Changed Lives 生命的转变

获取更多精品英语课程，请关注微信公众号：Jerry的英语课堂

Changed Lives 生命的转变
In 1921, Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison of New York State.

1921年，刘易斯· 劳斯担任了美国纽约州新新监狱的典狱长。

No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time.

新新监狱关押的犯人最难管理。
But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. 
可是20年后当劳斯典狱长退休的时候，新新监狱已经变成了一方博爱的净土。

Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes.

那些研究监狱管理体系的人说这都是劳斯的功劳。

But when he was asked about the transformation, here’s what he said, 

但是每当有人向劳斯问起这一变化时，劳斯却说：

“I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”

“这一切都功于我那非凡的妻子，凯瑟琳，她就安葬在监狱的围墙外边。

Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden.

当她的丈夫刚刚作典狱长的时候，凯瑟琳·劳斯还是一位有着三个幼小的孩子的年轻妈妈。

Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, 
but that didn’t stop Catherine!

一开始每个人都警告她决对不可以走进监狱半步，可是没有人能阻止得了凯瑟琳。

When the first prison basketball game was held, 
she went into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates.

监狱里第一次举行篮球比赛，凯瑟琳就来了……不仅如此，她还带来了自己的三个非常漂亮的孩子，甚至她还和囚犯一起坐在看台上看比赛。

Her attitude was: “My husband and I are going to take care of these men 
and I believe they will take care of me!I don’t have to worry!”

她的看法是：“我的丈夫和我要照顾好这些人，我相信这些人也会照顾好我！我没有什么可担心的！”

She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records.

她坚持要认识他们，并且查看了他们的档案。

She discovered one convicted murderer was ind so she paid him a visit. 
Holding his hand in hers she said, “Do you read Braille?”

凯瑟琳发现有一个犯有谋杀罪的人是一位盲人，就专程去看望他。凯瑟琳握着他的手，说道：“你读得懂布莱叶盲文吗？”

“What’s Braille?” he asked. Then she taught him how to read. 
“什么是布莱叶盲文？”他反问道。凯瑟琳就教他学会了盲文。

Years later he would weep in love for her.

几年之后，每当言及凯瑟琳对他的帮助，他总是忍不住留下感激的热泪。

Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison.

不久之后，凯瑟琳又在监狱里发现了一名聋哑犯人。

She went to school to learn how to use sign language. 
她就到学校里学习如何使用手语。

Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921to 1937.

许多人说，从1921到1937年，凯瑟琳·劳斯是耶稣的肉身再度复活在新新监狱。

Then, she was killed in a car accident.

有一天，凯瑟琳不幸死于一场车祸。

The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work, so the acting warden took his place.

第二天上午，刘易斯·劳斯没有来上班，代理典狱长出现在他的位置上。

It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong.

几乎是在一瞬间，整个监狱的人都知道出事了。
The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three-quarters of a mile from the prison.

第三天，在自己家里凯瑟琳的遗体被放入了棺中。凯瑟琳的家距离监狱有四分之三英里远。
As the acting warden took his early morning walk,

当代理典狱长进行早间例行巡查的时候，

he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. 

他被眼前所见的一幕震惊了：大批的粗狂的囚犯就聚集在监狱的大门口，

He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness.

他走近一看，发现每个人的脸上都涌动着悲伤痛苦的泪水。
He knew how much they loved Catherine.

他知道了他们有多么地爱凯瑟琳。

He turned and faced the men. 
他转身面对着这些人，说道：

“All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!” 
“好了，男子汉们，你们可以出去，但是在今天晚上你们必须回来！”

Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, 
说完就打开大门。犯人们走出监狱，在只有一个看守的情况下，

the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes.

在四分之三英里长的路上，他们排成一行向凯瑟琳· 劳斯致以最后的敬意。
And every one of them checked back in. Every one!

最终，每一个犯人都回到了监狱。毫无例外！