иÅÄî3-µÚ12²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
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e¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡contact¡¡were¡¡eventually¡¡established£»¡¡astronomers¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡rely¡¡on¡¡language¡¡to¡¡communicate¡¡with¡¡other¡¡beings¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡use¡¡mathematics¡¡as¡¡this¡¡is¡¡the
only¡¡truly¡¡universal¡¡language¡£¡¡Numbers¡¡have¡¡the¡¡same¡¡value¡¡anywhere¡£¡¡For¡¡this¡¡reason£»¡¡intelligent¡¡creatures¡¡in¡¡any¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe¡¡would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡arithmetical¡¡sequence¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡reply¡¡to¡¡our¡¡signals¡¡using¡¡similar¡¡methods¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡step¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡means¡¡for¡¡sending¡¡television¡¡pictures¡£¡¡A¡¡single¡¡picture¡¡would¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡more¡¡than¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡words¡£¡¡In¡¡an¡¡age¡¡when¡¡anything¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡¡possible£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡narrow¡minded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡extreme¡¡to¡¡ridicule¡¡these¡¡attempts¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡if¡¡there¡¡is¡¡life¡¡in¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe¡£¡¡
Lesson56¡¡The¡¡river¡¡beside¡¡our¡¡farm
The¡¡river¡¡which¡¡forms¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡boundary¡¡of¡¡our¡¡farm¡¡has¡¡always¡¡played¡¡an¡¡important¡¡part¡¡in¡¡our¡¡lives¡£¡¡Without¡¡it¡¡we¡¡could¡¡not¡¡make¡¡a¡¡living¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡only¡¡enough¡¡spring¡¡water¡¡to¡¡supply¡¡the¡¡needs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡so¡¡we¡¡have¡¡to¡¡pump¡¡from¡¡the¡¡river¡¡for¡¡farm¡¡use¡£¡¡We¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡river¡¡all¡¡our¡¡secrets¡£¡¡We¡¡know¡¡instinctively£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡beekeepers¡¡with¡¡their¡¡bees£»¡¡that¡¡misfortune¡¡might¡¡overtake¡¡us¡¡if¡¡the¡¡important¡¡events¡¡of¡¡our¡¡lives¡¡were¡¡not¡¡related¡¡to¡¡it¡£
We¡¡have¡¡special¡¡river¡¡birthday¡¡parties¡¡in¡¡the¡¡summer¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡we¡¡go¡¡up¡stream¡¡to¡¡a¡¡favourite¡¡backwater£»¡¡some¡¡¡times¡¡we¡¡have¡¡our¡¡party¡¡at¡¡the¡¡boathouse£»¡¡which¡¡a¡¡predecessor¡¡of¡¡ours¡¡at¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡built¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meadow¡¡hard¡¡by¡¡the¡¡deepest¡¡pool¡¡for¡¡swimming¡¡and¡¡diving¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡heat¡wave¡¡we¡¡choose¡¡a¡¡midnight¡¡birthday¡¡party¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡most¡¡exciting¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¡We¡¡welcome¡¡the¡¡seasons¡¡by¡¡the¡¡river¡¡¡side£»¡¡crowning¡¡the¡¡youngest¡¡girl¡¡with¡¡flowers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡spring£»¡¡holding¡¡a¡¡summer¡¡festival¡¡on¡¡Midsummer¡¡Eve£»¡¡giving¡¡thanks¡¡for¡¡the¡¡harvest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡autumn£»¡¡and¡¡throwing¡¡a¡¡holly¡¡wreath¡¡into¡¡the¡¡current¡¡in¡¡the¡¡winter¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡long¡¡period¡¡of¡¡rain¡¡the¡¡river¡¡may¡¡overflow¡¡its¡¡banks¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡a¡¡rare¡¡occurrence¡¡as¡¡our¡¡climate¡¡seldom¡¡god¡¡to¡¡extremes¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡lucky¡¡in¡¡that¡¡only¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡fields£»¡¡which¡¡make¡¡up¡¡a¡¡very¡¡small¡¡proportion¡¡of¡¡our¡¡farm£»¡¡are¡¡affected¡¡by¡¡flooding£»¡¡but¡¡other¡¡farms¡¡are¡¡less¡¡favourably¡¡sited£»¡¡and¡¡flooding¡¡can¡¡sometimes¡¡spell¡¡disaster¡¡for¡¡their¡¡owners¡£¡¡
One¡¡bad¡¡winter¡¡we¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡river¡¡creep¡¡up¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡meadows¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡had¡¡been¡¡moved¡¡into¡¡stalls¡¡and¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡little¡£¡¡We¡¡were£»¡¡however£»¡¡worried¡¡about¡¡our¡¡nearest¡¡neighbours£»¡¡whose¡¡farm¡¡was¡¡low¡¡lying¡¡and¡¡who¡¡were¡¡newcomers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡district¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡floods¡¡had¡¡put¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡out¡¡of¡¡order£»¡¡we¡¡could¡¡not¡¡find¡¡out¡¡how¡¡they¡¡were¡¡managing¡£¡¡From¡¡an¡¡attic¡¡window¡¡we¡¡could¡¡get¡¡a¡¡sweeping¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡where¡¡their¡¡land¡¡joined¡¡ours£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡most¡¡critical¡¡juncture¡¡we¡¡took¡¡turns¡¡in¡¡watching¡¡that¡¡point¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡disaster¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡sheep¡¡floating¡¡down¡£¡¡Next¡¡came¡¡a¡¡horse£»¡¡swimming¡¡bravely£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡were¡¡afraid¡¡that¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡current¡¡would¡¡prevent¡¡its¡¡landing¡¡anywhere¡¡before¡¡it¡¡became¡¡exhausted¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡a¡¡raft¡¡appeared£»¡¡looking¡¡rather¡¡like¡¡Noah's¡¡ark£»¡¡carrying¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡family£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hens£»¡¡the¡¡dogs£»¡¡a¡¡cat£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡bird¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cage¡£¡¡We¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡they¡¡must¡¡have¡¡become¡¡unduly¡¡frightened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rising¡¡flood£»¡¡for¡¡their¡¡house£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡sound¡¡foundations£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡stood¡¡stoutly¡¡even¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡almost¡¡submerged¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡of¡¡our¡¡family¡¡waded¡¡down¡¡through¡¡our¡¡flooded¡¡meadows¡¡with¡¡boathooks£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡grapple¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡raft¡¡and¡¡pull¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡current¡¡towards¡¡our¡¡bank¡£¡¡We¡¡still¡¡think¡¡it¡¡a¡¡miracle¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£
Lesson57¡¡The¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡native
I¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡car¡¡cool¡¡off¡¡and¡¡to¡¡study¡¡the¡¡map¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡be¡¡near¡¡my¡¡objective¡¡by¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡everything¡¡still¡¡seemed¡¡alien¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡only¡¡five¡¡when¡¡my¡¡father¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡me¡¡abroad£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡eighteen¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡When¡¡my¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡died¡¡after¡¡a¡¡tragic¡¡accident£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡quickly¡¡recover¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡and¡¡loneliness¡£¡¡Everything¡¡around¡¡him¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡her¡¡presence£»¡¡continually¡¡re¡opening¡¡the¡¡wound¡£¡¡So¡¡he¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡emigrate¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡new¡¡country¡¡he¡¡became¡¡absorbed¡¡in¡¡making¡¡a¡¡new¡¡life¡¡for¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡gradually¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡grieve¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡marry¡¡again¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡without¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡care£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡lacked¡¡for¡¡nothing£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡both¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡He¡¡always¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡one¡¡day¡¡but¡¡not¡¡to¡¡stay¡£¡¡His¡¡roots¡¡and¡¡mine¡¡had¡¡become¡¡too¡¡firmly¡¡embedded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡new¡¡land¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡old¡¡folk¡¡again¡¡and¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡my¡¡mother's¡¡grave¡£¡¡He¡¡became¡¡mortally¡¡ill¡¡a¡¡few¡¡months¡¡before¡¡we¡¡had¡¡planned¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dying£»¡¡he¡¡made¡¡me¡¡promise¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡my¡¡own¡£
I¡¡hired¡¡a¡¡car¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡landing¡¡and¡¡bought¡¡a¡¡comprehensive¡¡book¡¡of¡¡maps£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡found¡¡most¡¡helpful¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cross¡¡country¡¡journey£»¡¡but¡¡which¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡I¡¡should¡¡need¡¡on¡¡the¡¡last¡¡stage¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡actually¡¡remembered¡¡anything¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡But¡¡my¡¡father¡¡had¡¡described¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡again¡¡what¡¡we¡¡should¡¡see¡¡at¡¡every¡¡milestone£»¡¡after¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡town£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡positive¡¡I¡¡should¡¡recognize¡¡it¡¡as¡¡familiar¡¡territory¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wrong£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡was¡¡now¡¡lost¡£
