出殯

楊仁華

二十八年以前，我在濱海鄉村擔任一所國中老師， 班上一個沒有母親才十多歲的學生要請假爲病死的父親出殯， 他和他的父親和我一樣，都算是‘外來’人口， 在此地沒有三親六眷， 平時靠父親打工生活， 住在公路旁面向大海的小房子裏， 現在接受捐贈的棺木和義務的抬眾也衹四人， 學校的樂隊同學珍視同學的情誼前去吊唁和在棺材前吹奏哀樂， 我的學生捧著父親的靈位， 在棺材後低頭悲泣行走， 我陪伴著他， 用手握著他的臂膀一同行進， 在我身後別無親友。這真是一個最簡單最凄愴的出殯行列， 僅衹十多位國中小男生組成的樂隊， 奮力吹奏著哀傷的樂曲向墓地前進。

現在我年逾古稀早已退休離開那靠海的鄉村， 可是那年那次送殯往事， 卻時常留念難忘， 那是我的一隻手握著我年幼學生的小小手臂， 在他悲哀時我們師生前進，許多年來， 風晨雨夕， 寒夜孤燈， 它給予我心靈上的安慰，雖然我現在也處身清寒， 但是我經常感覺到接受到施比受有福的慈光照耀， 我很快樂。

不過我覺得慚愧， 我的親家母， 她年年月月執著著在施比受有福的工作上爲貧苦困難的人辛辛苦苦的奔走濟助， 奉獻她的慈愛， 實在比我要偉大千百倍， 在此祝福她獲得更多的福報。

一個默默耕耘的人 作者： 楊光沼

一個默默耕耘的人

楊光沼

八年前我服務於東部山區一所偏遠的國中，由於學區遼闊，住戶分散，公路還未修好，交通很不方便，多數居民都從事山坡地墾殖，完全靠天吃飯，生活皆相當窮困，因此國小畢業後升入國中的學童並不很多，全校四班（後為八班），師生總數還不到兩百人，由於初創，各項設備都談不上，真可說是落後得可憐的學校。

一天，縣府官員帶來了一位四十多歲的先生，身材瘦削，肩上扛著一捆簡單得不能再簡單的行李，經介紹，知是新到任的校長，但見他衣著樸素，容貌亦屬平常，說起話來，謙遜得近乎卑微的樣子，真是毫無一點「校長」的氣派，大家嘴裡不說，心裡卻在想：「學校小又偏遠，自然就只配這樣的校長囉！」對這位校長的到來，大家並無半點興奮和新鮮之感！

校長到校，在對整個學區作過深入訪問了解後，為使已上學的遠道學生免於每天跋涉之苦，為使為上學的窮困學生免於就此失學之痛，他提出了辦理學生住校的計畫。當時學校除去矗立在半山腰荒地上幾間勉強夠用的教室外，便什麼也沒有了，幾位老師吃住的問題都無法解決，要讓學生來住校，真是夢想，老師反對的多，贊成的少，都說行不通，然而校長卻覺得：為了窮困的孩子，應當排除萬難，全力以赴，才符合九年國教的精神，就這樣在少數老師支持下，他毅然地開辦了學生住校，一下子便住進男女學生八十來人，學校因而增多了一個班級的學生，校長可樂了，但也忙壞了。

住的辦法是在教室打地鋪，每晚由校長親自帶著學生搬開桌椅，挪出空間，把床鋪好，再掛上由家事老師指導作成的蚊帳，第二天早起，再將行李收好，桌椅排好，以便上課，為怕學生夜晚踢被子著涼，校長還常一一巡視，住的問題，便在花錢最少的克難方式下暫告勉強解決。

待到入冬，有的住校生衣單被薄，甚或沒有棉被，校長一看不妙，馬上四出募集一些破舊的棉被和衣服，先帶著學生先清洗好，再請家事老師利用家事課，指導學生逐一修補，然後分給需用的學生穿用，多餘的還送給特別貧困的學生帶回家去，這種將教學與實際生活相配合的作法，真是把握了「生活即教育」的原則。學生在校，雖服裝形形色色，不甚整齊，但對窮學生來說，這是很實用的，它不僅溫暖了窮孩子的身，更溫暖了他們的心！其教育效果，相信不輸於服裝整齊劃一的學校！

