As Long As You Are Happy 只要你快樂



提要

成人之美是一種修養，一種高尚的品德，有寬廣胸襟的人，願意成全別人的美好，即使會犧牲自己的權益、福利……。



"It has been three months hasn't it, Mr. Jones?" After 40 years, she still called her husband, "Mister."

Mrs. Jones enquired whether her husband had made any effort to find the owner of the lovely dog.

Mr. Henry Jones said that he was in the process of writing an advert and hoped to put up the advert the next day. He added that the dog was definitely not a neighborhood dog as he was very content to stay with the Jones.

Mrs. Jones backed his reasoning, and added that he should not get too attached to the dog. She advised him to stop pampering the dog so much, as he would have to be eventually returned to the rightful owner.

Mr. Jones said that he planned to put an advertisement in the lost and found section of the newspaper the next day. He added that what really bothered him was that how was he to know a claimant was the rightful owner.

Besides, he did not want to lose such a fine dog like that.

Mrs. Jones advised him to ask a claimant to describe the dog and then ask them for the dog's name. Mr. Jones said that he had tried just about every name that a bird dog could be called…but there was no response from the dog.

Henry Jones, now 66 years of age, had just retired from his job in the city and had settled down in the country. He had acquired a farm in the country and had also purchased a beautiful truck. But what he did not have was a dog. The kind of dog he wanted was difficult to come by. And as fate would want it, this dog had come from nowhere and attached himself to the Jones household. He had felt so complete and had taken an immediate liking to the dog...

Mr. Jones had known from the start that he had to advertise the dog. He was honor bound to do it and somewhat ashamed albeit surprised at himself for not doing it sooner. Such a fine looking dog would definitely have an owner, he reckoned.

A few days later, the advertisement appeared in the lost and found section of the local newspaper. Found: One Dog, Owner may recover dog, by identifying same.

A week passed and no one had come to claim the dog. Then one day, a car bearing an interstate license, pulled up in front of the house. Mr. Jones had been making apple vinegar, and his wife was returning from the orchard, with a basket full of plums. The stranger was tall and had a boyish smile. It was then they noticed that one coat sleeve hung limp by his side.

He apologized for interrupting their work and expressed surprise, albeit thrilled to see the apple vinegar being made. Mrs. Jones, quickly took a mug and filled it with icy apple drink, and gave it to the lad. Mug after mug, the tall boy drank.

Finally, he wanted to help Mr. Jones in making the vinegar.  And they quickly made two more buckets of it.

After a while, Mrs. Jones appeared with a tray of food for the lad and expressed that since the boy appeared to have come a long way and he sure would be hungry. She asked him to stop and said that it was time he had some food.

The boy ate with such gusto that made Mrs. Jones' chest swell with pride. He ate slow, savoring each morsel. Finally, the lad got up and said that he felt guilty of being a glutton and eating so much. He added that if he stayed there for a few days, he would have a belly like a politician.

Mr. Jones then confided to the lad that he too had a son who was about the same height as the boy, but was killed on a battle overseas. The boy apologized and expressed sorrow at their loss. He added that they would surely have some proud memories about him.

The lad then explained that the real reason that he had come was about the clipping that they had put in the local newspaper. He then took out the clipping from his pocket.

The lad then said that about four months back, he had a flat tire while driving by this part of the country. He added that when he had gone to get some help, someone had broken into his car and stole his suitcase and the dog he just adopted.

Mr. Jones then questioned the boy and asked him to describe his dog.

The boy said that the dog was a big male setter, white, and tan, with a tan saddle and a very handsome tan tail. He said that the dog would instantly recognize him.

It was one of those times, when all hope drained from Mr. Jones, as he knew the dog belonged to the boy.

Mr. Jones told the boy that his description fit the dog perfectly. Nonetheless, he wanted to be sure, if the dog recognized him. He added that the dog had gone with the neighbor's boy to get some milk and should be returning anytime.

The dog suddenly turned up and Mr. Jones said that he was sure that the dog would be glad to meet the lad......The dog started quickly towards the boy and then stopped and looked indecisively at Mr. Jones. With a baffled expression, he strode unwaveringly to Mr. Jones and licked his hand.

After an awkward silence, the lad spoke, "There sure is a resemblance, but as you know, dogs often look alike. However, their name will tell. Here, Chief! Here, Chief," he called softly.

The dog's only response was to whimper and lick the outstretched hands of Mr. Jones.

The boy was a bit surprised with the dog's reaction and said that it was not his dog.

Back at the home, the boy quickly thanked Mrs. Jones for her hospitality.  After his car left, Mr. Jones said that the boy reminded him about his son and that he was so sure that the dog was his when the boy had described him

After two weeks, when no other claimants had appeared, Mr. Jones was relieved. He was now thinking of finding a name for the dog.

The same day, a telegram appeared in his mailbox. It had come from a distant city and was unsigned. Mr. Jones was afraid to open it thinking it was another claimant.

Finally, he opened it and noticed that the message was short.

It just said, he likes sweet potato very much.



