珍贵的礼物 The Gift（第1页）
珍贵的礼物TheGift
哈蒂·梅·拉特里夫HattieMaeRatliff
myoldestdaughter，Rhonda，rushedinmyfrontdoor“Mom，themjusthappened。”
Ismiled，rememberingRhonda'senthusiasmasayounggirl，whenshewouldebarrelingintoourhomewithnewsofherday。Now，asawifeawo，shecouldstillener。
“G，Rhonda，andagtoyoutoo，sweetpea，”Isaid，pigupmytwra'ssitandhavedcookies。Thenyoutellmeallaboutyoururningaround，Ilookedatmydaughter。“Areynant?”
“No，Mom，”Rhoingwithhercoffeed，shesighedwithext。“Mrs。PerkiorofSaintFranethismthatananonymouspersonispayingGreg'stuition。Mom，they&#histuitionforthe>
Rhonda'seyesfilledwithtearsasshegrabbedmyhand。“Wasityou，Mom?Youanddad?”
“No，Iwishwecould，butitwasn'tus。”Isaid。
Rhondaandherhusband，Gilhadbothselectedtheroleofeducatorsfortheircareers。Irememberedwhen，asheysetofffortheirfirstteagjobs，readytogetheworld，oatime，ifnecessary。
AfterRebekahwasborn，Rhondaaotightesandliveononeine。Rhondagaveupherpaidteagjobaime，stay-a-hherteagforherownlittleone。
Thiswasgreatfortheirbuthardobshowedsignsofbeingagifteddcouldreadattheageofthree。RhondaandGiltalkedatlengthaosendhimtoaprivatepreschoolfortwodaysaweek。Theschoolereatteacherswithsmallsandproducedgoodresults。Knowingtheywouldhavedifficultypayiioheyhadrequestedapartialscholarship。Thedirectorassuredthemthisradthattheyhadseveralalumfromtimetotime。Noonehaddreamedsomeonewouldpaythewholeam'stuition。
Rhonda，stillholdiefromthesherhand，said。“IjustwishIkneassogenerous。”
“Rhonda，Ithinkthat，whoeverthebeoris，itmustbeimportaokeeptheiridentityprivate。”Givingherahug，Iued，“tys。Andsomedayyoueforsomeoneelse。”
“Mom，you'resuchapollyanna!ButIsurewouldliketoknow。That'salotofmoeathank-younoteandaskedMrs。Perkihedo。”
&hslater，heschoolyear，RhondaingRebekahoffatmyhousetospendacoupleofhourswhilesheransomequids。Wesaidood-byesasRhohroughherpurseforhermisplacedkeys。
“Shottosighis，”shesaid，retrievinganenvelhadbroughthomeapermissionsliptoatterip。Wheheenvelope，asmallpiekpaperfelltothefloor。
“What'sthis?”Iasked，pigupthepaperandhandingittoRhonda。
Rhohepaper。“Mom，look，”shesaidastearsrolleddowwasChristie，ChristieLeeks。SomeoFranusthaveputthisreGreg'seake。”Christiewasmakingmonthlypayments'stuition。
ChristieLeekswasayounggirlwhohadbeeninRhonda'sfirstdathehighschoolwhereshehadtaughtfiveyearsearlier。ChristiehadlivediHomeasawardofthestate。RhondaandGilhadtakeherstudentwholivedatthefosterhomeuheirwiedthemtotheirhomeforSundaydinhembirthdaycakes，seledahem。Aftertwoyears，RhondaandGilmovedtoayaheylosttactwiththeotherstudent，whohadmovedoutofthetry，butstayedintouchwithChristieovertheyears。RhondaaraveledbacktoattendChristie'shighschoolgraduationandthenhelpedhermoveintoa。
“Hoayforthis?”Rhohishastobeahardshiponher;Iknowsheisonlymakiwages。We'tacceptthis。Ihavetocallheraop。”
“Rhonda，it'sobviouslyimportanttoChristieforyounottoknow。You'ttellheryoufou。”
&hslater，duringGreg'ssummervaschool，Christiestoppedbytovisitaeabelatedbirthday。Thatnight，RhondaandChristiesatuptalkiofthehouseholdslept。Christie，abouttograduatefromcollegewithhonors，hadmetaspean。
“Iamsoproudofyou，Christie，”Rhondasaid。“Youhavegroean。Ialould，fromthefirstdayIsawyouinclass。”
“Mrs。Davidson，Iwanttoshowyousomething，”ChristiesaidasshewenttarievedherBible。Openingit，sheremovedthethank-younoteRhondaandGilhadwrittentotheanonymoustributor。“Wouldyoureadthis，Mrs。Davidson?”
AsRhohenotealoud，shehadtoswallowthelumpi。
Rhohelastsentence……
Weoonedaywegivetoachildasyouhavesiventoourchild。