中篇外国故事

『壹』 【100分】急急急！！求2分钟左右中篇英文小故事

Mother & Child

It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty-seven third graders eagerly anticipated the great day of gifts giving.
妈妈与孩子

那是1961年的圣诞节。我在俄亥俄州的一个小镇上教小学三年级。班上27个孩子都在积极参加"礼物赠送日"的活动。

A tree covered with tinsel and gaudy paper chains graced one corner. In another rested a manger scene proced from cardboard and poster paints by chubby, and sometimes grubby, hands. Someone had brought a doll and placed it on the straw in the cardboard box that served as the manger. It didn't matter that you could pull a string and hear the blue-eyed, golden-haired dolly say, "My name is Susie." "But Jesus was a boy baby!" one of the boys proclaimed. Nonetheless, Susie stayed.
教室的一角被一棵树装点得熠熠生辉，树上缀满了金银丝帛和华丽的彩纸。教室的另一角是一个涂着海报油彩由纸板制成的马槽，这出自孩子们那胖乎乎、脏兮兮的小手。有人带来了一个娃娃，把它放在纸板槽里的稻草上(假装小耶稣)。只要拉拉它身上的一条细绳，这个蓝眼睛、金发的娃娃就会说道，"我叫苏西"，不过这都没有关系。一个男孩提出："耶稣可是个小男孩呀!"不过苏西还是留了下来。

Each day the children proced some new wonder -- strings of popcorn, hand-made trinkets, and German bells made from wallpaper samples, which we hung from the ceiling. Through it all she remained aloof, watching from afar, seemingly miles away. I wondered what would happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now so suddenly withdrawn. I hoped the festivities would appeal to her. But nothing did. We made cards and gifts for mothers and dads, for sisters and brothers, for grandparents, and for each other. At home the students made the popular fried marbles and vied with one another to bring in the prettiest ones. " You put them in a hot frying pan, Teacher. And you let them get real hot, and then you watch what happens inside. But you don't fry them too long or they break."So, as my gift to them, I made each of my students a little pouch for carrying their fried marbles. And I knew they had each made something for me: bookmarks carefully cut, colored, and sometimes pasted together; cards and special drawings; liquid embroidery doilies, hand-fringed, of course.
每天孩子们都会做点儿新玩意--爆米花串成的细链子、手工做的小装饰品和墙纸样做的德国式风铃，我们把这些风铃挂在了天花板上。但自始至终，她都是孤零零地远远观望，仿佛是隔了一道几里长的障碍。我猜想着这个沉默的孩子发生了什么事，原来那个快乐的孩子怎么突然变得沉默寡言起来。我希望节日的活动能吸引她，可还是无济于事。我们制作了许多卡片和礼物，准备把它们送给爸爸妈妈、兄弟姐妹、祖父母和身边的同学。学生们在家里做了当时很流行“油炸"玻璃弹子，并且相互比着，要把最好看的拿来。"老师，把玻璃弹子放在热油锅里，让它们烧热，然后看看里面的变化。但不要炸得时间过长否则会破裂。"所以，我给每个学生做了一个装"油炸弹子"的小袋作为礼物送给他们。我知道他们每个人也都为我做了礼物：仔细剪裁、着色，或已粘集成串的书签；贺卡和特别绘制的图片；透明的镶边碗碟垫布，当然是手工编制的流苏。

The day of gift-giving finally came. We oohed and aahed over our handiwork as the presents were exchanged. Through it all, she sat quietly watching. I had made a special pouch for her, red and green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened the package so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away. I had not penetrated the wall of isolation she had built around herself.
赠送礼物的那天终于到了。在交换礼物时我们为对方亲手做的小礼品不停地欢呼叫好。而整个过程，她只是安静地坐在那儿看着。我为她做的小袋很特别，红绿相间还镶着白边。我非常想看到她笑一笑。她打开包装，动作又慢又小心。我等待着，但是她却转过了身。我还是没能穿过她在自己周围树起的高墙，这堵墙将她与大家隔离了开来。

