第1章 说起来容易，做起来难啊

It is not hard to say things; it is harder to do them

The Candle That Can't Be Lighted

点不亮的蜡烛

A man had a little daughter-an only and much-loved child. He lived for her-she was his life. So when she became ill，he became like a man possessed，moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.

His best efforts，however，proved unavailing and the child died. The father became a bitter recluse，shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a dream.

He was in heaven，witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in a line passing by the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic child carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her，he seized her in his arms，caressed her tenderly，and then asked， “How is it，darling，that your candle alone is unlighted?” “Daddy，they often relight it，but your tears always put it out.”

Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear，and its effects were immediate. From that hour on he was not a recluse，but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears.

一个男人有一个可爱的女儿，那是他唯一的孩子，他深深地爱着她，女儿就是他的全部。因此，当女儿生病时，他像疯了一般竭尽全力想让她恢复健康。

然而，他所有的努力都无济于事，女儿还是死了。这位父亲从此变得痛苦遁世，避开很多朋友，拒绝参加一切能使他恢复平静、回到自我的活动。但在一天夜里，他做了一个梦。

梦里他到了天堂，目睹了小天使们的盛会。小天使们排成一队经过一个白色的大宝座。所有的小天使都身穿白色天使衣，手里拿着一支蜡烛。他注意到有一个小天使的蜡烛没有点亮。随后，他认出那个拿着没有点亮的蜡烛的小天使竟然是自己的女儿。他狂奔过去，一把将女儿抱在怀里，亲切地爱抚着她，然后问道： “宝贝儿，为什么只有你的蜡烛没有点亮呢？” “爸爸，他们经常重新帮我点亮蜡烛，可总是让你的眼泪给熄灭。”

就在这时，他猛地惊醒了过来。这个梦给他上的一课，这一课像水晶般透明，而且有立竿见影的效果。从那时起，他不再消极遁世，而是自由自在，兴高采烈地回到以前的朋友和同事们中间。而宝贝女儿的蜡烛再也没有被他那无用的眼泪熄灭过。

The Gold Chain

金链子

Once upon a time，there was a poor fisherman who always dreamed of becoming rich. He wished to become a millionaire，and so did his wife. He had heard from some old men before，that several ships loaded with diamonds and gold had once sunk in the nearby seashore. Because of this，for a long time he kept searching that whole area for this treasure.

One day，while he was sitting on the boat daydreaming，he suddenly felt that the fishing rod was being weighed down by a heavy object. He excitedly pulled hard at it，and what he saw made him exclaim， “Wow！A big，shiny gold chain！” He pulled hard at the gold chain to get it into the boat，but there seemed to be no end to it. His boat started to get over-loaded and the sea water filled his boat.

However，he had begun dreaming of a big house，a big piece of land and buying horses and cows……He kept pulling in the chain though the boat kept sinking. The boat was finally submerged and he struggled to stay afloat. Unfortunately his feet were entangled in the gold chain and he drowned.

很久以前，有个贫穷的渔夫，他总是梦想着能够发大财，希望自己能够成为百万富翁，他妻子也是如此。他曾听一些年长者说过，以前有几艘载满金银珠宝的船只沉没在附近的海域。因此，长期以来，他一直在这一带的海域里搜寻着金银珠宝。

有一天，正当他坐在船上想入非非时，忽然感到钓线被非常沉重的东西拖住了。他非常兴奋，使劲地往上拉，当鱼线拖出水面时，他不禁大声尖叫起来： “哇！金光闪闪的长金链！” 他拼命地把金链子往船上拖，可是似乎没有尽头。他的小船超载了，海水开始灌进船舱。

然而，他却依旧没完没了地做着黄粱美梦：可以买一幢大房子，置一大片稻田，再买下几头牛、几匹马……尽管小船一直往下沉，他却依然拖着金链。最后，小船终于沉下去了，落入水中的他拼命挣扎想游出水面。不幸的是，他的双脚被金链死死缠住，淹死了。

单词注解

recluse n. 隐居者，遁世者，隐士

angelic a. 天使的；天国的

exclaim v. （由于强烈的情感或痛苦而）呼喊；大声说掩

entangle v. 使缠绕；使陷入

实用句型

……that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self.

