Unit8Money新編大學(xué)英語第二版第二冊課文翻譯

Unit8Money

TimeSpentAgonizingoverMoney

[1]Withinhoursofarecentmajorstockmarketdrop,IteIephonedmyForddeaIer

andorderedthestationwagonthatItest-drovethedaybefore.Asmyfriendsnot

sosubtIypointedout,theDowJonesIndustriaIAveragedidn'thavemuchtodowith

myfinancialsituationandshouldn'taffectmypurchase.Besides,myoldcarhad

causedmeheadachesformonths.

[2]Still,IspenttheeveningaskingmyseIf:CouIdIaffordanewcar?ShouId

Ibesavinginsteadofspending?WouIdweneedtocutbackonvacations?

[3]OntheIistofitemspeopIeworryabout,moneyisalmostalwaysatthetop.

[4]AstudyintheWaIIStreetJournaIfoundthat70percentofthepubIicIives

frompaychecktopaycheck.Mortgagedebthasincreased300percentsinee1975,and

consumerbankruptciesareatanalI-timehigh.MostmarriagesthatfaiIIist

financialproblemsasacontributingfactor.

[5]WhentheDowfeII554pointsIastOctober,miIIionsofpeoplelostbillions

ofdolIars,onpaperanyway.TherewasexpertanxietyonWaIIStreetand

oId-fashionedworryonMainStreet.OurreactionconfirmedwhatweaIreadyknew:

Weareapeopleconsumedbyfinancialstress.

*A"RawMaterial"

[6]AstheBibletellsus,worryingaboutmoney—oranythingeIseforthat

matter-won'tdousanygood."Whoofyoubyworryingcanaddasinglehourtohis

Iife?"Jesusasked."Andwhydoyouworryaboutclothes?Seehowtheliliesof

thefieldgrow?TheydonotIabororspin.”

[7]Inmyheart,IaspiretobeIikethoseIiIies.Butinmyhead,IfeeIaneed

tohoard.

[8]ItisanunusuaIpersonwhocanIivefreefromfinanciaIstress,orwhocan

spendmoneyonothersaseasiIyashespendsitonhimself.

[9]ThomasEdisonwasoneofthatrarebreed.Hadthegreatinventorstoredhis

money,hewouIdhavediedawealthyman.HisfirstsuccessfuIinventionnettedhim

$40,000,ahugesumin1869.DuringhisIifetime,hepatented1,093inventions,yet

hedepartedtheworIdpenniIess.

[10]Yearslater,hissonCharlesrecaIledhisfather1sapproachtomoney:"He

considereditarawmateriaI,IikemetaI,tobeusedratherthanamassed,andso

hekeptpIowinghisfundsbackintonewobjects.SeveraItimeshewasaIIbutbankrupt.

ButherefusedtoIetdollarsignsgovernhisactions."

[11]JohnWesleywasthesame.ThefounderofMethodismhadthehighestearned

incomein18thcenturyEngland,buthegaveitalIaway.Hisphilosophyaboutmoney

wassimple:"EarnaIIyoucan,saveaIIyoucan,givealIyoucan.,f

*RootofEvil?

[12]MoneymaynotbetherootofaIIevil,butifitkeepsusupatnight,it

hasbecomewaytooimportantinourIives.

[13]ThatwastheIessonofLeoToIstoy'stale“Elias”,whichtoldofarich

farmcouplewhoIostaIItheirmoneyandwereforcedtotakejobsasservants.

[14]Aguestonedayaskedthewifeifshewasmiserablebeingpoor,especially

inIightofthegreatwealthshehadonceenjoyed.Thewoman'sanswer—thatshewas

happierthaneverbefore—surprisedthevisitor.

[15]“Whenwewererich,myhusbandandIhadsomanycaresthatwehadnotime

totalktooneanother,ortothinkofoursouls,ortopraytoGod,“thewife

explained."Welayawakeatnightworrying,lesttheewesshouIdIieontheirlambs,

andwegotupagainandagaintoseethataIIwaswell...Now,whenmyhusbandand

Iwakeinthemorning,wealwaysgreeteachotherinIoveandharmony.WeIive

peacefully,havingnothingtoworryabout.rf

[16]Formostofus,financialsecurityisanelusivegoal.Nomatterhowmuch

wehave,it'snotenough.KahIiIGibranputitthisway:"Thefearofneed,when

thepantryisfull,isthethirstthatcannotbesatisfied."

