隽永英文小故事 (71)
Shark Attack
It was a hot, sunny day. The waves off Santa Barbara were almost three feet high because of a distant Pacific storm. Surfers were having fun. Then the fun ended. One surfer started yelling. Surfers on the beach saw him swinging his arms. He went under water. Then he came back up, shouting for help.
"He was in big trouble," said one woman on shore. She called 911. He was still shouting and fighting. They could not see a shark, but they knew the surfer was being attacked by one. Again, the surfer went under. Four surfers hopped onto their boards and swam rapidly out to the surfer. By the time they got to him, he was alone. The shark had given up on the taste of the rubber wetsuit and the battle that the surfer had put up.
The 24-year-old man was groaning in pain, but he was still alive. The surfers put him on a board and paddled back to shore. "I don't think he's going to make it," said someone on the beach. "Look at that leg."
A helicopter arrived shortly afterward. Paramedics hopped out and examined the victim. They thanked the surfers and the woman for their aid, and put the man into the chopper. A hospital spokesman said an hour later that the surfer would survive—he was in fair condition. Meanwhile, because there was nothing they could do and because the waves were still good, most of the surfers were out on their boards.。
隽永英文小故事 (74)
Joe’s PondJoe made the world a better place. He got the idea to do that at school. He watched a video there. It was about a factory. This factory produced a lot of trash and put it in a river. The trash and water were a bad mix. People populated the area by the river and drank its water. This made them sick. Many of them needed medicine and made regular visits to doctors.But the video wasn’t all bad news. It showed ways to pick up trash and why it’s important to do this. It said people can make a differe nce to their environment. The video’s important features made Joe associate trash with hurting people.One day Joe walked through a park. He recognized some of the problems from the video. One instance of these problems was the trash in the pond. It was full of plastic cups. There was too much trash. Joe didn’t want it to hurt anyone.He told his grandfather about the park. His grandfather said, “You know, it’s a tradition in our family to help people. That’s why we give food to poor people. Maybe you can h elp people by cleaning the park.”Cleaning the park would involve hard work. Joe decided to organize a group to help him. He chose a wide area of the park. It had the most trash. He asked his family and friends to come. On Saturday, he gave everyone a sharp stick. They wondered why. He said, “You use the stick’s tip to pick up trash. This makes it easier.” They worked for six weeks. Different people helped each time, but Joe was always there.In that period of time, Joe saw a range of results. There was no trash in the water. People could swim in it. Joe knew that was a good sign. He was happy because he helped his environment.。
隽永英文小故事 (73)
Lazy JackOnce upon a time, in a small village, a lazy boy called Jack lived with his mother. He was so lazy that he found it very difficult to move even his fingers. His mother worked as a servant maid in town homes and earned for herself and her son. People started to call him Lazy Jack and Jack’s mother was totally irritated and worried about her son.One day, she fell sick and was feeling fever severely. She was bed-ridden for two days and could not go to work. She asked her son to earn something for them; otherwise there won’t be anything to eat.Lazy Jack finally understood her mother’s health and their poverty. He promised her mother to bring something and went on to search for a work.A farmer offered him work in his land and paid two pennies for Jack’s work.Jack thanked him and rushed to home with the pennies in hand. As he was running to home, he did not notice the pennies rolled down from his hand. He could not find the coins and reached home with unhappy face.He told the incident to his mom. Jack’s mom told him, ‘dear Jack, next time, you put them in your pocket, so that they won’t fall!’The next day, a milkman offered Jack a job. Jack was offered a jar of milk as wages for his work. As told by his mother, he poured the milk into his pocket and ran towards his mom.His mom recognized what would have happened after seeing Jack’s dress. She told him,’ Jack, you should have carried the milk jar on your head. Don’t worry. But be careful next time!’Next time also Jack worked for the milkman and he went to the milkman’s farm early in the morning. The work got completed before the noon and Jack was paid a bar