test，the girl sitting next to me whispered something，but I didn't understand。So I leaned over her way and found out that she was trying to ask me if I had an extra pen。She showed me that hers was out of ink and would not write。I happened to have an extra one，so I took it out of my pocket and put it on her desk。
Later，after the test papers had been turned in，the teacher asked me to stay in the room when all theother students were dismissed。 As soon as we were alone she began to talk to me about what it meant to grow up；she mentioned how important it was to stand on your own two feet and be responsible for your own acts。For a long time，she talked about honesty and emphasized the fact that when people do something dishonest，they are really cheating themselves。She made me promise that I would think seriously about all the things she had said，and then she told me I could leave。I walked out of the room wondering why she had chosen to talk to me about all those things。
Later on，I found out that she thought I had cheated on the test。 When she saw me lean over to talk to the girl next to me，it looked as though I was copying answers from the girl's test paper。I tried to explain about the pen，but all she could say was it seemed awfully strange to her that I hadn't mentioned anything about the pen the day she talked to me right after the test。Even though I tried to explain that I was just doing the girl a favor by letting her use my pen，I am sure she continued to believe that I had cheated on the test。
3.The Importance of Being Earnest
精诚所至，金石为开？
You might think that borrowing a match upon the street is a simple thing。 But any man who has ever tried it will assure you that it is not，and will be prepared to swear on oath to the truth of my experience of the other evening。
I was standing on the comer of the street with a cigar that I wanted to light。 I had no match。I waited till a decent，ordinary man came along。Then I said：“Excuse me，sir，but could you oblige me with the loan of a match？”
“A match？”he said，“why，certainly。”Then he unbuttoned his overcoat and put his hand in the pocket of his waistcoat。“I know I have one，”he went on，“and I'd almost swear it's in the bottom pocket——or，hold on，though，I guess it may be in the top——just wait till I put those parcels down on the sidewalk。”
“Oh，don't trouble，”I said。“It's really of no consequence。”
“Oh，it's no trouble，I'll have in a minute：I know there must be one in here somewhere”——he was digging his fingers into his pockets as he spoke——“but you see this isn't the waistcoat I generally……”
I saw that the man was getting excited about it。“Well，never mind，”I protested；“if that isn't the waistcoat that you generally——why，it doesn't matter。”
“Hold on，now，hold on！”the man said，“I've got one of the cursed things in here somewhere。 I guess it must be in with my watch。No，it's not there either。Wait till I try my coat。If that con-founded tailor only knew enough to make a pocket so that a man could get at it！”
He was getting pretty well worked up now。 He had thrown down his walking-stick and was plunging at his pockets with his teeth set。“It's that cursed young boy of mine，”he hissed；“this comes of his fooling in my pockets。By God！perhaps I won't warm him up when I get home。Say，I'll bet that it's in my hip-pocket。You just hold up the tail of my overcoat a second till I……”
“No，no，”I protested again，“please don't take all this trouble，it really doesn't matter。 I'm sure you needn't take off your overcoat，and oh，pray don't throw away your letters and things in the snow like that，and tear out your pockets by the roots！Please，please don’t trample over your overcoat and put your feet through the parcels。I do hate to hear you swearing at your little boy，with that peculiar whine in your voice。Don’t——please don’t tear your clothes so savagely。”
Suddenly the man gave a grunt or exultation，and drew his hand，up from inside the lining of hiscoat。
“I've got it，”he cried。“Here you are！”Then he brought it out under the light。
It was a toothpick。
Yielding to the impulse of the moment I pushed bits under the wheels of a trolley-car and ran。
4.One Good Turn Deserves Another
真心换真心
I was captured by the enemy and thrown into a jail cell。 I was sure that from the contemptuous looks and rough treatment I received from my jailers that I would be executed the next day。
I was sure that I was to be killed。 I became terribly nervous and distraught。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。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。After all，one does not make eye contact with a thing，a corpse。I called out to him‘Have you got a light，for favor？'He looked at me，shrugged and came over to light my cigarette。
As he came close and lit the match，his eyes inadvertently locked with mine。 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。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。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。
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。”I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family。 He，too，took out the pictures of his kids and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them。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。
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。There，at the edge of town，he released me。And without another word，he turned back toward the town。
My life was saved by a smile。
Yes，the smile——the unaffected，unplanned natural connection between people。 I tell this story because I'd like people to consider that underneath all the layers we construct to protect ourselves，our dignity，our titles，our degrees，our status and our need to be seen in certain ways——underneath all that，remains the authentic，essential self。I'm not afraid to call it the soul。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。I sadly conclude that all those other layers，which we so carefully construct through our lives，distance and insulate us from truly contacting others。This story speaks of that magic moment when two souls recognize each other。
I've had just a few moments like that。 Falling in love is one example。And looking at a baby。Why do we smile when we see a baby？Perhaps it's because we see someone without all the defensive layers，someone whose smile for us we know to be fully genuine and without guile。And that baby-soul inside us smiles wistfully in recognition。
5.Love Is the Reward of Love
爱心无价
In the winter of 1990，I was asked to appear on a television talk show in Toronto，Ontario，Canada。 At the end of our first day of taping I was on my way back to my plush，high-rise，cable-TV，twenty-four-hour room service hotel，when I saw something I'd never seen before。
Lying on the sidewalk against a building in four inches of snow was a man sleeping with only a cardboard blanket to keep him from being completely exposed to the freezing cold。 What really broke my heart was when I realized that he wore no shoes or socks。I thought to stop and help him but was not quite sure what to do。As the traffic light turned green，it seemed life was demanding that I move along。So I did。Back in the“anything I wanted was mine”environment of my hotel，I promptly forgot about the man on the street。
Several days later，prior to the morning taping，I was having coffee and Danish in the green room at the station。 All of the“important”people had left the room and it was just me and the janitor remaining。
I had seen him quietly go about his business every day while I was there，and he never said a word except“Good morning”or“Can I get anything for you，sir？”He always had a smile to give to everyone。 When I asked him how he was feeling today，he told me that he'd been having to ride his bike to work in the snow and that he'd been feeling rather sorry for himself……that is，until he saw a man sleeping down on the corner of Yonge Street and Bloor with just a piece of cardboard for covering from the cold and no shoes。I almost choked on my Danish as I heard him go on to relate how he was so moved with compassion for the man that he went around the corner to a store and bought the man a pair of socks and shoes。
As I heard his story，I saw in my mind a poster that used to be in an old friend's bedroom when I was a teenager。 It was a picture of a child handing someone a flower and the caption read：“The smallest deed always exceeds the grandest of intentions。”
I stood there wishing it was me who had bought the shoes and socks for the man，when they called my name to come to the set。
As I got to the studio，they were just concluding an interview with a social worker who specialized in benevolence for eastern Ontario。 The social worker relayed a story about Mother Teresa，who when asked once how she had accomplished such great things in her life responded，“None of us can do anything great on our own，but we can all do a small thing with great love。”
注：Danish：丹麦式酥皮果子饼。
6.The Insignificant Important Work
三人行，必有我师
The last to board the plane from Seattle to Dallas were a woman and three children。“Oh please don't sit next to me，”I thought。“I've got so much work to do。”But a moment later an eleven-year-old girl and her nine-year-old brother were climbing over me while the woman and a four-year-old boy sat behind。 Almost immediately the older children started bickering while the child behind intermittently kicked my seat。
Every few minutes the boy would ask his sister，“Where are we now？”“Shut up！”she's snap and anew round of squirming and whining would ensue。
“Kids have no concept of important work，”I thought，quietly resenting my predicament。 Then in my mind a voice as clear as a song simply said，“Love them”。“These kids are brats，and I've got important work to do，”I countered to myself。My inner voice simply replied，“Love them as if they were your children”。
Having heard the“Where-are-we-now？”question repeatedly，I turned to the in-flight magazine map，in spite of my important work。
I explained our flight path，dividing it into quarter-hour light increments and estimated when we would land in Dallas。
Soon they were telling me about their trip to Seattle to see their father who was in the hospital。 As we talked they asked about flying，navigation，science and grown-ups'views about life。The time passed quickly and my“important”work was left undone。
As we were preparing to land，I asked how their father was doing now。 They grew quiet and the boy simply said，“He died。”
“Oh，I'm so sorry。”
“Yeah，me too。 But it's my little brother I've most worried about。He's taking it real hard。”
I suddenly realized what we've really been talking about was the most important work we ever face：living，loving and growing in spite of heartbreak。 When we said good-bye in Dallas the boy shook my hand and thanked me for being his“airline teacher。”And I thanked him for being mine。
7.The Most Courageous MAN in the World
世界上最有胆识的男子汉
Many years ago，when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital，I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease。 Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother，who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness。The doctor explained the situation to her little brother，and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister。I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying，“Yes，I'll do it if it will save Liza。”
As the transfusion progressed，he lay in a bed next to his sister and smiled，as we all did，seeing the color returning to her cheeks。 Then his face grew pale and his smile faded。He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice，“Will I start to die right away？”
Being young，the boy had misunderstood the doctor；he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood。
I've learned courage，because I've had inspiring teachers。
注：Stanford Hospital：斯坦福大学医院。
8.The Story of Please，Thank-you and Sorry
“礼”多人不怪
Once upon a time，Please and Thank-you were having a little talk。 They were feeling very sorry for themselves。Presently they saw Sorry coming along。
