Read, Think & Discuss

Passages for Improving Reading Skills

Compiled by Prof. M M Sastry

Read the following passage

It is nine oclock on Sunday morning. The weather is warm. We are in front of a house, on Gandhi Road. Where is Gandhi Road? It is in Delhi. The house is a small one, with five rooms. There are two bed-rooms, a living-room, a kitchen and a dining-room. There is a garden around the house with flower-beds, a lawn and two trees. This is Mr. Sharmas house. The Sharmas are a family of four and it is an interesting family. Mr. Sharma is a professor. He is Indian; he is forty-five, and his hair is grey. His wife is Geetha Sharma. She is forty years old but she looks very young. She is a housewife. Vinod is their son. He is twenty years old. He is tall and thin, with long hair and looks like a hippie. He is a medical student. Rita is his sister; she is seventeen. She is slim, pretty and smart looking. Her hair is short and silky. She is in the living room. She is in a bad mood but she is never angry for long. There is a telephone in the room.

1. How many members are there in Mr. Sharmas family?

2. Describe Vinod? What is he studying?

3. How is Rita?

4. Who is Geetha Sharma? How does she look like?

5.

Describe Mr. Sharmas house.

Here is a story about an Irishman An Englishman was driving along a country road in Ireland and met a man carrying a heavy bag. Can I take you into town? the Englishman asked. The Irishman said, Thank you, and got into the car. After a few minutes the driver saw that the Irishman was sitting with the heavy bag still in his hand. Why dont you put your bag down? he asked. Well, answered the Irishman, you have given me a ride in your car. I can not ask you to carry my bag as well.

1. Where was the Englishman driving? 2. Whom did he see? 3. What was the Irishman carrying? 4. Who offered a lift? 5. What did the Englishman notice? 6. What did the Englishman say to him? 7. What was the Irishmans reply? 8. Can you suggest a title for this story? It should reflect the central idea of the story.

Punctuation
When we speak, sometimes we drop our tone and that tells the listener that we have completed a sentence; sometimes we raise our tone and that tells him that we are asking a question; sometimes we pause; sometimes we shout. In writing, punctuation marks are signals that help the reader the same way that pauses and changes in voice help the listener. So, they are very important. You have already made use of them. Here are some points worth remembering: 1. Begin every sentence with a capital letter and put a full stop (it is called a period in American English) at the end if it is a statement or a command. The first word in every line of poetry is capitalized. After a semicolon (;) only a small letter is used unless the word is a proper noun: Sita is their daughter; she is short. Sita is their daughter; Vinod is their son. 2. Put a question mark at the end of every statement that asks something: Who is Mr. Sharma? 3. Put an exclamation mark at the end of every sentence that expresses excitement or strong feeling: There they are! 4. Capitalize: a. The names of people; Hari, Gopal. b. The names of months, days, and holidays. Do not capitalize the names of seasons

1. Where do you write a capital letter? 2. Where do you use a question mark? 3. Where do you keep an exclamation mark? 4. What do you do after a semi colon? 5. What is the use of punctuation?

Sharpen Your Axe

John, a woodcutter, worked for a company for five years but never got a raise. The company hired Bill and within a year he got a raise. This caused dissatisfaction in John and he went to his boss to talk about it. The boss said you were still cutting the same number of trees you were cutting five years ago. We are a result-oriented company and would be happy to give you a raise if your productivity goes up. John went back started hitting harder and putting in longer hours but he still wasnt able to cut more trees. He went back to his boss and told him his dilemma. The boss told John to go and talk to Bill. May be there is something Bill knows that you and I dont. John asked Bill how he managed to cut more trees. Bill answered after every tree I cut, I take a break for two minutes and sharpen my axe. When was the last time you sharpened your axe? This question hit him like a bullet and John got his answer.

1. What was John? 2. How long did he work in the company? Did he get any hike in the salary? 3. How long did Bill take to get a raise? 4. How did John feel when Bill got a raise with in a year? 5. What did John do then? 6. What type of company was it? 7. What did John do? Was he happy with his work? Why? 8. What was the suggestion of his Boss when he expressed his dilemma? 9. What did Bill do to improve his productivity? 10. What is the message for us in the story?

Read the following passage There was a man who made living selling balloons at a fair. He had all colours of balloons, including red, yellow, blue, and green. Whenever business was slow, he would release a helium-filled balloon into the air and when the children saw it go up, they all wanted to buy one. They would come up to him, buy a balloon, and his sales would go up again. He continued this process all day. One day, he felt someone tugging at his jacket. He turned around and saw a little boy who asked, If you release a black balloon, would that also fly? Moved by the boys concern, the man replied with empathy, Son, it is not the colour of the balloon, it is what is inside that makes it go up.

The same thing applies to our lives. It is what is inside that counts. The thing inside of us that makes us go up is our attitude.

Have you ever wondered why some individuals, organizations, or countries are more successful than others?

It is not a secret. These people simply think and act more effectively. They have learned how to do so by investing in the most valuable assetpeople. I believe that the success of an individual, organization or country, depends on the quality of their people and their right attitude.

1. How did the man in the story make living? 2. What did he sell? 3. What colour balloons did he sell? 4. What did he do when the business was dull? 5. Who came to him one day? And what did he do? 6. What did the small boy ask? 7. What was the reaction of the balloon seller at the boys question? 8. What did he say to the small boy? 9. What makes the balloon fly? 10. What is the message for us from this story?

Read the following passage There is a story about a man who sold hotdogs by the roadside. He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers. He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio. His eyes were weak, so he never watched television. But enthusiastically, he sold lots of hotdogs. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more meat and got himself a bigger and better stove. As his business was growing, the son, who had recently graduated from college, joined his father.

Then something strange happened. The son asked, Dad, arent you aware of the great recession that is coming our way? The father replied, No, but tell me about it. The son said, The international situation is terrible. The domestic is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad time. The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, and listened to the radio, he ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly. So the next day, the father cut down his order for the meat and buns, took down the sign and was no longer enthusiastic. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hotdog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly. The father said to his son, Son, you were right. We are in the middle of a recession. I am glad you warned me ahead of time.

1. What is the story about? 2. What did he study? Did he read much? 3. Why didnt he listen to the radio? 4. How did he sell the hotdogs? 5. How was his business? 6. Who joined him later? 7. What did his educated son tell him? 8. Did he follow his sons advice? 9. What did he do? 10. What happened after following his sons advice? 11. Was he wise in following his sons advice? 12. What is the moral of the story?

If you think
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you dont! If you like to win, but think you cant, Its almost certain you wont.

If you think you will lose, you are lost; For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellows will; Its all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are, Youve got to think high to rise, Youve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.

Lifes battles dont always go To the stronger and faster man, But sooner or later the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can.

1. What is the summary of the first stanza? 2. What is the message in the second stanza? 3. What does the poet say in the third stanza? 4. What is the conclusion of the poem? 5. What is the message of the poem?

Consideration
One day, a ten-year-old boy went to an ice-cream shop, sat at a table and asked the waitress, How much is an ice-cream cone? She said, seventy-five cents. The boy started counting the coins he had in his hand. Then he asked how much a small cup of ice cream was. The waitress impatiently replied, sixty-five cents. The boy said, I will have the small icecream cup. He had his ice cream, paid the bill and left. When the waitress came to pick up the empty plate, she was touched. Underneath were ten one-cent coins as tip. The little boy had consideration for the waitress before he ordered his ice cream. He showed sensitivity and caring. He thought of others before himself.

