My first impression of the mountains was very vivid，because I had been brought up in the plains.So I enjoyed immensely our life in the Carpathian villages，the view of the pikes，the excursions to the valleys and to the high mountain lakes with picturesque names such as："The Eye of the Sea."However，I never lost my attachment to the open horizon and the gentle views of a plain hill country.

Later I had the opportunity to spend a vacation with my father far more south in Podolia，and to have the first view of the sea at Odessa，and afterwards at the Baltic shore.This was a thrilling experience.But it was in France that I become acquainted with the big waves of the ocean and the ever-changing tide.All my life through，the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child.

中學時期很受重視的數學和物理我都學得毫不費力，并且成績很好。每當遇到問題，我便會向父親求教。父親熱愛科學，并且在學校也進行這類課程的教學。他喜歡盡自己所能向我們解說大自然的奧秘和他對科學的研究?？上У氖?，他沒有自己的實驗室，所以無法進行實驗研究。

假期是尤其令人感到欣慰的。我們住到鄉下的親友家中，避開了警探的監視，可以自由自在、無憂無慮地生活。我們在林中奔跑喊叫，還在廣闊的田地間勞作，樂得心花怒放，自在極了。有些時候，我們甚至越過俄國邊境進入加里西亞山中，那兒不是俄國的領土，而是由奧地利人統治。奧地利人要比俄國人好一些。在那里，我們可以盡情地講波蘭語，高聲唱愛國歌曲，而不必擔心被捕入獄。

因為從小生活在平原地區，所以我對山巒的第一印象很好，也非常喜歡住在喀爾巴阡山的小村子里，喜歡那巍峨突兀的山峰，喜歡在山谷里和高山之間那被詩意地稱為“海之眼”的湖泊旁流連忘返。但是，在我心中，對那一望無垠的平原的眷念卻從未消逝，那開闊的視野，那柔和的色調，永遠使我的心靈感到震顫。

后來，父親帶我到更南邊的波多尼亞度假，并且在敖德薩第一次看到了大海，后來又北上到了波羅的海。這次經歷對我來說是美好的。但是，直到去了法國，我才算是真正地領略到了海洋的波濤澎湃和潮汐涌退的壯麗景象。在一生之中，每當看到大自然的新景象，我就總會像個孩子似的歡呼雀躍。

Thus passed the period of our school life.We all had much facility for intellectual work.My brother，Doctor Sklodowski，having finished his medical studies，became later the chief physician in one of the principal Warsaw hospitals.My sisters and I intended to take up teaching as our parents had done.However，my elder sister，when grown up，changed her mind and decided to study medicine.She took the degree of doctor at the Paris University，married Doctor Dluski，a Polish physician，and together they established an important sanatorium in a wonderfully beautiful Carpathian mountain place of Austrian Poland.My second sister，married in Warsaw，Mrs.Szalay，was for many years a teacher in the schools，where she rendered great service.Later she was appointed in one of the lyceums of free Poland.

I was but fifteen when I finished my high-school studies，always having held first rank in my class.The fatigue of growth and study compelled me to take almost a year's rest in the country.I then returned to my father in Warsaw，hoping to teach in the free schools.But family circumstances obliged me to change my decision.My father，now aged and tired，needed rest；his fortune was very modest.So I resolved to accept a position as governess for several children.Thus，when scarcely seventeen，I left my father's house to begin an independent life.

That going away remains one of the most vivid memories of my youth.My he a r t was heavy as I climbed into the railway car.It was to carry me for several hours，away from those I loved.And after the railway journey I must drive for five hours longer.What experience was awaiting me？So I questioned as I sat close to the car window looking out across the wide plains.