拒绝参加一切能使他恢复平静、回到自我的活动。

No longer would his darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears.

宝贝女儿的蜡烛再也没有被他那无用的眼泪熄灭过

His boat started to get over-loaded and the sea water filled his boat.

小船超载了，海水开始灌进船舱。

智慧点津

Don't cry because it is over，smile because it happened.

别为结束了而哭泣，要为曾经发生过而微笑。

Greed can overcome common sense.

贪婪使人失去理智。

The Young Thief and His Mother

小偷和他的母亲

A young man was caught stealing，and sentenced to death three days later.

He wanted to speak with his mother before the execution. Of course this was granted.

When his mother came to him，he said， “I want to tell you something.” He said something but she could not hear. He whispered again，and when she came close to him，she put her ear to his mouth. He nearly bit off her ear. All the bystanders were horrified.

“It is to punish her，” he said. “When I was young I began stealing little things，and brought them home to mother. Instead of punishing me，she laughed and said， ‘It will not be noticed.’ It is because of her that I am here today.”

一个小偷在盗窃时被逮了个正着，因此被判处死刑，三天后执行。

他想在行刑前与他的母亲话别。当然这是允许的。

当他妈妈来到他的面前时，他说： “我要告诉您一件事。” 他说的她根本听不见。她走近了一些，小偷又轻声说了一遍。当她将耳朵贴近他的嘴时，小偷突然咬住母亲的耳朵，差点把耳朵咬了下来。周围的人都惊呆了。

“这是对她的惩罚，” 他说， “我小时候小偷小摸，把偷的东西带回家给她，她不但不惩罚我，反而笑着说 ‘不会被发现的。’ 就是因为她我才落到今天这样的下场。”

The Bad Kangaroo

淘气的袋鼠

There was a small Kangaroo who was bad in school. He put thumbtacks on the teacher's chair. He threw spitballs across the classroom. He set off firecrackers in the lavatory and spread glue on the doorknobs.

“Your behavior is impossible！” said the school principal. “I am going to see your parents. I will tell them what a problem you are！”

The principal went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Kangaroo. He sat down in a living-room chair.

“Ouch！” cried the principal. “There is a thumbtack in this chair！”

“Yes，I know，” said Mr. Kangaroo. “I enjoy putting thumbtacks in chairs.”

At the same time，a spitball hit the principal on his nose.

“Forgive me，” said Mrs. Kangaroo， “But I can never resist throwing those things.”

Suddenly，there was a loud booming sound from the bathroom.

“Keep calm，” said Mr. Kangaroo to the principal. “The firecrackers that we keep in the medicine chest have just exploded. We love the noise.”

The principal rushed for the front door. In an instant he was stuck to the doorknob.

“Pull hard，” said Mrs. Kangaroo. “There are little globs of glue on all of our doorknobs.”

The principal pulled himself free. He dashed out of the house and ran off down the street.

“Such a nice person，” said Mr. Kangaroo. “I wonder why he left so quickly.”

“No doubt he had another appointment，” said Mrs. Kangaroo. “Never mind，supper is ready.”

Mr. and Mrs. Kangaroo and their son enjoyed their evening meal. After the dessert，they all threw spitballs at each other across the dining-room table.

有这么一只小袋鼠，它在学校里非常淘气。它在老师的椅子上放图钉，在教室里扔纸团，在厕所里放鞭炮，还往门把手上抹胶水。

“你的行为真让人无法忍受！” 校长说， “我要去见见你的父母，告诉它们你的问题！”

校长去拜访袋鼠夫妇。它坐在客厅的椅子上。

“哎哟！” 校长叫道， “这把椅子上有个图钉！”

“是的，我知道，” 袋鼠先生说， “我喜欢把图钉放在椅子上。”

就在这时，一个纸团飞过来打在了校长的鼻子上。

“请原谅，” 袋鼠夫人说， “我总是控制不住想扔那些东西。”

