AHandfulofCy
亨利·范·戴克/HenryVanDyke
Therewasahandfulofcythebankofariver.Itwasonlyoncy，arseandheavy；butithadhighthoughtsofitsownvae，andwonderfuldreasofthegreatpcewhichitwastof？illtheworldwheicaforitsvirtuestobedisvered.
Overhead，thesprgsuhetreeswhisperedtogetheroftheglorywhichdesdeduponthewhenthedelicateblossosandleavesbegantoexpand，andtheforestglowedthefair，clearlors，asifthedtofthoandsofrubiesanderaldswerehangg，softclouds，abovetheearth.
Thef？lowers，surprisedwiththejoyofbeauty，benttheirheadstooneanother，asthedcaressedthe，andsaid，“Sisters，howlovelyyouhavebee.Youakethedaybright.”
Theriver，gdthandrejoicgtheunisonofallitswaters，ururedtotheshoresic，tellgofitsreleasefroicyfetters，itsswiftf？lightfrothesnow-cdountas，andtheightyworktowhichitwashurrygthewheelsofanyillstobeturned，andgreatshipstobef？loatedtothesea.
Waitgbldlyitsbed，thecyforteditselfwithloftyhopes.“Mytiwille，”itsaid.“Iwasnotadetobehiddenforever.Gloryayandhontodueseason.”
Onedaythecyfeltitselftakenfrothepcewhereithadwaitedsolong.Af？tbdeofironpassedbehit，andliftedit，andtossedittoacartwithotherpsofcy，anditwascarriedfaraway，asitseed，overaroughandstonyroad.Butitwasnotafraid，nordisuraged，foritsaidtoitself：“Thisisnecessary.Thepathtogloryisalwaysrugged.NowIaonywaytopyagreatparttheworld.”
Butthehardjourneywasnothg，paredwiththetributionanddistressthatcaafterit.Thecyuttoatroughandixedaenandstirredandtrapled.Itseedalostunbearable.Buttherewasnsotionthethoughtthatsothgveryf？eandnoblewascertalygoutofallthistrouble.Thecyfeltsurethat，ifituldonlywaitlongenough，awonderfulrewardwasstoreforit.
Thenitutuponaswiftlyturngwheel，andwhirledarounduntilitseedasifittf？lytoathoandpieces.Astrangepowerpresseditandouldedit，asitrevolved，andthroughallthedizzessandpaitfeltthatitwastakganewfor.
Thenanunknoutittoanoven，andf？ireswerekdledaboutit，f？ierdperatg，hotterthanalltheheatsofsurthathadeverbroodeduponthebankoftheriver.Butthroughall，thecyhelditselftogetherarials，thenf？idenceofagreatfuture.“Surely，”itthought，“Iatendedforsothgverysplendid，scesuchpasaretakenwith.PerhapsIafashionedfortheornantofateple，orapreciovaseforthetableofakg.”
Atstthebakgwasf？ished.Thecywastakenfrothefurnadsetdownuponaboard，theolair，uhebesky.Thetributionassed.Therewardwasathand.
Closebesidetheboardthereoolofwater，notverydeep，norveryclear，butcalenoughtoref？lect，withipartialtruth，everyiagethatfeltuponit.Thereforthef？irstti，asitwasliftedfrotheboard，thecysawitsherewardofallitspatiendpa，thensuationofitshopes—aonf？lower-pot，straightandstiff，redandugly.Andthenitfeltthatitwasnotdestedforakg’shoe，norforapaceofart，becaeitwasadewithoutgloryorbeautyorhonor；anditururedagasttheunknownaker，sayg，“Whyhastthouadeth？”
Manydaysitpassedsullendis.Thenitwasf？illedwithearth，andsothg—itknewnotwhat—butsothgroughandbrownanddead-lookg，wasthrttotheiddleoftheearthandveredover.Thecyrebelledatthisnewdisgrace.“Thisistheworstofallthathashappeo，tobef？illedwithdirtandrubbish.SurelyIaafaire.”