Love Makes a Difference

Bilingual stories for children

O Amor faz a Diferena

Histrias bilnge para crianas

Les Miserables In Les Miserables,Victor Hugo tells the story of Jean Valjean, whose already difficult life is brought down by one rash decision. Valjean steals a loaf of bread to feed his sisters starving children and spends the next 19 years on chain gangs and as a galley slave. Unable to find work after his release because he is an ex-convict, Valjean begs at the home of a bishop who feeds him and gives him a bed for the night. But Valjean is overcome by despair at what seems an impossibly bleak future, yields to temptation, steals some of the bishops silver, and slips away in the night. He doesnt get far, however, before he is arrested with the silver and hauled back to face the bishop.

Os Miserveis No clssico da literatura Os Miserveis,Victor Hugo conta a histria de Jean Valjean, cuja vida, que j era difcil, foi destruda pelas cruis decises de algum. Por ter roubado um po para alimentar os sobrinhos famintos,Valjean passa 19 anos ligado a outros prisioneiros por correntes presas ao tornozelo, fazendo trabalhos forados. Incapaz de conseguir um emprego por ser expresidirio, pede ajuda a um bispo que o alimenta e o hospeda por uma noite. Mas Valjean, tomado pelo desespero diante do que lhe parece ser um futuro tenebroso, cede tentao, rouba alguns artigos de prata do bispo e foge na calada da noite. Horas depois, capturado, mas, antes de ser encarcerado, conduzido pelos policiais de volta casa do bispo.

Knowing what will happen to Valjean if he is convicted a second time, the kind bishop takes a chance on Valjean and tells the police, I gave him the silver. Jean was astounded at such kindness. From that moment on, his life was completely changed.

Ciente do que acontecer quele homem se for novamente condenado, o religioso decide dar uma chance ao ladro e diz polcia: Eu dei a prataria a esse homem. Valjean arrepende-se e, naquele momento, comea uma nova vida.

The Common Laborer

O trabalhador comum

In 1775, a man, who appeared to be a farmer or common laborer, tried to book a room in the fanciest hotel in Baltimore. The manager, afraid for the hotels reputation, denied the man a room. He left without a word and found a room elsewhere. Not long afterward, the manager discovered that the man he had turned away was Thomas Jefferson (then vice president of the United States). Realizing his error, the manager sent a letter to Jefferson, inviting him to come back to the hotel as his guest. Jefferson sent a letter back, saying, If you have no place for farmer, you have no right giving hospitality to the vice president.

Em 1775, um homem que aparentava ser um roceiro ou trabalhador comum, tentou reservar um quarto em um dos hotis mais chiques de Baltimore. O gerente, temendo pela reputao do hotel, recusou alugar-lhe o quarto. Ele foi embora sem dizer palavra e encontrou um quarto em outro lugar. Pouco tempo depois, o gerente descobriu que o homem que havia rejeitado era Thomas Jefferson (vicepresidente dos Estados Unidos). Ao perceber seu erro, o gerente enviou uma carta a Jefferson, convidando-o para ficar no hotel como convidado. Jefferson respondeu por carta nos seguintes termos: Se no tem lugar para um roceiro, tambm no tem o direito de receber o vicepresidente.

The manager of that hotel had no idea who he was turning away, and his unfairness ended up costing him. Its rare that our actions have consequences this obvious, but as the story so aptly portrays, it shouldnt matter how insignificant the person might seem to our welfare. After all, what reason is there not to treat everyone with respect, love, and fairness?

O gerente daquele hotel no fazia ideia de quem estava recusando, e sua injustia custou-lhe caro. Raramente nossas aes tm consequncias to bvias, mas como a histria to apropriadamente ilustra, no deveria importar se no parece que a pessoa vai nos trazer algum benefcio. Que motivo existe para no tratarmos todo o mundo com respeito, amor e justia?

He Expected It of Me

There is a story about two brothers who enlisted in the Army during World War I and were assigned to the same unit. They were soon sent to the frontline trenches. In trench warfare, each side dug a network of trenches along the frontline of their territory, then laid siege to the other sides trenches. From time to time, one side or the other launched an offensive to try to break through the enemys lines. During one such attack, the younger brother was mortally wounded in no mans landthat exposed, deadly area between the opposing forces. The older brother, still safe in the trench, saw it happen and knew what he must do. He worked his way through the trench, around other soldiers, until he came to his field commander. Ive got to go get him! he said.

Ele esperava isso de mim Conta-se a histria de dois irmos que, pouco depois de se alistarem no exrcito, foram enviados para a linha de frente durante a I Guerra Mundial. Naquela poca, cada lado combatente cavava uma rede de trincheiras ao longo da linha de frente, dentro do seu territrio. De vez em quando um atacava ou tentava invadir a linha inimiga. Em uma dessas ocasies, o irmo mais jovem foi ferido mortalmente na terra de ningum, a perigosa rea aberta entre dois exrcitos em combate. O irmo mais velho, ainda seguro na trincheira, ao observar o que acontecera, sabia instintivamente o que deveria fazer. Foi seguindo por dentro da trincheira at chegar ao oficial: Tenho de busc-lo! gritou por sobre o barulho ensudercedor da batalha.

