讀點好英文:The Cracked Water Pot 有裂痕的罐子

The Cracked Water Pot 有裂痕的罐子

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.At the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserabIe that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

“Why?”asked the bearer.“What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts，”the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said，“As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot，“Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

印度有個挑水工，他有兩只大罐子，分別掛在肩上扁擔的兩頭。其中一只罐子上面有一道裂縫，而另一只卻完好無損，總是能裝滿滿的水。經(jīng)過長途跋涉，從小溪到雇主家時，那只有裂縫的罐子里的水就只剩一半了。

就這樣日復一日，兩年過去了，這個挑水工每天挑到雇主家的水僅有一罐半。當然，那個完好的罐子為自己的成就甚感自豪。而那個可憐的有裂縫的罐子卻因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已，為自己只能裝一半水而痛苦不堪。認識到這兩年的痛苦失敗之后，有一天，那個有裂縫的罐子在小溪邊對挑水工說：“我很慚愧，我想向你道歉?！?/p>

“為什么？”挑水工問，“你羞愧什么呢？”

“這兩年，每次我只能讓你挑回半罐水。因為我身上的這個裂縫，每次你回雇主家的路上，水都在漏，到家時就只剩下半罐了。正是我的裂縫，你得做這么多工作，你無法從自己的努力中得到完整的價值?！惫拮诱f道。

挑水工對這個有裂痕的舊罐子感到很抱歉，他同情地說道：“當我們返回雇主家時，我希望你能留心路旁那些美麗的花兒?！?/p>

的確如此，當他們上山時，這個有裂縫的舊罐子注意到了路旁的野花，它們沐浴在陽光中，非常漂亮。它感到了一絲快樂，但到雇主家時，它又為自己漏了一半水而難過起來，于是，它再次為自己的失敗向挑水工道歉。

挑水工對罐子說：“你注意到了嗎？你這邊沿路都有花，而另一邊就沒有。我早就注意到了你的裂縫，我就是利用這一點，在你這側(cè)的路邊種上花籽。每天，我們從小溪回來時，你就給它們澆了水。這兩年，我就采這些漂亮的花來裝點雇主的桌子。倘若你不漏水，他就沒有這么美麗的鮮花來裝飾屋子了?！?/p>

Practising&Exercise 實戰(zhàn)提升篇

單詞注解

crack[kr?k]n.裂痕，縫隙

miserabIe['miz?r?bl]a.不幸的，可憐的

compassion[k?m'p???n]n.同情，憐憫

decorate['dek?reit]v.裝飾，布置

實用句型

But because she would not have a chance to bring a little bit of beauty to this corner of the desert.

它并不是因為將要死去而悲傷，而是因為它再也沒有機會為這片沙漠增添一處絢麗的景色了。

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.

而那個可憐的有裂縫的罐子卻因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已。

智慧點津

Neiter sigh over without having a astute nature, nor cry for without having a beautiful appearance；neither complain the changeable life, nor hide the rugged environment, blosom the flower of life cheerfully.

不必悲嘆自己沒有聰慧的天資，也不必哀怨自己沒有美麗的容顏，不必抱怨命運的無常，也不必躲避惡劣的環(huán)境，盡情綻放你的生命之花吧！

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life！If it wasn't for the cracked pots, life would be pretty boring and not so beautiful！

學會去欣賞生活中各種不同的人。要不是那只有裂紋的罐子，生活也不會那么美好，而可能是枯燥無味的。