The Wooden Bowl
木碗的故事
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about Grandfather,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed their dinners together.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food when you get old.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband or wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy homeatmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day building blocks are being laid for the child’s future.
Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, and those you love, today and every day!
译文
一个体弱多病的老人跟自己的儿子、儿媳和4岁的孙子住在了一起。老人经常双手颤抖、眼神模糊、步履不稳。全家人一起吃饭，但老人颤抖的双手和模糊的视觉让他进食非常困难，豌豆不住地从他的勺边滑到地上，而当他要拿杯子时，牛奶又洒了一桌布。
儿子和儿媳渐渐沉不住气了。“我们必须想办法安顿老爷子，”儿子说。“我已受够了乱溅的牛奶、他吃饭时的噪声，还有满地的食物。”因此，夫妇俩在角落处设了一张小桌子，每次吃饭时让老人一个人在那里吃，其他人则享受着全家聚餐。
自从老人不慎打破了一两个碟子后，每次他的食物都盛放在一只木碗里端出来。一家人偶尔朝老人望去时，有时会看到他孤独地坐在那里不住地掉眼泪。可是，夫妇俩仍执迷不悟，仍会因为他有时不慎掉了叉子或弄撒食物对他恶语相向。
4岁的孙子静静地注视着这一切。一天晚上开饭前，父亲看到儿子在玩弄地上的木屑，他就温柔地问道：“你在做什么？”小男孩以同样温和的语气答道：“哦，我在给你和妈妈做小木碗，等你们将来老了以后，我就拿出来用它伺候你们。”他笑了笑，便又继续玩起来。
这番话让夫妇俩顿时惊讶无语，泪水便顺着面颊不停地往下流。尽管一言不发，但他们俩都知道该怎么做了。那一晚，丈夫握住老人的手，轻柔地将他搀扶到家庭餐桌前，此后老人吃饭时就再也没有离开过这张餐桌，而且不知为什么，不管是丈夫还是妻子都没有再嫌弃过掉到地上的叉子、飞溅的牛奶或浸湿的桌布。
孩子的感知力很强，他们的眼睛经常观察，耳朵经常聆听，思维经常受到吸收的信息的影响。如果他们看到我们能全家幸福和谐，他们以后也会那样做。聪明的家长会意识到每天落成的建筑物其实都是为孩子的未来铺垫的。
让我们都成为聪明的建筑师和榜样。照顾好你自己和你所爱的人，每天、每时、每秒！
拓展训练
An old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-low, and 4 -year-old grandson. The old man’s hands___1___, his eyesight was not clear, and his ____2__ unsteady（不稳定的）. The family were __3___ every night at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and ___4___ sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, ____5__would often spill on the tablecloth.“We must do something about Grandfather,” said the husband.
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate ___6___in the corner while the rest of the family enjoyed dinners at the dinner table. ___7___Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a ___8___bowl. Sometimes, when the family __9___ grandfather, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone.___10___, the only words the couple had for him were sharp ___11___when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched all this __12___.
One evening before supper, the father __13____his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as___14___, the boy answered, “Oh, I am making a little ___15___for you and Mama to eat your food from when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to___16___ on it.
The words ___17___ the parents so much that they were__18___. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. ____19___no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and ___20____led him back to the family table.
1. A wounded B moved C trembled D dragged
2. A step B feet C speech D body
3. A away B together C asleep D apart
4. A losing B failing C disappearing D rising
5. A food B pan C milk D dinner
6. A alone B casually C steadily D bitterly
7. A After B Since C While D When
8. A small B safe C big D wooden
9. A glanced at B stared at C looked through D looked after
10. A However B Otherwise C Still D Rather
11. A comments B quarrels C warnings D remark
12. A in silence B in advance C in danger D in charge
13. A researched B noticed C searched D explored
14. A firmly B suddenly C cruelly D sweetly
15. A bowl B cup C spoon D pan
16. A worship B work C whisper D weave
17. A impressed B touched C confused D struck
18. A speechless B homeless C fearless D hopeless
19. A Once B Whether C Though D Unless
20. A gently B happily C fluently D fortunately
答案：CABBC ABDAC CABDA BDACA