貧富的差異

思年

One day， an old beggar went to the village. He knocked at the door of a rich man to beg for food.

This was a big house and at the side was built a granary with a big padlock.

The owner of the house was a miser and he was known for never helping anyone.

The beggar was aware of his reputation but still pleaded. “Will you give me a bit of butter or milk？”

The miser said impatiently， “No！ Go away at once！”

“Perhaps you can sweep out for me a bit of grain or beans.” The hungry beggar continued. The miser said， “There isnt anything in my house！”

The beggar insisted. “How about a little bit of bread？” The miser said， “Go away！ I dont have bread！” Then， the beggar said， “How about some water？ I am thirsty.” The miser answered， “I dont have water.”

The beggar then said sadly to him， “My friend， why are you here？You should go to some kind-hearted folk to beg for food because you are poorer than anybody else.”

一天，一個(gè)老乞丐來(lái)到一個(gè)村子里。他敲開(kāi)了一個(gè)富人家的門(mén)，想向他討點(diǎn)兒吃的。

這是一個(gè)大房子，旁邊有一個(gè)很大的糧倉(cāng)，糧倉(cāng)門(mén)上掛著一把大鐵鎖。

可是，這戶人家的主人是個(gè)出了名的吝嗇鬼，他從來(lái)不肯幫助別人。

乞丐也知道這個(gè)吝嗇鬼的狼藉名聲，但還是乞求他：“您能不能給我一點(diǎn)黃油或牛奶？”

吝嗇鬼不耐煩地說(shuō)：“不行！快給我滾開(kāi)！”

饑餓的乞丐繼續(xù)乞求道：“或許，您能給我找出一把麥子或黃豆?！绷邌莨碚f(shuō)：“家里什么也沒(méi)有！”

乞丐堅(jiān)持著：“那能不能給我一小塊面包？”吝嗇鬼說(shuō)道：“走開(kāi)！我沒(méi)有面包！”乞丐繼續(xù)說(shuō)道：“那給我一口水喝吧，我口渴?！绷邌莨砘卮鸬溃骸拔覜](méi)有水。”

乞丐悲哀地對(duì)他說(shuō)：“我的朋友，那你還待在這里干什么？你應(yīng)該去找一些善良的人討些飯吃，因?yàn)槟惚日l(shuí)都窮！”

【Notes】

①granary [?ɡr?n?ri] n. 谷倉(cāng)，谷物倉(cāng)

②padlock [?p?dl?k] n. 掛鎖

③miser [?ma?z?（r）] n. 守財(cái)奴，吝嗇鬼

④reputation [?repju?te??n] n. 好名聲，名譽(yù)

⑤plead [pli?d] v. 懇求，辯護(hù)

⑥impatiently [?m?pe??ntli] adv. 不耐煩地，急躁地