英文早读第259篇，选自巴菲特年度信，友才翻译。
Though he was already 71 years of age when he sold us the Bank, Gene subsequently worked harder for us than he had for himself. He never delayed reporting a problem for a minute, but problems were few with Gene. What else would you expect from a man who, at the time of the bank holiday in 1933, had enough cash on the premises to pay all depositors in full? Gene never forgot he was handling other people's money. Though this fiduciary attitude was always dominant, his superb managerial skills enabled the Bank to regularly achieve the top position nationally in profitability.
尽管当他把银行出售给我们时已经71岁了，基恩随后为我们比为他自己工作更加努力。他从来不会拖延一分钟来汇报问题，但是基恩也几乎没有问题。你还能从一个人身上期望什么呢，在一个1933年创立的银行，有足够的现金假定去全额兑付所有储户？基恩从来没有忘记他在掌管的是他人的金钱。尽管这个受托态度是最主要的，他卓越的管理技能使这家银行盈利能力经常是国家头部。
Gene was in charge of the Illinois National for close to fifty years - almost one-quarter of the lifetime of our country. George Mead, a wealthy industrialist, brought him in from Chicago to open a new bank after a number of other banks in Rockfold had failed. Mr. Mead put up the money and Gene ran the show. His talent for leadership soon put its stamp on virtually every major civic activity in Rockfold.
基恩掌管伊利诺伊国立银行接近50年，这几乎是我们国家历史的四分之一。佐治梅德，一个富有的实业家，将他从芝加哥带来在罗克福德很多其他银行失败后成立一家新银行。梅德先生出资，基恩负责经营。他的领导才能很快让银行的标志几乎出现在罗克福德每一个主要居民活动上。
Dozens of Rockfold citizens have told me over the years of help Gene extended to them. In some cases this help was financial; in all cases it involved much wisdom, empathy and friendship. He always offered the same to me. Because of our respective ages and positions I was sometimes the junior partner, sometimes the senior. Whichever the relationship, it always was a special one, and I miss it.
很多罗克福德居民告诉过我这些年基恩给他们的帮助。在很多事情上这个帮助是财务上的，但在所有事情上都包括智慧、同理心和友谊。他经常也为我同样提供这些。因为我们年龄和位置不同，我有时是晚辈，有时是长辈。无论是什么关系，他总是很特殊的一个，我怀念他。
Warren E. Buffett
February 27, 1981
Chairman of the Board
沃伦E巴菲特
1981年2月27日
董事会主席
135.premise：前提；假定；预述
136.industrialist：工业家；实业家
137.empathy：移情；同情；共鸣
