Building Bridges

架起心灵之桥

■兰州大学法律系 屈文生 邢彩霞 选注

　　我们一直忘了要搭一座桥梁，到对方心底瞧一瞧　　

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.1
Then the long collaboration fell apart.2 It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.3
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee4 and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better.5 See that pile of lumbering by the barn? I want you to build me a fence — an 8-foot fence—so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down,6 anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the posthole7 digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.8

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all9 — and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have so many more bridges to build."


1. 四十年来，他们并肩耕耘，共用生产机械，需要时互换劳力和物品，一切都很顺利，这是他们之间第一次出现裂痕。rift: 裂痕。
2. fall apart: 破碎；破裂。
3. 最后爆发为恶语相向，之后又是几个星期的冷战。
4. 把推土机开到了河岸。 bulldozer/#b%l;d2%z2(r)/: 推土机。 levee/#levi/: 堤，堤岸。
5. 他这么做也许是为了激恼我，但我要更胜他一筹。spite: 恶意使……烦恼。 go one better: <美>胜过（某人）。
6. cool…down: <美俚>不理睬。
7. posthole: 埋桩子（或栏杆）的洞。
8. sb.'s jaw drops: <美俚>某人惊诧得张口结舌。
9. 扶手和所有的一切都多么美妙啊！handrail: 扶手。