說明

「已經三個月了，對嗎，瓊斯先生？」結婚四十年了，瓊斯太太仍然稱呼丈夫為「先生」。她問丈夫，是不是正在努力地幫可愛狗狗找主人？

亨利．瓊斯先生說，他正在撰寫內容，準備隔天再刊登廣告。他附帶說，這隻狗絕對不是鄰居的，因為牠很滿足地與瓊斯在一起。

瓊斯太太同意他的推論，但也說他不應該投入太多，她建議他別這麼寵這隻狗，因為到頭來他不得不歸還給原來的主人。

瓊斯先生說，他計畫把廣告在報紙的失物招領欄。而真正困擾他的，是該怎麼知道出現的人真的是狗主。

況且，他真的很不想失去像這樣的好狗。

瓊斯太太建議他讓來認領的人描述這隻狗，然後再問他們狗的名字。瓊斯先生說，他幾乎嘗試過每一種叫可能是獵鳥犬的名字……但狗狗都沒反應。

六十六歲的亨利．瓊斯剛從大城市退休，搬到鄉下住。他用退休金買了一個農場，還有一輛漂亮的卡車，但缺少一隻狗。他理想中的那種狗很難得，然後就像命中註定的那樣，狗突然出現，緊緊依附瓊斯一家。感覺如此完美的瓊斯先生，立刻喜歡上了這隻狗。

瓊斯先生從一開始就知道他必須為這隻狗找主人，他很榮幸這麼做，卻為自己沒早些進行而感到不好意思。他很清楚，這麼體面的狗肯定有主人。

幾天後，這廣告出現在當地報紙的失物招領欄位，「發現一隻狗，主人可來認領」。

一整個星期過去了，沒有人來認領這隻狗。然後有一天，一輛外地牌照的汽車在屋子前面停下。瓊斯先生一直在做蘋果醋，他的妻子則帶著裝滿李子的籃子從果園裡回來。高個子的陌生人走出車子，帶著男孩般的稚氣微笑。那時他們注意到，一個外套袖子空空蕩蕩在他身旁垂下。

他略微驚訝地為打斷他們的作息而道歉，也興緻勃勃地看著正在製作的蘋果醋。瓊斯太太迅速裝滿冰涼的蘋果飲料，遞給小伙子，高個子大男孩喝了一杯又一杯。

接著，他表示想幫助瓊斯先生製作蘋果醋，他們很快又做了兩桶。

過了一會兒，瓊斯太太帶著一盤食物出現，認為小伙子遠道而來，肯定餓了。她說「是時候吃點東西了」。

大男孩津津有味，讓瓊斯太太滿心驕傲。他吃得很慢、細細品味，最後站了起來，對自己吃得太多而感到內疚。他還說，如果多留幾天，肚皮會像政客一樣圓。

然後瓊斯先生對小伙子說，他也有與男孩身高差不多的兒子，但是在海外服役時陣亡。大男孩表示遺憾，並對他們的失去至親表示悲傷。而且他說，他們一定會對他有一些驕傲的回憶。

小伙子接著解釋，他來的真正原因是他們在當地報紙刊登的東西。然後，他從口袋裡掏出剪報說，大約四個月前，他在這一帶開車時爆胎，當他去找人幫忙時，有人闖進汽車，偷走他的手提箱和他剛剛領養的狗。

瓊斯先生於是請他描述他的狗。

這個小伙子說，那是一隻雄性的獵鳥犬，白色和棕褐色相間，背部棕褐色和非常漂亮的棕色尾巴。他說那隻狗會立刻認出他。

那是一種所有的希望都從瓊斯先生身上流失了的感覺，因為他知道狗是這小伙子的。

瓊斯先生告訴他，描述非常符合這隻狗。但他想確定狗認不認得他。現在狗和鄰居的男孩一起去買牛奶，應該就快回來了。

狗狗跑回家時，瓊斯先生說，他確信牠會很高興見到小伙子……狗迅速向男孩靠近，然後停了下來，猶豫不決、表情困惑地看著瓊斯先生，然後，堅定地奔向瓊斯先生，舔他的手。

一陣尷尬的沉默後，那個小伙子說：「肯定是外表相似，正如你所知，狗經常看起來很像。但是牠們的名字會透露答案：「來，酋長！來這裡，酋長。」他輕聲地叫。

這隻狗唯一的反應就是輕觸並舔瓊斯先生伸出的手。

這個男孩對狗的反應有些驚訝，表示這不是他的狗。

回到瓊斯家中，男孩迅速感謝瓊斯太太的盛情款待。瓊斯先生等汽車遠離後說，男孩讓他想起關於兒子的事；而且當男孩描述細節時，他非常確定狗就是他的。

又過了兩周後，沒有其他人出現認領狗，瓊斯先生鬆了一口氣。他正考慮為這隻狗起個名字。

當天，他的信箱裡出現了一封電報，它來自一個遙遠的城市，沒有署名。瓊斯先生不敢打開它，怕是有人會把狗要走。

他終於打開電報時發現，訊息很短，上頭只寫著：「牠非常喜歡吃番薯。」