1.父亲和他的儿子 THE FATHER AND HIS SONS
Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarrelling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They each tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.
He next unclosed the faggot, and took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into their hands, on which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words： “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies； but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
一位父亲有几个孩子，这些孩子时常发生口角。他丝毫没有办法来劝阻他们，只好让他们看看不合群所带来害处的例子。为了达到这个目的，有一天他叫他们替他拿一捆细柴来。当他们把柴带来时，他便先后地将那捆柴放在每一个孩子的手中，吩咐他们弄断这捆柴。他们一个个尽力去试，总是不能成功。
然后他解开那捆柴，一根根地放在他们手里，如此一来，他们便毫不费力地折断了。于是他就告诉他们说：“孩子们！如果你们大家团结一致，互相帮助，你们就像这捆柴一样，不能被你们的敌人折断；但如果你们自行分裂，你们就将和这些散柴一般，不堪一折了。”
2.狮子和老鼠 THE LION AND THE MOUSE
Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying： “If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed and let him go.
It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came up, and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: “You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor； but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion.”
一只老鼠从一只狮子面前跑过去，将它从梦中吵醒。狮子生气地跳起来，捉住老鼠，要弄死它。老鼠哀求说：“只要你肯饶恕我这条小生命，我将来一定会报答你的大恩。”狮子便笑着放了它。
后来狮子被几个猎人捉住，用粗绳捆绑倒在地上。老鼠听出是狮子的吼声，走来用牙齿咬断绳索，释放了他，并大声说：“你当时嘲笑我想帮你的忙，而且也不指望我有什么机会报答。但是你现在知道了，就算是小老鼠，也能向狮子效劳的。”
3.狮子和农夫 The lion and the farmer
An Indian farmer and his child were toiling in the fields. It was almost dark by the time they had finished their work and the farmer said to the child, "Wow! It’s getting dark! Quickly pack up the tools and run. Let’s run quickly!"
“Relax. We’re not far from home and we know the way home. Why are you in such a panic?” asked the child. “There’s something you don’t know. I’m generally fearless. I’m not afraid of tigers or lions. I’m only afraid of the night. When the night comes, I’m completely powerless. The night is most terrifying to me. I’m really frightened of it. I can’t stand it," answered the farmer.
It so happened that a lion was hiding nearby and overheard their conversation. “What’s this thing called ‘the night’? How could it be more fearful than I am? I must find out about it,” the lion mused as it moved closer to the farmer, hoping to learn more about this “night” that was even more frightening than itself.
Then darkness fell and the farsighted farmer couldn’t see nearby objects clearly. He only saw the vague outline of an animal approaching, thought it was the donkey he had recently lost, and beat the lion several times, saying, “I’ve been looking for you all day. Where have you been? How dare you come back so late?”
“This is the end of me,” the lion thought with regret. “How could I have been so stupid as to come so close to this thing called ‘the night’ that beat me just now? It’s really horrifying. What should I do now?” As these thoughts flashed through the lion’s mind, the farmer again slapped it several times, urging it to go home with him. The petrified lion then obediently followed the farmer back to his house.
It was even darker when they reached home. Since the farmer continued to mistake the lion for his donkey, he tied it in a corner outside his house before he went to bed. That night, the lion stayed out in the cold, starving, petrified and not knowing what to expect of “the night” when morning dawned. It believed that the farmer was “the night.”
Early the next morning, before dawn broke, the farmer got up and took his “donkey” to the fields. On the way, another lion passed by and found it hilarious to see a lion obediently following a farmer. It then approached the captive lion and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you walking behind this man?”
“Shh! Keep your voice down and leave quickly. Don’t you know that this being walking in front is something called ‘the night?’ He’s very terrible. Last night, he beat me and shackled me, leaving me cold and starving the entire night. I have no idea where he’s taking me now. Run along or your life will be in danger!”
After hearing this story, the other lion said, “You’re incredible. You idiot! You’re a lion, the king of animals! You’ve been deceived! Just roar at him now and you’ll know who is more terrifying.” The lion accepted his advice and roared loudly, so the farmer took a closer look. Now that the sky had become brighter, he saw that it was a lion. Wow! He bolted like lightning, and the lion was free again.
