[1]Once, when there was a famine（饥荒）, a rich baker sent for twenty of the poorest children in the town, and said to them, “In this basket there is a loaf（面包）for each of you. Take it, and come back to me every day at this hour for more.”

    [2]The hungry children gathered eagerly about the basket, and fought over the bread because each wanted the largest loaf. At last they went away without even ______ the good baker.

    [3]Gretchen, a poorly dressed little girl, did not fight or struggle with the other children, but stood quietly in the distance（远处）, When the badly behaved children had left. Gretchen took the smallest loaf, which was all that was left in the basket. She kissed the baker's hand and went home.

    [4]第二天，孩子们表现得像以前一样糟糕。Gretchen got a loaf almost half the size of the one she got the first day. When she came home, her mother cut the loaf open. Many new shining pieces of silver fell out of it.

    [5]Her mother was very worried and said, “Take the money back to the baker at once. The silver must have fallen into the dough by accident. By quick, Gretchen!”

    [6]When the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, “It was no mistake, I had the silver pieces put into the smallest loaf to reward（奖赏）you. Always be as content（满足）,peaceable, and thankful as you now are. Go home now, and tell your mother that the money is yours to keep.”

    In a cold winter, a couple had to move out from the luxury (豪华的) house because of bankruptcy（破产）. The husband worked day and night to support the family but with no care of his wife. So she thought, "He doesn't love me any more. He just cares about his business ...... not me".

    One day, she began to take a bath, but he stopped her at the door, "Let me take it first, okay?"

    "Why not let me shower first," she asked.

    "I was tired, sweetie! You take it later, okay?" She was totally discouraged. (泄气的)

    On a tiring day, she found nothing to do and turned on his computer, a few words blurred(使……模糊)her eyes. It was his diary:

    Today, I was quite sad. She asked me why I was always taking the bath first, and I said to her that I was tired out. She was unhappy, in her mind, to think I treated her not as well as usual. But what can I do? I was not as rich as before! We moved to the small apartment, and there was only a shower in the bathroom. It was so cold to take a shower in such a freezing winter. But I found that if one person took the shower first, the room could get warmer, so every time I rushed to the bathroom first. I was thinking that, when she took the shower, the room would get warmer, at least 1℃, 2℃ or 3℃. Now I can't give her comfortable life, bring her the luxury restaurant, buy expensive dresses for her, but at least, I can give her 1℃ love.

    After reading the diary, the wife was deeply moved.

C

    To me, music is food and water. I know this isn't right for everyone. Usually lots of people go to concerts or listen to music records. Maybe some of you don't do these, but music is everywhere in our life. For example, when you watch movies or TV plays, we will find them boring if there's no music. And when you're waiting for the train or the plane, some music can make the time short.

    Some people like to listen to the sound of the sea. Some enjoy listen to the singing of birds. Those sounds are some kind of music. So music has meaning for everyone. Of course, it has special meaning for people like me. We spend our lives playing or writing music.

    Someone said, “Through music a child goes into a world of beauty(美丽), learns to take care of others and makes his mind and body healthy.”

    One day a little boy came into a fruit shop. He had five dollars and wanted to buy some apples. He said to the shop owner,“Give me $5 worth of apples, please.”

    When the shop owner gave him the apples, the boy counted them and felt very surprised. Then he said:“Last Friday, my mother bought apples here for $5, too. Why did you give me fewer apples?” “Don't ask questions, boy. I have no time for questions.”

    “Excuse me, sir.” said the little boy, “but…”

    “It is all right, my boy,” said the shop owner, “Don't you know? The fewer apples you get, the less fruit you will have to carry.” “All right.” said the boy and he gave $4 to the shop owner. He was just going to leave the shop when he heard the words:“Come back! You must pay me $5.” But the boy replied: “Don't you know? The fewer dollars you get, the less money you will have to count.”

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}It is everyone's dream to work at home. You can plan your own hours and work when you want to. There is no more rush hour and no hours that people waste when they get to and from a job every day.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You can stay at home, work when you want to and make money when you need to. There are many chances(机会) for you to make money at home, just by using your computer and the Internet. The fact is that this dream can come true.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Educate yourself, look closely into all the chances and decide on what works best for you, It will not happen during one night, but you can make a decision(决定) today and start to make it happen today.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Do you have a blog or a personal website like millions of other people? Are you using it to make money? Most of these blog and website owners are not. But you can do that! When you have your computer and the Internet working for you, you will make money while you sleep, travel or do whatever you want to do all day long.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}There are many ways you can make money with your computer. And you can begin your stay-at- home businesses with just a little money. What are you waiting for?