10 篇文章帮你搞定 4 级词汇：(2)One ChanceThe tiny antique silver pin lay in my hand. I stared hard at the solemn face looking back at me from the oval frame. I was looking for some resemblance(相像) between my ancestor and myself. Her brow was broad and strong, the eyes kind and forgiving. She wore a stiff black bonnet(无边小圆软帽), a high white collar and a coarsely woven shawl(披肩) around her shoulders. In examining her face more closely, maybe I could identify some similarity around the eyes and the nose. An inner strength shone from the eyes of this diminutive(小巧的) lady who had helped lead her family from Ireland to the New World.The times, in Ireland during 1770s, were difficult for everyone. John and Lily Love and all the tenants(租地者,佃户) of the Barrens Court Estate were suffering after terrible floods destroyed their crops. The landlord was generous in allowing the land rent to fall into arrears(拖欠,还款), due to the difficult times. However, as weather conditions continued to worsen, the little family became pessimistic(悲观的) and felt desperate about the direction of their lives. Nearly every family at this time had at least one number of their family who had left for the New World. The ugly face of famine(饥荒) was lurking(潜藏,埋伏) everywhere. It was not possible with one acre of arable(可耕作的) land to make a living.Late one night, after the children were in bed, John and Lily discussed the possibility of making a reservation aboard a sailing ship bound for(预备开往...的) America. John had noticed a poster(海报) in the town square, that posted by a ships owner trying to recruit for his ship. John knew that conditions aboard ship would not be ideal for Lily, her ne...
