雨后陽光傳來暖意

多年的風雨毀壞了古老的風車。
Its wheel, rusted and fallen, lay silent in the lush bluegrass.
車輪已經銹了，倒了，靜靜地躺臥在茂盛的六月禾叢中。
Its once animated silhouette was now a tall motionless steeple in the twilight sun.
在落日的襯托下，曾經散發(fā)著生氣的風車如今如聳立的尖塔般冰冷、生硬。
I hadn't walked across our old farm in fifteen years. Yet the sensations came flooding back.
我已經有十五年沒有走過我們的農場了。然而，那些感覺又洶涌而至。
I could smell the freshness of new mown alfalfa. I could feel the ping of the ice cold summer rain,
我仿佛聞到了新割的苜蓿的清新氣息，感覺到了冰冷夏雨敲打在身上，
and the sun's sudden warmth on my wet shoulders when it reappeared after a brisk July thunderstorm.
還有七月的雨后陽光照射在濕漉漉的身上驟然傳來的暖意。
Rain or shine, I used to walk this path each day to see Greta.
無論雨天或晴天，我曾經天天沿著這條小徑去探望葛麗塔。
She always made me smile, even after Sis and I had just had a big squabble.
即使我剛和姐姐大吵了一場，她也總能使我舒懷微笑。
I would help Greta with her chores.
我會幫葛麗塔做些家務。
Then we would visit over a generous helping of her delicious homemade chocolate cookies and ice cream.
然后，我們會大快朵頤，品嘗她親手做的巧克力曲奇餅和冰淇淋。
Being confined to a wheel chair didn't stop Greta from being a fabulous cook.
以輪椅代步并不妨礙她成為一名出色的廚師。
Greta gave me two of the greatest gifts I've ever received.
葛麗塔送給我兩件最了不起的禮物。
First, she taught me how to read.
首先，她教會了我認字。
She also taught me that when I forgave Sis for our squabbles, it meant I wouldn't keep feeling like a victim.
而且，在她身上我還學會一樣東西，讓我不再記恨于與我爭吵的姐姐，讓我不再覺得委屈，
Instead, I would feel sunny.
心情因此也就開朗起來。
Mr. Dinking, the local banker, tried to foreclose on Greta's house and land after her husband passed away.
在葛麗塔的丈夫去世后，當地的銀行家丁肯先生曾經要收取她抵押給了銀行的房子。
Thanks to Pa and Uncle Johan, Greta got to keep everything.
幸虧有爸爸和約翰叔叔的幫忙，葛麗塔才保住了一切。
Pa said that it was the least he could do for someone talented enough to teach me to read!
爸爸說，對一位聰明得能教會我認字的人，這只是他力所能及的一件小事！
Soon folks were coming from miles around to buy Greta's homemade cakes, pies, breads, cookies, cider, and ice cream.
很快，方圓數英里的人們都來買葛麗塔做的蛋糕、餡餅、面包、曲奇餅、蘋果酒和冰淇淋。