If we all thought like the little boy, we would have a great place to live. Show consideration, courtesy, and politeness. Thoughtfulness shows a caring attitude.

1. How old was the boy? And where did he go one day? 2. What did he ask the waitress? 3. How much was the ice-cream cone? 4. What did the boy do then? 5. Did he have enough money to buy the cone? 6. What did he ask the waitress again? 7. How did she respond? 8. What did he buy? 9. What did he do after buying the ice-cream cup? 10. What did the waitress notice on the table the boy left? 11. How did she feel then? 12. What is the boys specialty?

Think Win/Win
A man died and St. Peter asked him if he would like to go to heaven or hell. The man asked if he could see both before deciding. St. Peter took him to hell first and the man saw a big hall with a long table, lots of food on it and music playing. He also saw rows of people with pale, sad faces. They looked starved and there was no laughter. And he observed one more thing. Their hands were tied to four-foot forks and knives and they were trying to get the food from the centre of the table to put into their mouths. But they couldnt.

Then, he went to see heaven. There he saw a big hall with a long table, with lots of food on the table and music playing. He noticed rows of people on both sides of the table with their hands tied to four-foot knives and forks also. But he observed there was something different here. People were laughing and were well-fed and healthy looking. He noticed that they were feeding one other across the table. The result was happiness, prosperity, enjoyment, and gratification because they were not thinking of themselves alone; they were thinking win/win. The same is true of our lives. When we serve our customers, our families, our employees, we automatically win.

1. What did St. Peter ask the dead man? 2. What did the dead man ask him? 3. What did he see first? 4. How were the faces of people in the hell? 5. What were the people trying to do? 6. What did he see in the heaven? 7. What difference did he find in the heaven? 8. Why were the people happy here? 9. How were they feeding themselves? 10. What is the message of the story?

Acres of Diamonds
There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country. And then he went away. That night the farmer couldnt sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent because he was unhappy. The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm, took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldnt find any. He looked all through Europe and couldnt find any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River and committed suicide. Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He picked up the stone and put it in the living room. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, Is Hafiz back? The new owner said, No, why do you ask? The wise man said, because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one. The man said, No that s a stone I picked up form the stream. Come, I will show you. There are many more. They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds. 1. Where was the farmer? Why was he happy? 2. Who told him about the glory of the diamonds? 3. What could he have if he had a diamond of the size of his thumb? 4. Why was the farmer unhappy? 5. What did he do next morning? 6. Where did he search for diamonds? 7. What happened to him when he went to Spain? 8. What did he do in Barcelona? 9. What happened back home? 10. Where did the owner find the shining stone? 11. What did the wise man say about the shining stone? 12. What was proved in the analysis? 13. What is the moral of the story?

I knew you would come

There were two childhood friends who went through school and college and even joined the army together. War broke out and they were fighting in the same unit. One night they were ambushed. Bullets were flying all over and out of the darkness came a voice, Harry, please come and help me. Harry immediately recognized the voice of his childhood friend, Bill. He asked the captain if he could go. The captain said, No, I cant let you go, I am already shorthanded and I cant afford to lose one more person. Besides, the way Bill sounds he is not going to make it. Harry kept quiet. Again and again the voice came, Harry, please come and help me. Harry sat quietly because the captain had refused earlier. Again and again the voice came. Harry couldnt contain himself any longer and told the captain, Captain, this is my childhood buddy. I have to go and help. The captain reluctantly let him go. Harry crawled through the darkness and dragged Bill back into the trench. They found that Bill was dead. Now the captain got angry and shouted at Harry, Didnt I tell you he was not going to make it? He is dead, you could have been killed and I could have lost a hand. That was a mistake. Harry replied, Captain, I did the right thing. When I reached Bill he was still alive and his last words were, Harry, I knew you would come. Good relationships are hard to find and once developed should be nurtured. We are often told: Live your dream at the expense of others. People who do so are unscrupulous. We need to make personal sacrifices for our family, friends, and those we care about and who depend on us. 1. What kind of friends were they? 2. Where did they join? 3. Where were they fighting? 4. Who called for Harrys help? 5. What did the captain say? 6. How many times did Harry hear his friends call? 7. What did the captain do unwillingly? 8. Was Bill alive? What did Harry do then? 9. What did the captain shout at Harry? 10. What was Harrys reply? 11. Do you think that Harry did the right thing? 12. What is the message of the story?

Read the following passage There is a legend about a wise man who was sitting outside his village. A traveler came up and asked him, What kind of people live in this village, because I am looking to move from my present one? The wise man asked, What kind of people live where you want to move from? The man said, There are mean, cruel, rude. The wise man replied, The same kind of people live in this village too. After some time another traveler came by and asked the same question and the wise man asked him, What kind of people live where you want to move from? And the traveler replied, The people are very kind, courteous, polite and good. The wise man said, You will find the same kind of people here too.

Generally we see the world not the way it is but the way we are. Most of the time, other peoples behaviour is a reaction to our own.

1. What is the legend about? 2. Who came there and what did he ask? 3. What was the wise mans question? 4. What type of people did the traveler have in his place? 5. What was the question of another traveler? 6. What type of people did the second traveler have in his place? 7. What was the wise mans reply to the second traveler? 8. Why did the wise man express two different opinions about the same people? 9. What makes the difference? 10. What is the moral of the story?

Read the following passage Many years ago two boys were working their way through Harvard University. Their funds got desperately low, and the idea came to them to engage Ignacy Paderewski for a piano recital. They would use the funds to help pay their board and tuition. The great pianists manager asked for a guarantee of $ 2,000. The guarantee was a lot of money in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to promote the concert. They worked hard, only to find that they had grossed only $ 1600. After the concert the two boys told the great artist the bad news. They gave him the entire share of $ 1600, along with a promissory note for $ 400, explaining that they would earn the amount at the earliest possible moment and send the money to him. It looked like the end of their college careers. No, boys, replied Paderewski, that wont do. Then tearing the note in two, he returned the money to them as well, Now, he told them, take out of this $ 1600 all of your expenses and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Leave me the rest. The years rolled by. World War I came and went. Paderewski, now premier of Poland, was striving to feed thousands of starving people in his native land. The only person in the world who could help him was Herbert Hoover, who was in charge of the US Food and Relief Bureau. Hoover responded and soon thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland. After the starving people were fed, Paderewski journeyed to Paris to thank Hoover for the relief sent him. Thats all right, Mr. Paderewski, was Hoovers reply. Besides, you dont remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college, and I was in trouble. It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. 1. What were the two boys doing? 2. Where were they studying? And what happened to them? 3. What did they plan then? 4. What was the guarantee money? Did the boys pay it? 5. How much amount did the boys get? What did they say to Paderewski? 6. What did Paderewski do then? 7. What was Paderewski after the First World War? 8. What did he want? And who could help him? 9. Who Herbert Hoover? How did he respond? 10. What happened when Paderewski thanked Hoover?

