冰心 話說短文也許是我的精、氣、神都江堰市不足吧，不但自己寫不出長的東西，人讀一本刊物時，也總是先挑短的看，不論是小說、散文或是其他的文學形式，最后才看長的。我總覺得，凡是為了非傾吐不可而寫的作品，都是充滿了真情實感的。反之，只是為寫作而寫作，如上之為應付編輯朋友，一之為多拿稿費，這類文章大都是盡量地往長里寫，結果是即便的一點點的感情，也被沖洗到水分太多、淡而無味的地步。當由一個人物，一樁事跡，一幅畫面而發生的真情實感，向你襲來的時候，它就像一根扎到你心尖上的長針，一陣卷到你面前的怒潮，你只能用最真切、最簡練的文字，才能描畫出你心尖上的那一陣劇痛和你面前的那一霎驚惶！我們偉大的祖國，是有寫短文的文學傳統的。那部包括上下數千年的古文觀止，“上起東周，下迄明末，共選輯文章220篇”有幾篇是長的？如杜牧的阿房宮賦，韓愈的祭十二郎文等等，哪一篇不是短而充滿了真情實感？今人的巴金的隨感錄，不也是一個實例嗎？AChataboutShortEssaysBingXinPerhapsduetomyfailingenergies,notonlyhaveIrefrainedfromwritinganythinglong,butalso,inreadingamagazine,forexample,Iusuallyfinishitsshorterpiecesofwritingfirst,betheyfiction,proseoranyotherformsofliterature,beforegoingontothelongerones.Ialwaysbelievethatanythingwrittenwithanirresistibleinnerurgetounbosomoneselfmustbefullofgenuinefeelings.Onthecontrary,ifonewritessimplyforthesakeofwritingsay,tohumoroneseditorfriends,orworsestill,toearnmoreremuneration,onewillmostprobablymakehiswritingsunnecessarilylonguntiltheybecome,despitewhatlittlefeelingtheymaycontain,inflatedandwishy-washy.Whentrueemotionsarousedbyaperson,aneventorascenecomeuponyoulikeapinprickingyourheartoranangrytidesurgingthreateninglybeforeyou,allyoucandoisusethemostvividandsuccinctlanguagetodescribetheseverepaininyourheartorthemomentaryfeelingofpaniccausedbytheangrytide.Ourgreatmotherlandisknownforitsliterarytraditionofshortessays.DoyoufindanythingundulylonginATreasuryofBestAncientChineseProsewithits220essaysselectedfromaperiodofseveralthousandyearsinancientChinafromtheEasternZhouDynastydownuntiltheendoftheMingDynasty?Arenttheessaysinit,likeDuMusRhapsodyonEpangPalaceandHanYusAnElegiacAddresstoMyNephewShierlang,allshortandyetfulloftruefeelings?IsntACollectionofRandomThoughtsbyBaJin,ourcontemporary,anotherlikeexampleofpithywriting?巴金 木匠老陳生活的經驗固然會叫人忘記許多事情。但是有些記憶過了多少時間的磨洗也不會消滅。故鄉里那些房屋，那些街道至今還印在我的腦子里。我還記得我每天到學堂去總要走過的木匠老陳的鋪子。木匠老陳那時不過四十歲光景，臉長的像驢子臉，左眼下面有塊傷疤，嘴唇上略有幾根胡須。大家都說他的相貌丑，但是同時人人稱贊他的脾氣好。他平日在店里。但是他也經常到相熟的公館里去做活，或者做包工，或者做零工。我們家里需要木匠的時候，總是去找他。我就在這時候認識他。他在我們家里做活，我只要有空，就跑去看他工作。我那時注意的，并不是他本人，倒是他的那些工具；什么有輪齒的鋸子啦，有兩個耳朵的刨子啦，會旋轉的鉆子啦，像圖畫里板斧一般的斧子啦。這些奇怪的東西我以前全沒有看見過。一塊粗糙的木頭經過了斧子劈，鋸子鋸，刨子刨，就變成了一方或者一條光滑整齊的木板，再經過鉆子、鑿子等等工具以后，又變成了各種各樣的東西；像美麗的窗格，鏤花的壁板等等細致的物件，都是這樣制成的。老陳和他的徒弟的工作使我的眼界寬了不少。那時我還在家里讀書，祖父聘請了一位前清的老秀才來管教我們。老秀才不知道教授的方法，他只教我們認一些字，呆板地讀一些書。此外他就把我們關在書房里，端端正正地坐在凳子上，讓時間白白地流過去。過慣了這種單調的生活以后，無怪乎我特別喜歡老陳了。老陳常常彎著腰，拿了尺子和墨線盒在木板上面畫什么東西。我便安靜地站在旁邊專心地望著，連眼珠也不轉一下。他畫好墨線，便拿起鋸子或者鑿子來。我有時候覺得有些地方很奇怪，不明白，就問他，他很和氣地對我一一說明。他的態度比那個老秀才的好得多。家里人看見我對老陳的工作感到這么大的興趣，并不來干涉我，卻嘲笑地喚我做老陳的徒弟，父親甚至開玩笑地說要把我送到老陳那里學做木匠。但這些嘲笑都是好意的，父親的確喜歡我。因此有一個時候我居然相信父親真有這樣的想法，而且我對老陳說過要跟他學做木匠的話。“你要學做木匠？真笑話！有錢的少爺應該讀書，將來好做官！窮人的小孩才做木匠，”老陳聽見我的話，馬上就笑起來。