Ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ Ｂｒｉｄｇｅｓ

李　华

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict．It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch．

Then the long collaboration fell apart．It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence．

One morning there was a knock on Johns door． He opened it to find a man with a carpenters tool box． “Im looking for a few days work,” he said． “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there．Could I help you?”

“Yes,” said the older brother． “I do have a job for you． Look across the creek at that farm． Thats my neighbor, in fact, its my younger brother． Last week there was a meadow between US and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between US． Well, he may have done this to spite me, but Ill go him one better． See that pile of lumbering by the barn? I want you to build me a fence—an 8-foot fence—so I wont need to see his place anymore． Cool him down, anyhow．”

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation． Show me the nails and the posthole digger and Ill be able to do a job that pleases you．”

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, So he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day．

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing． About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job． The farmers eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped．

There was no fence there at all． It was a bridge ．．． a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all—and the neighbor his younger brother, was coming across，his hand outstretched．

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all Ive said and done．” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each others hand． They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder． “No, wait! Stay a few days．Ive a lot of other projects for you，”said the older brother．

“Id love to stay on，”the carpenter said, “but, I have so many more bridges to build．”

曾经有这么两个亲兄弟，他们生活的农场相互毗邻，然而他们却闹起矛盾来。40年来，他俩并肩耕耘，共用生产机械，需要时互换劳力和物品。相处的日子过得和和顺顺。这是他们之间第一次出现裂痕。长期的兄弟合作就这样破裂。而这一切源于小小的误解，导致重大分歧，最后爆发为恶语相向，之后又是几个星期的互不理睬。

一天早晨，有人敲大哥约翰家的门，他打开门，看见门前站着一个扛着工具箱的木匠。“我是来找活干的。”木匠说，“或许你这里有什么小的活计，需要修修补补。我能帮忙吗?”

“有。”做大哥的说，“我这里确实有要你干的活。你瞧小河边的那个农场，那是我的邻居的，事实上，它是我弟弟的。我们俩的农场之间本来有一块草地。上周，我弟弟把推土机开到河堤边。现在我们俩之间就有了这条河。他这么做也许是为了激恼我，但我要更胜他一筹。你看见谷仓旁的那堆木材吗?我要你筑个围栏，一个8英尺高的围栏，这样我就再不必见到他的农场。无论如何，我要断绝与他的一切往来。”

木匠开口道：“我想我理解目前的情况。给我钉子和挖桩洞器，我就能做出让你满意高兴的活来。”

做大哥的要到城里买东西，他要去一整天，他帮木匠准备好材料以后就走了。

木匠辛苦地忙了一整天，他又是量，又是锯，又是钉。太阳快要下山，做大哥的也返回来了，木匠刚刚把活干完。望着木匠的活，做大哥的目瞪口呆。

那根本不是围栏，是一座桥，一座横跨小溪两岸的桥，扶手和所有的一切手工都很棒。而他的邻居，也就是他的弟弟伸出手，正在朝桥走来。

“你真是个好大哥，尽管我的所做所为对不住你，你还建起这么一座桥。”

兄弟俩站在桥两端，然后走到桥的中间，他俩紧紧握住对方的手。他们回过头看见木匠背上工具箱。“别走!等等!呆几天，我还有许多事要你做。”做大哥的说。

“我很想留下。”木匠说，“但我还有许许多多的桥要建造。”