Providence had many years before taken from her her eldest son,
很多年前,上帝带走了她的大儿子。
who went from his forest home to try his fortune on the high seas, since which she had heard no tidings of him;
那年,他离开了森林里的家,去海上淘金。
and in her latter time had, by the hand of death, deprived her of the companion and staff of her earthly pilgrimage, in the person of her husband.
从那以后,母亲再亦没有听到他的音讯;随后,死亡之神最终夺去她的丈夫她世俗生活中的伴侣以及家庭支柱。
Yet to this hour she had upborne; she had not only been able to provide for her little flock,
即便那时,她仍然还有支撑下去的信念,她静心地照料她的孩子们,
but had never lost an opportunity of ministering to the wants of the miserable and destitute.
亦从未错过任何机会对更为贫困潦倒的人伸出援手。
The indolent may well bear with poverty while the ability to gain sustenance remains.
懒惰很可能和贫穷与生俱来,但维持生存能力依然还在,
The individual who has but his own wants to supply may suffer with fortitude the winter of want;
唯有那些给予奉献的个体,坚韧不拔地面对物质的极度匮乏,从而饱经尘世苦难;
his affections are not wounded, his heart is not wrung.
她的钟爱不会受伤,她的心灵亦不会榨干。
The most desolate in populous cities may hope, for charity has not quite closed her hand and heart, and shut her eyes on misery.
在人口稠密的喧嚣城市,最为孤独的人或许心怀希望,因为慈善的人会向她打开心灵之窗,慈善的人不会对她的悲惨熟视无睹。