模型船 A Model Ship
【作者:取材自Catechetical Helps 顧美芬譯】剪下一方暖和--喻道小故事 2011.09.11
A young boy spent an entire year constructing a model ship, similar to a great ship that was docked in his town's harbor. Every sail was intricately cut and sewn, exactly to scale and perfectly placed. Every plank was carved and fastened precisely.
Finally the time came for the grand launching on a small creek near his home. During the first few moments the ship slid gracefully over the water and rode the slow current. But then, without warning, the current quickened and a gust of wind pushed the boat down the creek. The boy was unable to keep up with the ship's pace. It soon sailed out of sight in the widening stream. The boy was crushed.
Some months later he spotted a magnificent ship in the front window of an antique shop—his ship!
The very work of art he had fashioned was for sale. The price was steep, and even though it belonged to him already, he was willing to pay anything to get it back. He scraped together every last penny he had to buy the ship again.
字彙
1. intricately 複雜地
2. plank支柱
3. antique 古董
4. steep價格不合理
5. scrape收集、湊足
有個少年花了一整年建了一艘模型船，樣子就和停泊在小鎮港口的大船一樣。每一片帆，繁複地切割縫合，精準地按照比例，完美地安置在恰當的地方。每一根支架都有雕刻，絲毫不差地固定著。
終於，在他家附近的小溪舉行了下水典禮。起初模型船在水面上優雅滑行，浮在緩慢的潮水上。忽然，毫無預警地，水流湍急，一陣風將小船吹往下游。少年跟不上小船的速度，小船很快在變寬的小溪中消失了蹤影，少年的心都碎了。
幾個月之後，在一間古董店的櫥窗裏，他發現了一艘華麗的船—就是他的船！
這是他所製造的藝術品，現在正待價而沽。雖然價格高得離譜，而小船本來就是他的，但現在他願意付任何代價去買回來。他把自己的每一分錢收集起來，湊足了，再次把小船買了回來。
思考與應用
1.少年失去了精心之作，後來不計代價買回原本屬他之物，這讓你想到什麼？
2.如果少年無法湊足錢買回心愛之物，他可能會怎麼做？
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