A Puppy
A boy went to the pet store to buy a puppy. Four of them were sitting together, priced at $50 each. Then there was one from the same sitting alone in a corner. The boy asked if that was from the same litter, if it was for sale, and why it was sitting alone. The store owner replied that it was for sale, and from the same litter, it was a deformed one, and not for sale.

The boy asked what the deformity was. The store owner replied that the puppy was born without a hip socket and had a leg missing. The boy asked, What will you do with this one? The reply was it would be put to sleep. The boy asked if he could play with that puppy. The store owner said, Sure. The boy picked the puppy up and the puppy licked him on the ear. Instantly the boy decided that was the puppy he wanted to buy. The store owner said, That is not for sale! The boy insisted.

The store owner agreed. The boy pulled out $2 from his pocket and ran to get $48 from his mother. As he reached the door the store owner shouted after him. I dont understand why you would pay full money for this one when you could buy a good one for the same price. The boy didnt say a word. He just lifted his left trouser leg and he was wearing a brace. The pet store owner said, I understand. Go ahead, take this one. This is empathy.

1. What did the boy want to buy? 2. What did the shop keeper tell about the lonely puppy? 3. How much was each puppy? 4. Was the lone puppy for sale? Why not? 5. What was wrong with the lone puppy? 6. Was the boy allowed to play with the lonely puppy? 7. Why did the boy want to buy the deformed puppy? 8. What is empathy?

Mysore Palace
The Maharajas Palace is a magnificent three-storied structure with a five-storey tower, designed by the English architect Henry Irwin. The famous Mysore Palace also known as the Amba Villas Palace is one of the largest palaces in the country. The palace was originally built of wood, which got burnt down in 1897 and was rebuilt in 1912. It is a healthy combination of Dravidian, Oriental and Roman styles.

It is attractive both inside and outside. It is kaleidoscope of stained glass and mirrors. There are also beautifully carved wooden doors and mosaic floors. The tastefully decorated and intricately carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms. The ground floor with an enclosed courtyard displays costumes, musical instruments, childrens toys and numerous portraits. The upper floor has a small collection of weapons. The carved mahogany ceilings, solid silver doors, white marble floors and columned Durbar hall are a feast to the eyes.

1. How many floors are there in the palace? 2. What about the tower? 3. Who designed the palace? 4. What material was it built of first? 5. When did it get burnt? 6. What styles of architecture do you see in the palace? 7. How are the doors and the floors? 8. What are found in the first floor? 9. What are found in the second floor? 10. What feast your eyes in the palace?

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal located on the banks of the Yamuna River is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial built this marble tomb for his wife, Mumtaz. It is a dream etched in milky white marble. It is a peerless monument portraying the beauty of eternal love. It is a rich tribute to love and womanhood. The construction of the Taj Mahal commenced in 1631 and was completed in1653. Workers were gathered from all over the country and Central Asia. Nearly 20,000 workers were involved in the construction of this dream. The main architect was Ustad Isa Khan, who was brought all the way from Iran. The walled complex includes two mosques and an imposing gateway. The tomb is encased with white marble, which is decorated with flawless sculptures and with designs of flowers and calligraphy.

1. Where was the Taj Mahal located? 2. What is the specialty of Taj Mahal? 3. Who built it? 4. For whose memory did he build it? 5. What does Taj Mahal portray? 6. When did the construction start? 7. How many workers were involved? Where were they from? 8. Who was the chief architect? Where was he from? 9. How was the tomb decorated? 10. How long did it take to build Taj Mahal?

Read the following passage The passage below was originally written as three paragraphs. First, find the beginning sentence of each paragraph and then separate the paragraphs. Most of the worlds affairs are carried on through spoken language. Most of your affairs are carried on through spoken language. It would surprise you to discover the number of different things for which you use spoken language during the day. We use speech to find out what we need to know, and to pass on information to others. We use speech to express our feelings. We use speech to get others to like us, to influence their feelings, and to get them to do what we want. Speech involves not only the words themselves but also the voice, the facial expressions, gestures, and enunciation of the speaker.

1_______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2_______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

3_______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Read the following passage A beggar was sitting at the train station with a bowl full of pencils. A young executive passed by and dropped a dollar in the bowl. He then boarded the train. Before the doors closed, something came to his mind and he went back to the beggar, grabbed a bunch of pencils, and said, They are priced right. After all you are a business person and so am I, and he left.

Six months later, the executive attended a party. The beggar was also there in a suit and tie. The beggar recognized the executive, went up to him and said, You probably dont recognize me but I remember you. He then narrated the incident that happened six months before. The executive said, Now that you have reminded me, I do recall that you were begging. What are you doing here in your suit and tie? The beggar replied, You probably dont know what you did for me that day. You were the first person in my life who gave me back my dignity. You grabbed the bunch of pencils and said, They are priced right. After all, you are a business person and so am I. After you left, I thought to myself, what am I doing here? Why am I begging? I decided to do something constructive with my life. I packed my bag, started working and here I am. I just want to thank you for giving me back my dignity. The incident changed my life.

1. What were there with the beggar? 2. Who gave the beggar one dollar? 3. What did the young executive did later? 4. What did the executive say to the beggar? 5. What happened six months later? 6. Was there any change in the beggars appearance? How did he dress? 7. What did the man in the suit want to say to the executive? 8. What changed the beggars life? 9. What did he do after realizing his dignity? 10. Do you say that with increased self-esteem we can get success in life?

Read the following passage When I was in Toronto, I heard a story of two brothers. One was a drug addict and a drunk who frequently beat up his family. The other one was a very successful businessman who was respected in society and had a wonderful family. Some people wanted to find out why two brothers from the same parents, brought up in the same environment, could be so different.

The first one was asked, How come you do what you do? You are a drug addict, a drunk, and you beat your family. What motivates you? He said, My father. They asked, What about your father? The reply was, My father was a drug addict, a drunk and he beat his family. What do you expect me to be? That is what I am.

They went to the brother who was doing everything right and asked him the same question. How come you are doing everything right? What is your source of motivation? And guess what he said? My father. When I was a little boy, I used to see my dad drunk and doing all the wrong things. I made up my mind that that is not what I wanted to be. Both were deriving their strength and motivation from the same source, but one was using it positively and the other negatively.

1. What is the story about? 2. How was the first brother? 3. How was the second one? 4. Who motivated the first brother to be a drunk? 5. Who motivated the second brother to become a successful business man? 6. Did the father advise his two sons differently? 7. Who was positive in his attitude? 8. Who was negative in his attitude? 9. What is the message of the story? 10. How did your father motivate you?

Read the following passage There was a young boy who used to come for regular practice but always played in the reserves and never made it to the soccer eleven. While he was practicing, his father used to sit at the far end, waiting for him. The matches had started and for four days, he didnt show up for practice or the quarter or semi finals. All of a sudden he showed up for the finals, went to the coach and said, Coach, you have always kept me in reserves and never let me play in the finals. But today, please let me play. The coach said, Son, Im sorry, I cant let you. There are better players than you and besides, it is the finals, the reputation of the school is at stake and I can not take a chance. The boy pleaded, Coach, I promise I will not let you down. I beg of you, please let me play. The coach had never seen the boy plead like this before. He said, OK, son, go, play. But remember, I am going against my better judgement and the reputation of the school is at stake. Dont let me down.

