Unit 4 Unforgettable Teachers全新版大学英语综合教程五课文翻译

Unit4UnforgettableTeachersTextATakeThisFishandLookatIt1ItwasmorethanfifteenyearsagothatIenteredthelaboratoryofProfessorAgassiz,andtoldhimIhadenrolledmynameintheScientificSchoolasastudentofnaturalhistory.Heaskedmeafewquestionsaboutmyobjectincoming,myantecedentsgenerally,themodeinwhichIafterwardsproposedtousetheknowledgeImightacquire,and,finally,whetherIwishedtostudyanyspecialbranch.TothelatterIrepliedthatwhileIwishedtobewellgroundedinalldepartmentsofzoology,Ipurposedtodevotemyselfespeciallytoinsects.2"Whendoyouwishtobegin?"heasked.3"Now,"Ireplied.4Thisseemedtopleasehim,andwithanenergetic"Verywell!"hereachedfromashelfahugejarofspecimensinyellowalcohol."Takethisfish,"hesaid,"andlookatit;wecallitahaemulon;byandbyIwillaskwhatyouhaveseen."5Withthatheleftme,butinamomentreturnedwithexplicitinstructionsastothecareoftheobjectentrustedtome.6"Nomanisfittobeanaturalist,"saidhe,"whodoesnotknowhowtotakecareofspecimens."7Iwastokeepthefishbeforemeinatintray,andoccasionallymoistenthesurfacewithalcoholfromthejar,alwaystakingcaretoreplacethestoppertightly.Thosewerenotthedaysofground-glassstoppersandelegantlyshapedexhibitionjars;alltheoldstudentswillrecallthehugenecklessglassbottleswiththeirleaky,wax-besmearedcorks,halfeatenbyinsects,andbegrimedwithcellardust.Entomologywasacleanersciencethanichthyology,buttheexampleoftheProfessor,whohadunhesitatinglyplungedtothebottomofthejartoproducethefish,wasinfectious;andthoughthisalcoholhada"veryancientandfishlikesmell,"Ireallydarednotshowanyaversionwithinthesesacredprecincts,andtreatedthealcoholasthoughitwerepurewater.StillIwasconsciousofapassingfeelingofdisappointment,forgazingatafishdidnotcommenditselftoanardententomologist.Myfriendsathome,too,wereannoyedwhentheydiscoveredthatnoamountofeau-de-Colognewoulddrowntheperfumewhichhauntedmelikeashadow.8IntenminutesIhadseenallthatcouldbeseeninthatfish,andstartedinsearchoftheProfessor—whohad,however,lefttheMuseum;andwhenIreturned,afterlingeringoversomeoftheoddanimalsstoredintheupperapartment,myspecimenwasdryallover.Idashedthefluidoverthefishasiftoresuscitatethebeastfromafaintingfit,andlookedwithanxietyforareturnofthenormalsloppyappearance.Thislittleexcitementover,nothingwastobedonebuttoreturntoasteadfastgazeatmymutecompanion.Halfanhourpassed—anhour—anotherhour;thefishbegantolookloathsome.Iturneditoverandaround;lookeditintheface—ghastly;frombehind,beneath,above,sideways,atthree-quarters'view—justasghastly.Iwasindespair;atanearlyhourIconcludedthatlunchwasnecessary;so,withinfiniterelief,thefishwascarefullyreplacedinthejar,andforanhourIwasfree.9Onmyreturn,IlearnedthatProfessorAgassizhadbeenattheMuseum,buthadgone,andwouldnotreturnforseveralhours.Myfellow-studentsweretoobusytobedisturbedbycontinuedconversation.SlowlyIdrewforththathideousfish,andwithafeelingofdesperationagainlookedatit.Imightnotuseamagnifying-glass;instrumentsofallkindswereinterdicted.Mytwohands,mytwoeyes,andthefish:itseemedamostlimitedfield.Ipushedmyfingerdownitsthroattofeelhowsharptheteethwere.Ibegantocountthescalesinthedifferentrows,untilIwasconvincedthatwasnonsense.Atlastahappythoughtstruckme—Iwoulddrawthefish;andwithsurpriseIbegantodiscovernewfeaturesinthecreature.JustthentheProfessorreturned.10"Thatisright,"saidhe;"apencilisoneofthebestofeyes.Iamgladtonotice,too,thatyoukeepyourspecimenwet,andyourbottlecorked."11Withtheseencouragingwords,headded:"Well,whatisitlike?"12Helistenedattentivelytomybriefrehearsalofthestructureofpartswhosenameswerestillunknowntome:thefringedgill-archesandmovableoperculum;theporesofthehead,fleshylipsandlidlesseyes;thelateralline,thespinousfinsandforkedtail;thecompressedandarchedbody.WhenIfinished,hewaitedasifexpectingmore,andthen,withanairofdisappointment:13"Youhavenotlookedverycarefully;why,"hecontinuedmoreearnestly,"youhaven'tevenseenoneofthemostconspicuousfeaturesoftheanimal,whichisplainlybeforeyoureyesasthefishitself;lookagain,lookagain!"andheleftmetomymisery.14Iwaspiqued;Iwasmortified.Stillmoreofthatwretchedfish!ButnowIsetmyselftomytaskwithawill,anddiscoveredonenewthingafteranother,untilIsawhowjusttheProfessor'scriticismhadbeen.Theafternoonpassedquickly;andwhen,towardsitsclose,theProfessorinquired:15"Doyouseeityet?"16"No,"Ireplied,"IamcertainIdonot,butIseehowlittleIsawbefore."17"Thatisnextbest,"saidhe,earnestly,"butIwon'thearyounow;putawayyourfishandgohome;perhapsyouwillbereadywithabetteranswerinthemorning.Iwillexamineyoubeforeyoulookatthefish."18Thiswasdisconcerting.NotonlymustIthinkofmyfishallnight,studying,withouttheobjectbeforeme,whatthisunknownbutmostvisiblefeaturemightbe;butalso,withoutreviewingmydiscoveries,Imustgiveanexactaccountofthemthenextday.Ihadabadmemory;soIwalkedhomebyCharlesRiverinadistractedstate,withmytwoperplexities.19ThecordialgreetingfromtheProfessorthenextmorningwasreassuring;herewasamanwhoseemedtobequiteasanxiousasIthatIshouldseeformyselfwhathesaw.20"Doyouperhapsmean,"Iasked,"thatthefishhassymmetricalsideswithpairedorgans?"21Histhoroughlypleased"Ofcourse!Ofcourse!"repaidthewakefulhoursofthepreviousnight.Afterhehaddiscoursedmosthappilyandenthusiastically—ashealwaysdid—upontheimportanceofthispoint,IventuredtoaskwhatIshoulddonext.22"Oh,lookatyourfish!"hesaid,andleftmeagaintomyowndevices.Inalittlemorethananhourhereturned,andheardmynewcatalogue.23"Thatisgood,thatisgood!"herepeated;"butthatisnotall;goon";andsoforthreelongdaysheplacedthatfishbeforemyeyes,forbiddingmetolookatanythingelse,ortouseanyartificialaid."Look,look,look,"washisrepeatedinjunction.24ThiswasthebestentomologicallessonIeverhad—alessonwhoseinfluencehasextendedtothedetailsofeverysubsequentstudy;alegacytheProfessorhadlefttome,ashehasleftittosomanyothers,ofinestimablevaluewhichwecouldnotbuy,withwhichwecannotpart.25Thefourthday,asecondfishofthesamegroupwasplacedbesidethefirst,andIwasbiddentopointouttheresemblancesanddifferencesbetweenthetwo;anotherandanotherfollowed,untiltheentirefamilylaybeforeme,andawholelegionofjarscoveredthetableandsurroundingshelves;theodorhadbecomeapleasantperfume;andevennow,thesightofanold,six-inchworm-eatencorkbringsfragrantmemories.26Thewholegroupofhaemulonswasthusbroughtinreview;and,whetherengageduponthedissectionoftheinternalorgans,thepreparationandexaminationofthebonyframework,orthedescriptionofthevariousparts,Agassiz'straininginthemethodofobservingfactsandtheirorderlyarrangementwaseveraccompaniedbytheurgentexhortationnottobecontentwiththem.27"Factsarestupidthings,"hewouldsay,"untilbroughtintoconnectionwithsomegenerallaw."28Attheendofeightmonths,itwasalmostwithreluctancethatIleftthesefriendsandturnedtoinsects;butwhatIhadgainedbythisoutsideexperiencehasbeenofgreatervaluethanyearsoflaterinvestigationinmyfavoritegroups.把这条鱼拿去好好看看塞缪尔·斯卡德我是在15余年前进入阿加西兹教授的实验室的，告诉他我已在科学学院注册读博物学。他略略询问了我来此的目的、我大致的经历、以后准备如何运用所学知识，最后问我是否希望修习某一特别学科。对最后一个问题我回答说，我希望自己在动物学各个领域都具有一定的基础，但特别想研究昆虫。“你想什么时候开始呢？”他问。“就现在，”我回答说。他听了显然挺高兴，劲头十足地说道“很好”，便从架子上取下一个黄色酒精里浸有标本的大罐。“把这条鱼拿去看看，”他说，“我们叫它石鲈。过一会儿我会问你都看到些什么。”说着他走了，但一会儿又回来跟我详细说明如何保管交给我的标本。“一个人如果连怎样保护标本都不知道，”他说，“他就不配当博物学家。”我得把放在一个锡盘里的鱼摆在面前，过一段时间用罐里的酒精润湿它的面，每次都要记住把瓶塞塞紧。那个时候还没有毛玻璃瓶塞和外形精美的展示用瓶，过去的大学生都会记得那种硕大的无颈玻璃瓶，软木瓶塞全是洞孔，涂过蜡，被虫啃去一半，被地下室的灰尘弄得很脏。昆虫学这门科学比鱼类学干净，可教授没半点犹豫就伸手探入罐底捞出了鱼，他的榜样颇具感染力。尽管酒精散发着一种“陈腐的鱼腥味”，我却不敢在这神圣的场所流露出丝毫厌恶，只能把酒精当作纯净水对待。但我心头还是感到一丝失望，因为盯着看一条鱼实非一位满怀热情的昆虫学家之所爱。回家后我的那些朋友也不怎么高兴，他们发现，用再多的科隆香水也驱不走幽灵般附在我身上的那股异味。才十分钟，我就把那条鱼能看的全都看了个遍，接着开始找教授，他却已经离开了博物馆。我在楼上存放着奇异动物的房间里转悠了一会儿，等我回去时，我的鱼标本全都干了。我急忙把酒精洒上去，就像是要把它从昏迷中救醒过来似的，急切地等着它回复到平时那湿漉漉的样子。一阵小小的兴奋过后就无事可干了，只好继续凝视着我那一言不发的伙伴。半个小时过去了，一个小时，又是一个小时。看着看着觉得那条鱼讨厌得很。我把鱼翻来翻去，瞧瞧头部——怪可怕的；再从后面看，从下面、上面、侧面看，再从展示面部四分之三的角度看——也是怪可怕的。我都绝望了。时间还早，可我觉得应该去吃午饭了，于是我如释重负地把鱼小心翼翼地放回到罐里，便去逍遥了一个小时。我回来后，得知阿加西兹教授回过博物馆，可又走了，要过几个小时才回来。我的那些同学都在忙着，不能一直跟他们谈话打搅他们。我慢吞吞地取出了那条面目可憎的鱼，怀着绝望心情接着看。我不能用放大镜，任何器材都不许用。一双手，两只眼，还有这条鱼：这个观察场地也未免太狭小了。我把一根手指伸进它的喉部，试试它的牙齿有多锋利。我开始数一排排鱼鳞，一直数到自己也觉得荒唐。最后我想出了一个绝妙的主意——把鱼画下来。我惊讶地发现这家伙身上还真有不少新特征。就在这时教授回来了。对了，”他说，“笔的目光也是最敏锐的。而且，令人高兴的是，我还注意到你的标本没有干，瓶子也是塞住的。”说了这番鼓励话之后，他接着问：“好了，看得怎么样了？”他专注地听我简要叙述鱼体的结构，许多部位我还不知道叫什么：带边缘的鳃弓、活动鳃盖骨、头部细孔、肉质唇部、无睑眼；侧线、刺状鳍、叉状尾；扁曲身体。我讲完了，他仍等着，似乎还想听下去，接着带着失望的神情说：“你看得不够仔细。唉，”他满脸认真地接着说道，“你连这条鱼最明显的一项特征都没看出来，跟这条鱼一样，那特征就明摆在你的眼前。再看，再看!”说着他走了，留下我沮丧不已。我怒从心生，我深感屈辱。还要看那条该死的鱼!不过，这次我看时憋了一股劲，于是发现了一个又一个新特征，到最后我明白教授的批评的确有道理。一个下午很快过去了。下午将尽时，教授问道：“发现了没有？”“还没有，”我回答说，“肯定还没有，可我看出了原先自己的确没观察到什么。”“这是仅次于最好的结果了，”他认真地说，“不过现在我不打算听你讲。