There was once a charcoal1-burner who lived worked by himself. A fuller, however, happened to come settle in the same neighbourhood; the charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished." The fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."

從前,有一個(gè)自力更生的燒炭工人獨(dú)自在家做工作。碰巧,一個(gè)漂洗工搬至隔壁,與他成了鄰居。結(jié)實(shí)漂洗工后,燒炭工人經(jīng)過(guò)了解發(fā)現(xiàn),這個(gè)鄰居是一個(gè)很好的合作伙伴,就問(wèn)漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的鋪?zhàn)永镆黄鸸ぷ??！澳菢游覀儠?huì)更加親密。”燒炭人說(shuō):“不僅如此,我們還可以節(jié)省生活開(kāi)銷(xiāo)呢?”漂洗工謝絕了他,回答說(shuō):“我可不這樣看,先生,因?yàn)椴还芪业囊路吹亩嗝窗?都會(huì)立刻被你的木炭染黑了?！?/span>