【大紀元6月11日訊】
從前有一群住在河邊的姑娘，每晚都聚在一起，織布為生。不過，每人都要自備燈火。
其中有個貧家姑娘，沒法自備燈火。因此，其他的姑娘便不大高興，並私底下商議說：「她既然沒有燈火，我們為甚麼要和她分享燈光呢？」於是，她們告訴貧家女她們不歡迎她。
貧家女臨走前對她們說：「我因為家貧，才沒法自備燈火，但是，我每晚都早點來，打掃地方及打點一切，你們才可這般舒適地工作。燈光反正已照遍整間房子，並沒有帶給你們任何不便。我認為自己已盡了本份，為甚麼你們仍要排斥我呢？」
其他的姑娘聽了，心裏過意不去，決定讓她留下來。
The Poor Maiden
Once there were some maidens who lived on the riverbank. Every night they would gather together and weave for their living. They had to bring their own lamps.
Among them was a poor maiden who could not afford a lamp. The other maidens were not happy. They whispered to each other, “She hasn’t got her own lamp. Why should we share ours with her?”
They told her that she was not welcome in their company.
Before she left, the poor maiden said to them, “I am poor and cannot afford a lamp. But I come here early every evening to sweep the floors and get things ready for you. That is why you can all work in comfort. The whole room is lit up anyway. You are not bothered at all. I think I’ve done my share of the work. Why are you excluding me?”
After listening to her reasoning, the other maidens felt sorry and decided to let her stay.
轉自：《翀仔寓言網》@
(http://www.dajiyuan.com)
