"Wanted: Violin. Can't pay much. Call ..."
诚征：小提琴。不要太贵。请电…
Why did I notice that? I wondered, since I rarely look at the classified ads.
为什么我会注意到那个？我不知道，因为我很少看分类广告。
I laid the paper on my lap and closed my eyes, remembering what had happened many years before, when my family
 struggled to make a living on our farm. I, too, had wanted a violin, but we didn't have the money...
我把报纸放在膝部，闭上眼睛，回忆起许多年前所发生的事，那时我们一家人在农场上奋斗谋生。我也想要一把小提琴
，但是我们没有钱…
When my older twin sisters began showing an interest in music, Harriet Anne learned to play Grandma's upright
 piano, while Suzanne turned to Daddy's violin.
当我的双胞胎姊姊开始对音乐表现出兴趣时，哈里特?安学习弹祖母的平台型钢琴，而苏姗使用父亲的小提琴。
Simple tunes soon became lovely melodies as the twins played more and more.
当这对双胞胎愈弹愈多时，简单的曲子就变成了可爱的歌曲。
Caught up in the rhythm of the music, my baby brother danced around while Daddy hummed and Mother whistled. I
 just listened.
被音乐的韵律所感染，我的小弟弟跳得团团转，而我父亲哼着歌，母亲吹着口哨。我只是听着。
When my arms grew long enough, I tried to play Suzanne's violin.
当我的手臂长得够长，我尝试要拉苏姗的小提琴。
I loved the mellow sound of the firm bow drawn across the strings.
我喜爱稳稳的弓拉过弦的那种圆滑的声音。
Oh, how I wanted one! But I knew it was out of the question.
啊，我多么想要有一把(小提琴)啊！但是我知道那是不可能的。
One evening as the twins played in the school orchestra, I closed my eyes tight to capture the picture firmly in my
 mind.
有一天晚上，这对双胞胎在学校的管弦乐团里演奏，我紧闭着眼睛来稳稳地捕捉脑中的图画。
Someday, I'll sit up there, I vowed silently.
我暗地里发誓，有一天，我要高高地坐在那里。
It was not a good year. At harvest the crops did not bring as much as we had hoped.
那不是很顺利的一年。收成时农作物并没有如我们希望的赚来那样多的钱。
Yet even though times were hard, I couldn't wait any longer to ask, "Daddy, may I have a violin of my own?"
但是即使日子困苦，我也无法再等久一点才问：「爸，我可以有一把属于自己的小提琴吗？」
"Can't you use Suzanne's?"
「你能不能用苏姗的呢？」