It was the end of the week at the village school. The bell had rung, and the children had run out into the bright sunshine, wild with laughter and fun. All were happy but poor Davy. He came out last and very1. He was in trouble, and the bright, golden sunlight did not make him2. He walked across the yard, and sat down on a stone behind the old maple. A little bird on the highest branch sang just to make him3. But Davy did not notice it. He was thinking of the4words that had been said about his ragged clothes. The5stole out of his eyes, and ran down his cheeks. Poor little Davy had no6, and his mother had to work hard to keep him at school all by herself. He did not wish to trouble his mother; so he 7among the trees , and at last threw himself on the green moss under them. Just then his beloved teacher Mrs. Smith came8. She saw who it was, smith stopped to ask what was the9 . Davy did not speak, but the tears began to start. Mrs. Smith waited patiently10Davy told her all his  trouble. When he ended, she said11, “Davy. I have a plan which I think will help you.” “Oh , what is it ?” He said, sitting up with a look of 12while a tear fell upon a blue violet. “Well, how would you like to be a little flower13? And earn money?” “That would be jolly. But where shall I get my flowers?” he asked. “14, my boy, the answer to the question is just right in there15.” said Mrs. Smith. “Here are lively blue violets, down by the brook are white ones, and among the rocks are ferns and mosses. 16them all to my house, and I will help you17them.” Davy nodded and went home happily. Day after day. Davy hunted the woods for the18flowers, and the most beautiful ferns and mosses. After his teacher had helped him with new clothes. But for the19, and sold them. He soon carted enough money to buy new clothes. But for the20of his teacher, he couldn't have solved his problem. Now he could see the bright sunshine and hear the bird's singing.

    Shayla Mitchell, 16, was diagnosed with the terminal stage of cancer. As a father, Mitchell always stayed home to care for her. He said the 1 1eft them financially worse off. Then a group called Growing Hope 2 in with $1,800 to help with his living costs.

    3, he wanted to pay them back. In his 4, he had once been a 5. So at age 40, Mitchell took up the 6 again, participating in two fights in Fairfax. Mitchell was 7 out in the first and second rounds, but he still 8 to raise $ 20,000 that he gave to Growing Hope. During this time, he 9 his daughter. “I fell into a dark bottom,” Mitchell said, and for six months, he did little but 10.

    One day, Mitchell 11 upon a Mark Twain quote- The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you 12 why. “After I read that quote, I was going to spend the rest of my life helping kids with 13 and their families,” he said.

    Mitchell thought of creating a foundation, though boxing did not seem 14any more for fund-raising, due to his age. Then he found that 15 could be a source to raise money. In the Corps Marathon, he cut a striking figure on the course. 16 by this success, he set his sights higher. He 17 each of the miles of the race to a different child with cancer, and he carried their 18 with him. Years after his daughter's death, Mitchell now 19 up in the morning knowing his 20.

    I was nine when I arrived at the Children's Home in Nashua, New Hampshire. I failed third grade that year, and barely 1 it through a second time, and had squeaked through(侥幸通过) fourth grade by the time I reached Pauline Jambard's fifth-grade class at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School.

    I was 2 I wasn't as intelligent as the other kids. 3, Ms. Jambard took an instant liking to me. Of all the 4 in school, reading was my favorite. She would tell me, "Terry, you 5 reading. If you can understand what you're reading, you'll be 6 than most kids." After I read all the books in our program, I started reading the classroom's set of Encyclopedia Britannica(《不列颠百科全书》). And gradually I started to really 7 school life.

    That 8, our school threw a Christmas party for family and community members. My brother and I had no family to 9. I still remember looking up and seeing Ms. Jambard walk through the front door and 10 she was there to see me. I was deeply moved. That was the 11 Christmas of my life!

    After I graduated from Ms. Jambard's class, my brother and I 12, and I lost all touch with my teacher. Years later, I was on a business trip and had to drive through Nashua. I took a chance and 13 Charlotte Avenue Elementary School. I was walking toward her 14 when she came out into the hallway and said, "Terry!" It was as if I had 15 left! I was in seventh heaven on my flight home.

