Before machinery was used for agriculture, farmers had to do almost everything by hand. They used simple tools with the help of some animals, mostly cattle. Therefore, an ox or a cow in the early days was always a farmer's most intimate1 working partner.
One young farmer had an ox that was left to him by his deceased2 parents, together with a small old house and a little over twenty acres of land. Since he was single and had no brother or sister, he lived by himself. He took care of the ox, cooked for himself, and did all the other necessary household chores3 .
Every day he hoped he could finish the work in the field as early as possible, so he could have more time to go shopping. Therefore, he often whipped the ox to go faster when he arrived in the field. The frequent, unreasonable whips angered the ox. The ox was old and had done his best, yet he had to endure the cruel whippings every day. To resist the tyrannous4 treatment, the ox purposely walked more slowly instead of faster. Consequently, the animal received more whips, and the work in the field went on more slowly than the farmer expected.
The young farmer complained that he must have bad luck to own the laziest ox in the world. The ox murmured that he must have the worst fate to have the worst master in the world. They hated each other. They did not cooperate with each other, but they had to work together.
One summer afternoon, the sunshine made the field burning and caused workers to easily lose their temper. The farmer kept whipping the ox to go faster, but the ox still walked very slowly. The more the farmer whipped, the slower the ox was and the angrier they both became in the burning sunshine.
Accidentally, maybe purposely, the ox suddenly fell down upon the ground. It had never happened before, but it happened that day. The ox said to himself that he had suffered enough from the cruel master. He would rather die than endure the painful whippings. So, he closed his eyes and lay still in the field waiting for death.
The strange, unexpected incident frightened the young farmer. He had no experience to manage such an emergency. He sat down beside the dying animal. Suddenly, he realized the importance of the ox. Without the animal, how could he work in the field totally by himself? The more he thought, the more frightened he became.
Finally, he hugged5 the ox and cried loudly. After a while, he noticed that the animal was still breathing. He immediately gave the ox water to drink and some fresh grass to eat. Gradually, the ox opened his eyes. Then the ox stood up slowly. The farmer was so excited that he jumped and hugged the ox again and again. With such affectionate6 care, the ox decided to go back to work. But the farmer quitted the job for the day and took his animal home early to rest.
From that day on, the farmer would not whip his ox anymore. He would feed the ox as often as the animal desired to eat. And he would hug the ox to show his appreciation every time when he quit work and was ready to go home.
The ox was happy. He walked as fast as he could. He told himself that he was the luckiest ox in the world, for he had the best master. Meanwhile, the farmer could go home earlier every day, so he was happy, too. He told his friends he was so lucky to have such a nice ox.
This is a world of love. Hate causes only more unpleasantness or misery, and many things become worse. If you treat others with love, you will get the same in return. It works between a man and an ox. It should work among human beings, too.
在机器尚未用于农业生产前，农夫们几乎凡事都得用手去做。他们使用简单工具，也借助畜力，主要是牛。因此，一头牛在早期永远是一个农夫最亲密的劳动帮手。
一位年轻的农夫有一头牛，那是他死去的父母留给他的；此外，父母还留给他一间又旧又小的屋子与二十几英亩地。他没结婚，也无兄弟姐妹，一个人生活。他既要养牛，又要烧饭，还要做其他所有必要的家务事。
每天，他总希望尽早干完田里的农活，以便有较多的时间去买些东西。因此，他一到田里就时常挥舞鞭子抽打牛，要它走快些。这种经常、无理的鞭打激怒了牛。这头牛已经老了，它已经尽了全力，然而每天还得忍受这无情的鞭打。为抗议这种专横的虐待，它故意走得更慢而不愿快走。结果，这头牛遭受了更多的鞭打，田里的农活也就进行得比农夫希望的更慢了。
年轻的农夫埋怨自己一定是运气不好，所以才会有这头世界上最懒的牛。牛也在嘀咕，它的命真是太糟了，所以才会遇到这世界上最坏的主人。他们相互憎恨，互不合作，可还得在一块儿劳动。
一个夏日的午后，阳光炙烤着大地，干活的人也变得暴躁易怒。农夫不停地鞭打牛，让它快走，可牛还是走得很慢。农夫愈打，牛走得愈慢，双方在骄阳下火气越来越大。
不料，也许是故意地，牛突然跌倒了。这样的事从来没有发生过，但是那天发生了。牛对自己说，它已经受够了这残暴主人的虐待，它宁愿去死也不愿再忍受这痛苦的鞭打。于是，它闭上眼睛，躺在田里一动也不动地等死。
这一奇怪而意想不到的变故吓坏了这位年轻农夫。他没有处理过这样的紧急事情。他坐在这将死的动物旁，突然意识到这头牛的重要：没有这头牛，他单凭自己怎么在田里干活？他越想越害怕。
最后，他搂住牛痛哭起来。过了一会儿，他发现这头牛还在呼吸；于是，他立刻给牛水喝及嫩草吃。慢慢地，牛睁开了眼睛，缓缓站了起来。农夫欣喜万分，跳上前去紧紧抱住牛。由于被农夫如此爱护，牛决定继续劳动，可是农夫却收了工，把牛牵回家让它早点休息。
从那天起，农夫再也不鞭打牛了。只要牛想吃，他便立刻送草来。每次收工准备回家时，他一定会拥抱一下牛来表示他的谢意。
牛很快乐。它尽力地劳动。它告诉自己，它是这世界上最幸运的一头牛，因为它遇到了最好的主人。同时，因为每天可以提早回家，农夫也很快乐。他告诉朋友：有这么好的一头牛，他觉得很幸运。
这是一个爱的世界。憎恨只能导致更多痛苦或灾难，使很多事情愈发糟糕。如果你用爱去对待别人，别人也会以爱回报你。这个道理适用于人与牛，也应当适用于整个人类。
1. intimate adj. 亲密的，密切的
2. deceased adj. 已故的，死去了的
3. chore n. 家庭杂务
4. tyrannous adj. 专横的，残暴的
5. hug. 拥抱，紧抱
6. affectionate adj. 充满深情的