八月
Accepting the Command of the Army
Guidance for Reciting
This paragraph was extracted from a letter by Washington to his beloved wife when he was appointed as the command of the army. Absence to love is what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small；it inflames the great.
I shall rely confidently on that Providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me，not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall. I shall feel no pain from the toil or danger of the campaign；my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone. I therefore beg that you will summon your whole fortitude，and pass your times agreeably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this，and to hear it from your own pen.
Notes
1.providence [5prRvidEns] n. 神的眷顾
2.heretofore [5hiEtu5fR：] ad. 直到此时
3.bountiful [5bauntiful] a. 充足的（丰富的，慷慨的）慷慨的
4.uneasiness [Qn5i：zinis] n. 不安
5.fortitude [5fR：titju：d] n. 勇气
受命统率全军
诵读导言
本文系华盛顿于1775年就任全军总司令时给爱妻写的一封信的摘选。离别之于爱情好比风之于火，它能将小火熄灭，也能使大火熊熊燃烧。
我将信赖一直保佑我和降福于我的上帝，深信到秋天我将平安地回到你身边。对出征所带来的艰辛和危险，我不会感到痛苦；使我难过的是我知道你独自一人留在家中必然感到焦虑不安。因此，我恳求你鼓起全部勇气，尽量愉快地过日子。没有什么比听到你过得愉快的消息――并且是从你的笔下听到这消息，能使我感到更大的欣慰了。