[美国]亨利·凡·戴克/HenryVanDyke
亨利·凡·戴克（1852-1933），美国著名作家、教育家、牧师。
, coarseandheavy;butithadhighthoughtsofitsownvalue, andwonderfuldreamsofthegreatplacewhichitwastofillintheworldwhenthetimecameforitsvirtuestobediscovered.
Overhead, inthespringsunshine, thetreeswhisperedtogetheroftheglorywhichdescendeduponthemwhenthedelicateblossomsandleavesbegantoexpand, andtheforestglowedthefair, clearcolors, asifthedustofthousandsofrubiesandemeraldswerehanging, insoftclouds, abovetheearth.
Theflowers, surprisedwiththejoyofbeauty, benttheirheadstooneanother, asthewindcaressedthem, andsaid,“Sisters, .”
Theriver, gladofnewstrengthandrejoicingintheunisonofallitswaters, murmuredtotheshoresinmusic, tellingofitsreleasefromicyfetters, itsswiftflightfromthesnow-cladmountains, andthemightyworktowhichitwashurryingthewheelsofmanymillstobeturned, andgreatshipstobefloatedtothesea.
Waitingblindlyinitsbed, theclaycomforteditselfwithloftyhopes.“Mytimewillcome,”itsaid.“.”
, andliftedit, andtosseditintoacartwithotherlumpsofclay, anditwascarriedfaraway, asitseemed, , nordiscouraged, foritsaidtoitself:“.”
Butthehardjourneywasnothing, , ifitcouldonlywaitlongenough, awonderfulrewardwasinstoreforit.
Thenitwasputuponaswiftlyturningwheel, , asitrevolved, andthroughallthedizzinessandpainitfeltthatitwastakinganewform.
Thenanunknownhandputitintoanoven, , theclayhelditselftogetherandendureditstrials, intheconfidenceofagreatfuture.“Surely,”itthought,“Iamintendedforsomethingverysplendid, , orapreciousvaseforthetableofaking.”
