The Land of the Halt 瘸子之乡

Many years since in a small territory, there was not one of the inhabitants who did not stutter when he spoke, and halt in walking；both these defects, moreover, were considered accomplishments. A stranger saw the evil, and thinking how they would admire his walking, went about without halting, after the usual manner of our race.Every one stopped to look at him, and all those who looked, laughed, and holding their sides to repress their merriment, shouted，“Teach the stranger how to walk properly！”

The stranger considered it his duty to cast the reproach from himself.“You halt，”he cried，“It is not I, you must accustom yourselves to leave off so awkward a habit！”This only increased the uproars, when they heard him speak；he did not even stammer；this was sufficient to disgrace him, and he was laughed at throughout the country.

很多年前，在一个很小的地方，住在那里的所有居民都口吃且瘸着腿走路，而这两种缺陷居然还被视为才能。一个外地人到了那里，看到了这样的缺陷，以为那里的居民会羡慕他的走姿。于是，他没有跛脚，而是按照正常人的走姿走来走去。当地人都停下来看他，都哈哈大笑起来。最后，他们好不容易忍住笑喊道：“来教教这个外地人怎样正确地走路吧！”

这个外地人觉得自己有责任反驳他们。“你们才是瘸子，”他高声喊道，“不是我，你们必须改掉这种难看的走姿！”这更使当地人哄然大笑。因为他们听他说话居然不口吃！这真让人觉得丢脸啊。他所到之处，都会遭到别人的嘲笑。