I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡map¡¡and¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡milometer¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡come¡¡ten¡¡miles¡¡since¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡this¡¡point£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡my¡¡father£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡farms¡¡and¡¡cottages¡¡in¡¡a¡¡valley£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡spire¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡of¡¡our¡¡village¡¡showing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡distance¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡no¡¡valley£»¡¡no¡¡farms£»¡¡no¡¡cottages¡¡and¡¡no¡¡church¡¡spireonly¡¡a¡¡lake¡£¡¡I¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡wrong¡¡turning¡¡somewhere¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡drove¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡retrace¡¡the¡¡route£»¡¡taking¡¡frequent¡¡glances¡¡at¡¡the¡¡map¡£¡¡I¡¡landed¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡corner¡£¡¡The¡¡curious¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡was¡¡not¡¡marked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡map¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡stumbled¡¡into¡¡a¡¡nightmare¡¡country£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡sometimes¡¡do¡¡in¡¡dreams¡£¡¡And£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡a¡¡nightmare£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nobody¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡£¡¡Fortunately¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡wondering¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡next£»¡¡there¡¡appeared¡¡on¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡a¡¡man¡¡on¡¡horseback£»¡¡riding¡¡in¡¡my¡¡direction¡£¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡till¡¡he¡¡came¡¡near£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡our¡¡old¡¡village¡£¡¡He¡¡said¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡now¡¡no¡¡village¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡misunderstood¡¡me¡£¡¡so¡¡I¡¡repeated¡¡its¡¡name¡£¡¡This¡¡time¡¡he¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lake¡£¡¡The¡¡village¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡existed¡¡because¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡submerged£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡too¡£¡¡The¡¡lake¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡one£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡man¡¡made¡¡reservoir¡£¡¡
Lesson58¡¡A¡¡little¡¡spot¡¡of¡¡bother
The¡¡old¡¡lady¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡be¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡block¡¡of¡¡flats¡¡where¡¡she¡¡lived¡£¡¡Her¡¡shopping¡¡had¡¡tired¡¡her¡¡and¡¡her¡¡basket¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡heavier¡¡with¡¡every¡¡step¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡home¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡lift¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡¡were¡¡on¡¡lunch¡¡and¡¡a¡¡good¡¡rest£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡she¡¡got¡¡out¡¡at¡¡her¡¡own¡¡floor£»¡¡both¡¡were¡¡forgotten¡¡in¡¡her¡¡sudden¡¡discovery¡¡that¡¡her¡¡front¡¡door¡¡was¡¡open¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡that¡¡she¡¡must¡¡reprimand¡¡her¡¡daily¡¡maid¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡monstrous¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡negligence£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡shopping¡¡after¡¡the¡¡maid¡¡had¡¡left¡¡and¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡both¡¡keys¡¡in¡¡their¡¡locks¡£¡¡She¡¡walked¡¡slowly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡and¡¡at¡¡once¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡room¡¡doors¡¡were¡¡open£»¡¡yet¡¡following¡¡her¡¡regular¡¡practice¡¡she¡¡had¡¡shut¡¡them¡¡before¡¡going¡¡out¡£¡¡Looking¡¡into¡¡the¡¡drawing¡¡room£»¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡confusion¡¡over¡¡by¡¡her¡¡writing¡¡desk¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡clear¡¡as¡¡daylight¡¡then¡¡that¡¡burglars¡¡had¡¡forced¡¡an¡¡entry¡¡during¡¡her¡¡absence¡£¡¡Her¡¡first¡¡impulse¡¡was¡¡to¡¡go¡¡round¡¡all¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡thieves£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡she¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡at¡¡her¡¡age¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡more¡¡prudent¡¡to¡¡have¡¡someone¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡went¡¡to¡¡fetch¡¡the¡¡porter¡¡from¡¡his¡¡basement¡£¡¡By¡¡this¡¡time¡¡her¡¡legs¡¡were¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡tremble£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡and¡¡accepted¡¡a¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡very¡¡strong¡¡tea£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡telephoned¡¡the¡¡police¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡her¡¡composure¡¡regained£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡set¡¡off¡¡with¡¡the¡¡porter's¡¡assistance¡¡to