of cheese for his work. Jack was happy and as told by his mother, he carried the cheese bar on his head. Since it was a sunny day and very hot in the noon, all the cheese melted away.Jack told his mom that all cheese melted. His mother told, he should have carried the cheese in his hands and asked him to do correctly next time.The next day, he went to work in cattle. The owner of the cattle farm offered him a little kitten for him towards wages as Jack liked the kitten very much. He carried the kitten on his hands. The little kitten jumped from his hands and ran away. Jack was sad and told his mother he lost the kitten too.His mom told, he should have tied a rope and dragged the kitten on the road.For the next two days, he went to work in a farm again and returned home with a huge piece of meat. He tied the meat with a rope and dragged it on the road. The meat was spoiled and his mom shouted at him as he could not do anything properly.Later sometime, she consoled him and told him that he should have carried the meat on his shoulders.Jack went to nearby town for work and returned home after a week. For his hard work, he was rewarded with a donkey and he carried the donkey on his shoulders.A young girl around 8 years of age who saw Jack carrying the donkey on shoulders started to laugh and she laughed continuously for long time. Her dad, who was the richest person in the town, was so happy and was in tears. He thanked Jack as he made her daughter laugh after 5 years. Jack realized his mistakes and foolishness he done then and before. But at the same time his foolishness made that rich man’s daughter laugh. He took the rich man and his daughter to his home. The rich man offered them work and shelter in his bungalow. From that incident, he tried to do everything properly without any mistakes and foolishness and they lived happily ever after!。
隽永英文小故事 (97)
Take a BiteHave you ever been bitten? Of course you have. You are surrounded by creatures that might, or do, bite. Even as you rest your head on your pillow, bedbugs are probably nibbling away at you. They live happily inside most pillows.Take a walk outside and you are a target for "man's best friend." Hundreds of dog-bite victims visit US emergency rooms daily. Many bites are terrible. A vicious attack on a young woman in France led to the first face transplant. To avoid the dogs in your neighborhood, you might want to hike into the desert or the woods. There, you run the risk of bites from rattlesnakes, scorpions, and blood-sucking ticks. Not to mention bears, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions. Even as they are becoming a threatened species, mountain lions are a growing threat in southern California as man continues to reduce their hunting areas by building housing tract after housing tract.Speaking of housing, watch where you go in your house or garage. Shy but deadly, the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider make themselves comfortable in quiet areas of your closets or garage. One bite from either of them can make you very sick; occasionally, people die from such bites. Unfortunately, many people fear all spiders, not just the few dangerous ones. They squash them or run from them at first sight, not realizing that most spiders are actually beneficial to man.If you're concerned about bites, don't forget about rabid animal bites. Any warm-blooded animal can get infected with rabies. Although humans in the US rarely get attacked by rabid animals, the disease is painful and dangerous. You will most likely die if you are not treated properly within 48 hours of being bitten.。
隽永英文小故事 (175)
The Mother's HeartIF children could realize how indifference and disrespect to parents wound the heart, they would never offend in that way. "Honor thy father and thy mother," is one of the first commands, and was intended to be obeyed as much as any other. When one of God's commands is disobeyed, a penalty is sure to follow, whether the transgressor realizes the cause or not. It may be that every disappointment, loss, sickness or affliction is a penalty merci- fully appointed to pay the debt here instead of here-after. If so, what a load we would carry with us into the next life to our great shame and hindrance if we do not expiate, in part, our faults while here.If a person should make you a costly present, you would entertain the most pleasant feelings toward that one; your countenance would brighten and your step hasten to do some kindness in return, and this you would perhaps consider almost nothing in comparison. Yet, to those who gave you the first smile and welcome, shelter, food and clothing, loving care and teaching, do