好多年以前，在沙漠里，有一个村子。这个地方很少下雨，所以几乎没有什么水。一旦下起雨，人们都会纷纷拿着桶、罐子到外面接水。
水对这里的人们来说，比黄金还要珍贵。
不过，即使这地方很干早，人们也从不缺水喝。因村子附近住着一个大好人，他的名字叫托比，他有一口很深的井，里头清澈的水源源不绝。
村民都称呼托比是“水主人”，而且都很爱他。因为托比把他最宝贵的财产和村子里所有的人分享。只要他们开口要水，水主人总是乐意地任他们到井里取水。
“需要多少就拿多少吧！”托比总是这么说。
托比不只是自己很慷慨，他也叫他的儿子这样做。他和他的儿子朱立安还会帮大家汲水、挑水。每天到这口井取水的人从不间断。
托比总是笑着说：“需要多少就拿多少吧！”他常常跟人们聊天，关心他们的生活。他会在朱立安帮
人汲水时，跟他们一起谈笑，询问他们的愿望和梦想。
托比是村民的好朋友。在村民有需要的时候，他随时都会帮助他们。
有一天，水主人向村民宣布：“我和我儿子要离开这里一段时间。我们不在的时候，我的仆人艾维会帮忙看守这口井。你们需要水时，找他就好了。”
交代完这件事之后，水主人就和他的儿子一起转身，走上通往村外的那条路。
看着他们离开，村民都很难过。但是他们相信艾维会提供他们所需要的。
果然，艾维完全遵照水主人的吩咐去做。
每天，村民来要水的时候，他都会热心地帮他们装水。他一面汲水，一面还会跟村民说：“需要多少就拿多少吧！这里的水绝对够你们用。”
好长一段时间，这个村子就像往常一样运作着。
但是，有一天，艾维发现，这些村民拿到水时，一点都没有感激之情。他们把水装满后，一句感谢的话也不说就离开了。艾维心里很不舒服，他决定不再把水给所有人。他忘记了水主人对所有人的好意，相反，他向村民宣布：“从现在开始，我只把水给懂得感谢的人。”
大家听了都很惊讶。
不过，自从艾维宣布了新规定之后，所有的村民一取完水，都会很努力地记得谢谢他。
一段时间过后，艾维又发现，有一些人对邻居不友善，也不善待动物。因此，这个“代理水主人”又不高兴了。他决定只把水给和善的人。
“凡是不善待动物或对邻居不友善的人，就拿不到水。”他宣布。
村民因为担心喝不到水，都很努力地讨好艾维。但是，这个专出难题的人，却不断地挑村民的毛病。
“你太忙了！”“你太懒了！”“你动作不够快！”“不够敏捷！”或“不够漂亮！”
他每立一个条件，能拿到水的人就更少一些。
时间久了，村民都开始难过起来，并且很生气。“我们怎么可能完全达到艾维的标准呢？”他们质疑。
“我们一定会渴死的！”他们大喊。
艾维的规定越来越多，排队要水的人就越来越少。大家开始感到口渴，但也都不得不放弃。
“没有用的。”村民冲着艾维呐喊着，“我们永远都没办法让你满意。”
在众人的喊叫声中，一个身影安静地走向群众。
艾维满心疑惑地看着那个人，并大喊说：“你八成也是来要水的吧！你有资格来要水吗？”
那个人没有说话。他慢慢地走到井边，转身面向所有村民，说：“我是来帮助你们的。”艾维听了很生气。他说：“你以力你是谁呀？”那个人拿下他的头巾。
所有村民都惊讶地张大了嘴巴。
当他们看见这个面貌熟悉的人时，开始议论纷纷。
“我是朱立安，是水主人的儿子。我父亲要我来，把水分给所有的人。”
当他说完这句话，所有的村民都高兴地欢呼起来。艾维却害怕了。
村民们很想报复艾维。他们大叫：“不要给艾维半滴水！”
水主人的儿子高举起手，要大家安静。
他说：“我父亲的水是给大家的。”
“但是艾维对我们很坏。”
“我知道。但是，如果我把水只给好人，有人喝得到吗？”没有人敢说话。
水主人的儿子把手按在艾维肩上，对艾维说：“白白得来的，就白白地给吧。”
村民们你看我、我看你的，不说一句话。他们知道，水主人儿子的话很真实，而且很有智慧。就这样，从那天开始，大家原谅了艾维，而且一起自由地分享井里的水。
ALL YOU EVER NEED
Years ago there was a village in a desert land. In this dry land there was very little water. It seldom rained, but when it did, the people scurried about, capturing what they could in buckets and pots.
