1、THELASTLEAFImJohnsy.Sue,mybestfriend,andImetatacafeonEighthStreet.Wehavethesametastesinartchicorysaladandbishopsleeves,sowejointstudio.InNovember,unfortunately,thePneumoniastalkedaboutthedistrict.WhenIheartthatIwasamongthevictims,everythingseemedtolosecolor.Iwastoodisappointedtolivebecauseofthesmall

2、chances.However,Sue,neverlosingconfidence,wasalwaysstayingwithmeandlookingafterme.EverytimewhenthedoctorinvitedSueintothehallway,Iknowmybodyconditionisworse.Inordertoencourageme,shecreatedcheerfulatmosphere.Butforme,IwasapessimisticpersonthatIhavenooptimisticattitudetofightwiththeillness.Ilookedouto

3、fthewindow.Inoticedanoldivyvinewhichonlyhasfewleavesinthebare,drearyyard.Thecoldbreathofautumnhadblownawayitsleaves.“Twelve,eleven,ten,”Icountedtheluckyleavesofthetree.“Six,”Isaid,inalmostawhisper.“Theyrefallingfasternow.Threedaysagotherewerealmostahundred.Itmademyheadachetocountthem.Butnowitseasy.T

4、heregoesanotherone.Thereareonlyfiveleftnow.”Ithoughtmylifeissimilartotheleavesoftree.“Sue.WhenthelastonefallsImustgo,too.Iveknowthatforthreedays.”Itoldtoher.“Look.Thatleavesjustfour.Iwanttoseethelastonefallbeforeitgetsdark.Illgo,too.”Afterhearingthat,herfaceblanched.Sheletmetrytosleep.Then,shecalled

5、Behrmanuptobehermodelfortheoldminer.Lyingonthesickbed,Ithoughtnothing.Iwastiredofthinkingandwaiting.Ijustwantedtoturnloosemyholdoneverything,andgosailingdown,down,justlikeoneofthosepoor,tiredleaves.Gradually,Ifellasleep.Maybe,tomorrow,Iwouldgoanotherplace.Thebeatingrainandfiercewindneverstoppedallni

6、ght.WhenIawoke,IaskedSuetopullthecurtainup.Whatsurprisedmewasthatthelastleafonthevine.Thedayworeawayandeventhroughthetwilightwecouldseetheloneivyleafclingingtoitsstemagainstthewall.Atthismoment,IsuddenlyfeltthatIwassoselfish.Theweakleafcouldlivethroughthehorriblenigh.Onthecontrary,Ijustwantedtodie.I

7、feltsorrytomyselfandmybestfriend.IknewImustbuilduptheconfidence.ItoldtoSue,“Youbringmealittlesoupnow,andsomemilkwithalittleportinit,andthenpacksomepillows.”Suewastoohappytosayaword.WiththecareofSueanddoctor,finally,Ibeatthedisease.Becauseofthelastleaf,Irestoredmyconfidence.However,indeed,aman,Mr.Beh

8、rman,ismoreimportantthanthelastleaf.IwillneverforgetMr.Behrman.IthankhimmorethanIcansay.Mr.Behrmanwasapainterwholivedonthegroundfloorbeneathus.Perhapsinothermind,hewasnotagreatperson.Hewasafailureinart.Forfortyyearshehadbeenalwaysabouttopaintamasterpiece,butneverbeganit.Hedrankgintoexcessandalsohada

9、badtemper.Besides,hewasafiercelittleoldman,whomockedterriblyatsoftnessinanyone.Indeed,hewasawarmandfriendlyperson.SueinvitedBehrmantobehermodelthatday.Suetoldhimofmyfancy,paintingtheBayofMaplessomeday,andhowshefearedIwould,indeed,lightandfragileasaleaf,floataway.Althoughheshowedhiscontemptforsuchfoolishimaginingsafterhearingthat,thetearsfelldown.Inhisheart,hewasdeeplymoved.Atthatnight,Icouldnotimaginehowhespentsuchhorriblenight.Heusedthelanterntolightthewayandusedtheladderclimbuptheoldivyvineandhungthepaintedleafwhenth