Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.
The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me…. I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring… I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”
And so she grew.
The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don't know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts…. what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”
And so she waited.
A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.
【助读词汇】
-fertile adj.（土地）肥沃的，富饶的
-sprout n. 苗，芽，嫩枝
-crust n. 坚硬的表面，外壳
-petal n. 花瓣
-encounter vt.遭遇，遭受，偶遇
-snail n. 蜗牛
-unfurl v. 打开，展开，显露
-moral adj. 道德(上)的，精神的 n. 道德
【参考译文】
两颗种子并排躺在春天肥沃的土壤里。
第一颗种子说：“我要成长。我要把根深深扎入我身下的土壤，并且我要用芽顶穿上面坚硬的地壳… 我要伸展柔嫩的蓓蕾，就像飘扬的旗帜宣告着春天的到来… 我要感受太阳照在脸上的温暖，并且接受清晨花瓣上露水的祝福！”
于是，第一颗种子不断成长着。
第二颗种子说：“我很害怕。如果我把根深扎入下面的土壤，不知道黑暗之中会遇到什么。如果我冲破上面坚硬的土地，那么我可能会伤害我脆弱的芽… 如果我舒展花蕾，蜗牛要吃掉它们可怎么办呢？如果我绽放花朵，小孩儿可能会把我从地上拔起。不，我还是等安全了之后再做比较好。”
于是，第二颗种子就等啊等啊。
早春，一只母鸡正在院子里刨着泥土找食吃，它发现了正等在那儿的第二颗种子，一下子就把它吞了下去。
这个故事启示我们：那些惧怕冒险和成长的人最终要被生活吞没。
【人生启迪】
生活从来都不是一帆风顺的，它时刻都充满了危险和挑战，正如逆水行舟不进则退，只有那些不畏艰险的人才能主宰自己的生命，最终到达胜利的彼岸，而那些一味畏惧的人，只会被生活的浪花所吞没。