A white-bearded ancient man was walking over the hills and valleys of the world. On his back he carried a bag which moved uneasily as if something was trying to escape from it, but he settled it between his shoulders and walked on.
He was Father Time, traveling forever, and the bag he bore was filled with tomorrows, all struggling to get out.
Each night at twelve o'clock, he opened the bag and flew out a tomorrow, just one, with its wings of blue, and its shining feathers rising with hope. All the rest were kept back by Time's strong hands and pushed deep in the bag.
Down flew the tomorrow beating its lovely feathers, but as it touched the earth, off fell its blue wings and it changed to an ordinary white bird which could not fly.It had become a today.Everyone knows that today isn’t as wonderful as tomorrow, for today can be held in one’s hands, accepted, unloved, but tomorrow is full of mystery and beauty.It is desired by all the world.Even those who with little hope sigh，“Tomorrow may bring a change.Tomorrow’s life will be different.”
Everybody tried to catch the tomorrow before it fell to the ground. They thought if they knew beforehand what the tomorrow carries, they could prepare for it.So they put great nets on the trees, seeking to catch one before it changed his feather.Yet although they tried every means, the birds escaped and flew to the ground as todays.
-ancient [ˈeɪnʃənt]adj.远古的，年老的
典型例句
I feel pretty ancient when I see how the younger generation behaves.
看到年轻一代的举止行为，我觉得我太老了。
最常用法
ancient history 古代史
the ancients 古人
ancient monument 古迹
联想记忆
aged adj.年老的，陈的
elderly adj.过了中年的，稍老的
old adj.老的，年长的
modern adj.现代的，时髦的
-uneasily [ʌnˈi：zɪlɪ]adv.心神不安地，忧虑地，不自在地
典型例句
I had an uneasy feeling that he was going to spoil it.
我有种不安的感觉，觉得他会把事情搞糟。
联想记忆
easy adj.容易的，舒适的
uneasy adj.不自在的，不稳定的，心神不安的
unease n.不舒服，不自在
anxiously adv.焦急地，担忧地
-escape [ɪˈskeɪp]v.&n.逃跑，逃避
典型例句
Where can we go to escape the crowds?
我们到哪里才能躲开这些人群？
最常用法
escape from sb./sth.逃避某人/某事
escape（sb.'s）notice 疏忽，没注意到
make good one's escape 设法逃脱
escape clause（契约的）例外条款
联想记忆
flee v.逃走，逃掉
-forever [fəˈrevə（r）]adv.永远，老是，不断地
典型例句
I wanted that moment to last forever.
我希望这一刻能持续到永远。
最常用法
be forever doing sth.经常做某事
forever and ever 永远，永久
go on forever 永远继续下去，持续很长时间
联想记忆
for ever 永远
always adv.总是，一直，永远
-mystery [ˈmɪstərɪ]n.神秘的事物，神秘
典型例句
You’re full of mystery tonight；what’s going on?
你今天晚上很神秘，搞的什么名堂？
最常用法
remain a mystery 仍然是个谜
be a mystery（to sb.）（对某人来说）是个谜
solve/unravel a mystery 解开谜底
a complete mystery 一件不可思议的事；一个谜
an unsolved mystery 一个未解之谜
联想记忆
secret n.秘密
-beforehand [bɪˈfɔːhænd]adv.预先，事先
典型例句
I had made preparations beforehand.
我预先作了准备。
最常用法
beforehand with sth.提前准备某事
联想记忆
advance v.提前 adj.预先的，事先的
afterward adv.之后，后来，以后
-although [ɔːlˈðəu]conj.虽然，尽管；然而
典型例句
Although we all tried our best, we lost the game.
虽然我们已尽了最大的力量，但还是输了。
联想记忆
though conj.虽然，尽管 adv.虽然，可是
even though 即使，虽然
however adv.然而，究竟，无论如何 conj.然而，不过，可是
一位胡子花白的老人在世界各地的山脉及峡谷间穿行。他背着一个袋子，袋子里的东西在不安分地躁动着，好像要往外跑似的。他把袋子在肩膀上放好，继续前行。
他就是时间老人，他永远在前行。而装在袋子里的是明天，它们都争着想往外跑。
每天午夜十二点，时间老人就会打开袋子，放飞一个明天，只放飞一个！它挥动着蓝色的翅膀，展示着它闪闪发光的羽毛，带着希望飞走了。时间老人用其有力的双手把剩下的明天塞进袋子底部。
明天挥动着可爱的翅膀飞向大地。可当它到达地面时，它的蓝色翅膀脱落了，变成一只不会飞的白色的普通的鸟。它变成了今天。每个人都知道今天没有明天好，因为每个人可以把今天抓在手中，接受它，却不去爱它，但是明天充满神奇和美丽。所有人都想拥有明天，即使那些心中没有希望的人也会叹息说：“明天也许会带来一些变化，明天的生活会很不一样。”
每个人都想在明天到达地面前抓住它。他们认为，如果能事先知道明天带来的是什么，他们便会有所准备。所以他们在树上挂好大网，试图想在明天收起翅膀之前抓住它。然而，尽管他们用尽了一切方法，也没能抓住明天，它还是来到了地面，变成了今天。