“Why is it，”said Sorry，“that all the other words have such a nice easy time while we have to work so hard？People are always saying，“Please”，“Sorry”and“Thank you”，but half the time they don't mean what they say。 It isn't fair！”
“No，it isn't fair！”said Thank-you。“There is a lady in our street who has a little girl and she is always saying，“Say thank-you”to her。 I'm sure that when that little girl grows up she will say“thank you”，but it won't mean much。And it makes me so very tired。I just don't get a moment's sleep。”
“It's just as bad for me；”said Please。“All day long，in every bus in the world，it's“Fares，please！Fares，please！Fares，please！”Of course，it's nice being polite but I am quite worn out。”
Please turned to sit down and accidentally trod on Thank-you's toes。“Sorry！”he said。
“There you go！”said Sorry。“Even you make me work”
“Oh，sorry！”said Please。“I trod on Thank-you's toes so I said sorry，Sorry。”
“There you go again！”said Sorry；“Will you please stop it？There，now I'm making you work。 What shall we do to get a rest？”
They thought for a bit and then decided they would go for a nice long holiday and sleep for a whole week。 Then no one in all the world would be able to say“Please”or“Sorry”or“Thank you”。And that's what they did。
when they came back from their holiday，they weren't feeling tired any more，and they didn't mind when all the people started to say“Please”and“Sorry”or“Thank you”again。 It seemed much nicer because people had got out of the habit of mumbling“Please”or“Sorry”or“Thank you”whether they meant it or not。They only used the words when they really and truly wanted to say them，so Please，Sorry and Thank-you did not have to work quite so hard，and were not nearly so tired as they used to be。
Every year now，they go away for a holiday so that when they come back，people will remember when they say“Please”or“Sorry”or“Thank you”that the words really do mean something。
9.All I Would Ever Need
平生夙愿
I had always felt like a misfit in school。 My friends，although good and true friends，were not in the crowd of popular kids in school。Besides，I was sure I was funny looking。I just didn't fit the mold。
Parading constantly before my eyes was“the fun group”——the popular kids——always laughing and whispering，never sad or depressed，skipping their way through school，the best of friends。 Teachers loved them，boys loved them，the whole school loved them。I worshipped them and wanted to be just like them。I dreamed of the day that they would accept me。
My dream came true when I turned fourteen and I tried out for the cheerleading squad。 To my surprise，I was chosen。Almost instantly，I was thrust into the“in crowd。”I felt like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon。I changed my hair and the way I dressed。Everyone thought the change in me was fantastic-new clothes，a new group of friends and a new outlook on life。
Almost overnight，the whole school knew who I was，or at least they knew my name。 There were parties and sleepovers，and of course，cheering at the games。I was finally one of the popular kids。Everyone I had hoped to know，I knew。Everything I had wanted to be，I was。
Something strange was happening to me，however。 The more I was included with the“in crowd，”the more confused I became。In reality，these people were far from perfect。They talked behind each other's backs while they pretended to be best friends。They rarely had a truly good time but smiled and faked it。They cared about what I was wearing and who I was seen with。But they didn't care about who Iwas，what I believed in，what my dreams were or what made me who I was。It was a shock to see them as they really were，instead of as I had“thought”they were。
I began to feel a huge sense of loss and disappointment。 But worst of all，I realized that I was becoming just like them，and I didn't like what was happening at all。I had to get my life back in order。
I concentrated first on finding out who my real friends were——the ones who listened and who really cared about me。 They were the only ones who really mattered。I stayed with cheerleading because I really enjoyed it。But I stopped hanging around with only the popular kids，and I widened my circle of friends。I found out that my real friends had never left me。They were simply waiting for me to come to my senses。I finally realized that my original friends were all I would ever need。
10.A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed
患难出真情
Recently，one of my best friends，whom I have shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten，spent the weekend with me。 Since I moved to a new town several years ago，we have both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other。
Over the weekend，we spent hours and hours，staying up late into the night，talking about the people she was hanging around with。 She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend，about how he experimented with drugs and was into other self-destructive behavior。I was blown away！She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even sneaking out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him。No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better，she didn't believe me。Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared。
I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble。 I felt like I was getting nowhere。I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang with a bunch of losers，especially her boyfriend。
By the time she left，I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience。 It had been so frustrating，I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship——but I didn't。I put the power of friendship to the ultimate test。We've been friends for far too long。I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself。I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything。
A few days later，she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation，and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend。 I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face。It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life。Never had I been so proud of a friend。
11.A Brother Is a Brother