“為什么不該學做木匠？做官有什么好？修房子，做家具，才有趣啊！我做木匠，我要給自己修房子，爬到上面去，爬得高高的，”我看見他不相信我的話，把它只當做小孩子的胡說，我有些生氣，就起勁地爭論道。“爬得高，會跌下來，”老陳隨口說了這一句，他的笑容漸漸地收起來了。“跌下來，你騙我！我就沒有見過木匠跌下來。”老陳看我一眼，依舊溫和地說：“做木匠修房子，常常拿自己性命來拼。一個不當心在上面滑了腳，跌下來，不跌成肉醬，也會得一輩子的殘疾。”他說到這里就埋下頭，用力在木板上推他的刨子，木板查查地響著，一卷一卷的刨花接連落在地上。他過了半晌又加了一句：“我爹就是這樣子跌死的。”我不相信他的話。一個人會活活地跌死！我沒有看見過，也沒有聽見人說過。既然他父親做木匠跌死了，為什么他現在還做木匠呢？我簡直想不通。“你騙我，我不信！那么你為什么還要做木匠？難道你就不怕死！”“做木匠的人這樣多，不見得個個都遭橫死。我學的是這行手藝，不靠它吃飯又靠什么？”他苦惱地說。然后他抬起頭來看我，他的眼角上嵌著淚珠。他哭了！我看見他流眼淚，不知道怎么辦才好，就跑開了。不久祖父生病死了，我也進了學堂，不再受那個老秀才的管束了。祖父死后木匠老陳不曾到我們家里來過。但是我每天到學堂去都要經過他那個小小的鋪子。有時候他在店里招呼我；有時候他不在，只有一兩個徒弟在那里釘凳子或者制造別的對象。他的店起初還能維持下去，但是不久省城里發生了巷戰，一連打了三天，然后那兩位軍閥因為別人的調解又握手言歡了。老陳的店在這個時候遭到“丘八”的光顧，他的一點點積蓄都給搶光了，只剩下一個空鋪子。這以后他雖然勉強開店，生意卻很蕭條。我常常看見他哭喪著臉在店里做工。他的精神頹喪，但是他仍然不停手地做活。我聽說他晚上時常到小酒館里喝酒。又過了幾個月他的店終于關了門。我也就看不見他的蹤跡了。有人說他去吃糧當了兵，有人說他到外縣謀生去了。然而有一天我在街上碰見了他。他手里提著一個籃子，里面裝了幾件木匠用的工具。“老陳，你還在省城！人家說你吃糧去了！”我快活地大聲叫起來。“我只會做木匠，我就只會做木匠！一個人應該安分守己，”他搖搖頭微微笑道，他的笑容里帶了一點悲哀。他沒有什么大改變，只是人瘦了些，臉黑了些，衣服臟了些。“少爺，你好好讀書，你將來做了官，我來給你修房子，”他繼續笑說。我抓住他的袖子，再也說不出一句話來。他告辭走了。他還告訴我他在他從前一個徒弟的店里幫忙。這個徒弟如今發達了，他卻在那里做一個匠人。以后我就沒有再看見老陳。我雖然喜歡他，但是過了不幾天我又把他忘記了。等到公館里的轎夫告訴我一個消息的時候，我才記起他來。那個轎夫報告的是什么消息呢？他告訴我：老陳同別的木匠一起在南門一家大公館里修樓房，工程快要完了，但是不曉得怎樣，老陳竟然從樓上跌下來，跌死了。在那么多的木匠里面，偏偏是他跟著他父親落進了橫死的命運圈里。這似乎是偶然，似乎又不是偶然。總之，一個安分守己的人就這樣地消滅了。CarpenterLaoChenBaJinLotsofthingsareapttofadefrommemoryasoneslifeexperiencesaccumulate.Butsomememorieswillwithstandthewearandtearoftime.Thosehousesandstreetsinmyhometownstillremainengravedonmymind.IstillcanrecallhoweverydayonmywaytoschoolIwouldinvariablywalkpastCarpenterLaoChensshop.CarpenterLaoChenwasthenonlyaboutfortyyearsold,withalongishfacelikethatofadonkey,ascarunderhislefteye,andawispymoustacheonhisupperlip.Peoplesaidhelookedugly,yettheypraisedhimforhisgoodtemper.Heusuallyworkedinhisownshop.Butfromtimetotimehewasemployedbysomerichpeopleheknewwelltoworkattheirresidences,eitherasahiredhandoncontractorasanoddjobber.Whenevermyfamilyneededacarpenter,hewasalwaysthemanwewanted.ThatwashowIgottoknowhim.Whilehewasinourhome,Iwouldcomeouttowatchhimworkinmysparetime.Whatattractedmyattention,however,wasnotthemanhimself,butthetoolsheused,suchasthesawwithtoothedblade,theplanewithtwoear-likehandles,therevolvingdrillthingsentirelystrangetome.Apieceofcoarsewood,afterbeingprocessedwiththehatchet,sawandplane,wouldbecomepiecesofsmoothandtidywood,squareorrectangularinshape.Afterfurthertreatmentwiththechisel,drill,etc.,theywouldendupasvariouskindsofexquisitearticles,suchasbeautifulwindowlattices,ornamentalengravingsonwoodenpartitions.TheworkwhichLaoChenandhisapprenticesdidwasarealeye-openertome.IwasthenstudyingathomeunderthetutorshipofanoldscholarofQingDynastywhommygrandfatherhadengaged.Theoldscholarknewnothingaboutteachingmethods.AllhedidwasmakemelearnsomeChinesecharactersanddosomedullreading.Apartfromthat,hehadmecoopedupinmystudyandsitboltuprightdoingnothingwhiletimewasslippingthroughmyfingers.Becauseofthismonotonouslife,itwasnowonderthatIdevelopedaparticularlikingforCarpenterLaoChen.Hewasoftenbentoverdrawingsomethingonaplankwitharulerandaninkmarker.AndIwouldstandbyandwatchquietlyandintently,myeyesrivetedonhim.Aftermakingthelinewiththeinkmarker,hewouldpickupthesaworthechisel.Sometimes,whensomethingpuzzledme,Iwouldaskhimquestionsoutofcuriosity,andhewouldexplainpatientlyeverythingindetail.Hewasmuchmoreagreeablethantheoldscholar.Myfolks,however,showednosignofdisapprovalwhentheyfoundmesomuchinterestedinLaoChenswork,butonlyteasinglycalledmeanapprenticeofhis.FatherevensaidjokinglythathewasgoingtoapprenticemetoLaoChen.Allthatwasthewell-meaningremarksofanaffectionatefather.OnceIevenbelievedthatfatherhadmeantwhathesaid,andIeventoldLaoChenthatthatwasexactlywhatIhadinmind.Youwanttolearncarpentry?saidLaoChenimmediatelywithasmile. Nokidding!Awealthyyoungmasterlikeyoushouldstudyandgrowuptobeagovernmentofficial!Onlypoorpeopleskidslearncarpentry.Somewhatannoyedbythewayheshruggedoffmywordsaschildishnonsense,Iarguedheatedly, Whynotbecomeacarpenter?Whatsthegoodofbeingagovernmentofficial?Itsgreatfuntobuildhousesandmakefurniture.IfImacarpenter,Illclimbhighup,veryhighup,tobuildahouseformyself.Youmayfalldownifyouclimbhigh,saidhecasually,thesmileonhisfacefadingaway.Falldown?Yourefoolingme!Iveneverseenacarpenterfalldown.Shootingaglanceatme,hecontinuedwithundiminishedpatience.Acarpenteroftenhastoriskhisownlifeinbuildingahouse.Onecarelessslip,andyoufalldown.Youllbedisabledforlife,ifnotreducedtopulp.Thereupon,hebenthisheadandforcefullypushedhisplaneoveraplank,theshavingsofwhichfellcontinuouslyontothegroundamidstthescreechingsound.Thenheaddedafteramomentssilence.Thatshowmyfatherdied.Ijustcouldnotbringmyselftobelieveit.Howcouldamandielikethat?Ihadneverseenithappen,norhadIeverheardofit.Ifhisfatherhaddiedofanaccidentasacarpenter,whyshouldLaoChenhimselfstillbecarpenternow?Ijustcouldntfigureitout.Yourefoolingme.Idontbelieveyou!Howcomeyourestillacarpenter?Canyoubeunafraidofdeath?Lotsofguysareinthistrade,hewentongloomily. itdoesntfollowthateverybodymeetswithsuchaviolentdeath.Carpentryismytrade.WhatelsecouldIrelyontomakealiving?Helookedupatme,someteardropsvisiblefromthecornersofhiseyes.Hewascrying!IwasatalosswhenIsawhimintears,soIwentawayquietly.Notlongafterwards.Mygrandpafellillanddied,andIwasenrolledinaschool,onlongerunderthecontroloftheoldscholar.LaoChennevercameagaintoworkinourhouseholdaftergrandpasdeath.Buteverydayonmywaytoschool,Iwouldpasshissmallshop.Sometimeshebeckonedmefromhisshop.Sometimeshewasabsent,leavingacoupleofhisapprenticestherehammeringnailsintoastoolormakingsomeotherarticles.Atfirst,hecouldsomehowscrapealong.Soonstreetfightingbrokeoutintheprovincialcapital,lastingthreedaysuntilthedisputebetweentwowarlordswassettledthroughthemediationofthirdparty.Inthecourseoffighting,soldierslootedLaoChensshopuntilitwasemptyofeverything.Afterthat,nevertheless,hestillmanagedtokeephisshopopenthoughbusinesswasbad.Ioftensawhimworkinginhisshopwithasaddenedlookonhisface.Dejectedashewas,heworkedonasusual.Iheardthatheoftenwentdrinkingatasmallwineshopintheevening.Severalmonthslater,hisshopcloseddownforgoodandIlostalltraceofhim.Somesaidhehadgonesoldiering,otherssaidhehadgonetoanothercountytoseekalivelihood.Oneday,however,Iranintohiminthestreet.Hewascarryingabasketfilledwithsomecarpenterstools.LaoChen,Iyelledoutinjoy, yourestillhereintheprovincialcapital!Peoplesayyourejoinedup!Imgoodatnotingelsebutcarpentry!Oneshouldbecontentwithoneslot,heshookhishead,wearingafaintsmilewithatouchofsorrow.Therewasnotmuchchangeinhimexceptthathewasthinner,hisfacedarkerandhisclothesmoredirty.Youngmaster,hecontinuedsmilingly, youshouldstudyhard.Letmebuildahouseforyoucomedaywhenyoureagovernmentofficial.Itookholdofhissleeve,unabletoutteraword.Hesaidgoodbyetomeandwentaway.Hehadtoldmethathewasnowworkingattheshopofformerapprenticeofhis.TheapprenticewasdoingquitewellwhileLaoChenwasnowhishiredhand.ThenceforthIneversawLaoChenagain.MuchasIlikedhim,Isoonforgothim.Itwasnotuntilthesedan-chairbearerofarichhouseholdpassedonmethenewsthatIrememberedhimagain.Whatnewsdidthesedan-chairbearertellme?Hetoldme:tighterwithothercarpenters,wasbuildingamansionforarichhouseholdatthesoutherncitygate.Whenitwasnearingcompletion,itsuddenlycametopassthathefelloffbuildinganddied.WhydidLaoChen,ofallcarpenters,diesuchaviolentdeathlikehisfather?Allthatseemsaccidental,andalsoseemspredestined.Inshort,anhonestmanhasthuspassedoutofexistence. 李大釗 艱難的國運與雄健的國民歷史的道路，不會是坦平的，有時走到艱難險阻的境界。這是全靠雄健的精神才能沖過去的。一條浩浩蕩蕩的長江大河，有時流到很寬闊的境界，平原無際，一瀉萬里。有時流到很逼狹的境界，兩岸叢山迭嶺，絕壁斷崖，江河流于期間，回環曲折，極其險峻。民族生命的進展，其經歷亦復如是。人類在歷史上的生活正如旅行一樣。旅途上的征人所經過的地方，有時是坦蕩平原，有時是崎嶇險路。志于旅途的人，走到平坦的地方，因是高高興興地向前走，走到崎嶇的境界，俞是奇趣橫生，覺得在此奇絕壯絕的境界，俞能感到一種冒險的美趣。中華民族現在所逢的史路，是一段崎嶇險阻的道路。在這段道路上，實在亦有一種奇絕壯絕的境至，使我們經過此段道路的人，感得一種壯美的趣味，是非有雄健的精神的，不能夠感覺到的。我們的揚子江、黃河，可以代表我們的民族精神，揚子江及黃河遇見沙漠、遇見山峽都是浩浩蕩蕩的往前流過去，以成其濁流滾滾，一瀉萬里的魄勢。目前的艱難境界，那能阻抑我們民族生命的前進。我們應該拿出雄健的精神，高唱著進行的曲調，在這悲壯歌聲中，走過這崎嶇險阻的道路。