Story Brief

The Ass Carrying Salt

 A certain huckster who kept an ass, hearing that salt was to be had cheap at the seaside, drove his ass there to buy some. Having loaded the beast as much as he could bear, he was driving him home, when, as they were passing a slippery ledge of rock, the ass fell into the stream below. The salt melted and the ass was relieved of his burden. Having gained the bank with ease, the ass pursued his journey onward, light in body and in spirit.

The huckster soon afterwards set off for the seashore for some more salt. He loaded the ass, if possible, more heavily than before. On their return, as they crossed the stream into which he had formerly fallen, the ass fell down on purpose and, by dissolving the salt, was again released from his load.

The master, provoked at the loss, and thinking how he might cure him of this trick, on his next journey to the coast freighted the beast with a load of sponges. When they arrived at the same stream as before, the ass was at his old tricks again and rolled himself into the water. He found to his cost that the sponges, becoming thoroughly wet, instead of lightening his burden, he had more than doubled its weight.

The same measures will not suit all circumstances and we may play the same trick once too often.

有魔力的河水

有一匹小驴每天都要帮助商人运送货物。

一天，商人从海边贩回一批盐，准备到村子里卖。正值盛夏，太阳火辣辣地烤着大地，这些盐又特别沉，足足有几百斤！没过多久，小驴就又累又渴，跑不动了。

正在这时，一天清澈的小河出现在前方，小驴高兴极了。。。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
魔力	意思是指神奇的、引人入迷的力量。 例句：爱情有着奇妙的魔力，它使一个人为另一个人所倾倒。	magic power
正值	意思是适逢，正是时候。 例句：目前正值旅游旺季，旅馆饭店宾客盈门。	comes at a time
清澈	形容清而透明，澈：透明。 例句：在清澈的湖水中，几条小金鱼正在自由的嬉戏追逐着。	clear
尽情	指尽心尽力；倾吐真情。 例句：在这个难得的假期，孩子们尽情的玩耍。	as much as one likes
不留神	意思是指不注意，不当心。 例句：他一个不留神，绊倒在台阶上。	unawareness
溶化	意思是指固体在液体中溶解的过程。 例句：把糖放在水中就溶化成为糖水。	dissolve
迷惑	意思是辨不清是非；摸不着头脑。 例句：父亲就像一本书，让我在迷惑的时候总能找到答案。	confuse
莫非	表示疑问、反问、强化语气。 例句：她今天没到校，莫非出了什么事？	is it possible that
轻快	意思是不费劲、轻松愉快。 例句：这位老教授82岁时，走路还像小伙子那么轻快。	brisk; spry relaxed; lively
不知不觉	意思是没有意识到，没有觉察到。 例句：他的残忍和狠毒，时而不知不觉地在老人面前显露出来。	unconsciously
迫不及待	意思是急迫得不能等待。形容心情急切。 例句：他迫不及待地推开门，走进屋去。	too impatient to wait
满心欢喜	意思是心中充满欢喜的情绪意愿。 例句：小明满心欢喜地走上讲台领奖品。	be very [much] pleased
出乎意料	指事先对情况与结果的估计，超出人们的料想猜测 。 例句：这个出乎意料的结局令他呆若木鸡，不知道该怎么办才好。	unexpected
湍（ tuān）急	指水流急速。  例句：小溪水流湍急，有的地方还形成小小的瀑布。	rapid water
迷惑不解	意思是对某一事物怀疑迷惑，认识不清。 例句：小明目不转睛地盯着老师表示迷惑不解。	be very much puzzled