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Listening to her ，the older woman sensed the younger woman’s distress and knew she must help her . She also knew she could never alleviate the pain , but she could teach . She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger woman . She said ,“Tonight ,take your best feather pillows and put  single feather on the doorstep of each house in the town before the sun rises.”
听着年轻女的述说，年长女感觉到年轻女的忧伤，并且意识到自己得帮助年轻女。年长女知道她不可能减轻年轻女的伤痛，但她可以让年轻女从中吸取教训。她明白事情的结果只能是取决于年轻女的性格。她说：“今晚，拆开你最好的羽毛枕头，在太阳升起之前，在本镇每家的门阶上放一根羽毛。”

The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore ,even though the feather pillows were very dear to her .All night long ,she labored alone in the cold 。Finally the sky was getting light ,she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house .Just as the sun rose ,she returned to the older woman.
年轻女匆匆回家准备这事，尽管这些枕头是她非常心爱的。一整夜，她独自在严寒中劳动。最后，天放亮时，她终于将最后一根羽毛放在最后一家的台阶上。太阳升起时，她回到年长女的家。

“Now”,said the wise woman,“go back and refill your pillows with the feather you have put on the steps .then everything will be as it was before.”
“现在”，年长女说道，“回去再用你放在每家台阶上的羽毛把枕头填满，然后，一切事情就象是没有发生过，一如往昔。

“That’s true ,”said the older woman.“never forget .each of your words is like a feather in the wind .once spoken ,no amount of effort ,regardless how heartfelt or sincere ,can never return them to your mouth. Choose your words well and guard them most of all the presence of those of you love. ”
“没错。”年长女说道，“你要永远记住，你的每句话就象是风中的羽毛，覆水难收。一旦不计后果，话已说出，尽管你的愿望是如何真心、如何诚意，但说话如�o水不可收回。适当选择你的话，并且当心你的话，特别特别是在那些为你所爱的人面前。”

                                                 记者站 胡图南 整理