资源预览内容
亲,该文档总共2页全部预览完了,如果喜欢就下载吧!
资源描述
Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an endless vista. So we go about our petty tasks, hardly aware of our listless attitude toward life.The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. Particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight and hearing in adult life. But those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill.I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. Nothing in particular, she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winters sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. I am delighted to have the cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips.然而,我们大多数人都把人生视为当然。我们知道有一天我们必得死去,但我们总是把那一天想得极其遥远。我们处于精神活泼、身体轻快的健康状态,死亡简直是不可想像的,我们难得想到它。日子伸延到无穷无尽的远景之中,所以,我们总是做些无价值的工作,几乎意识不到我们对生活的懒洋洋的态度。 我担心,我们全部的天赋和感官都有同样的懒惰的特征。只有聋人才珍惜听觉,只有盲人才体会重见天日的种种幸福。这种看法特别适用于那些成年后失去视觉和听觉的人。但是,那些在视觉或听觉上没有蒙受损害的人,却很少能够充分地利用这些可贵的感官。他们的眼睛和耳朵模模糊糊地吸收了一切景色和声音,他们并不专心也很少珍惜它们。我们并不感激我们的所有,直到我们丧失了它;我们意识不到我们的健康,直到我们生了病自古以来,莫不如此。 我常想,如果每个人在他的初识阶段患过几天盲聋症,这将是一种幸福。黑暗会使他更珍惜视觉;哑默会教导他更喜慕声音。我时常测验我那些有视觉的朋友,看他们究竟看见了什么。 前几天,一位很要好的朋友来探望我,她刚从树林里远足而来,于是我就问她,她观察到一些什么。 “没有什么特别的。 ”她回答说。要不是我惯于听到这样的回答(因为我很久就已确信有视觉的人看得很少) ,我简直会不相信我的耳朵。 在树林中穿行一个小时,却没有看到什么值得注意的东西,这怎么可能呢?我自问着。我这个不能用眼睛看的人,仅仅凭借触觉,就能发现好几百种使我感兴趣的东西。我用双手亲切地抚摸一株桦树光滑的外皮,或者一株松树粗糙不平的树皮。 在春天,我摸着树枝,满怀希望地寻找蓓蕾,寻找大自然冬眠之后苏醒过来的第一个征兆。有时,我感觉到一朵花的可爱而柔润的肌理,发现它那不平常的卷曲。偶然,如果我非常走运,将手轻柔地放在小树上,我可以感觉到小鸟在音律丰满的歌声中快乐地跳跃。我非常喜欢让小溪凉爽的流水从我张开的手指缝隙间急促地淌过。
网站客服QQ:2055934822
金锄头文库版权所有
经营许可证:蜀ICP备13022795号 | 川公网安备 51140202000112号