[17]Whenthestockmarketfalls,wecanpanic,hoard,andworryifwehaveenough.

Orwecantakeadeepbreathandremember:MoneyismereIyarawmateriaItobepIowed

backintosomethingeIse.

把時間花在為人民幣苦惱上

1最近一次股市大跌后的幾個小時內(nèi).我就打給我的福特汽車商.訂購了我前一天試開

過的旅行車。正如我的朋友明確指出的那樣.道瓊斯工業(yè)平均指數(shù)與我的財(cái)政狀況并無多大

關(guān)系.不應(yīng)該影響我買車。而且.我那舊車已經(jīng)使我頭疼了好幾個月了。

2但我還是整個晚上再問自己：我能買得起新車嗎我是不是應(yīng)該存人民幣而不是花人民幣

我們是不是有必要減少度假的時間

3在人們一系列的煩惱中.人民幣總是名列前茅。

4一項(xiàng)《華爾街日報(bào)》的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)百分之七十的公共其工資收入僅夠開銷.毫無剩余。自

1975年以來按揭借債增加了百分之三百.而且消費(fèi)者破產(chǎn)到達(dá)有史以來最高。經(jīng)濟(jì)問題被列

為導(dǎo)致大多數(shù)婚姻失敗的一個因素。

5當(dāng)去年十月道瓊斯工業(yè)平均下跌554點(diǎn)的時候.數(shù)百萬損失了幾億美元.至少在理論上

是這樣。華爾街的金融專家們在憂慮.小城鎮(zhèn)里的思想守舊也在憂慮。我們的反響也證實(shí)了

我們已有的看法：我們是深受經(jīng)濟(jì)壓力折磨的人。

人民幣只是“原材料〃

6正像圣經(jīng)告誡我們的那樣.擔(dān)憂人民幣或諸如此類的事不會給我們帶來任何好處。耶穌曾

經(jīng)問道：“你們有誰能夠考憂慮使自己的生命演唱哪怕一小時〃“你們?yōu)槭裁匆獮橐路?/p>

呢看見天夜里的百合花是假設(shè)何生長的嘛他們重不耕田紡紗》“

7盡管我的內(nèi)心渴望像百合花那樣生活。單位的頭腦路卻敢要需要出場囤積。

8能夠不受經(jīng)濟(jì)困擾而生活的人.或者能把人民幣花在別人身上那么自在的人.都是不尋常

的人。

9托馬斯.愛迪生就是這種男的人。如果這位大創(chuàng)造家把它的人民幣積蓄起來.去世的時候

就會使一個達(dá)芙文。他的第一項(xiàng)成功創(chuàng)造是他靜的四萬美元.這在1869年是一筆巨款。他

一生中.獲得了1.93項(xiàng)創(chuàng)造專利.然而.在他離開這個世界的時候卻生物分文。

10多年以后.他的日子查爾斯回憶起自己的父親對人民幣的態(tài)度是說：“他把人民幣堪稱是

原材料.就像金屬一樣是給人用的.而不是給人囤積的.因此他一直把自己的基金重新投資到

新的工程中去。有好幾次他幾近破產(chǎn).但他決不讓簽主宰他的行動。“

11約翰衛(wèi)斯理也一樣。這位衛(wèi)斯理會的創(chuàng)始人在18c的英國收入最高.但他把自己的收入都

給了別人。他的金人民幣哲學(xué)很簡單：“盡量掙.盡量省.盡量給?！?/p>

人民幣是萬惡之源嗎

12人民幣也許并不是萬惡之源.但如果他是我們夜里不能寐.那他在我們生活中就過于重

要了。

13這也是列夫托爾斯泰在他創(chuàng)作的《伊萊亞斯》故事中所告誡的。故事講述了一對經(jīng)營農(nóng)

場富有的夫婦.他們失去了所有的人民幣.不得不去當(dāng)傭人。

14一天有位客人問這位妻子.他是不是應(yīng)為貧窮而痛苦.尤其是考慮到他曾擁有巨大的財(cái)

