Sons' Gifts to Mother   

        Three sons discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.

　　The first said, "I built a big house for our mother."The second said, "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."The third smiled and said, "I've got you both beat. Remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible? And you know she can't see very well. I sent her a remarkable¹ parrot that recites the entire Bible. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse², and the parrot recites it."

　　Soon thereafter³, mom sent out her letters of thanks.

　　She wrote one son, "the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."

　　She wrote to another, "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home, so I rarely use the Mercedes."

　　"Dearest Donald," she wrote to her third son, "you have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious."

    给妈妈的礼物

　　三个儿子商量给年迈的妈妈买什么礼物好。

　　大儿子说，“我给妈妈建一幢大房子。”二儿子说，“我给她买一辆奔驰。”三儿子笑着说，“你们的礼物都不好。还记得妈妈多喜欢读圣经吗？现在她视力不大好看不了了。我送她一只鹦鹉，会背诵圣经的。妈妈只要起个头，它就可以接着背下去。”

　　不久之后，妈妈分别给三人发了感谢信。她给大儿子写道，“你建的房子太大了，我只能住一间屋，可是要打扫整幢房子的卫生。”她给二儿子写道，“我太老了，没法出门旅行。大部分时间呆在家里，很少用车。”“亲爱的，”她跟小儿子说，“妈妈的心思你最明白，那只小鸟的味道美极了。”