许愿精灵

Once upon a time there lived a stone-cutter who went every day to a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for gravestones or for houses. He understood very well the kinds of stones wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful workman, he had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite happy and content and asked for nothing better than what he had.

Now, in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to men and helped them in many ways to become rich and prosperous.The stone-cutter, however, had never seen this spirit and only shook his head with an unbelieving air when anyone spoke of it. But a time was coming when he learned to change his opinion.

从前有一位切石匠,他每天都会来到一座大山旁边的巨石前,切割下一块块的石板用以制作石碑或建造房屋。他对不同目的该使用何种石材了如指掌,加上工作细致入微,他赢得了众多顾客支持。因此很长一段时间以来,他感到非常快乐又心满意足,除了现在拥有的一切,他并不奢求什么。

大山里住着一只精灵,它会不时出现在人们面前,通过各种方式让他们富裕兴旺起来。然而这位切石匠从未遇见过精灵,每次有人谈及它时,他总是摇摇头,一副怀疑的样子。不过,一个偶然的机会将改变他的看法。

One day the stone-cutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich man, and saw there all sorts of beautiful things of which he had never even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and heavier, and he said to himself, “Oh, if only I were a rich man and could sleep in a bed with silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should be!”

And a voice answered him, “Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall be!”

At the sound of the voice the stone-cutter looked round but could see nobody. He thought it was all his fancy and picked up his tools and went home, for he did not feel inclined to do any more work that day. But when he reached the little house where he lived, he stood still with amazement, for instead of his wooden hut was a stately palace filled with splendid furniture, and most splendid of all was the bed, in every respect like the one he had envied. He was nearly beside himself with joy, and in his new life the old one was soon forgotten.

一天,切石匠给一个大户人家运送石碑。他在那里看到了琳琅满目的漂亮物件,全都是他想都没想过的东西。突然之间,他的日常工作显得越发艰苦沉重,他自言自语道:“噢,如果我是一个有钱人,可以睡在挂有丝绸的床帘和金色流苏的床上,那该有多幸福啊!”

一个声音回答说:“你的愿望已传达;你将成为一个有钱人!”

切石匠闻声四处观望,却没看见一个人影。他以为这只是自己的幻觉,收拾好工具便回家了,因为他没什么心情继续当天的活儿。但是,当他回到自己居住的小屋时,他惊叹不已,呆立在那儿——眼前的不再是过去那间小木屋,而是一座富丽堂皇的宫殿,里面摆满了华丽的家具,而最奢华的当属那张床——它简直与自己羡慕的那张床一模一样。他欣喜若狂地过上新生活,很快就将过去的生活忘得一干二净。