富。夫人的答復(fù)是他比以前更幸福.這是客人很吃驚。

15“當(dāng)我們富有的時候.我丈夫和我有那么多令人煩惱的事.以至于我們沒時間交談或想

象我們心靈深處火上上帝祈禱"妻子解釋道.我們晚上躺在床上徹夜難眠在擔(dān)憂.唯恐模樣

壓在小羊身上.于是我們一次又一次的起床.以確保一切安全…..現(xiàn)在當(dāng)我和丈夫醒來的時

候.我們都要互相問候.恩愛和諧.我們生活安寧無憂無慮?！?、

16對我們大多數(shù)人來說.經(jīng)紀(jì)上的安全感是難以到達(dá)的目標(biāo).不管我們恩擁有都是.總是覺

得不夠.卡利爾紀(jì)伯倫是這樣說的：“即便是糧食漫長.但對貧窮的恐懼會成為多積蓄難于滿

足的渴望?！?/p>

17當(dāng)故事下跌時.即使我們擁有足夠的財(cái)富.依然會恐慌.擔(dān)憂.囤積?；蛘?我們深深地吸

口氣并記住：人民幣只是一種原材料.用來投資其他方面的

Elias:AParable

*Atonetimetheelderlycouplehadbeenthewealthiestintheregion;nowtheywere

mere!yservantswhohadnothingbuteachother.

[1]IntheProvineeofOufathereIivedamannamedElias.Hisfatherdieda

yearafterhemarried,andIefthimapoorman.AtthattimeElias'sproperty

consistedonIyofsevenmares,twocows,andtwentysheep,butnowthathehadbecome

masterhebegantobetterhimseIf.Heandhiswifeworkedhardfrommorningtill

nightforthirtyyears,growingrichereachyear.

[2]Eliashadtwosonsandadaughter,aIIofwhomhedulymarriedoff.Inthe

daysofhispovertyhissonshadworkedwithhim;butwhentheybecamerich,they

begantoinduIgeinfoolishpIeasures.Oneofthem,inparticuIar,begantodrink

toexcess.Eventuallytheelderofthetwowaskilledinafight,andtheotherone,

becausehedisobeyedhisfather,wasturnedout.

[3]Eliasturnedhimout,butatthesametimehegavehimahouseandcattIe.

HisownweaIthwasthusdiminishedinproportion.

[4]Soonafterwardshissheepbecameinfectedwithdisease,andmanyofthem

died.Next,therewasayearofdrought,whennohaygrew,sothatmanycattlestarved

todeathduringthefollowingwinter.ThentheKhirgizescameandstolethebest

ofhishorses,andhispropertywasdiminishedevenmore.Bythetimehehadreached

hisseventiethyear,aIIthepropertylefttohimconsistedoftheclothesonhis

bodyandhiswife,ShamShemagi,whowasasoIdashimseIf.Thesonwhomhehadturned

outhadgonetoadistantIand,andhisdaughterwasdead;sothattherewasnoone

IefttoheIptheoldpeopIe.

[5]Howeveraformerneighboroftheirs,namedMuhamedshah,feltsorryforthem.

Hewasneitherrichnorpoor,butIivedplainlyandwasarespectabIeman.Remembering

thedayswhenhehadbeenaguestinthehouseofEIias,heaskedthecoupIetocome

andIivewithhimanddosomeworkforhimiftheyIiked.Eliasthankedhisgood

neighbor,andwentwithhisoldwifetoIiveintheserviceofMuhamedshah.Atfirst

itgrievedthemtodoso;butintimetheygotusedtoit,andsettleddowntoIive

thereandtoworkasmuchastheirstrengthpermitted.

[6]Itsuitedtheirmastertohavetheminhisservice,sineetheoldpeople

hadbeeninauthoritythemseIves,andsoknewhowtodothings.Moreover,theywere

neverlazy,butworkedthebesttheyknew.YetMuhamedshahusedtofeeIsorryto

seepeopleformerlysohighintheworIdnowreducedtosuchadifficultsituation.

[7]OnedaysomeofMuhamedshah'sfriendscametovisithim.Whentheguests

IearnedthatEIias,oncethewealthiestmanintheregion,wasmereIyaservantof

thehost,theyweresosurprisedthattheyaskedthecoupIeabouttheirformerIife.

[8]“Oldman,"saidoneoftheguests,“tellmewhetheritgrievesyou—now

asyoulookuponus—torememberyourformerfortunesandyourpresentIifeof

misery?"

