*EBS english 펀리딩에서 e북과 mp3파일로 학습하실 수 있습니다.
One Grain of Millet
One day a man said to himself,
"I aways work so hard, but I'm still poor and my life seems to be the same everyday. I think it's time for me to see the world."
He deciede to leave home. He opened a jar of rice to make some rice balls for his journey.
"Oh, there is only one grain of millet left in the jar. It is going to be the most precious thing to me."
When he arrived at the inn(여관, 주막), it was already dark. "Please, ma'am! This is a very precious grain of millet.(수수, 기장) Make sure to give it back to me tomorrow morning."
"Oh yes, I will," she said.
The old woman thought he was joking, and she threw the grain of millet onto the shelf.(선반, 칸)
The next morning, as soon as he woke up, he asked the woman to return his grain of millet.
"Oh gosh! It's gone. Maybe a rat(쥐) ate it last night. Can I give you another one?
"No way!" said the Man. "Give me back the exact(정확한) same grain of millet I gave you yesterday."
"But....the rat ate it!" she replied. (reply 대답하다)
"Then, give me the rat," demanded(요구하다) the Man.
The old woman caught the rat and gave it to him.
He continued on his trip with a rat in his pocket.
It was dark again and he found another inn to stay in.
"Please, Sir! There is a very precious grain of millet inside this rat.
Be sure to return it to me tomorrow morning."
"Oh yes, no problem, Young Man," Promised the inn keeper.
He put the rat into a sack.(부대, 자루)
The next morning, as soon as he woke up, the Man asked the inn keeper to return his grain of millet.
"Sorry, Young Man! It's gone. Maybe a cat ate the rat last night.
Can I catch another rat for you?"
"No, just return the same rat I gave you yesterday."
"How?" asked the inn keeper. "The cat ate it up!"
"Then, give the cat to me."
The Man left(leave과거 떠나다) the inn holding the cat in his arms.
At the next inn, the Young Man asked the owner to keep his cat carefully.
"Oh yes, don't worry," said the inn keeper. "I'll do it for you."
The woman tied the cat in her barn.(곳간, 헛간, 외양간)
The next morning, when she came to get the Man's cat form her barn, she discovered(발견하다) the cat was dead.
"Oh no! I'm terribly sorry. Maybe my donkey trampled(짓밟다, 밟아 뭉개다) your cat to death last night. Can I give you another cat?"
Of course the Young Man said, "No!"
He then took her donkey with him instead of his cat.
He continued on his journey(여행) riding on the donkey.
As it became darker, he found another inn where he could stay for the night.
The Man discovered the next morning that his donkey had died.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Young Man!" said the inn keeper.
"My cow butted(butt 들이받다) against your donkey with his horns(뿔)."
"That donkey was so precious to me. Give me the cow which killed my donkey," demanded the Man.
At last, the Young Man left with the cow. He couldn't believe that he could make a cow with a grain of millet.
On his way, he found a rich house, and everyone was busy preparing a party for the youngest daughter.
"Excuse me, Sir!" said the Man.
"I know you are busy, but can I stay at your house for the night?"
The Young Man explained that he needed care for his cow also.
The owner ordered for his servants to put the cow in the barn.
"Don't worry, Young Man! They'll take care of your cow," assured(장담하다, 보장하다) the home owner.
The next morning, the Young Man could not find his cow.
"Sir, forgive us!" cried the servant.
"We butchered his cow by mistake."
"Oh no! We've made a big mistake. I apologize to you. I'll give you another cow," the owner said to the Young Man.
"No, that was a very precious cow. My most precious item in the world! It happened because of your daughter, so you must give me your daugther."
"What nonesnse(허튼소리, 말도 안되는 짓)!"
He was angry at first because it seemed rude.
But he started to laugh soon.
"Ha, ha, ha, you are such a wise man. You are able to ask for my daughter because of one grain of millet. You deserve(마땅하다, 받을만하다) to marry her."
In the end, the Young Man with only one grain of millet was able to marry a rich and beautiful woman.
He was the luckiest man in the world.