After school the children left in little groups, chattering about the great day yet to come when long-hoped-for two-wheelers and bright sleds would appear beside their trees at home. She lingered, watching them bundle up and go out the door. I sat down in a child-sized chair to catch my breath, hardly aware of what was happening, when she came to me with outstretched hands, bearing a small white box, unwrapped and slightly soiled, as though it had been held many times by unwashed, childish hands. She said nothing. "For me?" I asked with a weak smile. She said not a word, but nodded her head. I took the box and gingerly opened it. There inside, glistening green, a fried marble hung from a golden chain. Then I looked into that elderly eight-year-old face and saw the question in her dark brown eyes. In a flash I knew -- she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again, a mother who would never hold her or brush her hair or share a funny story, a mother who would never again hear her childish joys or sorrows. A mother who had taken her own life just three weeks before.
放学后，学生们三三俩俩地离开了，边走边说着即将到来的圣诞节：家中的圣诞树旁将发现自己心系已久的自行车和崭新发亮的雪橇。她慢慢地走在后面，看着大家拥挤着走出门外。我坐在孩子们的小椅子上稍稍松了口气，对要发生的事没有一点准备。这时她向我走来，双手拿着一个白色的盒子向我伸过来。盒子没有打包装，稍有些脏。好像是被孩子未洗过的小手摸过了好多遍。她没有说话。"给我的吗?"我微微一笑。她没出声，只是点点头。我接过盒子，非常小心地打开它。盒子里面有一条金色的链子，上面坠着一块闪闪发光的“油炸"玻璃弹子。然后我看着她的脸，虽只有8岁，可却是成人的表情。在她深棕色的眼睛里我找到了问题的答案。我在一瞬间明白过来--这是她为妈妈做的项链，她再也见不到的妈妈，再也不能抱她、给她梳头或一起讲故事的妈妈。她的妈妈已再也不能分享她充满童稚的快乐，分担她孩子气的忧伤。就在3个星期前她的妈妈离开了人世。

I held out the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and secured the simple clasp at the back of my neck. She stepped back then as if to see that all was well. I looked down at the shiny piece of glass and the tarnished golden chain, then back at the giver. I meant it when I whispered," Oh, Maria, it is so beautiful. She would have loved it."Neither of us could stop the tears. She stumbled into my arms and we wept together. And for that brief moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest gift of all: herself.
我拿起那条链子。她用双手接过它，向前探了探身，在我的脖子后把简易的项链钩系好。然后她向后退了几步，好像在看看是否合适。我低下头看着闪闪发亮的玻璃珠和已失去光泽的金色链子，然后抬起头望着她。我很认真地轻声说道：“哦，玛丽亚，这链子真漂亮。你妈妈一定会喜欢的。"我们已无法抑制住泪水。她踉踉跄跄地扑进我的怀里，我们都哭了。在那短暂的一刻我成了她的妈妈，而她送给了我一份最珍贵的礼物：她的信任和爱。By Patricia A. Habada

『贰』 搞笑有寓意的中篇英文故事

你的微笑，你的眼泪，动了谁的情，又苍白了谁的容颜！
一句话一瞬间，你无语我无言，然后转身各奔东西！
爱情中，我们必须经过考验，才知是否存在真情！
被爱情抛弃后不知该做些什么，漫无目的在迷惘！
付出了不会有真心的回报，你到底在追求什么，需要什么!
有些人深爱着对方，可是生活总是有太多的无奈!
怕自己给予不了对方幸福，最后只能结束一段不幸的感情!
到最后痛了自己伤了别人，还要被人误解!
可谁又知道放弃自己爱的人内心的痛有多深呢!
有首歌《我爱你你却爱着他》，这些关系总能磨损我们那颗脆弱的心!
爱你的得不到你，从此孤独一生!
不爱你的却能占有你，你能为他付出一生!
一个偶然的机会，缘份使两个陌生人走到一起!
从此便成了熟悉的爱人，在一起久了，得不到对方的满足时!
便感到了厌倦，不能谅解，因此又由爱人变成了陌生人!
两人分手后才知道自己需要什么，爱的又是什么！
为什么不珍惜这段感情呢。得不到爱的人是那么渴望爱情！
追寻着记忆中的那个眼神，迷恋着曾经那一个微笑！
爱情曾使我们迷醉，向往着美好，后来也让我们悲伤！
伤了的心，摸不着爱，渐渐习惯了内心的痛楚！
慢慢冷静了自然的生活，独自在黑暗的角落中追寻属于自己的一片光明！
爱情不需要任何理由，不需要任何承诺！
没有公平，没有对错，问自己的心，你到底对爱付出多真，又是多深！

『叁』 一篇英文中篇故事，外带中文翻译的

Be Happy!