[9]Eliassmiledandanswered:"IfIweretospeaktoyouofourhappinessor

miseryyoumightnotbeIieveme.YoushouIdratheraskmywife.Shehasbothawoman's

heartandawoman'stongue,andwiIIteIIyouthewholetruthaboutthatmatter."

[10]Thentheguestcalledtotheoldwomanwhowasseatedbehindthecurtain:

“Tellme,oIdwoman,whatyouthinkconcerningyourformerhappinessandyour

presentmisery.rr

[11]AndShamShemagiansweredfrombehindthecurtain:"ThisiswhatIthink

concerningthem.IIivedwithmyhusbandforfiftyyears—seekinghappiness,and

neverfindingit;butnow,aIthoughweIiveasservants,andthisisonlythesecond

yearsincewewereIeftpoor,wehavefoundtruehappiness,anddesirenoother.f,

[12]Boththeguestsandtheirhostweresurprisedatthis—thelatter,indeed,

somuchsothatherosetohisfeettodrawasidethecurtainandlookattheold

woman.Thereshesat—herhandsfoIdedinfrontofher,andasmileuponherface,

asshegazedatheroldhusbandandhesmiledbackatherinreturn.Thenshewent

on:“Iamtellingyouthetruth,Iamnotjoking.Forhalfacenturywesought

happinessandneverfounditsoIongaswewererich;yetnowthatwehavenothing—now

thatwehavecometoIiveamonghumbIefolk-wehavefoundsuchhappinessascould

neverbeexceeded."

[13]Where,then,doesyourhappinesslie?"askedtheguest.

[14]“WhenwewererichmyhusbandandIhadsomanycaresthatwehadnotime

totaIktooneanother,orthinkofoursouIs,orpraytoGod.Ifguestswerewith

uswewerefullyoccupiedinthinkinghowtoentertainthem.Moreover,whenguests

hadarrivedwehadtheirservantstoIookafter.Inaddition,weconstantIyworried

lestawolfkilloneofourfowlsorcaIves,orthievesdriveoffthehorses.We

Iayawakeatnightworrying,lesttheewesshouIdIieontheirIambs,andwegot

upagainandagaintoseethataIIwaswell.Whenweretiredtorest,wewouIdfind

ourseIvesfilledwithfreshanxietiesastohowtogetfodderforthewinter,and

soon.Moreover,myhusbandandIcouldneveragree.Hewouldsaythatathingmust

bedoneinthisway,andIthatitmustbedoneinthat;andsowewouldbeginto

quarreI.TheIifeIedusonIyfromworrytoworry,butnevertohappiness.,f

[15]“Buthowisitnow?"askedtheguest.

[16]“Now,"repIiedtheoIdwoman,uwhenmyhusbandandIriseinthemorning,

wealwaysgreeteachotherinIoveandharmony.WeIivepeacefuIIy,havingnothing

toworryabout.Ouronlycareishowbesttoservethemaster.Weworkaccording

toourstrength,andwithagoodwill,sothatthemasterprofitsfromourwork.

Then,whenwecomein,wefinddinnerandsupperreadyforus.Wheneveritiscold

wehavefueItowarmusandsheepskincoatstowear.Moreover,wehavetimetotaIk

tooneanother,tothinkaboutoursouIs,andtopraytoGod.Forfiftyyearswe

soughthappiness-butonIynowhavewefoundit."

[17]Theguestsburstoutlaughing,butEliascried:**DonotIaugh,goodsirs.

Thisisnojoke,butthetruth.WehavereveaIedittoyou——notforourowndiversion,

butforyourgood."

[18]ThentheguestsceasedtoIaugh,andbecamethoughtfuI.

伊萊亞斯：一則寓言

一對老夫婦從前是這個地區(qū)最富有的.現(xiàn)在他們成了仆人.一無所有.只好相依為命。

1烏法省住著以為名叫伊萊亞斯的人。婚后一年他父親就去世了.他淪為了窮人。那時伊萊

亞斯的全部財(cái)產(chǎn)僅為七匹母馬.二頭牛和二十只羊.但他既然當(dāng)家作主了.便開場改善自己的

境況。他和妻子從早到晚拼命干活.整整三十年.逐年富裕了起來。

2伊萊亞斯有兩個兒子和一個女兒.他都恰如其分地給他們辦了婚事。在他貧困的時.兩個

兒子與他一起干活；但富裕時.他們就開場沉迷于荒唐的玩樂之中。特別是其中一個開場酗

酒。最終.長子在斗毆中喪命.次子由于違背父命而被趕出家門。

3伊萊亞斯在把兒子趕出家門的同時還給了他房子和牛。這樣他的財(cái)富就相應(yīng)的地減少了。

4不久他的羊染上了疾病.死了許多。接著是一年大旱.寸草不長.結(jié)果那年冬天餓死了許多

牛。然后.來了吉爾吉斯人.偷走了他最好的馬屁.他的財(cái)產(chǎn)就更少了。到他七十歲的時候.