手足情
A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present。 On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office，a mischievous boy on the street was walking around the shiny new car，admiring it。“Is this your car，Mister？”he asked。Paul nodded。“My brother gave it to me for Christmas。”The boy was astounded。“You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing？Boy，I wish……”He hesitated。
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for。 He was going to wish he had a brother like that。But what the lad said surprised Paul all the way down to his heels。“I wish，”the boy went on，“that I could be a brother like that。”Paul looked at the boy in astonishment，then impulsively he added，“Would you like to take a ride in my automobile？”“Oh yes，I'd love that。”
After a short ride，the boy turned and with his eyes aglow，said，“Mister，would you mind driving in front of my house？”Paul smiled a little。 He thought he knew what the lad wanted。He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile。But Paul was wrong again。“Will you stop where those two steps are？”the boy asked。
He ran up the steps。 Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back，but he was not coming fast。He was carrying his little crippled brother。He sat him down on the bottom step，then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car。
“There she is，Buddy，just like I told you upstairs。 His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent。And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it……then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about。”
Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car。 The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride。
That Christmas Eve，Paul learned what Jesus meant when he had said：“It is more blessed to give……”
12.Good Excuses and Explanations
自圆其说
On Monday morning the sergeant went out to where ten GIs were supposed to meet him for work，only to find that none of them was back after being in town on weekend passes。 As the sergeant looked around，one of the GIs ran up，panting heavily。
“Sorry，Sarge！But I can explain！You see，I had a great date，and it ran a little late。 I ran for the bus，but just barely missed it，so I hailed a cab；but it broke down！totally died。I found a farm，though，and I bought a horse；but it dropped dead，so I ran the last ten miles，and now I'm here。”
The sergeant was very skeptical about this elaborate explanation，but at least the man was here now，so he let it go。
Moments later，eight more GIs ran up to him，also all panting。 He demanded to know why they were late，too。
Here's what he heard from each of them：“Sorry，Sarge！But，see，I had a date and it ran a little late，I ran for the bus but missed it，hailed a cab but it broke down，found a farm，bought a horse but it dropped dead，I ran ten miles，and now I'm here。”
The sergeant eyed them，by now feeling exceedingly skeptical；but，since he'd let the first guy go and they had work to do，he let them go，too。
Just then，a ninth GI jogged up，panting heavily：“Really sorry，Sarge！I had a date and it ran a little late，I ran to the bus but missed it，I hailed a cab but……”
“Let me guess，”the sergeant interrupted sardonically：“It broke down……”
“Oh，no，”answered the GI quickly；“but there were so many dead horses on the road，it took the driver too much time to get around them。”
注：GI：（陆军）兵士；Sarge：本文中士兵称呼Sergeant时的夸张和非正式简称。
13.Love and Changed Lives
爱的力量＞E=MC2
In 1921，Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison。 No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time。But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later，that prison had become a humanitarian institution。Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes。But when he was asked about the transformation，here's what he said，“I owe it all to my wonderful wife，Catherine，who is buried outside the prison walls。”
Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden。 Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls，but that didn't stop Catherine！When the first prison basketball game was held，she went……walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates。
Her attitude was：“My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me！I don't have to worry！”
She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records。 She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit。Holding his hand in hers she said，“Do you read Braille？”
“What's Braille？”he asked。 Then she taught him how to read。Years later he would weep in love for her。
Later，Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison。 She went to school to learn how to use sign language。Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.
Then，she was killed in a car accident。 The next morning Lewis Lawes didn't come to work，so the acting warden took his place。It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong。
The following day，her body was resting in a casket in her home，three-quarters of a mile from the prison。 As the acting warden took his early morning walk，he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest，hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate。He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness。He knew how much they loved Catherine。
He turned and faced the men，“All right，men you can go。 Just be sure and check in tonight！”Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked，without a guard，the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes。And every one of them checked back in。Every one！
注：E=MC2是爱因斯坦的著名公式，即能量等于质量乘以光速的平方（Energy equals mass times the square of the speed of light）。Sing Sing Prison：新新监狱，坐落在美国纽约州。
14.Wisdom to the Mind——Health to the Body
智慧之于精神，健康之于身体
There once was an eager student who wanted to gain wisdom and insight。 He went to the wisest of the town，Socrates，to seek his counsel。Socrates was an old soul and had great knowledge of many things。The boy asked the town sage how he too could acquire such mastery。Being a man of few words，Socrates chose not to speak，but to illustrate。
