读者文摘:最美的赞歌(2)（在线收听）

When we got inside, he introduced us.

我们进去后，他给我们做了介绍。

I addressed her as Miss Myrtle to show extra respect.

我称呼她为桃金娘小姐，表示额外的尊重。

She was a strong- looking 75-year-old with roller-set hair.

她看上去有75岁，很强壮，头发卷成一圈。

Her greeting was polite but not particularly warm.

她的问候很有礼貌，但并不是那么热情。

But over the next week I took her to Tulsa to run errands, I fixed her chicken coop,

但接下来的一个星期，我帮她去塔尔萨跑腿，我修好了她的鸡舍，

and I used all my best manners, and by that Friday I was winning her over.

我尽了最大的努力，到那个星期五，我已经赢得了她的心。

At dinner that night she said to me, “You know, Alistair, it’s been nice having you here.

那天晚饭时，她对我说：“你知道吗，阿利斯泰尔，你在这里真好。

Now, you know this Sunday is Mother’s Day.

现在，你知道这个星期天是母亲节。

Of course, at my age I never know if this could be my last Mother’s Day. There’s just one thing I want.

当然，在我这个年纪，我永远不知道这是否会是我最后一个母亲节。我只想要一样东西。

I would like you to be my special guest at church on Sunday.” Then she said, “Of course, I know you are into your traditional ways.

我希望你星期天在教堂做我的特别客人。然后她说：“当然，我知道你喜欢你们的传统方式。”

So if you don’t feel comfortable going it’s OK, as long as you know this could be my last Mother’s Day.”

所以如果你觉得不想去，没关系，只要你知道这可能是我最后一个母亲节。”

When the invitation is put like that, there is really only one thing I could say, which was,

当这样发出邀请时，我能说的只有一件事，那就是，

“I’d love to be your special guest on Mother’s Day.” We got to the church. It was a one- room country church.

“我很乐意在母亲节成为你的特别客人。“我们到了教堂。这是一座只有一间房的乡村教堂。

There were about 50 to 60 people, mostly elders from Miss Myrtle’s tribe.

大约有50到60人，大部分是来自桃金娘部落的长者。

The services started, and they weren’t that different from the ones that I remembered my mom taking me to when I was young, until they got to one part.

这些仪式开始了，它们和我记忆中我小的时候妈妈带我去的那些仪式并没有什么不同，直到进行到一个环节。

People could walk up the center aisle and put some money into this little wooden collection box,

人们可以沿着中间的通道走，往这个木制的小收集箱里放一些钱，

and that bought them the privilege of inviting somebody from the congregation to come up and sing a “Special.” A Special, it turned out, is a solo hymn.

这使他们有幸邀请会众中的某个人来唱“特别”。结果发现，特别是一首独唱赞歌。

A few people walked up, donated their money, selected their guests, their guests all sang beautifully, and everyone was happy.

几个人走上前来，捐钱，挑选客人，客人们都唱得很动听，每个人都很高兴。

And then Miss Myrtle started up the aisle.

接着，桃金娘小姐走上了过道。