Unit8Money新编大学英语第二版第二册课文翻译

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.

把时间花在为人民币苦恼上

1最近一次股市大跌后的几个小时内.我就打给我的福特汽车商.订购了我前一天试开

过的旅行车。正如我的朋友明确指出的那样.道琼斯工业平均指数与我的财政状况并无多大

关系.不应该影响我买车。而且.我那旧车已经使我头疼了好几个月了。

2但我还是整个晚上再问自己：我能买得起新车吗我是不是应该存人民币而不是花人民币

我们是不是有必要减少度假的时间

3在人们一系列的烦恼中.人民币总是名列前茅。

4一项《华尔街日报》的研究发现百分之七十的公共其工资收入仅够开销.毫无剩余。自

1975年以来按揭借债增加了百分之三百.而且消费者破产到达有史以来最高。经济问题被列

为导致大多数婚姻失败的一个因素。

5当去年十月道琼斯工业平均下跌554点的时候.数百万损失了几亿美元.至少在理论上

是这样。华尔街的金融专家们在忧虑.小城镇里的思想守旧也在忧虑。我们的反响也证实了

我们已有的看法：我们是深受经济压力折磨的人。

人民币只是“原材料〃

6正像圣经告诫我们的那样.担忧人民币或诸如此类的事不会给我们带来任何好处。耶稣曾

经问道：“你们有谁能够考忧虑使自己的生命演唱哪怕一小时〃“你们为什么要为衣服烦恼

呢看见天夜里的百合花是假设何生长的嘛他们重不耕田纺纱》“

7尽管我的内心渴望像百合花那样生活。单位的头脑路却敢要需要出场囤积。

8能够不受经济困扰而生活的人.或者能把人民币花在别人身上那么自在的人.都是不寻常

的人。

9托马斯.爱迪生就是这种男的人。如果这位大创造家把它的人民币积蓄起来.去世的时候

就会使一个达芙文。他的第一项成功创造是他静的四万美元.这在1869年是一笔巨款。他

一生中.获得了1.93项创造专利.然而.在他离开这个世界的时候却生物分文。

10多年以后.他的日子查尔斯回忆起自己的父亲对人民币的态度是说：“他把人民币堪称是

原材料.就像金属一样是给人用的.而不是给人囤积的.因此他一直把自己的基金重新投资到

新的工程中去。有好几次他几近破产.但他决不让签主宰他的行动。“

11约翰卫斯理也一样。这位卫斯理会的创始人在18c的英国收入最高.但他把自己的收入都

给了别人。他的金人民币哲学很简单：“尽量挣.尽量省.尽量给。“

人民币是万恶之源吗

12人民币也许并不是万恶之源.但如果他是我们夜里不能寐.那他在我们生活中就过于重

要了。

13这也是列夫托尔斯泰在他创作的《伊莱亚斯》故事中所告诫的。故事讲述了一对经营农

场富有的夫妇.他们失去了所有的人民币.不得不去当佣人。

14一天有位客人问这位妻子.他是不是应为贫穷而痛苦.尤其是考虑到他曾拥有巨大的财

富。夫人的答复是他比以前更幸福.这是客人很吃惊。

15“当我们富有的时候.我丈夫和我有那么多令人烦恼的事.以至于我们没时间交谈或想

象我们心灵深处火上上帝祈祷"妻子解释道.我们晚上躺在床上彻夜难眠在担忧.唯恐模样

压在小羊身上.于是我们一次又一次的起床.以确保一切安全…..现在当我和丈夫醒来的时

候.我们都要互相问候.恩爱和谐.我们生活安宁无忧无虑。“、

16对我们大多数人来说.经纪上的安全感是难以到达的目标.不管我们恩拥有都是.总是觉

得不够.卡利尔纪伯伦是这样说的：“即便是粮食漫长.但对贫穷的恐惧会成为多积蓄难于满

足的渴望。“

17当故事下跌时.即使我们拥有足够的财富.依然会恐慌.担忧.囤积。或者.我们深深地吸

口气并记住：人民币只是一种原材料.用来投资其他方面的

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.

伊莱亚斯：一则寓言

一对老夫妇从前是这个地区最富有的.现在他们成了仆人.一无所有.只好相依为命。

1乌法省住着以为名叫伊莱亚斯的人。婚后一年他父亲就去世了.他沦为了穷人。那时伊莱

亚斯的全部财产仅为七匹母马.二头牛和二十只羊.但他既然当家作主了.便开场改善自己的

境况。他和妻子从早到晚拼命干活.整整三十年.逐年富裕了起来。

2伊莱亚斯有两个儿子和一个女儿.他都恰如其分地给他们办了婚事。在他贫困的时.两个

儿子与他一起干活；但富裕时.他们就开场沉迷于荒唐的玩乐之中。特别是其中一个开场酗

酒。最终.长子在斗殴中丧命.次子由于违背父命而被赶出家门。

3伊莱亚斯在把儿子赶出家门的同时还给了他房子和牛。这样他的财富就相应的地减少了。

4不久他的羊染上了疾病.死了许多。接着是一年大旱.寸草不长.结果那年冬天饿死了许多

牛。然后.来了吉尔吉斯人.偷走了他最好的马屁.他的财产就更少了。到他七十岁的时候.