He took the child to the beach and，with all of his clothes still on，walked straight out into the water。 He loved to do curious things like that，especially when he was trying to prove a point。The pupil gingerly followed his instruction and walked into the sea，joining Socrates where the water was just below their chins。Without saying a word，Socrates reached out and put his hands on the boy's shoulders。Looking deep into his student's eyes，Socrates pushed the student's head under the water with all his might。
A struggle ensued，and just before a life was taken away，Socrates released his captive。 The boy raced to the surface and，gasping for air and choking from the salt water，looked around for Socrates in order to seek his retaliation on the sage。To the student's bewilderment，the old man was already patiently waiting on the beach。When the student arrived on the sand，he angrily shouted，“Why did you try to kill me？”The wise man calmly retorted with a question of his own：“Boy，when you were underneath the water，not sure if you would live to see another day，what did you want more than anything in the world？”
The student took a few moments to reflect，then went with his intuition。 Softly he said，“I wanted to breathe。”Socrates，now illuminated by his own huge smile，looked at the boy comfortingly and said，“Ah！When you want wisdom and insight as badly as you wanted to breathe，it is then that you shall have it。”
注：Socrates：古希腊哲学家苏格拉底。
15.There Are Friends and Friends
万般朋友
Twenty-one years ago，my husband gave me Sam，an eight-week-old schnauzer，to help ease the loss of our daughter，who was stillborn。 Sam and I developed a very special bond over the next fourteen years。It seemed that nothing that happened could ever change that。
At one point，my husband and I decided to relocate from our New York apartment to a new home in New Jersey。 After we were there awhile，our neighbor，whose cat had recently had kittens，asked us if we would like one。We were a little apprehensive about Sam's jealousy and how he would handle his turf being invaded，but we decided to risk it and agreed to take a kitten。
We picked a little gray，playful ball of fur。 It was like having a road runner in the house。She raced around chasing imaginary mice and squirrels and vaulted from table to chair in the blink of an eye，so we named her Lightning。
At first，Sam and Lightning were very cautious with each other and kept their distance。 But slowly，as the days went on，Lightning started following Sam——up the stairs，down the stairs，into the kitchen to watch him eat，into the living room to watch him sleep。As time passed，they became inseparable。When they slept，it was always together；when they ate，it was always next to each other。When I played with one，the other joined in。If Sam barked at something，Lightning ran to see what it was。When I took either one out of the house，the other was always waiting by the door when we returned。That was the way it was for years。Then，without any warning，Sam began suffering from convulsions and was diagnosed as having a weak heart。I had no other choice but to have him put down。The pain of making that decision，however，was nothing compared with what I experienced when I had to leave Sam at the vet and walk into our house alone。This time，there was no Sam for Lightning to greet and no way toexplain why she would never see her friend again。
In the days that followed，Lightning seemed heart-broken。 She could not tell me in words that she was suffering，but I could see the pain and disappointment in her eyes whenever anyone opened the front door，or the hope whenever she heard a dog bark。
The weeks wore on and the cat's sorrow seemed to be lifting。 One day as I walked into our living room，I happened to glance down on the floor next to our sofa where we had a sculptured replica of Sam that we had bought a few years before。Lying next to the statue，one arm wrapped around the statue's neck，was Lightning，contentedly sleeping with her best friend。
16.An Ill Man Is to Be Ill-Served
恶人总有恶报
When I was in junior high，the eighth-grade bully punched me in the stomach。 Not only did it hurt and make me angry，but the embarrassment and humiliation were almost intolerable。I wanted desperately to even the score！I planned to meet him by the bike racks the next day and let him have it。
For some reason，I told my plan to Nana，my grandmother——a big mistake。 She gave me one of her hour-long lectures（that woman could really talk）。The lecture was a total drag，but among other things，I vaguely remember her telling me that I didn't need to worry about him。She said，“Good deeds beget good results，and evil deeds beget bad results。”I told her，in a nice way，of course，that I thought she was full of it。I told her that I did good things all the time，and all I got in return was“baloney！”（I didn't use that word。）She stuck to her guns，though。She said，“Every good deed will come back to you someday，and every bad thing you do will also come back to you。”It took me 30 years to understand the wisdom of her words。
Nana was living in a board-and-care home in Laguna Hills，California。 Each Tuesday，I came by and took her out to dinner。I would always find her neatly dressed and sitting in a chair right by the front door。I vividly remember our very last dinner together before she went into the convalescent hospital。We drove to a nearby simple little family-owned restaurant。I ordered pot roast for Nana and a hamburger for myself。the food arrived and as I dug in，I noticed that Nana wasn't eating。She was just staring at the food on her plate。Moving my plate aside，I took Nana's plate，placed it in front of me，and cut her meat into small pieces。I then placed the plate back in front of her。As she very weakly，and with great difficulty，forked the meat into her mouth，I was struck with a memory that brought instant tears to my eyes。
Forty years previously，as a little boy sitting at the table。 Nana had always taken the meat on my plate and cut it into small pieces so I could eat it。It had taken 40 years，but the good deed had been repaid。Nana was right。We reap exactly what we sow。“Every good deed you do will someday come back to you。”