The game started and the boy played like a house on fire. Every time he got the ball, he shot a goal. Needless to say, he was the best player and the star of the game. His team had a spectacular win.

When the game finished the coach went up to him and said, Son, how could I have been so wrong in my life. I have never seen you play like this before. What happened? How did you play so well? The boy replied, Coach, my father is watching me today. The coach turned and looked at the place where the boys father used to sit. There was no one there. He said, Son, your father used to sit there when you came for practice, but I dont see anyone there today. The boy replied, Coach, there is something I never told you. My father was blind. Just four days ago, he died. Today is the first day he is watching me from above,

1. Why was he always in reserves? Why didnt he play? 2. Why did he insist on playing the final match? 3. Did his father see the match physically? 4. Why was he absent for the four days before the final match? 5. Did his father watch him while he was practicing?

Paragraph- writing
Putting sentences together in a coherent and logical manner in order to express our ideas effectively is an art. We compose poems, stories, essays, letters, etc. and the art of putting a story, an essay, etc. together is called composition. A paragraph is a unit of prose composition. It is a group of sentences that deal with a chief point, that is, the central idea or the topic of the paragraph. A paragraph may be long or short. Read the following two paragraphs: There are many people in this country who make their living by writing. They write books, stories and magazine articles. They write advertising copy. Some of them write for daily newspapers. These are professional writers who know what they want to say and exactly how to say it.

Have you ever wondered how these writers work? How do they get their sentences to turn out so smoothly? The main secret of their success is revision. No professional writer would think of turning in a piece of writing until he has gone over it several times to make sure that it says what he wants it to say.

Each paragraph tells about one central topic. The topic of the first paragraph is professional writers. It tells you who professional writers are and what they do. The topic of the second paragraph is revision.

Read the following paragraph. Put the following adjectives in the blanks where they are appropriate. Long, delightful, high, sour, ripe, warm, hungry It was a __________day. A fox had just entered a garden. Among the many ____________ things in the garden was a vine laden with bunches of grapes. One of them was a _________bunch, which hung invitingly over the foxs head. The very sight of it made the fox feel _____________. He leapt up at the grapes several times. But they were too ____________ for him to reach. After a ____________time he decided to give up trying. He went away declaring that the grapes were _______________. This is the origin of the expression sour grapes.

Mr. Scott.

Mrs. Scott.

Miss Rose

His name is George Scott. His Christian name is George. His surname is Scott. He is Mr. Scott. The title Mr is used before a mans name when he has no other title: He is Dr. Smith. He is Mr. Scott. Mr is not used if the Christian name alone is used; He is George. He is Joe. Mr is the short form of mister; Mrs or Miss is the short form of mistress; the full word mistress has other meanings like concubine, woman school teacher etc. But Mrs denotes a married person and is pronounced misiz; Miss is an unmarried person. Usually Miss is written without a full stop; Mr, Mrs, and Dr may be written with or without a full stop; Mr or Mr.

Be Patient
This is a true story, which happened in the United States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-yearold son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, and hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home and committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge. People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever. Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Forgive & forget. Love one and all. If you judge people, you have no time to love them. -- Mother Teresa

Unconditional Love
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us." "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Snippets
Once there was a beautiful bird, more beautiful than any other. It was powerful and free, and possessed great courage. This bird was fearless, going wherever it wanted. It also was very proud of its spectacular plumage of vibrant colors. One day the bird decided to pluck its own feathers, one by one, to make a beautiful nest in which it could rest with comfort and security. Now the bird can no longer fly. ----------------As the old man walked the beach at dawn he noticed a youth ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Finally, catching up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. "But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish, "countered the old man. "How can your effort make any difference?" The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to the safety of the waves. "It make a difference to this one," he said. _____________ The Boss drives his men, The Leader inspires them.. The Boss depends on authority, The Leader depends on goodwill. The Boss evokes fear, The Leader radiates love. The Boss says "I", The Leader says "We" The Boss shows who is wrong, The Leader shows what is wrong. The Boss knows how it is done, The Leader knows how to do it. The Boss demands respect, The Leader commands respect. ________________ This's a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry with that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody have done.

One Thing Can

One song can spark a moment One flower can wake the dream One tree can start a forest One bird can herald spring One smile begins a friendship One handclasp lifts a soul One star can guide a ship at sea One word can frame the goal One vote can change a nation One sunbeam lights a room One candle wipes out darkness One laugh will conquer gloom One step must start each journey One word must start a prayer One hope will raise our spirits One touch can show you care One voice can speak with wisdom One heart can know what is true One Life can make a difference The Eagle and the Wolf There is a great battle that rages inside me. One side is the soaring eagle. Everything the eagle stands for is good and true and beautiful, and it soars above the clouds. Even though it dips down into the valleys, it lays its eggs on the mountaintops. The other side of me is the howling wolf. And that raging, howling wolf represents the worst that's in me. He eats upon my downfalls and justifies himself by his presence in the pack. Who wins this great battle? The one I feed.

A Dark Candle A man had a little daughter-an only and much-beloved child. He lived for her ~ she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health. His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a dream. He was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic tot carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked: "How is it, darling that your candle alone is unlighted? "Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out." Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate. From that hour on he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his little darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears. Essence of Tact A Sultan called in one of his seers and asked how long he would live. "Sire," said the seer, "you would live to see all your sons dead." The sultan flew into a rage and handed the prophet over to his guards for execution. He then called for a second seer, and asked him the same question. "Sire," said the prophet, "I see you blessed with long life, so long that you will outlive all your family." The sultan was delighted and rewarded this seer with gold and silver jewelry. Both prophets knew the truth, but one had tact, the other did not.

A Wonderful Little Girl

There came a frantic knock at the doctor's office door, A knock, more urgent than he had ever heard before, "Come in, Come in," the impatient doctor said, "Come in, Come in, before you wake the dead." In walked a frightened little girl, a child no more than nine, It was plain for all to see, she had troubles on her mind, "Oh doctor, I beg you, please come with me, My mother is surely dying, she's as sick as she can be." "I don't make house calls, bring your mother here," "But she's too sick, so you must come or she will die I fear," The doctor, touched by her devotion, decided he would go, She said he would be blessed, more than he could know. She led him to her house where her mother lay in bed, Her mother was so very sick she couldn't raise her head, But her eyes cried out for help and help her the doctor did, She would have died that very night had it not been for her kid. The doctor got her fever down and she lived through the night, And morning brought the doctor signs, that she would be all right, The doctor said he had to leave but would return again by two, And later he came back to check, just like he said he'd do. The mother praised the doctor for all the things he'd done, He told her she would have died, were it not for her little one, "How proud you must be of your wonderful little girl, It was her pleading that made me come, she is really quite a pear! "But doctor, my daughter died over three years ago, Is the picture on the wall of the little girl you know?" The doctors legs went limp for the picture on the wall, Was the same little girl for whom he'd made this call. The doctor stood motionless, for quite a little while, And then his solemn face, was broken by his smile, He was thinking of that frantic knock heard at his office door, And of the beautiful little angel that had walked across his floor

The Obstacle In Our Path In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition. _________________________________________________________________________
"Sir, What is the secret of your success?" a reporter asked a bank president. "Two words" "And, Sir, what are they?" "Right decisions." "And how do you make right decisions?" "One word." "And, sir, what is that?" "Experience." "And how do you get Experience?" "Two words" "And, Sir, what are they?"

