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."
那是美國西部的一個春天,天氣開始變暖.有一個年輕人外出想在農場裡找一份工作,於是他來到一個小農場.這個農場的主人是一對老夫婦.年輕人告訴農場主他想在農場裡當一個幫手.當農場主詢問其資歷："年輕人,你能幹些什麼?"時,那個年輕人回答："我能在颳風的時候睡得著覺."
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.
他的回答讓農場主夫婦感到迷惑不解,但是他看起來誠實可靠,因此這對老夫婦很喜歡這個年輕人,於是決定僱用他.
Two months passed and the young man had worked well on the farm, nothing unusual.
兩個月過去了,這個年輕人在農場裡幹得還不錯,但也沒有什麼特別之處.
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.
一天夜裡,暴風驟雨吵醒了農場主夫婦.他們趕緊起來查看農場裡的東西是否安全.他們發現農舍的門都已牢牢地拴緊,一大堆木頭已經碼在壁爐旁.
The young man slept soundly.
那個年輕人睡得正香呢.
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.
然後,農場主夫婦檢查了他們的東西,發現農具都已經收進了倉庫,遠離風雨.拖拉機已經開進了車庫,牲口棚也鎖得好好的,就連家畜也都很平靜.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
這時農場主終於明白了當初這個年輕人為什麼說他能在颳風的時候睡得著覺.因為這個小夥子已經在天晴時盡心盡力地幹好了他該乾的活,為暴風雨的到來做好了準備,所以當狂風來臨時他沒什麼可擔心的,自然也就能高枕無憂了.
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