第01章 童年
§1
第01章 童年Chapter 1—Childhood
§2
我于1827年11月26日出生于美国缅因州的戈勒姆。我的父亲姓哈门名罗伯特，母亲名友尼基，他们多年居住在缅因州。他们早年加入卫理公会，而且是热心虔诚的教友，曾在教会担任重要职务，四十年来致力于劝化罪人，并从事建设上帝的圣工。在这些年间，他们欢欢喜喜地看见自己的八个儿女都已悔改归入基督的羊圈。{CET 13.1}[1]
§3
I was born at Gorham, Maine, November 26, 1827. My parents, Robert and Eunice Harmon, were for many years residents of this State. In early life they became earnest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In that church they held prominent connection, and labored for the conversion of sinners, and to build up the cause of God, for a period of forty years. During this time they had the joy of seeing their children, eight in number, all converted and gathered into the fold of Christ.?{CET 13.1}[1]
§4
当我还作孩子的时候，我的父母从戈勒姆搬到了缅因州的波特兰。在这里，当我九岁的那年，一件不幸的事故临到了我，以致影响到我整个的一生。我和我的孪生姐姐并一个同学一同走过波特兰的市府公地时，有一个年约十三岁的女孩为了一点小事生气，把一块石头扔了过来，打中我的鼻子。我被石头击昏，失去知觉，晕倒在地。{CET 13.2}[2]
§5
【Misfortune】
§6
While I was but a child, my parents removed from Gorham to Portland, Maine. Here, at the age of nine years, an accident happened to me which was to affect my whole life. In company with my twin sister and one of our schoolmates, I was crossing a common in the city of Portland, when a girl about thirteen years of age, becoming angry at some trifle, threw a stone that hit me on the nose. I was stunned by the blow, and fell senseless to the ground.?{CET 13.2}[2]
§7
当我醒来的时候，发现自己是在一家商店里。有一位和善的陌生人自愿用他的马车送我回家，但我当时还不知道自己是多么软弱，便告诉他说我更愿意自己走回家去。当时在场的人都没有想到我所受的伤是那么的严重，竟让我走回去；可是我只走了几十步，就觉得头晕目眩。我的孪生姐姐和同学便把我抬回了家里。{CET 13.3}[3]
§8
When consciousness returned, I found myself in a merchant’s store. A kind stranger offered to take me home in his carriage, but I, not realizing my weakness, told him that I preferred to walk. Those present were not aware that my injury was so serious, and allowed me to go; but after walking only a few rods, I grew faint and dizzy. My twin sister and my schoolmate carried me home.?{CET 13.3}[3]
§9
在遭遇这次意外事故以后的一段时期，我什么事都不记得了。母亲说，那时我什么也不理会，只是昏昏迷迷地睡了三个星期。当时没有人相信我会复原的，只有母亲，出于某种原因，她总是感觉到我会活下去。{CET 14.1}[4]
§10
I have no recollection of anything further for some time after the accident. My mother said that I noticed nothing, but lay in a stupor for three weeks. No one but herself thought it possible for me to recover, but for some reason she felt that I would live.?{CET 14.1}[4]
§11
及至我神智恢复之后，仿佛觉得是从梦中醒来。我不记得这件意外的事，也不晓得自己生病的原因。有人为我作了一张很大的摇床，我在里面躺了好些个星期。我变得骨瘦如柴了。{CET 14.2}[5]
§12
When I again aroused to consciousness, it seemed to me that I had been asleep. I did not remember the accident, and was ignorant of the cause of my illness. A great cradle had been made for me, and in it I lay for many weeks. I was reduced almost to a skeleton.?{CET 14.2}[5]
§13
这时我开始祈求主在我未死以前预备我的心灵。当一些基督徒朋友到家里来拜访时，他们就问我的母亲有没有和我谈过死的问题。我无意中听到了这话便大为警觉。我渴望成为一个基督徒，所以恳切祈求上帝饶恕我的罪。结果我的内心得到了平安，我便觉得我很爱每一个人，感到渴望人人的罪都能得到赦免，并且像我一样地爱耶稣。{CET 14.3}[6]
§14
At this time I began to pray the Lord to prepare me for death. When Christian friends visited the family, they would ask my mother if she had talked with me about dying. I overheard this, and it roused me. I desired to become a Christian, and prayed earnestly for the forgiveness of my sins. I felt a peace of mind resulting, and loved everyone, feeling desirous that all should have their sins forgiven, and love Jesus as I did.?{CET 14.3}[6]
§15
我的体力恢复得很慢。当我能够和小朋友们在一起游戏的时候，便被迫学到一个痛苦的教训，就是同伴往往按着我们的外貌来看待我们。{CET 14.4}[7]
§16
I gained strength very slowly. As I became able to join in play with my young friends, I was forced to learn the bitter lesson that our personal appearance often makes a difference in the treatment we receive from our companions.?{CET 14.4}[7]
§17
我的健康似乎受到了无可挽救的损害。两年之久，我不能用鼻子呼吸，更不能常到学校里去。我好像不可能念书，也记不住自己所学的东西。那使我遭到不幸的女孩子已被教员派作班长，她的责任之一就是帮助我学习写字并预备其他的功课。她似乎常为严重击伤我的事而表示真诚的抱歉，尽管我总是小心避免使她想起此事。她很温柔忍耐地看待我，既见我在极不利的条件下求学，就常显出忧伤和关切。{CET 14.5}[8]
§18
【Education】
§19
My health seemed to be hopelessly impaired. For two years I could not breathe through my nose, and was able to attend school but little. It seemed impossible for me to study and to retain what I learned. The same girl who was the cause of my misfortune, was appointed monitor by our teacher, and it was among her duties to assist me in my writing and other lessons. She always seemed sincerely sorry for?the great injury she had done me, although I was careful not to remind her of it. She was tender and patient with me, and seemed sad and thoughtful as she saw me laboring under serious disadvantages to get an education.?{CET 14.5}[8]
§20
我的神经系统瘫痪了，我的两手震颤，以致在练习写字时没有多少进步，而只能粗笨地写出几个简单的字。当我勉强看书时，只见书上的字都聚成一堆，同时我的额上迸出大点的汗珠，我便感觉头昏脑胀。我咳嗽得厉害，而且我的全身似乎非常虚弱。{CET 15.1}[9]
§21
My nervous system was prostrated, and my hand trembled so that I made but little progress in writing, and could get no farther than the simple copies in coarse hand. As I endeavored to bend my mind to my studies, the letters in the page would run together, great drops of perspiration would stand upon my brow, and a faintness and dizziness would seize me. I had a bad cough, and my whole system seemed debilitated.?{CET 15.1}[9]
§22
我的老师都劝我休学，等我的健康有了进步之后再来读书。要我年轻的生命向虚弱的身体低头，要我作出决定离开学校，放弃受教育的希望，真是太难了。{CET 15.2}[10]
§23
My teachers advised me to leave school, and not pursue my studies further till my health should improve. It was the hardest struggle of my young life to yield to my feebleness, and decide that I must leave my studies, and give up the hope of gaining an education.?{CET 15.2}[10]