第38章 生命的转变Changed Lives

佚名 /Anonymous

In 1921, Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes f inished work some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said it was because of Lawes. But when he was asked about the change, here's what he said, “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”

Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn't stop Catherine! When the f irst prison basketball game was held, She went into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the prisoners.

She thought: “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don't have to worry!” She insisted on getting to know them and their records. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand in hers she said, “Do you read Braille?”

“What's Braille?” he asked. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he would weep in love for her. Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.

Then, she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawcs didn't come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It seemed almost immediately that the prison knew something was wrong.

The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three-quarters of a mile from the prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk, he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men, “All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight.” Then he opened the gate and the criminals walked in line, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their f inal respects to Catherine Lawes.

And every one of them checked back in. Every one!

1921年，刘易斯·劳斯成为纽约新新监狱的典狱长。那个时期，新新监狱比其他任何监狱都要粗暴。但是，大约二十年后，当刘易斯·劳斯退休时，这个监狱变成了一个最具人道主义的地方。研究过其管理体制的人都认为，这是劳斯的功劳。但在问到他这种转变的原因时，他只是说：“这一切都要归功于我伟大的妻子凯瑟琳，她就长眠在监狱的围墙外。”

当刘易斯当上典狱长时，凯瑟琳·劳斯已是三个孩子的母亲了。一开始，人们都警告她，绝不要迈进监狱的围墙。但那并没能阻止凯瑟琳的脚步。监狱第一次举行篮球赛时，她就带着三个漂亮的孩子来到体育馆，和犯人们一起坐在看台上。

她想：“我和丈夫会照顾这些人，我也相信他们会照顾我。我没有必要担心！”她坚持要认识他们并看他们的档案。她发现一个杀人犯是盲人，就去探望他，她握住他的手问道，“你懂布莱叶盲文吗？”

“什么是布莱叶盲文？”他问。然后，她就教他如何读盲文。很多年后，他都对她感激涕零。后来，凯瑟琳发现监狱有一个聋哑人，她就去学校学习一些简单的手语。人们都说，1921年到1937年，耶稣在新新监狱复活了，凯瑟琳·劳斯就是他的化身。

后来，她不幸在一次车祸中丧生。第二天早上，刘易斯·劳斯没来上班，代理典狱长顶替了他的位置。所有的犯人好像很快都察觉到出事了。

第二天，她的尸体停放在家中的棺材里，距监狱有四分之三英里远。早上，代理典狱长巡视时，惊愕地发现这群最粗暴、最丑陋的囚犯像野兽一样聚集在监狱门口。他走近才注意到他们流着悲痛的泪水，他们是那么深爱凯瑟琳。他转过身来，对他们说道，“好吧，你们可以去，但是今晚一定要回来报到。”然后，他打开牢门，犯人们排着队走了出去，一个警卫都没有——四分之三英里的路程，竟没安排一个警卫。他们最后一次表达了对凯瑟琳·劳斯的尊敬。

晚上，每个人都回来报到了，一个都不少！

记忆填空

1.Those_______ studied the system said it was because of Lawes. But when he_______asked about the change, here's what he_______,“I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the_______walls.”

2.Everybody_______her from the beginning that she should_______set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn't_______Catherine! When the f irst prison basketball game was held, She went into the gym_______her three beautiful kids and she_______ in the stands with the prisoners.

3.Then he opened the_______and the criminals walked in line, without a_______, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to_______ their f inal respects to Catherine Lawes.

佳句翻译

1.这一切都要归功于我伟大的妻子凯瑟琳，她就长眠在监狱的围墙外。

译_______________________________________________________________

2.后来，凯瑟琳发现监狱有一个聋哑人，她就去学校学习一些简单的手语。

译_______________________________________________________________

3.他走近才注意到他们流着悲痛的泪水，他们是那么深爱着凯瑟琳。

译_______________________________________________________________

短语应用

1.She insisted on getting to know them and their records.

insist on：坚持，强调，坚决要求

造_______________________________________________________________

2.Just be sure and check in tonight.

check in：到达并登记，报到

造_______________________________________________________________