It was bitter cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind.

很久以前在弗吉尼亚北部的一个寒冷的冬天。一个老人站在河边等着有人可以带他过河，站了很久，他的胡子都被冬霜染白了。等待似乎没有尽头。他的身体似乎在寒冷的北风中冻的僵直了。He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the frozen path. Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first one passed by without any effort to get his attention, then another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue. As this one draw near, the old man caught the rider's eye and said, "sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passage way by foot."他听到冰冻的路面上传来渐渐接近的马蹄声，遥远而又平稳。他焦急的张望着几个骑马的人转过路弯。他们一个个过去，但他没有出声。最后，一个骑马的人过来，这是老人已经像一个雪人了。这个人越走越近，老人目光与他相接了，老人说："先生，你能搭我过河吗?好像这里没有能走过去的地方。"

Reining his horse, the rider replied, "sure thing. Hop aboard." Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which was just a few miles away.As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused him to inquire, "sir, I notice you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I am curious why, on such a bitter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you here?"当他们快要到达老人很小但很温馨的房舍时，骑马人终于好奇的问道："先生，我注意到你让好几个骑马的人过去了，却不叫他们让他们搭你一程。然后我过来了，你马上就问我可否。我很奇怪，今晚这么冷，你为什么要等到最后一个人才问呢？要是被拒绝了，留你一个人在这里怎么办？"

The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I have been around these here parts for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good." The old-timer continued, "I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."

老人慢慢下马，直望着骑马人的眼睛，说道："我已经在那等了一阵子。我相信自己看人很准。"老人接着说，"我看那些人的眼睛，他们没有留露出关心我的处境。这样即便问他们也是徒劳的。但当我看你的眼睛时，有很明显的善意和同情。我当时知道，你本性善良，会因为我的需要给我帮助的。"

Those heart-warming comments touched the horseman deeply. "I'm so grateful for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."

这些暖心的话深深的打动了骑马的人。"我很感激你说的一切，"他对老人说："我希望今后，不能因为工作繁忙而忘记对其他人的关心和有善。"

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

说完后，托马斯。杰弗逊掉头向白宫方向骑去。
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