There was a woman who had three sons. When they had grown up the sons left home went out on their own and prospered years later. Getting back together they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.
 
    一個女人有3個兒子。長大成人后，兒子們紛紛出外謀生，數年后功成名就。回到家鄉，他們聚在一起，商量送什么禮物給年邁的母親。

    The first said "I will build a big house for our mother."

    第一個說：“我要給母親建一所大房子。”

    The second said "I will send her a Mercedes with a driver."

    第二個說：“我要把一輛梅塞德斯連同司機一起送給母親。”

    The third said "Remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible And you know she can't see very well. I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the church 12 years to teach him. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot recites it."

    第三個說：“你們還記得吧？媽媽特別喜歡讀《圣經》。你們也知道，她的眼現在有點花了。我要送她一只非同尋常的鸚鵡，這只鸚鵡可以將整部《圣經》背誦下來，神父們花了12年的時間才教會它。媽媽只需要說出篇章、段落，這只鸚鵡就能把它背出來。”

    Soon thereafter mom sent out her letters of thanks.

    之后不久，母親給兒子們分別回信表示感謝。

    "Milton" she wrote to one son "the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room but I have to clean the whole house."

    “米爾頓，”她在信中給一個兒子寫道，“你為我建的房子實在有點太大了，我只住一個房間，卻需要打掃整所房子。”

    "Gerald" she wrote to another "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home so I rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude"

    “杰羅德，”她給另一個兒子寫道，“我太老了，不能再出去旅游了。大部分時間我都待在家里，那輛梅塞德斯很少用。而且，那個司機也太粗魯了！”

    "Dearest Donald" she wrote to her third son "you have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious."

    “我最親愛的唐納德，”在給第三個兒子的信中她寫道，“你最知道媽媽需要什么，那只小雞非常好吃。”