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Finding one's true vocation
找到一個人真正的職業
Read this excerpt from the autobiographical novel Roughing It
讀讀這個引自自傳體小說《艱難歲月》中的摘錄
to discover how the writer Mark Twain found his true vocation in Virginia City, Nevada.
找找作者馬克吐溫是怎樣在內華達州弗吉尼亞市建立起他真正的職業生涯的。
What to do next?
下一步做什么呢？
It was a momentous question. I had gone out into the world to shift for myself.
這是個重要的問題。我已經步入社會，獨立謀生了。
I had gained a livelihood in various vocations, but no one was dazzled with my success.
盡管我做過各種工作來維持生計，可是都是微不足道的活兒。
I had once been a grocery clerk for one day，but had consumed so much sugar that I was fired.
一次我在一間雜貨鋪做了一天的店員，由于吃了太多的糖而被開除。
I had studied law an entire week, and then given it up because it was so tiresome.
我用過一整周學習法律，但是因為它太煩人了而中途放棄。
I had been a bookseller's clerk for a while,
我曾有段時間在一家書店當過店員，
but the customers bothered me so much that I could not read with any comfort.
但是由于顧客們經常打擾我使得我自己都不能舒適的看書了。
I had been a private secretary, a silver miner and a silver mill operator,
我曾做過私人秘書，采銀礦工，銀礦主，
and amounted to less than nothing in each, and now-
但卻都一事無成，現在?
What to do next?
下一步做什么呢？
I gave in to Higbie and tried mining once more.
我再次對希格比讓步，又一次嘗試了采礦。
We climbed far up on the mountainside and went to work.
我們爬上了遠處的山腰，在那里開工。
Higbie descended into the shaft and worked with his pick till he had loosened up some rock and dirt,
希格比下至礦井，用他的鶴嘴鋤工作著直至鋤松了一些巖石和污泥，
and then I went down with a shovel to throw it out,
我拿著鐵鍬下井然后開始挖土，
I made the toss, and landed the mess just on the edge of the shaft.
我挖了土，把一片狼藉留在了礦井邊。
It all came back on my head and down the back of my neck.
土都落回到了我的頭上，沿著我的脖子后邊落了下去。
I never said a word, but climbed out and walked home.
我從沒有過怨言，只是爬出來然后走回家。
I sat down in the cabin, and gave myself up to misery.
我坐在棚屋里，陷入了痛苦之中。
