The Secret of Happiness 幸福的秘密

by Steve Brunkhorst 史蒂夫·布伦克霍斯特

    受到他人对你的关爱，这固然是一种幸福。但是获得幸福还有一种更简单的方法，那就是关爱别人。你的一个眼神、一个微笑、一句温暖的话语或一个善意的举动，都可能给他人带来幸福的感觉。当你学会关心身边的人，为他们着想，为他们付出，你在给他们带去幸福的同时，幸福也会降临到你身上！

   [1] The old man shuffled¹ slowly into the restaurant. With head tilted² and shoulders bent forward, he leaned on his trusty³ cane with each unhurried step.

   [2] His tattered⁴ cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and warm personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that sparkled like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips held in a tight, steady smile.

   [3] He stopped, turned with his whole body, and winked at a little girl seated by the door. She flashed a big grin right back at him. A young waitress named Mary watched him shuffle toward a table by the window.

   [4] Mary ran over to him, and said, “Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair.”

   [5] Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she scooted⁵ the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it.

   [6] In a soft, clear voice he said, “Thank you, Miss. And bless you for your kind gestures.”

   [7] “You're welcome, Sir.” She replied. “And my name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything at all in the mean time, just wave at me!”

   [8] After he had finished a hearty⁶ meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change from his check. He left it on the table. She helped him up from his chair, and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door.

   [9] Holding the door open for him, she said, “Come back and see us, Sir!”

   [10] He turned with his whole body, winked a smile, and nodded a thank you. “You are very kind.” he said softly.

   [11] When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted⁷. Under his plate she found a business card, and a note scribbled⁸ on a napkin. Under the napkin was a one hundred dollar bill.

   [12] The note on the napkin read...

   [13] “Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you.”

   [14] The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees had ever seen him in person⁹.

   [1] 那位老人拖着缓慢的脚步走进了餐厅。他歪着头，肩膀前屈，拄着拐杖不紧不慢地走着。

   [2] 他那破烂的外套、布满补丁的裤子、穿破了的鞋子和热情的性格，使他在星期六来这里吃早餐的人群中分外突出。最令人难忘的是，他那双浅蓝色的眼珠像钻石一样发光，他的脸颊宽大而红润，薄薄的嘴唇始终展露着一丝微笑。

   [3] 他停下了脚步，整个身子转了过来，并向坐在门口旁边的一个小女孩使了一下眼色。她马上向他咧嘴一笑。一位叫做玛丽的年轻女服务生看到他拖着脚步向窗边的一张桌子走去。

   [4] 玛丽跑到他跟前，说：“先生，我来帮您就座吧。”

   [5] 他一言不发，只是微笑着点了一下头，以示感谢。她把椅子从桌子旁边拉开来，然后一只手扶着他，帮他移到椅子前面，并舒服地坐下来。接着，她把桌子挪到他跟前，还把他的拐杖靠在桌子旁他能够得着的地方。

   [6] 他用温和而清楚的声音说：“谢谢你，小姐。你真是好人，上天会保佑你的。”

   [7]“不用谢，先生。”她回答说，“我的名字叫玛丽。我很快就会回来，如果期间您有任何需要，向我挥挥手就行了！”

   [8] 在他吃完了一顿薄煎饼、熏肉和热柠檬茶的丰盛早餐后，玛丽把他结帐后的零钱拿了回来，他把零钱留在了桌上。她帮他从椅子上站起来，然后从桌子后面走出来。她把他的拐杖递给他，并陪他走到前门。

   [9] 玛丽帮他把门打开，并说：“先生，欢迎您下次再来！”

   [10]他整个身子转过来，眨眼一笑，点头表示感谢。“你真是好人。”他温和地说。

   [11]当玛丽走过去清理他的桌子时，她几乎晕倒了。在他的盘子下面，她发现了一张名片和一块餐巾纸，上面很潦草地写着一个便条。在餐巾纸下面是一张一百美元的钞票。

   [12]餐巾纸上面的便条写着：

   [13]“亲爱的玛丽，我非常尊敬你，你也十分尊重你自己。这从你对待他人的方式上可以看得出来。你已经找到了幸福的秘密。你那友善的举止会照亮所有遇到你的人。”

   [14]她刚才招待的那个男人就是她工作的这家餐厅的老板。这是她和其他任何员工第一次看到他本人。

【疯狂注释】

1.   shuffle  v. 拖着脚步走

2.   tilted  adj. 倾斜的；翘起的

3.   trusty  adj. 可信赖的；可靠的

4.   tattered  adj. 破烂的；褴褛的

5.   scoot  v. 挪开

6.   hearty  adj. 丰盛的

7.   faint  v. 晕倒

8.   scribble  v. 潦草的写

9.   in person  亲自；亲身

【额外成就感】

1.   stand out  明显；突出

    ☆ We had lots of good applicants for the position, but one stood out from the rest.
       有很多优秀的候选人应聘这个职位，但其中有一个特别突出。

2.   give sb. a hand with sth.  帮某人做某事

    ☆ Could you give me a hand with the piano? It’s too heavy.
       你能帮我搬一下这部钢琴吗？它太重了。