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    A young man once went to buy a pair of pants. When he got home, he went upstairs(上楼) to his bedroom and put them on. He found that they were two inches(英寸) long.

    Then he came out of his room to see his mother and his two sisters. They were washing something in the kitchen. “These new pants are too long, they need to be shortened(缩短) about two inches. Would one of you like to do this for me, please?” His mother and sisters were busy and none of them said anything. The mother went upstairs after she had finished washing and shortened the pants two inches. But she didn't tell her daughters about it.

    Later on, after supper, the elder sister remembered her brother's pants. So she went upstairs without saying to anyone, and shortened the pants two inches.

    The younger sister went to the cinema, but when she came back, she also remembered what her brother had said. So she ran upstairs, and took two inches off the legs of the new pants.

    Mr Smith had a week's holiday, so he said, "I'm going to see the sea by train." He put on his best clothes, took a small bag, went to the railway station and got onto the train. He wore a beautiful hat, and he often put his head out of the window during the trip and looked at the beautiful scenery. But suddenly the wind pulled his hat off.

    Mr Smith took his old bag and threw it out of the window quickly too. The others in the train laughed. "Is your bag going to bring back your beautiful hat?" they asked.

    "N0," Mr Smith answered, "but there is no name or address in my hat, and there's a name and an address on the bag. If someone finds both of them, he or she will send me the bag and the hat.''

    My mom only had one eye. I hated her. I am always angry about it. She cooks dinner for students and teachers. One day at school, my mother sees me and says hello to me. I am so unhappy! How can she do this? I turn back and run away. The next day at school one of my classmates says, "EEEE, your mother only has one eye!" I don't know what to say. I wish my mother to just get away. I say to her at home, "If you're only going to make others laugh at me, just die." She doesn't say a word.

    Many years later, I have family in another city. Then one day, my mother comes to visit me. When she stands at the door, my children laugh at her. I shout, "GET AWAY! NOW!" "Oh, I'm sorry. I have the wrong address(地址)."She says.  A few years later, she dies. Somebody gives me a letter from my mother. It reads: "My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I should not go to your house and…You see, when you are very young, you lose your eye in a car accident. As a mother, I give you mine. I am glad you can see a whole world for me with that eye. With all my love to you. Your mother. "

    After a while attention to Tom ended, and the usual school murmur(嗡嗡读书声) rose upon the boring air once more. Now the boy began to steal secret glances(偷看) at the girl. She noticed it, made a face at him and gave him the back of her head for the space of a minute. When she slowly faced around again, an apple lay before her. She pushed it away. Tom gently put it back. She pushed it away again, but with less animosity(敌意). Tom patiently returned it to its place. Then she let it remain. Tom wrote on his paper, "Please take it. I got more." The girl glanced at the words, but made no sign.

    Now the boy began to draw something on the paper, hiding his work with his left hand. For a time the girl refused to notice, but her human curiosity soon began to show itself by hardly noticeable(明显的) signs. The boy worked on, seemingly not aware. The girl made some non-committal(含糊的) efforts to see, but the boy did not display that he was aware of it. At last she couldn't bear it and whispered: "Let me see it."

    Tom partly uncovered the picture of a house with some smoke rising from the chimney(烟囱). Then the girl's interest began to fasten itself upon the work and she forgot everything else. When it was finished, she gazed a moment, then whispered:

    "It's nice! Draw a man."

    The artist created a man in the front yard. She was satisfied, and whispered:

"It's a beautiful man—now draw me in it."

    Tom drew an hour-glass(沙漏) as the body, a full moon as her head and some arms added to it. The girl said:

    "It's ever so nice. I wish I could draw. No one has ever taught me that."

    "It's easy," whispered Tom, "I'll teach you."

    "Oh, will you? When?"

    "At noon. Do you go home for dinner?"

    "I'll stay if you will."

   "Good, that's a deal. What's your name?"