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珍贵的礼物 the gift（第1页）

哈蒂·梅·拉特里夫

HattieMaeRatliff

Onemorningmyoldestdaughter，Rhonda，rushedinmyfrontdoor“Mom，themostwonderfulthingjusthaened。”

Ismiled，rememberingRhondasenthusiasmasayounggirl，whenshewouldcomebarrelingintoourhomewithnewsofherday。Now，asawifeandmotheroftwo，shecouldstillenerclizearoom。

“Goodmorning，Rhonda，andagoodmorningtoyoutoo，sweetea，”Isaid，ickingumytwo-year-oldgranddaughter。“Letssitandhavecoffeeandcookies。Thenyoucantellmeallaboutyournews。”Turningaround，Ilookedatmydaughter。“Areyouregnant?”

“No，Mom，”Rhondaanswered。Sittingwithhercoffeecuinhand，shesighedwithexcitement。“Mrs。Perkins，thedirectorofSaintFrancisSchool，toldmethismorningthatananonymousersonisayingGregstuition。Mom，theyreayinghistuitionforthewholeyear。”

Rhondaseyesfilledwithtearsasshegrabbedmyhand。“Wasityou，Mom?Youanddad?”

“No，Iwishwecould，butitwasntus。”Isaid。

Rhondaandherhusband，Gilhadbothselectedtheroleofeducatorsfortheircareers。Irememberedwhen，asnewlyweds，theysetofffortheirfirstteachingjobs，readytochangetheworld，onechildatatime，ifnecessary。

AfterRebekahwasborn，RhondaandGildecidedtotightentheirbeltsandliveononeincome。Rhondagaveuheraidteachingjobandbecameafull-time，stay-a-homemom，reservingherteachingforherownlittleone。

Thiswasgreatfortheirchildrenbuthardontheirocketbook。Gregshowedsignsofbeingagiftedchildandcouldreadattheageofthree。RhondaandGiltalkedatlengthanddecidedtosendhimtoarivatereschoolfortwodaysaweek。Theschoolwasexensive，butitofferedgreatteacherswithsmallclassroomsandroducedgoodresults。Knowingtheywouldhavedifficultyayingthetuitionalone，theyhadrequestedaartialscholarshi。Thedirectorassuredthemthiswasacommonracticeandthattheyhadseveralalumniwhoheledoutfromtimetotime。NoonehaddreamedsomeonewouldaythewholeamountofGregstuition。

Rhonda，stillholdingthenotefromtheschoolinherhand，said。“IjustwishIknewwhowassogenerous。”

“Rhonda，Ithinkthat，whoeverthebenefactoris，itmustbeimortanttothemtokeetheiridentityrivate。”Givingherahug，Icontinued，“Countyourblessings。Andsomedayyoucandothesameforsomeoneelse。”

“Mom，youresuchaollyanna!ButIsurewouldliketoknow。Thatsalotofmoney。Iwroteathank-younoteandaskedMrs。Perkinstoseethatthedonorreceivesit。”

Severalmonthslater，neartheendoftheschoolyear，RhondawasdroingRebekahoffatmyhousetosendacouleofhourswhilesheransomequickerrands。Wesaidourgood-byesasRhondahuntedthroughherurseforhermislacedkeys。

“Shoot，Iforgottosignandreturnthis，”shesaid，retrievinganenveloe。Greghadbroughthomeaermissionslitoattendafieldtri。Whensheoenedtheenveloe，asmallieceofinkaerfelltothefloor。

“Whatsthis?”Iasked，ickingutheaerandhandingittoRhonda。

Rhondascannedtheaer。“Mom，look，”shesaidastearsrolleddownherface。“ItwasChristie，ChristieLeeks。SomeoneintheSaintFrancisofficemusthaveutthisreceitinGregsenveloebymistake。”Christiewasmakingmonthlyaymentsof$120forGregstuition。

ChristieLeekswasayounggirlwhohadbeeninRhondasfirstdanceclassatthehighschoolwhereshehadtaughtfiveyearsearlier。ChristiehadlivedintheMethodistHomeasawardofthestate。RhondaandGilhadtakenChristieandanotherstudentwholivedatthefosterhomeundertheirwings。TheyinvitedthemtotheirhomeforSundaydinners，bakedthembirthdaycakes，counseledandlovedthem。Aftertwoyears，RhondaandGilmovedtoanothercityandnewjobs。Theylostcontactwiththeotherstudent，whohadmovedoutofthecountry，butstayedintouchwithChristieovertheyears。RhondaandGileventraveledbacktoattendChristieshighschoolgraduationandthenheledhermoveintoacollegedorm。

“Howcansheayforthis?”Rhondaasked。“Thishastobeahardshionher;Iknowsheisonlymakingstudentwages。Wecantaccetthis。Ihavetocallherandtellhertosto。”

“Rhonda，itsobviouslyimortanttoChristieforyounottoknow。Youcanttellheryoufoundouthersecret。”

Afewmonthslater，duringGregssummervacationfromschool，Christiestoedbytovisitandcelebrateabelatedbirthday。Thatnight，RhondaandChristiesatutalking，whiletherestofthehouseholdslet。Christie，abouttograduatefromcollegewithhonors，hadmetasecialyoungman。

“Iamsoroudofyou，Christie，”Rhondasaid。“Youhavegrownintoasecialyoungwoman。Ialwaysknewyouwould，fromthefirstdayIsawyouinclass。”

“Mrs。Davidson，Iwanttoshowyousomething，”ChristiesaidasshewenttoherovernightbagandretrievedherBible。Oeningit，sheremovedthethank-younoteRhondaandGilhadwrittentotheanonymouscontributor。“Wouldyoureadthis，Mrs。Davidson?”

AsRhondareadthenotealoud，shehadtoswallowtheluminherthroat。

Rhondareadthelastsentence……

Weonlyhoethatonedaywecangivetoachildasyouhavesogenerouslygiventoourchild。

“Dontyouknow，Mrs。Davidson?Iamthatchild。YouandMr。Davidsontaughtmeandgavemesomuch。ThiswasasmallwayIcouldsay‘Thankyou。’”

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