"Mary's been hurt badly," I explained gently, "and she's so quiet because she's afraid she'll be hurt again. You see, her mother just died, and there's no one else who loves her. You must be very patient and understanding. It may be a long time before she's ready to laugh and join in your games, but you can do a lot to help her."

Bless all children. How loving they can be once they understand. On Valentine's Day, Mary's envelope overflowed. She looked at each card without comment and replaced it in her container. She didn't take them home, but at least she looked at them.

She arrived at school insufficiently dressed for the bitterly cold weather. Her raw, chapped hands - without mittens（手套） - cracked and bled. Although she seemed oblivious to sore hands and the cold, I sewed buttons on her thin coat, and the children brought caps, scarves（围巾） , sweaters and mittens. Kristie, like a little mother, helped Mary bundle up before she went outdoors, and she insisted on walking to and from school with her.

In spite of our efforts, we seemed to be getting no closer to Mary as the cold, dreary（沉闷的，枯燥的） March days dragged by. Even my faith was wearing thin. My heart ached so desperately, wanting this child to come alive, to be aware of the beauty the wonder, the fun - and, yes - even the pain of living.

Dear God, I prayed, please let one small miracle happen. She needs it so desperately.

Then on a late March day, one of the boys excitedly reported a robin（知更鸟） in the schoolyard. We flocked to the window to see it. "Spring's here!" the children cried. "Let's make a flower border for the room!"

Why not? I thought. Anything to lift our spirits. This time the papers we selected were beautiful pastel（蜡笔，颜料） colors - with brown strips to weave into baskets. I showed the children how to weave the baskets and how to fashion all the flowers we welcome in early spring. Remembering the valentine incident, I expected nothing from Mary; nevertheless, I placed the beautifully colored papers on her desk and encouraged her to try. Then I left the children to do their own creating, and I spent the next half-hour sorting scraps of paper at the back of the room.

Suddenly, Kristie came hurrying to me, her face aglow（通红的） . "Come see Mary's basket," she exclaimed. "It's so pretty! You'll never believe it!"

I caught my breath at its beauty. The gently curled petals（花瓣，翼瓣） of hyacinths（风信子） , the daffodils'（水仙花） fluted（有凹槽的） cups, skillfully fashioned crocuses（番红花） and violets - work one would expect from a child much older.

"Mary," I said. "This is beautiful. How did you ever manage?"

She looked at me with the shining eyes of any normal little girl. "My mother loved flowers," she said simply. "She had all of these growing in our garden."

Thank you, God, I said silently. You've given us the miracle. I knelt and put my arms around the child. Then the tears came, slowly at first, but soon she was sobbing her heart out against my shoulder. The other children had tears in their eyes, too, but theirs - like mine - were tears of joy.

We fastened her basket in the very center of the border at the front of the room. It remained there until school ended in June. On the last day, Mary held it carefully as she carried it out the door. Then she came running back, pulled a crocus from her basket and handed it to me. "This is for you," she said, and she gave me a hug and a Mary moved away that summer. I lost track of her, but I'll never forget her. And I know God is caring for her.

I've kept the crocus in my desk ever since - just to remind me of Mary and of the enduring power of love and faith.

点击收听单词发音  

1 caressing     

爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的

参考例句：

The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。

He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里，不断抚摸着鞑靼，它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。

2 drawn     

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。

Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 inmate     

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。

The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

4 psychiatrist     

n.精神病专家；精神病医师

参考例句：

He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。

The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。

5 jealousy     

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。

I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

6 desolate     

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。

We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

7 subdued     

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。

I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

8 engrossed     

adj.全神贯注的

参考例句：

The student is engrossed in his book.这名学生正在专心致志地看书。

No one had ever been quite so engrossed in an evening paper.没人会对一份晚报如此全神贯注。

9 enrolled     

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，

11 inadequate     

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。

She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

12 shunning     

v.避开，回避，避免( shun的现在分词 )

参考例句：

My flight was more a shunning of external and internal dangers. 我的出走是要避开各种外在的和内在的威胁。 来自辞典例句

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