The golden ax
金斧頭（上）
It is a hot summer's day. A woodcutter is cutting wood in the forest.
這是個炎熱的夏日，一個砍柴人正在森林裡砍柴。
woodcutter1:It's a very hot today. (He wipes his forehead.) But I must cut more wood. My mother is very sick. I must buy her some medicine.
砍柴人甲:今天真熱啊！（他擦了擦額頭）不過我得再多砍一些柴。媽媽病得很厲害，我得給她買些藥。
The woodcutter is busy cutting wood.suddenly, his ax slips from his hands and goes flying into a nearby pond.
砍柴人忙著砍柴。突然，他的斧頭從手中滑了出去，飛落到附近的池塘裡。
woodcutter1:Oh, no! My ax fell into the pond! That was my only ax! I still have to cut more wood. What shall I do? My poor mother!
砍柴人甲：哦，不！我的斧頭掉進了池塘裡！那是我唯一的斧頭！我還要砍很多柴呢。我該怎麼辦？我可憐的媽媽！
The woodcutter1 sits near the pond and just stars into the water. Then he starts to cry.
砍柴人坐在池塘邊，盯著水面。然後他開始哭泣。
spirit:Young man, why are you crying?
精靈：年輕人，你為什麼哭呢？
woodcutter1:My ax fell in the pond. It's my only ax. I can't get it out.
砍柴人甲：我的斧頭掉到池塘裡了。那是我唯一的斧頭，我拿不回來了。
spirit:You are crying because of an ax?
精靈：你是為了一把斧頭哭嗎？
woodcutter1:No. I am crying because of my poor mother. I have to cut a lot of wood to buy my mother's medicine, but without my ax, I can't cut any wood.
砍柴人甲：不，是因為我可憐的媽媽。我得砍很多柴來給媽媽買藥。但是，沒有斧頭，我一根柴也砍不了。
spirit:Hmmm... well then, I shall find your ax, just wait here.
精靈：嗯.......那好吧，我會找到你的斧頭，你在這裡等一會。
The spirit disappears into the pond for a few minutes and comes out with a shiny ax.
精靈消失在池塘裡，幾分鐘後，他拿著一把亮閃閃的斧頭出來了。
spirit:Is this your ax?
精靈：這是你的斧頭嗎?
woodcutter1:No, sir. That's not my ax. That ax is made of gold.
砍柴人甲：不是，先生。這不是我的斧頭。這把斧頭是金子做的。
spirit:Are you sure? Look again!
精靈:你確定嗎？再看一下。
woodcutter1:Yes, I am very sure. That's not my ax.
砍柴人甲：沒錯，我非常確定。那不是我的斧頭。
spirit:Wait again. I will be back.
精靈：再等一會。我馬上回來。
The spirit disappears into the pond again and comes back with another ax.
精靈再度消失在池塘裡，然後帶著另外一把斧頭出來了。
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