There was once a charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; and the charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished." The fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."

从前，有一个自力更生的烧炭工人独自在家做工作。碰巧，一个漂洗工搬至隔壁，与他成了邻居。结实漂洗工后，烧炭工人经过了解发现，这个邻居是一个很好的合作伙伴，就问漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的铺子里一起工作。“那样我们会更加亲密。”烧炭人说：“不仅如此，我们还可以节省生活开销呢？”漂洗工谢绝了他，回答说：“我可不这样看，先生，因为不管我的衣服漂洗的多么白，都会立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”