兒童小故事:老人與死神

 　　The old man and Death

　　老人與死神

　　An old man was gathering sticks in a forest.

　　有個老人在森林中砍了不少柴，十分吃力地挑著走了很遠的路。

　　At last he grew very tired and hopeless. He threw down all the sticks and cried out, "I cannot bear this life any longer. Ah, I wish Death would come and take me!"

　　一路上他累極了，實在挑不動了，便扔下柴擔，叫喊起來：“這種日子我受不了了，死神啊，帶我走吧。”

　　As he spoke, Death appeared, and said to him, "What would you do, old man? I heard you call me."

　　這時，死神來了，對他說：“老頭，你想做什么，我聽見你叫我?”

　　"Please, sir," replied the old man, "would you help me lift this bundle of sticks up to my shoulder?"

　　“先生，”老人說，“您能幫忙將那擔子放在我的肩上嗎?”