“The days that make us happy make us wise.”----John Masefield

when I first read this line by England’s Poet Laureate, it startled me. What did Masefield mean? Without thinking about it much, I had always assumed that the opposite was true. But his sober assurance was arresting. I could not forget it.

Finally, I seemed to grasp his meaning and realized that here was a profound observation. The wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception, not fogged by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind spots caused by fear.

Active happiness---not mere satisfaction or contentment ---often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud. Then you discover what kind of wisdom has accompanied it. The grass is greener; bird songs are sweeter; the shortcomings of your friends are more understandable and more forgivable. Happiness is like a pair of eyeglasses correcting your spiritual vision.

Nor are the insights of happiness limited to what is near around you. Unhappy, with your thoughts turned in upon your emotional woes, your vision is cut short as though by a wall. Happy, the wall crumbles.

The long vista is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you----people, thoughts, emotions, pressures---are now fitted into the larger scene. Everything assumes a fairer proportion. And here is the beginning of wisdom.

快乐的日子使人睿智----约翰。玛斯菲尔德
第一次读到英国诗人劳伦特的这行诗，让我着实感到吃惊。玛斯菲尔德此言究竟有着怎样的深意呢？长期以来，因为没有多加考虑，我对此不以为然。然而我又被他的冷静，自信所吸引，对此无法忘怀。
最后，我似乎领略了其中之意。我意识到这是经过一番深刻观察的。快乐赋予人的智慧存在于敏锐的感觉中，它不受忧虑所扰，亦不会在绝望与厌倦之中黯淡模糊，更不会因恐惧而产生茫然。
积极的快乐，远远不止是满意或满足，它常常不期而至，宛如四月的阵雨，又如蓓蕾的悄然绽放。此时，你就会发现随之而来的智慧。草儿更绿，鸟鸣更婉转，甚至于你更能理解朋友的缺点，变得愈加宽容。快乐恰如一幅眼镜，不断校正我们对心灵之景的误读。
对快乐的洞察决不仅限于你周围的事物。不快乐时，你的思绪转入悲哀之中，似乎有座高墙截断了你的视线。而快乐时，这座墙便轰然倒塌。
你快乐的视野并不限于你周围的风景。你脚下的地面，你周围的世界---人们，思维，情感，压力---似乎都融入了更为广阔的风景之中。天地万物都呈现出一片和谐。这正是智慧的开始。

『肆』 跪求一篇中篇的英文寓言故事!!!!~ 急用。

城里老鼠和乡下老鼠
Once there were two mice. They were friends. One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went. The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city."
The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse. It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat. But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. The City mouse cried, " Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid.
After some time they came out. When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to be poor and happy, than to be rich and afraid."
城里老鼠和乡下老鼠
从前,有两只老鼠,它们是好朋友。一只老鼠居住在乡村,另一只住在城里。很多年以后,乡下老鼠碰到城里老鼠,它说:“你一定要来我乡下的家看看。”于是,城里老鼠就去了。乡下老鼠领着它到了一块田地上它自己的家里。它把所有最精美食物都找出来给城里老鼠。城里老鼠说:“这东西不好吃,你的家也不好,你为什么住在田野的地洞里呢?你应该搬到城里去住,你能住上用石头造的漂亮房子,还会吃上美味佳肴,你应该到我城里的家看看。”
乡下老鼠就到城里老鼠的家去。房子十分漂亮,好吃的东西也为他们摆好了。可是正当他们要开始吃的时候,听见很大的一阵响声,城里的老鼠叫喊起来:“快跑!快跑!猫来了!”他们飞快地跑开躲藏起来。
过了一会儿,他们出来了。当他们出来时,乡下老鼠说:“我不喜欢住在城里,我喜欢住在田野我的洞里。因为这样虽然贫穷但是快乐自在,比起虽然富有却要过着提心吊胆的生活来说,要好些。”

-

『伍』 急求几篇中篇的英语故事

The Close Alliance
One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field. He had just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said, "Peace be with you, friend! How are you this fine morning?"