you respond as willingly ? If so, how sweet must be the thought ; if not, there will be much to regret some day.If you were making some beautiful article for yourself, your time and materials being limited, and you should mar your workmanship beyond repairing, how sorrowful you would be ; but the spirit and the record you are moulding are what money cannot create or replace; neither can time efface from the faithful records of the heart, the vivid picture of a misused opportunity, an injured work of the soul. There is some consolation in the knowledge that repentance cancels part of the offense, if not its result; but the heart that never repents or seeks to amend its wrongs, the heart that fosters ingratitude, is cultivating an element that will at last destroy every bright attribute and hope.Let me tell you a story or two from life to show you the tenderness of a mother's heart, its long, enduring love.A woman past sixty years of age, a tailoress, lived near me. She had sons and grandchildren, and was very kind to them all, constantly helping to provide for the families, and even now and then lending some poor man or woman a sum of money to start business with; always cheerful and hopeful in her ways, and never idle. Early and late her sewing-machine was hurrying, and some persons hinted that she must have riches hoarded up. One day a young woman entered the shop, and the tailoress looking at the baby she carried in her arms, the baby responded with a coo and a spring toward her. "What do you think of my baby ? Just take her a minute," said the young mother. The gray-haired woman drew back, and a strange look came over her face. "I have never held a girl-baby in my arms since my own little girl died I cannot! " said she. "How long ago was that?" tenderly asked theyoung mother. "Thirty years," answered the poor woman, and the tears came so fast she had to wipe them away, and the rest of us had to wipe our eyes too. Long as we had known her, we had never had a thought that a secret, beautiful and sacred sorrow was hidden in her heart, but I know that ever afterward we who were in her shop that afternoon always spoke with tenderness to the poor old woman, as though we were partners in her sorrow.THE GRA VE AT NEPHI.There was another old woman, quite an eccentric person, whom some young folks used to smile at when she came to their houses with her basket of lace and other small things ; she was so lofty about her business, as though it were vastly more important than it really was, and so cheerful about it, as though it was a very delightful way of making her living. "I'm sorry you have to earn your living this way," said a young lady to her one day. " Why, my dear, it's just as well as for your father to be selling furniture the year around; I only has to earn a little bit for myself, and it brings in all I need, and I gets acquainted with lots of fine young folks, and I sees all the pretty things as I pass along as well as if I was riding, and I gets refreshed a bit, and when I goes home I've lots to think over that I've seen through the day, and that's better than sitting alone and fretting. I'm well off, my dear, to get what I need and lay a bit by for a future day." We all felt a little touched, and when she missed coming next week we hardly knew what to think, but the week after she came again, and we inquired if she had been sick. "No, my dears, I have been down to Nephi on the excursion train to visit my daughter." "Why, we didn't know you had a child living." "And I hasn't, my dears; my daughter has been dead and buried these eighteen years; only nineteen when she died; and every year I goes down once in the summer and takes my bouquet of flowers to lay on her grave, and I has my bread and cheese and bottle of cold tea, and I sits down by her grave till sundown, and we has a comfortable time together that lasts till I goes again."Do you think we felt like smiling slyly at her odd ways after that? One of us went out and brought a tray with refreshments, and never forgot to do the same thing in all her after calls. She had kept her Decoration-day years before it had become a national custom.Let me tell you of another mother's faithful heart. This woman had such love for children, such tender pity for the orphan, that she had, when we first met her, raised three adopted children of different parentage. One day a person said to her, "You never had a child of your own, did you?" "Yes, I have got a son of my own," proudly answered the dear old lady. The questioner paused in surprise, and thought, "Perhaps she left him for the Gospel's sake," and respectfully pursued, " Did you leave him in the old country?" "Yes, I have left my dear boy in the old country.""How old is he? and does he write to you?" "He does not write to me; he is twenty- three years old. He died when he was five." "Died? then you have not got him now!" "Yes, I have got him now; I have got him all the time, I have never lose him, he is mine."Children, let these brief stories prove to you that each heart bears its own hidden, sweet history, and do be careful when meeting the aged, the poor and numble, to speak kindly and show them respect; perhaps this is all you can ever do for them, and you little know what might be revealed to claim your pity and admiration.。
