he Oil Lamp and the Lighthouse 油灯与灯塔

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On an island off the coast of a rocky shore stood a stately1） lighthouse. During the day， the white walls of the lighthouse shimmered2） and sparkled under the sunlight， while at night it burned a light for those at sea that outshone3） even the stars. Many people visited the lighthouse， and when they did， they commented on its size and strength and admired the artistic beauty that it added to the surrounding landscape. Some told its keeper of how its light had saved them during a storm.

All loved the lighthouse， with one exception： a little oil lamp that lived in the lighthouse. By day it hung forgotten at the bottom of the stairs. At dusk it helped the keeper of the lighthouse make his way from the bottom of the stairs to the lantern room. It seemed to the oil lamp that he fell far short4）. To his way of thinking， his shortcomings were magnified5） by his nearness to one so much greater than he. Always， the oil lamp labored under this heaviness of heart.

Then one day， after a particularly brilliant afternoon when many visitors had come to play on the sandy turf6） of the island， there was a knock at the door. It was a boy， searching for a friend who was lost. The sun had set， and what had seemed such friendly shores hours before were now dark and foreboding7）. Could the kindly keeper of the lighthouse help him find his friend？

The keeper quickly took the youth inside and， after bundling8） him into a blanket， turned to get his own coat to protect himself from the night chill. Then he reached to the hook between the door and the stairs and took down the little oil lamp. After carefully making sure that the wick9） was wet with oil and the tank10） full， the keeper lit the lamp and whispered， "Burn bright tonight， faithful friend. I cannot take the lighthouse with me. He serves his purpose here， but you were made for times like this. It is now that I need you most！"

In that instant， all of the oil lamp's misgivings were replaced by joy―joy in knowing that here was something only he could do. All through the night， through brambles11） and brush， the oil lamp burned brighter and more steadily than ever before. He had to； the keeper was depending on him. At last the lost boy was found and brought safely back to the lighthouse and his friend.

Never again did the oil lamp doubt his place or purpose. He had learned a great lesson that night： he was happiest and most useful being himself.

在一片岩石嶙峋的海岸附近有一座小岛，岛上矗立着一座宏伟的灯塔。白天，灯塔白色的墙壁在阳光下闪耀着微光，而在夜晚，它则为那些在海上航行的船只点亮一盏灯，那盏灯甚至比漫天的繁星都要亮。很多人都来参观这座灯塔，他们参观的时候，评论这座灯塔的巨大和坚固，称赞这座灯塔给周围的风景增添了一种艺术美。有些人给守塔人讲述灯塔的光亮如何在暴风雨中救了他们一命。

所有人都喜欢这座灯塔，只有住在灯塔里的小油灯是个例外。白天，它被挂在楼梯底层，被人遗忘。黄昏时分，它为守塔人照亮从楼梯底层通往灯室的路。在油灯看来，自己似乎差得太远了。它认为，紧挨着灯塔这么个比它重要得多的家伙，它的不足之处都被放大了。油灯一直带着这种沉重的心情工作着。

后来有一天，午后的阳光格外灿烂，许多游客都来小岛上的那片覆草沙地上玩耍。那天晚些时候，有人来敲灯塔的门。是一个男孩，他在寻找一个走丢的朋友。那时太阳已经落山了，几个小时前看上去舒适宜人的海岸现在一片漆黑、阴森恐怖。善良的守塔人能帮男孩找到他的朋友吗？

守塔人立刻把这个男孩领进灯塔，用一块毯子裹住他，接着他转身穿上自己的外套，好保护自己不受夜晚寒气的侵袭。然后他伸手从楼梯与塔门之间的钩子上取下了那盏小油灯。在仔细确认灯芯被油浸湿、油灯盛满了灯油之后，守塔人点亮了油灯，并低声说道：“今晚要点得亮亮的，忠实的老伙计。我不能带着灯塔去。它要在这里发挥它的作用，而你生来就适合这样的时刻。现在正是我最需要你的时候！”

在那一瞬间，油灯所有的疑虑都被喜悦取代了，因为它知道有件事只有它才能做。整整一夜，穿过荆棘与灌木丛，油灯比以往任何时候都燃得更亮、更稳。它必须这样，因为守塔人指望着它。最后，那个走丢的男孩被找到了，并被安全地带回灯塔里，带到了他的朋友身边。

油灯再也没有怀疑过自己的地位和作用。那天晚上它学到了十分重要的一课：做自己它才最快乐、最有用。

1. stately [?ste?tli] adj. 壮观的，宏伟的

2. shimmer [???m?（r）] vi. 发微光；闪烁

3. outshine [?a?t??a?n] vt. 比……更亮

4. fall short： 不符合，未达要求

5. magnify [?m?n?fa?] vt. 放大；扩大

6. sandy turf： 覆沙草地

7. foreboding [f???b??d??] adj. 预示有灾祸的

8. bundle [?b?ndl] vt. 匆忙地把……推至（某处）

9. wick [w?k] n. 灯芯

10. tank [t??k] n. （盛放气体或液体的）罐；槽

11. bramble [?br?mbl] n. 有刺灌木