When a British couple recently sold their beloved house, they believed they had tied everything up, and had been busy working to make sure the new owners could live in a house which was in a good condition before the sale. Repairs had been made and the paperwork had all been in order before they removed their belongings from the home where they had lived in the last 32 years or so.

A few weeks after they finished the sale, James and Clarrisa Munford discovered a box of treasures, which the former owners had hidden and forgotten all about — 30 gold and silver coins. Legally, the coins — which were valued as much as ten thousand pounds — were now the Munfords’ property, and they were well within their rights to quietly sell them and pocket the profits.

However, the Munfords, who own a business in London, immediately chose to get in touch with the sellers and return the coins, which had been left inside a built-in drawer in the home. “There is an old saying: ‘You harvest what you plant.’” said the original owner later, who didn’t believe his ears when receiving Mr. Munford’s call. “My wife and I spent a great deal of time and effort to ensure that we left our home in excellent conditions for the Munfords, and our kindness was certainly returned by another!” They wanted to give the Mun-fords some coins but they refused politely.

The sellers of the house were unwilling to be named, but said they wanted to share this story online to bring hope and inspiration to other people during these difficult times. “Now it is a good time to pause and reflect about how we treat each other. If there were more people like the Munfords, this world would be a much better place to live in,” he said.

Have you ever had an embarrassing experience? Last week we asked readers to tell us about embarrassing experiences. We received thousands of letters! Here is a selection.

Tony: My most embarrassing experience happened when I had just left university. I had just started teaching in a Liverpool middle school. One morning my alarm clock didn’t ring. I woke up at half past eight and school began at nine. I quickly washed, dressed, jumped into my car and rushed to school. When I arrived, the students had already gone into class. I didn’t go to the office, but went straight into class. After two or three minutes the students began laughing, and I couldn’t understand why! Suddenly I looked down and understood. I had put on one black shoe and one brown shoe!

Henry: The most embarrassing experience I’ve ever had happened two years ago. After seeing a film, my wife and I had lunch in our favorite restaurant in town. Then we decided to take a walk along the street. The street was very busy and we started holding hands. Suddenly my wife saw a dress that she liked in a shop window, and stopped. I started looking at some watches in the next window. After a minute or two I reached for my wife’s hand. There was a loud scream, and a woman slapped my face. I hadn’t taken my wife’s hand. I’d taken the hand of a complete stranger (陌生人)!

One creature I often cross paths with is a blue heron (苍鹭) who, like me, calls this farm her home. I first noticed her about 7 or 8 years ago while I was tagging trees in springtime. Over the years, she has become a companion and a reminder that we share the land with many seen and unseen neighbors.

Upon our first introduction to each other, our relationship has become slightly more comfortable over the years. At first, my long-legged friend was shy and kept a low profile while fishing for her meal. Nowadays, she surprises me around every corner as she keeps an eye on the workings of the farm.

Over the course of time, I have attempted to take a photo of my neighbor but in vain. Photos simply do not give this graceful bird justice. She waits just long enough for me to get my camera ready and snickers at the lens as she flies slowly away. She refuses to give me the pose I need for a photo that is in focus or a video that shows off her awkwardly-elegant takeoff. Soon she is gliding upward, staying on the top of a tree.

Fall is getting colder with each passing day. Soon, my daily routine will consist of trying to stay warm during the Midwestern winter, while my friend will seek warmer climates with fresh open water for her next catch. I will look forward to our next encounter, much like I look forward to the next spring: with fresh eyes and a hope that the planting, growing, and harvest of next season will be prosperous not only for the farm, but for our neighbors and the community with whom we share the land.