I was grateful to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter, and their gifts. But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of course.
One day I walked into the chamber of commerce in Jamestown, Tenn. to find out about camping in the area. The executive director, Baxter Wilson, 59, handed me a brochure for a local campground. Seeing that it cost $12, I replied, "No, that's all right. I'll try something else." Then he saw my backpack. "Most people around here will let you pitch a tent on their land, if that's what you want," he said. Now we're talking, I thought. "Any particular direction?" I asked. "Tell you what. I've got a big farm about ten miles south of here. If you're here at 5:30, you can ride with me."
I accepted, and we drove out to a magnificent country house. Suddenly I realized he'd invited me to spend the night in his home. His wife, Carol, a seventh-grade science teacher, was cooking a pot roast when we walked into the kitchen. Baxter explained that local folks were "mountain stay-at-home people" who rarely entertained in their house. "When we do," he said, "it's usually kin." This revelation made my night there all the more special.
The next morning when I came downstairs, Carol asked if I'd come to their school and talk to her class about my trip. I agreed, and before long had been scheduled to talk to every class in the school. The kids were attentive and kept asking all kinds of questions: Where were people the kindest? How many pairs of shoes did you have? Did anybody try to run you over? Did you fall in love with someone? What were you most afraid of?
Although I hadn't planned it this way, I discovered that a patriotic tone ran through the talks I gave that afternoon. I told the students how my faith in America had been renewed. I told them how proud I was to live in a country where people were still willing to help. I told them that the question I had had in mind when I planned this journey was now clearly answered. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the kindness of strangers.
对于那些搭乘我、给我提供食物、遮蔽和礼物的人，我都心怀感激。但是我发现，最令我感动的却是，他们把这些都当作理所当然的。
一天，我走进田纳西州詹姆斯敦的一个商会。我想在这个地区露营。59岁的执行理事Baxter Wilson给我一本关于当地露营的手册，看到它标价12美元，我说，“不，说得准确些，我想要些别的东西。”然后他看到我的背包。“这里的很多人会允许你在他们的地里露营的，如果你想的话，”他说。你说的对，我想。“还有别的特别的指点吗？”我问。“喂，我给你讲啊，这里南边10英里的地方，是我的大农场。如果你在这里呆到5：30，你可以做我的车过去。”
我接受了他的邀请，我们驱车驶向一处华丽的农舍。突然，我意识到他这是邀请我和家人共度夜晚。他的妻子是一位七年级的科学老师，我们进入厨房时，她正在炖肉。Baxter告诉我，当地人通常习惯于和家人安静地呆在一起，很少在家中举办社交活动或外出参加社交活动，“我们举行社交活动，”他说。“通常是邀请亲戚。”这一新发现是我度过的那天晚上更加特殊。
第二天早上，当我走下楼时， Carol问我，是否愿意去他们的学校，跟她的学生们讲自己的旅行。我同意了，很快就安排我给学校的每个班级讲话。孩子们聚精会神地听着，不停地问这样那样的问题：最善良的人住在哪里？你有多少双鞋子？有没有人想从你身上压过去？你有没有爱上哪个人？你最害怕什么？
尽管这不在我的计划之内，但是我发现，那天下午的讲话里，都贯穿着爱国的语气。我告诉学生们，我重新燃起了对美国的'信心。我告诉他们，我是多么为生活在这样一个人们仍愿意帮助别人的国家而自豪。我告诉他们，我规划这次旅行时，萦绕在我头脑中的问题已经有了清晰的答案。尽管你什么都有，但你还是要依赖于陌生人的善意。
hure n. 小册子
例句：
I'll send you the brochure right away.
我会把公司简介即刻给您寄去。
h v. 投,向前倾跌,扎牢,定调,用沥青覆盖
例句：
We planned to pitch our camps in the mountains.
我们计划在山里扎营。
rtain v. 娱乐,招待,怀抱
例句：
I like to entertain friends with music and refreshments at home.
我喜欢在家里用音乐和茶点招待朋友。
lation n. 揭露,泄露,发觉
例句：
Have you read the ex-minister's amazing revelations in the newspaper?
你看了前任部长在报上揭露的那些惊人的事实没有？
ntive adj. 注意的,留意的
例句：
You should be attentive to what your parents have said.
你应该注意倾听父母所说的话。
iotic adj. 爱国的
例句：
His patriotic action raised our admiration.
他的爱国行为激起了我们的敬佩。
1. But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of course.
【参考译文】但是我发现，最令我感动的却是，他们把这些都当作理所当然的。
【结构解析】“most touching ... as a matter of course”做整个句子的宾语，“ that they all did it as a matter of course”做"fact"的同位语，"as a matter of course"意思是“自然，不用说，照例”。
2.I told them that the question I had had in mind when I planned this journey was now clearly answered.
【参考译文】我告诉他们，我规划这次旅行时，萦绕在我头脑中的问题已经有了清晰的答案。
【结构解析】宾语的主干是“the ered”。
书香门第
