What a lesson

What a lesson!

　One day, a young man was walking along a beach when he saw a group of children throwing stones¹ at a big turtle. He asked the children to stop and find something else to do.

　“You are very kind,” the turtle said to the young man. To thank him, the turtle invited him to its underwater palace and treated him to a great meal. When it was time to leave, the turtle gave him two boxes and told him to open only one after he got home. The young man said OK.

　When he arrived home, he opened the larger box and found it was full of gold. He was very happy. Then he looked at the other box and thought it must be full of gold too. He knew he should not, but he opened the box anyway.

　Right away, all his hair turned white. His face was full of wrinkles². He looked like a very old man—for the rest of his life.

Notes:

1. 意为：扔石头 2. wrinkle n. 皱纹