What about the eighth-grade bully？He ran into the ninth-grade bully。
注：to even the score：把比分扳平，比喻还击。
17.Love Can Produce Wonders
爱心出奇迹
I had been writing a newspaper column for almost 20 years。 As part of my work I had seen some of the darkest and unhappiest aspects of human nature，and I had written about them。It was beginning to get to me。
There were nights when I would go home from work and question the very nature of humanity，and wonder if there was any answer to the remitting cruelty I was observing and writing about so often。 Part of this had to do with a particular case I had been covering。The case involved one of the worst crimes I had ever encountered。
A beautiful，bright-eyed，four-year-old boy named Lattie McGee had been systematically tortured over the course of a long Chicago summer。 He had been beaten，he had been starved，he had been hanged upside down in a locked and darkened closet for nights on end。
All that summer his life dwindled agonizingly away in that closet，and no one knew he was there；no one heard his muffled cries。 After his death，when the police discovered what had been done to him，I wrote column after column about the people who had murdered him。So many cases of impoverished children from forgotten neighborhoods get lost in the court system。I wanted to make sure that Lattie McGee received justice，or something close to it。
With all the public interest in Lattie because of the columns，the story of his brother，whose name was Cornelius Abraham，did not receive as much attention。 The same things that were done to Lattie were done to Cornelius，too。Somehow he survived。He watched his brother slowly being killed and was unable to stop the killers。Cornelius'brave testimony in court is what helped to convict them。
By the end of the trial Cornelius had just turned nine。 He was a thin，extremely quiet boy；with his little brother dead and his mother and her boyfriend in prison，he was living with other relatives。The two great loves of his life were reading and basketball。
In one of the columns I had written about Lattie，I had mentioned Cornelius'passion for basketball。 Steve Schanwald，a vice president of the Chicago Bulls，had read the column and left a message at my office。Though tickets to Bulls'games were without exception sold out，Schanwald said that if Cornelius would like to come to a game he would be sure there were tickets available。Jim Bigoness，the Cook County assistant state's attorney who had delicately prepared Cornelius'testimony for the trial，and I took him to the game。
To every Chicago youngster who follows basketball，the stadium was a shrine。 Think of where Cornelius once was，locked up and tormented and hurt。And now he was in the stadium，about to see his first Bulls game。
We walked down a stairway，until we were in a lower-level hallway。 Cornelius stood between us。Then a door opened and a man came out。Cornelius looked up，and his eyes filled with a combination of wonder and awe and total disbelief。
Cornelius tried to say something；his mouth was moving but no words would come out。 He tried to speak and then the man helped out by speaking first。
“Hi，Cornelius，”the man said。“I'm Michael Jordan。”
Jordan knelt down and spoke quietly with Cornelius。 He made some jokes and told some stories about basketball and he didn't rush。You have to understand——for a long time the only adults Cornelius had any contact with were adults who wanted to hurt and humiliate him。And now Michael Jordan was saying，“Are you going to cheer for us today？We're going to need it。”
Jordan went back into the locker room to finish dressing for the game。 Bigoness and I walked Cornelius back upstairs to the court。There was one more surprise waiting。
Cornelius was given a red shirt of the kind worn by the Bulls'ball boys。 He retrieved balls for theplayers from both teams as they warmed up。
Then，as the game was about to begin，he was led to Jordan's seat on the Bulls'bench。 That's where he was going to sit——right next to Jordan's seat。During the minutes of the game when Jordan was out and resting，Cornelius would be sitting with him；when Jordan was on the court，Cornelius would be saving his seat for him。At one point late in the game Jordan took a pass and sailed into the air and slammed home a basket。And there，just a few feet away，was Cornelius Abraham，laughing out loud with joy。
I wanted to thank Jordan for taking the time to be so nice to Cornelius。 The meeting between them，I had learned，had been something that Jordan had volunteered for；he had been aware of the Lattie McGee case，and when he had heard that the Bulls were giving Cornelius tickets to the game，he had let it be known that he was available。
After the game，in the locker room after the last sportswriter left，Jordan got up to retrieve his gym bag and head for home。 As he walked toward the door of the locker room he saw me and stopped，and I said，“I just wanted to tell you how much Cornelius appreciated what you did for him。”
For a second I had the strange but undeniable impression that perhaps this was a man who didn't get thanked all that often——or at least that there were so many people endlessly lining up to beseech him for one thing or another that all he was accustomed to was the long file of faces in front of him wanting an autograph，a favor，a moment of his time，faces that would immediately be replaced by more faces with more entreaties。 He stood there waiting，as if he was so used to ceaselessly being asked for things that he thought my thanks on Cornelius'behalf might be the inevitable preface to petitioning him for something else。
When I didn't say anything，he said，“That's why you came back down here？”
“Well I don't think you know how much today meant to Cornelius，”I said。
“No，I'm just surprised that you came back down to tell me，”he said。
“My mom would kill me if I didn't，”I said，smiling。“She tried to raise me right。”
He smiled back，“Mine，too，”he said。