"Wrong decisions"

A Girl in CD Store
There was once a guy who suffered from cancer... a cancer that can't be treated. He was 18 years old and he could die anytime. All his life, he was stuck in his house being taken cared by his mother. He never went outside but he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out for once. So he asked his mother and she gave him permission. He walked down his block and found a lot of stores. He passed a CD store and looked through the front door for a second as he walked. He stopped and went back to look into the store. He saw a young girl about his age and he knew it was love at first sight. He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat. She looked up and asked, "Can I help you?" She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he has ever seen before and wanted to kiss her right there. He said, "Uh... Yeah... Umm... I would like to buy a CD." He picked one out and gave her money for it. "Would you like me to wrap it for you?" she asked, smiling her cute smile again. He nodded and she went to the back. She came back with the wrapped CD and gave it to him. He took it and walked out of the store. He went home and from then on, he went to that store everyday and bought a CD, and she wrapped it for him. He took the CD home and put it in his closet. He was still too shy to ask her out and he really wanted to but he couldn't. His mother found out about this and told him to just ask her. So the next day, he took all his courage and went to the store. He bought a CD like he did everyday and once again she went to the back of the store and came back with it wrapped. He took it and when she wasn't looking, he left his phone number on the desk and ran out... !!!RRRRRING!!! The mother picked up the phone and said, "Hello?" It was the girl!!! She asked for the boy and the mother started to cry and said, "You don't know? He passed away yesterday..."

The line was quiet except for the cries of the boy's mother. Later in the day. The mother went into the boy's room because she wanted to remember him. She thought she would start by looking at his clothes. So she opened the closet. She was face to face with piles and piles and piles of unopened CDs. She was surprised to find all those CDs and she picked one up and sat down on the bed and she started to open one. Inside, there was a CD and as she took it out of the wrapper, out fell a piece of paper. The mother picked it up and started to read it. It said: Hi... I think U R really cute. Do u want to go out with me? Love, Jocelyn The mother opened another CD... Again there was a piece of paper. It said: Hi... I think U R really cute. Do u want to go out with me? Love, Jocelyn Love is... when you've had a huge fight but then decide to put aside your egos, hold hands and say, "I Love You" _____________________

I'm gone now, but I'm still very near. Death can never separate us. Each time you feel a gentle breeze, It's my hand caressing your face. Each time the wind blows; It carries my voice whispering your name. When the wind blows your hair ever so slightly, Think of it as me pushing a few stray hairs back in place. When you feel a few raindrops fall on your face, It's me placing soft kisses. At night look up in the sky and see the stars shining so brightly. I'm one of those stars and I'm winking at you and smiling with delight. For never forget you're the apple of my eye.

Do It Today!
When I was superintendent of schools in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our board of trustees, wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly's son, Jim, had great difficulty in school. He was classified as educationally handicapped and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents acknowledged his academic difficulties, but always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper. Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known when I talked to him last that it would be the last time. If I had only known I would have said, "Jim, I love you and I'm so very proud of you." I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he brought to the lives of the many who loved him. I would have taken time to appreciate his beautiful smile, the sound of his laughter, and his genuine love of people. When you put all the good attributes on the scale and you try to balance all the irritating traits such as the radio, which was always too loud, the haircut that wasn't to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., the irritations don't amount to much. I won't get another chance to tell my son all I would have wanted him to hear, but, other parents, you do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear if you knew it would be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, "Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye." He gave me something to treasure forever. If there is any purpose at all to Jim's death, maybe it is to make others appreciate more of life and to have people, especially families, take the time to let each other know just how much we care. You may never have another chance. Do it today!

Death of an Innocent
I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, So I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, The way you said I would. I didn't drink and drive, Mom, Even though the others said I should. I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right. Now the party is finally ending, Mom, As everyone is driving out of sight. As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece. Because of the way you raised me, So responsible and sweet. I started to drive away, Mom, But as I pulled out into the road, The other car didn't see me, Mom, And hit me like a load. As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say, "The other guy is drunk," Mom, And now I'm the one who will pay. I'm lying here dying, Mom.... I wish you'd get here soon. How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon. There is blood all around me, Mom, And most of it is mine. I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.

It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think. He was probably at the same party as I. The only difference is, he drank And I will die. Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life. I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife. The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, And I don't think it's fair. I'm lying here dying And all he can do is stare. Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave. And when I go to heaven, Mom, Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave. Someone should have told him, Mom, Not to drink and drive. If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive. My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared. Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there. I have one last question, Mom. Before I say good bye. I didn't drink and drive, So why am I the one to die?

A Friend... (A)ccepts you as you are (B)elieves in "you" (C)alls you just to say "HI" (D)oesn't give up on you (E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts) (F)orgives your mistakes (G)ives unconditionally (H)elps you (I)nvites you over (J)ust "be" with you (K)eeps you close at heart (L)oves you for who you are (M)akes a difference in your life (N)ever Judges (O)ffers support (P)icks you up (Q)uiets your fears (R)aises your spirits (S)ays nice things about you (T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it (U)nderstands you (V)alues you (W)alks beside you (X)-plains thing you don't understand (Y)ells when you won't listen and (Z)aps you back to reality

The Colours
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite. Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority." Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing." Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun." Orange started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you." Red could stand it no longer he shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

Purple rose up to his full height: He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey." Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace." And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort. In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me." Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow." And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

The Right Moves One day, many years ago, when I was working as a psychologist at a children's institution in England, an adolescent boy showed up in the waiting room. I went out there where he was walking up and down restlessly. I showed him into my office and pointed to the chair on the other side of my desk. It was in late autumn, and the lilac bush outside the window had shed all its leaves. "Please sit down," I said. David wore a black rain coat that was buttoned all the way up to his neck. His face was pale, and he stared at his feet while wringing his hands nervously. He had lost his father as an infant, and had lived together with his mother and grandfather since. But the year before David turned 13, his grandfather died and his mother was killed in a car accident. Now he was 14 and in family care. His head teacher had referred him to me. "This boy," he wrote, "is understandably very sad and depressed. He refuses to talk to others and I'm very worried about him. Can you help?" I looked at David. How could I help him? There are human tragedies psychology doesn't have the answer to, and which no words can describe. Sometimes the best thing one can do is to listen openly and sympathetically. The first two times we met, David didn't say a word. He sat hunched up in the chair and only looked up to look at the children's drawings on the wall behind me. As he was about to leave after the second visit, I put my hand on his shoulder. He didn't shrink back, but he didn't look at me either. "Come back next week, if you like," I said. I hesitated a bit. Then I said, "I know it hurts." (Continued on the next page)

He came, and I suggested we play a game of chess. He nodded. After that we played chess every Wednesday afternoon - in complete silence and without making any eye contact. It's not easy to cheat in chess, but I admit that I made sure David won once or twice. Usually, he arrived earlier than agreed, took the chessboard and pieces from the shelf and began setting them up before I even got a chance to sit down. It seemed as if he enjoyed my company. But why did he never look at me? "Perhaps he simply needs someone to share his pain with," I thought. "Perhaps he senses that I respect his suffering." One afternoon in late winter, David took off his rain coat and put it on the back of the chair. While he was setting up the chess pieces, his face seemed more alive and his motions more lively. Some months later, when the lilacs blossomed outside, I sat starring at David's head, while he was bent over the chessboard. I thought about how little we know about therapy - about the mysterious process associated with healing. Suddenly, he looked up at me. "It's your turn," he said. After that day, David started talking. He got friends in school and joined a bicycle club. He wrote to me a few times ("I'm biking with some friends and I feel great"); letters about how he would try to get into university. After some time, the letters stopped. Now he had really started to live his own life. Maybe I gave David something. At least I learned a lot from him. I learned how time makes it possible to overcome what seems to be an insuperable pain. I learned to be there for people who need me. And David showed me how one - without any words - can reach out to another person. All it takes is a hug, a shoulder to cry on, a friendly touch, a sympathetic nature - and an ear that listens.

