There was a rich couple who was holding a big new year party at their house. So they went shopping at the market where everything was expensive, but they didn’t mind paying a lot for it. After buying everything they needed, they called a porter(搬运工) to carry it and drop it off at their home. The porter who came was of an old age, not very healthy looking. His clothes were torn and he looked as if he wasn’t even able to meet his daily needs.

They asked the porter about the charges for sending their goods at their home. The old porter quoted(报价) $20, a price well below the market rate. Yet, the couple argued and bargained(讨价还价) with the porter and finally settled for $15. The porter was trying to make money for every meal so he needed anything he could earn.

The couple was very happy thinking how well they bargained with the poor porter and paid him $15 in advance and left after giving the porter their home address. They reached their home and two hours passed, the porter still hadn’t delivered their stuff.

The wife started to get angry at her husband, “I always tell you not to trust such person but you never listen to me. Such a person is not even able to earn to feed himself for one time in a day, and you handed him everything we bought for our big party. I am sure he must have disappeared with everything. We must immediately go back to the market to inquire(询问) and then to the police station to file the complaint against him(报案).”

They both went to the market. On their way, near the market, they saw another porter. They stopped him to inquire about the old porter and noticed that he was carrying their stuff(东西) in his cart!

The angry wife asked him, “Where is that old thief? This is our stuff.”

Upon hearing this, the husband had tears in his eyes and turned to his wife.

An old wooden seat that Susan extremely valued often reminded her of mother’s Golden Rule.

Back in the 1930s, the country life was really tough. One day after dinner, Susan’s mother sat on the seat, announcing to the children the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Susan reflected carefully and seriously on what her mother had said. She resolved that she would keep in mind and follow the rule.

One Saturday afternoon, she went to farmer Jason’s inn (小旅馆) to get the pay for her mother’s washing for the guests there, which amounted to five dollars. She found Jason in the yard, who, as all the villagers knew, was selfish and mean.

His eyes clouded with anger, as he had just finished a quarrel with one of his guests. He held in his hand an open wallet, full of bills. He barely noticed Susan until she made her request for the money. Instead of shouting at her, as usual, for troubling him when he was busy, he handed her a bank note.

Feeling relieved for escaping from Jason so easily, Susan hurried out of the inn. When carefully putting the money into her pocket, she discovered that Jason had given her two bills instead of one, and her first reaction was joy at the unexpected prize. She looked around and there was nobody nearby to share her discovery. “It is mine. All mine.” she said to herself. “I will buy mum a new coat with it, and she can give her old one to sister Mary, and then Mary can go to the Sunday school with me next winter. I wonder if I can buy a pair of shoes for brother Tom too.”

Just at that moment, she realized that Jason must have given the extra money to her by mistake, and therefore she had no right to own it. But a voice of temptation (诱惑) whispered, “He gave it, and you can keep it. He will never know, even if it is a mistake. ”

As Susan hurried home, this conflict went on in her mind.

Susan’s face became red with embarrassment and annoyance.

One day, when I was 7 years old, my father was standing in line to buy tickets for the circus for me.

Their clothes were not expensive, but they were clean. The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly talking about the clowns, elephants, and other acts they would see that night with their brothers or sisters in a low voice.

I could sense that they had never been to the circus before. It promised to be highlight of their young lives. The father and mother were at the head of the pack, standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband’s hand, looking up at him as if to say, “You are my hero.”

He was smiling and responding in pride, looking back at her as if to say, “You got that right.”

The ticket lady asked the father how many tickets he wanted. He proudly responded, “Please let me buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets so I can take my family to the circus.”

The ticket lady gave the price. The man’s wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, and his lips began to shake. The father leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?”

The ticket lady again quoted the price. The man didn’t have enough money.

How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight children that he didn’t have enough money to take them to the circus?

Actually, we were not wealthy in any sense. So, I understand how the kids would feel. I felt sorry for them.

Seeing what was going on, my dad put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill and dropped it on the ground.

As I stood in line waiting to cash out at my favorite supermarket, I studied the customer in front of me who was reading the magazines to our left. She was young, maybe early twenties, but she had a tired look on her face-as if life had beaten her down too many times.

The items in her cart included the cheapest cuts of meat, rice, and potatoes. Powdered milk, day-old bread, bargain soap, and inexpensive shampoo completed her purchases-well, almost. There were also lots of instant noodles and a pretty dress that was 50 percent off.

She continued to look at the magazines as we waited, and more people lined up behind us. She finally took one out and turned it over several times, trying to find a price before finally turning to me.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she began timidly. “But can you tell me how much this is? I forgot my glasses at home.” “Of course,” I said with a laugh.

When I finally found the small print and told her, she sighed quietly and put it back. “They’ve become so expensive, haven’t they?” I murmured sympathetically.

“Next!” The cashier called before she could answer, and she moved forward to begin her transaction. When the store employee finally told her the cost, the woman’s face paled. She opened an old purse and began counting small bills and change. It was obvious she didn’t have enough, and she scanned her groceries to see what she could do without.

One by one, she removed things, but she still came up short. She continued to discard much-needed goods while the cashier patiently deducted (减去) things with a pleasant smile, setting them aside.

The man right behind me complained loudly enough for all to hear, and the young woman’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment. I wanted desperately to pay for her groceries outright, but I knew that would embarrass her even more.

”Take your time,“ I added gently as she tried to decide what other necessity she could return. “I’m in no hurry.”

The woman finally paid and my turn came to pay the bill.

Then I caught up with the woman at the entrance to the supermarket.