It is a pleasant thing enough to be able to spend a lttle money without fear when the desire for some indulgence is strong upon one; but how much pleasanter the ability to give money away! Greatly as I relish the comforts of my wonderful new life, no joy it has brought me equals that of coming in aid to another's necessity. The man forever pinched in circumstances can live only for himself. It is all very well to talk about doing moral good; in practice, there is little scope or hope for anything of that kind in a state of material hardship. Today I have sent S -- a cheque for fifty pounds; it will come as a very boon of heaven, and assuredly blesses him that gives as much as him that takes. A poor fifty pounds, which the wealthy fool throws away upon some idle or base fantasy and never thinks of it; yet to S -- it will mean life and light. And I, to whom this power of benefaction is such a new thing, sign the cheque with a hand trembling, so glad and proud I am. In the days gone by, I have sometimes given money, but with trembling of another kind; it was as likely as not that I myself, some black foggy morning, might have to go begging for my own dire needs. That is one of the bitter curses of poverty; it leaves no right to be generous. Of my abundance -- abundance to me, though starveling pittance in the view of everyday prosperity -- I can give with happiest freedom; I feel myself a man, and no crouching slave with his back ever ready for the lash of circumstance. There are those, I know, who thank the gods amiss, and most easily does this happen in the matter of wealth. But oh, how good it is to desire little, and to have a little more than enough!
当强烈地感觉到某种放纵的欲望时,有足够的能力去毫无后顾之忧地花一点钱，这真是一件乐事;而更加令人快乐的事情就是,有能力资助他人!尽管我极为享受这美妙舒适的新生活,但我从中获得的快乐远远不及向他人施以援手时所感受到的喜悦。一个永远处于穷困中的人,只能顾及自己的生活。谈论行善助人固然是一件好事,但实际上,在物质条件困窘的情况下,并没有多少机会和希望将这样的想法付诸实践。今天,我给S君寄去了一张五十英镑的支票，它会像是上天赐予的恩惠,而且无疑会使给予者和接受者获得同样的幸福之感。这区区五十英镑，富有的蠢人会为无聊而堕落的幻想将其虚掷，并不再想到它;但对于S君而言一一它意味着生命与光明。我竟然能够拥有做慈善之事的力量,这真是一件新鲜事儿;当我在支票上签字的时候，我的手抑制不住地颤抖,那是怎样一种高兴与自豪的情绪啊!曾几何时,我伴随着另外的一种颤抖将钱交给别人,因为那意味着我自己很可能在某个雾浓弥漫的黑暗的清晨,不得不为了自己急需的东西而去乞讨。这是贫穷所带来的苦难之一,它剥夺了一个人仗义疏财的权利。由于我的富足——可能在一般的有钱人看来,仅够温饱而已,但至少我是这样认为的——我可以快乐而自由地给予他人;同时,我能感觉到作为人的尊严,而不是脊背随时会受到境遇鞭笞的卑躬屈膝的奴隶。我知道,有些人感激神明的方式是错误的,尤其是在钱财的问题上最容易这样。哦，期望不多,略有富余一-这是多么美好的事啊!
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