提 要

錢不是萬能的，「有錢也買不到快樂」就是證明。幸福快樂與否，在於願意付出的多寡，而能夠付出的，絕不僅僅是金錢。

In a small town, a cloth-weaver named Sam lived with his wife. He could knit excellent clothes and only for royal families, and yet he was not wealthy. But his other counterparts, who were doing the same job, made a great fortune.

Sam felt very sad and said to his wife. "My dear, my weaving quality, and material selection are superior, but we're still this poor. I can hardly support you. Other weavers are rich and wealthy though, they knit inferior quality of clothes. This place doesn't suit me. I am planning to try my luck somewhere else." His wife didn't appreciate the disturbing idea. "Your earnings are sufficient for both of us, we don't have to move," she said.

However, this weaver made up his mind and left for the nearby city for better opportunities. The lady luck smiled on him and he earned three hundred gold coins in three years. Rich and successful Sam he decided to return home.

On his way back, in the middle of the jungle, he heard two voices.

One voice is Destiny, Destiny said: "Action, you shouldn't have supported Sam and let him earn three hundred gold coins. He doesn't need this much money for his livelihood."

The other voice is Action, Action said: "Destiny, I had to honor him according to his hard work. Now, it's up to you. How many gold coins will you let him have?"

Hearing this, Sam checked his bag immediately, it was empty. He had lost all of his gold coins somewhere. He got depressed and thought, how will I face my wife empty-handed?

He discontinued his journey and went back to the town. He worked even harder and earned five hundred gold coins in one year. Finally, he decided to go back to his home.

On his way back, in the mid of the jungle, he again heard those two voices.

Destiny said: "Action, you shouldn't have supported him and let him earn five hundred gold coins in just one year. He doesn't require this much money for his livelihood."

And Action said : "Destiny, I had to reward him, according to his endeavor. Now, it's up to you. How many gold coins will you actually let him have?"

Hearing the voices, Sam immediately checked his bag, all five hundred gold coins were gone. He got very disheartened. "I am unable to face my wife without even a single penny."

When the heartbroken weaver just about to hang himself, he heard a divine voice :

"Don't panic, I'm Destiny, I have taken your money because you don't need that much. But I'm inspired by your diligent deeds. Therefore I grant you to ask for one boon, which I shall grant!"

Sam answered, "Please grant me a thousand gold coins. This is my only wish."

Destiny replied, "Ok, I will grant you. But you have to fulfill one condition. You should go back and live in the houses of two merchants, one is rich, and the other is poor. After a few days, let me know what you learned from their behavior. "

The weaver again went back to the town. He reached the rich merchant's house. The very rich man didn't like guests, he treated Sam in an offensive manner, which makes him could spend only one night at that house.

The next morning, Sam visited another merchant's home. He noticed that the second merchant was not so rich.

But this merchant showed him warm hospitality, treated weaver Sam extremely well, and served the best food he ever had.

The very next morning, the king's servant came with gold coins, which was Destiny awarded Sam for his good deeds.

At night, he again heard a divine voice :

"Should you know by now, we don't need excessive wealth to live a good life.

The wise weaver understood his lesson completely.

解 說

在一個小鎮裡，一個叫山姆的織布師傅與妻子住在一起。他的手工精美，而且只為皇室成員編織，但他並不富有；反倒是其他同行，卻發了大財。

山姆覺得很難過，對妻子說：「親愛的，我織的布料、品質、選材都是最好的，但我們仍然這麼窮。我幾乎不能養活妳；儘管其他織布人編織的品質很差，他們卻賺很多錢。親愛的，這個地方不適合我。我打算到其他地方試試運氣。」他的妻子不喜歡這個令人不安的想法，她說：「你的收入足夠過活了，我們不必搬家。」

但是，這位織布師傅下定了決心，到附近的城鎮尋找更好的機會。幸運女神對他微笑，他在三年中賺了三百枚金幣。成功富有的山姆於是決定回家。

在返家路途的叢林中，他聽到了兩個聲音。

其中一個聲音是「命運」，命運說：「行動，你不應該支持山姆，讓他賺進三百枚金幣。他的生活不需要這麼多錢。」

另一個聲音是「行動」，行動說：「命運，我必須讓他覺得辛勤工作是受尊重的。那麼由你來決定的話，他該擁有幾枚金幣呢？」

聽到這裡，山姆立即檢查背包，裡頭空空如也。他在某個地方弄丟了所有的錢。 沮喪的他心想：「我該如何空手去見妻子？」

他中斷了旅程，回到城鎮，更加努力地工作，一年賺了五百金幣後，他決定回家。

在返家路途的叢林中，他又聽到了這兩個聲音。

命運說：「行動，你不應該支持他，讓他在短短一年內賺五百個金幣。他不需要這麼多錢來維生。」

行動說：「命運，按照他努力程度，我應該獎勵他。那麼由你來決定的話，他該擁有幾枚金幣呢？」

聽兩個聲音說到這裡，山姆又馬上檢查了背包，五百枚金幣都沒了。 他很沮喪：「我連一分錢都無法給我的妻子。」

當傷心欲絕的織布師傅正準備在自己脖上套繩子時，他聽到了神聖的聲音：

「別驚慌，我是『命運』，我拿走你的錢，是因為你不需要那麼多，但是我受到你勤奮的鼓舞。因此，我答應你，無論你要求什麼，都能如願。」

山姆於是要求：「請給我一千枚金幣。這是我唯一的願望。」

命運回答：「好，我答應你，但是必須滿足一個條件，你去與兩個商人同住，一個有錢，另一個窮。幾天後，讓我知道你從他們的行為中學到了什麼。」

織布師傅再次回到鎮上，先到一個富商的家，這個非常有錢的人不喜歡客人，他以令人反感的方式對待山姆，讓他只能在那所房子忍受一晚。

第二天早晨，山姆拜訪另一個商人的家，他發現第二個商人並不富有。但是這位商人熱情好客，把自己最好的食物都拿出來、全心全意招待山姆這位織布師傅。

隔天早上，國王的侍從帶著金幣賞賜來了，這是命運因山姆的勤勉而授予他的。

晚上，他再次聽到了神聖的聲音：

「現在應該知道了吧，我們不需要過多的財富，就能誠心過著富足美好的生活。」

這聰明的織布師傅完全理解他學到的教訓。