The Giving Trees

时间：2006-09-09 08:05:29

（单词翻译:单击）

 was a single parent of four small children, working at a minimum-wage job. Money was always tight1, but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always enough. My kids told me that in those days they didn't know we were poor. They just thought Mom was cheap. I've always been glad about that.

It was Christmas time, and although there wasn't' money for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with church and family, parties and friends, drives downtown to see the Christmas lights, special dinners, and by decorating our home.

But the big excitement for the kids was the fun of Christmas shopping at the mall. They talked and planned for weeks ahead of time, asking each other and their grandparents what they wanted for Christmas. I dreaded2 it. I had saved $120 for presents to be shared by all five of us.

The big day arrived and we started out early. I gave each of the four kids a twenty dollar bill and reminded them to look for gifts about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered3. We had two hours to shop; then we would meet back at the "Santa's workshop" display.

Back in the car driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, laughing and teasing4 each other with hints5 and clues6 about what they had bought. My younger daughter, Ginger7, who was about eight years old, was unusually quiet. I noted8 she had only one small, flat bag with her after her shopping spree. I could see enough through the plastic bag to tell that she had bought candy bars - fifty-cent candy bars! I was so angry. What did you do with that twenty dollar bill I gave you? I wanted to yell9 at her, but I didn't say anything until we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be angry again when I asked her what she had done with the money. This is what she told me:

"I was looking around, thinking of what to buy, and I stopped to read the little cards on one of the Salvation10 Army's 'Giving Trees.' One of the cards was for a little girl, four years old, and all she wanted for Christmas was a doll with clothes and a hairbrush. So I took the card off the tree and bought the doll and hairbrush for her and took it to the Salvation Army booth11.

"I only had enough money left to buy candy bars for us," Ginger continued. "But we have so much and she doesn't have anything."

I never felt so rich as I did that day.

分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 tight toCwI     
adj.紧的；难解的；紧密的
参考例句：
  • Time is going to be tight,so you'd better hurry.时间很紧，你最好抓紧一点。
  • The box is so tight that I can't open it.这个盒子太紧，我打不开。
2 dreaded XuNzI3     
adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句：
  • The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
  • He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
3 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。
4 teasing b0a55d9bbec76684d03d555d84e3ad65     
adj.戏弄的，逗趣的v.取笑，戏弄( tease的现在分词 )；梳理（羊毛等）
参考例句：
  • Don't get upset—I was only teasing. 别不高兴，我只是在逗你玩。
  • I didn't think you meant that seriously;I thought you were teasing. 我未想到你是当真的，我原以为你是开玩笑的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 hints 5c46d2ae701d6e051ab02ba90e2b3e92     
n.建议( hint的名词复数 )；细微的迹象；征兆
参考例句：
  • This list of hints help the new students a lot. 这一系列的建议对新生帮助很大。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Don't give him any hints when he answers the question. 在他回答问题时，不要给他提示。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
6 clues 9d00bc3f77d47d282f0cac3d3329043e     
n.线索( clue的名词复数 )；提示；（帮助警方破案的）线索；（纵横填字谜、游戏或问题的）提示词语
参考例句：
  • The police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer. 警方认为那盘录像带可能录有能确认凶手身份的一些重要线索。
  • contextual clues to the meaning 上下文提供的理解其含义的线索
7 ginger bzryX     
n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气
参考例句：
  • There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
  • Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。
8 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
9 yell cfQwN     
vi./n.号叫，叫喊
参考例句：
  • This gave them a chance to yell.这给了他们大声喊叫的机会。
  • When his schoolmate made the last goal,the boy gave out with an untrammeled yell.那个男孩在他的同学踢进最后一球时不禁纵声欢呼。
10 salvation nC2zC     
n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困
参考例句：
  • Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
  • Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。
11 booth eRzyG     
n.小房间，公用电话亭，岗亭；货摊
参考例句：
  • Where can I find a telephone booth?我在哪儿可以找到电话亭？
  • Let's walk around to each booth.我们到每个摊子转一转吧！

©2005-2010英文阅读网