一位母亲在儿子即将上学时，给“世界”写的一封充满了母爱的信。以向世界恳求的方式，表达了自己心中对儿子的期望。耐人寻味。
A Mother's Letter to The World Dear World, My son starts school today. It's going to be strange and new to him for a while . And I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You see , up to now , he's been king of the roost . He's been boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds, and to soothe his feelings. But now—— things are going to be different. This morning , he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow. To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith and love and courage. So, World , I wish you would sort of take him by his youny hand and teach him the things he will have to know . Teach him, but gently,if you can.Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero;that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader; that for every enemy there is a friend. Teach him the wonders of books.Give him quite time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,bees in the sun,and flowers on the green hill. Teach him it is far more horrorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas , even if everyone else tells him they are wrong. Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder , but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling and ...and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right. Teach him gently, World, but don't coddle him ,because only the test of fire makes fine steel. This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He's such a nice little fellow.
亲爱的世界： 我的儿子今天要开始上学读书了。一时之间，他会感觉陌生而又新鲜。 而我希望你能待他也温柔一些。 你知道，到现在为止，他一直是家中的小皇帝，一直是后院的王者。我一直在他身旁，忙着为他治疗伤口，并慰藉他的心情。 但是现在，一切都将不同了。 今天清晨，他就要走下前门楼梯冲我挥挥手，开始他伟大的历险征程，其间或许有斗阵、不幸和伤痛。 所以啊，世界，我希望你能够时不时握着他稚嫩的小手，告诉他应当知晓的事情。教育他吧——而如何有可能的话，温柔一些。教他知道，每有恶人之地，必有豪杰所在；每有欺诈之人，必有献身义士；没见一敌人，必有一友在侧。教他感受书本的神奇魅力。给他时间静思大自然中亘古绵延的奥秘，空中的飞鸟，阳光里的蜜蜂，青山上簇簇繁花。教他知道，失败远比欺骗更为光荣；教他坚定自我的信念，哪怕人人予以否认；教他可以以最高价付出自己的精力和智慧，但绝不可以出卖良心和灵魂；教他置群氓的喧嚣于度外……并在自觉正确之时挺身而战。温柔地教导他吧，世界，但不要放纵他，因为只有烈火的考验才能炼出真金。 这一要求甚高，世界，但请你尽你所能。他是一个如此可爱的小家伙哩。