Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family．The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion 's guest room．Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement ．As they made their bed on the hard floor，the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it．

When the younger angel asked why，the older angel replied，“Things aren't always what they seem．”

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor，but very hospitable farmer and his wife．After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest．

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears．Their only cow，whose milk had been their sole income，lay dead in the field．

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel，“How could you have let this happen？The first man had everything，yet you helped him，”she accused ．“The second family had little but was willing to share everything，and you let the cow die．”

“Things aren't always what they seem，”the older angel replied．“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion，I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall．Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune，I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it．”

“Then last night as we slept in the farmers' bed，the angel of death came for his wife．I gave him the cow instead．Things aren't always what they seem．”

Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should．If you have faith，you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage ．You just might not know it until some time later…

Words and Expressions

- mansion n．宅第，公馆；大厦；豪宅

- basement n．地下室，地下层

- hospitable adj．（人或行为）好客的，殷勤的，热情友好的

- sole adj．单独的，唯一的，仅有的

- lie（-lay-lain）v． 躺；卧；平躺；平卧；横卧

- infuriate vt．使大怒；激怒

- accuse v．指责，谴责；控告

obsessed with迷住；心神困扰

- greed n．贪心，贪婪

- seal v．盖章于；盖戳；在……上加盖检验封印；密封

turn out结果是，原来是

- outcome n．结果，后果，成果

to your advantage对你有利

Read and recite the following sentences：

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should．If you have faith，you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage．You just might not know it until some time later…

Try to complete the following without referring to the original passage：

Sometimes that is exactly __________ when things don't __________ they should．If you __________，you just need to __________ is always__________．You just might not know it __________．

参考译文

事情并非总是看上去的那样

两位天使在旅游期间停留在一个富有的家庭过了一夜。这个家庭非常无礼，不让天使住在豪宅的客房，而让天使住在地下室的一个小空间。因为他们只能把硬地板当床，老天使看到墙上有一个洞，就把洞口补好。

当小天使问为什么那样做，老天使回答说：事情不总是你所看到的那样。

第二晚，两位天使到了一家很穷苦的家庭休息，他们是非常好客的农夫和他的太太。夫妻俩跟天使们一起分享他们仅有的食物，也让天使们睡在他们的床上以便天使们能够好好地休息。

当第二天太阳升起时，天使发现农夫跟太太在哭。他们唯一的一只牛，供应收入的奶牛死在田地里。

小天使很生气地问老天使：为什么会发生这样的事？第一个人什么都有，你却帮助他。第二个家庭只有一点东西而且乐意分享全部的东西，可你却让他们的牛死了。

老天使回答说：事情不总是你所看到的那样。当我们住在豪宅的地下室时，我发现墙上的洞口里藏了很多黄金。既然屋主是贪心又不肯跟别人分享财富的人，所以我把洞口封了，不让他找到。

昨晚当我们睡在农夫的床上时，死神要他太太的性命，所以我把奶牛给了死神。事情不总是你所看到的那样。

很多时候，当事情发生了而不是我们所要的结局时，我们都会像小天使那样想。如果我们有信心，我们只需要相信所有的结局都是对我们有利的，很多事情需要过了一段时间才能印证。