Every drop was like purest gold.
But even though the land was dry, the people were never thirsty. For nearby lived a kind man named Tobias who owned a deep wellspring from which poured clear, cool water.
The people called Tobias the "Watermaster" , and they loved him very much. He shared his treasure with everyone in the village. All they had to do was ask, and the Watermaster would gladly let them dip into his well.
"Drink all you want," he offered
Not only did Tobias share from his well, but he taught his son to do this also. Tobias and his son, Julian, would help the people dip their buckets and carry their loads. Day after day, the people would come to the well.
Tobias would smile and say, "Take all you need."
He would talk to the people about their lives. He would laugh with them and inquire about their hopes and dreams, while Julian helped them draw water for their families.
Tobias was a kind friend, always ready to help the villagers.
One day the Watermaster announced to the village: "My son and I are going away for a while. While we're gone, my servant Elzevir will watch over the well. He will give you all the water you need."
With that, the Watermaster and his son turned and walked up the road leading from the village.
The people were sad to see them leave, but they trusted Elzevir to supply their needs.
And indeed, Elzevir did just as the Watermaster said
Each day when the villagers came to ask for water, he eagerly filled their buckets.
As he did, he told the people, "Take all you need. There is plenty of water for all." For a time, the village went about its business as usual.
But then one day, Elzevir noticed that the villagers were not grateful when they received their water. They just took their full buckets and raced away, without one word of thanks.
This troubled Elzevir so much that he decided to stop giving water to everyone. He forgot the Watermaster's kindness to all.
Instead, he announced to the villagers: "From now on, I will not give water to those who aren't thankful."
The people were surprised. After Elzevir's announcement, all the villagers tried hard to remember to thank him when they received the water.
Some time later, Elzevir noticed that some of the people were unkind to their neighbors and mean to their animals. Again, the substitute Watermaster was bothered. He determined to give water only to nice people. "If you are mean to your animals or unkind to your neighbors, you will get no water," he announced.
The people worked hard to please Elzevir so they wouldn't go thirsty. But as time passed, the task master continued to find some new fault with the people. "You are too busy."
"You are too lazy."
"You're not quick enough - or smart enough - or pretty enough."
With each decision, fewer people were given water.
Over time, the villagers grew sad and angry. "How can we ever be good enough for Elzevir?" they questioned.
"We'll all die of thirst!" they cried.
As Elzevir's rules grew longer, the line for water grew shorter. The people, growing thirsty, began to give up.
"It's no use," the people cried. "We can't please you."
In the midst of the shouting, a quiet figure approached the gathered villagers.
Elzevir eyed the man suspiciously. "Another thirsty soul, no doubt." he growled. "Can you show that you are worthy of this water?"
The man quietly strode to the well and turned to the people. "I have come to help you," he said.
Elzevir was angry. "Just who do you think you are?" The man removed his cloak. The villagers gasped.
When they saw the familiar face, they began to whisper among themselves.
"I am Julian, the Son of the Watermaster. My Father sent me to share the water with all the people."
At that, the people cheered. Elzevir became afraid.
The villagers wanted revenge. "No water for Elzevir!" they shouted.
The Son held up his hand to the crowd, to quiet them.
"My father's water is a gift to all," he said patiently.
"But Elzevir was cruel to us!"
"I know he was. But if water were given only to good people, who could drink?"
No one spoke.
The Son placed his hand on Elzevir's shoulder.
"Freely you have received, freely give."
The people looked at each other and were silent. They knew the Son's words were wise and true. And so, from that day on, Elzevir was forgiven, and the water was shared freely.