There was a moment of sinister silence, then a multitudinous stirring of the leaves. A shiver ran through the tree, and the wind sent forth a blast that would have knocked me off had I not clung to the branch with might and main. The tree swayed and strained. The small twigs snapped and fell about me in showers. A wild impulse to jump seized me, but terror held me fast. I crouched down in the fork of the tree. The branches lashed about me. I felt the intermittent jarring that came now and then, as if something heavy had fallen and the shock had traveled up till it reached the limb I sat on. It worked my suspense up to the highest point, and just as I was thinking the tree and I should fall together, my teacher seized my hand and helped me down. I clung to her, trembling with joy to feel the earth under my feet once more. I had learned a new lesson--that nature "wages open war against her children, and under softest touch hides treacherous claws."
接着，是片刻的宁静，令人产生不祥的预感。随后，周围的树叶大肆抖动起来，我身下的樱桃树发出一阵震颤，如果不是我用尽力气紧紧抱住树干，迎面而来的一股狂风就会把我掀到地上。树摇晃得很厉害，在风雨的裹挟下，我身边的小树枝噼啪作响，似乎在嘲笑我的渺小。一阵狂暴的悸动攫住了我，恐惧感令我难以自抑。我蜷缩在树杈之间，任凭枝叶的鞭打。我断断续续地感到了身边强烈的震动，仿佛有某种重物坠落。震颤在头顶上划过，一直传到了我身下的树杈上。我的不安已经达到了极限，因为我觉得我和大树会一起倒下。幸好我的老师及时抓住了我的手，把我从树上弄下来。我紧紧地依附在老师身边，高兴得浑身颤抖，我又一次感受到了脚下坚实的土地。我想我已经学会了新的一课——大自然时常会“向她的子民公然发起战争，在其最温柔的触摸之下，隐藏着一双险恶的利爪”。
After
this
experience
it
was
a
long
time
before
I
climbed
another
tree.
The
mere
thought
filled
me
with
terror.
It
was
the
sweet
allurement
of
the
mimosa
tree
in
full
bloom
that
finally
overcame
my
fears.
One
beautiful
spring
morning
when
I
was
alone
in
the
summer-
house,
reading,
I
became
aware
of
a
wonderful
subtle
fragrance
in
the
air.
I
started
up
and
instinctively
stretched
out
my
hands.
It
seemed
as
if
the
spirit
of
spring
had
passed
through
the
summer-
house. "
What
is
it?"
I
asked,
and
the
next
minute
I
recognized
the
odour
of
the
mimosa
blossoms.
I
felt
my
way
to
the
end
of
the
garden,
knowing
that
the
mimosa
tree
was
near
the
fence,
at
the
turn
of
the
path.
Yes,
there
it
was,
all
quivering
in
the
warm
sunshine,
its
blossom-
laden
branches
almost
touching
the
long
grass.
Was
there
ever
anything
so
exquisitely
beautiful
in
the
world
before!
Its
delicate
blossoms
shrank
from
the
slightest
earthly
touch;
it
seemed
as
if
a
tree
of
paradise
had
been
transplanted
to
earth.
I
made
my
way
through
a
shower
ofpetals
to
the
great
trunk
and
for
one
minute
stood
irresolute;
then,
putting
my
foot
in
the
broad
space
between
the
forked
branches,
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