他還剩有的全部家當(dāng)就只有他身上穿的衣服以及他的老伴兒.薩姆?薩瑪姬.她也同他一樣

老了。被趕出去的兒子已遠(yuǎn)走他鄉(xiāng).女兒去世了.所以沒人能幫助這對老人了。

5不過他們以前的以為鄰居.名叫穆罕默德.很同情他們。他家境小康.生活樸素.受人尊敬。

他想起了在伊萊亞斯家做客的日子.就邀請老夫婦來他家和他同住.如果愿意.幫他干點(diǎn)活

兒。伊萊亞斯謝過這位好鄰居.就和老伴搬過來做了穆罕默德的仆人。起先落到這一地步他

們感到悲哀.不過一段時間之后也漸漸地習(xí)慣了.安心的住下來了.盡其所能地勞動。

6因?yàn)槔戏驄D曾經(jīng)是主人.知道假設(shè)何干活.所以穆罕默德有他們伺候自己.感到滿意如意。

再者.他們從來不偷懶.只是盡量把事情做得盡善盡美。到時穆罕默德看到他們從當(dāng)初那么高

的的地位淪落到如此困境.常常感到十分惋惜。

7一天.穆罕默德的幾個朋友來他家做客。當(dāng)他們知道伊萊亞斯曾是這一帶最富有的人.而

現(xiàn)在僅是主人的傭人時.感到十分吃驚.便詢問起老夫妻以前的生活。

8“老人家一位客人問道.“眼下.在你瞧著我們的時候.想想以前曾經(jīng)擁有過的財(cái)富.看

看現(xiàn)在悲慘的生活.你是不是很悲傷"

9伊萊亞斯笑著答復(fù)：“如果要我來答復(fù)你哲哥關(guān)于快樂還是悲哀的問題.你也許不會相信

我。你還是問問我的妻子吧。她既有女人的心腸.又有女人的口才.會如實(shí)告訴你們的。"

10于是這位客人就坐在簾子后面的老婦大聲詢問：“老太太.請你告訴我.你對以前的幸福

生活和現(xiàn)在的悲慘境況有什么想法"

11薩姆?薩瑪姬從簾子后面答復(fù)道：“我是這么認(rèn)為的：原先.我和丈夫一起生活了五十

年.一直在尋求幸福卻未能找到：而現(xiàn)在.盡管我們身為仆人.這也是我么淪為窮人的第二年.

但我們已經(jīng)找到了正真的幸福.沒有別的奢望了?！?/p>

12客人們和主人聽了薩姆的話都很吃驚.特別是主人.他驚訝的起身撥開簾子望著老婦。她

坐在那兒.雙手穿插抱在胸前.面帶微笑.凝視著年邁的丈夫.丈夫也以微笑回報(bào).然后她接著

說：“我是在說實(shí)話.并沒有開玩笑。半個世紀(jì)了.我們都在群球幸福.而只要我們有人民幣.

我們就難以找到；而現(xiàn)在我們一貧如洗.與下人生活在一起.我們卻找到了無與倫比的幸

福。"

13”那么.你們的幸福體香在哪里呢〃客人又問。

14“當(dāng)我們富有的時候.我丈夫和我有那么多的事要操心.以至于沒有時間交談、或想想我

們心靈深處、或向上帝祈禱。如果有客人和我們一起.我們就完全忙著考慮假設(shè)何寬帶他們。

而且.客人到來了.我們還得照顧他們的仆人。不僅如此.我們還成天擔(dān)憂狼會咬死雞鴨和牛

犢.擔(dān)憂竊賊盜走馬匹。我們晚上躺在床上.徹夜難眠地在擔(dān)憂.唯恐母羊壓在了小羊羔的身

上.于是.我們一次次的起床.已確保一切安全。等我們上床休息時.發(fā)現(xiàn)又有其他的事情要操

心.比方假設(shè)何弄到過冬的飼料啦.等等。此外.我和丈夫總是意見相左。他會說這件事必須

要這樣做.而我說必須那樣做.于是我們就開場爭吵。這種生活只能使我們整日憂心忡忡.毫

無幸?？裳浴?