伙食是每人每月交一斗米一百塊，其他費用一概免了，且規定應交的，對窮學生還減半，甚至全免，有人說這樣交費的豈不吃了大虧？但校長卻說：「大家窮在一起，藉此培養同情、互助和友愛的情操不是很好嗎？」然而由於減免太多，真有三餐不繼，行將斷炊之虞。校長儘管四處張羅，仍無濟於事，最後他想到了上山打柴，自己種菜的辦法，動員全校師生利用假日、課餘，分工合作展開行動，如此一來，雖說還是吃得不大好，但校長每餐陪著大家一起吃同樣的飯菜，真是做到了窮在一起的話，期間種種辛勞，誠非始料所及，而校長卻甘之如飴，他一心只是希望窮生能在艱苦中知所奮發，日漸成長，就滿足了。

校長不僅對住校生如此，全校其他任何學生，只要經他訪問窮困屬實，對學雜費非但是有求必然減免，甚至主動減免，因此學校收費特少，經費更見短絀，而校長卻說：「收費少，學生多就好！」就此一念，真不知救了多少貧困的孩子。有一個女孩，家太窮，外加家長重男輕女，說什麼也不讓她上學；說是這樣會「減少勞力，影響收入，不行不行」。幾經磋商，校長答應按月送若干米去，問題才告解決。那女孩欣然上學了，而校長又得私下為這些米另去求人！

對於家庭訪問校長可說做得最為徹底，不管山高路遠，要去，全憑兩條腿，別看校長瘦瘦的，吃得又差，且有低血壓症（累的），但一有空，便滿山亂跑。 他說：「越是看到窮困的家庭，越是想為他們多盡一分心力！」整個學區不知跑了多少遍，多數學生家都去過兩次以上，越窮的去得越勤，怕的是他們不能去上學了。有一次我陪校長去訪問，吃了兩碗稀飯，一早便出發，翻山越嶺、天熱口渴、滿身大汗、兩腿發酸，跑了老半天，才找到一兩戶人家，話又講不很通，更是費時、費力，我是個吃得多餓得快的飯桶，肚皮早就大唱其空城計啦！已是下午一點多了，好不容易到得一位學生家來，家長一看是校長，便忙不迭的要弄午飯給我們吃，但校長一聲又一聲的「甲罷」，硬是不讓主人下廚，拉著他便直談其「勸學經」，荒山曠野，前不靠村，後不巴店，想買東西吃也沒有。就這樣空著肚子，搞到天黑，一路上我是火冒三丈，粗生粗氣，不停地抱怨他。他陪著笑臉，怯怯地說：「我們一餐，會吃掉人家一天的米呢！」的確，對吃地瓜多於米的窮人家來說，可不就是這樣！何況還要打從山下，老遠的背上來呢！校長一副仁慈心懷！使我慚愧無言！

對學生的課業，校長也很注意，但不是只注意「明星學生」，是普遍的注意，對功課較差的，更為注意他們的學習，不僅請熱心負責的老師擔任其導師，更設法求教學有方的老師來授課，平時自己更常去這類班級與學生接近，總要使這些自卑感頗重的孩子得到應有的照顧和重視，使其亦能獲得正常的發展！

對品德教育校長更是不放鬆，有個初住校的學生，不知怎地，吃罷飯，碗筷一放便竟自離去，校長不問也不說就替他洗乾淨放好，一次兩次，那學生終於自己洗碗了，且變得極為勤奮，校長還曾把搶菜吃的學生集中在一桌；自己陪著他們吃，結果不但不搶了，菜反而會有剩呢！午休那裏有吵鬧聲，校長便去陪著午休，學生自然安靜了，那班任課老師公差或請假沒來，校長便去上課或講些做人做事的道理，反正那裡有問題便走向那裏，不用罵也不用打，總要使學生不空過時間，不胡鬧頑皮才算數，漸漸地學生更懂事了，校長卻因少於休息而更見消瘦！