Greatness
"The trouble with the world," said the Master with a sigh, "is that human beings refuse to grow up." "When can a person be said to have grown up?" asked a disciple. "On the day he does not need to be lied to about anything." -------------------------------------------In managing the country store, as in everything that he undertook for others, Lincoln did his very best. He was honest, civil, ready to do anything that should encourage customers to come to the place, full of pleasantries, patient, and alert. On one occasion, finding late at night, when he counted over his cash, that he had taken a few cents from a customer more than was due, he closed the store, and walked a long distance to make good the deficiency. At another time, discovering on the scales in the morning a weight with which he had weighed out a package of tea for a woman the night before, he saw that he had given her too little for her money. He weighed out what was due, and carried it to her, much to the surprise of the woman, who had not known that she was short in the amount of her purchase. Innumerable incidents of this sort are related of Lincoln, and we should not have space to tell of the alertness with which he sprang to protect defenseless women from insult, or feeble children from tyranny; for in the rude community in which he lived, the rights of the defenseless were not always respected as they should have been. There were bullies then, as now. -----------------Once, while riding through the country with some other lawyers, Abraham Lincoln was missed from the party, and was seen loitering near a thicket of wild plum trees where the men had stopped a short time before to water their horses. "Where is Lincoln?" asked one of the lawyers. "When I saw him last," answered another, "he had caught two young birds that the wind had blown out of their nest, and was hunting for the nest to put them back again." As Lincoln joined them, the lawyers rallied him on his tender-heartedness, and he said: -"I could not have slept unless I had restored those little birds to their mother."

Sorrows Cure
There is an old Chinese tale about a woman whose only son died. In her grief, she went to the holy man and said, "What prayers, what magical incantations do you have to bring my son back to life?" Instead of sending her away or reasoning with her, he said to her, "Fetch me a mustard seed from a home that has never known sorrow. We will use it to drive the sorrow out of your life." The woman went off at once in search of that magical mustard seed. She came first to a splendid mansion, knocked at the door, and said, "I am looking for a home that has never known sorrow. Is this such a place? It is very important to me." They told her, "You've certainly come to the wrong place," and began to describe all the tragic things that recently had befallen them. The woman said to herself, "Who is better able to help these poor, unfortunate people that I, who have had misfortune of my own?" She stayed to comfort them, then went on in search of a home that had never known sorrow. But wherever she turned, in hovels and in other places, she found one tale after another of sadness and misfortune. She became so involved in ministering to other people's grief that ultimately she forgot about her quest for the magical mustard seed, never realizing that it had, in fact, driven the sorrow out of her life.

Mums Letters

To this day I remember my mum's letters. It all started in December 1941. Every night she sat at the big table in the kitchen and wrote to my brother Johnny, who had been drafted that summer. We had not heard from him since the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I didn't understand why my mum kept writing Johnny when he never wrote back. "Wait and see - we'll get a letter from him one day," she claimed. Mum said that there was a direct link from the brain to the written word that was just as strong as the light God has granted us. She trusted that this light would find Johnny. I don't know if she said that to calm herself, dad or all of us down. But I do know that it helped us stick together, and one day a letter really did arrive. Johnny was alive on an island in the Pacific. I had always been amused by the fact that mum signed her letters, "Cecilia Capuzzi", and I teased her about that. "Why don't you just write 'Mum'?" I said. I hadn't been aware that she always thought of herself as Cecilia Capuzzi. Not as Mum. I began seeing her in a new light, this small delicate woman, who even in high-heeled shoes was barely one and a half metres tall. She never wore make-up or jewelry except for a wedding ring of gold. Her hair was fine, sleek and black and always put up in a knot in the neck. She wouldn't hear of getting a haircut or a perm. Her small silverrimmed pince-nez only left her nose when she went to bed. Whenever mum had finished a letter, she gave it to dad for him to post it. Then she put the water on to boil, and we sat down at the table and talked about the good old days when our Italian-American family had been a family of ten - mum, dad and eight children. Five boys and three girls. It is hard to understand that they had all moved away from home to work, enroll in the army, or get married. All except me. Around next spring mum had got two more sons to write to. Every evening she wrote three different letters which she gave to me and dad afterwards so we could add our greetings. Little by little the rumour about mum's letters spread. One day a small woman knocked at our door. Her voice trembled as she asked: "Is it true you write letters?" "I write to my sons." "And you can read too?" whispered the woman. "Sure." The woman opened her bag and pulled out a pile of air mail letters. "Read... please read them aloud to me." (Continued next page)

The letters were from the woman's son who was a soldier in Europe, a red-haired boy who mum remembered having seen sitting with his brothers on the stairs in front of our house. Mum read the letters one by one and translated them from English to Italian. The woman's eyes welled up with tears. "Now I have to write to him," she said. But how was she going to do it? "Make some coffee, Octavia," mum yelled to me in the living room while she took the woman with her into the kitchen and seated her at the table. She took the fountain pen, ink and air mail notepaper and began to write. When she had finished, she read the letter aloud to the woman. "How did you know that was exactly what I wanted to say?" "I often sit and look at my boys' letters, just like you, without a clue about what to write." A few days later the woman returned with a friend, then another one and yet another one -- they all had sons who fought in the war, and they all needed letters. Mum had become the correspondent in our part of town. Sometimes she would write letters all day long. Mum always insisted that people signed their own letters, and the small woman with the grey hair asked mum to teach her how to do it. "I so much want to be able to write my own name so that my son can see it." Then mum held the woman's hand in hers and moved her hand over the paper again and again until she was able to do it without her help. After that day, when mum had written a letter for the woman, she signed it herself, and her face brightened up in a smile. One day she came to us, and mum instantly knew what had happened. All hope had disappeared from her eyes. They stood hand in hand for a long time without saying a word. Then mum said: "We better go to church. There are certain things in life so great that we cannot comprehend them." When mum came back home, she couldn't get the red-haired boy out of her mind. After the war was over, mum put away the pen and paper. "Finito," she said. But she was wrong. The women who had come to her for help in writing to their sons now came to her with letters from their relatives in Italy. They also came to ask her for her help in getting American citizenship. On one occasion mum admitted that she had always had a secret dream of writing a novel. Why didn't she? I asked. "All people in this world are here with one particular purpose," she said. "Apparently, mine is to write letters." She tried to explain why it absorbed her so: "A letter unites people like nothing else. It can make them cry, it can make them laugh. There is no caress more lovely and warm than a love letter, because it makes the world seem very small, and both sender and receiver become like kings in their own kingdoms. My dear, a letter is life itself!" Today all mum's letters are lost. But those who got them still talk about her and cherish the memory of her letters in their hearts.

