[摘要]
"Itisnt fair that we share the harvest equally. Surely he deserves more than I! But he is very proud and will not accept gifts from me. What can I do? In several days well take our ha...
"Itisnt fair that we share the harvest equally. Surely he deserves more than I! But he is very proud and will not accept gifts from me. What can I do? In several days well take our harvest to town. If I dont think of a plan soon, it will be too late. "
That night. when the moon was high in the sky, Ruben went quietly to his barn where he filled a sack with wheat?and put in on his shoulder. Then he crossed the empty field to his brothers hut and secretly placed his wheat with Simons.
"Ah." he said when he had finished, "this is better. Now my dear younger brother will have more than I. "
Ruben went happily back to his hut and slept soundly for the first time in wceks.
An hour later, Simon woke up with a start. He had dreamed of a marvelous plan. He crept out of bed, got dressed, and went to his barn. Filling a sack with wheat., walking across the field to Rubens hut, and placing it there took very little time. Before long, he was back in bed, pulling up the covers.
"Now I can sleep peacefully," he thought, "because Ruben will have a little extra to save for his old age. "
The next morning Ruhen and Simon were amazed. How could this be? hheir piles were equal, yet each knew he had secretly given wheat to his brother. Something must have gone wrong.
So that night Ruben waited until midnight, when he again took Simon some of his grain. "There! Now I am fully awake and Im sure I put it on his pile. Tomorrow mine will be smaller and his larger, as it should be. "
A short time later, Simon did the same. He, too, was sure that all would be well this time.
But when day dawned, each brother saw that his share was exactly half the harvest. Ruben and Simon were desperate. Tomorrow they were to go to town to sell their grain. Tonight was their last chance.
Midnight came again. But this time Ruben and Simon chose the same moment to carry out their mission of brotherly love. Each placed a sack of wheat on his shoulders and began to walk across the field. Halfway across they met.
"Ruben! What are you doing out so late at night?" cried Simon in dismay. He tried to hide his sack.
Startled, Ruben dropped his bundle. Then he saw Simons sack and they both began to laugh. When they finished laughing, they hugged each other tightly. Their hearts were full of love for each other and they were content.