英语散文：Presents To Mother

 　　There was a woman who had three sons. When they had grown up the sons left home went out on their own and prospered¹ years later. Getting back together they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.

　　一个女人有3个儿子。长大成人后，儿子们纷纷出外谋生，数年后功成名就。回到家乡，他们聚在一起，商量送什么礼物给年迈的母亲。

　　The first said "I will build a big house for our mother."

　　第一个说：“我要给母亲建一所大房子。”

　　The second said "I will send her a Mercedes with a driver."

　　第二个说：“我要把一辆梅塞德斯连同司机一起送给母亲。”

　　The third said "Remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible And you know she can't see very well. I sent her a remarkable² parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the church 12 years to teach him. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse³ and the parrot recites it."

　　第三个说：“你们还记得吧？妈妈特别喜欢读《圣经》。你们也知道，她的眼现在有点花了。我要送她一只非同寻常的鹦鹉，这只鹦鹉可以将整部《圣经》背诵下来，神父们花了12年的时间才教会它。妈妈只需要说出篇章、段落，这只鹦鹉就能把它背出来。”

　　Soon thereafter⁴ mom sent out her letters of thanks.

　　之后不久，母亲给儿子们分别回信表示感谢。

　　"Milton" she wrote to one son "the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room but I have to clean the whole house."

　　“米尔顿，”她在信中给一个儿子写道，“你为我建的房子实在有点太大了，我只住一个房间，却需要打扫整所房子。”

　　"Gerald" she wrote to another "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home so I rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude"

　　“杰罗德，”她给另一个儿子写道，“我太老了，不能再出去旅游了。大部分时间我都待在家里，那辆梅塞德斯很少用。而且，那个司机也太粗鲁了！”

　　"Dearest Donald" she wrote to her third son "you have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious."

　　“我最亲爱的唐纳德，”在给第三个儿子的信中她写道，“你最知道妈妈需要什么，那只小鸡非常好吃。”

1 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 verse   

n.诗，韵文，诗行

参考例句：

• He is good at verse.他善于作诗。
• His book was in parts written in verse.他的书有许多地方是用韵文写的。

4 thereafter   

adv.此后，以后

参考例句：

• Thereafter they did not speak.此后他们就不再讲话了。
• On the opening day all tickets are a dollar, thereafter,they'll be two dollars.开张那天票价一元，以后两元。