Yours

Jack

    I am from South Africa. I didn't at all know the weather here was so cold, but I am glad to say that I have all the clothes for this freezing weather.

When I First got to know that l would be attending this international conference here in Finland, I had no idea what kind of clothes I should take along. I didn't know what to do when I thought of this two-week stay here, with a very formal dinner, a few parties, social gatherings and a dance during the conference.

    Luckily, my friend Julia has been to northern Europe. Yes, she was a great help. She helped me with my biggest problem. She placed an order for some warm suits and dresses, business-type clothes, of course, of dark colors. She also bought me some skirts and blouses so that I could wear the same clothes in several different ways. A couple of lively colored dresses will give me a nice change from time to time. She also helped to choose a very warm raincoat and a pair of boots.

    Oh, how lucky I am to have such a helpful friend. She saved me a lot of trouble, nothing worries me about my meeting, nor my clothes.

    A young lady was driving alone through the street. It was dark and rainy. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding up her hands as if she wanted a lift(搭便车). “I can't leave her out in this weather,” the young lady said to herself. She stopped her car and opened the door.

    “Do you want a lift?” she asked. The old woman nodded and got on the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, “Have you been waiting for a long time?” The old woman shook her head, “Strange” the young lady thought. She tried again, “Bad weather, isn't it?” The old woman nodded.

    Then the young lady noticed the old woman's hands, which were large and hairy. Suddenly she realized the woman was a man! She was frightened at first. Then she stopped the car. “I couldn't see out of the rear screen(后挡风玻璃),”she said, “Would you mind cleaning it for me?”

    “The old woman” nodded and opened the door. As soon as “she”got out of the car, the frightened young lady drove off as fast as she could.

    When she got home, she noticed “the old woman” had left her handbag behind, she picked it up and opened it. Inside there was a gun.

    A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple trees he grew.

    One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to plant it.  The farmer was pleased with the gift, but he did not know where to plant it.

    He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit.  If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples.  If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit.  Finally he planted the tree in his wood.  But without sunlight and good soil(土壤), the tree soon died.

    Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place.  “What's the difference?” the farmer said angrily and then told what he had thought.

     “Yes,” said the friend, “but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit.  Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed (毁掉) a good apple tree! ”

    In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the filmmaker Walt Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work on Disney's cartoon (动画片) film for children. When Walt Disney heard Nash's voice, he said “Stop! That's our duck!”

    The duck was the now famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat (水上住家) and wore his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year, he became a star after an eight­-minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audience liked him because he was lazy and greedy (贪婪的), and because he lost his temper (发脾气) very quickly. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey's eight nephews (侄子). Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn't a goody-­goody like Mickey.

    In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational films about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966, Donald Duck and his voice disappeared — there were no more new cartoons.

    Clarence Nash died in February, 1985.But today's children can still see the old cartoons on television and hear that famous voice.