突然，浴室里传来一声巨响。

“别紧张，” 袋鼠先生对校长说， “我们放在药箱里的鞭炮爆炸了，我们喜欢这种声音。”

校长冲向前门，刚要开门，手就被粘在了门把手上。

“使劲儿拽，” 袋鼠夫人说， “我们所有的门把手上都有点儿胶水。”

校长挣脱后，冲出屋子，沿着街道跑了。

“它真是个好人，” 袋鼠先生说， “我不明白它为什么这么快就走了。”

“它准是还有个约会，” 袋鼠夫人说， “没关系，吃晚饭吧。”

袋鼠夫妇和儿子津津有味地共进了晚餐。吃完甜点后，它们在饭桌旁互相扔起纸团来。

单词注解

execution v. 依法处决；实施

bystander n. 旁观者，局外人

principal n. 校长

spitball n. 纸团

实用句型

A young man was caught stealing，and sentenced to death three days later.

一个小偷在盗窃时被逮了个正着，因此被判处死刑，三天后执行。

He set off firecrackers in the lavatory and spread glue on the doorknobs.

它在厕所里放鞭炮，还往门把手上抹胶水。

智慧点津

Minor mistakes，if not be corrected，finally result in disastrous consequences.

小错起初不惩治，必将酿成大错。

Like mother，like daughter.

有什么样的父母，就有什么样的孩子。

The North Wind and the Sun

北风和太阳

The north wind and the sun disputed as to which was the most powerful，and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could strip a wayfaring man of his clothes.

The north wind first tried his power and blew with all his might，but the keener his blasts，the closer the traveler wrapped his cloak around him，until at last，resigning all hope of victory，the north wind called upon the sun to see what he could do.

The sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The traveler no sooner felt his genial rays than he took off one garment after another，and at last，fairly overcome with heat，undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.

“I think that proves who is strongest，” said the sun. But the north wind had crept away to hide.

北风和太阳为谁的威力更大而争执不下。后来它们一致同意：谁要是能够让过路人脱下衣服谁就是胜利者。

北风首先一显身手，用全力刮了起来。可是，它刮得越猛烈，过路人的衣服裹得越紧，最后不得不放弃了获胜的念头。于是，北风只好请太阳一试身手。

太阳突然释放出了它全部的热量。过路人感受到了它亲切的光芒，就一件一件地脱衣服，最后终于抵挡不住炎热，脱光衣服，跳到路边的小溪里游泳去了。

“我想，这足以证明谁更强大了吧。” 太阳说。此时，北风早已悄悄溜走，藏了起来。

The Soldier and His Horse

士兵和他的马

During the wars，a soldier looked after his horse with the greatest care. He gave it the best oats to eat and the clearest water to drink. He rubbed it down when it got wet and covered it with a warm blanket on cold winter nights. As a result，the horse was strong and swift and carried its master safely out of the dangers of war.

When peace came，however，the soldier changed. He put the horse out in a field full of thistles and gave it only a little mouldy hay to eat. The stable was a broken-down hut with a leaking roof and a floor made of mud; the only water was in a ditch under the hedge. During the day the soldier made the horse work hard on his farm，carrying loads of wood and pulling heavy wagons.

After some time war broke out again. The soldier took out his heavy breastplate and boots，strapped on his pistols and helmet，and went to the field to catch his horse. hastily brushing the thistles from its coat，he laid the leather saddle on its back，pulled the bridle over its mangy ears and heaved himself up.

For a moment the horse stood motionless. Then gradually its thin legs began to bend and it sank slowly to the ground. The horse gave the soldier a look of reproach.

“Master，” it said， “you'll have to fight on foot this time. You have made me work like a mule and fed me like a goat. I cannot change back into a horse in an instant just because you want me to.”

