When I was in high school, I didn't do well in my schoolwork at first.1 I wanted to go to college. I went to talk with my favorite teacher. He told 2 that there might be no chance for me to go to college. It made me very 3 .

    But I didn't give up (放弃). I might not be able to get into 4 . But I wouldn't stop 5 . Then I found that my 6 in the past was spending too much time on science. I was not good at my schoolwork, because I wasn't working hard on all 7 .

    So during the following semesters I 8 my plan. I spent more time in studying English, math and other subjects. I worked hard by 9 to the teachers carefully in class and doing more exercises after class. Now I am studying at college.

    If you are not doing well at school at the moment, don't 10 . Forget the past years and restart (重新开始) now! I believe all your dreams can come true.

    My father brought home a sailboat when I was ten, and almost each Sunday in summers we would go sailing. Dad was quite skilled in sailing, but not good at1. As for me, I2both before twelve because of living close to Lake Ontario.

    The last time Dad and I set sail together is really3. It was a perfect weekend after I graduated from university. I came home and4Dad to go sailing. Out we set soon on the calm lake. Dad hadn't sailed for years, but everything5well with the tiller(舵柄) in his hands.

    When we were in the middle of the lake, a 6 wind came all of a sudden. The boat was hit violently. Dad was always at his best in any7, but at this moment he froze(呆住).

    "John! 8!" he shouted in a trembling voice, with the tiller still in his hands.

    In my memory he could solve any9. He was the one l always10for strength and security. Before I could reply, a wave of water got into the boat. I rushed to the tiller11it was too late. Another huge wave of water12the boat in a minute. We were thrown into the water, and Dad was struggling aimlessly. At that moment, I felt strongly 13 of him.

    I swam to Dad 14 and assisted(帮助) him in climbing onto the hull(船壳) of the boat. Upon sitting on the hull, Dad was a little awkward about his flash of15. "It's all right, Dad. We are safe now. " I comforted him.

    That was the first time Dad had relied on me in a moment of emergency. More importantly, I found it was my turn to start taking care of my father.

    One day, in a heavily crowded place, a young man began shouting, "People, look at me. I have the most beautiful heart in the world." All the people praised(称赞) him when they saw his beautiful heart in a perfect shape. However, there came an old man, "No, I don't think so. Young man, I have got the most beautiful heart in the world!"

    The young man asked him, "Show me your heart, then!"

    The old man showed his heart to him. The heart had scars(伤痕) all over.

    The young man started laughing, and said, "My dear old man, are you mad? How can you say your heart is beautiful?"

    "Dear boy. Did you see the scars? Each scar represents(代表) the love I shared with a person. I share a piece of my heart with others when I share love, and in return I get a piece of heart. Since the pieces of heart I shared were neither equal(相等的) nor in the same shape or size, my heart is not in shape. "

    The young man stood quietly and did not speak a word. Tears rolled down his face.

A horse fair was an interesting place. There were young horses and many beautiful horses from the country. But there were also a lot of poor and thin horses.

At the horse fair there was a man with a gentle voice and kind grey eyes. He offered 23 pounds for me, but the salesman refused. Then a man with a very loud voice came. I was afraid he was going to buy me, but he walked away. Then the grey-eyed man came back again and said, "I'll give you 24 pounds to buy him."

"Done," said the salesman. "He's an excellent horse and if you want him for cab (出租马车) work, he can help you earn more than you pay for him. The horse is well worth the price."

Half an hour later we set off for London, along country roads, until we came to that great city. There were streets to the right, and streets to the left. We went into one of the small streets, and then into a very narrow street, with small and old houses.

My owner stopped at a house. The door opened, and a woman, a little girl and a boy came out.

"Is he gentle, Dad?"

"Yes, Dolly, as gentle as a little cat. And you can pat him."

Dolly, the little girl, patted my shoulder without fear. It felt so good! They led me into a comfortable, clean room, and after a delicious meal I lay down to sleep, thinking "I'm going to be very happy here".

My new owner's name was Jerry. His wife was called Polly and they had two children, Harry and Dolly. The next morning they came to see me. I loved it when they patted me and spoke in gentle voices.

"Let's call him ‘Jack', after the old horse, shall we, Harry?" said Dolly.

"Yes, sounds great!" said Harry.

The first week of my life as Jack, the London cab horse, was very hard. The noise, the people and the traffic on the streets scared me. But Jerry was a very good driver, and that helped me a lot. Jerry soon found that I was ready to work hard and do my best, and he didn't whip (鞭打) me.

He kept me very clean, and gave me as much food as I wanted. But the best thing was that I had Sundays off.