·Henry Beecher·
Red roses were her favorites，her name was also Rose. And every year her husband sent them，tied with pretty bows. The year he died，the roses were delivered to her door. The card said，“Be my Valentine”，like all the years before. Each year he sent her roses，and the note would always say，“I love you even more this year than last year on this day.”“My love for you will always grow，with every passing year.”She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear. She thought，he ordered roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know that he would pass away. He always liked to do things early，way before the time. Then，if he got too busy，everything would work out fine.
She trimmed the stems，and placed them in a very special vase. Then，sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face，she would sit for hours in her husband’s favorite chair，while staring at his picture，and the roses sitting there. A year went by，and it was hard to live without her mate，with loneliness and solitude，that had become her fate. Then，the very hour，as on Valentines before，the doorbell rang，and there were roses，sitting by her door. She brought the roses in，and then just looked at them in shock. Then，went to get the telephone to call the florist shop，the owner answered and she asked him if he would explain，why would someone do this to her，causing her such pain？“I know your husband passed away，more than a year ago，”The owner said，“I knew you’d call and you would want to know. The flowers you received today were paid for in advance. Your husband always planned ahead，he left nothing to change. There is a standing order that I have on file down here，and he has paid，well in advance，you’ll get them every year. There also is another thing that I think you should know. He wrote a special little card. . . he did it years ago. Then，should ever I find out that he’s no longer here，that’s the card. . . that should be sent to you the following year.”She thanked him and hung up the phone，her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers shaking as she slowly reached to get the card. Inside the card，she saw that he had written her a note. Then，as she stared in total silence，this is what he wrote...“Hello，my love，I know it’s been a year since I’ve been gone，I hope it hasn’t been too hard for you to overcome. I know it must be lonely，and the pain is very real. For if it were the other way，I know how I would feel. The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life. I loved you more than words can say，you were the perfect wife. You were my friend and lover，you fulfilled my every need. I know it’s only been a year，but please try not to grieve. I want you to be happy，even when you shed your tears. That is why the roses will be sent to you for years. When you get these roses，think of all the happiness that we had together and how both of us were blessed. I have always loved you and I know I always will. But，my love，you must go on，you have some living still. Please... try to find happiness，while living out your days. I know it is not easy，but I hope you find some ways. The roses will come every year and they will only stop when your door is not answered when the florist stops to knock. He will come five times that day，in case you have gone out. But after his last visit，he will know without a doubt to take the roses to the place where I’ve instructed him. And place the roses where we are，together once again.”
来自天堂的玫瑰
亨利·比彻
罗丝最喜欢红玫瑰，她的名字也是玫瑰的意思。每年，丈夫都会送给她一些玫瑰花，花上系着漂亮的丝带。这一年，她丈夫去世了，玫瑰花却依然送到了她的门前，卡片上写着和往年一样的话语：做我的妻子吧！年年送花，他都写这样的话：“对你的爱今朝更胜往年，时光流转爱你越来越多。”她想，今年的玫瑰一定是丈夫提前预定的。以后再也不会有玫瑰花了。她心爱的丈夫并不知道自己会逝去。他总是喜欢把事情提前安排妥当，以往即使再忙，凡事都能从容办好。
罗丝修整了花束，把玫瑰插进一只很特别的花瓶里，花瓶旁摆放着丈夫满面笑容的遗像。她在丈夫心爱的椅子里一坐就是几个小时，伴着玫瑰花，痴望着他的相片，沉浸在美好的回忆中。一年过去了，失去了丈夫的日子十分难熬，孤独和寂寞占据了她的生命。情人节前夕，门铃响了，有人送来了玫瑰花。她把花拿进来，非常惊讶。于是她打电话给花店，“是谁在恶作剧，为什么要惹我伤心？”店主解释说：“我知道您的丈夫一年前去世了，也知道您会打电话来询问究竟。您今天收到的花，是您丈夫提前预订的。您丈夫总是提前做好计划，万无一失。他预付了货款，委托我们每年送花给您。还有一件事我想您应该知道，就在去年他还写了一张特别的小卡片，嘱咐着：如果他不在了，卡片就在第二年送给您。”她谢过店主，挂上了电话，顿时泪如泉涌，手指颤抖着慢慢地打开了附在玫瑰花上的卡片。
卡片里是一张写给她的便条。她静静地看着：“你好吗，我的妻子？我知道我已经去世一年了，我希望挺过这一年的你没有受太多的苦。我知道你一定很孤单，很痛苦。我们的爱使生活里的一切如此美好，任何语言都表达不了我对你的爱，你是完美的妻子，是我的朋友和情人，让我心满意足。时光只过去了一年，请不要悲伤，我要你即使流泪也是幸福的，这就是为什么年年都会送你玫瑰花的原因。当你收到玫瑰的时候，想想我们在一起时的快乐吧，我们曾经是多么幸福。我很爱你，我也会永远地爱你。但是，我的妻子，你一定要好好地活着啊！请……珍惜生命，追寻幸福吧。我知道那不容易，但是你一定要想想办法。玫瑰花每年都会如期而至，除非你不再应门，花店才会停止送花。那一天，花店的伙计会上门来访五次，以防你偶尔出门去了。但是，访问过五次之后，他就可以确认：这些花该送到我指示给他的另一个地方——我们重逢相聚的地方。”
实战提升篇
核心单词
deliver [di5livE] v. 投递；传送；运送
trim [trim] v. 修剪；整理
cause [kC：z] n. 原因；起因
silence [5sailEns] n. 无声；沉默，默不作声
fulfill [ful5fil] v. 执行(命令等)；服从；履行(诺言等)
bless [bles] v. 为……祝福，为……祈神赐福；保佑
florist [5flCrist] n. 花商；种花者
instruct [in5strQkt] v. 指示，命令，吩咐
实用句型
Her loving husband did not know that he would pass away.
她心爱的丈夫并不知道自己会逝去。
①这里是由that 引导的宾语从句。
②pass away去世，类似的表达还有pass by经过；pass off消失等固定搭配。
翻译行不行
1.仪仗队走在前面。(in advance)
2.我不再是个学生了。(no longer)
3.如果她回来了，请立刻告诉我。(in case)
