书城英文图书不畏将来,不念过往
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第24章 Feather in the Wind覆水难收

晚安心语

Good or bad,we all accept it,and then quietly,to continue to live.

好的坏的我们都收下吧,然后一声不响,继续生活。

A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years.She regretted immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back.What she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused.In an effort to undo what she had done,she went to an older,wise woman in the village,explained her situation,and asked for advice.

Listening to her,the older woman sensed the younger woman's distress and knew she must help her.She also knew she could never alleviate the pain,but she could teach.She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger woman.She said,“Tonight,take your best feather pillows and put single feather on the doorstep of each house in the town before the sun rises.”

The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore,even though the feather pillows were very dear to her.All night long,she labored alone in the cold.Finally the sky was getting light,she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house.Just as the sun rose,she returned to the older woman.

“Now,”said the wise woman,“go back and refill your pillows with the feather you have put on the steps.Then everything will be as it was before.”

“You know that's impossible!The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps!”the young woman was surprised.

“That's true,”said the older woman.

“Never forget.Each of your words is like a feather in the wind.Once spoken,no amount of effort,regardless how heartfelt or sincere,can never return them to your mouth.Choose your words well and guard them for those you love.”

一天,一位善良的女人说了一些话伤害了她最好的、有多年交情的朋友;话一说出口她立刻就后悔了,她愿意做任何事来挽回她的话。她的话伤害朋友如此之深,以至于这个善良的女人为给朋友造成痛苦而伤心不已。为了努力消除自己所造成的伤害,她拜访村里一位睿智的老妇人,介绍她的现状,请教解决办法。

听着年轻女子的述说,老妇人感受到她的忧伤,并且意识到自己必须得帮助她。老妇人知道她不可能减轻年轻女子的伤痛,但她可以让年轻女子从中吸取教训。她明白事情的结果只能取决于年轻女子的性格。她说:“今晚,带上你最好的羽毛枕头,在太阳升起之前,在本镇每家的门阶上放一根羽毛。”

年轻女子匆匆回家准备这事,尽管这些枕头是她非常心爱的。一整夜,她独自在严寒中奔波。最后,天放亮时,她终于将最后一根羽毛放在最后一家的台阶上。太阳升起时,她回到老妇人的家。

“现在,”睿智的老妇人说道,“回去再用你放在每家台阶上的羽毛把枕头填满,然后,一切事情就像是没有发生过,一如往昔。”

“你知道这是不可能的!我把羽毛一放在台阶上,风就把它们吹跑了!”年轻女子非常惊讶于老妇人的这个建议。

“没错。”老妇人说道,“你要永远记住,你的每句话就像是风中的羽毛,覆水难收。一旦话已说出,不论你多么努力,不论你的愿望是如何真心、如何诚意,这些话就都不可收回。为了你所爱的人,适当选择并当心你的话。”

轻英语

常吃的蔬菜

lettuce莴苣

carrot胡萝卜

spinach菠菜

eggplant茄子

bean sprout豆芽

green pepper青椒

celery芹菜

radish萝卜

pumpkin西葫芦

garlic蒜

asparagus芦笋

cauliflower菜花

cabbage甘蓝(洋白菜、卷心菜)

needle mushroom金针菇

soybean sprout黄豆芽

pumpkin南瓜