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第15章 那是一棵生命的常青树 1（第1页）

第15章那是一棵生命的常青树（1）

ThatIsareeofLife

童年

Childhood

[俄国]列夫·托尔斯泰LeoTolstoy

列夫·托尔斯泰（1828—1910），19世纪俄国最伟大的作家。托尔斯泰以自传体小说《童年》《少年》《青年》一举成名。长篇小说《战争与和平》是托尔斯泰创作历程中的第一座里程碑，是一部具有史诗和编年史特色的鸿篇巨制。长篇小说《安娜·卡列尼娜》是托尔斯泰第二部里程碑式的巨著，他的晚期作品中最著名的长篇小说《复活》也是世界文学宝库中的不朽名著之一。

Happy，happy，imeofchildhood！Holovinganddwellingupoions？Theydelevatethesoul，aoherjoys。

&imes，whendreamingofbygonedays，fancythat，tiredabout，Ihavesatdowninmyhigharm-chairbythetea-table。Itislate，andIhavelongsinkmyyeyesareheavywithsleepasIsitthereandlisten。HowotlisteMammaisspeakingtosomebody，andthatthesoundofhervoielodiousandkind？Howmuchitsechoesreyheart！WithmyeyesveiledwithdrowsinessIgazeatherwistfully。Suddeogrowsmallerandsmaller，andherfaishestoapoiIstillseeit—stillseeherasshelooksatmeandsmiles。Somehowitpleasesmetrownsosmall。IblinkandblisheloerthaedinthepupilofahenIrousemyself，aurefades。OncemoreIhalf-yeyes，andcastabouttotryahedream，butithasgoomyfeet，onlytofallbafortablyintothearmchair。

"There！Yasleepagain，littleNiamma。"Youhadbettergotoby-by。"

"No，Iwon'tgotosleep，Mamma，"Ireply，thoughalmostinaudibly，forpleasantdreamsarefillingallmysoul。Thesoundsleepofchildhoodisweighingmyeyelidsdown，andforafewmoments。Isinkintoslumberandoblivionuntilawakenedbysomeone。Ifeelihoughasofthandweregme。Iknowitbythetoud，thoughstilldreaming，Iseizeholdofitaomylips。Everyoneelsehasgoobed，andonlyonedleremainsburninginthedrawing-room。Mammahassaidthatsheherselfwillwakeme。Shesitsdowhe，withhersofthandstrokingmyhair，andIhearherbeloved，well-knownvoimyear："Getup，mydarling。Itistimetogoby-by。"

Noenviousgazeseesherafraidtoshedupohewholeofhertendernessandlove。IdoIkissandkissherhand。

"Getup，the;

Shepassesherotherarmroundmynedherfiicklemeastheymoveacrossit。Theroomisquietandinhalf-darkhetighastouervesaoawake。MammaissittiItell—andtougme；Ihearhervoidfeelherpreselastrousesmetup，tothrowmyarmsarouohidemyheadinherbosom，andtosay

"Ah，dear，darlingMamma，howmuchIloveyou！"

Shesmileshersad，engsmile，takesmyheadbetweewohaheforehead，andliftsmeontoherlap。

"Doyoulovemesomu？"shesays。Then，afterafewmoments'silei;Andyoumustlovemealways，ame。IfyourMammashouldnolongerbehere，willyoupromiseether—never，Nika？"andshekissesmemorefondlythanever。

"Oh，butyoumustnotspeaksMamma，myMamma！"IexclaimasIclaspherkearsofjoyandlovefallfrommyeyes。

How，afterseslikethis！Iwouldgoupstairs，andstaheidsayturousfeeling，"GodblessPapaandMamma！"aaprayerformybelovedmotherwhichmychildishlipshadlearnttolisp—theloveofGodandstrangelyiion！

AftersayingmyprayersImyselfupihes。Myheartwouldfeellight，peadhappy，andonedreamwouldfollowanother。Dreamsofwhat？Theywereallofthemvague，butallofthemfullofpureloveandofasortofexpeofhappiness。Usually，also，therewouldbesomefavoritetoy—aadogorharestutothebed-erbehindthepillow，anditwouldpleasemetothinkhowwarmandfortableandwellcared—foritwasthere。Also，Iwodtomakeeveryonehappy，sothateveryobeted，andalsotoseomorrowforourwalk。ThenIwouldturnmyselfoveroherside，andthoughtsanddreamswouldbebledaailatlastIsleptsoundlyahoughwithafacewet>

Doihefreshnessandlight-heartedhegforloveandfthoffaith，everreturnwhichweexperienourchildhood'syears？Whatbettertimeisthereihaofvirtues—iyandaboundlessyearningforaffe—areoursoleobjectsofpursuit？

Wherenowareourardentprayers？Wheregifts—thepuretearsofemotionwhichaguardianahasmileasheshedsuponuslovelydreamsofineffablechildishjoy？itbethatlifehasleftsuchheavytraone'sheartthatthosetearsaasiesareforevervabethatthereremainstousoionofthem？

快乐的，快乐的，不再回来的童年时代啊！怎能不让我热爱和珍视对你的回忆呢？这些回忆让我精神亢奋、心灵欢快，是我无限乐趣的源泉。

有时，我会回忆起流逝的岁月。那时跑不动了，我就在茶桌旁那把高背安乐椅上安逸地坐下来；夜深了，我早就喝光我±里的牛奶，迷迷糊糊地合上眼睛，静坐在那儿聆听妈妈在同什么人说话，她的声音是那么婉转优美！那声音不停地在我的心灵深处**漾，让我想起那段美妙的时光。我用迷糊的睡眼渴望地看着妈妈的脸。忽然，妈妈的身影逐渐变小，她的面孔缩小成了一个小点。可是，我依然可以看到她，她笑眯眯地瞥了我一眼。不知什么缘故，我喜欢看见妈妈变得这么小的样子。我眨了眨双眼，她的样子变得和瞳人里的小孩儿一样大了。后来我被惊醒了，？面也不见了。我半眯着眼睛，举目四望，努力想使梦中的景象再现，却一点儿也想不起来了。我站起来，又马上惬意地躺回安乐椅上。

“你又睡着了，小尼古à斯，”妈妈对我说，“你还是上楼去睡比较好。”