When I was young at school, I loved to talk, a characteristic not always appreciated by Miss Jordan, my tenth-grade English teacher.

    She was a teacher no one wanted because she was so1 She stood about five-foot-five, was very thin and wore her hair pulled back in a way that gave her a horsy2She wore those half-circular reading glasses. Whenever she got upset, she would lower her head and look at you over the top of her glasses.

    One day in her class I was busy talking. I didn't 3 she had stopped teaching and was4straight at me. “Young lady, I would like to see you after school.”

    Later Miss Jordan5in a low, but very firm voice that showed she expected me to listen when she was talking. For6 she told me to write a thousand-word essay on education and its effect on the economy. She wanted it in by the following Wednesday.

    Well, I met my deadline. I was7. It was a good paper. And I expected a sign of 8 from her. The next day in class9 she was looking at me over her glasses. She called me forward and10 my paper. “Go back and rewrite,” she said. “Remember, each paragraph is supposed to begin with a topic sentence.” When she gave my paper back a second time, she 11 the grammar. The third time, the spelling. The fourth time, it was punctuation. The fifth, it wasn't neat enough. I was12!

    The sixth time, I rewrote the whole paper 13in ink, leaving generous space. When she saw it, she removed her glasses and smiled She finally14 the paper. After that, I put the whole thing out of my15.

    Two or three months passed. One day Miss Jordan came into the class and said to us: Class, do you still16 an essay contest held citywide? They've announced the 17 I am happy to inform you that Mary has won third prize in the essay contest 'On the Impact of Education on the Economy'.”

    I was amazed and18 It was the first time I had ever won a prize. Years later, I told a reporter that story, and my comments — including my unfriendly19 of Miss Jordan's appearance. Miss Jordan wrote me, and said that her appearance wasn't what was important. What was important was the20 I had learnt. When I wrote and rewrote that paper for her, I began to learn how to discipline myself.

The family had just moved to Rhode Island, and the young woman was feeling a little depressed on that Sunday in May. After all, it was Mother's Day—and 800 miles1 her from her parents in Ohio.

    She had called them that morning, to wish her a happy Mother's Day and her mother had2how colorful their backyard was3spring had arrived. Later, she told her husband how she4those lilacs (丁香花) in her parents' yard. “I know where we can find some,” he said, “Get the5and come on.” So off they went.

    Some time later, they stopped at a hill and there were lilacs all round. The young woman rushed up to the nearest6and buried her face in the flowers. Carefully, she7some. Finally, they returned to their car for the8home. The woman sat smiling, surrounded by her9.

    When they were near home, she shouted “stop”, got off quickly and10to a nearby nursing home. She went to the end of the porch (门廊), where a(n)11  patient was sitting in her wheelchair, and put the flowers into her lap. The two12, bursting into laughters now and then. Later the young woman turned and ran back to her  13. As the car pulled away, the woman in the wheelchair14with a smile, and held the lilacs15.

    “Mom,” the kids asked, “16did you give her our flowers?” “It is Mother's Day, and she seems so17while I have all of you. And anyone would be18 by flowers.”

    This satisfied the kids, but not the husband. The next day he19some young lilacs around their yard.

    I was the husband. Now, every May, our yard is full of lilacs. Every Mother's Day our kids20purple lilacs. And every year I remember that smile of the lonely old woman.

    A friend was cast in The Sound of Music. Tim suggested our daughters might enjoy being a 1 of the musical.

    "You can try out for the band," he said.

    "No, I'm trying out for the show." I answered. But there was one problem with my 2: I'd never been in a musical. And I'd never sung 3.

    My daughters wanted to 4, so we memorized show tunes and prepared to audition (试镜). As our audition 5, I felt nervous and wanted to give up. But I knew 6 would set a bad example.

    "Whether you're 7 or not isn't important-doing your best is who 8," I'd been telling them. Now I had to live it.

    I walked into the audition. To say I was 9 would be an understatement. After all, my last audition had been in high school. I sang my song, trying to look confident. My daughters did a good 10. Then we waited for the result. The good news is that we all 11 it! Not only was I cast-I was a lead!