要知在艱難的國運中建造國家，亦是人生最有趣味的事NationalCrisisvsHeroicNationLiDazhaoThecourseofhistoryisneversmooth.Itissometimesbesetwithdifficultiesandobstaclesandnothingshortofaheroicspiritcanhelpsurmountthem.Amightylongriversometimesflowsthroughabroadsectionwithplainslyingboundlessoneitherside,itswatersrollingonnon-stopforthousandsuponthousandsofmiles.Sometimesitcomesupagainstanarrowsectionflankedbyhighmountainsandsteepcliffs,windingthroughacoursewithmanyaperiloustwistandturn.Anation,inthecourseofitsdevelopment,fareslikewise.Thehistoricalcourseofmanslifeisjustlikeajourney.Atraveleronalongjourneypassesthroughnowabroad,levelplain,nowarugged,hazardousroad.Whileadeterminedtravelercheerfullycontinueshisjourneyuponreachingasafeandsmoothplace,hefindsitstillmorefascinatingtocometoaruggedplace,theenormouslymagnificentspectacleofwhich,hefeels,isbetterabletogenerateinhimawonderfulsensationofadventure.TheChinesenationisnowconfrontedwitharuggedanddangeroussectionofitshistoricalcourse.Nevertheless,thereisalsointhissectionaspectacleofenormousmagnificencethatinspiresinuspassers-byadelightfulsensationofsplendor.Andthisdelightfulsensation,however,canonlybesharedbythosewithaheroicspirit.TheYangtzeRiverandtheYellowRiverarebothsymbolicofournationalspiritthetwomightyriversnegotiatedesertsandgorgesuntiltheirturbidtorrentssurgeforwardwithirresistibleforce.Thepresentnationalcrisiscanneverobstructtheadvanceofournationallife.Letusbraceupourspiritsandmarchthroughthisrugged,dangerousroadtothetuneofoursolemn,stirringsongs.Thegreatestjoyoflife,mindyou,istobuildupourcountryduringitsmostdifficultdays.冰心 雪雨時候的星辰寒暑表降到冰點下十八度的時候，我們也是在廊下睡覺。每夜最熟識的就是天上的星辰了。也不過是點點閃爍的光明，而相看慣了，偶然不見，也有些想望與無聊。連夜雨雪，一點星光都看不見。荷和我擁衾對坐，在廊子的兩角，遙遙談話。荷指著說：“你看維納斯（Venus）升起來了！”我抬頭望時，卻是山路轉折處的路燈。我怡然一笑，也指著對山的一星燈火說：“那邊是丘比特（Jupiter）呢！”愈指愈多。松林中射來零亂的風燈，都成了滿天星宿。真的，雪花隙里，看不出來天空和森林的界限，將繁燈當作繁星，簡直是抵得過。一念至誠的將假作真，燈光似乎都從地上飄起。這幻成的星光，都不移動，不必半夜夢醒時，再去追尋他們的位置。于是雨雪寂寞之夜，也有了慰安了！StarsonaSnowyNightBingXinThethermometerhaddroppedto18degreesbelowzero,butwestillchoosetosleepintheporchasusual.Intheevening,themostfamiliarsighttomewouldbestarsinthesky.Thoughtheywereonlysprinkleoftwinklingdots,yetIhadbecomesoaccustomedtothemthattheiroccasionalabsencewouldbringmelonelinessandennui.Ithadbeensnowingallnight,notasinglestarinsight.MyroommateandI,eachwrappedinaquilt,wereseatedfarapartinadifferentcorneroftheporch,facingeachotherandchattingaway.Sheexclaimedpointingtosomethingafar, Look,Venusisrising!Ilookedupandsawnothingbutalamproundthebendinamountainpath.Ibeamedandsaidpointingtoatinylamplightontheoppositemountain, ItsJupiteroverthere!Moreandmorelightscameintosightaswekeptpointinghereandthere.Lightsfromhurricanelampsflickeringaboutinthepineforestcreatedthesceneofastar-studdedsky.Withthedistinctionbetweenskyandforestobscuredbysnowflakes,thenumerouslamp-lightsnoweasilypassedforasmanystars.Completelylostinamake-believeworld,Iseemedtoseeallthelamplightsdriftingfromtheground.Withtheillusorystarshangingstilloverhead,IwassparedtheeffortoftracingtheirpositionwhenIwokeupfrommydreamsinthedeadoflight.ThusIfoundconsolationevenonalonelysnowynight.冰心 笑雨聲漸漸的住了，窗簾后隱隱的透進清光來。推開窗戶一看，呀！涼云散了，樹葉上的殘滴，映著月兒，好似螢光千點，閃 閃爍爍的動著。真沒想到苦雨孤燈之后，會有這么一幅清美的圖畫！憑窗站了一會兒，微微的覺得涼意侵入。轉過身來，忽然眼花繚亂，屋子里的別的東西，都隱在光云里；一片幽輝，只浸著墻上畫中的安琪兒。這白衣的安琪兒，抱著花兒，揚著翅兒，向著我微微的笑。“這笑容仿佛在那兒看見過似的，什么時候，我曾” 我不知不覺的便坐在窗口下想，默默的想。嚴閉的心幕，慢慢的拉開了，涌出五年前的一個印象。一條很長的古道。驢腳下的泥，兀自滑滑的。田溝里的水，潺潺的流著。近村的綠樹，都籠在濕煙里。弓兒似的新月，掛在樹梢。一邊走著，似乎道旁有一個孩子，抱著一堆燦白的東西。驢兒過去了，無意中回頭一看。他抱著花兒，赤著腳兒，向著我微微的笑。“這笑容又仿佛是哪兒看見過似的！” 我仍是想默默的想。又現出一重心幕來，也慢慢的拉開了，涌出十年前的一個印象。茅檐下的雨水，一滴一滴的落到衣上來。土階邊的水泡兒，泛來泛去的亂轉。門前的麥垅和葡萄架子，都濯得新黃嫩綠的非常鮮麗。一會兒好容易雨晴了，連忙走下坡兒去。迎頭看見月兒從海面上來了，猛然記得有件東西忘下了，站住了，回過頭來。這茅屋里的老婦人她倚著門兒，抱著花兒，向著我微微的笑。這同樣微妙的神情，好似游絲一般，飄飄漾漾的合了攏來，綰在一起。這時心下光明澄靜，如登仙境，如歸故里。眼前浮現的三個笑容，一時融化在愛的調和里看不分明了。 Smile Bing XinAs the rain gradually ceased to patter, a glimmer of light began to filter into the room through the window curtain. I opened the window and looked out. Ah, the rain clouds had vanished and the remaining raindrops on the tree leaves glistened tremulously under the moonlight like myriads of fireflies. To think that there should appear before my eyes such a beautiful sight after the miserable rain on a lovely evening.Standing at the window for a while, I felt a bit chilly. As I turned round, my eyes suddenly dazzled before the bright light and could not see things distinctly. Everything in the room was blurred by the haze of light except the angel in a picture on the wall. The angel in white was smiling on me with a bunch of flowers in his arms, his wings flapping.I seem to have seen the same smile before. When was that?.Before I knew, I had sunk into the chair under the window, lost in meditation.A scene of five years ago slowly unveiled before my minds eye. It was a long ancient country road. The ground under my donkeys feet was slippery with mud. The water in the field ditches was murmuring. The green trees in the neighboring village were shrouded in a mist. The crescent new moon looked as if hanging on the tips f the tree. As I passed along, I somehow sensed the presence of a child by the roadside carrying something snow white in his arms. After the donkey had gone by, I happened to look back and saw the child, who was barefoot, looking at me smilingly with a bunch of flowers in his arms.I seem to have seen the