John and Bobby joined the same company together just after they completed their university studies the same year. Both of them worked very hard. Several years later, however, the boss promoted(提拔) Bobby to manager but John was still a worker. John could not take it, and gave his resignation(辞呈) to the boss. He complained that the boss did not think much of those who were hard- working, but promoted only those who flattered(奉承) him.

    The boss knew that John had worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said," Thank you for what you said, but I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave."

    John agreed the boss asked him to go and find anyone selling watermelons in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found a man selling watermelons. The boss asked how much they cost every kilogram. John shook his head and went back to the seller to ask and returned to tell the boss $1.2 every kilogram,

    The boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelons in the market. Bobby went and returned, saying. Boss, only one person is selling watermelons. $1.2 every kilogram, and $10 for 10 kilograms. The seller has 340 melons. On the table there are 58 melons, and every melon weighs about 2 kilograms. They were brought from the South two days ago. They are of good quality.

    Hearing what Bobby said, John realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided to stay and learn from Bobby.

    One day, a little monkey and a little fox went out to play. They saw an apple tree on the other side of the river. There were many big and red apples on it. But there was no bridge over the river. The monkey thought hard and had an idea. They pulled down a tree and put it over the river as a bridge.

    The monkey said, "My old friend, you go there first." But after the fox went to the other side, he kicked(踢)the tree into the river and ran to the apple tree. "How can I get there without the tree?" cried the monkey. The fox laughed and said, "You just stand there and watch me eating the apples." The monkey was very angry.

    Suddenly it began to rain. The water level(水位)in the river rose(上涨)and the tree flew away with the water. "You can eat all the apples. But you can't come back, "shouted the monkey. The fox stopped eating and looked at the monkey sadly.

One day, a father took his son to go back to their hometown. They visited the little boy's uncle who lived on 1 farm. They spent three days and nights on the farm. When they were 2 the way home, the father asked his son," How was the trip?"" It was 3 , Dad." said the son.

" What did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered," We have one dog 4 they have five. We have a small pool that reaches the middle of our garden and they have a big river 5 has no end. We have some 6 in our garden and they have the stars at night. We have a small piece of land to 7 on and they have fields that go beyond(超出) our sight. We need to buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls to protect 8 , but they have friends to protect them. The boy's father 9 by his son's words.

Then his son added," 10 rich they are! Thank you for showing me what a poor life we live."

Freda Lewis was a popular young woman in town but she sometimes acted strangely.And she was always forgetting something.

One day her mother asked Freda to go to the bank to get some money.It was a really cold，windy，winter day，Freda forgot that she was still wearing the mask and went inside.

Freda walked up to the window，and the teller （出纳员） got panicky because she saw a person wearing a mask.Without saying a word，the teller gave Freda ＄10，000 in an envelope.Freda did not open the envelope before leaving the bank and had no idea she was carrying so much money.

After Freda left，the teller called the police and said that her bank had just been held up by a robber （劫匪） who was wearing a mask.Freda was on her way back home when she noticed there were three police cars.The police made her stop.The poor girl was frightened to death，and didn't know why the police would be after her.The police pulled her out of the car and forced her to the ground.

When a police officer pulled off the mask，they all found it was Freda，and realized that someone had made a mistake.Once the police explained why they were there，Freda told them that she always wore a mask in winter and that she must have forgotten she was wearing it when she entered the bank.

When the police asked the bank teller if Freda had demanded the money，the teller realized that she had made a big mistake.Luckily，no one was hurt，and everything was returned to the bank.

On Monday afternoon, I was very tired after work and waited for my bus as usual at the bus station. Just then my attention was caught 1 a little girl.

She was sitting alone, as all the busy travelers rushed around her. She didn't move. Most travelers were in such a big hurry that they didn't 2 her at all. I was one of the travelers but I couldn't leave this little girl alone. I didn't see her parents 3 .

So I walked up to the girl. "Hello," I said. "Are you all right?"

The little girl didn't even look up at me. I slowly sat down next to her and 4 touched her shoulder. The moment she lifted her 5 , I noticed that she was crying. I felt terrible!

I held out my hand. The girl looked at me and seemed afraid, 6 she still took my hand and let me lead her to the bus station information desk. I 7 the situation to the security guard (保安). He then made an announcement (通知)，"Attention, please! A young girl is 8 her parents at the information desk. If you are looking for your 9 , please come right away!"

A couple of 10 later, a woman came toward the desk. As soon as she saw the little girl, she shouted and ran up to her. She 11 her in her arms tightly, saying "I am here, Andrea. Everything is okay. I love you, honey." 

Then she turned to 12 . "Thank you so much, sir," she said. "We got separated (分开) in the crowd earlier. My daughter is 13 , so I didn't make an announcement over the speakers for her. I was looking for her everywhere. I was so worried!"

I understood 14 the little girl did not look at me until I touched her shoulder. That day must have been very 15 for the little girl and her mother! I am a father. I know how important it's to love and help all children.

Do you want to be successful in everything you do? If so, then how? Here is 1 example. 

Once 2 a farmer in the village.  He grew corn (玉米) all his life.  Each year, he took his corn to the market.  Then each time, his corn was the 3 .  So he often won the 4 prize. 

One year, a newspaper reporter interviewed him 5 how he grew it.  His answer made all very 6 ; he said, "I gave my corn seed (种子) to my neighbours. "

"How can you share your corn seed with your neighbours?" the reporter asked.  "You know they 7 take part in the competition (比赛) with you each year. "

"Why not, Sir?" said the farmer.  "Don't you know the wind 8 pollen (花粉) from corn? Then it moves the pollen 9 from field to field.  If my neighbours grow bad corn, then cross-pollination (异花传粉) will make my corn 10 worse.  11 I must help my neighbours if I want to grow good corn. "

The farmer knew 12 about the life.  His corn 13 well if his neighbours' corn doesn't grow well. 

A meaningful life is not decided by how much we can get, but by how much we can give to 14 .  Giving, instead of 15 , makes us different from other people.