穿越时间的小船

 　　I spent the tenth summer of my childhood, the most memorable¹ months of my life, in western Norway at the mountain farm where my mother was born. What remains² most vivid in my mind are the times I shared with my Grandfather Jorgen.

　　As an American, I always thought people simply bought whatever they needed. Whether Grandfather knew this, I don't know. But it seems he wanted to teach me something, because one day he said, "Come. I have something for you."

　　I followed him into the basement, where he led me to a workbench by a window. "You should have a toy boat .You can sail it at Storvassdal," he said, referring to a small lake a few miles from the house.

　　Swell³, I thought, looking around for the boat. But there was none.

　　Grandfather picked up a block of wood, about 18 inches long. "The boat is in there," he said. "You can bring it out." Then he handed me a razor-sharp ax.

　　I wasn't sure what to do, so Grandfather showed me how to handle the tool. I started to chop away to shape the bow. Later, after he taught me the proper use of hammer and chisel⁴, I began to hollow out the hull⁵.

　　"It'll be a fine boat, and you'll be making it all with your won hands," he said. "No one can give you what you do for yourself." The words rang in my head as I worked.

　　Finally I finished the hull and made a mast and sail. The boat wasn't much to look at, but I was proud of what I had built.

　　I launched my boat and daydreamed⁶ while a slight breeze carried the little craft to an opposite shore. The air was crisp and clean. There was no sound but the occasional warble of a bird.

　　A crisis developed when we were ready to return to America." You cannot bring that boat home with you," my mother said. We already had too much baggage.

　　With saddened heart, I went to Storvassdal for the last time, found that large boulder⁷, placed my boat in a hollow space under its base, piled stones to hide it and resolved to return one day to recover my treasure.

　　In the summer of 1964, I went to Norway with my parents and my wife and children. I shall never forget that moment. As I cradled the boat, I felt my grandfather's presence. He had died 22 years before, and yet he was there. We three were together again--Grandfather and me and little boat.

　　My last trip to Storvassdal was in 1991. This time I brought two of my granddaughters from America: Catherine, 13, and Claire, 12. As we climbed the mountain, I thought of my grandfather and compared his life with that of my granddaughters.

　　Working tirelessly on that isolated⁸ farm, my grandfather taught me that we should accept and be grateful for what we have--whether it be much or little. We must bear the burdens and relish⁹ the joys. There is so much we cannot control, but we must try to make things better when we are able. We must depend upon ourselves to make our own way as best we can.

　　On the day I took them to Storvassdal, I hoped they would somehow understand the importance of the little boat and its simple message of self-reliance.

　　High in the mountain, I hesitated to speak lest I disturb our tranquility. Then Claire looked up and broke my reverie as she said softly, "Grandpa, someday I'll comeback." She paused. "And I'll bring my children."

1 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 swell   

vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强

参考例句：

• The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
• His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。

4 chisel   

n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿

参考例句：

• This chisel is useful for getting into awkward spaces.这凿子在要伸入到犄角儿里时十分有用。
• Camille used a hammer and chisel to carve out a figure from the marble.卡米尔用锤子和凿子将大理石雕刻出一个人像。

5 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

6 daydreamed   

v.想入非非，空想( daydream的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She daydreamed, and oh! What lovely fantasies. 她在白日做梦，噢！多么美妙的幻想啊！ 来自辞典例句
• She daydreamed about a carefree vacation. 她梦想那无忧无虑的假期。 来自辞典例句

7 boulder   

n.巨砾；卵石，圆石

参考例句：

• We all heaved together and removed the boulder.大家一齐用劲，把大石头搬开了。
• He stepped clear of the boulder.他从大石头后面走了出来。

8 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

9 relish   

n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味

参考例句：

• I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
• I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。