有一个印度的农夫跟他的小孩子出去耕田，耕完了地以后，天快要黑了，他就跟小孩说：“哇！天快黑了！不行、不行了！快收东西，快点走，我们赶快走吧！”
小孩说：“哎呀！你别紧张嘛！回家的路不远，而且我们也知道路，你干什么这么紧张呢？”农夫说：“不行啊！你不知道啊！我什么都不怕，我不怕老虎、不怕狮子，我最怕那个‘晚上’！只要‘晚上’一来，我就软趴趴。那个‘晚上’最恐怖了，我好怕、好怕，我受不了！”
刚好有一只狮子躲在旁边听到了，它就想：“这个‘晚上’是什么东西？它怎么可能比我还恐怖呢？我倒要试试看！”它就靠近农夫，想查看‘晚上’是什么种类的东西，竟然比狮子还要恐怖。
那个时候天已经黑了，那个农夫有老花眼，看不清楚，只看到一个动物跑过来靠近他，认为是他那头刚走掉的驴子，就打它几下，说：“找你整天找不到，去哪里了？现在才回来！”
这只狮子心想：“完了！我怎么那么笨，跑来靠近‘这个’，刚刚打我就是叫‘晚上’的东西吧！好恐怖啊！现在怎么办呢？”它在想的时候，农夫又打了它好几下，催它赶快回家去，这只狮子怕死了，就跟着农夫走回去。
回家时天更黑了，因为农夫认为是他的驴子，就把狮子绑在屋外的角落边，然后进去睡觉。那只狮子在那边又饿又冷整个晚上，又害怕，不晓得明天早上那个“晚上”会再对待它怎么样？它认为农夫就是所谓的“晚上”。
隔天一大早，天还不怎么亮的时候，农夫已经起来了，出门带那头“驴子”要去耕田。走到半路时，刚好有另外一只狮子经过，它看到这只狮子乖乖地跟着农夫走在后面，就感觉到好笑，它靠近这只狮子，问：“你做什么啦？为什么跟着那个人的后面走呢？”
被绑的狮子说：“嘘！你不要那么吵，赶快离开！你不知道前面走的那个，就是叫‘晚上’的东西，他很恐怖啊，昨天我被他打，然后被绑了整个晚上又饿又冷，现在不晓得要带我到哪里去。你赶快跑，不然的话你生命难保啊！”
另外那只狮子听说这样，就说：“你真好笑，你笨蛋！你是狮子、是动物之王啊！你被骗了！你现在吼他一声，就知道谁才恐怖。”果然，这只狮子听它的话大吼一声以后，那个农夫就靠过来看，现在天亮了，一看是只狮子，哇！跑得要命。然后这只狮子就自由了。
4.熟能生巧小故事 Skill comes from practice
During the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a skilled archer. One day he drew a big crowd while he was practicing on the drill ground. He shot so accurately that the on-lookers cheered with excitement. He became very proud of his skill. But among the crowd an old oil peddler only nodded his head indifferently. This hurt his Pride.
“Can you do this?” he asked the old oil peddler.
“No, I can’t.”
“What do you think of my skill?”
“Just OK, but nothing special. You’ve gained your accuracy from persistent practice. That’s all.”
“What can you do, then?” the old man said nothing. He put a gourd bottle on the ground and covered its mouth with a copper coin. He then scooped out a ladle of oil from his big jar, held it high and began to fill the bottle.
Now, a thread of oil came down from the ladle into the bottle just through the hole of the coin. Everybody looking on watched with amazement. But the old man said, “This is nothing special, I can do this because I have practiced it a lot.” And with these words, he left.
Later, people use this phrase to mean “Practice makes perfect”.
北宋时期，有个技艺高超的射手。有一天，他在训练场上练习射箭，引来了一大群人观看，大家都称赞他的技艺，他感到非常骄傲。但他发现人群中有个卖油翁只是淡淡的点点头，这使得他很不高兴。
他就问那老头：“你会射箭吗？”
“不会。”
“你认为我的技术如何？”
“一般。没什么特别的，你只能对付固定的东西，仅此而已。”
“你会干什么？”
这个老头没有回答。他把一个葫芦放在地上，接着把一枚铜钱放在瓶口。然后从他的大油壶里舀起一勺油。
从高处往放在地上的葫芦里倒。只见那油就像线一样从铜钱中间的小洞里滴下去，一滴都没有漏出来。围观者都惊呆了。而这个卖油翁却说：“其实没什么大不了的，只不过是天天练的结果。”说完，他就离开了。
后来，人们用“熟能生巧”这个成语来表示熟练了就能作得好。
#能力训练# 导语大多数小朋友都喜欢听故事，如果是英语故事的话，不但可以在听故事的同时学习英语知识。下面是 分享的英语短文简单小故事10篇。欢迎阅读参考！
1.英语短文简单小故事
once there were two mice. they were friends. one mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. after many years the country mouse saw the city mouse; he said, "do come and see me at my house in the country." so the city mouse went. the city mouse said, "this food is not good, and your house is not good. why do you live in a hole in the field? you should come and live in the city. you would live in a nice house made of stone. you would have nice food to eat. you must come and see me at my house in the city."
