The pickle jar (腌菜罐子) as far back as I can remember sat on the floor in my parents’ bedroom. _________ he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and drop his _________ into the jar. When the jar was _________, he would take the coins to the bank and say _________ to the cashier, “These are for my son’s college fund. He’ll _________ work at the mill (磨坊) all his life like me.”

The years passed, and I _________ college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. My dad was a man of _________ words, and never taught me the _________ of determination, perseverance and faith. The pickle jar had taught me more than _________ could have done.

When I got married, I told my wife Susan about the __________. In my mind, it showed how much my dad had __________ me. Dad continued to drop his coins into the jar, no matter how __________ things got at home.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Susan __________ our baby into my parents’ bedroom to feed her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was strange tears in her __________. She handed Jessica to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room.

“Look,” she said __________, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor. To my __________ there, as if it had never been __________, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already __________ with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into __________ and pulled out a handful of coins. With the strong emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes __________ and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.

My mother raised me by herself. Before I was born she had worked as a nurse, but she stopped shortly after my _________ to care for me. Recently she had _________ to work at the local hospital.

I didn’t like her going back to work. I hated being _________ home alone in the mornings. I was so _________ I would miss the bus that I woke up _________ every day. I hated standing by myself at the bus stop, in rain, wind and snow.

One day, as we walked on the street, I saw an old man _________ us with a wide smile. “Leigh! Leigh!” he called my mother _________. Mom greeted him. He got closer and asked, “Who is this lovely young person?”

“This is my daughter,” Mom said.

“Nice to meet you, young lady. I hope you know how _________ you are!” he said.

I looked at him uncertainly, not knowing what he _________.

“You have the most wonderful mother,” he said. “When I was in hospital, she __________ me wholeheartedly. She made every day better. I shall never __________ her.”

I watched this __________ delight in my mom. For the first time I understood why I stood at the __________ alone every morning. My mom was a nurse. She was __________ and loving strangers, often during the __________ times in their lives. She cared for them, and me, too.

On our first anniversary, Jack bought a bottle of Casaque, an expensive cologne (古龙香水) for me.“We agreed to save the money for your postgraduate education，” I said somewhat half­heartedly as I took it out from a beautifully­wrapped packet.“I am unable not to give something_____to the world's most beautiful bride, honey！” I held it to my_____， and smelled the most pleasant flavor I could ever_____. Looking down at my_____blue jeans and ugly, ragged tennis shoes, I wondered if I could ever be worthy of it. But I would_____. I used only a little of it every time_____Jack graduated and our life was financially easier. It's a_____of the foolish love of a young husband.

Then one day three­year­old Jim was sitting on the floor_____the empty cologne bottle. His lips wet, he was making a(n)_____face. He drank my______cologne！“Jack, come quick.” I cried，“Can cologne______my baby? Jim drank the rest of it！”“It's mostly just alcohol, honey，” Jack______me. Little Jim was fine, and my concern for my child was______. I now felt______to see the empty cologne bottle.

A few weeks later, Jack bought another bottle of my beloved cologne. I______it as much as I had done to the earlier one.______， it became three­quarters empty.I thought it best to buy another______. But the shop assistant told me that there wasn't even a maker of that brand any more.

Now I only use my special cologne on very important occasions, because there will be______to replace it when these last few precious______are gone. But from the bottom of my heart, it's not three­quarters empty but still one­quarter full. Perhaps if I'm very careful, I can______using it for the rest of my life.