100个儿童英语小故事: A Bundle of Sticks

 

090 A Bundle of Sticks

There once lived three greedy brothers in a town. Everyday, three brothers fought to get more things. One day, their father called them out to reason with them, "Sons, stop fighting with each other."

However, they still remained greedy. After thinking deeply for a few days, the father came up with a good idea. The father gathered his three sons to express his dying wish.

"I will leave all my assets¹ to one of you who can break off this bundle of sticks." Every son shouted out that he could do it, competing with one another. "That is easy." "Give it to me." The father handed a very large bundle of wooden sticks to them.

The oldest son tried hard to break the bundle off. Nevertheless, the wooden sticks were unbreakable.

The second son snorted at his older brother and challenged in breaking the bundle. He was unable to do it, either. Then, the youngest son came forward. But, the result was the same.

Then, the father divided the bundle into three sets and passed them to each son. "Well, try to break them now." The three sons could break them easily. Then, a smile emerged² on their faces.

The father tenderly advised them, "There is nothing you cannot do if the three of you stand together. Help one another until you die." The three sons shed tears because they were moved by the father's advice.

1 assets   

n.财产；资产

参考例句：

• We capitalized our assets to avoid bankruptcy.我们把资产转作资金以避免破产。

2 emerged   

vi. 浮现, (由某种状态)脱出, (事实)显现出来

参考例句：

• They emerged from the church into the bright daylight. 他们走出教堂来到明亮的日光下。
• The swimmer emerged from the lake. 游泳者从湖水中浮出来。