精彩英语故事14

PAGE精彩英语故事14TheSwallow’sWords燕子的忠告IthappenedthatacountrymanwassowingsomehempseedsinafieldwhereaSwallowandsomeotherBirdswerehoppingaboutpickinguptheirfood.“Bewareofthatman,”saidtheSwallow.“Why,whatishedoing?”saidtheothers.“Thosearehempseedsheissowing;becarefultopickupeveryoneoftheseeds,orelseyouwillrepentit.”TheBirdspaidnoheedtotheSwallow’swords.Byandbythehempgrewupandwasmadeintocord,andofthecordsnetsweremade,andmanyaBirdthathaddespisedtheSwallow’sadvicewascaughtinnetsmadeoutofthatveryhemp.一个庄稼人正在地里播种大麻的种子。一只燕子和一些其他的鸟儿正在那里寻找食物。“小心那个男人。”燕子说。“为什么？他在干什么？”其他鸟问。“他正在播种大麻的种子，一定要仔细地把每一粒都拣出来，否则你们会后悔的。”鸟儿们都没在意燕子的话。大麻渐渐长大了，后来被搓成了绳子，绳子又被结成了网。许多对燕子的劝告满不在乎的鸟儿正是被这用大麻编成的网捉住的。智慧箴言：最有价值的建议往往不易被人重视。我们要善于接纳别人善意的劝告，不然等到灾难来临再后悔，那就为时晚矣。IfYouLoveHerEnough只要你爱得够深MyfriendJohnalwayshassomethingtotellme.Heknowssomuchthatyoungmenhavetohaveolderandmoreworldlywisementotellthem.Forinstancewhototrust,howtocareforothers,andhowtolivelifetothefullest.Recently,JohnlosthiswifeJanet.Foreightyearsshefoughtagainstcancer,butintheendhersicknesshadthelastword.我的一个朋友约翰总是有很多话和我说。他深知年轻人需要年长的、有见识的人来教会他们一些事情，诸如应该相信谁，怎样关心别人，以及怎样让自己的生命尽其所能。最近，约翰的妻子珍妮特去世了。八年来，珍妮特一直与癌症抗争，但是最后去还是无法从病魔的手中逃出。OnedayJohntookoutafoldedpieceofpaperfromhiswallet.Hehadfoundit,sohetoldme,whenhetidiedupsomedrawersathome.ItwasasmallloveletterJanethadwritten.Thenotecouldlooklikeaschoolgirl'sscrawlsaboutherdreamguy.AllthatwasmissingwasadrawingofaheartwiththenamesJohnandJanetwritteninit.Butthesmallletterwaswrittenbyawomanwhohadhadsevenchildren;awomanwhofoughtforherlifeandwhoprobablyonlyhadafewmonthslefttolive.有一天，约翰从他的钱包拿出一张折叠着的纸。他告诉我，这是他在家里清理抽屉的时候无意找到的。这是一份珍妮特的小情书，我们会以为它可能不过是学生妹对自己的白马王子的胡言乱语罢了。但是这份小情书里面却尽是约翰和珍妮特之间款款深情的见证，这是一个有七个孩子的女人写的，她与病魔奋力抗争，即使她知道自己可能只有几个月的时间了。Itwasalsoabeautifulrecipeforhowtokeepamarriagetogether.Janet'sdescriptionofherhusbandbeginsthus:"Lovedme.Tookcareofme.Worriedaboutme."这也是对于如何维系婚姻的最好解答。珍妮特对于自己丈夫的描述是这样开始的：“始终深爱我，不辞辛劳地照顾我，无论何时都关心我。”EventhoughJohnalwayshadareadyanswer,heneverjokedaboutcancerapparently.SometimeshecamehomeintheeveningtofindJanetinthemiddleofoneofthosedepressionscancerpatientssooftenget.Innotimehegotherintothecaranddrovehertoherfavouriterestaurant.即使约翰的心中一直都对珍妮特的病情清楚，但他从来不拿癌症的事情开玩笑。有的时候他晚上回到家，发现珍妮特再一次处在癌症带来的沮丧之中的时候，他每次都会送她上车，然后去她最爱的饭馆好好开心一下。