Booker T. Washington， the renowned1 black educator， was an outstanding example of this truth.

Shortly after he took over the presidency2 of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama， he was walking in an exclusive3 section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight， she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping4 wood for her.

Because he had no pressing business at the moment， Professor Washington smiled， rolled up his sleeves， and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished， he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace.

A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady. The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Tuskegee Institute and apologized profusely5. \"It's perfectly all right， Madam，\" he replied. \"Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides， it's always a delight to do something for a friend.\"

She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek6 and gracious attitude had endeared7 him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances9 to join her in donating10 thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.

布克·華盛頓是知名的黑人教育家，關(guān)于謙卑，他有一個突出的事例。

那時，他剛接任阿拉巴馬州的杜斯凱吉大學(xué)校長不久，當(dāng)他在鎮(zhèn)里一個偏僻的地方散步時，他被一個富有的白人婦女叫住了。因她從未見過著名的華盛頓先生，她讓布克·華盛頓幫她砍柴，并答應(yīng)給他幾美元。

因布克·華盛頓那時正好沒有緊急的事情，于是他微笑地卷起袖子，做了她要求的卑下的砍柴工作?？惩瓴窈?，他又幫她把柴送進(jìn)屋里，整齊地在壁爐旁堆好。

一個小女孩認(rèn)出了布克·華盛頓，她在事后把他的身份告訴了那位婦人。第二天早上，尷尬的婦女來到了華盛頓先生所在的杜斯凱吉大學(xué)辦公室，非常誠懇地向他道歉。“別放在心上，女士，”他回答道，“有時候我也做些小的體力活，當(dāng)然，能幫朋友做點事情我很高興?！?/p>

她熱情地握著他的手，說道:“您的謙恭而親切的態(tài)度讓我深深折服。”后來，她勸服她的富有的朋友們加入到捐贈中，為杜斯凱吉大學(xué)帶來了數(shù)干美元的捐款。

注釋

①renowned adj.有名的;享有聲譽(yù)的

②presidency n.總統(tǒng)的任期

③exclusive adj.專用的;獨家的

④chop vt.砍，伐，劈

⑤profusely adv.毫不吝惜地，慷慨地，揮霍地

⑥meek adj.溫順的，馴服的

⑦endear vt.使某人(自己)受到某人喜歡

⑧admiration n.欽佩;贊賞

⑨acquaintance n.相識的人，熟人

⑩donate vt.vi.捐贈，贈送