15”那么現(xiàn)在呢〃客人問道。

16”現(xiàn)在〃.老婦答復(fù)道.“當(dāng)我和丈夫早晨醒來的時候.我們都要互相問候.恩愛和睦。我

們生活得安寧.無憂無慮。我們唯一關(guān)心的是假設(shè)何盡心的把主人伺候好。我們盡心盡意.

量力而行.這樣.主人能從我們的勞動中獲益。還有.我們進(jìn)門就會發(fā)現(xiàn)飯菜都替我們準(zhǔn)備好

了。天氣一冷.我們就可以烤火暖身.有羊皮衣服可穿。而且我們有時間相互交談.思考我們

的靈魂深處.并向上帝祈禱。我們五十年苦苦尋求.直到現(xiàn)在才找到幸福?！?/p>

17客人哄堂大笑.伊萊亞斯叫道：“不要笑.高尚的先生們。這決非玩笑.而是事實(shí)。我們

向您們披露這些.不是給自己解悶的.而是為了你們好啊?！?/p>

18于是客人們停頓了笑聲.陷入了沉思。

ALettertoGod

[1]Thehouse-theonIyoneintheentirevaIIey-satonthecrestofaIowhiII.

FromthisheightonecouIdseetheriverand,nexttothecorraI,thefieldofripe

corndottedwiththekidney-beanflowersthatalwayspromisedagoodharvest.

[2]TheonIythingtheearthneededwasarainfaII,oratIeastashower.

ThroughoutthemorningLencho-whoknewhisfieldsintimateIy—haddonenothingeIse

butscantheskytowardthenortheast.

[3]“Nowwe*rereallygoingtogetsomewater,woman.r,

[4]Thewoman,whowaspreparingsupper,replied:

[5]“Yes,GodwiIIing.,z

[6]TheoIdestboyswereworkinginthefield,whilethesmaIIeroneswereplaying

nearthehouse,untiIthewomancalledtothemall:

[7]“Comefordinner...，r

[8]Itwasduringthemealthat,justasLenchohadpredicted,bigdropsofrain

begantofaII.Inthenortheasthugemountainsofcloudscouldbeseenapproaching.

Theairwasfreshandsweet.

[9]ThemanwentouttoIookforsomethinginthecorraIfornootherreason

thantoallowhimseIfthepIeasureoffeeIingtherainonhisbody,andwhenhe

returnedheexcIaimed:

[10]uThosearen'traindropsfallingfromthesky,they'renewcoins.Thebig

dropsareten-centavopiecesandtheIittIeonesarefives...,r

[11]WithasatisfiedexpressionheIookedatthefieldofripecornwithits

kidney-beanfIowers,drapedinacurtainofrain.ButsuddenIyastrongwindbegan

toblowandtogetherwiththerainverylargehaiIstonesbegantofall.Thesetruly

didresembIenewsiIvercoins.Theboys,exposingthemseIvestotherain,ranout

tocoIIectthefrozenpearIs.

[12]"It'sreallygettingbadnow,，rexclaimedtheman."Ihopeitpasses

quickly."

[13]11didnotpassquickIy.ForanhourthehaiIrainedonthehouse,thegarden,

thehiIIside,thecornfield,onthewholevalley.Thefieldwaswhite,asifcovered

withsalt.Notaleafremainedonthetrees.ThecornwastotaIIydestroyed.The

fIowersweregonefromthekidney-beanpIants.Lencho'ssouIwasfiIIedwithsadness.

Whenthestormhadpassed,hestoodinthemiddleofthefieldandsaidtohissons:

[14]“ApIagueoflocustswouIdhaveIeftmorethanthis...ThehaiIhasleft

nothing:ThisyearwewiIIhavenocornorbeans...r,

[15]ThatnightwasasorrowfuIone:

[16]“Allourwork,fornothing!"

[17]“There'snoonewhocanhelpus!”