由於學校窮，經費少，校長不僅對公費絕不浪費，涓滴歸公，對於公物更是時時提醒大家注意愛惜，不但要求大家隨手關水，隨手關燈，更帶著學生釘門窗修桌椅，記得為使住校生能睡得舒適些，特向別的學校要了若干廢棄不用的木床，從西部老遠的地方運來，不請一工一匠，仍是自己獨自帶著學生洗刷、拼湊、裝釘，足足費時半月才告完工，一天有位家長因事來校，於知悉當初以為校工模樣的修床人就是校長時，真是深表意外，感動得說不出話來！

校長對公款誠然愛護，而對自己的錢卻毫不在乎，一見窮學生缺少了什麼，自掏腰包替他買，家庭訪問，一見貧戶，一百兩百的往外拿，一次，校長替一位窮學生代付了一個月坐車的月票錢，到時不知情的家長，竟跑來學校指摘，為何還不替他孩子買月票？害他已多花了好多冤枉錢為孩子買來回票，經人說明是校長好心代付的，不是學校應付的，那位家長還頗不以為然的才離去呢！校長不在乎自己的錢，又不會攫取任何額外的錢，若干不法商人，每要向校長作某些表示時，校長便說，只求貨真價實，絕對別無所求，來著皆一一婉拒。另有位青年央人示意：只要發聘書，一定意思意思，決不黃牛云云。校長馬上回說：「是我請他來幫忙辦教育，應該我向他意思意思才對…」那人只好知難而退。這樣校長可真為學校省了不少大錢，也自己花了不少小錢，以致校長太太竟不得不去工廠賺取那千兒八百的來維持家用，說來誰相信？

校長非但不愛錢，也不愛名，常是功成不居，把榮譽推到別人頭上，把工作攬來自己身上，就如那年鄉運會，他自己要了個名符其實的總幹事來幹了實際的工作，而把會長的頭銜讓給鄉長，說是應該幫助別人成功才對，這又是何等情懷！

就這樣，一塊荒無的園地，在校長不要名、不要錢，有耐心、有愛心，不斷默默辛勤耕耘下慢慢改觀了，整個校園充滿了歡笑和朝氣！其和樂真有如一個大家庭。一次下課，我正在二樓教室外走廊上，遠眺山景，以去疲乏，不知發自何處的一聲：「校長回來了！」校園中的學生，都紛紛奔向從外歸來的校長，把校長團團圍著，前呼後擁，雀躍之情，恰似子女之迎接父兄歸來！我看了，一身疲勞，頓時全消，精神為之一振！記得曾有位來賓問學生：「你們的校長怎樣？」有位學生不假思索的回答：「校長像爸爸！」試問：這簡單的一聲回答，豈是某些高踞堂皇校舍的校長所可比擬於萬一的？校長常說教育第一學生至上，他自然是做到了，而學生又何嘗不視校長為第一！至上呢？愛人者，人恆愛之，是一點也不錯的！

正當校務蒸蒸日上，師生都沉浸於歡樂中，滿懷美好的希望時，誰知好景不常，一紙令下，校長他調，霎時間大家真有點不知所措，無不難過萬分！但又能奈何？臨別那天，師生齊聚，請校長講話，校長仍一如往日般慢步上台，目光一再掃視每一個他所熟悉的面孔，如在搜尋什麼似地，久久才咽聲的說出：「願我們莫相忘……」便走下台去了，頃刻間，學生都垂下頭，發出低泣，當校長一步一步遠離時，學生突然一擁奔上前去，有如平日校長歸來時般的圍繞著校長，我站在遠處，但見校長原本就瘦削的身軀雖更形消瘦，那捆學生為他扛著的行李亦比兩年前更為破舊，但周遭的學生羣，卻將他越去越遠的身影襯托得漸漸高大而雄偉，在夕陽餘暉中顯得那麼的可敬！難忘！

