How Zebras Got Their Stripes

How Zebras Got Their Stripes, a Ugandan Folktale, retold by Ned Jensen, illustrated by Signe Norden.

《斑马的条纹是怎么来的》：一则乌干达民间故事 改编：内德·延森，插画：西涅·诺登

Long, long ago, there were no zebras, but there were a lot of donkeys. The donkeys worked hard each and every day.

很久很久以前，世界上还没有斑马， 但是有好多好多驴子。 这些驴子每天都辛辛苦苦地干活。

They had no time to play or to relax. It was just work, work, work.

它们没有时间玩耍，也没有时间休息。 日子里除了干活，还是干活。

The donkeys carried heavy bundles. They carried the bundles for miles, but they never felt appreciated for the work they did.

驴子们要驮沉甸甸的货物。 它们驮着货物走好远好远的路， 可从来没有人感谢过它们付出的辛劳。

One day two donkeys got fed up. They decided they did not want to work all the time. Instead, they wanted to graze in green fields. They wanted to drink from clear streams, and they wanted to lie on soft grass.

有一天，两头驴子实在受够了。 它们决定再也不想一直干活了。 它们想去绿油油的草地上吃草， 想去清凌凌的小溪边喝水， 还想躺在软软的草地上休息。

The donkeys went to see a wise old man. They told him their problem.

两头驴子去找一位智慧的老爷爷， 把自己的烦恼告诉了他。