"The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!" returned the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.

"I am glad to hear it," replied the tiger cheerfully, "because Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks. You are a God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them."

"My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?" asked the farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a question of gobbling up bullocks, "because Providence sent me to plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen. Had you not better go and make further inquiries?"

"There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you waiting," returned the tiger. "If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be ready in a moment." With that the savage creature fell to sharpening his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.

But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at home.

To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer went sadly homewards. Seeing him return so early from the fields, his wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, "What! lazybones!-- back already, and my work just beginning!"

Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange. At this the wife began to cry, saying, "A likely story, indeed!--saving your stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow! Where will the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops without butter?"

"All very fine, wife," retorted the farmer, "but how can we make bread without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the fields? Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie the cow."

"You great gaby!" wept the wife, "if you had an ounce of sense in your brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!"

"Think yourself!" cried the husband, in a rage.

"Very well!" returned the wife; "but if I do the thinking you must obey orders; I can't do both. Go back to the tiger, and tell him the cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it."

The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor farmer's knees to knock together with terror.

Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible, bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.

She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass, "Now, please the powers! I may find a tiger in this place; for I haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have it, I ate three for breakfast."

Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.

"My lord! my lord!" cried the jackal, "whither away so fast?"

"Run! run!" panted the tiger, "there's the very devil of a horseman in yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for breakfast!"

At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve. "My dear lord," said he, "the sun has dazzled your eyes! That was no horseman, but only the farmer's wife dressed up as a man!"

"Are you quite sure?" asked the tiger, pausing.

"Quite sure, my lord," repeated the jackal, "and if your lordship's eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would have seen her pigtail hanging down behind."

"But you may be mistaken!" persisted the cowardly tiger, "it was the very devil of a horseman to look at!"

"Who's afraid?" replied the brave jackal. "Come! don't give up your dinner because of a woman!"

"But you may be bribed to betray me!" argued the tiger, who, like all cowards, was suspicious.

"Let us go together, then!" returned the gallant jackal.

"Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!" insisted the tiger cunningly.

"In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!" The jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.

To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.

Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with their tails tied together.

"Run!" cried the farmer, "we are lost! we are lost!"

"Nothing of the kind, you great fool!" answered his wife coolly, "if you will only stop that noise and be quiet. I can't hear myself speak!"

Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out politely, "How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a nice fat tiger! I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and then you can have the bones."

At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him. Bumpety, bump, bump, over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!

In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went, helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was nearly dead with fatigue, and the jackal was quite dead from bumps and bruises.

