The first time, the second time, the third time

A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Their domestic tranquillity¹ had long been the talk of the town. A local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage.

Well, it dates back to our honeymoon², explained the lady. We visited the Grand Canyon³ and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by pack mule⁴. We hadn't gone too far when my husband's mule stumbled.

My husband quietly said 'That's once.' We proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled again. Once more my husband quietly said, 'That's twice.' We hadn't gone a half-mile when the mule stumbled a third time.

My husband promptly⁵ removed a revolver from his pocket and shot him.

I started to protest over his treatment of the mule when he looked at me and quietly said 'That's once.'

第一次，第二次，第三次

一对夫妇在庆祝他们的金婚纪念。镇上的邻居都交口称赞他们的家庭和睦，于是一位本地报纸的记者前来采访，以希探寻他们长久和睦婚姻的原因。

“这得从我们蜜月旅行说起，”太太解释道。“我们当时去大峡谷旅游，各骑一条驮骡行走在峡谷底部。走了不多远，我丈夫的驴绊了一跤。”

“我丈夫平静地说‘第一次’，继续走了一段后驴又绊了一跤，我丈夫依旧平静地说‘第二次’，当我们走了半英里，驴绊了第三次。”

我丈夫迅速掏出手枪射死了驴。我开始抱怨丈夫，不该这么对待驮骡。他平静地看着我，说“第一次”。