That night, Jane quarreled with her mother, then stormed out of the house. While out, she remembered that she did not have any money in her pocket. She did not even have enough coins to make a phone call home.

At the same time, she went through a noodle shop. Picking up a sweet smell, she suddenly felt very hungry. She wished for a bowl of noodles, but she had no money!

The seller saw her standing before the counter and asked, “Hey little girl, you want to eat a bowl?” “But I do not take any money,” she shyly replied. “Okay, I’ll treat you,” the seller said. “Come in, I will cook you a bowl.”

A few minutes later the seller brought her a steaming bowl of noodles. They smelt delicious. Jane cried when eating the noodles.

“What is it?” the seller asked when he saw the tears rolling down Jane’s face. “Nothing. I am just touched by your kindness! Even a stranger on the street gives me a bowl of noodles, and my mother, after a quarrel, chased me out of the house. She is cruel!” Jane said as she wiped her tears.

The seller sighed, “Girl, why did you think so? Think again. I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you felt that way. Your mother has raised you since you were little. She looked after you carefully and cared about you so much. Why are you not grateful to your mom? Maybe she is waiting for you eagerly at home.”

Jane really felt ashamed after hearing that.

Jane can not control herself any longer and cried in her mom’s arms.

Mrs. Oreille was a very economical woman to the point that even her husband was hardly allowed any pocket money. Although they lived a rich and comfortable life, it really pained Mrs. Oreille to see any money spent. Whenever she had to spend anything, no matter how necessary it might be, she slept badly the next night. Her husband, Mr. Oreille, was continually saying to his wife, “You really need to be more generous. You see, we never get to enjoy our income.” “It is better to have too much than too little.” She used to reply to that. She was a little woman of about forty, very active, very neat and tidy, and with a very bad temper(脾气).

Mr. Oreille frequently complained about his wife. For two years, he had always come to his office with the same old patched umbrella, which amused his colleagues a lot. At last he got so tired of their jokes that he insisted on his wife buying him a new one, a good silk one, for twenty francs. He also asked her to bring him the bill, so that he could see that its quality was all right. She bought him one for eighteen francs, and said, getting red with anger as she gave it to her husband, “This will last you for five years at least.” Mr. Oreille felt quite achievable, and received a small applause at the office with his new umbrella. His colleagues even very much envied him!

When he went home in the evening, his wife said to him, “You must take care of your umbrella well, for I shall never buy you a new one again.” She took it to put it away safe, but suddenly was shocked with anger.

In the middle of the umbrella, there was a hole!

Half an hour later, she mended it with a piece cut out of the old umbrella.

Reading a paper book may be a forgotten luxury for many people thanks to today’s busy lifestyles, but listening to a book, while shopping or jogging, is a growing trend. Now, audio books can be easily downloaded from the Internet at the same, if not lower, prices as the print editions.