English Original
"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 despite his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift for literature and music.
"But you might mingle with other young people," his mother reproved him gently.
The boy's father consulted 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. The search began for a person willing to make such a sacrifice.
Two years went by. One day, his father said, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have found someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret."
The operation was a brilliant success. His talents blossomed, and his academic life became a series of triumphs. Later, he married and entered the diplomatic service.
One day, he asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? I could never do enough for him or her."
"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, until one of the darkest days a son can face. He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised her thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal that she had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," his father whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?"
中文翻译
"我能看看我的宝宝吗？" 这位快乐的新妈妈问道。
当襁褓被安放在她怀中，她掀开布褶看着孩子的小脸时，她倒吸了一口气。医生迅速转过身，望向医院高高的窗外。这个婴儿天生没有外耳。
时间证明，婴儿的听力是完好的。受损的只是他的外貌。一天，他从学校冲回家，扑进母亲怀里时，她叹了口气，知道他的生活将充满一连串的心碎。
他脱口而出了那场悲剧："一个男孩，一个大男孩……叫我怪物。"
他长大了，尽管不幸，却很英俊。他很受同学欢迎，若非如此，本可以成为班长。他发展了在文学和音乐方面的天赋。
"但你可以多和其他年轻人交往，"母亲温和地责备他。
男孩的父亲与家庭医生进行了商议。"真的无能为力吗？"
"我相信我可以移植一对外耳，如果能找到的话，"医生断定。于是，寻找一位愿意为这个年轻人做出如此牺牲的人的行动开始了。
两年过去了。一天，父亲对他说："儿子，你要去医院了。妈妈和我找到了愿意捐献你所需耳朵的人。但这是个秘密。"
手术取得了巨大成功。他的才华绽放，学业生涯取得了一系列成功。后来，他结婚并进入了外交部门工作。
一天，他问父亲："是谁给了我耳朵？我永远也无法报答他或她。"
"我相信你无法报答，"父亲说，"但约定是你不能知道……现在还不行。"
岁月保守着这个深沉的秘密，直到一个儿子所能面对的最黑暗的日子来临。他和父亲站在母亲的棺材旁。父亲缓慢而温柔地伸出一只手，撩起她浓密的红棕色头发，露出了母亲没有外耳的真相。
"妈妈说，她很庆幸自己从未剪过头发，"父亲轻声低语，"也从未有人觉得妈妈不美，不是吗？"