In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before. 

　　Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince1 his son Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. 

　　Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and headiness2 of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. 

　　The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tregic3 accident on the site4 took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with certain account of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move. 

　　"We told them so." 

　　"Crazy men and their crazy dreams." 

　　"It's foolish to chase wild visions." 

　　Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scraped5 since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged and still had burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. 

　　He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm6 to some of his friends, but they were too daunted7 by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the top of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. 

　　He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again. 

　　For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute8 of one's indomitable9 spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 years patiently decoded10 the message of her husband and told the engineers what to do. 

　　Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. 

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　英语美文单词注释 

　　①convince vt.说服,劝说 

　　②headiness n.顽固 

　　③tragic adj.悲惨的,悲剧似的 

　　④on the site 现场 

　　⑤scrape vi.刮掉,擦掉 

　　⑥enthusiasm n.热情 

　　⑦daunt vt.气馁,使胆怯 

　　⑧tribute n.表示尊敬或赞美的言辞或行为;殷勤 

　　⑨indomitable adj.不屈服的,不屈不挠的 

　　⑩decode vt.解码,译码