A big burly man visited the pastor's homeand asked to see the minister's wife,a woman well known for her charitable impulses.

一个高大魁梧的男人到牧师家拜访，他要求会见牧师的妻子，这是一个以有着慈悲心肠而闻名的妇女。

"Madam," he said in a broken voice,"I wish to draw your attentionto the terrible plight¹ of a poor family in this district.

男人用令人心碎的声音说，“夫人，我希望能引起您的注意的是，这个地区有一户人家现在生活特别困顿，

The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work,and the nine children are starving.

父亲死了，母亲也因重病无法工作，九个孩子都在挨饿。

They are about to be turned into the cold,empty streets unless someone pays their rent,which amounts to $400."

他们即将被赶到空荡荡的大街上，如果没有人为他们付400美元的房租的话。”

"How terrible!"

“这么糟糕！”

exclaimed the preacher's wife."May I ask who you are?"

牧师的妻子惊叫，“我能问问您是谁吗？”

The sympathetic visitor applied² his handkerchief to his eyes."I'm the landlord." he sobbed³.

这个富于同情心的访客用手绢拭着眼睛，啜泣着说：“我就是他们的房东。”