隽永英文小故事 (70)
"Semper Buy"Semper Fi means Always Faithful. It's the motto of the Marine Corps, which is a segment of the US Navy. The Marines do whatever the federal government tells them to do, and the government always talks about how important the Marines are and how grateful the government is. So when a former marine, James Reid, recently applied for a Purple Heart for a wound that he received while serving in the Korean War more than 50 years ago, he expected no problems. But a Navy official said that they had no more Purple Hearts. If Reid wanted one, he could buy it at a military supply store. "They're only $42," said Arthur Chertoff. "It's not exactly like buying a new car."However, the 75-year-old Reid subsists on a military pension that barely covers his rent. His daughter and son send him money for food, transportation, and other expenses. "Well, then, let your kids pay for it," Chertoff said when Reid told him that he depended on his kids for living expenses. So Reid asked his son for $42 for the medal. His son got so upset about the ungratefulness of the Navy that he called the local newspaper.The local newspaper printed a front page article about how the Navy couldn't be bothered to pay for and present Reid his Purple Heart 50 years after his injury. Network television news picked up the story. The Navy, of course, was immediately embarrassed. Somehow, officials found the money and the time to buy Reid his Purple Heart and even make a ceremonial presentation."We are always eager and happy to show that we take care of our own," said the broadly smiling Chertoff as he presented Reid the medal in front of TV news cameras. "Thank you so much for your service to your country."。
隽永英文小故事 (61)
Two FishermenThere were two fishermen who where close pals. They used to catch fish together on weekends. Since they were busy in their personal work and family, they hardly spend time together. It was a Saturday and they decided to drive to a nearby pond to enjoy their day in fishing. Also, they wanted to have some feast with the fish they catch.Both carried essential utensils, cooking accessories, ingredients and fishing equipments. They reached the pond.They sat at a distance and started hunting for the fish. The first fisherman got a big and beautiful fish in a few minutes. He was so happy and placed the fish in the ice box to retain the freshness. He decided to cook the fish as a whole fish in the noon. He spent some more time and captured a few more fishes. He decided to make a grand meal with the fish. Also, he froze a few fishes to take it back to home.It was almost more than an hour they were fishing. He then approached the second fisherman and asked him if he need any help. The second man said no. In a few minutes, the second fisherman captured a large fish. However, he put that back into the lake.The first man was surprised at his act. He remained silent. The second man captured many big fishes, but he just put back all those fishes into the lake.Very annoyed by his act, the first fisherman angrily asked him, ‘Are you mad? Why do you put your fishes back into the water? They were beautiful and big!’The second fisherman replied, ‘I know they were big, but I don’t have the bigpan to cook the big fish! So I’m looking for a smaller fish that fits my cooking pan! The god is troubling me today.’By hearing this, the first fisherman was surprised. He advised the second fisherman to cut the big fish into small pieces to suit in the pan and cook them properly.Many people are just like the second fisherman. We are provided with handful of big opportunities, chances and even fortune that we many times overlook. We need to work out just the same like the big fish fit into a small pan.God will always give massive possibilities as well as problems that we can handle effortlessly. Everything given to us is within our means. Tell your problems that you have god with you rather than telling the god that you have problems.。
隽永英文小故事 (90)