战争期间，有个士兵对他的马悉心照料。给它吃最好的燕麦，喝最干净的水。马身上湿了，他就给它擦干；在寒冷的冬夜，他给它盖上温暖的毯子。因此，这匹马很健壮，跑得很快，驮着它的主人屡屡安全脱险。

战争结束了，士兵也变了。他把马拉到长满蓟的野地里，只给它一点儿发霉的干草吃。给它住的马厩是间破旧不堪的茅草屋，屋顶是漏的，地面是泥土地；喝的水也只是树篱旁小水沟里的水。白天，士兵让马在农场里干重活，不是驮木头，就是拉大车。

过了一段时间，战争又爆发了。士兵拿出沉重的胸铠和靴子，带上手枪和头盔，去野地里牵回他的战马。他匆匆地刷了刷马身上的蓟，放上皮马鞍，往长癣的马耳朵上套上笼头，翻身上了马背。

马一动不动地站了一会儿。随后，它干瘦的腿越来越弯，慢慢地倒在了地上。马用责备的目光看了士兵一眼。

“主人，” 马说， “这回，您得徒步去打仗了。您让我像骡子那样干活儿，却像喂山羊那样喂我。我不可能如你所期望的那样，瞬间变为一匹战马的。”

单词注解

dispute n. 辩论；争论

resign n. 辞职，放弃

genial adj. 和蔼的，友好的

undress vi. 脱衣服

mouldy a. 发霉的，破旧的

helmet n. 头盔

实用句型

The north wind first tried his power and blew with all his might，but the keener his blasts，the closer the traveler wrapped his cloak around him……

北风首先一显身手，用全力刮了起来。可是，它刮得越猛烈，过路人的衣服裹得越紧。

As a result，the horse was strong and swift and carried its master safely out of the dangers of war.

因此，这匹马很健壮，跑得很快，驮着它的主人屡屡安全脱险。

After some time war broke out again.

过了一段时间，战争又爆发了。

智慧点津

Kindness and gentleness are often more effective than force.

仁慈和温和常常比武力更有效。

Start well and end well.

善始善终。

The Big Oven

大火炉

Once upon a time a man had a big house，and in the house there was a big oven; but this man's family was small-only himself and his wife.

When winter came，the man tried to keep his oven going all day，so that the entire stock of his firewood was consumed in a month. Now，with nothing to feed the fire，it was cold in the house.

Then the man began to break up his fences，and use the boards for fuel. When he had burnt up all of his fences，the house，now without any protection against the wind，was colder than ever，and still they had no firewood.

Then the man began to tear down the ceiling of his house，and burn that in the oven. A neighbour noticed that he was tearing down his ceiling，and said to him: “Why，neighbour，have you lost your mind，pulling down your ceiling in winter? You and your wife will freeze to death！”

But the man said: “No，brother，you see I am pulling down my ceiling so as to have something to heat my oven with. We have such a curious one; the more I heat it up，the colder we are！”

The neighbour laughed，and said: “Well，then，after you have burnt up your ceiling，then you will be tearing down your house. You won't have anywhere to live; only the oven will be left，and even that will be cold！”

“Well，that is my misfortune，” said the man “All my neighbours have enough firewood for all winter; but I have already burnt up my fences and the ceiling of my house，and have nothing left.”

The neighbour replied: “All you need is to have your oven rebuilt.”

But the man said: “I know well that you are jealous of my house and my oven because they are larger than yours，and so you advise me to rebuild it.”

So he turned a deaf ear to his neighbour's advice，and burnt up his ceiling，then his whole house，and in the end had to go and live with strangers.

从前，有个人拥有一幢大房子，里面有个大火炉，可他家人口少--只有他和妻子。

冬天来了，他想尽办法不让火炉熄灭，一个月就把所有的柴禾烧光了。现在，没什么可以烧的了，屋子里冷得要命。

然后，他开始拆篱笆，把木板拿来当柴烧。烧掉了篱笆，房子没有了挡风的屏障，比以前更冷了，可他们还是没有柴烧。

接下来，他开始拆屋里的天花板，放进炉子里烧。一个邻居看到他拆天花板后，对他说： “哎呀，邻居，你疯了吗？大冬天拆天花板，你和你妻子会被冻死的。”

可是，他却说： “不，老兄，我拆天花板是为了烧炉子。我们的炉子真是怪，越烧越冷。”

