President Abraham Lincoln often visited hospitals to talk with wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Once, doctors pointed out a young soldier who was near death and Lincoln went over to his bedside.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” asked the President.
The soldier obviously didn't recognize Lincoln, and with some effort he was able to whisper, “Would you please write a letter to my mother?”
A pen and paper were provided and the President carefully began writing down what the young man was able to say:
“My dearest mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty. I'm afraid I'm not going to recover. Don't grieve too much for me, please. Kiss Mary and John for me. May God bless you and father.”
The soldier was too weak to continue, so Lincoln signed the letter for him and added, “Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln.”
The young man asked to see the note and was astonished when he discovered who had written it. “Are you really the President?” he asked.
“Yes, I am,” Lincoln replied quietly. Then he asked if there was anything else he could do.
“Would you please hold my hand?” the soldier asked. “It will help to see me through to the end.”
In the hushed room, the tall gaunt President took the boy's hand in his and spoke warm words of encouragement until death came.
【日积月累】
grieve vi.(for, over)感到悲痛
She is still grieving over her father's sudden death. 她还在为她父亲的突然故去而悲痛。
hushed adj.寂静的；低声的
She stood up to address a hushed courtroom. 她站起来给寂静的法庭作证。
They talked in hushed tones. 他们低声交谈。
gaunt adj.憔悴的，瘦削的
There we found his mother, her face gaunt from overwork and worry. 在那儿我们找到了她的母亲，她的由于过度劳累和担忧而面容憔悴。
【参考译文】
善举
在内战期间，亚伯拉罕·林肯总统经常去医院与受伤的士兵交谈。有一次，医生告诉总统，有一名年轻的士兵快死了，于是，林肯来到他的床边。
“需要帮忙吗？”总统问。
很显然，士兵没有认出是林肯总统，费了不少劲才开口小声说话，“能替我写封信吗？给我妈妈。”
准备了纸和笔，总统开始认认真真地写下年轻人说的话：
“亲爱的母亲，我在执行任务的时候受伤了。伤势很严重，恐怕无法康复。请不要太为我悲伤，替我轻吻Mary和John。愿上帝保佑父亲和您。
士兵身体太虚弱，没法继续说下去，于是林肯给信署了名，并在后面加上一句，“亚伯拉罕·林肯代写”。
年轻人想看看信，当发现是谁为他写的时候，他惊呆了。“您真的是总统？”他问。
“是的，我是。”林肯静静地回答道。然后，他问还可以帮上什么忙。
“请您握着我的手，好吗？”士兵问道。“帮助我走完最后的路程。”
在这个寂静的房间里，高高瘦瘦的总统握着这个男孩的手，说着鼓励的话，直到死亡的到来。
【人生启迪】
鲜花虽美却没有关爱纯洁，彩虹虽美却没有关爱多彩，星星虽美却没有关爱闪亮。人世间需要真情关爱，有时候只你舍得将你小小的善举奉献出来，你会发现这世间原来是那样的美好可爱！