The Time Is Now

If you are ever going to love me Love me now while I can know The sweet and tender feelings Which from true affection flow Love me now while I am living Do not wait until I am gone And then have it chiselled in marble Sweet words on ice cold stone If you have tender thoughts of me Please tell me now If you wait until I am sleeping Never will be death between us And I won't hear you then So if you love me, even a little bit Let me know while I am living So that I can treasure it Now she is gone and I am sick with guilt because I never told her what she meant to me. Worse yet, I did not treat her as she deserved to be treated. I found time for everyone and everything but I never made time for her. It would have been easy to drop in for a cup of tea and a hug but my friends came first. Would any of them have done for me what my mother did? I know the answer. When I called mom on the phone, I was always in a hurry. I feel ashamed when I think of the times I cut her off. I remember too, the times I could have included her and didn't. Our children loved Grandma from the times they were babies. They often turn to her for comfort and advice. She understood them. I realize now that I was too critical, too short-tempered, too stingy with praise. Grandma gave them unconditional love. The world is filled with sons and daughters like me. I hope they see themselves in this letter and profit from it. It's too late for me and I am sick with regrets.

No Charge My little boy came into the kitchen this evening while I was fixing supper. And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writing on. So, after wiping my hands on my apron, I read it, and this is what it said: For mowing the grass, $5. For making my own bed this week, $1 For going to the store $.50. For playing with baby brother while you went shopping, $.25 For taking out the trash, $10 For getting a good report card, $50 And for raking the yard, $2. Well, I looked at him standing there expectantly, and a thousand memories flashed through my mind. So, I picked up the paper, and turning it over, this is what I wrote: For the nine months I carried you, growing inside me, No Charge. For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you prayed for you, No charge. For the time and the tears, and the cost through the years, No Charge. For the nights filled with dread, and the worries ahead, No Charge. For advice and the knowledge, and the cost of your college, No Charge. For the toys, food and clothes, and for wiping your nose, No Charge Son, when you add it all up, the full cost of my love is No Charge. Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. And he looked up at me and he said, "Mama, I sure do love you." Then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote, PAID IN FULL.

A Child's Ten Commandments to Parents

1. My hands are small. Please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short. Please slow down so that I can keep up with you. 2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have. Please let me explore safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily. 3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for such a short time. Please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly. 4. My feelings are tender. Please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated. 5. I am a special gift from God. Please treasure me, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner. 6. I need your encouragement and your praise to grow. Please go easy on the criticism. Remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me. 7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday, I'll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me. 8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me with my brother or my sister. 9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special. 10. Please take me to worship regularly, setting a good example for me to follow.

Become What You Want To Be

Let me tell you about a little girl who was born into a very poor family in a shack in the Backwoods of Tennessee. She was the 20th of 22 children, prematurely born and frail. Her survival was doubtful. When she was four years old she had double pneumonia and scarlet fever - a deadly combination that left her with a paralyzed and useless left leg. She had to wear an iron leg brace. Yet she was fortunate in having a mother who encouraged her. Well, this mother told her little girl, who was very bright, that despite the brace and leg, she could do whatever she wanted to do with her life. She told her that all she needed to do was to have faith, persistence, courage and indomitable spirit. So at nine years of age, the little girl removed the leg brace, and she took the step the doctors told her she would never take normally. In four years, she developed a rhythmic stride, which was a medical wonder. Then this girl got the notion, the incredible notion, that she would like to be the world's greatest woman runner. Now, what could she mean - be a runner with a leg like that? At age 13, she entered a race. She came in last - way, way last. She entered every race in high school, and in every race she came in last. Everyone begged her quit! However, one day, she came in next to last. And then there came a day when she won a race. From then on, Wilma Rudolph won every race that she entered. Wilma went to Tennessee State University, where she met a coach named Ed Temple. Coach Temple saw the indomitable spirit of the girl, that she was a believer and that she had great natural talent. He trained her so well that she went to the Olympic games. There she was pitted against the greatest woman runner of the day, a German girl named Jutta Hein. Nobody had ever beaten Jutta. But in the 100-meter dash, Wilma Rudolph won. She beat Jutta again in the 200-meters. Now Wilma had two Olympic gold medals. Finally came the 400-meter relay. It would be Wilma against Jutta once again. The first two runners on Wilma's team made perfect handoffs with the baton. But when the third runner handed the baton to Wilma, she was so excited she dropped it, and Wilma saw Jutta taking off down the track. It was impossible that anybody could catch this fleet and nimble girl. But Wilma did just that! Wilma Rudolph had earned three Olympic gold medals.

Don't Be Afraid to Fail

You've failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you? Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot. R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on. English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs. Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try

Grow Great by Dreams

The question was once asked of a highly successful businessman: "How have you done so much in your lifetime?" He replied, "I have dreamed. I have turned my mind loose to imagine what I wanted to do. Then I have gone to bed and thought about my dreams. In the night I dreamt about my dreams. And when I awoke in the morning, I saw the way to make my dreams real. While other people were saying, 'You can't do that, it isn't possible,' I was well on my way to achieving what I wanted." As Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S., said: "We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers." They see things in the soft haze of a spring day, or in the red fire on a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nourish them through bad days until they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true." So please, don't let anyone steal your dreams, or try to tell you they are too impossible. "Sing your song, dream your dreams, hope your hope and pray your prayer."

The Birth of a Dream

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

Would you agree with the statement that a dream is born from an idea-a simple idea conceived in the mind? Back in the 19th century two brothers had an idea which eventually became their passionate and consuming dream. Their relentless pursuit of that dream was rewarded with an accomplishment that changed world travel. On Friday December 17, 1903 at 10:35 AM, the Wright brothers (Wilbur and Orville) achieved their dream. They flew "the world's first power-driven, heavier-than-air machine in which man made free, controlled, and sustained flight." This memorable feat took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on a cold windy morning. The dream started with an idea that was planted in their minds by a toy given to them by their father. In the words of the boys, "Late in the autumn of 1878, our father came into the house one evening with some object partly concealed in his hands, and before we could see what it was, he tossed it into the air. Instead of falling to the floor, as we expected, it flew across the room till it struck the ceiling, where it fluttered awhile, and finally sank to the floor." This simple toy made of bamboo, cork and stretched rubber bands, fascinated the Wright brothers and sparked their lifelong interest in human flight. The Wright brothers were great thinkers. They enjoyed learning new things. Initially, they recycled broken parts, built a printing press and opened their own printing office. Their interest moved to bicycles and in 1893, they opened the Wright Cycle Company where they sold and repaired bicycles. But Wilbur (the older brother) had his mind set on something more exciting. He decided to seriously pursue flying. The brothers spent many hours researching, testing their machines and making improvements after unsuccessful attempts at human flight. What started out as a hobby soon became a passion. With determination and patience they realized their dream in 1903. The next time you hear or see an airplane or travel on one, remember where it all started. A simply idea conceived in the minds of two young men who did not finish high school. Believe it or not, they did not have a University degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or any other subject. They were not scientists in the true sense of the word. In fact, many of their peers who did not witness their accomplishment, had trouble believing that two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio did what they claimed. What idea or ideas are YOU working on? Have you said you can't do this or that because you are not a scientist? Have you limited yourself by saying you are not smart enough? Or have you joined the majority in saying that everything has already been invented or discovered? Since the introduction of the first generation of personal computers in 1981, we are able to do many things more efficiently. With a super computer between your ears and the personal computer at your finger tips, your dream can be achieved. First, give birth to that dream with an idea. A simply idea that ANYONE of us can conceive!

