You may know the song Happy Birthday very well. But do you know about its writer? It was written by an American girl. And she became very rich after that.

When she was a child, she was poor. Once, she was invited to her friend’s birthday party. She was pleased but sad because she didn’t have enough money to buy a gift for her.

“The party is coming soon, but now I have little money.” Tears ran down her face.

Later that night she was in bed, thinking about the gift when the door opened and her grandma came in. “What happened?” her grandma asked. Hearing the girl’s story, she said, “Don’t worry. I think I can help you. How about singing a song together? Happy birthday to…” What a beautiful song! They sang and sang. Suddenly she woke up. It was a dream! She wrote it down at once and sang it to her friend at the party.

When she sang the song at the party the next day, her friends were very happy. “How wonderfully you sing! I haven’t heard such a beautiful song before. Thank you for giving me the special gift.” said her friend. And they learnt to sing it together. Later the girl became famous in America.

The Browns and the Smiths are neighbors(邻居). Mr. Brown’s name is John. But when his neighbors talk about him, they call him “Mr. Going-to-do”. Do you know why? Mr. Brown always says he is going to do something, but never does it.

Every Saturday, Mr. Brown goes to the Smiths’ back door and talks to Mr. Smith. “I’m going to clean my house today,” he says, or “I’m going to wash my car tomorrow.” or “The trees in front of my house are too big. I’m going to cut them down next week.”

Mr. Smith usually says “Are you, John?” He knows his neighbor isn’t going to clean his house, or wash his car, or cut down any trees. Then he says, “Well, excuse me, John. I’m going to do some work in the house.” And so he does.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith often say to their only child Dick, “Are you going to do something? Then do it. Don’t be another Mr. Going-to-do”.