One day， as two little boys were walking along the road1， they overtook a woman carrying a large basket of apples.
The boys thought the woman looked very pale and tired， so they said， “Are you going to town？ If you are， we will carry your basket.”
“Thank you，” replied the woman，“you are very kind， you see I am weak and ill.” Then she told them that she was a widow， and had a lame son to support2.
She lived in a cottage three miles away， and was now going to the market to sell the apples， which grew on the only tree in her little garden. She wanted the money to pay for her rent.
“We are going the same way you are，” said the boys. “Let us have the basket.” and they took hold of it， one on each side， and trudged3 along with merry hearts.
The poor widow looked glad， and said that she hoped their mother would not be angry with4 them. “Oh， no，” they replied，“our mother has taught us to be kind to everybody， and to be useful in any way that we can.”
She then offered to give them a few of the ripest apples for their trouble. “No， thank you，”said they， “we do not want any pay for what we have done.”
When the widow got home， she told her lame son what had happened on the road， and they were both made happier that day by the kindness of the two boys.
一天，两个小男孩正在马路边行走，他们遇到了一个提着一篮子苹果的妇人，她吃力地走着。
两个男孩见她疲惫不堪、脸色苍白，上前问道：“您是去城里吗？如果是的话我们可以帮您搬篮子。”
妇人说：“太谢谢你们了，你们真好，我不舒服，浑身没劲。”她还说自己的丈夫已经去世了，家里只有一个腿脚不方便的儿子。
她家就在离这三里远的地方，门前种着一棵苹果树，篮子里的苹果就是那棵树上结的。卖掉苹果的钱要用来交房租。
两个男孩说：“我們正好顺路，就让我们替您抬吧。”两人把篮子接过来，一人抬一边，虽然有些吃力，但心里美滋滋的。
妇人高兴极了，问这样做他们会不会受到家人的责备。
“不会的，妈妈常常告诉我们要助人为乐，只要能够就一定要帮助别人。”男孩们说。
到达地点之后，妇人为了表示对他们的感激之情，想送给男孩几个苹果，他们却谢绝了，说：“您不用那么客气，我们做好事是不要报酬的。”
妇人回到家中，向自己的儿子讲述了今天的事情。两个男孩的帮助让他们的心情变得开朗起来。