讀點好英文:A Young Apple Tree 一棵小蘋果樹

A Young Apple Tree 一棵小蘋果樹

A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple he grew.

One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to take it home and plant it. The farmer was pleased with the gift, but when he got home he did not know where to plant it.

He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his field, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples.If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit.

Finally he planted the tree in his wood where no one could see it. But without sunlight and good soil, the tree soon died.

Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place.“What's the difference?”the farmer said angrily.“If I had planted the tree near the road, strangers would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my fields, my neighbors would have come at night and stolen some of the apples.If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the fruit.”

“Yes，”said the friend，“but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed a good apple tree！”

一個窮困的農夫有一個朋友，朋友因為種了神奇的蘋果樹而遠近聞名。

有一天，農夫的這個朋友送給他一棵小蘋果樹，并讓他帶回家栽起來。農夫很喜歡這個禮物。但當他回到家時，卻不知道該栽在哪里。

把蘋果樹栽在路邊，他擔心陌生人會偷樹上的蘋果；把樹栽在自己的地里，他擔心鄰居夜里就會過來偷蘋果；把樹栽在自己的房子邊，他擔心孩子會摘蘋果。

最后，他把那棵樹栽在了林子里，那里沒人能看見。但是沒有陽光也沒有肥沃的泥土，樹不久就死了。

后來，朋友問農夫為什么把樹栽在那樣貧瘠的地方?！澳怯惺裁床灰粯?？”農夫生氣地說，“如果我把蘋果樹栽在路邊，陌生人就會偷樹上的蘋果；我把樹栽在自己的地里，鄰居夜里會來偷蘋果；我把樹栽在自己的房邊，我自己的孩子就會摘蘋果?！?/p>

“是的，”他的朋友說，“但至少可能有人來分享這些果實。現在你不僅剝奪了每個人的果實，也毀了一棵好蘋果樹！”