A long time ago, there lived a very poor but hard-working boy in a small suburb. His father was so ill that he became bedridden. To earn a living, the boy woke up early in the morning and went into the jungle to chop wood for sale in the suburb.
One particular day, the boy carded his axe and went into the jungle as usual. When he was near a lake, he saw a big tree. He climbed up the tree and tried to chop some branches. Suddenly his axe slipped and fell into the lake. The boy started crying because he had lost the one tool he needed to earn his living.
Suddenly the water surface rippled and an old man appeared. Seeing that the boy was frightened, he said, “My boy, please do not be afraid. Tell me why you are crying so sadly.”
“My axe dropped into the water. I need it to earn a living to care for my sickly father.”
“Let me search for it,” said the old man. Then he disappeared into the water and the lake became calm again. After a while, the water surface rippled again and the old man reappeared. In his hand was a shining golden axe.
“Is this your axe?” asked the old man.
“This axe is beautiful, but it is not mine,” said the boy.
“Well, let me go in and search once more.” The old man disappeared into the water again. A moment later, he reappeared. This time, he was holding a silver axe.
“Is this your axe?” asked the old man.
“No, mine is just an ordinary one, not made of gold or silver,” replied the boy.
“All right, let me go in and search again.” He then disappeared into the water.
He reappeared this time carrying the boy's axe.
“Yes, yes, that is mine!” shouted the boy excitedly.
The old man said, “My dear boy, I am so pleased that you are such an honest person. I am giving the golden and silver axes to you. You can then find a good doctor and I am sure your father will recover very soon.” The old man then disappeared into the water.
The boy sold both the axes. With the money, he managed to find a good doctor and soon cured his father of his illness.
先逐字读一遍短文，不认识的不着急查词典，读完一遍，不熟悉的生词大约心中有数了，再回头仔细读一遍，有生词的部分，细读，根据上下文猜测一下意思。如果手头有纸笔不妨写下来。最好通读三遍，文章的大约意思估计也就明白八九不离十了。再逐字查阅生词，最后再对照译文，通读一两遍。还有疑难不解的地方做好笔记请教他人。
hard-working
英[ˌhɑːd ˈwɜːkɪŋ]美[ˌhɑːrd ˈwɜːrkɪŋ]
adj.勤奋的; 辛勤的; 工作努力的;
We are looking for someone who is reliable and hard-working.
我们在物色可靠而又勤奋的人。
Hard-working：这是一个形容词，意为“努力的；辛勤的”。可以作定语和表语。
Hard work：这是一个名词短语，意为“辛苦的工作”。这里的hard 是形容词，修饰不可数名词work.
He was unaccustomed to hard work.
他不习惯艰苦工作。
bedridden
英 [ˈbedrɪdn] 美 [ˈbedrɪdn]
adj. 卧床不起的
Someone who is bedridden is so ill or disabled that they cannot get out of bed. 卧床不起的
He had to spend two years bedridden with an injury.
因受伤他不得不两年卧床不起。
to earn a living
英[tu ɜːn ə ˈlɪvɪŋ]美[tu ɜːrn ə ˈlɪvɪŋ]
谋生;
What a lovely way to earn a living
谋生妙道啊！
carded
英 [ˈkɑːdɪd] 美 [ˈkɑːrdɪd]
v. （用钢丝刷）梳理；要求出示身份证（尤其在购买酒类时）；向……出示红（黄）牌（card 的过去式和过去分词）
the boy carded his axe，这里存疑，card最常见的是名词的纸牌的意思。做动词比较少见。这里通常翻译成磨斧子。
ripple
英 [ˈrɪp(ə)l] 美 [ˈrɪpl]
n. 涟漪；（外观或运动）如波纹的东西；（声音的）传播起伏，（感情的）逐渐扩散；连锁反应；彩条冰淇淋；表面张力波；脉动
v. （使）如波浪般起伏；（情绪）波动，（声音）荡漾；发出潺潺声
When the surface of an area of water ripples or when something ripples it, a number of little waves appear on it. 使泛起涟漪; 泛起涟漪
You throw a pebble in a pool and it ripples.
你把卵石扔进水池里，水面就泛起涟漪。
frighten
英 [ˈfraɪtn] 美 [ˈfraɪtn]
v. 使惊吓，使惊恐
If something or someone frightens you, they cause you to suddenly feel afraid, anxious, or nervous. 使惊恐
He knew that Soli was trying to frighten him, so he smiled to hide his fear.
他知道索利想吓唬他，因此微笑着掩饰自己的恐惧。
很久以前，郊外住着一个小男孩，他很穷却很勤劳。他的父亲生了很重的病，卧床不起。为了维持生计，小男孩每天早上很早就起床到丛林里砍木头，然后到郊区去卖。
有一天，小男孩磨好斧子，像平常一样走进丛林里。走到湖边时，他看见一棵大树。他爬上大树，想砍些树枝。突然斧子一滑，掉进湖里。男孩哭了起来，因为工具一丢，就没法挣钱养家了。
突然水面泛起涟漪，一个老头儿出现了。男孩吓了一跳，老头儿说：“孩子，别害怕。跟我说说你为什么哭得这么伤心啊？”
“我的斧子掉进水里去了。我还得用它养活全家，照顾我生病的父亲呢。”
“我帮你找找吧。”老头儿说完消失在水里，湖面重归平静。不一会儿，水面有了动静，老头儿又出现了，手里拿着亮闪闪的金斧子。
“这把是你的斧子吗？”老头儿问。
“这把斧子虽然很漂亮，可它不是我的那把。”男孩说。
“好吧，那我再进水里找找。”老头儿又消失在水里。一会儿，他出现了，这次手里举着一把银斧子。
“这是你的斧子吗？”老头儿问。
“不是，我那把就是普通的斧子，不是金的也不是银的。”男孩回答。
“好吧，我再进去找找。”说完，老头儿又钻进水里去了。 这次老头手里拿着男孩的斧子。 “对，对，我的就是这把！”男孩兴奋地喊起来。
老头儿说：“好孩子，你这么诚实，我真高兴。现在我要把这金斧子和银斧子都送给你。你可以去找个好大夫，我相信你父亲很快就会好起来的。”说完，老头儿就钻进湖里不见了。
男孩卖了两把斧子，拿着钱请了一个好大夫，很快，他的父亲就痊愈了。
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