一位母親在兒子即將上學時，給“世界”寫的一封充滿了母愛的信。以向世界懇求的方式，表達了自己心中對兒子的期望。耐人尋味。
A Mother's Letter to The World Dear World, My son starts school today. It's going to be strange and new to him for a while . And I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You see , up to now , he's been king of the roost . He's been boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds, and to soothe his feelings. But now—— things are going to be different. This morning , he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow. To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith and love and courage. So, World , I wish you would sort of take him by his youny hand and teach him the things he will have to know . Teach him, but gently,if you can.Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero;that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader; that for every enemy there is a friend. Teach him the wonders of books.Give him quite time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,bees in the sun,and flowers on the green hill. Teach him it is far more horrorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas , even if everyone else tells him they are wrong. Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder , but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling and ...and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right. Teach him gently, World, but don't coddle him ,because only the test of fire makes fine steel. This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He's such a nice little fellow.
親愛的世界： 我的兒子今天要開始上學讀書了。一時之間，他會感覺陌生而又新鮮。 而我希望你能待他也溫柔一些。 你知道，到現(xiàn)在為止，他一直是家中的小皇帝，一直是后院的王者。我一直在他身旁，忙著為他治療傷口，并慰藉他的心情。 但是現(xiàn)在，一切都將不同了。 今天清晨，他就要走下前門樓梯沖我揮揮手，開始他偉大的歷險征程，其間或許有斗陣、不幸和傷痛。 所以啊，世界，我希望你能夠時不時握著他稚嫩的小手，告訴他應當知曉的事情。教育他吧——而如何有可能的話，溫柔一些。教他知道，每有惡人之地，必有豪杰所在；每有欺詐之人，必有獻身義士；沒見一敵人，必有一友在側(cè)。教他感受書本的神奇魅力。給他時間靜思大自然中亙古綿延的奧秘，空中的飛鳥，陽光里的蜜蜂，青山上簇簇繁花。教他知道，失敗遠比欺騙更為光榮；教他堅定自我的信念，哪怕人人予以否認；教他可以以最高價付出自己的精力和智慧，但絕不可以出賣良心和靈魂；教他置群氓的喧囂于度外……并在自覺正確之時挺身而戰(zhàn)。溫柔地教導他吧，世界，但不要放縱他，因為只有烈火的考驗才能煉出真金。 這一要求甚高，世界，但請你盡你所能。他是一個如此可愛的小家伙哩。