Thats impossible! his commander yelled as he grabbed him. Youll be killed the minute you stick your head out of this trench! But the older brother tore himself loose from the officers grip, scrambled out of the trench, and plunged into no mans land to find his brother, amid withering fire from the enemy. When he did, the younger brother could only manage a whisper. I knew youd come! By this time, the older brother had also been seriously wounded. He barely managed to drag his brother back to their line, and they both fell into the trench, dying. Why did you do it? demanded the commander. I told you youd get yourself killed too! I had to, the older brother replied with a final smile. He expected it of me. I couldnt let him down.

impossvel! Voc ser morto assim que colocar a cabea para fora da trincheira. Mas o rapaz, desvencilhando-se do oficial, arrastou-se para fora da trincheira e se lanou sob fogo cruzado procura do irmo caula. Ao encontr-lo, o mais jovem s conseguiu sussurrar: Eu sabia que voc viria! A essa altura, o irmo mais velho, tambm ferido, mal conseguiu traz-lo de volta para o seu territrio, onde os dois caram agonizantes. O oficial quis saber do mais velho: Por que voc fez isso? Eu o avisei que seria morto! A resposta veio com o ltimo sorriso: Eu tinha de ir! Ele esperava isso de mim e eu no podia decepcionar meu irmo!

Noble Disagreement In the city of Weimar, Germany, there is a statue that was set up in 1857. It is of two of Germanys great writers, who were also good friends Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. While both men were still living, critics and the public often raised the question of which was the greater writer. If Goethe heard people say, Sir, you are the master poet of the Germans, he was quick to rejoin, You must not forget Schiller! And when they praised Schiller as the finest German poet, Schiller would say, But there is my friend Goethe.

Desacordo Nobre Na cidade de Weimar, Alemanha, uma esttua erigida em 1857, retrata dois grandes amigos e notveis escritores alemes: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) e Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805). Quando ainda eram vivos, os crticos e o pblico muitas vezes discutiam tentando chegar a um consenso sobre qual seria o maior escritor. Se Goethe ouvisse algum dizer O senhor o mestre dos poetas alemes, era rpido na emenda: No se esqueam de Schiller! E quando elogiavam Schiller como sendo o melhor, este dizia: Mas e o meu amigo Goethe?

The sculptor of the statue of Weimar expressed their mutual love and admiration beautifully. Goethe has a wreath of laurel leaves in his hand, which he is raising to place on Schillers head. But Schiller does not want the crown. He thinks Goethe deserves it more, and is thrusting it back, as if to say, No, it is more fitting for you to wear it than me. Thus the two friends nobly disagree, each refusing to be crowned, for they appreciated each others talent and valued their friendship more than acclaim.

O escultor da esttua de Weimar expressou esse amor e admirao mtuos com grande beleza. Goethe tem uma coroa de louros na mo erguida para coloc-la na cabea de Schiller. Mas este no a aceita, pois acha que Goethe a merece e, por isso, aparece empurrando-a na direo do amigo, como se dissesse: No, voc quem deve us-la e no eu. E assim discordavam com nobreza os amigos. Ambos recusaram ser coroados, pois se admiravam mutuamente, e valorizavam a sua amizade mais do que o reconhecimento do pblico

What Matters A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the100yard dash. At the gun, they all started outnot exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Downs syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, his T will make it better. All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together.

O que realmente importante Uns anos atrs, nas Olimpadas Especiais de Seattle, nos EUA, nove atletas todos com problemas fsicos ou mentais reuniam-se na linha de partida dos 100 metros livres. Ao disparo todos comearam a corrida, no exatamente correndo, mas seguindo adiante com o prazer de ir rpido, e de ser o primeiro a atingir a linha de chegada. Todos fizeram isso, exceto um rapaz que tropeou e caiu no asfalto. Ele rolou um pouco e comeou a chorar. Quando os outros oito o ouviram chorando, diminuram a marcha para verem o que tinha acontecido e decidiram voltar. Todos! Uma menina com sndrome de Down, inclinandose e dando um beijo no rapazinho lhe disse: Agora vai melhorar. E os nove, de braos dados, cruzaram a linha de chegada juntos.

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What truly matters in this life is helping others in their race, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

O estdio inteiro se levantou e bradou por vrios minutos. As pessoas que presenciaram essa cena at hoje contam a histria. Por que ser? Porque no fundo, sabemos que o que realmente importante na vida no vencer, mas sim ajudar outros na corrida, mesmo que para isso tenhamos que reduzir a marcha e alterar o nosso percurso.

Free stories for children of all ages www.freekidstories.org

Art by Phillip Martin, www.phillipmartin.info. Used under creative commons license.

A common laborer courtesy http://vicepresidents.com/blog/2011/01/12/a-tomjefferson-story/ A Noble Disagreement, He Expected it of Me excerpted from Activated magazine. Used with permission. Les Miserables was originally written by Victor Hugo; summary of story written by Keith Phillips. What Really Matters The Family International