英语美文:春天的承诺(打印版)

以春天的承诺为题的英语作文

　　APromiseofSpring

　　Earlyinthespring,aboutamonthbeforemygrandpa'sstroke,Ibeganwalkingforanhoureveryafternoon.SomedaysIwouldwalkfourblockssouthtoseeGrandmaandGrandpa.Ateighty-six,Grandpawasstillquiteagardener,soIalwayswatchedforhisearliestbloomsandeachnewwaveofspringflowers.

　　IwasespeciallyinterestedinflowersthatyearbecauseIwasplanningtolandscapemyownyardandIwaseagertogetGrandpa'sadvice.IthoughtIknewprettymuchwhatIwanted—ayardfullofbushesandplantsthatwouldbloomfromMaytillNovember.

　　ItwasrightafterthefirstrushofpurplevioletsinthelawnsandthesuddenblazeofforsythiathatspringthatGrandpahadastroke.Itlefthimwithoutspeechandwithnomovementonhisleftside.ThewholefamilyralliedtoGrandpa.Weallspentmanyhoursbyhisside.Somedayshiseyeswereeloquent—laughingatourreportedmishaps,listeningalertly,revealingpainfulawarenessofhisinabilitytocareforhimself.Thereweredays,too,whenhesleptmostofthetime,overcomewiththeweightofhisapproachingdeath.

　　Asthemonthspassed,IwatchedthegrowingearthwithGrandpa'seyes.EachtimeIwaswithhim,Igavehimagardenreport.Helistened,grippingmyhandwiththesurestrengthandcalmhehadalwayshad.Buthecouldnotanswermyquestions.Thenewflowerswouldblaze,peak,fade,anddiebeforeIknewtheirnames.

　　Grandpa'sillnessheldhimthroughthespringandon,weekbyweek,throughsummer.Ibeganspendinghoursatthelocalnursery,studyingandchoosingseedsandplants.ItgavemespecialjoytobuyplantsIhadseeninGrandpa'sgardenandgivethemhumblestartsinmyowngarden.IdiscoveredSweetWilliam,whichIhadadmiredforyearsinGrandpa'sgardenwithoutknowingitsname.AndIplanteditinhishonor.

　　AsIwaitedandwatchedinthegardenandbyGrandpa'sside,somequiettruthsemerged.IrealizedthatGrandpalovedflowersthatwerealwaysbloom;hekeptafullbedofrosesinhisgarden.ButInoticedthatGrandpaleftplentyofroomforthebriefhighlights.Noteverynookofhisgardenwasconstantlyinbloom.Therewasalwaysatreasuredsurprisetuckedsomewhere.

　　Icametosee,too,thatGrandpa'sgardenmirroredhislife.Hewasahardworkerwhounderstoodthelawoftheharvest.Butalongwithhishardwork,Grandpaknewhowtoenjoyeachseason,eachchange.Weoftenteasedhimabouthislifehistory.Hehadwrittentwoparagraphssummarizingfiftyyearsofwork,andafullninepagesabouteverytripandvacationhe'devertaken.

　　InJuly,Grandpaworsened.Onehotafternoonarrivedwhennooneelsewasathisbedside.Hewasgladtohavemethere,andreachedouthishandtopullmeclose.

　　ItoldGrandpawhatIhadlearned—thatfewflowerslastfromApriltoNovember.Someofthemostbeautifulbloomforonlyamonthatmost.Toreallyenjoyagarden,youhavetoplantcornersanddriftsandrowsofflowersthatwillbloomandgracethegarden,eachinitsownseason.

　　Hiseyeslistenedtoeveryword.Then,anotherdiscovery:"IfIwantagardenlikeyours,Grandpa,I'mgoingtohavetowork."Hisgrinlaughedatme,andhiseyesteasedme.

　　"Grandpa,inyourliferightnowthechrysanthemumsareinbloom.Chrysanthemumsandroses."Tearscloudedbothoureyes.Neitherofusfearedthislastfloweroffall,butthewaitforspringseemslongestinNovember.Weknewhowmuchwewouldmisseachother.

　　Sittingthere,IsuddenlyfeltthatthebestgiftIcouldgiveGrandpawouldbetogivevoicetothetestimonyinsidebothofus.Hehadneverspokenofhistestimonytome,butitwassuchapartofhislifethatIhadneverquestionedifGrandpaknew.Iknewheknew.

　　"Grandpa,"Ibegan—andhisgriptightenedasifheknewwhatIwasgoingtosay—"IwantyoutoknowthatIhaveatestimony.IknowtheSaviorlives.IbearwitnessthatJosephSmithisaprophet.IlovetheRestorationandjoyinit."ThesteadinessinGrandpa'seyestoldhowmuchhefeltittoo."IbearwitnessthatPresidentKimballisaprophet.IknowtheBookofMormonistrue,Grandpa.Everypartofmebearsthiswitness."

　　"Grandpa,"Iaddedquietly,"IknowourFatherinHeavenlovesyou."Unbidden,unexpected,theSpiritborecomforting,poignanttestimonytomeofourFather'sloveformyhumble,quietGrandpa.

　　AtangiblesenseofHeavenlyFather'scompassionateawarenessofGrandpa'ssufferingsurroundedusandheldus.Itwassopersonalandpowerfulthatnowordswerelefttome—onlytearsofgratitudeandhumility,tearsofcomfort.

　　GrandpaandIwepttogether.

　　ItwastheendofAugustwhenGrandpadied,theendofsummer.AswewerechoosingflowersfromthefloristforGrandpa'sfuneral,IslippedawaytoGrandpa'sgardenandwalkedwithmymemoriesofcolumbineandSweetWilliam.Onlythetalllavenderandwhitephloxwereinbloomnow,andsomebaby'sbreathinanothercorner.

　　Onimpulse,Icuttheprettieststrandsofphloxandbaby'sbreathandmadeonemorearrangementforthefuneral.Whentheysawit,friendsandfamilyallsmiledtoseeGrandpa'sflowersthere.WeallfelthowmuchGrandpawouldhavelikedthat.

　　TheOctoberafterGrandpa'sdeath,Iplantedtulipanddaffodilbulbs,snowdrops,crocuses,andbluebells.Eachbulbwasacomforttome,alovesenttoGrandpa,apromiseofspring.