Princess Caroline

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The Story of the Four Candles四根蠟燭的故事

The Four Candles burned slowly. Their ambiance was so soft you could hear them speak... The first candle said, "I Am Peace, but these days, nobody wants to keep me lit."  Then Peace's flame slowly diminished and went out completely.
四根蠟燭緩緩地燒著，他們的光暈是如此的柔和，連他們說話的聲音都聽得到。第一根蠟燭開口說：「我叫和平，但這年頭，沒人要一直點著我。」和平的燄火漸漸轉弱，最後完全熄滅。

The second candle said, "I Am Faith, but these days, I am no longer indispensable."  Then Faith's flame slowly diminished and went out completely. 
第二根蠟燭開口說：「我是信念，但這年頭，已不是非我莫屬的時代了。」接著信念的燄火也漸漸轉弱，熄滅了。

Sadly the third candle spoke, "I Am Love and I haven't the strength to stay lit any longer."  "People put me aside and don't understand my importance.  They even forget to love those who are nearest to them."  And waiting no longer, Love went out completely.  
第三個蠟燭傷心地說著：「我是愛，我再也沒有力氣繼續燃燒下去了。」「人們把我推開，不明白我的重要性，他們甚至忘記去愛他們的近人。」沒等多久，愛就完全熄滅了。

Suddenly... A child entered the room and saw the three candles no longer burning. The child began to cry, "Why are you not burning?  You are supposed to stay lit until the end." Then the Fourth Candle spoke gently to the little boy, "Don't be afraid, for I Am Hope, and while I still burn, we can re-light the other candles." With shining eyes, the child took the Candle of Hope and lit the other three candles.
突然間，有個孩子進了房間，看到那三根熄滅的蠟燭，那孩子便哭了起來，「為什麼你們不再燃燒了？你們應該要一直燃燒殆盡的啊！」第四根蠟燭溫柔地對那個小男孩說：「不要怕，我叫盼望，當我還燒著的時候，我們可以再燃起其他的蠟燭啊！」孩子的眼睛亮了起來，他拿著盼望蠟燭，點燃了其他三根蠟燭。

Never let the Flame of Hope go out.  With Hope in your life, no matter how bad things may be, Peace, Faith and Love may shine brightly once again.
千萬別讓盼望的燭火熄滅，無論遭遇多麼困難的險境，生命中常懷著盼望，和平、信念與愛將再次熊熊燃起。

Author Unknown  佚名