Heartstrings1）



People spend their whole lives searching for love．I was no different．Until one day I decided to look in the cages at the local pound2）．And there was love，waiting for me．

The old dog was considered unadoptable．An under－weight beagle－terrier3） mix，he had been found running along the road on three legs，with a hernia4），a damaged ear and BBs imbedded in his hind end．

The people at the humane society kept him his allotted seven days and then some because he was friendly，and they figured if someone had once spent the money to have his leg amputated5），maybe that person would be looking for him．But no one came．

I met him on his tenth day．I was dropping off a donation of blankets at the humane society and happened to walk by and see him．Looking down thro ugh the wire mesh of his cage，I thought he was an appealing little guy，and my heart went out to him．But I really couldn't take another dog home；I had four already．There has to be a limit，I thought，I can' t save them all．

Driving away from the humane society，I knew the dog would be destroyed if I didn't take him．I felt so helpless．As I passed a church，the sign announcing this week's sermon caught my eye．It was right before Christmas and appropriately it read：“Is There Room at the Inn？”

I knew at that moment there was always room for one more，especially one that needed my love．

As soon as the humane society opened t he next morning，their phone rang．“I' m coming for that old beat－up6） dog．Save him for me，”I told them．

I couldn't get there fast enough．And from the moment I claimed him，he gave his heart t o me completely．

In my experience，there is nothing like the feeling of rescuing a dog．Dogs are loving creatures already，but add the element of relief and gratitude，and true devotion flows．It is an immensely satisfying bond that I wouldn't trade for all the puppies in the world．

I named the dog Tugs，because he had tugged on my heartstrings，and I did all I could to make his life a happy one．In return，Tugs brought new meaning to the term adoration7）．Wherever I went，he wanted to be there too．He never took his eyes off me and with a simple glance in his direction，his whole body wagged with happiness．Despite his many handicaps and increasingly failing health，his enthusiasm for life was amazing．There was never an evening I came home that Tugs did not meet me at the door，eyes sparkling，his tail wagging excitedly．

We were together for a little over a year．And constantly during that time，I felt a silent current of love from him－－strong，steady and deep－－unceasingly flowing to me．When it was time for the vet to end his suffering，I held his head in my hands，the tears falling on his old muzzle8），and watched as he gently fell asleep．Even in my sadness，I was grateful for the gift of his love．

For someone who has never had this kind of experience with a pet，there are no words to adequately explain it．But if you have loved an animal in this way and been loved so fully in return，nothing more needs to be said．Some people will understand that since Tugs has been gone，my fear of death has lessened －－if death means finally joining Tugs，then let it happen when it will．

In the meantime，I continue my work：rescuing abandoned animals and finding them homes where they can taste love and give such happiness in return．

And oftentimes when I look into the sky and see the soft billowy9） clouds floating there，I find myself sending a little message：I love you，Tugs．

□by Susan Race

心 弦

人们耗费一生的精力寻找着爱，我也一样。直到有一天，我决定到当地的动物收容站去看看。就在那里，爱等待着我。

那只衰老的狗没有人认领。它是一只瘦骨嶙峋的混种小猎犬。人们发现它在马路边跑着，只有三条腿，得了疝气，一只耳朵受了伤，屁股上还留着几颗气枪子弹。

动物保护协会的人把它留了规定的７天，因为它很友善，又多留了几天。他们想，如果有人曾花钱给它做过截肢，那么这个人也许会来找它。但是没有人来。

我是在第１０天看到它的。我把一批捐赠的毯子送到动物保护协会，正巧看到了它。透过铁丝编织的笼子看着它，我认定它是个可爱的小东西。我的心被它吸引住了。可是我真的不能再领只狗回家了---我家里已经有了４只。我心想：得有个限度，我不能解救所有的狗。

驾车离开协会的时候，我知道如果我不带它走，这只狗就会被施以安乐死。我感到那么地无助。路过一座教堂的时候，一块关于本周布道的告示牌吸引了我。恰逢圣诞节前，牌子上适时地写着：旅店里有房间吗？

此时，我明白了，总会有地方再多容纳一只狗，尤其当它需要我的爱的时候。

第二天早晨动物保护协会一开门，他们就接到了我的电话：“我这就来领那条受难的老狗，帮我留着它。”

我快速飞奔到那里。从我领养它的那一刻起，它就把心完全给了我。

在我的体验中，没有哪种感受能比得上解救一只狗。狗本来就是有情义的生灵，加之人们的救助，它们会以感激、忠诚涌泉相报。这是一种给我以极大满足的亲密关系，是世界上所有的小狗也换不来的。

我给这只狗取名为拨拨，因为是它拨动了我的心弦，而我也尽我所能使它生活得快乐。作为回报，拨拨赋予了“爱慕”这个词新的含义。它和我形影不离。它的眼睛一刻不离地望着我；只要稍稍瞥它一眼，它就会高兴地摇头摆尾。尽管它身上有许多残疾，尽管它的身体日渐衰弱，它对生命却有着惊人的热情。每晚拨拨都无一例外地在家门口等着我，目光闪烁，兴奋地摇着尾巴。

我们在一起过了一年多。在那段时间里，我常常感觉到那股默默地来自它的爱---那爱是那么强烈，那么持久，那么深沉，不断地流入我的心田。当兽医来帮它结束痛苦的时候，我双手捧着它的头，泪水滴在它那苍老的鼻子上，看着它静静地睡去。即使在这痛苦的时刻，我仍感激它那爱的赐予。

对那些从来没有养过宠物的人，这种感觉是无法用语言解释清楚的。但是如果你曾如此地爱过一种动物，又同样充分地得到了它爱的回报，那么解释是多余的。有些人会明白，自从拨拨走了，我对死亡的恐惧减轻了：如果死亡意味着最终能与拨拨在一起，那么该来的时候就让它来吧。

此后，我继续我的工作：解救那些被遗弃的动物，帮它们找到家，在那里它们可以体会爱并给主人以幸福的回报。

常常，当我仰望天空中那起伏翻腾、轻柔飘浮的流云，我听见自己在说：我爱你，拨拨。



NOTE 注释：

1. heartstring n. 心弦

2. pound n. （走失或无执照家畜的）认领栏，官设兽栏

3. beagle-terrier n. 一种灵敏的小猎狗

4. hernia n. [医]疝气, 脱肠

5. amputate vt. 切除(手臂,腿等)

6. beat-up adj. 破旧的，蓬头垢面的

7. adoration n. 崇拜, 爱慕

8. muzzle n. 动物之鼻口

9. billowy adj. 巨浪似的，波浪起伏的