一首很美的小詩

這是爸爸送給我的一首小詩

－　詩經　凱風　－

凱風自南

吹彼棘心

棘心夭夭

母氏劬勞

爸爸的解釋：

凱風 - 溫和的南風，從南方吹來
棘心 - 棘 有刺的小灌木及大地上的草木種子
夭夭 - 生長的美麗茂盛
母氏 - 母親
劬勞 - 辛苦勞累

從南方吹來的和風，不停地溫和地勞累地吹著大地的種子草木。使那些種子灌木長的美麗茂盛。這溫暖的風，就像母親對子女的辛苦勞累啊！

修心養性

退伍校長 楊仁華

道生於安靜（不躁急冒進）

德生於卑退（謙卑禮讓）

福生於清儉（清廉儉樸）

命生於和暢（溫和舒暢）

祝 福 這 個 世 界 - Bless the world

Bless the world with your love your compassion your truthfulness your goodness your beauty your joy and your already enlightened being 用 你 的 大 愛 你 的 慈 悲 你 的 真 誠 你 的 善 良 你 的 美 麗 你 的 喜 悅 你 的 開 悟 祝 福 這 個 世 界

Christmas letter 2009

Dear Friends and Family,
Inspired by some of our friends like Graham and Dorothea Smallbone and Lyn and Robin Austin who every year send us a wonderful letter full of news, we've decided to send one of our own this year. We hope what it loses in its rather general format that it will gain in the renewed connection and communication with all of you who are close and important to us.

So here's how our year unfolded and some of the things that happened to family and friends. It's been a very musical year once again, of course, so lots of our highlights are musical ones. In January, we went to London to hear a performance of John's Paradise Haunts at the little hall at Schott music publishers. George Ross and Sally Truss were over from Canada and it was great to have the chance to catch up with them. The following night we went to the Royal Festival Hall to hear Ann Sophie Mutter playing the Mendelssohn concerto. Among our February highlights were the recording of John’s new CD – Paths of Song - at the Oak Hall in Rhosygilwen, near Cardigan. It is a CD based around chamber music including the harp and one of the performers is the amazing harpist – Eleanor Turner who is one of the many stars of our year. During the recording, John stayed with Buddug Verona James nearby. Her heartfelt response to the concert at the end of two days recording was really appreciated by John.

John with Eleanor Turner at Rhosygilwen

At the end of the month, we planned to escape the wet Welsh winter. So we flew to Nice, spent a few days there before taking the train along the French/Italian Riviera to Genoa to visit Harriet and Adriano and the Alvigini family. The weather was cold but the hospitality was warm. We saw Harriet and Adriano’s wonderful new house at Poggio up on the mountain. It was very inspiring.

Harriet and Adriano's house-to-be at Poggio

Cinque Terre nr. Genoa – February

March and April past in a blur of creative energy and diligent library work. If you believe that, you believe anything! But even a Christmas newsletter can lack from time to time the creative spark. In May, we had a lovely holiday in Bordeaux, staying at an eco-hotel on the Quay and indulged our favourite pastime of dreaming of a rather longer relocation to France. Dolly roller-skated all along the Quay; John cycled sedately in attendance and we heard one of the concerts of the Bordeaux String Quartet Festival. We met up with the wonderful pianist Ivan Ilic who championed John’s work and he gave us his apartment right in the middle of Bordeaux for the first night of our stay. Vive la France!

In May, Dolly went to London with Taiga, her Tai Chi and Qi Kong teacher, to hear talks by a Tibetan Buddhist nun called Tenzin Palmo who live in a cave for 18 years in India. At the end of May, Alex visited us for a week just prior to his exciting move to pastures new in Canada. We had a great time and an uncharacteristically low-scoring round of golf! His move to British Columbia is a fresh start for him and he sounds excited and much happier for the choice.

While all this was going on, James was living out the experience of being away from home and down and out in Neath. The most valuable and demanding university is the University of life! James’ life changed at the end of June when he flew out to work at the White House Hotel in Herm on the Channel Islands. He flew from Bristol so en route we stayed with Thomas and Jen at their flat – one of several lovely visits to them this year. James got on well on Herm and worked very hard over the summer months.