We shook hands and I turned to leave and I heard him say，“Do you come out to a lot of games？”
“First one，”I said。
“Well，you ought to come back，”he said。
注：Michael Jordan：麦克尔·乔丹；Chicago Bulls：芝加哥公牛队。
18.Good News Goes on Crutches；Ill News Spreads Afar
好事不出门，恶名千里扬
A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor。 Within a few days the whole community knew the story。The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended。Later the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned that it was completely untrue。She was very sorry and went to a wise old sage to find out what she could do to repair the damage。
“Go to the marketplace，”he said，“and purchase a chicken，and have it killed。 Then on your way home，pluck its feathers and drop them one by one along the road。”Although surprised by this advice，the woman did what she was told。
The next day the wise man said，“Now go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday andbring them back to me。”
The woman followed the same road，but to her dismay，the wind had blown the feathers all away。 After searching for hours，she returned with only three in her hand。“You see，”said the old sage，“it's easy to drop them，but it's impossible to get them back。So it is with gossip。It doesn't take much to spread a rumor，but once you do，you can never completely undo the wrong。”
19.An Appointment with Love
有情人终成眷属
Six minutes to six，said the great round clock over the information booth in Grand Central Station。 The tall young Army lieutenant who had just come from the direction of the tracks lifted his sunburned face，and his eyes narrowed to note the exact time。His heart was pounding with a beat that shocked him because he could not control it。In six minutes，he would see the woman who had filled such a special place in his life for the past 13 months，the woman he had never seen，yet whose written words had been with him and sustained him unfailingly。
He placed himself as close as he could to the information booth，just beyond the ring of people besieging the clerks……
Lieutenant Blandford remembered one night in particular，the worst of the fighting，when his plane had been caught in the midst of a pack of Zeros。 He had seen the grinning face of one of the enemy pilots。
In one of his letters，he had confessed to her that he often felt fear，and only a few days before this battle，he had received her answer：“Of course you fear……all brave men do。 Didn't King David know fear？That's why he wrote the 23rd Psalm。Next time you doubt yourself，I want you to hear my voice reciting to you：‘Yea，though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death，I shall fear no evil，for Thou art with me。'”And he had remembered；he had heard her imagined voice，and it had renewed his strength and skill。
Now he was going to hear her real voice。 Four minutes to six。His face grew sharp。
Under the immense，starred roof，people were walking fast，like threads of color being woven into a gray web。 A girl passed close to him，and Lieutenant Blandford started。She was wearing a red flower in her suit lapel，but it was a crimson sweet pea，not the little red rose they had agreed upon。Besides，this girl was too young，about 18，whereas Hollis Meynell had frankly told him she was 30.“Well，what of it？”he had answered，“I'm 32.”He was 29.
His mind went back to that book——the book the Lord Himself must have put into his hands out of the hundreds of Army library books sent to the Florida training camp。 Of Human Bondage，it was；and throughout the book were notes in a woman's writing。He had always hated that writing-in-habit，but these remarks were different。He had never believed that a woman could see into a man's heart so tenderly，so understandingly。Her name was on the bookplate：Hollis Meynell。He had got hold of a New York City telephone book and found her address。He had written，she had answered。Next day he had been shipped out，but they had gone on writing。
For 13 months，she had faithfully replied，and more than replied。 When his letters did not arrive she wrote anyway，and now he believed he loved her，and she loved him。
But she had refused all his pleas to send him her photograph。 That seemed rather bad，of course。But she had explained：“If your feeling for me has any reality，any honest basis，what I look like won't matter。Suppose I'm beautiful。I'd always be haunted by the feeling that you had been taking a chance onjust that，and that kind of love would disgust me。Suppose I'm plain（and you must admit that this is more likely）。Then I'd always fear that you were going on writing to me only because you were lonely and had no one else。No，don’t ask for my picture。When you come to New York，you shall see me and then you shall make your decision。Remember，both of us are free to stop or to go on after that——whichever we choose……”
One minute to six——he pulled hard on a cigarette。
Then Lieutenant Blandford's heart leaped higher than his plane had ever done。
A young woman was coming toward him。 Her figure was long and slim；her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears。Her eyes were blue as flowers，her lips and chin had a gentle firmness。In her pale green suit，she was like springtime come alive。
He started toward her，entirely forgetting to notice that she was wearing no rose，and as he moved，a small，provocative smile curved her lips。
“Going my way，soldier？”she murmured。
Uncontrollably，he made one step closer to her。 Then he saw Hollis Meynell。
She was standing almost directly behind the girl，a woman well past 40，her graying hair tucked under a worn hat。 She was more than plump；her thick-ankled feet were thrust into low-heeled shoes。But she wore a red rose in the rumpled lapel of her brown coat。
The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away。
Blandford felt as though he were being split in two，so keen was his desire to follow the girl，yet so deep was his longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and upheld his own；and there she stood。 Her pale，plump face was gentle and sensible；he could see that now。Her gray eyes had a warm，kindly twinkle。