《The Close Alliance》

『陆』 中篇英语故事带翻译的

晴空一片

The Magic Mill

A long time ago, far,
far away, there lived two brothers. One of them was quite rich: the other was
very poor. The rich brother lived on a little island; he was a seller of salt.
He had sold salt for many years and had got a great deal of money. The other
brother was so poor that he had not got enough food for his wife and
children.
His wife said, "What will happen to us? Do you want me and the
children to die? There is nothing to eat. Why don't you go and ask your brother
for some money."
"My brother loves his money very much. I'm sure that he will
not give me any. Perhaps he will want to give me a handful of salt. But I will
go and see him."
He got into his boat and sailed across to the island where
his brother lived.
He found his rich brother at home, counting his
money.
"What is the matter? Why have you come here?"
"Please, brother, I
have no food in my house. Please give me one of those gold pieces you are
counting."
"No. These are mine. You are very lazy. Why do you not go and
work?"
"I have tried to find some work, but I cannot. Now there is no bread
in my house for my children."
"I will not give you any money, but I'll give
you some bread. If I give you a loaf of bread, will you go away and not come
back?"
"Yes. Please give me the bread."
The rich man threw a loaf of bread
to him, and he went away.
While he was on his way to his house, he came to an
old man sitting by the side of the road.
"What is that you are carrying?"
said the old man. "Is it bread? I have not had any thing to eat for two
days."
He cut a piece of the loaf and gave it to the old man, who thanked him
and began to eat. When he had finished, the old man said, "Now I will do
something for you. I will show you the home of the fairies who live underground.
If you show them the bread, they will want to buy it from you. But do not let
them give you any money. Ask them for the little mill that stands behind their
door. Do as I say, and you will become rich. When you come back, I will show you
how to use it."
The old man then led him into a wood. He pointed to a hole in
the ground. It looked like the hole made by a big rabbit. Inside, the hole grew
bigger and a little stone door could be seen.
"That is the fairies' home. Get
in and open the door. I will wait until you come out," said the old man.
The
poor man got into the hole, opened the door, and went in. It was dark inside the
door: for some time he could see nothing. Then, when he could see more clearly,
he saw many little fairies: they came and stood round
him.
&

quot;What is that?" said one of them. "Is it white
bread? Please give it to us, or sell it to us."
"We will give you gold and
silver for it," said another.
"No," said the poor man. "I don't want gold or
silver. Give me that old mill that stands behind the door, and I will give you
the loaf of bread."
At first they did not want to give him the mill for the
bread, so he turned away.
But some of the fairies began to cry, "Let him have
the old mill. We never use it now. And only good people can make it
work."
Then they gave him the mill. He put it under his arm and went out of
fairy-land. He fount the old man waiting for him.
"That is it," the old man
said. "This is how to use it. Only good people can use it. You must never let
any other person use it."
It was quite late when the poor man reached
home.
"Where have you been?" said his wife. "There is no fire and no food in
the house. The children are cold and crying for food. What is that you are
carrying. It looks like an old mill."
"It is a mill," he said. "Now watch.
Say what you want, and you will have it."
He put the mill on the table and
began to turn it. Out of the little mill came wood for the fire, oil for
lighting and cooking, clothes, corn, and many other good things.
"It is a
magic mill," said his wife. "Now we are rich."
"Yes, but no-one must know
about it. We must hide it and use it only when no-one is watching."
The poor
man soon became as rich as his brother. He did not keep all the good things for
his own family. He gave many things to poor friends.
When his brother heard
about this, he said to himself, "I do not know why my brother has become rich. I
must find the reason for his riches."
For a long time he tried to find the
reason, but he could not. But one day he gave a servant some money and ordered
him to watch the house of his brother at night. That night, the servant looked
through the window and saw the family standing round the mill, which was
working. He went back and told what he had seen.
The next day the brother got
in his boat and sailed across the water. He said to his brother, "I see that you
are now quite rich, and I know the reason. You have a little magic mill. Sell it
to me. How much money do you want for it?"
"I cannot sell it," said the poor
man. "It must never leave my hands. The old man said, 'There will be great
danger if you sell it or give it to any other person.' That is what he
said."
Then the rich brother sailed away home. But later, one dark night, he
came back, went very quietly into the house, and stole the mill. He quickly
carried it to the sea, where his boat was waiting. The

n he sailed
away to his island.
But the bad brother wanted very much to make the mill
work. He did not wait until he reached home. While he was sailing in the boat,
he tried to make it work.
"Salt," he said. "Salt is what I sell, and salt is
what I want." Then he began to turn the mill.
Then salt bean to come out of
the mill. He laughed and began to sing. Masses of salt came out and began to
fill the boat. The boat became low in the water. He tried to throw some of the
salt into the sea. But more came in, masses of it. He stopped laughing and
singing. Then he began to be afraid.
More salt came out of the mill, and soon
the boat was full of it. Then water came in and filled the boat. The boat went
down, down to the bottom of the sea, carrying with it the thief and the magic
mill.
There, at the bottom of the sea, the mill is still turning, making more
and more salt.
That is the reason (some people say) why the water of the sea
is salty.

