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Elsewhere in Oregon a lumber-mill worker named Tim invited me to a simple dinner with his family in their dilapidated house. He gave me a Bible. Then he offered me his tent. I refused, knowing it was probably one of the family's most valuable possessions. But Tim was determined that I have it, and finally I agreed to take it.
在俄勒岡的另一個地方，一個叫蒂姆的鋸木廠工人邀請我去他們破舊的家里和他家人一起吃了頓簡單的晚餐。他給了我一本《圣經》,還要把家里的帳篷給我。我拒絕了，因為我知道那極有可能是這家人最值錢的一樣東西了。然而蒂姆執意讓我接受，最后我只好同意。
I was grateful to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter, their gifts. But the kindest act of all was when they merely were themselves.
我感激所遇到的所有人，感謝他們讓我搭車，給我食物，給我提供住處，送我禮物。但最友善的舉動是，他們是那么自然真誠。
One day I walked into the local chamber of commerce in Jamestown, Tennessee. A man inside the old stone building jumped up from his cluttered desk. "Come on in," said Baxter Wilson, 59. He was the executive director.
有一天，我走進了田納西州的詹姆斯敦一家當地商會。在這座古老建筑里一個男人從他凌亂的桌子旁站起身。“請進，”59歲的巴克斯特·威爾遜說。他是那兒的執行會長。
When I asked him about camping in the area, he handed me a brochure for a local campground. "Would you like me to call for you?" he asked.
我向他打聽在當地露營的事。他遞給我一本當地露營地的小冊子。“需要我幫你打電話嗎？”他問。
Seeing that it cost $12, I replied, "No, that's all right. I'm not sure what I'm going to do."
我一看露營得花12美元，就回答，“不用了，沒事。我也不知道我該怎么做。”
Then he saw my backpack. "Almost anybody around here will let you pitch a tent on their land, if that's what you want," he said.
這時他看見了我的背包。“這里差不多每個人都會讓你在他們的地里支帳篷的，如果那是你所想要的話。”他說。
Now you're talking, I thought. "Any particular direction?" I asked.
這話就對了，我想。“有沒具體的方位？”我問。
Tell you what. I've got a big farm about ten miles south of here. If you're here at 5:30, you can ride with me.
“跟你說吧，我有個大農場，在從這兒往南大概10英里。要是你五點半能在這兒，我可以開車帶你去。”
I accepted, and we drove out to a magnificent country house. Suddenly I realized he'd invited me to spend the night in his home.
我接受了，于是我們開車去了一幢華麗的鄉村住宅。突然，我意識到他是邀請我到他家過夜。
