3-6 金盒子（在线收听）

The Golden Box

The mysterious golden box was tied with crimson¹ ribbon and sat upon a shelf above the sideboard² in the dining room.

During my childhood, I would often wonder where it had come from and why it was never opened. From time to time, I would see my parents look upon³ that golden box and smile. Sometimes I would climb upon a chair to get a closer look, but would never touch it for fear I would spoil something special.

When I was grown and off on my own, the memory of that box faded. However, I would come home to visit and see that small treasure sitting in its usual place and the mystery would come alive⁴ again.

I soon married and had children of my own. But each time we would visit my parents' home, I would spot that golden treasure and wonder what story was held within. Many years passed as that box continued to sit with its mysterious contents, undisturbed.

The tragic loss of my father happened one spring day. Our friends and family gathered to mourn the loss of the biggest hero in my life. He was the one I thought would never die.

After my father's funeral, I found my mother in their room -- on the bed they had shared for so many years, holding that treasured box in her delicate hands.

With tears in her eyes and a lifetime of memories in her heart, she carefully untied the ribbon and opened that golden treasure.

On a yellowed piece of paper were written these words:

My Love, I go far away. 　　

I have to go.

I cannot stay.

My love for you

I will hold dear,

Until that time I can hold you near.

So I ask, Darling, wait for me

While I am far across the sea.

'Til I return, Dear, just know this:

I leave this box sealed with a kiss.

All My Love,

　　Frank

Then my mother told me this story:

My parents met in high school when their best friends set them up on a blind date⁵. As my parents' friendship grew, also did their love. They had planned on marrying as soon as they graduated from high school but “ Uncle Sam⁶” had other ideas.

Before my father went off to war, he wrote those words and placed them in that golden box and tied it with the crimson ribbon as a token of his everlasting love for my mother. He asked that she open the box only if she knew he would not be coming home.

As those months passed, their love, faith and prayer sustained them through that difficult time until they would be together again.

When my father finally returned from the war, they married. However, mom kept that box unopened as a remembrance of their love and devotion during that hard time in their lives.

After my father passed away, I saw my mother slowly decline. She had lost the zest⁷ for life she'd once had when my father was alive. I knew she was dying of a broken heart because her true love never returned.

Soon, I found myself in my old family home holding that golden box. But instead of a crimson ribbon, it was now tied with a blue one. And with that blue ribbon came another mystery.

As I untied the ribbon I thought of all those wonderful years my parents and I had shared. They had given me a lifetime of love and caring, and I knew I would feel that love for the rest of my life. When I lifted the lid and looked inside, I found that yellowed paper placed there so many years ago and a new page written in my mother's own hand. It read:

My Dear Son,

The first time I held you, my precious boy,

My heart was filled with so much joy.

As I watched you grow from a boy to a man,

I knew it was all part of God's wonderful plan.

How thankful I am and I know it's so true,

You're a wonderful son and I'll always love you.

　　Mom

注释：

1. crimson [5krimzn] adj. 深红色的；绯红色的

2. sideboard [5said7bC:d] n. 餐具柜               

3. look upon（带着特定目光或情绪）看，望

4. come alive活跃起来

5. blind date（由第三方安排的）男女间初次会晤

6. UncleSam〈口〉山姆大叔（指美国政府或美国人）[源出美国1812年战争时对军邮邮戳上U.S.两字母的戏谑称呼]

7. zest [zest] n. 兴趣，兴味；热情

金盒子

那个神秘的金盒子用深红色丝带系着，放置在餐厅餐具柜上面的一个架子上。

　　童年时，我经常琢磨这金盒子是从哪里来的，为什么从没有被打开过。不时我会看到我父母望着金盒子微笑。有时我会爬上一张椅子凑近看看，但从没敢碰一下，生怕弄坏了什么特殊的东西。

　　我长大离开父母独立生活后，有关那盒子的记忆变得模糊了。但是我有时回父母家看望他们，看到那小小的宝盒依然放在老地方，神秘感便又油然而生。

　　不久我结婚了，有了自己的孩子。但是每当我们回父母家，我就会看到那个金色的宝贝盒子，又会琢磨里面隐藏着怎样的故事。许多年过去了，盒子一直放在老地方，深藏着神秘，未被挪动。

　　在一个春日，父亲不幸去世。我们的朋友和家人聚集在一起，哀悼我一生中最伟大的英雄的离去。父亲是我曾认为永远不会离世的人。

　　父亲的葬礼之后，我发现母亲在他们的房间里——在他们共枕多年的床上，用她那双纤弱的手捧着那个珍贵的盒子。

　　眼含着泪水，心怀着一生的回忆，她小心翼翼地解开红丝带，打开了那个金色的宝盒。

　　在一张已经发黄的纸上写着这样的诗句：

　　亲爱的，我要奔赴远方。

我不得不离开。

我无法留下。

我对你的爱

我将珍藏，

直到我能够让你依偎在我身旁。

所以，亲爱的，我恳请你等着我

当我远在海的另一方。

直到我回来，亲爱的，要知道：

我留下这盒子，内封着一吻情长。

全身心爱你的，

弗兰克

　　然后母亲给我讲了下面这个故事：

　　我父母是在高中时由最好的朋友安排了初次见面。随着他们友情的发展，他们的爱也在与日俱增。他们曾计划高中一毕业就结婚，但是“山姆大叔”另有安排。

　　在我父亲参战离去之前，他写下了那些话语，放入那个金盒子里，用深红色丝带系好，作为对我母亲天长地久之爱的象征。他请求她只有在确信他永远回不了家后，才把盒子打开。

　　在那分离的数月里，他们的爱情、忠诚和祈祷支撑着他们，让他们度过了艰难的日子，直到他们回到彼此的怀抱。

　　父亲终于从战场上返回到家里，他们结婚了。但是，妈妈没有打开盒子，而是继续让它封闭着，以纪念他们生活中那段艰苦日子里彼此的爱情和忠诚。

　　父亲去世后，我眼见母亲的身心每况愈下。她已经失去了父亲活着时她对生活的热情。我知道一颗破碎的心在慢慢枯萎，因为她忠诚爱人永不复回。

　　不久，我没料到自己在父母家双手捧着那个金盒子。但是它上面系着的不再是一条深红色丝带，而是一条蓝丝带；而那蓝丝带又连结着另一个秘密。

　　在我解开丝带时，父母和我共度的那些美好时光浮现在我脑海。他们给了我一生的爱和关切，我深知我一辈子都会感受到他们的爱。我打开盖子往里面瞧，看到了那张多年前放进去的现已发黄的纸，还有一张新的，上面有我母亲亲笔写下的字句。她写的是：

亲爱的儿子，

当我第一次抱着你，我的宝贝，

我的心充满了无限的欢喜。

我眼看着你从一个孩子成长为男子汉，

我深知这一切都是上帝的巧妙安排。

我是多么感激，我深信不疑，

你是个了不起的儿子，我永远爱你。

妈妈