[18]"We'llalIgohungrythisyear...f,

[19]ButintheheartsofaIIwhoIivedinthatsolitaryhouseinthemiddle

ofthevaIIey,therewasasinglehope:heIpfromGod.

[20]"Don'tbesoupset,eventhoughthisseemsIikeatotaIIoss.Remember,

noonediesofhunger!,r

[21]“That'swhattheysay:noonediesofhunger...,f

[22]AlIthroughthenight,Lenchothoughtonlyofhisonehope：thehelpof

God,whoseeyes,ashehadbeeninstructed,seeeverything,evenwhatisdeepin

one'sconscience.

[23]Lenchowasanoxofaman,workinglikeananimalinthefieIds,butstill

heknewhowtowrite.ThefollowingSunday,atdaybreak,afterhavingconvineed

himseIfthatthereisaprotectingspirit,hebegantowriteaIetterwhichhehimseIf

wouldcarrytotownandplaceinthemail.

[24]ItwasnothinglessthanalettertoGod.

[25]“God,"hewrote,“ifyoudon'theIpme,myfamilyandIwiIIgohungry

thisyear.IneedahundredpesosinordertoresowthefieldandtoIiveuntiIthe

cropcomes,becausethehaiIstorm...

[26]Hewrote“ToGod“ontheenvelope,puttheletterinside,and,still

troubled,wenttotown.AtthepostofficehepIacedastampontheletteranddropped

itintothemaiIbox.

[27](HowdoyouthinkthestorywiIIgo?)

[28]Oneoftheemployees,whowasapostmanandaIsoheIpedatthepostoffice,

wenttohisbosslaughingheartilyandshowedhimthelettertoGod.Neverinhis

careeraspostmanhadheknownthataddress.Thepostmaster—afat,amiable

feIlow-aIsobrokeoutIaughing,butalmostimmediateIyheturnedseriousand,

tappingtheletteronhisdesk,commented:

[29]“Whatfaith!IwishIhadthefaithofthemanwhowrotethisIetter.To

beIievethewayhebeIieves.Tohopewiththeconfidencethatheknowshowtohope

with.StartingupacorrespondencewithGod!，r

[30]So,inordernottodestroythatwonderfulexampleoffaith,revealedby

aletterthatcouldnotbedelivered,thepostmastercameupwithanidea:answer

theIetter.Butwhenheopenedit,itwasevidentthattoansweritheneededsomething

morethangoodwill,ink,andpaper.ButhestucktohisresoIution:heaskedfor

moneyfromhisemployees,hehimselfgavepartofhissalary,andseveraIfriends

ofhiswereobIigedtogivesomething“foranactofcharity".

[31]Itwasimpossibleforhimtogathertogetherthehundredpesos,sohewas

abletosendthefarmeronlyalittlemorethanhalf.Heputthebillsinanenvelope

addressedtoLenchoandwiththemalettercontainingonIyasinglewordasa

signature:God.

[32]ThefollowingSundayLenchocameabitearIierthanusualtoaskifthere

wasaIetterforhim.ItwasthepostmanhimselfwhohandedtheIettertohim,while

thepostmaster,experiencingthecontentmentofamanwhohasperformedagooddeed,

lookedonfromthedoorwayofhisoffice.

[33](HowdoyouexpectLenchowiIIreacttotheletterandthebills?)

[34]LenchoshowednotthesIightestsurpriseonseeingthebills-suchwashis

confidence-buthebecameangrywhenhecountedthemoney...GodcouIdnothavemade

amistake,norcouldhehavedeniedLenchowhathehadrequested!

[35]Immediately,Lenchowentuptothewindowtoaskforpaperandink.Onthe

pubIicwritingtable,hestartedtowrite,withmuchwrinklingofhisbrow,caused

bytheefforthehadtomaketoexpresshisideas.Whenhefinished,hewenttothe

windowtobuyastampwhichheIickedandthenstucktotheenvelopewithablow

ofhisfist.

[36]ThemomentthattheletterfelIintothemaiIboxthepostmasterwentto

openit.Itsaid:

[37]“God:ofthemoneythatIaskedfor,onIyseventypesosreachedme.Send

metherest,sinceIneeditverymuch.Butdon'tsendittomethroughthemail,

becausethepost-officeempIoyeesareabunchofcrooks.Lencho."