It was spring, in western America, the weather was getting warmer. There was a young man who went out to find a job on a farm. He came to a small farm, which belonged to an old farmer and his wife. He told the farmer he wanted to apply for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, "What can you do, boy?" The young man said, "I can sleep when the wind blows."
那是美国西部的一个春天,天气开始变暖.有一个年轻人外出想在农场里找一份工作,于是他来到一个小农场.这个农场的主人是一对老夫妇.年轻人告诉农场主他想在农场里当一个帮手.当农场主询问其资历："年轻人,你能干些什么?"时,那个年轻人回答："我能在刮风的时候睡得着觉."
This answer quite puzzled the farmer and his wife. But he looked honest and reliable, so the couple liking the young man decided to hire him.
他的回答让农场主夫妇感到迷惑不解,但是他看起来诚实可靠,因此这对老夫妇很喜欢这个年轻人,于是决定雇用他.
Two months passed and the young man had worked well on the farm, nothing unusual.
两个月过去了,这个年轻人在农场里干得还不错,但也没有什么特别之处.
One night, the farmer and his wife were awakened by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace.
一天夜里,暴风骤雨吵醒了农场主夫妇.他们赶紧起来查看农场里的东西是否安全.他们发现农舍的门都已牢牢地拴紧,一大堆木头已经码在壁炉旁.
The young man slept soundly.
那个年轻人睡得正香呢.
The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.
然后,农场主夫妇检查了他们的东西,发现农具都已经收进了仓库,远离风雨.拖拉机已经开进了车库,牲口棚也锁得好好的,就连家畜也都很平静.一切正常.
The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows." Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace
这时农场主终于明白了当初这个年轻人为什么说他能在刮风的时候睡得着觉.因为这个小伙子已经在天晴时尽心尽力地干好了他该干的活,为暴风雨的到来做好了准备,所以当狂风来临时他没什么可担心的,自然也就能高枕无忧了.
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