BY the high road in the forest lay a lonely farm； the road went right through the farm－yard．The sun shone down，and all the windows were open．In the house was bustle¹ and movement；but in the yard，in an arbor² of blossoming lilac，stood an open coffin³．A dead man had been carried out here，and he was to be buried this morning． Nobody stood by the coffin and looked sorrowfully at the dead man； no one shed a tear for him：his face was covered with a white cloth，and under his head lay a great thick book，whose leaves consisted of whole sheets of gray paper，and on each leaf lay a faded flower．It was a comma－pelt herbarium，gathered by him in various places；it was to be buried with him， for so he had wished it． With each flower a chapter in his life was associated．

“Who is the dead man？” we asked；and the answer was：

“The Old Student from Upscale．They say he was once a brisk lad， and studied the old languages，and sang， and even wrote poems．Then something happened to him that made him turn his thoughts to brandy，and take to it；and when at last he had ruined his health， he came out here into the country， where somebody paid for his board and lodging．He was as gentle as a child， except when the dark mood came upon him；but when it came he became like a giant，and then ran about in the woods like a hunted stag；but when we once got him home again，and prevailed with him so far that he opened the book with the dried plants，he often sat whole days， and looked sometimes at one plant and sometimes at another，and at times the tears rolled over his cheeks：Heaven knows what he was thinking of．But he begged us to put the book into the coffin， and now he lies there，and in a little while the lid will be nailed down，and he will have his quiet rest in the grave．”

The face－cloth was raised，and there was peace upon the features of the dead man， and a sunbeam played upon it；a swallow shot with arrow flight into the arbor，and turned rapidly， and twittered over the dead man's head．

What a strange feeling it is—and we have doubtless all experienced it—that of turning over old letters of the days of our youth！—a whole life seems to come up with them，with all its hopes and sorrows. How many persons with whom we were intimate in those days，are as it were dead to us！and yet they are alive， but for a long time we have not thought of them —of them whom we then thought to hold fast for ages， and with whom we were to share sorrow and joy.

点击收听单词发音  

1 bustle
v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹
参考例句：
The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。 There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

2 arbor
n.凉亭；树木
参考例句：
They sat in the arbor and chatted over tea.他们坐在凉亭里，边喝茶边聊天。 You may have heard of Arbor Day at school.你可能在学校里听过植树节。

3 coffin
n.棺材，灵柩
参考例句：
When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。 The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

4 withered
adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。 The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

5 fragrance
n.芬芳，香味，香气
参考例句：
The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。 The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

6 evergreen
n.常青树；adj.四季常青的
参考例句：
Some trees are evergreen;they are called evergreen.有的树是常青的，被叫做常青树。 There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。

7 fragrant
adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的
参考例句：
The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。 The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。