Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbours. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.
Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. "It must be Bob, "John thought.
Then one day there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a carpenter(木匠) .
"I'm looking for a few days' work, "the carpenter said.
"I do have a job for you, "John said. "Look across the stream at that farm. That's my neighbour Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence—an 8-foot fence. I don't want to see his place or his face any more. I don't have such a neighbour. "
The carpenter said, "I think I know what to do, sir, and I can do a job to your satisfaction. "
Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide. There was no fence at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbour, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched(伸出) . "Hi, John! You're quite a fellow to build this bridge!"
Then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. "I'm really sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other, "said Farmer Bob.