Destiny
During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, "I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If it is tails we shall lose." "Destiny will now reveal itself." He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious. After the battle. a lieutenant remarked to the general, "No one can change destiny." "Quite right," the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides.

Enlightenment
Buddha reached the gate of heaven. Of course, the people there were waiting. They opened the door, they welcomed him, but he turned his back towards the door looked at the world -- millions of souls on the same path, struggling, in misery, in anguish, striving to reach this gate of heaven and bliss. The doorkeeper said, "Come in, please. We have been waiting for you" Buddha said, "How can I come when others have not reached? It doesn't seem to be the right time. How can I enter when the whole has not yet entered? I will have to wait. It is just as if my hands has reached into the door and my feet have not reached yet. I will have to wait. Just the hand cannot enter alone."

Imaging
Do your believe our imagination has much to do with success? Arnold Schwarzenegger won the title of Mr. Universe seven times. But he didn't keep his title by only pumping iron. As part of his workout routine, he would frequently go into the corner of the gym and visualize himself winning the title again. Jack Nicklaus, the great professional golfer, explained his imaging technique. He said "First I 'see' the ball where I want it to finish - nice and white and sitting up high on the bright green grass. Then the scene quickly changes, and I 'see' the ball going there; its path, trajectory and shape, even its behavior on the landing. Then," says Nicklaus, "there's sort of a fade-out, and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality." I recall hearing the story of a prisoner of war who spent his years of solitary confinement playing golf - on the course of his mind. When he was released and returned to California, one of his first desires was to head for the nearest golfing facility. He was totally shocked at how his game had improved. Without question, his imagination had greatly enhanced his physical skills. Today, practice "seeing" yourself winning.

Keep Your Goals in Sight

When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours. Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now, at age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast. On that Fourth of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense she could hardly see her support boats. Sharks cruised toward her lone figure, only to be driven away by rifle shots. Against the frigid grip of the sea, she struggled on - hour after hour - while millions watched on national television. Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it wasn't much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. She never had . . . until then. With only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out. Still thawing her chilled body several hours later, she told a reporter, "Look, I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I might have made it." It was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal. Two months later, she tried again. This time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact and her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind that fog was land and this time she made it! Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel, eclipsing the men's record by two hours!

Friend And Acquaintance

There is a difference between being an acquaintance and being a friend. An acquaintance is someone whose name you know, who you see every now and then, who you probably have something in common with and who you feel comfortable around. It's a person that you can invite to your home and share things with. But they are people who you don't share your life with, whose actions sometimes you don't understand because you don't know enough about them. On the other hand, a friend is someone you love. Not that you are "in love" with them, but you care about them and you think about them when they are not there. The people you are reminded of when you see something they might like, and you know this because you know them so well. They are the people whose pictures you have and whose faces are in your head regardless. Friends are the people you feel safe around because you know they care about you. They call just to see how you are doing, because a friend doesn't need an excuse. They tell you the truth, the first time, and you do the same. You know that if you have a problem, they are there to listen. Friends are the people who won't laugh at you or hurt you, and if they do hurt you they try hard to make it up to you. They are the people you love, regardless of whether you realize it. Friends are the people you cried with when you got rejected from colleges and during the last song at the prom and at graduation. They are the people that when you hug them, you don't think about how long to hug and who's going to be the first one to let go. Maybe they are the people that hold the rings at your wedding, or maybe they are the people who give you away at your wedding, or maybe they are the people you marry. Maybe they are the people who cry at your wedding because they are happy or because they are proud. They are the people who stop you from making mistakes and help you when you do. They are are the people whose hand you can hold, or you can hug or give them a kiss and not have it be awkward because they understand the things you do and they love you for them. They stick with you and stand by you. They hold your hand. They watch you live and you watch them live and you learn from them. Your life is not the same without them.

And, And, And

Peeking out from the corner of my desk blotter is a note, slowly yellowing and bent from time. It is a card from my mother, containing only four sentences, but with enough impact to change my life forever. In it, she praises my abilities as a writer without qualification. Each sentence is full with love, offering specific examples of what my pursuit has meant to her and my father. The word "but" never appears on the card, however the word "and" is there almost a half dozen times. Every time I read it--which is almost every day--I am reminded to ask myself if I am doing the same thing for my daughters. I've asked myself how many times I've "but-ted" them, and me, out of happiness. I hate to say that it's more often than I'd like to admit. Although our eldest daughter usually got all A's on her report card, there was never a semester when at least one teacher would not suggest that she talked too much in class. I always forgot to ask them if she was making improvement in controlling her behavior, if her comments contributed to the discussion in progress or encouraged a quieter child to talk. Instead, I would come home and greet her with, "Congratulations! Your Dad and I are very proud of your accomplishment, but could you try to tone it down in class?" The same was true of our younger daughter. Like her sister, she is a lovely, bright, articulate and friendly child. She also treats the floor of her room and the bathroom as a closet, which has provoked me to say on more than one occasion, "Yes, that project is great, but clean up your room!" I've noticed that other parents do the same thing. "Our whole family was together for Christmas, but Kyle skipped out early to play his new computer game." "The hockey team won, but Mike should have made that last goal." "Amy's the homecoming queen, but now she wants $200 to buy a new dress and shoes." But, but, but.

Instead, what I learned from my mother is that if you really want love to flow to your children, start thinking "and, and, and..." instead. For example: "Our whole family was together for Christmas dinner, and Kyle mastered his new computer game before the night was through." "The hockey team won, and Mike did his best the whole game." "Amy's the homecoming queen, and she's going to look gorgeous!" The fact is that "but" feels bad -- "and" feels good. And when it comes to our children, feeling good is definitely the way to go. When they feel good about themselves and what they are doing, they do more of it, building their self-confidence, their judgment and their harmonious connections to others. When everything they say, think or do is qualified or put down in some way, their joy sours and their anger soars. This is not to say that children don't need or won't respond to their parents' expectations. They do and they will, regardless of whether those expectations are good or bad. When those expectations are consistently bright and positive and then are taught, modeled and expressed, amazing things happen. "I see you made a mistake. And I know you are intelligent enough to figure out what you did wrong and make a better decision next time." Or, "You've been spending hours on that project, and I'd love to have you explain it to me." Or, "We work hard for our money, and I know you can help figure out a way to pay for what you want." It's not enough just to say we love our children. In a time when frustration has grown fierce, we can no longer afford to limit love's expression. If we want to tone down the sound of violence in our society, we're going to have to turn up the volume on noticing, praising, guiding and participating in what is right with our children. "No more buts!" is a clarion call for joy. It's also a challenge, the opportunity fresh before us every day to put our attention on what is good and promising about our children, and to believe with all our hearts that they will eventually be able to see the same in us and the people with whom they will ultimately live, work and serve. And if I ever forget, I have my mother's note to remind me.