VelvetBlade
October 14th, 2003, 10:10 AM
Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. 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."
> >
> > 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. "You might mingle
> with
> > other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a tenderness in
her
> > heart.
> >
> > 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. Whereupon the search began for a
> >person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man.
> >
> >Two years went by. Then, You are going to the hospital, son. Mother and
I
> >have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret said
the
> >father.
> > 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.
> >
> >Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.
> >"But I must know!" he urged his father. "Who gave so much for me? I
could
> > never do enough for him." "I do not believe you could," said the father,
> >"but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."
> >
> >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 ... that
> >the
> >mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her
hair
> >be
> > cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less
> >beautiful, did> they?"
> >
> > Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart.
> > Real treasure lies not in what can be seen, but what cannot be seen.
> > Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what is done but
not
> > known.
> > 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."
> >
> > 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. "You might mingle
> with
> > other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a tenderness in
her
> > heart.
> >
> > 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. Whereupon the search began for a
> >person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man.
> >
> >Two years went by. Then, You are going to the hospital, son. Mother and
I
> >have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret said
the
> >father.
> > 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.
> >
> >Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.
> >"But I must know!" he urged his father. "Who gave so much for me? I
could
> > never do enough for him." "I do not believe you could," said the father,
> >"but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."
> >
> >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 ... that
> >the
> >mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her
hair
> >be
> > cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less
> >beautiful, did> they?"
> >
> > Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart.
> > Real treasure lies not in what can be seen, but what cannot be seen.
> > Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what is done but
not
> > known.