把鱼放好，然后就回家吧。说不定到了明天早上你会回答得更好。明天在你看鱼之前我再问你。”这真是太为难人了。我不仅得整晚想着这条鱼，要在实物不在眼前的情况下仔细琢磨这一未知却又极其显著的特征是什么；而且，第二天要在无法回顾我所作发现的情况下对我所观察到的东西作一精确描述。我记性不好，因此我沿着查尔斯河走回家时心烦意乱，想着自己的两个难题。第二天早上，教授热情的问候让人感到安慰。眼前这人跟我一样，急切地希望我能独立看出他业已观察到的事物。“您的意思是不是说，”我问，“这条鱼两侧对称，器官成对？”他那听上去极为满意的“当然是，当然是!”的回答补偿了前一晚多少个不眠的小时。等他高兴而又热情地——他一向如此——讲述完这一发现的重要性，我斗胆问接下来我该做什么。“哦，看你那条鱼!”他说着走了，又不管我了。过了一小时多一点，他回来了，听我汇报新的发现。“很好，很好!”他重复说道。“可这还不够，接着看。”于是，整整三天，他把那条鱼置于我眼前，不让我看别的东西，也不让我借助任何工具。“看看，看看，再看看，”就是他不断重复的指令。这是我上过的最好的昆虫学课——其影响延伸到以后每一项研究的各个细节。这是阿加西兹教授留给我以及其他许多人的遗产，其价值无法估量，千金难买，我们决不会割舍。第四天，另一条同类的鱼摆在了前一条鱼的旁边，我被要求指出两者之间的异同。接着一条，又一条，直到这一科的全部成员都摆放在我的眼前，许许多多罐子占满了桌子和周围的架子。那气味也变得如香水般迷人。直到今天，只要看见一个被蛀虫咬过的6英寸长的旧软木塞，都会引起我美好的回忆。就这样，整个石鲈一群全都拿来观察过了。无论是在解剖内脏，在制作和检查骨架，还是在描述各种不同的部位，阿加西兹在训练学生观察事实及其有序排列的能力时，始终谆谆告诫大家不能满足于已有的发现。“事实是枯燥无聊的，”他常说，“除非与某种普遍规律联系在一起。”快满8个月时，我依依不舍地离开了这些鱼类朋友，转向昆虫类。可是，我从这次自己选修学科以外的经历中得到的收获，其价值超过以后我对自己喜欢的动物群所作的多年研究。CarlRowangrewuptobeappointedasanambassadorforhiscountry.AndyethecamefromapoorfamilyandwasraisedatatimeandinaplacewhereblackAmericansweredeniedmanyoftheadvantagesenjoyedbywhites.Howdidhemanagetorisesohighfromsuchadisadvantagedbackground?MuchofthecreditmustgotoMissBessie.TextBUnforgettableMissBessieCarlT.Rowan1Shewasonlyaboutfivefeettallandprobablyneverweighedmorethan110pounds,butMissBessiewasatoweringpresenceintheclassroom.ShewastheonlywomantoughenoughtomakemereadBeowulfandthinkforafewfoolishdaysthatIlikedit.From1938to1942,whenIattendedBernardHighSchoolinMcMinnville,Tenn.,shetaughtmeEnglish,history,civics—andalotmorethanIrealized.2IshallneverforgetthedayshescoldedmeintoreadingBeowulf.3"ButMissBessie,"Icomplained,"Iain'tmuchinterestedinit."4Herlargebrowneyesbecamedaggerishslits."Boy,"shesaid,"howdareyousay'ain't'tome!I'vetaughtyoubetterthanthat."5"MissBessie,"IHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"pleaded,"I'mtryingtomakefirst-stringendonthefootballteam.AndifIgoaroundsaying'itisn't'and'theyaren't,'theguysaregonnalaughmeoffthesquad."6"Boy,"sheresponded,"you'llplayfootballbecauseyouhaveguts.Butdoyouknowwhatreallytakesguts?Refusingtoloweryourstandardstothoseofthecrowd.Ittakesgutstosayyou'vegottoliveandbesomebodyfiftyyearsafterallthefootballgamesareover."7Istartedsaying"itisn't"and"theyaren't,"andIstillmadefirst-stringend—andclassvaledictorian—withoutlosingmybuddies'respect.8Duringherremarkable44-yearcareer,Mrs.BessieTaylorGwynntaughthundredsofeconomicallyHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"deprivedblackyoungsters—includingmymother,mybrother,mysistersandme.IrememberhernowwithgratitudeandHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"affection—especiallyinthiserawhenAmericansaresowrought-upabouta"risingtideofmediocrity"inpubliceducationandtheproblemsoffindingcompetent,caringteachers.