I. Translation for
Reference(参考译文)
神磨
很久以前，在很远很远的地方，住着兄弟俩。其中一个很富有，另一个却很贫穷。富兄弟住在一个小岛上，他是一个盐商，他经营盐已有很多年，挣了很多钱。另一个兄弟穷得连他妻子和孩子都吃不饱。
他的妻子说：“我们该怎么办呢？你想让我和孩子们去死吗？没有东西吃了。你为什么不去向你的兄弟要些钱？”
“我的兄弟特别吝惜自己的钱，我想他肯定一分钱也不会给我的，也许他会给我一把盐，但不管怎么说我还是要去见见他。”
他上了他的小船，朝他兄弟住的那个小岛驶去。
他发现他富兄弟正在家点钱。
“什么事呀？你怎么到这儿来了？”
“对不起，兄弟，我家里没吃的了，请你从正在点的那些金币中给我一枚吧！”
“不行，这些是我的，你太懒惰了，你为什么不去干活？”
“我已经努力去找些活干了，但是我找不到，现在，我家里都没有面包给孩子们吃了。”
“我不会给你钱的，但我给你一块面包，如果我给你一块面包，你就离开，不要回来好吗？”
“好吧，给我面包吧。”
这位富人扔了一块面包给他，他就走了。
在回家的路上，他碰见一位老人坐在路边。
“你拿的是什么东西？”老人问，“是面包吗？我已经两天没有吃东西了。”
“这面包是给我自己的孩子们的，但我不愿看到别人没有吃的。来，我给你切一片面包。”
他切下一片面包给了这位老人。老人向他道谢并吃起来。
吃完面包后，老人说：“现在我要为你做点事。我带你去住在地底下的妖精的家。如果你给他们看到这块面包，他们就会想从你手里买下。但是，你别让他们给你钱，要他们门后立着的那个小磨。照我说的那样去做，你就会变得富有，你回来以后，我会教你怎样用那小磨。”
然后，那位老人就带他到森林里，他指了指地上的一个洞，这个洞看上去像大兔子挖的，越往里面洞也越大，可以看到一扇小石门。
“那就是小妖精的家，进去把那门打开，我等着你出来。”老人说。
这个穷人进了洞，打开门进去了。门里边很黑：好一会儿，他什么也看不见。当他能看清楚一些时，他见到很多小妖精，他们过来围着他站着。
“那是什么？”其中有一个妖精问，“是白面包吗？请把它给我们吧，或卖给我们。”
“我们要用金子，银子买你的面包，”另一个说。
“不，”穷人说，“我不要金子或银子。只要把门后立着的那个旧磨给我，我就给你们这块面包。”
开始时，他们不愿用他们的磨换面包，于是，他转身就走。
但是，有些妖精叫了起来：“给他那旧磨吧，我们现在根本用不着，只有好人才能使用它。”于是，他们把磨给了他，他把磨夹在腋下，走出了妖精的住所。他发现那位老人正等着他。
“就是它，”老人说，“这是使用它的办法。只有好人才能用它，你千万别让其他人使用。”
这个穷人到家时天已很晚了。
“你到哪儿去了？”他的妻子说，“家里没有火烤，没有饭吃，孩子们冷，哭着要东西吃。你带的那个东西是什么？看上去像一个旧磨。”
“就是一个旧磨，”他说，“现在来瞧瞧，你说要什么，他就有什么。”
他把磨放在桌子上，开始转动。从小磨里出来了烤火用的柴禾，点灯和做饭菜用的油，还有衣服，粮食和其他很多东西。

