1.    The Whistle

By Benjamin Franklin

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.

This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.

As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.

When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, this man gives too much for his whistle.

When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect, "He pays, indeed," said I, "too much for his whistle."

If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, "Poor man," said I, "you pay too much for your whistle."

When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, "Mistaken man," said I, "you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle."

If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, "Alas!" say I, "he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle."

When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, "What a pity," say I, "that she should pay so much for a whistle!"

In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.

Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people, when I consider that, with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there are certain things in the world so tempting, for example, the apples of King John, which happily are not to be bought; for if they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase, and find that I had once more given too much for the whistle.

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2.      文不对题

中学时课堂上发生的一件不经意的小事，没想到多年以后，经历了不同的环境和时代，儿时的顽童趣事，在不同的生活时期，竞给自已带来很多的启示和帮助。

那是初中一年级时, 开学初的一天上午，班上有五十多个同学，来自几个生产大队不同的小学，同学们相互之间还不太熟悉。老师在讲台上讲课, 時不時他会提问点名回答。

这次遇上了一道难题，老师连续点了五六个同学站起来回答，要嘛摇头, 要嘛回答不知道。我看班上其他同学都屏注了呼吸，埋下了头不敢朝前看。心中暗喜，看来此难题是非我莫属。

为了不让同学们觉得我显摆又要抓注机会表现，我做了一些大幅度的小动作来吸引老师，扯前面女生的辫子，踢左右边的同学，折腾了好一会，终于听到老师说：“渔舟舟，你回答”。我美滋滋地站起来, 很简练地回答了问题，抑制不住一脸的得意。

可是很奇怪，当我回答完问题后, 班上异常安静，老师也一言不发，嘴微微抿起，露出一丝难以辨别是满意还是得意的微笑，他走下讲台背着双手慢慢向我走来，在我面前停下来，冷不丁一棒子打在我头上： “你小子胡说八道，文不对题！”

后来我才弄明白，原来是在我折腾的时候老师将题目给变了。

后来经过了无数次的考试, 每次走出考场, 当有同学惊呼, 哎呀, 题目看错了, 我就会非常感激那一棒子。当我做老师的时候, 我会给每个学生补上文不对题的一棒子; 当了爸爸, 我会让孩子们牢记文不对题的一棒子。

现在不再考试, 也不再面试, 不再担心挨一棒子.  但发现生活中到处都有形形色色花样百出的文不对题。小到个人言行大到改府决策。来一位官员象演员, 字正腔园, 演技十足, 可畏文不对题。  出来一位演员, 却比官员还官员, 康慨陈词, 济世救民, 指点江山, 文不对题。

不过生活中也有许许多多充满智慧无可奈何的文不对题。物欲横流, 遇到的问题本身就黑白混淆, 是非颠倒, 美丑不分, 伦理沦丧, 让你未球奈何, 对题又如何? 不对题又如何?

但是, 有一个问题却是每个人都必须认真考虑仔细回答的问题。可不要当你毕其一生交上答卷的时候, 上帝却皱着眉头问你, 你宝贵的一生都干了些什么? 文不对题!