学进去

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 left, she took the smallest loaf 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 into the smallest loaf to reward you because you are a kind and honest girl. Go home, and the money is yours now.”