The Golden Chain
金项链
It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty-seven third-graders eagerly anticipated（盼望） the great day of gift-giving.
那是1961年的圣诞节。我在俄亥俄州的一个小镇上教小学三年级。班上27个孩子都在热切盼望着这个互赠礼物的大日子到来。
Each day the children made some new wonder — strings（珠串） of popcorn, hand-made decorations, and German bells made from wallpaper samples（样品）, which we hung from the ceiling.
每天孩子们都做些新玩意——爆米花串成的细绳、手工做的装饰品和墙纸样品做的德国式风铃，我们把这些风铃挂在天花板上。
Through it all she stayed indifferent（不关心的）, watching from afar（在远处）, seemingly miles away. I wondered what would happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now so suddenly unsociable.
在这整个过程中，有一个女孩无动于衷，远远地看着，仿佛隔着几英里远。我想知道这个安静的孩子发生了什么事，她曾经那么快乐，现在突然变得不合群了。
I hoped the festivities would light her up. But nothing did.
我希望庆祝活动能使她振作起来。但是没有用。
The day of gift-giving finally came. We oohed and aahed（赞美声） over our handiwork as the presents were exchanged. Through it all, she sat quietly watching.
赠送礼物的日子终于到来了。交换礼物时，我们啧啧称赞我们亲手做的礼物。整个过程中，她都静静地坐在那里看着。
I had made a special package for her, red and green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away.
我为她做了一个特别的包裹，红绿相间，镶着白色花边。我非常想看到她的微笑。她打开它，又慢又小心。我等着，但她转过身去了。
After school, the children left in little groups, but she hesitated, watching them go out of the door.
放学后，孩子们三五成群地离开了，但她踟躇着，看着他们走出门外离开。
I sat down to catch my breath, hardly know what was happening when she came to me reaching out her hands, holding a small white box, unwrapped and slightly soiled, as though it had been held many times by unwashed, childish hands.
我坐下来稍稍喘了口气，还不知道发生了什么事。这时她向我走来，伸出手来，手里拿着一个白色的盒子。盒子没有包装，有点脏，好像是被孩子没洗过的手拿过很多次的。
"For me?" I asked with a weak smile. She didn't say a word, but nodded her head. I took the box and carefully opened it. There inside, lay a golden chain.
“给我的?” 我微微一笑，问道。她不说话，只是点了点头。我拿起盒子，小心地打开它。里面有一条金金项链。
In a flash I knew — she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again, a mother who would never hold her or brush her hair or share a funny story, a mother who would never again hear her childish joys or sorrows, a mother who had died in a car accident just three weeks before.
在一瞬间我明白了这是她原本为她妈妈做的礼物，可她永远再也见不到妈妈了，一个再也不会抱着她、给她梳头、给她讲有趣故事的妈妈，一个永远不会再次听到她幼稚的快乐或悲伤事情的妈妈，一个三周前因车祸逝世的妈妈。
I held out the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and put it on the back of my neck. She stepped back then as if to see that all was well.
我拿出金项链。她用双手接过它，向前探了探，把它戴在我的脖子上。她向后退了几步，好像要看看是否一切都好。
I looked down at the golden chain, then back at the giver, "Maria, it is so beautiful. She would have loved it."
我低头看着金色的项链，然后看着她说：“玛丽亚，这项链真漂亮。她一定会喜欢的。”
Neither of us could stop the tears. She threw herself into my arms and we were in tears together.
我们已无法抑制住泪水。她扑进我的怀里，我们一起哭了起来。
And for that moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest gift of all: herself.
在那一刻，我成了她的妈妈，而她送给了我一份最珍贵的礼物：她自己。