04華府居～長林花園遊感（英文） 

Impressions of A Visit to Longwood Gardens

           　　　　　　　　By I-ling Yang Cheng 

The warm southern wind of summer blows refreshingly across my face, softly caressing it like a mother's hand. The sky above our heads' a deep blue, is dotted with woolly clouds; the grass under our feet is luxuriantly green and soft.  

Planted in the shape of a "U", the princess trees have the bearing of proud dancers, welcoming us with a slight nod.  

Our hearts are carefree, and we can't help humming snatches from the hymn "Father's world." 

The trees, the flowers, the sky, the expanse of lawn all proclaim the omnipotence of our Heavenly Father……  

Indeed, I have often thought, if only man possessed more vegetal characteristics, so that like a tree, he sank roots down deep into the earth, with each rootlet reaching toward the water source and drawing its nourishment prom the earth itself.  

Each with a trunk as straight as can be, and with branches and leaves pointing skyward, peacefully receiving refreshment from sun and rain…… 

Then, what a peaceful, happy world this would be!  

*   *   * 

The phrase "hothouse flower" was originally used to ridicule someone who is unable to withstand the tests of adversity. But here, in this, reportedly the largest greenhouse in the world, we can express only surprise! 

As soon as we enter, I am bewitched by the extraordinary display. Hasn't spring long since departed? But here, the azaleas are still blooming, the blossoms gaily strung along each twig! 

In the Orchid House, there are even more colors and more varieties to bombard the senses, to elicit gasps of delight.  

Look! there's one shaped like a butterfly, there's one that looks like a dragonfly, a star, eyes……powder white, dark green, indigo blue, rose pink, almond yellow, jet black…… 

There's probably not an artist in the world who can paint such masterpieces!? The lotus lies gracefully on the surface of the water, tolerating the stares of the passers-by, tolerating the snapshots being taken; in her deep slumber, she just smiles, drunk with the happiness of her own dreams.  

The morning-glories completely cover the pillars.  

I can almost hear the bell-shaped enkianthus flowers ringing "ging-a-ling-a-ling".  

In the Tropical Rain Forest, the plantain leaves are as large as boats,  

In the Desert Room, the prickly pear is the size of a tree; the bulbous cactus as large as a watermelon. The geraniums, the dandelions, the ferns…… 

All the plants not usually worthy of a second glance, become here more attractive thanks to the special attention and the special arrangements.  

I am like a country girl entering a large toy store for the first time; I am also like Alice falling into the rabbit hole; I am enticed, I am deceived, everything is the stuff of dreams, the product of magic.  

I find everything beautiful, beautiful beyond belief, thanks to the efforts of the clever botanists, the landscape artists, the scientists……the industrious gardeners……who have created and cultivated this beautiful small world.  

How wonderful it would be if God could cultivate a similarly beautiful world in the barren hearts of men! In the end, that which is truly beautiful is Nature itself, Nature is real, a creation of God's own Hands.     

 *   *   *

Just outside the greenhouse are the fountains. Seated on the wooden benches, we can see in the distance, jets of water, some small, some large, some thin and some thick spurting toward the sky and then falling earthward again.  

In the sunlight, the water resembles a fine mist, bite of jade, a rainbow, all very beautiful indeed.  

Water, isn't it one of the most ordinary things in the world?! But after being placed under different levels of pressure by the specialists, it changes something so exquisite and so mercurial…… 

Suddenly, I think of what Paul said in I Corinthians 4:0; "We /apostles/ have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men."  

Indeed, I hope that those of us who feel unimportant and useless will imitate the purity, sweetness and submissiveness of water, and become, under the guiding power of God's love, a fountain manifesting His Glory! 

*   *   * 

"look, mom, a waterfall!" exclaimed by daughter. Laughingly, both my husband and Uncle Wang echo her excitement.  

"look! A waterfall, a waterfall!" Suddenly, we hear a bell striking the hour with thunderous booms which finally fade away to nothingness.  

Ah! It turns out that there is a large bell at the source of the waterfall……the majestic sound we had just heard issued from that spot.  

The tolling of bells deafens the ear and jars the heart; this sound brings solemnity and reverence into the hearts or men, in Matthew 11:15; God says: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." But to what should we listen? 

We should not be frightened by the sound of the wind blowing through crevices; we should not be mesmerized by the music made by other men……we should listen with the soul's ear to the music of the spheres…… 

Indeed, if you are reverent, at peace, and attentive, you will be like Elijah, the child Samuel, and John on the island of Patmos (Revelations 1:9), all those who have heard the voice of the Lord Himself.  

Those who hear the Lord's voice and converse with Him often will never be confused, anxious or frightened……

                                    (Washington, D. C., )       

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後記：朋友讀普林斯頓碩士班的女兒（莉莉）看見我的散文，覺得很喜歡，就把它譯為英文。您哪，請先欣賞她的譯筆吧！下次我將把我的原文放上網誌，再請批評指教。

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