My daughter Mary is seven. She has had all kinds of soft toys since she was a（n）________. She plays with the toys almost every day.

Mary had a bad habit. She often left her toys ________. This gave me much trouble in picking them up and putting them in their ________ places.

One day, Mary and I went out into our garden to ________ an hour in the fresh air. I took my work with me. Mary ran about and played with Dash, her pet dog, and was having ________.

Then, in a corner of the garden, Mary saw her favorite toy bear, dirty and ________. She knew that Dash did this. She got angry and showed the toy bear to me.

I asked, “You left the toy bear outside in the garden last time, right?”

Mary had to answer, “Yes, Mom.”

“So you shouldn’t blame（责备）the dog. I hope this will teach you a ________. That is, always ________ your toys when you have finished playing with them.”

“I will try _______ best,” said Mary. “OK, then I’ll mend（修补）the toy bear as ________ as I can.”

Hearing this, Mary smiled widely.

The loveliest house that I have ever lived in is Crosslands. I lived there with my grandparents when I was a child.

The house seemed so huge to me as a child. And it had a lovely living room with a piano in it. And there was a strange room. It was the drawing room. We only used it on Sundays, or when visitors came for tea. There was the best furniture in it but it was covered with sheets—it was as if all the furniture wore clothes. We couldn’t enjoy this beautiful furniture.

I went back to the house a few weeks ago. It has changed a lot. My uncle has modernized (使……现代化) it inside, and taken away the lovely furniture. And he has knocked a wall down so the drawing room and the living room have become one big room.

Although it becomes modern, its old style is the most beautiful in my heart. When I see the house, I know I can’t go back and catch it. But there’s still a beautiful memory.