    To prepare, I 12 to the cat, the shower and the dishes when alone, I knew I'd have to get over my 13of performing in public. After all, this'd be my first time to sing in public. I was a little nervous.

    I told friends and family about the 14. I didn't want the theater to be 15, but I didn't necessarily want it packed either. 16, if it were full, I preferred to fill it myself with 17 faces.

    The show was successful. Friends and acquaintances all 18 us. After that experience, I 19 more auditions and even learned to enjoy singing on stage. And I filled my life with the sound of 20.

    A Tennessee woman celebrated her birthday with a bittersweet gift from beyond the grave ——flowers from her father, who died five years ago.

    Michael William Sellers pre-paid for a bouquet of 1to be delivered to his daughter, Bailey, every 2 until she turned 21. And on Friday, Bailey 3 the gift, her last from her dad.

    "My dad4 when I was 16 from cancer and before he died he pre-paid flowers so I could receive them every year on my birthday," then she said. "This is my 21st birthday flowers and the5."

    Bailey said the special gift made birthdays6."Since that day I've hated my birthday 7he always made it so special," Bailey said "I was especially8 my 21st because I knew it would be the last year."

    Bailey said this year's gift and birthday card were especially 9."I broke down," she said. "That letter was very 10and sad all at the same time."

    "This is my last love letter to," her father11. "I do not want you to drop another 12for me, for I am in a 13 place. He also told her to always respect her mother and stay 14to herself." Be happy and live life to the fullest," he wrote. "I will be with forever, just 15and I will be."

    "That was my dad," she said. "He was trying to make my birthday 16."

Social media users17 the post, calling it both "heartwarming," and "heartbreaking."

    Others praised her father, calling him a(an) "18 of what a good man is like," "He would be very 19," Bailey said "he'd be very proud that it20 a lot of people."

    Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a famous concert. After they were seated, the mother1a friend and walked over to greet her. Seizing the2to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy got up and explored his way3a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE (禁止进入)". When the lights became less bright and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her4and discovered that the child was missing.

    Suddenly, the curtains5and the lights focused on the stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard,6Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

    At that moment, the great piano master, Paderewski,7on the stage, quickly went to the piano and8in the boy's ear, "Don't9. Keep playing."

    Then, leaning (倾斜) over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began10in a bass (低音的) part. Soon his right arm reached11to the other side of the child and he added a beautiful piece of music.12, the old master and the boy13a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative14.

    That's the way it is in life.15we can complete on our own is16noteworthy (值得注目的). We try our best, but the17aren't exactly graceful or flowing music.18when we put our trust in the hands of greater power, our life can be truly beautiful.

    The next time you set19to create great performances, listen carefully. You can hear the20of the master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

    In my early thirties, I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5, 895meters above sea level. 

    After months of preparation, I started my great 1 . At the base of the mountain, I met Mik, a local porter, who warmly 2 me. Mik's job was to carry my equipment up the mountain, set up the tent, and carry everything back down after reaching the 3 . 

    The first day of the climb was 4 the rain forest, across a slippery , muddy ground covered with tree roots and vines (藤蔓) . Mik was carrying 30 kilos on his head! By that evening, we made it to 3, 000meters. The air was 5 and it was colder. When I arrived at the campsite for the night, my tent was already set up and waiting for me. 

    Day two was much steeper and rockier. I really had to 6 what I was doing. And I felt guilty for the tough 7 Mik had to work in. Yet when I turned to Mik, he said with the biggest smile, "pole, pole, "which means"8 , take it easy" in his native language. I 9 back, my burden lighter somehow. 

    Over the next five days, the climb got 10 difficult. The temperatures could 11 from 21℃to below freezing in a few hours. At 5, 700 meters, there's only half the oxygen 12 in each breath compared to at sea level. That leaves many people with severe headache. Yet Mik always had a smile and a positive attitude. It had an enormous impact on mo, giving me the 13 to keep going. 

    Even today, when I find myself 14 with anything in life, I just think back to Mik and his smile. A great attitude can bring joy to those around you, or even 15 strangers to the top of a mountain.