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EyesofKindness|善意的眼神Anxiously,hewatchedasseveralhorsemenroundedthebend6.Heletthefirstonepassbywithoutanefforttogethisattention.Thenanotherpassedby,andthenanother.Finally,thelastridernearedthespotwheretheoldmansatlikeasnowstatue7.Asthisonedrewnear,theoldmancaughttherider’seyeandsaid,“Sir,wouldyoumindgivinganoldmanaridetotheotherside?Theredoesn’tappeartobeapassageway8byfoot.”Reining9hishorse,theriderreplied,“Surething.Hop10aboard.”Seeingtheoldmanwasunabletolifthishalf-frozenbodyfromtheground,thehorsemandismounted11andhelpedtheoldmanontothehorse.Thehorsemantooktheoldmannotjustacrosstheriver,buttohisdestination12,whichwasjustafewmilesaway.Astheynearedthetiny13butcozy14cottage,thehorseman’scuriositycausedhimtoinquire,“Sir,Inoticethatyouletseveralotherriderspassbywithoutmakinganefforttosecure15aride.ThenIcameupandyouimmediatelyaskedmeforaride.I’mcuriouswhy,onsuchabitterwinternight,youwouldwaitandaskthelastrider.WhatifIhadrefusedandleftyouthere?”Theoldmanloweredhimselfslowlydownfromthehorse,lookedtheriderstraightintheeyes,andreplied,“I’vebeenaroundhereforsometime.Ireckon16Iknowpeopleprettygood.”Theold-timer17continued,“Ilookedintotheeyesoftheotherridersandimmediatelysawtherewasnoconcernformysituation.Itwouldhavebeenuselesstohaveaskedthemforaride.ButwhenIlookedintoyoureyes,kindnessandcompassionwereevident.Iknew,thenandthere18,thatyourgentlespiritwouldwelcometheopportunitytogivemeassistanceinmytimeofneed.”Thoseheartwarmingcommentstouchedthehorsemanwhotoldtheoldman.“MayInevergettoobusyinmyownaffairsthatIfailtorespondtotheneedsofotherswithkindnessandcompassion.”Withthat,ThomasJefferson,thePresidentoftheUnitedStates,turnedhishorsearoundandmadehiswaybacktotheWhiteHouse.这是许多年前弗吉尼亚北部一个严寒的傍晚。一位老人胡子上结满了冬天里的冰碴。此时此刻，他正等待着有人能用马载他过河。等待显得无休无止，在凛冽的北风中，他全身冻得麻木僵硬。这时，他隐约听到马蹄沿着冰冻的路面奔驰而来，节奏平稳，声音由远而近。老人焦急地看到几个骑手拐过那道弯走近了。第一个骑手过去了，老人没做任何努力去引起他的注意。接着第二个、然后第三个骑手过去了。终于，最后一个骑手走近了，老人像座雪雕一样一动不动坐在那里。骑手走近时，老人看了看骑手的眼睛说：“先生，您介意用你的马带一个老人过河吗？去对岸好像无路可走。”骑手勒住缰绳回答说：“当然不介意，上马来吧。”看到老人冻得半僵的身体直不起来，骑手跳下来帮助老人跨上马。骑手不仅带着老人过了河，还把他送到了相距几英里远的目的地。当他们走近一间很小却很舒适的木屋时，好奇心促使骑手问道：“先生，我注意到您让别的骑手走过去了，但没有作任何努力抓住机会请他们带您一程。后来我走近时，您马上请我帮忙捎你过河，我觉得很奇怪。在这样冷的冬夜里，您情愿一直等下去请最后一个骑手帮忙。要是我也拒绝了，撇下您不管怎么办？”老人慢慢地从马上下来，盯着骑手的眼睛回答说，“我在这里已经有些日子了，我猜我看人是很准的。”老人继续说，“我看了看其他骑手的眼睛，马上就知道了他们并不关心我的处境，即使请他们帮忙也没有用。但是从你的眼里，我一眼就看到了友善和同情。我马上知道了你为人和蔼，喜欢帮助那些需要帮助的人。”一席暖人的话语感动了骑手，他说：“但愿我永远不要只顾埋头自己的事情而忽视别人的需要，忽略用友善和同情去帮助别人。”说完，托马斯·杰弗逊——当年的美国总统，掉转马头向白宫归去。=========================