"Can I see my baby?" asked the happy new mother. The bundle was placed in her arms and when she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she held her breath-the baby had been born without ears. Time, however, proved that the baby's hearing was perfect except his appearance. One day when he rushed home from school and threw himself into his mother's arms,. he cried  out bitterly, "A boy, a big boy ... called me-a f - freak. " She sighed, knowing that his life was to be endless of heartbreaks. He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president but for that. He developed a gift for literature and music. The boy's father had a talk with the family doctor. Could nothing be done? "I believe we could transplant on a pair of outer ears, if they could be donated , " the doctor decided. So the search began for a person who would' make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then,  " You ' re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it' s a secret." said the father. The operation was brilliantly successful. His talents blossomed into genius. School and college became a series of successes. Later he married and entered the diplomatic   service. "But I must know! " he urged his father.   "Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him. " "I do not believe you could," said the father,  "but the agreement was that you are not to know .... not yet. " The years kept the secret, but the day did come ... one of the darkest days that ever pass through a son. He stood with his father over his mother' s casket   . Slowly and tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish - brown hair to let out the secret. The story is mainly about  _  .
how a boy had new ears through an operation what a devoted parent privately did for the child how a disabled boy turned into a useful person why a donator made a sacrifice to a bright boy