他还剩有的全部家当就只有他身上穿的衣服以及他的老伴儿.萨姆•萨玛姬.她也同他一样

老了。被赶出去的儿子已远走他乡.女儿去世了.所以没人能帮助这对老人了。

5不过他们以前的以为邻居.名叫穆罕默德.很同情他们。他家境小康.生活朴素.受人尊敬。

他想起了在伊莱亚斯家做客的日子.就邀请老夫妇来他家和他同住.如果愿意.帮他干点活

儿。伊莱亚斯谢过这位好邻居.就和老伴搬过来做了穆罕默德的仆人。起先落到这一地步他

们感到悲哀.不过一段时间之后也渐渐地习惯了.安心的住下来了.尽其所能地劳动。

6因为老夫妇曾经是主人.知道假设何干活.所以穆罕默德有他们伺候自己.感到满意如意。

再者.他们从来不偷懒.只是尽量把事情做得尽善尽美。到时穆罕默德看到他们从当初那么高

的的地位沦落到如此困境.常常感到十分惋惜。

7一天.穆罕默德的几个朋友来他家做客。当他们知道伊莱亚斯曾是这一带最富有的人.而

现在仅是主人的佣人时.感到十分吃惊.便询问起老夫妻以前的生活。

8“老人家一位客人问道.“眼下.在你瞧着我们的时候.想想以前曾经拥有过的财富.看

看现在悲惨的生活.你是不是很悲伤"

9伊莱亚斯笑着答复：“如果要我来答复你哲哥关于快乐还是悲哀的问题.你也许不会相信

我。你还是问问我的妻子吧。她既有女人的心肠.又有女人的口才.会如实告诉你们的。"

10于是这位客人就坐在帘子后面的老妇大声询问：“老太太.请你告诉我.你对以前的幸福

生活和现在的悲惨境况有什么想法"

11萨姆•萨玛姬从帘子后面答复道：“我是这么认为的：原先.我和丈夫一起生活了五十

年.一直在寻求幸福却未能找到：而现在.尽管我们身为仆人.这也是我么沦为穷人的第二年.

但我们已经找到了正真的幸福.没有别的奢望了。〃

12客人们和主人听了萨姆的话都很吃惊.特别是主人.他惊讶的起身拨开帘子望着老妇。她

坐在那儿.双手穿插抱在胸前.面带微笑.凝视着年迈的丈夫.丈夫也以微笑回报.然后她接着

说：“我是在说实话.并没有开玩笑。半个世纪了.我们都在群球幸福.而只要我们有人民币.

我们就难以找到；而现在我们一贫如洗.与下人生活在一起.我们却找到了无与伦比的幸

福。"

13”那么.你们的幸福体香在哪里呢〃客人又问。

14“当我们富有的时候.我丈夫和我有那么多的事要操心.以至于没有时间交谈、或想想我

们心灵深处、或向上帝祈祷。如果有客人和我们一起.我们就完全忙着考虑假设何宽带他们。

而且.客人到来了.我们还得照顾他们的仆人。不仅如此.我们还成天担忧狼会咬死鸡鸭和牛

犊.担忧窃贼盗走马匹。我们晚上躺在床上.彻夜难眠地在担忧.唯恐母羊压在了小羊羔的身

上.于是.我们一次次的起床.已确保一切安全。等我们上床休息时.发现又有其他的事情要操

心.比方假设何弄到过冬的饲料啦.等等。此外.我和丈夫总是意见相左。他会说这件事必须

要这样做.而我说必须那样做.于是我们就开场争吵。这种生活只能使我们整日忧心忡忡.毫

无幸福可言。"

15”那么现在呢〃客人问道。

16”现在〃.老妇答复道.“当我和丈夫早晨醒来的时候.我们都要互相问候.恩爱和睦。我

们生活得安宁.无忧无虑。我们唯一关心的是假设何尽心的把主人伺候好。我们尽心尽意.

量力而行.这样.主人能从我们的劳动中获益。还有.我们进门就会发现饭菜都替我们准备好

了。天气一冷.我们就可以烤火暖身.有羊皮衣服可穿。而且我们有时间相互交谈.思考我们

的灵魂深处.并向上帝祈祷。我们五十年苦苦寻求.直到现在才找到幸福。〃

17客人哄堂大笑.伊莱亚斯叫道：“不要笑.高尚的先生们。这决非玩笑.而是事实。我们

向您们披露这些.不是给自己解闷的.而是为了你们好啊。〃

18于是客人们停顿了笑声.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."