search¡¡for¡¡any¡¡intruders¡¡who¡¡might¡¡still¡¡be¡¡lurking¡¡in¡¡her¡¡flat¡£¡¡
They¡¡went¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rooms£»¡¡being¡¡careful¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡nothing£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡to¡¡hinder¡¡the¡¡police¡¡in¡¡their¡¡search¡¡for¡¡fingerprints¡£¡¡The¡¡chaos¡¡was¡¡inconceivable¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡flat¡¡for¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡and¡¡was¡¡a¡¡veritable¡¡magpie¡¡at¡¡hoarding£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡though¡¡everything¡¡she¡¡possessed¡¡had¡¡been¡¡tossed¡¡out¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡sorting¡¡out¡¡the¡¡things¡¡she¡¡should¡¡have¡¡discarded¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡was¡¡now¡¡being¡¡made¡¡easier¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡police¡¡inspector¡¡arrived¡¡with¡¡a¡¡constable¡¡and¡¡she¡¡told¡¡them¡¡of¡¡her¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ransacked¡¡flat¡£¡¡The¡¡inspector¡¡began¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡fingerprints£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡constable¡¡checked¡¡that¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡locks¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡forced£»¡¡thereby
proving¡¡that¡¡the¡¡burglars¡¡had¡¡either¡¡used¡¡skeleton¡¡keys¡¡or¡¡entered¡¡over¡¡the¡¡balcony¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡fingerprints£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡inspector¡¡found¡¡a¡¡dirty¡¡red¡¡bundle¡¡that¡¡contained¡¡jewellery¡¡which¡¡the¡¡old¡¡lady¡¡said¡¡was¡¡not¡¡hers¡£¡¡So¡¡their¡¡entry¡¡into¡¡this¡¡flat¡¡was¡¡apparently¡¡not¡¡the¡¡burglars'¡¡first¡¡job¡¡that¡¡day¡¡and¡¡they¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡disturbed¡£¡¡The¡¡inspector¡¡then¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡old¡¡lady¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡check¡¡what¡¡was¡¡missing¡¡by¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡and¡¡advised¡¡her¡¡not¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡flat¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡nights¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡lady¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fussy¡¡creature£»¡¡but¡¡since¡¡the¡¡porter¡¡agreed¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡she¡¡rang¡¡up¡¡her¡¡daughter¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡her¡¡help¡¡in¡¡what¡¡she¡¡described¡¡as¡¡a¡¡little¡¡spot¡¡of¡¡bother¡£¡¡
Lesson59¡¡Possession¡¡amassing¡¡and¡¡collecting
People¡¡tend¡¡to¡¡amass¡¡possessions£»¡¡some¡times¡¡without¡¡being¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡so¡£¡¡Indeed¡¡they¡¡can¡¡have¡¡a¡¡delightful¡¡surprise¡¡when¡¡they¡¡find¡¡something¡¡useful¡¡which¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡they¡¡owned¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡never¡¡have¡¡to¡¡change¡¡house¡¡become¡¡indiscriminate¡¡collectors¡¡of¡¡what¡¡can¡¡only¡¡be¡¡described¡¡as¡¡clutter¡£¡¡They¡¡leave¡¡un¡¡¡wanted¡¡objects¡¡in¡¡drawers£»¡¡cupboards¡¡and¡¡attics¡¡for¡¡years£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡one¡¡day¡¡need¡¡just¡¡those¡¡very¡¡things¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡grow¡¡old£»¡¡people¡¡also¡¡accumulate¡¡belongings¡¡for¡¡two¡¡other¡¡reasons£»¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡physical¡¡and¡¡mental¡¡energy£»¡¡both¡¡of¡¡which¡¡are¡¡essential¡¡in¡¡turning¡¡out¡¡and¡¡throwing¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡sentiment¡£¡¡Things¡¡owned¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡are¡¡full¡¡of¡¡associations¡¡with¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡perhaps¡¡with¡¡relatives¡¡who¡¡are¡¡dead£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡they¡¡gradually¡¡acquire¡¡a¡¡value¡¡beyond¡¡their¡¡true¡¡worth¡£¡¡Some¡¡things¡¡are¡¡collected¡¡deliberately¡¡in¡¡the¡¡home¡¡in¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡waste¡£¡¡Among¡¡these¡¡I¡¡would¡¡list¡¡string¡¡and¡¡brown¡¡paper£»¡¡kept¡¡by¡¡thrifty¡¡people¡¡when¡¡a¡¡parcel¡¡has¡¡been¡¡opened£»¡¡to¡¡save¡¡buying¡¡these¡¡two¡¡requisites¡£¡¡Collecting¡¡small¡¡items¡¡can¡¡easily¡¡become¡¡a¡¡mania¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡always¡¡cuts¡¡out¡¡from¡¡newspapers¡¡sketches¡¡of¡¡model¡¡clothes¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡buy£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡the¡¡money¡£¡¡As¡¡she¡¡is¡¡not¡¡rich£»¡¡the¡¡chanc