提 要

人生的路途多變，每個選擇都蘊涵不可預知的未來，選對了，未來充滿希望；選錯了，很可能前途茫茫，甚至會給自己帶來傷痛。想主宰自己命運，除了要智慧地選擇，還應該腳踏實地動手做，因為幸福正是「掌握在自己手中」。

Long ago, there lived three brothers. They had a small firm and little cottage, in which they lived. The eldest brother, Tom, worked hard in the firm while his lazy and selfish brothers, Jerry and Peter, ate and slept all day.

It was difficult to meet the needs of the family with the meager income that Tom said to his brothers, "It's not possible to carry on like this, brothers! I will go out, seek my fortune, and become rich so I can provide for both of you." Jerry and Peter didn't like the idea. "Why should Tom become rich?" they said each other, "We should go out and seek our fortune too!"

So, the selfish brothers devised a plan and went to Tom. "Brother! I have realized my responsibilities," said Jerry.

"I will go out, seek my fortune and become rich so I can share your burden." "As you wish, dear Jerry!" smiled Tom. That day at breakfast, Jerry pretended to be very loving and caring. "Eat well, Peter," he said, "and don't worry; I shall soon return rich!" He then took leave of his brothers and started on his journey.

He kept walking throughout the day. By late evening, hungry and tired Jerry reached a village. He went up to a hut and knocked at the door. An old woman answered, "Who's there?"

"I'm a traveler," Jerry replied. "Can I stay here for the night?" "Only if you remove all the stars from that pool!" said the old woman, pointing to a pool of water.

Jerry thought, "How can I remove those stars? They are nothing but a reflection of the sky!" Puzzled and exhausted, he returned home and said to his family, "I couldn't find my fortune anywhere!"

Next, Peter decided to try his luck and left home. Wandering, he too reached the old woman's hut and was asked to fish out the stars from the pool. "How is that possible?" he thought and returned home. "Nowhere could I find my fortune!" sadly he said.

Now it was Tom's turn. When he reached the old woman's hut, he too was asked to perform the same task. He humbly asked for a bucket, which the old woman gave him. Tom waded into the pool and began to throw out bucketfuls of water. He worked hard all night, until the pool was completely dry.

In the morning when the old woman came out of her hut, Tom showed her the dry pit and said, "I have removed all the stars." "Oh good mother!" The old woman was pleased. She led him to a huge farm and said, "This is your reward. From today, you are the owner of this farm!" Tom thanked the old woman and returned home a rich man.

"I have found my fortune!" he announced." But where?" asked his brothers. "I found it in my own hands!" replied Tom. He then told them all that had happened. His lazy brothers resolved to work hard from that day. And they lived happily for the rest of their lives.

解 說

很久以前，有著擁有一個小公司的三兄弟，他們住在小屋裡。大哥湯姆在公司裡努力工作，而他那懶惰又自私的兩個弟弟傑瑞和彼得，則整天只顧著吃飯睡覺。

家裡入不敷出了，湯姆對他的兄弟說，「不能這樣繼續下去了，兄弟！我將出去尋找財富，成為富有的人之後，就可以供養你們倆。」傑瑞和彼得不喜歡這主意，「為什麼讓湯姆變富有？」他們對彼此說，「應該出去找我們的財富！」

於是，自私的兄弟想出一個點子，去找湯姆說，「兄弟，我察覺自己的責任了！」傑瑞說。

「我會出去尋找財富，變得富有，就可以幫你分擔。」「如你所願，親愛的傑瑞！」湯姆微笑著說。那天早餐，傑瑞擺出愛與關懷的嘴臉： 「好好吃，彼得，」他說，「別擔心，我很快就會變得富有回來！」然後他離開兄弟，開始了他的旅程。

他走了一整天的路，即將入夜時，飢餓疲憊的傑瑞進了一個村莊。他到一個小屋敲門，一名老婦回答：「是誰啊？」

「我是一個旅者，」傑瑞回答，「我可以留在這裡過夜嗎？」 「除非你移除那池裡所有的星星！」老婦人指著一個池塘說。

傑瑞心想，「我怎麼能除去那些星星？它們只是天空的反射！」困惑又疲憊的他回家了，對家人說：「我遍尋不著財富！」

接著，彼得決定試試他的運氣，離家到處徘徊，他也到了同一位老婦人的小屋，也被要求從池裡「釣出那些星星」。 「怎麼可能呢？」他也回家了，「沒有哪裡可以找到我的財富！」他悲傷地說。

現在該湯姆動身了，當他走到老婦人的小屋，他也被要求完成相同的差事。他低聲下氣要求給他一個桶，老婦人給了他。湯姆涉水進池塘，開始一桶一桶地舀水。他整夜努力工作，直到池水全乾。

到了早上，當老婦人從她的小屋出來，湯姆指著乾池塘說：「我已經除去了所有的星星。」「哇，好哦！」老婦人很高興，帶湯姆去一個大農場，說：「這是你的報酬，從今天起，你就是這個農場的主人！」湯姆謝過老婦人，變為富人回家了。

「我找到我的財富了！」湯姆宣布。「但是…在哪裡？」兩兄弟問他們的哥哥。「我發現，財富在自己的手中！」湯姆回答。然後他告訴兩個弟弟發生的一切事情。他的兩個懶惰兄弟決心從那一天起努力工作，他們從此幸福地生活。