Fanner John and Farmer Bob were neighbors. For more than 30 years, they were good friends.
Then their friendship stopped. It began with a small thing, then bitter (仇恨的) words, and then weeks without words. One morning John got up to find a stream (小溪) between the two farms. "It must be Bob," John thought.
Then one day there was a knock(敲门声) on John's door. He opened it to find a carpenter (木匠) standing at the doorway.
"I'm looking for a few days' work," the carpenter said.
"I do have a job for you," John said. "Look at that farm across the stream. That's my neighbor Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence (栅栏) 一an 8-foot fence. I don't want to see his place or his face any more. I don't have such a neighbor! "
The carpenter said, "I think I know what to do, sir, and I'll be able to do a job and make you happy."
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbor, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched. "Hi, John! You're quite a good fellow to build this bridge!"
Then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. 'Tm terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other," said Bob.
Then they turned to see the carpenter. He was ready to go. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you," said John. "I'd love to stay," the carpenter said, "but I have more bridges to build."
