The golden ax
金斧头
It is a hot summer's day. A woodcutter is cutting wood in the forest.
这是个炎热的夏日，一个砍柴人正在森林里砍柴。
woodcutter1:It's a very hot today. (He wipes his forehead.) But I must cut more wood. My mother is very sick. I must buy her some medicine.
砍柴人甲:今天真热啊！（他擦了擦额头）不过我得再多砍一些柴。妈妈病得很厉害，我得给她买些药。
The woodcutter is busy cutting wood.suddenly, his ax slips from his hands and goes flying into a nearby pond.
砍柴人忙着砍柴。突然，他的斧头从手中滑了出去，飞落到附近的池塘里。
woodcutter1:Oh, no! My ax fell into the pond! That was my only ax! I still have to cut more wood. What shall I do? My poor mother!
砍柴人甲：哦，不！我的斧头掉进了池塘里！那是我唯一的斧头！我还要砍很多柴呢。我该怎么办？我可怜的妈妈！
The woodcutter1 sits near the pond and just stars into the water. Then he starts to cry.
砍柴人坐在池塘边，盯着水面。然后他开始哭泣。
spirit:Young man, why are you crying?
精灵：年轻人，你为什么哭呢？
woodcutter1:My ax fell in the pond. It's my only ax. I can't get it out.
砍柴人甲：我的斧头掉到池塘里了。那是我唯一的斧头，我拿不回来了。
spirit:You are crying because of an ax?
精灵：你是为了一把斧头哭吗？
woodcutter1:No. I am crying because of my poor mother. I have to cut a lot of wood to buy my mother's medicine, but without my ax, I can't cut any wood.
砍柴人甲：不，是因为我可怜的妈妈。我得砍很多柴来给妈妈买药。但是，没有斧头，我一根柴也砍不了。
spirit:Hmmm... well then, I shall find your ax, just wait here.
精灵：嗯.......那好吧，我会找到你的斧头，你在这里等一会。
The spirit disappears into the pond for a few minutes and comes out with a shiny ax.
精灵消失在池塘里，几分钟后，他拿着一把亮闪闪的斧头出来了。
spirit:Is this your ax?
精灵：这是你的斧头吗?
woodcutter1:No, sir. That's not my ax. That ax is made of gold.
砍柴人甲：不是，先生。这不是我的斧头。这把斧头是金子做的。
spirit:Are you sure? Look again!
精灵:你确定吗？再看一下。
woodcutter1:Yes, I am very sure. That's not my ax.
砍柴人甲：没错，我非常确定。那不是我的斧头。
spirit:Wait again. I will be back.
精灵：再等一会。我马上回来。
The spirit disappears into the pond again and comes back with another ax.
精灵再度消失在池塘里，然后带着另外一把斧头出来了。
