5.2 The trouble tree 烦恼树（在线收听）

The carpenter I hired to help restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job .a flat tire made him lose an hour of work .his electic saw quit and now his ancient pick up truck refused to start. while I drove him home .he sat in stony silence.On arriving,he invited me to meet his family.As we walked toward the front door ,he paused briefly at a smalltree,touching the tips of the branches with both hands

After opening the door,he underwent an amazing transformation.He tannedfacewas wreathed in smiles.and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss .Afterward he walked me back to my car .We passed the tree .and my couriosty got the better of me ,I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh ,that's my trouble tree? Hhe replied "I know I can't hlep having troubles on the job ,but one thing for sure ,troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and children ,so I just hung them up to the tree .Every night when I came home ,then in morning I pick them up again.

"Funng thing is ",he smiled "when I came out in the morning to pick up .there aren't nearly as many as I remember hunging up the night before .

我雇了一位木匠修理旧农舍。工作的第一天，他实在很倒霉：一条轮胎漏气了，导致他浪费了一个小时的工作时间，接着是电锯罢工，现在又轮到他的古董小卡车拒绝起动。在我开车送他回家的一路上，他像石头一样坐在那里，一声不吭。到他家后，他邀请我去和他的家人见面。

　　当我们向前门走去的时候，他在一棵小树前短暂停留了一下，双手摸着树枝末端。

　　开门的时候，他顿时变成了另外一个人，晒黑的脸上绽放着笑容。他抱了抱两个年幼的孩子，并吻了妻子一下。

　　随后，他送我上车。我们经过那棵树，我经不住好奇心的引诱，问起他刚才的举动。

　　“噢，那是我的烦恼树，”他回答说，“我知道工作不可能一帆风顺，但有一点是肯定的，那就是这些烦恼不属于我的家人，不属于我的妻子和孩子。所以我在每晚回家的时候把它们挂在树上，早上再去取回。”