“真是一个神磨，”他的妻子说，“现在我们富有了。”
“是的，不过，一定不能让任何人知道它。我们必须把它藏起来，只有在没人看见时才能拿出来用。”
这个穷人很快变得像他兄弟一样富有。他不是把好东西都留在自己家。他把许多东西送给那些穷苦的朋友。
他的兄弟听说了这些，心里想：“我不知道为什么我的兄弟变富了，我必须找到他富有的原因。”
好长时间，他试图找出原因，可是他还是不知道。有一天，他给了一个佣人一些钱，让他在晚上监视他兄弟的家。那天晚上，这个佣人透过窗户看到他们全家人围着磨站着，那个磨正在工作，他就回去把所看到的说了。
第二天，这位富兄弟上了船，开过岸来，他对他的兄弟说：“我发现你现在很富有，并且也知道为什么。你有一个小神磨，把它卖给我吧，你要卖多少钱？”
“我不能卖，”那个穷人说，“它绝不能离开我的手。老人说过：'如果你卖掉它或把它给了其他人，必将招来大祸。'他就这么说的。”
于是，富兄弟把船开回家了。但是，在一个漆黑的夜晚，他又回来了，他悄悄地见了屋，偷走了神磨。带着它飞快地跑到了海边。他的小船正等在那里，然后，他驶向他的小岛。
这个坏兄弟很想让磨转起来。他等不及回到家，还在船里的时候，就迫不及待地要用。
“盐，”他说道，“我是卖盐的，盐就是我所想要的。”说着他开始转动磨盘，盐开始从磨里出来了，他高兴得大笑起来，唱起歌来。一堆一堆的盐出来了，船开始往下沉，他拼命把一些盐扔进海里，但是更多的盐从磨里出来了，一堆堆的。他不笑了，也不再唱了，接着，他开始害怕起来。
越来越多的盐从神磨里出来了，很快填满了整只船。这时，水进来了，淹没了船，船下沉了，连同这个贼和神磨一起，沉到了海底。
在海底，神磨仍然转动着，磨出越来越多的盐。
有些人说这就是为什么海水是咸的原因
亲，给个好评吧

『柒』 求一篇中篇英文故事，不要有名的，谢谢了

The House of 1000 Mirrors
千镜之屋

Long ago in a small, faraway village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he hounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and firendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."
All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

很久以前的一个很远的小村庄里，有一个以"千镜屋"而著名的地方。一个乐观的小狗听说了这个地方并决定去参观。当来到这个地方，他蹦蹦跳欢恰快的上了台阶，来到房门口，他高高竖起耳朵，欢快地摇着尾巴，从门口往里张望，他惊奇地看到有1000只欢乐的小狗像他一样快的摇尾巴。他灿烂地微笑着，回报他的是1000张热情，友好的灿烂笑脸。离开时他心想："这是一个精彩的地主，我一定要经常来参观。"
在这个村里还有另一只想参观"千镜屋"的小狗，他不及第一只小狗乐观，他慢吞吞地爬上台阶，然后耷拉着脑袋往屋子里看。一看到有1000只小狗不友好地盯着他，他便开始冲他们狂吠，镜中的1000只小狗也冲着他狂吠，把他给吓坏了，他在离开时心想："这是一个恐怖的地方，我再也不会来了。"
世界上所有的脸都是镜子，在你所遇见的人的脸上你看到反射出来的是什么?

『捌』 英语中篇幽默小故事

Dick was seven years old, and his sister, Catherine, was five. One day their mother took them to their aunt's house to play while she went to the big city to buy some new clothes.

The children played for an hour, and then at half past four their aunt took Dick into the kitchen. She gave him a nice cake and a knife and said to him, "Now here's a knife, Dick. Cut this cake in half and give one of the pieces to your sister, but remember to do it like a gentleman."

"Like a gentleman?" Dick asked. "How do gentlemen do it?"

"They always give the bigger piece to the other person." answered his aunt at once.

"Oh" said Dick. He thought about this for a few seconds. Then he took the cake to his sister and said to her,"Cut this cake in half, Catherine.".

