煤炭工和漂洗工

5.THE CHARCOAL-BURNER ANDTHE FULLER烧炭工和漂洗工There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. AFuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighborhood; andthe Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was anagreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house:"We shall get to know one another better that way," he said, "and, beside, ourhousehold expenses will be diminished." The Fuller thanked him, but replied,"I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten wouldbe blackened in no time by your charcoal."｛中文阅读｝从前，有一个自力更生的烧炭工人独自在家工作。碰巧，一个漂洗工搬至隔壁，与他成了邻居。结识漂洗工后，烧炭工人经过了解发现，这个邻居将是一个很好的合作伙伴，就问漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的铺子里一起工作。“那样我们会变得更加亲密，”烧炭人说，“不仅如此，我们还可以节省生活开销呢。”漂洗工却谢绝了他，回答说：“我可不这样看，先生，因为不管我把衣服漂洗得多么白，都会立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”