the country mouse went to the house of the city mouse. it was a very good house. nice food was set ready for them to eat. but just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. the city mouse cried, " run! run! the cat is coming!" they ran away quickly and hid.
after some time they came out. when they came out, the country mouse said, "i do not like living in the city. i like living in my hole in the field. for it is nicer to be poor and happy, than to be rich and afraid."
翻译
从前，有两只老鼠，它们是好朋友。一只老鼠居住在乡村，另一只住在城里。很多年以后，乡下老鼠碰到城里老鼠，它说：“你一定要来我乡下的家看看。”于是，城里老鼠就去了。乡下老鼠领着它到了一块田地上它自己的家里。它把所有最精美食物都找出来给城里老鼠。城里老鼠说：“这东西不好吃，你的家也不好，你为什么住在田野的地洞里呢?你应该搬到城里去住，你能住上用石头造的漂亮房子，还会吃上美味佳肴，你应该到我城里的家看看。”
乡下老鼠就到城里老鼠的家去。房子十分漂亮，好吃的东西也为他们摆好了。可是正当他们要开始吃的时候，听见很大的一阵响声，城里的老鼠叫喊起来：“快跑!快跑!猫来了!”他们飞快地跑开躲藏起来。
过了一会儿，他们出来了。当他们出来时，乡下老鼠说：“我不喜欢住在城里，我喜欢住在田野我的洞里。因为这样虽然贫穷但是快乐自在，比起虽然富有却要过着提心吊胆的生活来说，要好些。”
2.英语短文简单小故事
once upon a time, the animals living on the ground and those flying in the sky fought against each other. However, a bat could not take part on either side because he was timid and had no courage.
When the beasts seemed like winning, the bat went to them and said, "I would like to fight with you." They believed him.
Yet, the bat began to worry, as the birds started to move ahead. So, the bat went to them and begged, "I am on your side because I am winged, too."
They pleasantly accepted the bat. "Sure. Since you have wings, you are on our side." The fight between the birds and the beasts continued and the bat went back and forth to the winning side.
Then one day, peace was made in the woods. The birds and the beasts learned that the bat went hither and thither between them. All the animals determined to expel him. Turned away from both sides, the bat started to live in a dark cave.
从前，地上的动物和天上的动物经常打架。然而，蝙蝠无法参加任何一方的队伍，因为他很胆小，缺乏勇气。
当野兽快要胜利的时候，蝙蝠赶过去说：“我要跟你并肩战斗。”他们相信了蝙蝠。
然而，鸟儿们占上风的时候，蝙蝠又开始担心。于是，蝙蝠转而投靠他们恳求道：“我是你们这边，你们看我也有翅膀。”
他们愉快地接受了蝙蝠。“当然。既然你有翅膀，你就是我们的战友。”鸟儿与野兽的打斗仍然没有停止，蝙蝠来来回回地投靠每次胜利的一方。
一天，树林里终于迎来了和平。鸟和野兽得知蝙蝠在他们中间来回地欺骗。所有的动物都同意驱逐他。两方的队伍都不欢迎他，于是，蝙蝠开始在黑暗的洞穴里生活。
3.英语短文简单小故事
A boy found an eagle's egg and he put it in the nest of a prairie chicken. The eagle hatched and thought he was a chicken. He grew up doing what prairie chicken do-scratching at the dirt for food and flying short distances with a noisy fluttering of wings. It was a dreary life. Gradually the eagle grew older and bitter. One day he and his prairie chicken friend saw a beautiful bird soaring on the currents of air, high above the mountains. "Oh, I wish I could fly like that!" said the eagle. The chicken replied, "Don't give it another thought. That's the mighty eagle, the king of all birds-you could never be like him!" And the eagle didn't give it another thought. He went on cackling and complaining about life. He died thinking he was a prairie chicken. My friends, you too were born an eagle. The Creator intended you to be an eagle, so don’t listen to the prairie chickens!
