英语翻译
I’llneverforgetEaster1946.Iwasfourteen,mylittlesister,Ocy,wastwelveandmyoldersister,Darlene,wassixteen.Welivedathomewithourmother,andthefourofusknewwhatitwastodowithout.Mydadhaddiedfiveyearsbefore,leavingMomwithnomoneyandsevenschool-agedkidstoraise.
By1946,myoldersistersweremarriedandmybrothershadlefthome.AmonthbeforeEaster,thepastorofourchurchannouncedthataspecialholidayofferingwouldbetakentohelpapoorfamily.Heaskedeveryonetosaveandgivesacrificially.
Whenwegothome,wetalkedaboutwhatwecoulddo.Wedecidedtobuyfiftypoundsofpotatoesandliveonthemforamonth.Thiswouldallowustosavetwentydollarsofourgrocerymoneyfortheoffering.Thenwethoughtthatifwekeptourelectriclightsturnedoutasmuchaspossibleanddidn’tlistentotheradio,we’dsavemoneyonthatmonth’selectricbill.Darlenegotasmanyhouse-andyard-cleaningjobsaspossible,andbothofusbaby-satforeveryonewecould.Forfifteencentswecouldbuyenoughcottonloopstomakethreepotholderstosellforadollar.Wemadetwentydollarsonpotholders.Thatmonthwasoneofthebestofourlives.
Everydaywecountedthemoneytoseehowmuchwehadsaved.Atnightwe’dsitinthedarkandtalkabouthowthepoorfamilywasgoingtoenjoyhavingthemoneythechurchwouldgivethem.Wehadabouteightypeopleinchurch,sowefiguredthatwhateveramountofmoneywehadtogive,theofferingwouldsurelybetwentytimesthatmuch.Afterall,everySundaythepastorhadremindedeveryonetosaveforthesacrificialoffering.
ThenightbeforeEaster,weweresoexcitedwecouldhardlysleep.Wedidn’tcarethatwewouldn’thavenewclothesforEaster;wehadseventydollarsforthesacrificialoffering.Wecouldhardlywaittogettochurch!OnSundaymorning,rainwaspouring.Wedidn’townanumbrella,andthechurchwasoveramilefromourhome,butitdidn’tseemtomatterhowwetwegot.Darlenehadcardboardinhershoestofilltheholes.Thecardboardcameapart,andherfeetgotwet.
Butwesatinchurchproudly.Iheardsometeenagerstalkingaboutourolddresses.Ilookedatthemintheirnewclothes,andIfeltrich.
Whenthesacrificialofferingwastaken,weweresittinginthesecondrowformthefront.Mo