The English author，Richard Savage，was once living in London in great poverty.In order to earn a little money he had written the story of his life，but not many copies of the book had been sold in the shops，and Savage was living from hand to mouth.As a result of his lack of food he became very ill，but after a time，owing to the skill of the doctor who had looked after him，he got well again.After a week or two the doctor sent a bill to Savage for his visit，but poor Savage didn't have any money and couldn't pay it.The doctor waited for another month and sent the bill again.But still no money came.After several weeks he sent it to him again and asked for his money.In the end he came to Savage's house and asked him for payment，saying to Savage，“You know you owe your life to me and I expected some gratitude from you.”
“I agree，”said Savage，“that I owe my life to you，and to prove to you that I am not ungrateful for your work I will give my life to you.”
With these words he handed him two volumes entitled，The lifes of Richard Savage.
英国作家理查德·萨维奇一度在伦敦过着贫困潦倒的生活，为了赚几个钱，他曾写了有关他自己生平的故事。但是这部书在书店里并没有卖出几本，理查德·萨维奇过着朝不保夕的日子。由于缺乏食物，他病得很厉害。后来，由于给他治疗的那个医生的高明医术，他才又恢复了健康。
过了一两个星期之后，医生给萨维奇送来了一张讨要诊费的帐单，但是贫穷的萨维奇没有钱来偿付。医生等了一个月后又送来了帐单，但仍然未索回分文。几个星期之后，他又送来帐单要钱。最后，医生本人来到了萨维奇的家中，对他说：“你明白，你是欠我一条命的，我希望你有所报答。”
“是的，”理查德·萨维奇说，“我是欠你一条命，为了向你证明我对你的诊治不是不报答，我将把我的命给你。”
说着这番话，理查德·萨维奇递给医生两卷书，名叫《理查德·萨维奇的一生》。
1.gratitude n.感谢，感激之情，感恩图报之心
E.g.My gratitude can not be expressed by words.
我的感激之情并非言辞所能表达。
2.volume n.体积；卷；册；音量；大量；量
3.entitle vt.称做……；定名为……；给……称号；使……有权利
E.g.An ambassador is entitled“Your Excellency”。
大使被尊称为“阁下”。
1.in poverty 贫困，处于贫困中
E.g.Although the writer was in poverty，he still went on his writing.
那个作家虽然已经穷困潦倒了，但他还是继续写作。
2.from hand to mouth 仅能糊口地
E.g.So many people live from hand to mouth.
很多人过着有上顿没下顿的生活。
They have always lived from hand to mouth.
他们一直过着勉强糊口的日子。
3.as a result of作为……的结果；因此，由于
E.g.They receive air as a result of breathing and when blood passes through，they give it oxygen.
它们通过呼吸得到空气，当血液流经的时候，它们就提供氧气。
4.owing to 由于，因为
E.g.Owing to the complexity of sentence composition，different sentence patterns express different language style and rhetorical effect.
由于句子写作的复杂性，不同的句式表现不同的语言风格和修辞效果。
5.look after照顾；照料；照看；关心
E.g.I will look after her child when she is on a business trip.
她出差时我将照看她的孩子。
I want a smart boy to look after my shop.
我要找一个精灵的男孩照看我的店铺。