    We have stayed in 16, and I call Ms. Jambard at least once a year. Because of the 17 she instilled(灌输) in me, I went on to have a 18 career in engineering. I don't know if Ms. Jambard realizes how much she 19 me, but I'll never forget her 20 and faith in me.

    Greenberg was a lucky guy to enter Columbia University on full scholarship. But just before junior year（大学三年级）, Greenberg's1 changed. One day his vision “2 up” and later he was diagnosed (诊断）with glaucoma (青光眼）. Then doctors operated on Greenberg's eyes.3 , the surgery didn't work. Greenberg was going blind. He was so 4that he refused to see anyone.

    As Greenberg's best friend, Arthur persuaded Greenberg to go back to Columbia and5to be his reader. Arthur read6to him every day, taking time out from his own study, and Greenberg7 scoring straight A's. Still, he was8about getting around alone and relied on his friend.

    Then, one afternoon, Greenberg and Arthur went to Midtown Manhattan. When it was time to go back to campus, Arthur said he couldn't9him because of an appointment. Greenberg10. They argued, and Arthur walked off, 11 Greenberg alone in Grand Central Terminal.

    Greenberg, who was completely12, stumbled (蹒跚）through the rush-hour crowd. He took a shuttle train west to Times Square, and then transferred to an uptown train. Four miles later, he13 at the Columbia University stop.

    At the university's gate, someone14him. “Oops, excuse me, sir. ” Greenberg15 the voice. It was Arthur's. Greenberg's first reaction was16, but in the next second, he realized what he had just17 and realized, too, who had made it possible.18, Arthur had been with him the whole way, using one of the most19strategies（策略）.

    Blindness doesn't make Greenberg fail to appreciate the20 of life. He always says he is the luckiest man in the world.

    One day, when I was in high school, I saw a kid named Kyle from my class walking home from school with all his books. I thought to myself, "1 would anyone bring home all his books for the weekend? He must really be 2."

    As I was walking, I saw several kids running toward him. They ran at him, 3all his books out of his arms and he fell down in the dirt. His glasses went 4and landed in the grass.

    My 5 went out to him. So, I ran over to him. 6 I handed him his glasses, he looked at me and said, "Hey, thanks!"

    I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it 7, he lived near me. We talked all the way home. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

    Kyle was the 8 student of our class, one of those guys that really found 9 during high school. Therefore he had the honor to prepare a 10 speech. On the graduation day, I could see that he was 11. So, I patted(拍) him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be 12!" He looked at me and smiled.

    He cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to 13 those who helped you make it through those 14 years. Your parents, your teachers…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best 15 you can give him."

    I just looked at my friend with 16 as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to 17himself over the weekend and was carrying his books home. "Thankfully, nothing happened. My friend 18 me from doing the unspeakable(不能说出来的)."

    Not until that moment did I realize that you should never underestimate(低估) the 19of your actions. With one small act you can 20 a person's life. For better or for worse.

    I had driven home to celebrate my 38th birthday with my mother. When I arrived, I found her 1 proudly at the kitchen table, a chocolate cake and two boxes wrapped orange ribbon (丝带)in front of her. "Happy birthday!" she said,2 at the boxes. "Open them."

    As she knows me 3 than anyone, she'd gotten me exactly what I wanted—running clothes. I 4 her and thanked her and proceeded (接着)to eat the cake.

    "Too many 5 ," I said, not really caring.

    You'll run them off tomorrow," Mom said.

Many adult children with a parent suffering from 6 memory will tell you there was one day that 7 to them that their relationship with their mother or father would be forever changed.

    For me that day8two weeks later, when I drove back for another short9. I came upon exactly the same 10 : my mom sitting at the kitchen table; a chocolate cake resting next to two 11 wrapped in curly ribbon. The ribbon was green this time. That was the only12"Happy birthday!" my mom said.

    I was totally 13 . What's going on?" I asked.

    Mom smiled. "Can't I celebrate my daughter's birthday?"

    This was no 14 . This was real life, and since my mother clearly only wanted to make me 15 , I pushed aside my fear and fulfilled my role as the 16 daughter. I hugged her, thanked her and 17 the clothes... I did not mention to her that we'd done all this two 18 ago.

    My house is her world now. My mother and I have the 19conversation roughly 10 times a day.20, I consider it a pleasure, because every minute is new for her.