迪克年龄七岁，他的妹妹凯瑟琳五岁。一天，妈妈把他们带到姨妈家去玩，自己就到大城市去买些新的衣服。

孩子们玩了个把小时，在四点半的时候，姨妈领着迪克走进了厨房。她交给迪克一块精美的蛋糕和一把刀子，并对他说：“喏，迪克，给你刀子，把这块蛋糕一切为二，给你妹妹一块。不过，你得记住要做得像一个绅士那样。”

迪克问：“像一个绅士？绅士怎样做呢？”

他姨妈马上回答说：“绅士总是把大的一块让给别人的。”

迪克说了一声“噢”。他对此想了一会，然后，他把蛋糕拿给妹妹，并对她说：“凯瑟琳，你来把这块蛋糕一切为二吧。”
参考资料：英语书

『玖』 寻找一个外国中篇科幻故事

是柳文扬的《一日囚》吗？不是外国的。
节选：
噩梦是这样开始的，由于人类共同的弱点，我犯了罪，大罪。在我的世界里在你还没有见到，无法想象的世界里，我得知自己将要接受什么惩罚。
法官说：“你被处以一日无期徒刑：在有生之年，你将永远过这同一天——我们为你随机选择那一天，2008年8月18日。你的一切生命活动都只限于这二十四小时之内，直到自然赋予你的生命结束。作为一种人道主义的优待，你可以在一座热闹的都市种服役，但在服刑期间，你不能对周围任何人提起关于你和你所受的刑罚，否则我们将你转移到一个密闭的小空间内，在孤独中度过刑期。”

你理解吗？朋友，这是无止境的噩梦。
据说我是第一批被处以时间囚禁的罪人之一。他们还不能了解这一技术的全部内涵，我们算是实验品。
一开始，我对这刑罚的可怕之处还没有真正的体会，这是座热闹繁华的城市，处处充满生机，我住在自己的房间，对置身于开放的大世界里感到高兴，我透过玻璃窗观看下面的人群，不准备担忧以后的日子。
第一天——我这样说是按自己的习惯，其实我度过的这十年，这三千六百多个日子，对你们来说是同一天。第一天，我早早的起了床，打算出去散步，呼吸一下这座城市的新鲜空气。我的邻居，1068号的那位老太太——她是个细心人——热情的问候我。
“您好！您是新搬来的邻居吗？”
我答道：“是的很高兴认识您。”
“您从哪儿来？”
我把早就编好的谎言对她说了一番。她最后说：“希望您在这儿住的愉快！”
在楼下我对你打了个招呼：“早上好！”你对我报以关心。
走到大街上，我在拐角处的报童手里买了一张报纸，先看了看日期：2008年8月18日，头版的新闻很吸引人。我过马路，在对面的咖啡馆里要了早餐，巴西咖啡和烤面包。
我看报纸，咖啡馆的老板对我说：“我觉的您很面生。”
“对，我是刚刚搬来的。”我回答。
“喜欢我们这儿吗？”
“很好大家都很友善，咖啡很香。”我向他微笑。
接下来我去公园散步，看场电影，吃午饭，在市政广场坐着喂鸽子，逗弄躺在婴儿车里的小孩。
吃过晚饭后，在街道上漫步，直到疲倦才回家。我躺在床上睡觉，一觉醒来，仍然是2008年8月18号。
第二天（还是按照我的习惯说的），我在同一时刻出门。1068号的太太站在楼道问：“您好，您是新搬来的邻居吗？”
我答道：“是的，很高兴认识您。”
“您从哪里来？”
这真有趣。我又一字不错的说了了那番话。她最后说：“希望您在这住的愉快！”
我又在在下面问侯了你，在街拐角买了同一分报纸：2008年8月18日的日报，头版的新闻对我来说早以是往事。我过马路，在对面的咖啡馆里要了早餐，这是巴西的咖啡和烤面包。
我看报纸，咖啡馆老板对我说：“我觉的你很面生。”
这一切都像钟摆一样准确。
我说处了跟昨天一模一样的回答。我感到自己好像以个无意间走进一步老电影里的客串者，我知道电影里发生的一切，但其他角色却对它一无所知。
公园，电影，午饭，鸽子，婴儿车里的小孩，一模一样的场景，一模一样的事唯一不同之只是我。步，唯一不同的只有我的心。我很清楚，只个日子我已第二次度过这感觉真怪，2008年8月18日，这处，保存在宇宙的一个神秘角落?而我却被施了魔法一次次的进入这录像带，带着了解一切的心，却被重复这一尘不变的情节。