A Tragedy Or A Blessing 是祸是福

 　　Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to the United States. It had taken years, but they had finally saved enough money and had gotten passports and reservations for the whole family on a new liner to the United States.

　　许多年以前，在苏格兰生活着克拉克一家，他们家有个理想。克拉克夫妇辛苦工作攒钱，计划带着九个孩子一家人去美国旅行。攒了几年的钱，终于攒够了旅行费，并且拿到了护照。一家人到美国的船票也订好了，还是一艘全新的远洋邮轮。

　　The entire family was filled with anticipation¹ and excitement about life in America. However, seven days before their departure, the youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor sewed up the boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front door. Because of the possibility of rabies, they were being quarantined for fourteen days.

　　全家人都对美洲生活充满了期待，兴奋之情溢于言表。然而就在还有七天就要出发的时候，小儿子被狗咬伤了。医生为孩子缝合了伤口，但是却在克拉克家门口挂上了一张黄色的纸，他们家要被隔离十四天，因为他的儿子有可能得狂犬病。

　　The family's dreams were dashed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they had planned. The father, filled with disappointment and anger, stomped² to the dock to watch the ship leave—without the Clark family. The father shed tears of disappointment and cursed both his son and God for their misfortune.

　　全家人的梦想破灭了。他们不能按原计划去美国了。父亲满怀失望和气愤，在码头上无奈地顿足，看着轮船驶离港口，而船上却没有克拉克一家。父亲失望得哭了，他咒骂自己的儿子，咒骂上天给他们家带来的不幸。

　　Five days later, the tragic³ news spread throughout Scotland—the mighty⁴ Titanic⁵ had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family was to have been on that ship, but because the son had been bitten by a dog, they were left behind in Scotland.

　　五天之后，一个不幸的消息传遍了苏格兰——超大轮船“泰坦尼克号”沉没了。“不沉之船”沉没了，数以百计的人葬身海底。克拉克一家本来应该在那条船上的，但是因为儿子被狗咬伤了，他们一家被留在了苏格兰。

　　When Mr. Clark heard the news, he hugged his son and thanked him for saving the family. He thanked God for saving their lives and turning what he  felt was a tragedy into a blessing⁶.

　　当克拉克听到这个消息后，他紧紧地抱住自己的儿子，感谢他救了全家人的生命。他也感谢上天救了他们，因祸得福。

　　Although we may not always understand, all things happen for a reason.

　　尽管我们不一定明白所有的事情，但是所有事情的发生都有它的理由。

1 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

2 stomped   

v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She stomped angrily out of the office. 她怒气冲冲，重步走出办公室。
• She slammed the door and stomped (off) out of the house. 她砰的一声关上了门，暮暮地走出了屋了。 来自辞典例句

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

5 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

6 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。