When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.
Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred. When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks.
He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big boy...called me a freak."
他脱口诉说遭到的不幸：“一个男孩，一个大个子男孩……他喊我怪胎。”
He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music.
"But you might mingle with other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
“但你可能会和其他年轻人一样。”母亲责备地说，但从心底里觉得很欣慰。
The boy's father had a session with the family physician... "Could nothing be done?"
"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured," the doctor decided. Where upon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man.
Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son,"You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret."
The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs.
手术获得了巨大成功，一个新人诞生了。他的潜力发展成一个天才，在中学和大学都取得了一连串的成功。
Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. One day, he asked his father, "Who gave methe ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her."
"I do not believe you could," said the father,"but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."
“我也这样认为，”父亲说，“但是协议上说你不能知道……还不到时候。”
The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come.One of the darkest days that ever pass through a son. He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to reveal the mother had no outer ears.
