Story Of Love
"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 for
his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class
president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and
music. "But you might mingle with other young people," his mother
reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
The boy's father had a
session with 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. Whereupon the search began for a person who
would make such a sacrifice for a young man.
Two years went by. Then,
"You are going to the hospital, son, Mother and I have someone who will
donate the ears you need. But it's a secret." said the father.
The operation was a
brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius,
and school and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married and
entered the diplomatic service.
"But I must
know!" He urged his father. "Who gave so much for me? I could never
do enough for him."
"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, but the day did come...one of the darkest days that ever pass
through a son. He stood with his father over his mother's casket.
Slowly, tenderly, the
father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, redish-brown
hair to reveal...that the mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she
was glad she never let her hair be cut," He whispered gently, "And
nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?"
By Phillip Jerome Cleveland