我們的學生生涯很快就結束了。那些需要動腦筋的課程我們都可以得心應手，學習起來毫不費力。我的哥哥從醫學院畢業之后，走上了從醫的道路，后來成為華沙一家著名醫院的主任醫師。我和我的姐姐們原打算像父母那樣去當教師。但是后來，隨著年齡的增長，我的大姐改變了主意，決定也去學醫，她在巴黎大學取得醫學博士學位后，嫁給了一位波蘭內科醫生德魯斯基。他們夫婦兩人前往奧屬波蘭喀爾巴阡山區一個風景秀麗的地方創辦了一家大型療養院。我的二姐在華沙嫁給了斯查萊先生，她在學校從事教育工作多年，一直兢兢業業，波蘭獨立后，擔任了一所中學的校長。

上中學的時候，我的成績一直名列前茅，畢業時，才剛剛15歲。由于讀書用功，身體勞累，我不得不在畢業之后到農村生活了將近一年的時間。在那之后，我又回到了華沙，回到了父親的身邊。開始我希望去一所免費中學任教，但因家境不佳，我不得已改變了自己的決定。當時父親已經年邁，心力交瘁，需要休息，但是他的收入卻很微薄。所以，我決定找一份待遇更好的工作來減輕他的壓力。因此，17歲那年，我接受了一份家庭教師的工作，從那時起，我就離開了父親的家，開始了一個人在外地的生活。

離家時的情景我至今歷歷在目，記憶猶新。當上了火車的時候，我的心情十分沉重。我將被火車帶到要行駛幾個小時才能到達的遠方，并且下了火車后，我還需要乘坐馬車再走五個小時的路程。車窗外廣袤的平原飛一樣地向后退去，我的心里卻像是墜了鉛一樣：等待我的將會是什么呢？

The father of the family to which I went was an agriculturist.His oldest daughter was about my age，and although working with me，was my companion rather than my pupil.There were two younger children，a boy and a girl.My relations with my pupils were friendly；after our lessons we went together for daily walks.Loving the country，I did not feel lonesome，and although this particular country was not especially picturesque，I was satisfied with it in all seasons.I took the greatest interest in the agricultural development of the estate where the methods were considered as models for the region.I knew the progressive details of the work，the distribution of crops in the fields；I eagerly followed the growth of the plants，and in the stables of the farm I knew the horses.

In winter the vast plains，covered with snow，were not lacking in charm，and we went for long sleigh rides.Sometimes we could hardly see the road."Look out for the ditch！"I would call to the driver."You are going straight into it，"and "Never fear！"he would answer，as over we went！But these tumbles only added to the gayety of our excursions.

I remember the marvelous snow house we made one winter when the snow was very high in the fields；we could sit in it and look out across the rose-tinted snow plains.We also used to skate on the ice of the river and to watch the weather anxiously，to make sure that the ice was not going to give way，depriving us of our pleasure.

我前去任教的那家的男主人是位農場主。他的大女兒和我年齡相仿，在跟我學習的過程中，漸漸成了我的伙伴。除了她，主人家還有一個男孩和一個女孩。我和他們相處得很好。每天課程結束之后，我們便一起出去散步。因為非常熱愛農村生活，所以在這里我并不覺得寂寞。雖然這里的景色并不算美，但卻四季各異，仍然能夠使我感到歡快和滿足。這個莊園先進的種植技術被公認為是這個地區的典型，對于它，我有著很濃厚的興趣。漸漸地，我懂得了種植技術，并且一直關注著谷物種植后的生長情況。在農莊的馬廄里，我還熟識了馬匹的脾性。

冬季到來的時候，一望無際的大地上白雪皚皚，顯得分外妖嬈。有時候，我們駕著雪橇在雪地上飛馳，竟至連路都看不清楚，嚇得我沖著駕雪橇的人大喊：“小心河溝！”駕雪橇的人卻毫不在意地回答我：“您這是正往河溝沖去，別害怕！”話音剛落，雪橇就翻倒了。不過，在雪野上翻倒不但不可怕，反而還給我們的遠足增添了樂趣。

我記得有一年冬天，大雪紛飛，地面上覆蓋著厚厚的積雪，我們用雪堆成了一座形狀怪異的雪屋，并且坐在里面觀賞遠處被映成玫瑰色的茫茫雪原。我們還經常到封凍的河上去溜冰，這一切都使我們感到欣喜若狂，歡快的同時我們最擔心的就是天氣轉暖，那樣我們的這份快樂就會被奪走。