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One day in Nebraska a car pulled to the road shoulder. When I reached the window, I saw two little old ladies dressed in their Sunday finest. "I know you're not supposed to pick up hitchhikers, but it's so far between towns out here, you feel bad passing a person," said the driver, who introduced herself as Vi. I didn't know whether to kiss them or scold them for stopping. This woman was telling me she'd rather risk her life than feel bad about passing a stranger on the side of the road.
—天，在内布拉斯加州，一辆汽车在路边停下了。当我靠近车窗户时，我看见两个身着盛装的身材矮小的老妇人。“我知道我们不应该让免费搭车的旅行者上车，但是这里距离前后两个镇太远了，对别人置之不理会让我感觉很糟糕。”司机说，并向我介绍她叫维。我不知道应该为她们让我上车感谢她们还是责备她们。这个妇人告诉我说，她宁愿冒生命危险也不愿意对一个路边的陌生人置之不理，因为那样她会感到不安。
Once when I was hitchhiking unsuccessfully in the rain, a trucker pulled over, locking his brakes so hard he skidded on the grass shoulder. The driver told me he was once robbed at knifepoint by a hitchhiker. "But I hate to see a man stand out in the rain," he added. "People don't have no heart anymore."
一次，当我在雨中搭不到车时,一个卡车司机把车开到路边，由于刹车过猛，车子打滑冲到了草地上。这位司机告诉我，他曾经被一位搭车者持刀抢劫过。“但是我不愿意看到一个人站在雨中，”他接着说，“人们如今太冷酷无情。”
I found, however, that people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or shared whatever they happened to have with them. Those who had the least to give often gave the most. In Oregon a house painter named Mike noted the chilly weather and asked if I had a coat. When he learned that I had "a light one", he drove me to his house, and handed me a big green army-style jacket.
然而，我发现人们通常还是富有同情心的。一听说我身无分文且也不会拿别人的钱，他们会给我买食物或者与我分享他们碰巧带着的东西。那些最穷困的人却往往给予的最多。在俄勒冈州，一个名叫迈克的建筑油漆工注意到了天气的寒冷，问我是否有大衣。当知道我只有“一件薄外套”时,他开车把我带到他家，并送给我一件绿色军用大夹克衫。