Over the PorridgeTHEY sat down to eat their porridge. The naughty little girl turned her back upon her sister, and put a large spoonful into her mouth.“Oh oh oh!" she cried, "I have burnt my tongue."“Eat it slowly," said the good little sister. She to ok up her porridge carefully, and after blowing it very gently, and waiting for a minute or two while it cooled, ate it, and found it very nice."I shall not eat mine until it is quite cold," said Totsey, getting cross."Then it will be nasty," said the good little sister, still going on with her own porridge."Oh, dear," said Totsey, "if I eat it too hot it burns me, and if I eat it too cold it's nasty. What shall I do?“Take it as I do mine," said the good little sister. "It is the right way."“There are two wrong ways and only one right way; it isn't fair," sighed the naughty little girl. "And, oh! my porridge is so nasty." Then she asked, “Did you ever eat your porridge too hot and burn your tongue?""No," answered the good little sister; "I never ate my porridge too hot and burnt my tongue."“Did you ever eat your porridge when it was quite cold and very nasty?”"No," answered the good little sister again; "I never ate my porridge when it was quite cold and very nasty.""Well, I have," said Totsey ; " and so I know about two things that you do not know about." And the naughty little sister got up and walked away, and the good little sister sat still and thought about many things.。
隽永英文小故事 (85)
Naughty SonuLet’s get to know Sonu! He is a sweet but naughty 10-year-old boy. He is mischievous, full of fun and yet very smart. People tend to be careful with Sonu as he outsmarts them easily. Sonu is the typical kid; he could be your kid, your neighbo r’s kid, a relative, or just about any kid. Read on to find more about Sonu’s theatricals, tricks, and acts of innocence.Sonu in the ZooOnce, during a holiday, Sonu’s father took him to the zoo. His father was explaining everything, and he listened carefully to his father. He was so silent as he was observing everything and listening to each word. His father told him about the species, food habits, lifestyle habits, activities, etc., of birds and animals. They went to see a tiger. Sonu’s father explained how ferocious and fierce the tigers were.Sonu listed to all of this very attentively and asked his father, ‘Dad, you told me that tigers are very ferocious animals. What happens if the tiger jumps out of his cage?’His dad remained silent! Sonu added, ‘Please dad, tell me the way back home, so that I can escape from the tiger, while the tiger is eating you!’His dad stood still!A Black KnotSonu was so playful that he often forgot many things. Nilu was one of Sonu’s good friends. They were classmates and studied together. During holidays, Nilu often met Sonu in a park.Once, when they were playing in the park, Nilu saw a black thread tied to Sonu’s wrist. Nilu never saw Sonu wearing any bands or threads on his hand before. Although initially hesitant, Nilu finally asked Sonu why he was wearing a black thread with a big knot!Sonu said, ‘It was tied by my mother. Since I have this forgetful habit, my mother tied this knot to remind me that I should not forget to post her letter!’ Nilu then asked, ‘Wher e is the letter, you have nothing in your hand and you are not carrying any bag!’Sonu laughed and said, ‘My mom forgot to give me the letter that I was supposed to post!’Both of them found this funny, and were rolling on the ground with laughter!Sonu And A BeggarSonu was participating in a health campaign that highlighted issues on health, hygiene, and cleanliness. He was a volunteer issuing pamphlets about maintaininghygiene to ensure good health to the public. There he saw a dirty man, begging for money.The beggar approached Sonu. Since he was part of the health campaign, he issued a health pamphlet and started to talk about the cleanliness, as the beggar was very dirty. He told Sonu, ‘Boy, I don’t need your pamphlets or advice. I need money for f ood!’Sonu asked the beggar, ‘Why do you beg for money? Don’t you ever get ashamed of begging? It is totally shameful!’The beggar smiled and said, ‘Dear boy, I feel ashamed of asking for money. But when I took money without asking, the police arrested me and took me to jail!’ Sonu was left speechless!Mosquito NetSonu went to market to buy a mosquito net. He requested the shopkeeper to show him quality mosquito nets. The shopkeeper showed him some best quality nets.Sonu was a bit confused to pick the right net. After a while, he picked two nets. Sonu asked the shopkeeper to explain about the two nets. The shopkeeper told him that both are same, except the color and brand. He added that ‘You have picked the best nets. You cannot get better quality nets elsewhere. Not even a single mosquito can enter through the net. You can enjoy undisturbed sleep!’Sonu was silent and left the place, saying that he would come back.Sonu’s father asked why he came home without buying a net. Sonu replied, ‘The shopkeeper told me that not even a single mosquito can enter through the net. Since we are bigger than a mosquito, how are we to enter through the net?Sonu’s father roared in laughter!。
