阅读理解
Once there
was a famine (饥荒) in the town. A rich and kind baker(面包师) sent some bread to twenty of the poorest children. He said to them,
"In this basket there is some bread for you. Each of you can have one loaf(一条面包) every day until the hard days end.
The impatient
children couldn't wait to gather around the basket. They shouted and fought for
the bread because each wished to have the largest loaf. At last they went away without
even thanking the good gentleman. But Shirley, a poorly-dressed little girl, did
not join them. Instead, she remained standing modestly in the distance. When the
other children had left, she took the smallest left in the basket, kissed the gentleman's
hand and went home.
The next
day the children were as rude as before. Poor shy Shirley still took the
smallest loaf. When she got home, her mother cut the bread open. Many new shining
pieces of silver fell out of it. Her mother was very surprised and said, "Take
the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must have got into the loaf
by accident. Be quick, Shirley! Be quick!"
But when
the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, "No, no, my
child. It was no mistake. I put silver pieces into the smallest loaf to reward you
because you are a kind and honest girl. Go home and the money is yours now."