Heshowedconsiderationforher,andsheknewit.Youcannothidesomethingforsomeonewhoknowsbetter."HelpedmewhenIwasill,"thenextlinereads.PerhapsJanetwrotethiswhilethecancerwasinoneofthehorribleandwonderfullulls.Whereeverythingis--almost--asitusedtobe,beforethesicknessbrokeout,andwhereitdoesn'thurttohopethateverythingisover,maybeforever."Forgavemealot.""Stoodbymyside."他关心她，而珍妮特或许比约翰更深知这份关心。这就是所谓的你不可能把一些感情藏起来，因为对方比你更了解你。“在我需要的时候一直关心着我。”接下来的一句这样写到。或许珍妮特是在癌症有所缓解的时候写下这些文字的。癌症还没有被发现的时候，两人的生活日复一日，都以为日子会这样继续，如果可以甚至希望永远。“对我总是很包容。”“始终在我身边陪伴。”Andapieceofgoodadviceforeveryonewholooksongivingconstructivecriticismasakindofsacredduty:"Alwayspraising.""MadesureIhadeverythingIneeded,"shegoesontowrite.Afterthatshehasturnedoverthepaperandadded:"Warmth.Humour.Kindness.Thoughtfulness."Andthenshewritesaboutthehusbandshehaslivedwithandlovedthemostofherlife:"AlwaysthereformewhenIneededyou."Thelastwordsshewrotesumupalltheothers.Icanseeherformewheresheaddsthoughtfully:"Goodfriend."接下来一句对于那些喜欢给对方一些建设性批评的人很有借鉴作用，他们以为批评是一种神圣的责任，其实不然：“总是会夸奖我。”“总是可以让我得到我想要的。”她紧接着写到。这句之后她翻过纸在背面补充到：“热情、幽默、善良、体贴。”而她最爱这个和她生活的丈夫的一点是：“他总是会在你需要的时候出现。”IstandbesideJohnnow,andcannotevenpretendtoknowhowitfeelstolosesomeonewhoisasclosetomeasJanetwastohim.Ineedtohearwhathehastosaymuchmorethanheneedstotalk."John,"Iask."Howdoyousticktogetherwithsomeonethrough38years--nottomentionthesickness?HowdoIknowifIcanbeartostandbymywife'ssideifshebecomessickoneday?""Youcan,"hesaysquietly."Ifyouloveherenough,youcan."我站在约翰的身边，我不能装作我知道失去至爱的感受，就像约翰失去珍妮特一样。我想听一听他真正想说的是什么，而不是那些他不得不说的套话。我说：“约翰，即使不说癌症的那些日子，你怎么可以和一个人生活38年毫无厌倦呢？如果有一天我的妻子也得病，我怎么知道自己能不能一直守候在她的身边呢？”他平静地说：“你一定可以，只要你爱得够深。”和阻碍你发展的人做最后的告别TherewasabigcompanylocatedinSt.Louis,Missouri.Oneday,afte在密苏里州圣路易斯市，有一家大型公司。一天，员工们外出吃完午餐回来，看见公司门口贴着一张告示，上面写着：“昨日，本公司一位长久以来阻碍你们晋升的人去世了。我们谨邀请各位参加正在体育馆里举行的悼念活动，向他做最后的告别。”Allthestaffwerestandinginline,sayinggoodbyetothedeceasedonebyone.However,whentheyapproachedthecoffinandlookinginside,theyfoundnothinginsidebutacrystalmirror.Everyonewholookedinsidecouldonlyseehisorherface.Lookingcarefully,youcouldalsoseeapieceofpaperattachednexttothemirrorsaying:theonlyonewhocanrestrainyourdevelopmentisyourself!员工们排着长队，一个接一个上前向死者做“最后的告别”。可是，当他们向棺材里张望时，却惊讶地发现棺材里空荡荡的，只有一面明晃晃的镜子。每个朝里面张望的人，都只看到自己的脸。仔细一看，镜子旁边还有一张小纸条，上面写着：“只有一个人能限制你的发展，那就是你自己！”Youaretheonlyonewhocanchangeyourlife.Youarealsotheonlyonewhocandetermineyourhappiness,dreamsandachievementsandwhocanhelpyourself.Yourbossmaychange,yourfriendsmaychange,yourpartnersmanychangeandyourcompanymaychange.Butyourlifewillnotbechangedduetoallthese.Onlywhenyouchangeyourself,breakthelimitofyourthinkingpatternandbraveyourresponsibilitiescanyouchangeyourlifeforbetter!