Meanwhile, Dolly had joined Merched y Wawr (Women of the Dawn) –the Welsh version of the W.I. (Women's' Institute). The fact that she is approximately a generation too young and Chinese into the bargain didn't stop her. She went on the Merched Y Wawr summer trip in June – a total Welsh immersion experience – and followed up with a week-long summer course at Lampeter university where she works. She is fairly fluent in Welsh now and can hold her own in conversation. In July, we went to a lovely party for the Golden Wedding anniversary of Gilly and David Williams in the Vale of Glamorgan. It was a chance to reconnect with old friends particularly from the world of opera. In the last week of

July, John was again resident composer at Musicfest in Aberystwyth. There was a wonderful concert featuring his work including the Septet commissioned by Anthony and Dot Griew in memory of Anthony’s parents. In August, Dolly did a week-long Latin course in the university – her 10th language (approximately!) After that, John and Dolly went to Wiltshire for a mini-break, staying at a pub which was selected as the best pub in Wiltshire and the 5th best pub for the U.K. for 2009. (You can’t win them all!) We worked off the good food by cycling around the Cotswold Water Park and visiting the Westonbirt Arboretum.

Cotswold Water Park – John doesn't like squirrels!

September brought the annual Vale of Glamorgan Festival with many wonderful concerts of contemporary music. It was the 40th Festival though John still denies starting it. A further highlight

at the end of the month was the gathering at Swansea of wonderful artists (old collaborators and new), for the first workshop of his new opera – Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood. Sybil Crouch and Stella Patrick set this all up and their efforts were, well, stellar. Having the Director Keith Turnbull and singer and co-producer Michael Jones to stay at Ty Yfory was a pleasure and privilege. Michael was an impressive cook and helped us to perfect the recipe for Apple Tarte Tatin in a beautiful heart-shaped oven dish which we bought in Bordeaux in May.

Michael's Tarte Tatin – October

Under Milk Wood workshop – John with Keith Turnbull, Michael Jones and Wyn Davies at Ty Yfory

As if this was not enough, the amazing Barbirolli String Quartet came to stay with us later in the month prior to their performance for Lampeter music club. Their performance of quartets by Haydn, Britten and Brahms was a revelation. It introduced Dolly to a whole new genre of classical music repertoire. She is still working hard at the violin and is closing in on Grade 7. Given fresh impetus by the workshop, John was working hard on the opera, often starting at as early as 4 o’clock in the morning. So the dark days of November were very fruitful.

In more than one way . . . We love our garden. It continues to provide us wonderful food and nurture us for all 12 months of the year. While we still dream from time to time of living in France, we also know how benign, if wet, the climate is in Ceredigion and we treasure the magical place in which we live.

It is now December and James has gone to an equally magical place – Churchtown farm on St. Martins in the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall to work on packing fresh flowers to be sent out for Christmas. That seems a suitably bright note on which to end this short letter. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful and joyful New Year.

Lots of love,

Dolly and John ♥ ♥ ♥

亲爱的家人， 你们好！我很高兴又可以在这里和你们说话了。 这是我第二次在我的部落格练习写中文。可惜我的电脑笔记本只会写简体字。 我还没弄清楚怎么输入繁体字。上一封短信是用学校的电脑，可以打繁体。 不过我想你们一定能看懂简体字。 这是我星期天做的威尔斯煎饼。还有John作的面包。我太喜欢作好吃的东西了。尤其John 是大厨。他很会，也很喜欢作菜。我想不久我会变得很胖，如果我们继续作好吃的甜点的话。。。 上个周末，我们採了很多苹果。你看到的这些苹果全是在同一棵树上。很奇妙吧！ 上图是John的朋友Michael作的苹果派。看起来不怎么样，但是你一定要相信我，这个饼实在是太好吃了。我们连续作了好几次。每一次都很成功。更是可以用掉很多苹果的好主意。 好了。也许我在此停笔。希望很快的再写信給你们，好吗？ 祝福你们快乐。 晚安！我去打坐睡觉了。 德秀 p.s.对了，在我的像簿裏 （http://picasaweb.google.com/dollyyang/James?authkey=xhqk6ltANig#），我加了很多James的照片。大部分是舊的照片。 也有是最近的。好， 再见了！