原文
People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to move house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things. As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are full associations with the past, perhaps with relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.
Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste. Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. Collecting small items can easily become a mania. I know someone who always cuts sketches out from newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money. As she is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote; but she is never sufficiently strong-minded to be able to stop the practice. It is a harmless bait, but it litters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.
Collecting as a serous hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy. One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books china, glass, antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition, to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it. There are also other benefits. One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, to compare notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find. So one's circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country. Over the years, one may well become a authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences. In this way self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to take about it. Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.
译文
人们往往会积累财物，有时自己却全然不知。事实上，当他们发现一些有用之物，而自己竟不知早已拥有时，便会惊喜不已。那些从未需要搬家的人，往往成为杂物的不加选择地收集者。他们把那些不需要的东西搁置在抽屉、橱柜和阁楼里多年，总以为总有一天会用得上。随着年事渐高，人们还会出于另外两个原因来积累物品：一是缺乏体力和脑力——这两者对于清理和丢弃物品是必不可少的；二是情感因素。那些长期拥有的物品，充满了与过去相关的联想，或许与已故亲人有关，因此它们渐渐获得了超出实际价值的意义。
有些物品是人们故意在家中收集，以避免浪费。其中，我要举出的例子是绳子和牛皮纸——这些是由节俭的人在打开包裹后留下的，用来省下购买这些必需品的钱。收集小物件很容易变成一种狂热。我认识一个人，她总是从报纸上剪下时装模型的草图，这些衣服是她若有钱就想买的。可她并不富有，因此她能买得起的可能性微乎其微；然而，她从未坚强到能彻底戒掉这个习惯。这是一种无害的嗜好，但它把她的书桌搞得乱七八糟，以至于每次打开抽屉，散落的纸片便四处纷飞。
作为一种严肃的爱好，收藏则大不相同，而且有许多益处。它为闲暇时光提供放松的乐趣，因为光是观赏自己的珍藏就令人愉快。人们不必出门寻欢作乐，因为收藏品就收藏在家。不论收藏的是邮票、唱片、书籍初版、中国瓷器、玻璃、古董家具、图片、模型汽车、填充鸟类还是玩具动物，总有事情可做——从为最新藏品找个合适的位置，到查阅参考书核实事实。这项爱好不仅使人精通所选主题，还能涉及与之相关的各种常识。此外，还有其他好处：人们希望结识志趣相投的收藏者，获取建议、交流心得、交换物品、炫耀新发现。这样一来，朋友圈子便渐渐扩大。不久，这项爱好便会引人踏上旅程，或许是去另一个城镇参加会议，或者出国搜寻珍稀标本——因为收藏者并不局限于一国。年复一年，你很可能成为该爱好的权威人物，并很可能受邀在小型聚会上做即兴演讲，如果成功的话，便能面对更大的听众。通过这个过程，自信心会逐步增强，先是从掌握一门学问开始，然后是能侃侃而谈。收藏藉由如此积极地占用空闲时光，使人感到满足，再无百无聊赖之感。