MissBessiewasanexampleofaninformed,dedicatedteacher,ablessingtochildrenandanHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"assettothenation.9Bornin1895,inpoverty,shegrewupinAthens,Ala.,wheretherewasnopublicschoolforblacks.SheattendedTrinitySchool,aprivateinstitutionforblacksrunbytheAmericanMissionaryAssociation,andin1911graduatedfromtheNormalSchool(a"super"highschool)atFiskUniversityinNashville.Mrs.Gwynn,theessenceofprideandprivacy,nevertalkedaboutheryearsinAthens;onlyinthemonthsbeforeherdeathdidsherevealthatshehadneverattendedFiskUniversityitselfbecauseshecouldnotaffordthefour-yearcourse.10AtNormalSchoolshelearnedalotaboutShakespeare,butmostofallabouttheHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"profoundimportanceofeducation—especially,forapeopletryingtomoveupfromslavery."Whatyouputinyourhead,boy,"sheoncesaid,"canneverbepulledoutbytheKuKluxKlan,theCongressoranybody."11MissBessie'sbearingofdignitytoldanyonewhometherthatshewas"educated"inthebestsenseoftheword.Therewasneveradisciplineprobleminherclasses.Wedidn'tdaretoHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"messwithawomanwhoknewabouttheBattleofHastings,MagnaCartaandtheBillofRights—andwhocouldalsoplaythepiano.12Thisfrail-lookingwomancouldmakesenseofShakespeare,Milton,Voltaire,andbringtolifeBookerT.WashingtonandW.E.B.DuBois.Believingthatitwasimportanttoknowwhotheofficialswerethatspenttaxpayers'moneyandmadepublicpolicy,shemadeusHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"memorizethenamesofeveryoneontheSupremeCourtandinthePresident'sCabinet.ItcouldbeembarrassingtobeunpreparedwhenMissBessiesaid,"GetupandtelltheclasswhoFrancesPerkinsisandwhatyouthinkabouther."13MissBessieknewthatmyfamily,likesomanyothersduringtheDepression,couldn'taffordtosubscribetoanewspaper.Sheknewwedidn'tevenownaradio.Still,sheproddedmeto"HYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"lookoutforyourfutureandfindsomewaytokeepupwithwhat'sgoingonintheworld."SoIbecameadeliveryboyfortheChattanoogaTimes.Irarelymadeadollaraweek,butIgottoreadanewspapereveryday.14MissBessienoticedthingsthathadnothingtodowithschoolwork,butwerevitaltoayoungster'sdevelopment.Onceafewclassmatesmadefunofmyfrayed,hand-me-downovercoat,callingme"Strings."AsIwasleavingschool,MissBessiepattedmeonthebackofthatoldovercoatandsaid,"Carl,neverHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"fretaboutwhatyoudon'thave.JustHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"makethemostofwhatyoudohave—abrain."15AmongthethingsthatIdidnothavewaselectricityinthelittleframehouse[framehouse:ahouseconstructedfromawoodenskeleton,typicallycoveredwithtimberboards木板屋]thatmyfatherhadbuiltfor$400withhisWorldWarIHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"bonus.ButbecauseofherHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"inspiration,IspentmanyhourssquintingbesideakerosenelampreadingShakespeareandThoreau,SamuelPepysandWilliamCullenBryant.16Nooneinmyfamilyhadevergraduatedfromhighschool,sotherewasnotraditionofcommitmenttolearningformetoleanon.Likemillionsofyoungstersintoday'sghettosandbarrios,Ineededthepushandstimulationofateacherwhotrulycared.MissBessiegaveplentyofboth,assheimmersedmeinawonderfulworldofsimiles,metaphorsandevenonomatopoeia.SheledmetobelievethatIcouldwritesonnetsaswellasShakespeare,oriambic-pentameterversetoHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"putAlexanderPopeHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"toshame.17InthosedaystheMcMinnvilleschoolsystemwasrigidly"JimCrow,"andpoorblackchildrenhadtostruggletoputanythingintheirheads.Ourhighschoolwasonlyslightlylargerthantheonce-typicallittleredschoolhouse,anditslibrarywasoutrageouslyinadequate—sosmall,Iliketosay,thatiftwostudentswereinitandonewantedtoturnapage,theotheronehadtostepoutside.18Negroes,aswewerecalledthen,werenotallowedinthetownlibrary,excepttoHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"mopfloorsordusttables.ButthroughoneofthosesecretOldSouth[3OldSouth:theSouthbeforetheCivilWar]3arrangementsbetweenwhitesofconscienceandblacksofstature,MissBessiekeptgettingbooksHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"smuggledoutofthewhitelibrary.ThatishowsheintroducedmetotheBront?s,Byron,Coleridge,KeatsandTennyson."Ifyoudon'tread,youcan'twrite,andifyoucan'twrite,youmightaswellstopdreaming,"MissBessieoncetoldme.19SoIreadwhateverMissBessietoldmeto,andtriedtorememberthethingssheinsistedthatIstoreaway.Forty-fiveyearslater,IcanstillHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"reciteher"truthstoHYPERLINK"http://202.194.15.231/Course/College_English_NEW_Integrated_5/Unit_04/Course/Unit4_TextB.htm"liveby,"suchasHenryWadsworthLongfellow'slinesfrom"TheLadderofSt.Augustine":TheheightsbygreatmenreachedandkeptWerenotattainedbysuddenflight.Butthey,whiletheircompanionsslept,Weretoilingupwardinthenight.20Yearslater,herinspiration,prodding,anger,cajolingandalmostosmoticinfusionoflearningfinallyledtothatlovelydaywhenMissBessiedroppedmeanotesaying,"I'msoproudtoreadyourcolumnintheNashvilleTennessean."21MissBessiewasaspry80whenIwentbacktoMcMinnvilleandvisitedherinaseniorcitizens'apartmentbuilding.Pointingoutproudlythatherbuildingwasraciallyintegrated,shereachedfortwoglassesandapintofbourbon.Iwasmomentarilyshocked,becauseitwouldhavebeenscandalousinthe1930sand'40sforwordtogetoutthatateacherdrank,andnobodyhadeverraisedarumorthatMissBessiedid.22Ifeltanewsenseofequalityassheliftedherglasstomine.ThensherevealedasoftnessandcompassionthatIhadneverknownasastudent.23"I'veneverforgottenthatexaminationday,"shesaid,"whenBusterMartinheldupsevenfingers,obviouslyaskingyouforhelpwithquestionnumberseven,'Nameacommoncarrier,'Icanstillpictureyoulookingatyourexampaperandhummingafewbarsof'ChattanoogaChooChoo.'Iwassotickled,Icouldn'tpunisheitherofyou."24MissBessiewastellingme,withbourbon-lacedgrace,thatIneverfooledherforamoment.25WhenMissBessiediedin1980,atage85,hundredsofherformerstudentsmourned.Theyknewthemeasureofagreatteacher:loveandmotivation.Herwisdomandinfluencehadrippledoutacrossgenerations.26Someofherstudentswhomightnormallyhavebeendoomedtopovertywentontobecomedoctors,dentistsandcollegeprofessors.Many,guidedbyMissBessie'sexample,becamepublic-schoolteachers.27"ThememoryofMissBessieandhowsheconductedherclassroomdidmoreformethananythingIlearnedincollege,"recallsGladysWoodofKnoxville,Tenn.,ahighlyrespectedEnglishteacherwhospent43yearsinthestate'sschoolsystem."Somanytimes,whenIfacedadifficultclassroomproblem,Iaskedmyself,HowwouldMissBessiedealwiththis?AndI'drememberthatshewouldhandleitwithlaughterandlove."28Nochildcangetallthenecessarysupportathome,andmillionsofpoorchildrengetnosupportatall.Thisiswhatmakesawise,educated,warm-heartedteacherlikeMissBessiesovitaltotheminds,heartsandsoulsofthiscountry'schildren.卡尔·罗旺长大成人后被任命为代表国家的大使。可是，他出生在一个贫穷的家庭里，生长在美国黑人被剥夺了白人享有的许多权益这样一个时代，这样一个地方。他是如何从这样低的社会阶层升到这样高的地位的呢？这很大程度上得归功于贝西小姐。难忘恩师贝西小姐卡尔·T·罗旺      她身高不过5英尺上下，体重可能从来不超过110磅，但贝西小姐在教室里形象极其高大。她是个厉害女人，只有她能逼得我去读《贝奥武甫》，而且有那么几天，我还真傻乎乎地觉得自己挺喜欢这首史诗。从1938年到1942年，我在田纳西州麦克敏维尔的伯纳德高中上学，她教我英语、历史、公民学，还有许多当时我未能领悟的东西。      我永远忘不了她训斥着要我读《贝奥武甫》的那一天。      "可是，贝西小姐，"我抱怨说，"我对它不怎么感兴趣。"      她那双褐色的眼睛眯成一条缝，射出的目光犀利如刀。"小伙子，"她说，"你竟敢对我说'ain't'!我教过你该怎么说。"      "贝西小姐，"我恳求道，"我正在努力争取当上橄榄球队的正式边锋。要是我老是说'itisn't'和'theyaren't'，那帮人会嘲笑我，把我撵出球队的。"      "小伙子，"她回答说，"你打橄榄球是因为你有勇气。可你是不是知道什么事情真正需要勇气？那就是决不把你的做人标准降低到和那帮子人一样。你要鼓起勇气对他们说，橄榄球比赛全部结束后你还想出人头地生活50年呢。"      我开始说"itisn't"和"theyaren't"了，而且照样当上了正式边锋——还成为班级里致告别辞的毕业生代表——却一点也没有失去伙伴们的尊重。      在她44年不平凡的教学生涯中，贝西·泰勒·格温太太教过许多穷困的黑人孩子——其中有我的母亲、兄弟、姐妹，还有我本人。今天，我怀着热爱和感激之情记住她——尤其在今天这个时代，在国人对公共教育"日益平庸化"，对称职的、有爱心的教师难觅等问题深感不安之时，我更是忘不了她。贝西小姐有见识、有奉献精神，堪称教师楷模，有她这样的老师是孩子们的福分，对国家来说她是宝贵的人才。      她于1895年出生在贫苦人家，在亚拉巴马的阿森斯长大。当时那里没有黑人公立学校。她上的是三一学堂，一所美国传教士协会为黑人开设的私立学校。1911年她毕业于纳什维尔的菲斯克大学附属师范学校(一所"极棒的"高级中学)。格温太太是个自尊心很强、很想维护隐私的人，从来不提她在阿森斯读过的岁月。直到她去世前几个月，她才透露说，她从来没上过菲克斯大学本部，因为她付不起4年的学费。      在师范学校求学时，她学到许多关于莎士比亚的知识，但更重要的是她认识了教育的极端重要性——对一个正试图摆脱奴隶地位的民族尤为重要。"你装进脑袋的东西，小伙子，"她说过，"三K党夺不走，国会夺不走，谁都夺不走。"      见过贝西小姐的人都从她端庄的举止中看出她是绝对"有学识的"。她任课的班上从来没有纪律问题。我们不敢跟一个知道黑斯廷斯战役、英国大宪章、权利法案——又能弹钢琴的女教师捣乱。      这位看似弱不禁风的女子能读懂莎士比亚、弥尔顿、伏尔泰的作品，能把布克尔·T·华盛顿和W·E·B·杜波伊斯说得栩栩如生。她深信了解花纳税人的钱并制定维护公共利益政策的官员是非常重要的，因此她要我们记住最高法院全体法官以及总统内阁全体成员的名字。要是贝西小姐说："站起来，告诉大家弗朗西丝·珀金斯是谁，你觉得她怎么样"，而你却毫无准备，那真够窘的。      贝西小姐知道，跟大萧条时期许多人家一样，我家订不起