Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.
The first said, "I built a big house for our mother."
The second said, "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."
The third smiled and said, "I've got you both beat. You remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible? And you know she can't see very well. So I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the church 12 years to teach him. He's one of a kind. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot recites it."
Soon thereafter, mom sent out her letters of thanks:
"Milton," she wrote one son, "The house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."
"Gerald," she wrote to another, "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home, so I rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude!"
"Dearest Donald," she wrote to her third son, "You have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious."
[參考譯文]
3 個兒子離家后,在他們各自的地方發(fā)展了起來。 這次一同回來,他們在討論送給老母親的禮物。
第一個說:“我建造了一大房子給我們母親.”
第二個說,“我位母親配備了一位司機和梅塞德斯汽車.”
第三個微笑著說,“我的禮物要比你們好。 你們還記得媽媽非常喜愛讀圣經(jīng)嗎? 并且你們都知道她視力不怎么好。 因此我寄給她一只驚人的鸚鵡,它可以背誦整個圣經(jīng),教堂里花了12年的時間才教會它。 它是該種類里最優(yōu)秀的。 媽媽僅僅只要知道圣經(jīng)的章節(jié)和詩名,鸚鵡就能背誦它。 ”
不久此后,媽媽發(fā)出她的感謝的信:“彌爾頓,” 她給一個兒子寫道,“你建造的房子太大了。 而我僅住其中一個房間,但我必須打掃整個房子。”
“杰拉爾德,”她給另一個寫道,“我太老了不能出去旅行。 我大都數(shù)時間都呆在家里,因此我很少使用梅塞德斯那汽車,并且司機態(tài)度也很粗魯!”
“最親愛的的唐納德,”她給她的第3個兒子寫道,“你有好感覺知道你的母親喜歡什么。 雞肉是美味的。 "