There was once a charcoal1-burner who lived and worked by himself. A fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; and the charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished." The fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."

　　從前，有一個自力更生的燒炭工人獨自在家做工作。碰巧，一個漂洗工搬至隔壁，與他成了鄰居。結(jié)實漂洗工后，燒炭工人經(jīng)過了解發(fā)現(xiàn)，這個鄰居是一個很好的合作伙伴，就問漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的鋪子里一起工作。“那樣我們會更加親密。”燒炭人說：“不僅如此，我們還可以節(jié)省生活開銷呢？”漂洗工謝絕了他，回答說：“我可不這樣看，先生，因為不管我的衣服漂洗的多么白，都會立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”