A cobbler passed his time in singing from morning till night； it was wonderful to see， wonderful to hear him； he was more contented①in shoes， than was any of the seven sages.
His neighbor， on the contrary， who was rolling in wealth②， sung but little and slept less. He was a banker； when by chance he fell into a doze③at day-break， the cobbler awoke him with his song. The banker complained sadly that Providence④had not made sleep a saleable commodity⑤， like edibles or drinkables. Having at length sent for the songster， he said to him， “How much a year do you earn， Master Gregory？”
“How much a year， sir？” said the merry cobbler laughing， “I have reckon⑥in that way， living as I do from one day to another； somehow I manage to reach the end of the year； each day brings its meal. ”
“Well then！ How much a day do you earn， my friend？”
“Sometimes more， sometimes less； but the worst of it is， and， without that our earnings would be very tolerable⑦， a number of days occur in the year on which we are forbidden to work； and the curate， moreover， is constantly adding some new saint to the list. ”
The banker， laughing at his simplicity， said， “In the future I shall place you above want. Take this hundred crowns⑧， preserve them carefully， and make use of them in time of need.”
The cobbler fancied he beheld all the wealth which the earth had produced in the past century for the use of mankind. Returning home， he buried his money and his happiness at the same time， No more singing； he lost his voice， the moment he acquired⑨that which is the source of so much grief. Sleep quitted his dwelling； and cares， suspicions， and false alarms took its place， All day， his eye wandered in the direction of his treasure； and at night， if some stray cat made a noise， the cat was robbing him.
At length the poor man ran to the house of his rich neighbor，“Give my back，” said he， “sleep and my voice， and take your hundred crowns.”
① contentedadj. 满足的，心安的
② be rolling in wealth财源滚滚，腰缠万贯
③ dozev. 瞌睡
④ Providencen. 上帝
⑤ commodityn. 日用品，商品
⑥ reckonv. 认为，把……看作
⑦ tolerableadj. 尚好的，过得去的
⑧ crownn. 克郎（货币名称）
⑨ acquirev. 获得，学到
皮匠和银行家
一个皮匠从早到晚在唱歌中度过。无论见到他本人或听见他的歌声都使人觉得很愉快。他对于制鞋工作的满足感胜过任何人。
与此相反，他的邻居非常富有，却很少唱歌，晚上也睡得不好。他是个银行家，偶尔在黎明时分迷迷糊糊刚入睡，皮匠的歌声便把他吵醒了。银行家郁郁寡欢地抱怨上帝没有把睡眠也制成一种像食品或饮料那样可以买卖的商品。后来，银行家就叫人把这位歌手请来，问道：“格列戈里师傅，你一年赚多少钱？”
“先生，你问我一年赚多少钱吗？” 快乐的皮匠笑道：“我那么想过，我是一天一天地过日子，总而言之坚持到年底，每天挣足三餐。”
“啊，朋友，那么你一天赚多少钱呢？”
“有时多一点，有时少一点；不过最糟糕的是一年中总有些日子不准我们做买卖，否则我们的收入也还算不错的。”
银行家被皮匠的直率逗笑了，他说：“我要你从今以后不愁没钱用。这一百克郎你拿去，小心放好，需要时拿来用吧。”
皮匠觉得自己好象看到了过去几百年来大地为人类所需而制造出来的全部财富。他回到家中，埋藏好硬币，同时也埋藏了他的快乐。他不再唱歌了；从他得到这种痛苦的根源那一刻起，他的嗓子就哑了。睡眠与他分手；取而代之的却是担心、怀疑、虚惊。白天，他的目光尽朝埋藏硬币的方向望去；夜间，如果有只迷途的猫弄出一点声响，他会以为就连猫也要偷他的钱。
最后，这个可怜的皮匠跑到他那富有的邻居家里说：“把你的一百克郎拿回去，还我的睡眠和歌声来。”