你是唯一能改变自己生活的人，你也是唯一能决定自己的幸福、梦想和成就的人，你还是唯一能帮助自己的人。你的老板变了，朋友变了，搭档变了，公司变了，你的生活仍然不会起变化。只有当你自己变了，只有当你跳出自己思维的局限，勇于担当起生活的重任时，你的生活才会有起色。你是独一无二的你IwillneverforgetthelessenwhichMr.Ligaveus.OnedayMr.Liwasspeakingtousinourschoolmeetingroom.Hebeganhisspeechbyholdingupa￥100bill.Heasked,"Whowouldlikethis￥100bill?"Mostofusputupourhandsquickly.Thenhesaid,"Iamgoingtogivethis￥100tooneofyou,butfirstletmedothis."Hethenmadethebillintoaballandsaid;"Whowantsitnow?"Weraisedourhandsagain.Buthesaid,“Waitamoment.”HethendroppeditOnthefloorandsteppedonit.Afterthat,hepickedupthedirtybillandsaid,“Whostillwantsit?”Manyhandswerestillup."Myfriends,"hesaid,"youhavelearnedavaluablelessontoday.NomatterwhatIdidtothemoney,youstillwanteditbecauseitdidnotgodowninvalue.Itwasstillworth￥10O."Wealwayslosemanychanceswetakeinourlives."Hewentonspeaking,"Wefeelasifweareworthnothing.Butremember,nomatterwhathashappenedtoyou,youwillneverloseyourvalue:youarealwaysvaluabletothosepeoplewholove.you,.Yourvaluedoesn'tcomefromwhatyoudoorwhoyouknow,butWHOYOUARE.""Youarespecialandvaluable.Don'teverforgetit!"。我难以忘怀李老师给我们上的那一课。有一天天，他在学校的会议室给我们做了一次演讲。他手持一百美元，开始了他的讲话。“谁想要这100美元？”他问道。绝大部分的学生迅速举手。接下来，他说：“我会把这一百美元给你们之中的一个人，但是，我先得做点什么。”他将这张钞票揉成一团（这里个人觉得应该这样翻译比较准确）后说道：“现在，谁还要这100美元？”学生再一次举起手来。但是，他又说：“请稍等片刻。”他将钞票扔到地上用脚踩它，之后，他拾起这张脏了的钞票问道：“谁还要它？”很多人依然举手。“我的孩子们”，他说道，“今天，你们得到了宝贵的一课。不管我怎么对待这张钞票，你们依然想要得到它，这是因为我并没有贬低它的价值。它仍然是一张价值一百元的钞票。”“我们总是与生命中许多机会失之交臂。”他接着说道，“我们觉得自己没有价值，但是，要牢记，无论发生什么，我们的价值仍然存在，对于爱着你的人们来说，你有很大的价值，你的价值并不来源于你的出身还有你的作为，仅仅来源与你自身。”“别忘了，你是珍贵而特殊的存在。”寓意：正如世界上没有两片相同的叶子，我们每个人都是独一无二的。相信自己，命运就掌握在我们的手中。一个发生在越南的感人的友情故事Backintheolddaystherewerethreeboys,Tung,Truc,andMai.EachoftheboyswasfromadifferentregioninVietnamandbychancetheywerebroughttogethertostudyunderthesameteacher.Theonlythingtheyoungmenhadincommonwashowpooreachofthemwas.Theirfamiliesweredirtpoorbuttheparentsweredeterminedfortheirsonstohaveaneducation.Forthatveryreason,allofthemburiedthemselvesintheirbookssotheirfamily'seffortwouldnotgotowaste.Somehowtheybecamefriends.Whentheybecamefriends,theboyssworetogetherthatlateroninlifeifoneofthethreebecamesuccessful,hewouldnotforgettheothersandtheirtimeinpoverty.Hewouldalsopromisetoaidtheotherfriendsoutofthelowerclass.Afterawhile,duetofamilycircumstancesallthreeboyshadtoquitschool;theywenttheirseparateways.Tungwasthefirstfortunateonetohavehisluckturnaround.Withabrightmindandperseverance,Tungwasverydeterminedtopursuehisstudies.TungbecameaservantforanelderlymannamedNgheinordertocontinuehisstudies.TheoldmanrecognizedTung'spotentialanddeterminationandsupportedhimlikeason.Forthenextfewyears,TungstudiedandhewasfinallyabletoobtainTienSi(apersonwhopassedallthreeexaminationsheldbythegovernment).WiththeTienSi,Tungbecameanofficerinthecapitalcity.Fromthatpoint,Tung'slifepickedupitspace,itsspeedturnedintoawhirlwindthatnoonecouldcatchupwith.Eventhoughhenowlivedinluxury,Tungstillrememberedhisbookfriendsfrombefore.Oneday,Tungdecidedtofindhisfriendssohetookaleaveofabsence.OnTung'sjourneytofindhisfriends,hedressedasacommonerinordertoavoiddisturbancesandbeinghassledbytheguardsoldiersaroundhim.ItdidnottakehimalongtimetofindTruc'shouse,oneofhistwobestfriendsbackintheolddays.曾有三个叫东（Tung），特吕克（Truc）和麦(Mai)的男孩。他们来自不同的地区，但命运安排他们师从于同一老师。他们唯一共同点是他们都很穷。他们家徒四壁，但父母却下定了送儿子上学的决心。为了对得起家里的牺牲和付出，为了家人的希望不付诸东流，他们都埋头苦读。不知怎的，他们成了朋友。而后，男孩们一起发誓说以后如果他们中的其中任何一个若是功成名就，肯定不会忘记其他两个伙伴和曾经受穷的岁月，并承诺帮助以后如还处于下层阶级的朋友。不久之后，由于家庭原因，三个孩子不得不辍学，他们分道扬镳了。好运最先降到了东身上。聪明伶俐、坚忍不拔的他决定继续完成学业。为了继续深造，东为一个名叫纳喝（Nghe）的老人当仆人。老人看出了东的潜力和决心，像待儿子般的支持他完成学业。经过几年的苦读，东终于成为了“进士”（TienSi）（注：通过了政府组织的三门考试的人）。之后，在首都当官。从此，他飞黄腾达，升官如旋风之势，无人能及。尽管过上了奢华的生活，他还是没忘记曾经的朋友。于是，东决定请假去找他的朋友。为了避免扰民，他决定扮成平民。没多久，他就找到了特吕克的宅邸。Thefirstvisit...Let'sbacktrackabittoTruc'sstoryafterhelefthisfriends.ThedayafterTrucquittedschoolheinheritedalargeamountoflandfromhisgrandparentsonhismother'sside.Throughhardworkandknowinghowtoturnthelandaround,Trucwasabletomakethelandrichintenyearsandbecamewelloff.Eventhoughhewasrich,hedidnotwanttoloseadollar,aquarter,orevenapennytoanyone.Becauseofthis,Truchadforgottenthewordsofpromisebetweenthethreefriendsinthepast."AWHeck!Whywasteyourtimesearching?TheotherpeopledidnotbothertofindyouorI."Withthatthought,Trucfeltverysecurewithallhisactionsandwords.WhenTungfirstsawhowrichhisfriendwas,hewantedtotesthowtruethefeelingsweresohedidnotsayanythingabouthiscurrentlife.TheonlythingthatTungtoldTrucwasthathemissedhisfriendsohewantedtofindandvisithim.JudgingfromTung'sappearance,Trucguessedheonlyhadenoughtoeatandonlycametorekindlethefriendshiptoaskformoney.ThethoughtfloatedwithTrucashepretendedhislifewasstillindifficultyandwentontotellTung."Totellyouthetruth,ifitwerenotbecauseofpastrecentbusinesstripsthenIwouldnotbelosingtoanyone.EarlierIwasconsideringfindingyouintheNorthbutaftersomanybaddroughtscontinuouslyandthentherewasafamine,IhadtomortgagesomeofmyacresanditwasnotuntilrecentlythatIfinishedpayingitoff."Trucwentonandonabouthisso-calledhardshipsinordertozipTung'smouthifhehadanythoughtsaboutaskingformoney.Tocontinuewiththecharadeofhislifeofpoverty,Trucgavehisfriendasmall,simpledinner.Thenextmorningbeforeeveryonewokeup,Trucwenttothecookandaskedhimtomakeafishnetandwormsforhisnextplan.WhileTrucshowedTungaroundtheproperty,theycameuponthecook.Trucyelledatthecook,"Hey!'Danbatkhahatri'(at3donotletthenetdown).Don'tyouremembertheoldsaying?!Whydoyouwanttofishatthishour?Doyouwantmetogobankrupt?"Theservantcaughttheowner'smeaningandquietlyleftthescene.Thatafternoonwhenthechickensreturnedtotheircoop,Truc'swifetoldthehouseservanttopicktheplumpestchickentokill.Beforethechickencouldbekilled,Trucranintothekitchenscreaming,"Ey!At4youshouldnotkillbirds!Evenifyourfriendshouldvisit,youshouldstillnotkill.Itishighlyforbidden."TungwasdonewitnessinghowTruc'slifewasandcontinuedontoMai'shouse,thesecondfriendwholivedthroughhardshipswithTungduringhisschoolyears.Stillinhiscommoner'sclothes,TungarrivedatMai'shouseandjustasbeforeatTruc's,hedidnotmentionedanythingabouthislife.初访让我们把时间往回拉。话说特吕克与好友别离后，他继承了外祖父的大规模的土地。他知道怎样去经营这块土地，通过艰苦的工作，他在十年间迅速致富。虽然有钱，他不想失去一分一厘。所以，他忘记了当初的承诺，过去的誓言。“神啊！何必花时间去找呢？谁知道他们会不会花时间找我呢？”这样一想，特吕克就心安理得了。当东看到他的第一眼，他就看出他的朋友有多富有了。他想考验一下他，看看他内心的最真实的情感。所以，他隐瞒了自己生活。仅仅告诉特吕克他是如此地想他，多么迫切地要造访他而已。打量了一下东的外表，特吕克猜想东的收入只能勉强维持生计，如今来找他只是为了特吕克通过叙旧从他身上榨点钱。心存这个想法，他就假装他仍然生活艰难，并重复告诉东这点。“说实话，如果不是最近出差，我绝不输给任何人。前阶段，我还想去北方找找你，但最近旱灾不断，饥荒太严重了，而且我的按揭最近才付清。”为了让东不开口问他借钱，特吕克喋喋不休的诉说着所谓的困境。同时，为了使东相信自己生活贫困，特吕克只提供了简单的晚餐。次日一起床，特吕克就跑去找厨师，要他做个渔网，并找些蚯蚓——他已想出了下一个鬼主意，并在努力的付诸实践。当特吕克带着东参观他的产业时，他们遇上了厨师。特吕克对厨子嚷道：“你忘了'Danbatkhahatri'（意为3点不撒网。）这句老话了吗？为何要在这个时候捕鱼呢？你想要我破产啊？“仆人知道了主人的意图，悄悄地离开了。日暮西山，小鸡回舍，特吕克的妻子让仆人宰掉最肥的那只鸡，特吕克跑进厨房尖叫道：“嘿!4点不能杀鸡，即使你朋友到访也不行。这是强烈禁止的事。”东目睹了特吕克的生活，打算去拜访麦了。即使在临行前，东也没对特吕克说起自己的生活。Nomoney,noworry...EversinceMaiquitschoolandreturnedhome,hesawhisfamily'ssituationworsen.Heworkedhardtotrytomakeittothetopbutitseemedlikeitwasnothistime.Allhisbusinesstripsendedinfailureandlossesandwhenheswitchedtoteaching,hesuddenlybecamesick.Maihadtoselloffpartsofhislandtopayoffthemedicalbills.Intheendbothhusbandandwifehadtorentsomelandtofarmandhadtoworkonother'slandtobeabletogetby.Eventhoughthecouplehadnothingandfindingamealwashard,theydidn'toncecomplain.MaiwelcomedTungwarmlyintohishousewhenhecametovisit.Heintroducedhisfriendtohiswife,"ThiswasmyclosestfriendwhenIwenttoschoolinthecity.Ifyoucountthedayssincethen,itmusthavebeenleastfifteenyears.Goandfindfoodtoservetoourguest."Tungsawhisfriend'swifelistenedtoherhusbandandthentookthebasketandleftforthemarket.Aroundnoon,hesawthewomancarryingbackabasketfulloffoodbutthistimearoundherheadwasinablackscarfeventhoughitwasnotthewindseason.HedidnotthinkofthismuchatfirstbutsoonafterwhenhewasroamingthehousehesawMaiandhiswifebytherestroomwhispering.Heimmediatelyhidhimselfonthesidesotheywouldnotseehim.Likesomethingjustkickedhimintheface,hewasshockedwalkingintothescene.Mai'swifehadjusttakenoffherscarf;however,thefineblackhaironherheadwasnolongerthere.TunginstantlyquestionedwhathadhappenedtoherhairwhenMaiandhiswifewalkedawayfromtherestroom.Mai'swifeknewthattheycouldnotkeepthesecrethiddenanylonger,shesaid,"ThismorningtherewasnomoneywhenIleftthehouse.IthoughtIcouldgoandborrowsomemoneyfromtheneighborsbuttheyalsodidn'thaveany.However,therewasawigfactoryinneedoflonghair,andsinceIhaveitIsoldit.Itisonlyonceinalifetimeafriendlikeyoucomestovisit.Doyouexpectusonlytolookateachotherthewholetime?Pleasedonotfeelbad.Oncehairhasbeencutitwillgrowagain.Whyworry?"TungwasverytouchedbyMai'swife'swordsandactions.Notamomentsooner,heconfessedtohisfriendabouthislifesincethedaytheywenttheirseparatewaysincludingthevisittoTrucandhowhewastreated.AfterTungwasdonetalking,hetookoutaboxofjewelryandgaveittoMai'swifeandsaid,"Thehair'srootisthebasisofaperson.Itrulyregretnotknowingbeforehandofthesituationsothatyouwouldhavenotsoldyourprecioushair.Nonetheless,withthatactionIdiscoveredwhatkindofpersonyouareandIwanttogiveyouthisasagift.Goaheadandsellthis.Spendithoweveryoulikewhileyouwaitforyourhairtogrowbackandcanfindworkagain."NotlongafterTungreturnedhome,hesentmoneytoMaianddispatchedhimtoNamDinhtolearntheartofdyeingclothes.WhenMaifinishedlearningtheskill,Tunghelpedhimopenupadyeingfactoryinthevillage.Theirbusinessbegantogrowbiggerbythedayandbeforelongitbecamesuccessful.Maitookwhatheknewandtaughtittothepeopleinthevillage.Thedyeingskillbecamethemostsuccessfulbusinessthatanyonehadeverknown.AndwhathappenedtoTruc?ItwasnotuntillateronwhenheheardTunghadbecomeanofficerinthecapitalcitythat