母亲的教导:生活艰辛也不能丢下亲情和尊严
But eventually, the four children needed more than their mother could provide. They were growing up, and there wasn't enough food to go around.Mary says that her mother "had to place me in a home where I would work for my keep. And I would come home every other Sunday. And this is how we tried to survive."
但是,母亲所提供的并不能满足四个孩子的需求。她们在成长,食物不够吃的了。玛丽说,她妈妈“只好把我安置在一户人家工作,让我自己养活自己。我每两个星期,才有一个星期天可以回家。我们就是这样生活下来的。”
"How long did you work for that family?" Charles asks.
查尔斯问,“你在那户人家干了多久?”
"Two years, 'til I was 16," Mary says.
玛丽说,“两年,一直干到我16岁。”
And she has a vivid memory of her last day on the job.
对于这份工作的最后一天,她仍记忆犹新。
"Mama worked across the street from there, washing clothes. And it was a hot summer day, and she was walking down the street. And I ran to the front door and called her in, to visit with her."
“妈妈在街对面洗衣服。那天酷暑难耐,她沿着街道朝我走来。我跑到前门,让她进来,跟她闲谈。”
The two talked — but the visit didn't go down well with Mary's boss.
我们两人聊了下,但这次拜访让玛丽的雇主不开心。
After Eva left, Mary says, "Mrs. Blaisdell said to me, 'Don't ever let the help come in the front door!'
伊娃走后,玛丽说,“布莱斯德尔夫人对我说,‘以后别让帮手进家门!’
"And I said, 'Well, I don't want to work here if my mother can't come in the front door.'
“我说,‘如果不允许我妈妈进这个门,我也不想在这儿干了。’
"And I packed my little suitcase and came home. I can remember that so well."
“于是,我整理了我的小行李箱,回家来了。这一切现在还历历在目。”