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珍贵的礼物 The Gift（第1页）

珍贵的礼物TheGift

哈蒂·梅·拉特里夫HattieMaeRatliff

myoldestdaughter，Rhonda，rushedinmyfrontdoor“Mom，themjusthappened。”

Ismiled，rememberingRhonda'senthusiasmasayounggirl，whenshewouldebarrelingintoourhomewithnewsofherday。Now，asawifeawo，shecouldstillener。

“G，Rhonda，andagtoyoutoo，sweetpea，”Isaid，pigupmytwra'ssitandhavedcookies。Thenyoutellmeallaboutyoururningaround，Ilookedatmydaughter。“Areynant?”

“No，Mom，”Rhoingwithhercoffeed，shesighedwithext。“Mrs。PerkiorofSaintFranethismthatananonymouspersonispayingGreg'stuition。Mom，they&#histuitionforthe>

Rhonda'seyesfilledwithtearsasshegrabbedmyhand。“Wasityou，Mom?Youanddad?”

“No，Iwishwecould，butitwasn'tus。”Isaid。

Rhondaandherhusband，Gilhadbothselectedtheroleofeducatorsfortheircareers。Irememberedwhen，asheysetofffortheirfirstteagjobs，readytogetheworld，oatime，ifnecessary。

AfterRebekahwasborn，Rhondaaotightesandliveononeine。Rhondagaveupherpaidteagjobaime，stay-a-hherteagforherownlittleone。

Thiswasgreatfortheirbuthardobshowedsignsofbeingagifteddcouldreadattheageofthree。RhondaandGiltalkedatlengthaosendhimtoaprivatepreschoolfortwodaysaweek。Theschoolereatteacherswithsmallsandproducedgoodresults。Knowingtheywouldhavedifficultypayiioheyhadrequestedapartialscholarship。Thedirectorassuredthemthisradthattheyhadseveralalumfromtimetotime。Noonehaddreamedsomeonewouldpaythewholeam'stuition。

Rhonda，stillholdiefromthesherhand，said。“IjustwishIkneassogenerous。”

“Rhonda，Ithinkthat，whoeverthebeoris，itmustbeimportaokeeptheiridentityprivate。”Givingherahug，Iued，“tys。Andsomedayyoueforsomeoneelse。”

“Mom，you'resuchapollyanna!ButIsurewouldliketoknow。That'salotofmoeathank-younoteandaskedMrs。Perkihedo。”

&hslater，heschoolyear，RhondaingRebekahoffatmyhousetospendacoupleofhourswhilesheransomequids。Wesaidood-byesasRhohroughherpurseforhermisplacedkeys。

“Shottosighis，”shesaid，retrievinganenvelhadbroughthomeapermissionsliptoatterip。Wheheenvelope，asmallpiekpaperfelltothefloor。

“What'sthis?”Iasked，pigupthepaperandhandingittoRhonda。

Rhohepaper。“Mom，look，”shesaidastearsrolleddowwasChristie，ChristieLeeks。SomeoFranusthaveputthisreGreg'seake。”Christiewasmakingmonthlypayments'stuition。

ChristieLeekswasayounggirlwhohadbeeninRhonda'sfirstdathehighschoolwhereshehadtaughtfiveyearsearlier。ChristiehadlivediHomeasawardofthestate。RhondaandGilhadtakeherstudentwholivedatthefosterhomeuheirwiedthemtotheirhomeforSundaydinhembirthdaycakes，seledahem。Aftertwoyears，RhondaandGilmovedtoayaheylosttactwiththeotherstudent，whohadmovedoutofthetry，butstayedintouchwithChristieovertheyears。RhondaaraveledbacktoattendChristie'shighschoolgraduationandthenhelpedhermoveintoa。

“Hoayforthis?”Rhohishastobeahardshiponher;Iknowsheisonlymakiwages。We'tacceptthis。Ihavetocallheraop。”

“Rhonda，it'sobviouslyimportanttoChristieforyounottoknow。You'ttellheryoufou。”

&hslater，duringGreg'ssummervaschool，Christiestoppedbytovisitaeabelatedbirthday。Thatnight，RhondaandChristiesatuptalkiofthehouseholdslept。Christie，abouttograduatefromcollegewithhonors，hadmetaspean。

“Iamsoproudofyou，Christie，”Rhondasaid。“Youhavegroean。Ialould，fromthefirstdayIsawyouinclass。”

“Mrs。Davidson，Iwanttoshowyousomething，”ChristiesaidasshewenttarievedherBible。Openingit，sheremovedthethank-younoteRhondaandGilhadwrittentotheanonymoustributor。“Wouldyoureadthis，Mrs。Davidson?”

AsRhohenotealoud，shehadtoswallowthelumpi。

Rhohelastsentence……

Weoonedaywegivetoachildasyouhavesiventoourchild。