For many of us, one Christmas stands out from all the others, the one when the meaning of the day shone clearest. My own truest Christmas began on a rainy spring day in the bleakest year of my life.

　　對我們許多人來說，總有某一個圣誕節(jié)因為我們充分感受到這一天的意義而顯得格外難忘。我自己的最真實的圣誕節(jié)發(fā)生在我一生中最為凄涼的那一年。

　　Recently divorced, I was in my 20s, had no job and was on my way downtown to go the rounds of the employment offices. I had no umbrella, for my old one had fallen apart, and I could not afford another one. I sat down in the streetcar--and there against the seat was a beautiful silk umbrella with a silver handle inlaid with gold and necks of bright enamel. I had never seen anything so lovely.

　　話得從春季的一個雨天開始說起，20多歲的我，剛剛離婚，沒有工作，正再一次趕往市中心的求職處。我沒帶傘，舊傘已經破損，而新的又買不起。我在有軌電車里坐下來，發(fā)現(xiàn)座位邊有一把漂亮的絲質傘，銀把手上面還鑲嵌著金子和亮麗的小片琺瑯。我從沒見過這么漂亮的東西。

　　I examined the handle and saw a name engraved among the golden scrolls. The usual procedure would have been to turn in the umbrella to the conductor, but on impulse I decided to take it with me and find the owner myself. I got off the streetcar in a downpour and thankfully opened the umbrella to protect myself. Then I searched a telephone book for the name on the umbrella and found it. I called and a lady answered.

　　我查看了把手，發(fā)現(xiàn)在金色的卷軸中刻著一個名字。在這種情況下，人們通常的做法是把傘交給售票員，但我一時沖動決定把傘留著，自己去找失主。我在傾盆大雨中下了車，感激不盡地打開那把傘遮雨。隨后我在電話簿里查找傘上的名字，確有其人。我打了個電話，接電話的是一位女士。