邻居笑着说： “哦，你烧完天花板就会拆房子了。那时你就没地方住了，只剩下那个火炉，可连它也是冰冷的。”

“哎，这是我的不幸啊，” 他说， “所有的邻居都有足够的柴禾过冬，而我已经烧掉了篱笆和天花板，什么也不剩了。”

邻居回答道： “你只要重砌个炉子就行了。”

可是，他说： “我很清楚，你是嫉妒我的房子和炉子，因为比你家的大，所以你劝我重砌个炉子。”

结果，他把邻居的劝告当作耳旁风，烧掉天花板后，又把房子也给烧掉了。最后，他不得不和陌生人住在一起。

The Sapling

小树

Tom with his axe was stepping through the wood，a sapling called to him，and stopped him on his way， “Do clear away those trees，kind friend，I wish you would！They will not let me have free play，on me the sunlight cannot fall. To spread my roots，I find no room at all，no whisper of the wind about me plays，and they twine above my head a veritable maze. I tell you，but for them，if I could only start，you'd find me in a year the pride of all this part. The dell to right and left my friendly shade should cover，but as it is，you see！I 'm brushwood-little over.”

Then Tom，he swung his axe apace，his kindness did not waver，and to do a friend this favour，and round the little tree he cleared a tidy space.

Poor Sapling！Not for long his triumph lasted，the heat came first，his sap to drain，and then he was lashed with hail and rain，and last a dreadful storm，which left him quite dismasted！

“Oh foolish one，” heard by a serpent， “it was you that brought about your fall. If longer in the wood's kind shelter you'd been reared，then neither heat nor wind your calm could so importune: you had the elder trees for guardians of your fortune，and if there came a time when all had disappeared，because their day was past and gone. In turn you might have reached such height，as years went on，and so much health and strength have gathered. That all this harm would never have been done，and fiercer storms than this you might have safely weathered.”

汤姆带着斧子穿过树林时，一棵小树叫他，他就停下了脚步。 “好心人，帮我砍掉那些树吧，我希望你能帮我这个忙！它们让我无法自由地玩耍，阳光照不到我的身上，我的根也无法延伸。我完全没有空间了，四周密不透风，它们在我头顶结成了天罗地网。我告诉你，要不是它们，一年之内，你会发现我才是这里的骄傲，我的枝叶将会遮蔽山谷的左右两旁。然而，你看，现在我只是小灌木。”

于是，汤姆挥动他的斧子。为帮助朋友，他义不容辞！在小树的周围开辟出了一片干净的地方。

可怜的小树！好景不长，先是酷热降临，吸走了它的树液。接着又遭受了暴雨和冰雹的袭击，最后一场致命的风暴把它的枝叶都打折了！

“傻瓜！” 它听到附近的一条蛇说道： “你是自作自受！如果你在养育你的老树怀抱里待更长的时间，无论炎炎烈日还是狂风大作，你都可以在老树的庇护下安然度日。如果有一天那些老树都离开了这个世界，随着时间的流逝，你也长到它们那样的高度了。你也变得像它们那样强壮有力，那样即使比这更大的风暴，你也可以挺过去，而不会是今天这样的结果。”

单词注解

fuel n. 燃料；养料

misfortune n. 不幸，灾难

jealous a. 妒羡的；羡慕的

veritable a. 名副其实的；真正的

triumph n. 胜利，成功

dismast v. (使) 折断；折断桅杆

实用句型

So he turned a deaf ear to his neighbour's advice……

结果，他把邻居的劝告当作耳旁风。

Do clear away those trees，kind friend，I wish you would！

好心人，帮我砍掉那些树吧，我希望你能帮我这个忙！

智慧点津

On pursuing the unpractical things，you will gain nothing in vain.

一味地追求不切实际的东西，到头来只能是竹篮打水一场空。

In journey of life，everyone requires self-development，self-reliance，as well as the caress，concern and help of others. We can not be successful without the combination of the internal and external of the agent.

在生命的旅途中，每个人都要自强、自立，但也需要他人的爱抚、关心和帮助。只有内因和外因相结合，才能到达成功的彼岸。

An Insignificant Act of Kindness