A few days later Kevin disappeared, along with over 2,000 of Donna"s money and the deputy"s checkbook. He was caught 2 weeks later writing stolen checks. Donna"s money was gone.
When he came to trial, Kevin told the judge how sorry he was, and that he was anxious to make restitution. He said he wanted to put the right foot forward and turn his life around. He was sentenced to time served, probation, community service, and ordered to make restitution and undergo counseling.
A few months later Kevin attempted to rob a bank. There was a highspeed chase and he lost control of his car. He survived a crash into a stone wall guarding a cemetery.
Kevin was fond of saying he wanted to put the right foot forward when he was in trouble. He"d been saying it all his life. Kevin lost his left leg in that car crash. Now, the right foot is all he has to put forward.
凯文的故事
几年前，我那帮姐妹中一名叫当娜的女孩结识了一个男孩。他刚搬到镇上来，有着精灵般迷人的笑容。他很快就和大家打成一片，而且在我们的圈子 里也很受欢迎。当娜和凯文成了一对。不久，当娜发现不见了一些东西，但热恋中的她并没把失窃的事放在心上，也没跟任何人提起。
那时，凯文还从我们的一个朋友--本地的副治安官那儿租了一个房间。之后他发现丢了些钱，但他并没有让此事不了了之，而是直截了当地质问凯文。
凯文承认钱是他拿的，但他说他以为能在别人发现此事之前把钱放回去，因为当时他的处境很绝望、很无助。他承认了错误，并对自己的行为感到羞 耻。他说如果治安官原谅他的话，他将会改过自新。于是治安官原谅了他。
几周以后，当娜发现凯文跟另一个女人约会。她很伤心。但凯文却对她说，那只是最后一次约会，好以此确认自己是爱她的，因为他希望当娜能嫁给 他。他说，如果当娜愿意嫁给他，他就是这世界上最幸福的人了，而且他从此会洗心革面，做到最好。当娜被他的话打动了。
几天后，凯文本人连同当娜的2000美元和治安官的支票本一块消失了。两周后当他用偷来的支票付账的时被抓获，但当娜的钱没了。
当凯文在法庭上接受审讯时，他对法官说，他非常地懊悔，很想把钱归还给原主。他说他希望能够洗心革面，重新做人。凯文最终被判入狱，缓期执 行，他需服务社区，归还窃款并接受心理辅导。
几个月之后，凯文企图打劫银行。他在飙车躲避警察追截的时候，汽车失控了，一头撞到了墓地外的石墙上，但他却大难不死。
凯文在遇到麻烦的时候，总喜欢用洗心革面来为自己开脱。他已经这样讲了一辈子了。在那次车祸中，凯文失去了他的左腿。现在，他只能拖着残疾 的身体面对生活了。
The Country Maid and Her
Milk Can
A country maid was walking along with a can of milk upon her head,when she fell into the following train of reflections.“The money for which I shall sell this milk will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to three hundred,These eggs,allowing for what may prove addle,and what may be destroyed by vermin,will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens.The chickens will be fit to carry to market just at the time when poultry is always dear;so that by the new year I cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a new gown.Green-let me consideryes,green becomes my complexion best. In this dress I will go to the fair,where all young fellows will strive to have me for a parter;but no-I shall refuse every one of them,and with a disdainful toss turn from them.”
Transported with this idea,she could not forbear acting with her head the thought that passed in her mind,when down came the can of milk!And all her imaginary happiness vanished in a moment.
村姑和牛奶罐
一个村姑头上顶着一罐牛奶在路上行走。走着走着，她的脑子里浮现出一连串的幻想：“我卖了这罐牛奶后，用这笔钱买鸡蛋，这样我有的鸡蛋可以增加 到300 个。用这300 个鸡蛋孵小鸡，就算有坏的、生虫的，至少也能孵出250 只小鸡。等小鸡长大后，正好能赶上卖个好市价；那么到了新年，我就能有 钱买一件新晚装。买一件绿色的--让我好好想想--对，绿色与我的肤色最相衬。我穿上这件衣服去赶集，所有的年轻小伙子都会抢着邀请我做舞伴； 但是不行--我要轻蔑地把头一扬，转身过去不理他们，让他们人人都碰个钉子。”
她想得得意忘形，情不自禁地把头一扬，刹那间，牛奶罐跌了下来！她幻想的一切幸福刹那间破灭了。
The Cobbler and the Banker
A cobbler passed his time in singing from morning till night;it was wonderful to see, wonderful to hear him; he was more contented in shoes, than was any of the seven sages.
His neighbour, on the contrary, who was rolling in wealth, sung but little and sleptless. He was a banker; when by chance he fell into a doze at daybreak, the cobbler awoke him with his song. The banker complained sadly that Providence had not made sleep a saleable commodity, like edibles or drinkables. Having at length sent for the songster, he said to him, “How much a year do you earn, Master Gregory?”
“How much a year, sir?” said the merry cobbler laughing, “I have reckon in that way, living as I do from one day to another;somehow I manage to reach the end of the year; each day brings its meal.”
“Well then! How much a day do you earn, my friend?”
“Sometimes more, sometimes less; but the worst of it is,-and, without that our earnings would be very tolerable,-a number of days occur in the year on which we are forbidden to work; and the curate, moreover, is constantly adding some new saint to the list.”
The banker, laughing at his simplicity, said, “In the future I shall place you above want. Take this hundred crowns, preserve them carefully, and make use of them in time of need.”
The cobbler fancied he beheld all the wealth which the earth had produced in the past century for the use of mankind. Returning home, he buried his money and his happiness at the same time. No more singing; he lost his voice, the moment he acquired that which is the source of so much grief. Sleep quitted his dwelling; and cares, suspicions, and false alarms took its place. All day, his eye wandered in the direction of his treasure; and at night, if some stray cat made a noise, the cat was robbing him. At length the poor man ran to the house of his rich neighbour; “Give my back.” said he, “sleep and my voice, and take your hundred crowns.”
皮匠和银行家
一个皮匠从早到晚在唱歌中度过。无论见到他本人或听见他的歌声都使人觉得很愉快。他对于制鞋工作比当上了希腊七贤还要满足。
与此相反，他的邻居是个银行家，拥有万贯家财，却很少唱歌，晚上也睡得不好。他偶尔在黎明时分迷迷糊糊刚入睡，皮匠的歌声便把他吵醒了。银行家 郁郁寡欢地抱怨上帝没有把睡眠也制成一种像食品或饮料那样可以买卖的商品。后来，银行家就叫人把这位歌手请来，问道：“格列戈里师傅，你一年赚 多少钱？”