THE LEGEND OF THE FINAL LEAF
Countless artists have chosen to reside in a specific district of New York City. The architecture in this area is predominantly aged, providing affordable accommodations that cater to the needs of financially constrained artists.
Sue was a young woman who dedicated her life to the study of art. One day in May, she encountered another young female artist named Johnsy at a local eatery.
It was during this meeting that they discovered their shared artistic sensibilities, culinary preferences, and fashion tastes. Consequently, they decided to share a living space and collaborate on their creative endeavors. Their bond was as close as that of sisters.
In November, pneumonia（肺炎）infected that very district. Numerous individuals fell ill, and Johnsy was among them. She remained motionless （系表结构，motionless 为形容词）in her bed throughout the day, occasionally gazing through the window at the adjacent building’s exterior.
One morning, the physician spoke to Sue in the hallway when they were unaccompanied. He informed her that Johnsy had a exceedingly slim chance of recovery.
“She will only have a chance if she possesses a strong will to live,” remarked the doctor. “However, she has concluded that she does not wish to survive.”
The doctor addressed Sue, stating, “I will exert every effort within my capabilities. Nevertheless, you must also strive to instill in her a robust determination to live. Engage her in conversations about new winter garments or planned picnics in the countryside next spring. Should she develop an interest in the future, her prospects will improve.”
After the doctor departed, Sue entered Johnsy’s room and commenced creating an artwork using pen and ink.
As Sue was engrossed in her drawing, Johnsy whispered something in a feeble voice. Sue promptly moved to her bedside. Johnsy’s eyes were wide open as she gazed out the window, meticulously counting something.
“Twelve,” she declared. A short while later, she added, “Eleven, … ten, … nine, … eight, … seven.”
Sue glanced outside. There was a wall adorned with an aged vine that had grown halfway up its surface.
“Six,” Johnsy stated after a brief pause. “They are falling at a more rapid pace now. Over the past three days, nearly one hundred have withered. And now, only six remain. There goes another. Just five are left at present.”
“Five what, my dear? Please inform me, Johnsy.”
“Five leaves,” Johnsy replied. “When the final leaf falls, I must depart as well. The physician informed you that I would not survive for much longer, did he?”
“Do not be nonsensical!” Sue exclaimed. “He stated that you would soon begin to recover.”
“There goes another,” Johnsy noted. “I am certain that the last leaf will fall before nightfall. I wish to witness its descent.”
“Johnsy,” Sue pleaded, “close your eyes and rest. I will request Behrman to come up and occupy this space as my model.”
Behrman was an elderly, impoverished artist who had surpassed the age of sixty. He often expressed his aspiration to create a monumental artwork someday. Upon Sue’s arrival at his room, she found him alone, consuming alcohol. She recounted the story of Johnsy and the leaves on the vine.
“What!” the old man exclaimed. “Do people perish simply because leaves fall from a tree? I have never encountered such a foolish notion. Take me to her room at once.”
Johnsy was asleep as they entered. A cold rain was falling, interspersed with snowflakes.
The following morning, Johnsy requested Sue to draw the curtains.
There still lingered a single yellow leaf at the tip of a branch!
“It is the last leaf,” Johnsy declared. “It will wither today, and I shall accompany it.”
As night arrived, rain began to fall once more, accompanied by a fierce wind.
Another day dawned. Sue drew back the curtains. The solitary leaf remained intact! Johnsy gazed at it for an extended period before stating to Sue, “I have been a wayward individual, Sue. Through this leaf, I have come to understand that it is erroneous to resolve to die. Now, I yearn to recover and resume my artistic pursuits.”
The physician visited Johnsy in the afternoon. Sue followed him into the hallway and inquired, “Does Johnsy possess any likelihood of survival?”
“Indeed, she does. She will soon begin to heal with proper care,” the doctor replied. “However, I must attend to another case downstairs. His name is Behrman. He is an artist. Pneumonia as well. He is critically ill. There is minimal hope for him. We are preparing to transport him to the hospital.”
When Sue encountered the doctor the following morning, he informed her, “Your companion is now secure. All she requires is nourishment and attention. You have succeeded!”
In the evening, Sue approached Johnsy’s bedside.
“I have a revelation to share with you,” Sue stated. “Mr. Behrman succumbed to pneumonia in the hospital today. His illness was brief, lasting only two days. Upon entering his room on the first morning, Behrman was discovered lying there with his shoes on. Both his shoes and garments were drenched and as cold as ice. No one could fathom the reason.”
“Oh, wretched Behrman!” Johnsy lamented.
“Observe the window and behold the final leaf upon the wall,” Sue instructed. “Does it not resemble a genuine leaf?”
“A genuine leaf?”
“It is Behrman’s supreme creation. When the final leaf fell that night, he painted it in its place.”
As a prominent figure in American modern short fiction, O. Henry is renowned for his vivid narratives and humorous tone, earning him the title of a foundational figure in contemporary American short stories and one of the three great masters of the genre. His prose is accessible, emotionally resonant, and gripping, with characters that are both vivid and deeply individualized, particularly in the portrayal of the common man, which is profoundly moving.
The theme of “the greatness of the ordinary” is a central motif in the short story “The Last Leaf.” Mr. Behrman, with his quiet love, silently protected the two young women who shared a passion for art. He sacrificed his own life to create a masterpiece that no one had ever envisioned. On the canvas of the wall in the midst of the night, with love as its soul and life as its theme, he painted an enduring leaf amidst the storm, igniting an unextinguishable flame of life for Johnsy. That immortal leaf is not only a symbol of life but also an embodiment of Mr. Behrman’s character. In O. Henry’s hands, these striking figures of the “common man” add a radiance of humanity and noble essence to his stories, perfectly encapsulating the author’s profound admiration for the truth, goodness, and beauty of the lower echelons of society!