Lieutenant Blandford did not hesitate。 His fingers gripped the small worn，blue leather copy of Of Human Bondage，which was to identify him to her。This would not be love，but it would be something precious，something perhaps even rarer than love——a friendship for which he had been and must ever be grateful。
He squared his broad shoulders，saluted and held the book out toward the woman，although even while he spoke he felt shocked by the bitterness of his disappointment。
“I'm Lieutenant John Blandford，and you——you are Miss Meynell。 I'm so glad you could meet me。May……may I take you to dinner？”
The woman's face broadened in a tolerant smile。“I don't know what this is all about，son，”she answered。“That young lady in the green suit——the one who just went by——begged me to wear this rose on my coat。 And she said that if you asked me to go out with you，I should tell you that she's waiting for you in that big restaurant across the street。She said it was some kind of a test。I've got two boys with Uncle Sam myself，so I didn't mind to oblige you。”
注：Of Human Bondage：《枷锁》，英国作家毛姆1915年出版的小说。
20.There Is More Than One Way to Skin a Cat
条条道路通罗马
Every learner of English knows the proverb，“All roads lead to Rome”。 Sometime ago，a university professor was gave his students a physics examination。He was about to give a student a zero for hisanswer to a physics question，while the student claimed he should receive a perfect score and would if the system were not set up against the student。The instructor and the student agreed to submit this to an impartial arbiter，and this was what happened。
The examination question was：“Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer。”
The student answered：“Take the barometer to the top of the building，attach a long rope to it，lower the barometer to the street，and then bring it up，measuring the length of the rope。 The length of the rope is the height of the building。”
The arbiter pointed out that the student really had a strong case for full credit，since he had answered the question completely and correctly。 On the other hand，if full credit were given，it could well contribute to a high grade for the student in his physics course。A high grade is supposed to certify competence in physics，but the answer did not confirm this。He suggested that the student have another try at answering the question。Not surprisingly，the physics professor agreed，but surprisingly，the student also agreed。
The student was given six minutes to answer the question，with the warning that his answer should show some knowledge or physics。 At the end of five minutes，he had not written anything。When asked if he wished to give up，but he said no。He had many answers to this problem；he was just thinking of the best one。In the next minute，he dashed off his answer which read：
“Take the barometer to the top of the building and lean over the edge of the roof。 Drop the barometer，timing its fall with a stopwatch。Then，using the formula S=？at2，calculate the height of the building。”
At this point，the physics professor conceded，and the student was given almost full credit。
In leaving，the arbiter recalled that the student had said he had other answers to the problem，so he asked him what they were。“Oh，yes，”said the student。“There are many ways of getting the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer。 For example，you could take the barometer out on a sunny day and measure the height of the barometer，the length of its shadow，and the length of the shadow of the building，and by the use of a simple proportion，determine the height of the building。”
“Fine，”the arbiter said。“And the others？”
“Yes，”said the student。“There is a very basic measurement method that you will like。 In this method，you take the barometer and begin to walk up the stairs。As you climb the stairs，you mark off the length of the barometer along the wall。You then count the number of marks，and this will give you the height of the building in barometer units。A very direct method。”
“Of course，if you want a more sophisticated method，you can tie the barometer to the end of a string，swing it as a pendulum，and determine the value of‘g'at the street level and at the top of the building。 From the difference between the two values of‘g'，the height of the building can，in principle，be calculated。”
Finally he concluded，there are many other ways of solving the problem。“Probably the best，”he said，“is to take the barometer to the basement and knock on the superintendent's door。 When the superintendent answers，you speak to him as follows：‘Mr。Superintendent，here I have a fine barometer。If you will tell me the height of this building，I will give you this barometer。'”
21.An Honored Death Honors the Whole Life
蜡炬成灰泪始干
The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying。 At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that，for all intents and purposes，my life has stopped。
When that happens，do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine。 And don't call this my deathbed。Let it be called the Bed of Life，and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives。
Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise，a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman。 Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain。Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car，so that he might live to see his grandchildren play。Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week。Take my bones，every muscle，every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk。
Explore every corner of my brain。 Take my cells，if necessary，and let them grow so that someday，a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window。
Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow。
If you must bury something，let it be my faults，my weaknesses and all prejudice against my fellow man。
Give my sins to the devil。 Give my soul to God。
If，by chance，you wish to remember me，do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you。 If you do all I have asked，I will live forever。
