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【英文原文1】
Old John And The Devil
（An American Folktale）
This folktale1) comes from the South eastern United States. It takes place in the days before automobiles when everyone used horses. A blacksmith――a man who makes horseshoes and other items from metal――was at that time quite an important part of the community. Because every one needed horseshoes and pots and pans and metal tools and things like nails, which the blacksmith made, the black smith shop also became a community gathering place where neighbor met neighbor.
Once there was a blacksmith everyone called Old John. He was the only blacksmith for miles a round and since he did very good work, his shop was frequently crowded with neighbors and old friends and other shopkeepers from the village. Old John himself, however, was not a friendly person. In fact, he was considered a terrible grouch, a very mean-spirited and temperamental2) person. He was always complaining about people borrowing his tools, and sitting in his rocking chair to pass the time away in idle chatter, and tearing branches off his forsythia bush to use as whips for their horses. People generally tolerated Old John because they had to and because he was a good workman. Given that he was comparatively well off and an important member of the community, no one could understand why he was so mean.
One day when John was not very busy, a figure in a long, white robe appeared beside him as he clanged away making tools.
“Old John,” the figure said. “I have come to give you a chance to redeem yourself and save your soul. ”
Old John kept right on hammering. “You have, have you?” he said with a grin. “And who says I need redeeming3) anyway?”
“Everyone knows, ”the figure said, “you are a person of no generosity4) and a very mean spirit. ”
“Is that right？”Old John said, lifting his hammer in his visitor’s face and giving it a shake. “And just what it is you propose to do about it？”
“I am authorized, ”the figure said, “to grant you three wishes. ”
“Well, I am authorized, ”Old John said, “to tell you I don’ t believe a word of it, and if you don’t haul your behind out of here and quit bothering me with all this work to do, I’ll put you out myself. ”
“I insist I am quite serious about this, ”the figure said, “and furthermore you had best consider carefully what you wish for as your chances for going to heaven depend upon it. “
Old John just laughed. “Why I figure my chances of going to heaven are just as good as anybody’s, ”he said. “I don’ t do anything but work, eat and sleep. And kick the dogs when they get under my feet. And chase away these loafers5) that are always hanging around here. What’s wrong with that？”
The figure just shook its misty head. “What are your three wishes, Old John？I don’t have much time to spend with you. ”