隽永英文小故事 (87)
Man Leaves $50K to WaitressA waitress who worked in a truck stop restaurant received $50,000 in a will. The popular Do-Drop-In Truck Stop is on interstate 10 just west of El Paso, Texas. It's open 24/7, and it seats 80. Matthew had been a regular customer there for the last ten years. He was 70 when he started eating breakfast there. He drove a 1980 Cadillac that was missing three of its hubcaps. The car looked like it hadn't been washed since 1981.Matthew was a skinny, bald guy. He wore glasses that sat crooked on his nose, and he was missing one of his front teeth. Every so often he joked about his missing tooth. "Ask me what happened to it," he would ask his waitress. She would ask. "I ran into a door," he would reply, and then laugh like it was the funniest joke in the world. Most waitresses thought he was a little weird. Each of them hoped he wouldn't sit in her section. He usually sat at a four-person booth all by himself. He often spilled food onto the table and seat. To make matters worse, he was a terrible tipper—one dollar was it, even though he usually had several free refills of black coffee."Oh, he's just a harmless, lonely old guy," said Amber. Matthew had taken a shine to Amber. After the first couple of months of eating at Do-Drop-In, he made it a point to sit in her section. He had other jokes which he shared with Amber, but they were as bad as his tooth joke. She laughed at them anyway.Whenever the other waitresses saw Matthew pulling up in his old car, they would tell Amber that her "boyfriend" had arrived. They teased Amber about the day the elderly Matthew would propose to her."What are you going to tell him?" asked Chelsea. "If you say no, he might go home and drink himself to death. If you say yes, the shock might give him a heart attack." Amber put up with her coworkers' jokes.Matthew continued to visit the Do-Drop-In regularly, but never proposed to Amber. The last time he ate breakfast there, he told her he was not feeling well. That's why he didn't finish the pancakes, he said. And he had only one refill of coffee. For the first time ever, he left Amber a two-dollar tip. She tried to return one dollar, figuring that he had made a mistake. He said no, she had earned that second dollar. She thanked him.In his will, Matthew left a dollar each to the Republican and Democratic parties; the rest of his money, $50,000, he left to Amber. He noted in his will that Amber's friendly smile was the "syrup on my pancakes." Amber's coworkers were happy for her, at first.But later, when she hadn't offered to share her money with them, some of themgot angry. "You're supposed to share the tips," said Chelsea. "We've always pooled all the tips for each shift, and then distributed the total amount equally. This $50,000 was just an extra-large tip from a regular customer, and she should share it with the rest of the breakfast crew."。
隽永英文小故事 (76)
Six Feet UnderSix coal miners in Utah were trapped 1,500 feet underground when the support beams collapsed. Digging was immediately started in an effort to rescue the six. Five volunteer miners risked their lives to descend down to the location of the cave-in. A day later, another cave-in occurred, killing three of the five would-be rescuers. All five were pulled out of the mine.The government banned any further attempts at rescue by men. Instead, machines would be used to burrow into the ground. Listening devices would be able to detect any human activity, and probes would be able to detect the amount of oxygen present. Even though most people figured that the original six had died almost immediately, five more holes were dug during the next two weeks in an effort to find, and deliver food and water to, survivors. This effort was made more difficult because searchers did not know the exact location of the original cave-in.After the fourth, fifth, and sixth digs had produced no positive results, the owner of the mine said that was it. Enough was enough. He had done all he could do, and after two weeks of no food and water, it was impossible that anyone could still be alive. The families of the six miners were outraged, telling the media that the owner had given only lip service to rescue attempts. They planned to sue.。