一位小男孩发现了一只老鹰下的蛋，把它放进了一只山鸡的窝里。鹰被孵出来了，但他以为自己是一只山鸡。渐渐的他长大了，却做着山鸡所做的事---从泥土里寻找食物，做短距离的飞翔，翅膀还啪啪作响。生活非常沉闷，渐渐地鹰长大了，也越来越苦恼。有一天，他和他的山鸡朋友看见一只美丽的鸟在天空翱翔，飞的比山还高。 “哦，我要能飞的那么高该多好啊！”鹰说。山鸡回答说，“不要想了，那是凶猛无比的鹰，鸟中---你不可能像他一样！”于是鹰放弃了那个念头。他继续咯咯地叫，不停的抱怨生活。最后他死了，依然认为自己是一只山鸡。朋友们，你们天生就是雄鹰。造物主有意把你造就成一只雄鹰，所以不要听信山鸡的话！
4.英语短文简单小故事
Stolen Turkey
Ducking into confession with a turkey in his arms, Brian said, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I stole this turkey to feed my family. Would you take it and settle my guilt?"
布莱恩抱着一只火鸡，非常苦恼，他说：“原谅我，神父，我有罪。我偷来这只火鸡给我家人吃。你能告慰我的罪吗”
"Certainly not," said the Priest. "As penance, you must return it to the one from whom you stole it."
“当然不行，”神父说。“你必须把它还回去，这样才能赎罪。”
"I tried," Brian sobbed, "but he refused. Oh, Father, what should I do?"
“我试过了。”布莱恩抽泣着，“但是他拒绝了。神父，我到底该怎么办呢?”
"If what you say is true, then it is all right for you to keep it for your family."
“如果你说的是真的，那你就留着它吧。”
Thanking the Priest, Brian hurried off.
谢过了神父，布莱恩跑开了。
When confession was over, the Priest returned to his residence. When he walked into the kitchen, he found that someone had stolen his turkey.
告诫会结束后 ，神父回到住处。当他走到厨房的时候，他发现火鸡不见了。
5.英语短文简单小故事
After the rain， a difficult spider to the wall has been fragmented network， due to damp walls， it must climb the height， it will fall， which one to climb， repeatedly falling and… No. a person to see， and he sighed to himself： "my life as this spider is not it? busy and no income." Thus， he increasingly depressed. See the second person， he said： this spider really stupid， why do not dry place from the next to climb up to look around? I'll be as stupid as it can not. Thus， he becomes wise up. See the third person， he immediately spiders keep the spirit of war touched. So he has become strong.
翻译：
雨后，一只蜘蛛艰难地向墙上已经支离破碎的网爬去，由于墙壁潮湿，它爬到一定的高度，就会掉下来，它一次次地向上爬，一次次地又掉下来……第一个人看到了，他叹了一口气，自言自语：“我的一生不正如这只蜘蛛吗?忙忙碌碌而无所得。”于是，他日渐消沉。第二个人看到了，他说：这只蜘蛛真愚蠢，为什么不从旁边干燥的地方绕一下爬上去?我以后可不能像它那样愚蠢。于是，他变得聪明起来。第三个人看到了，他立刻被蜘蛛屡败屡战的精神感动了。于是，他变得坚强起来。
6.英语短文简单小故事
A waggoner was once driving a heavy load on a very muddy road.
一名车夫赶着货车沿着一条非常泥泞的小路前行。
Suddenly the wheels of the wagon sank into the mire, and the horse could not pull them out.
突然，马车的轮子陷入了泥潭，马无法将它们拉出来。
The waggoner threw down his whip. He knelt down and prayed to Hercules. “Hercules, help me,please,“ he said.
车夫扔下鞭子，跪在地上，祈求大力神出现，“大力神啊，请来帮助我。”他说。
But Hercules appeared to him, and said, “Man, don’t kneel there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.“
大力神出现了，却说：“朋友，用你的肩膀把车轮扛起来，再驱赶马拉车出来。跪在那里祈求我有什么用呢?”
