The Tailor in Heaven
Introduction
Why retell "The Tailor in Heaven" as a fable? A fable is a story with a lesson tucked inside, like a small mirror held up to our everyday habits. This tale needs only a few strokes to work its magic: one nimble tailor, one golden throne, and one angry throw. In the Chinese tradition of storytelling, we love such small tales with sharp lessons, the kind that end with a proverb a child can carry home. Here the lesson rings like two old sayings at once: "curiosity killed the cat," and "a small gain grabbed on the sly costs more than it is worth." The tailor sneaks into heaven for a little comfort; he peeks at the world from the Master's throne; and he hurls the golden footstool at a woman he does not even know. Step by step, he crosses one line after another, until heaven itself has no room for him. The Grimms told this tale as a homely folk joke, which folklorists number ATU 800, full of everyday touches: Saint Peter melting with pity, the Master going out for a stroll, a pair of blistered feet. In our retelling, the religious color is softened, so the worldly lesson stands out clearly: whoever crosses the line must pay the price. When you read with your child, pause at the end and ask one question: what if the tailor had only looked, and never touched? The answer to that question is the whole story.
Vocabulary from "The Tailor in Heaven"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
To cut something with small quick cuts.
剪；用剪刀咔嚓咔嚓地剪下小块。
Your fingers are quick, and you like to snip bits of cloth from other people's coats.
你惯会剪人家衣料上的零头布。
Sore little bubbles of skin caused by rubbing or burning.
水泡；走路磨出的泡。
And look at my legs — I am lame, and my feet are full of blisters.
您看我这双腿，是个瘸子，走到这儿，脚上全是血泡。
Not able to walk easily because of a hurt leg.
瘸的；跛的，腿脚不便。
And look at my legs — I am lame, and my feet are full of blisters.
您看我这双腿，是个瘸子，走到这儿，脚上全是血泡。
Pushed yourself through a narrow space.
挤过；侧身穿过狭窄的地方。
He opened the gate just a little, and the thin tailor squeezed through.
圣彼得心一软，把门开了一条缝，恰好够那瘦裁缝侧身挤进。
A kind feeling of sadness for someone else's trouble.
怜悯；同情心。
"Have pity on me!" he cried.
他苦苦哀求：“行行好吧！”
A strong wish to find out about something.
好奇心；想弄个明白的心思。
Curiosity pulled at him like a cat scratching at a door.
他坐不住了，好奇心像猫爪挠心，痒得难受。
The special chair where a king or master sits.
宝座；王座。
In the middle stood a golden throne, shining with jewels.
正当中是一把纯金的宝座，镶满闪亮的宝石。
Valuable shiny stones such as diamonds and rubies.
宝石；珠宝。
In the middle stood a golden throne, shining with jewels.
正当中是一把纯金的宝座，镶满闪亮的宝石。
A low stool used for resting your feet on.
脚凳；垫脚的小凳。
It was taller than all the rest, and a golden footstool sat before it.
它比旁的椅子高出许多，前面还放着一只金脚凳。
Threw something with great force.
猛掷；用力砸出去。
"Thief!" he shouted, and he grabbed the golden footstool and hurled it down at her.
裁缝登时火冒三丈，抓起那只金脚凳，朝地上那“贼”狠狠砸了下去。
Thin pieces of cloth worn over the head or face.
头巾；面纱。
Quietly, she hid two fine veils for herself.
他瞧见溪边一个老妇人正洗衣裳，偷偷把两块头巾掖进了自己的怀里。
Ripped or broken with a hole in it.
破了的；撕坏的，带破洞的。
I will carry the little children, wash their clothes, wipe the benches, and mend every torn coat.
给孩子们抱抱，替他们洗衣裳、擦板凳，破了洞的衣裳，我一针一线补好。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
Do not peek at what is not yours to see, and do not touch what is not yours to take. Curiosity that crosses the line, and small gains grabbed on the sly, always come with a price.
Educational Value
Through the lesson "cross the line, pay the price," children learn to keep their curiosity and their hands in check, no peeking at hidden secrets and no grabbing small gains, and to ask questions before judging a fault.
Tips for Parents
Before you read on, let your child guess what the tailor sees from the throne. Afterward, ask: is sneaking into heaven and sitting on the throne the same kind of fault as stealing the veils? Then talk with your child about where curiosity should stop.
Talk About It
- The tailor sneaks into heaven and then sits on the Master's throne. Did he go wrong one step at a time, or was his very first step already a mistake?
- When the tailor sees the old woman steal the veils, he throws the golden footstool at her. What would you have done if you were him, and why?
- Saint Peter let the tailor in because his heart softened. Was that kindness a help, or did it cause harm?
- People say, "Curiosity killed the cat." Does that saying fit the tailor? Is curiosity a good thing or a bad thing?
- The Master says, "If I punished as quickly as you, every chair and stool in heaven would be gone by now." What is he trying to tell us?