7.英语短文简单小故事
a man was going to the house of some rich person. as he went along the road, he saw a box of good apples at the side of the road. he said, "i do not want to eat those apples; for the rich man will give me much food; he will give me very nice food to eat." then he took the apples and threw them away into the dust.
he went on and came to a river. the river had become very big; so he could not go over it. he waited for some time; then he said, "i cannot go to the rich man‘s house today, for i cannot get over the river."
he began to go home. he had eaten no food that day. he began to want food. he came to the apples, and he was glad to take them out of the dust and eat them.
do not throw good things away; you may be glad to have them at some other time.
翻译
一个人正朝着一个富人的房子走去，当他沿着路走时，在路的一边他发现一箱好苹果，他说：“我不打算吃那些苹果，因为富人会给我更多的食物，他会给我很好吃的东西。”然后他拿起苹果，一把扔到土里去。
他继续走，来到河边，河涨水了，因此，他到不了河对岸，他等了一会儿，然后他说：“今天我去不了富人家了，因为我不能渡过河。”
他开始回家，那天他没有吃东西。他就开始去找吃的，他找到苹果，很高兴地把它们从尘土中翻出来吃了。
不要把好东西扔掉，换个时候你会觉得它们大有用处。
8.英语短文简单小故事
once there were three foxes, they worked together. They lived a happy life.
Little by little, the youngest fox became lazy, and often quarreled with the other foxes. The eldest had to leave, and the second fox was driven off, too.
Looking at the warm house with a lot of good food in it, the youngest fox smiled.
The eldest fox opened a new hill again.
The second eldest fox dug a pool. Two of them because rich soon.
The youngest fox ate up the food left by the other two foxes. In the end it felt so cold and hungry that it could not stand up.
从前有三只狐狸，他们愉快地工作和居住在一起。
最小的狐狸又懒又坏，经常同其他的两只狐狸争吵，气走了它的大哥和二哥。
最小的狐狸得意地住在温暖的房子里享受着丰富的食品。
老大重新开了一块小山坡种地。
老二挖了池塘，不久他们过上了富裕的生活。
最小的狐狸吃完了那些狐狸留下的所有食物，最后又冷又饿连站也站不起来。
9.英语短文简单小故事
An old lion who had no energy to hunt thinks it can get its food with its wisdom.
有一头年老的狮子已经不能凭借力量去抢夺食物了，心想，只能用智取得方法才能获得更多的食物。
So, it digs a hole, lies down and pretends to be sick. If other animal come to see what's the matter with the lion he eats them. So, some animals were eaten by the lion. The fox sees through the trap, it stands near the hole and the look at the state of the lion's body. The lion says: I feel sick. It asks why the fox doesn't come in the hole. The fox answers: Maybe I would if I didn't see thouse footprints which show some animals havewalked in but they haven't come out.
于是啊，他钻进一个山洞里，躺在地上假装生病，等其他的小动物走过来窥探，就把她们抓住吃了。这样，不少的动物都被狮子吃掉了。狐狸识破了狮子的诡计，远远的站在洞外，问狮子身体现在如何。狮子回答说：嗨哟，很不好啊! 反问狐狸为什么不进洞里来。狐狸说道：如果我没发现只有进去的脚印，没有一个出来的脚印，我也许会进洞去。
The story tells us that the wise man foresees the danger and escapes frome it
这是说，聪明的人常常能审时度势，根据迹象遇见到危险，避免不幸。
10.英语短文简单小故事
Tom is a very old man. After dinner, he likes walking in the street. And he goes to bed at seven o’clock.
汤姆是一位老人，他喜欢在晚饭后到大街上散步，在7点回来睡觉。
But tonight, a car stopped at his house. A policeman helps him get out. He tells Tom’s wife, “The old man couldn’t find his way in the street. He asked me to take him in the car.”
但是，今天晚上一辆小汽车停在他家门前，汤姆在一位警察的帮助下走下汽车。警察告诉汤姆的妻子：“这位老人在街上迷路了，他让我用汽车送他回来。”
After the policeman leaves there, his wife asks, “Tom, you go to the street every night. But tonight you can’t find the way, what’s the matter?”
警察走后：“汤姆，你每天都到那条街上散步，但是今天你迷路了，你怎么了?”
The old man smiles like a child and says, “I couldn’t find my way? I didn’t want to walk home.“
这位老人像孩子般的笑道：“我迷路了?我是不想走路回家。”
