As a college student in Boston. I formed the habit of buying used books. I enjoy the hunt, the good price and the unrecognized treasures. I find old textbooks, ex-bestsellers, and books on subjects I’ve never heard of and now must learn all about. I don’t search for rare books or first editions but books that are worth reading.

Rereading, for me, is a pleasure during retirement. The theater and the concert hall become less appealing to me, along with crowds. Staying alone and reading books have become extremely important to me. Different books offer me insights (见解) and ways of expressing that stuck in my mind as the sand in an oyster (牡蛎) now shine like pearls. My taste in books improves with age.

While packing for a move, which occurs at intervals (间隔) of five to seven years, I clear my shelves and pick my books. I abandon a few, later regret my decisions, and look for them again. Several years ago, I got rid of books related to my job-architecture (建筑设计). Some were design guides, reference books and things that went out of date. Some were historical or centered on a period or an architect. These had given me many hours of pleasure. Will I ever open their covers again? Certainly.

This time, I threw out rolls and rolls of paper, and old drawings of projects completed long ago, some of which had even been damaged. I stay in a cottage that suits my status and I’ve moved on in spirit. No doubt I will acquire more used books and throw away more books as passions grow and fade, like feathers changing with seasons.

My nephew came for a visit one hot,July weekend. I persuaded him to stay inside by joining him in a Nintendo game. After being mercilessly defeated by a more experienced player,I suggested that we relax for a while. He slipped out of the room and I caught a few moments of peace and quiet.

"Look,Alice," he said enthusiastically as he ran over to the chair where I was recovering." I found a kite. Could we go outside and fly it?"

Glancing out of a nearby window,I noticed there was not a breeze(微风). "T' m sorry, Tripper," I said, sad to see his disappointed eyes, but thankful for the short period of rest from more activities. "The wind is not blowing today.The kite won't fly."

The determined 10-year-old replied. "I think it's windy enough.I can get it to fly," he answered,as he hurried out through the back door.I peeked(窥视)through the curtains to watch determination in action.Up and down the yard he ran, pulling the kite attached to a small length of string.The plastic kite, proudly displaying a picture of Batman, remained about shoulder level. He ran back and forth, as hard as his ten-year-old legs would carry him, looking back hopefully at the kite trailing behind. After about ten minutes of unsuccessful determination, he came back in.

I asked, "How did it go?" "Fine, "he said," I got it to fly some." As he walked past me to return the kite to the closet shelf, I heard him say under his breath, "I guess I'll have to wait for the wind.”

At that moment I heard another voice speak to my heart. "Alice, sometimes you are just like that. You want to do it your way instead of waiting for the wind." And the voice was right. We usually want to use our own efforts to accomplish what we want to do. We wait for the wind only after we have done all we can and have exhausted our own strength. We must learn how to rely on Him in the first place!

One day，a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school，found he had only one thin dime (十分硬币) left，and he was hungry.He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.However，he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.He drank it slowly，and then asked，“How much do I owe you？” “You don't owe me anything，” she replied.“Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”He said，“Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard Kelly left that house，he not only felt stronger physically，but his faith in God and man was strong also.He was about to give up and quit before this point.

Years later that young woman became critically ill.The local doctors were baffled (束手无策)．They finally sent her to the big city，where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr.Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation.When he heard the name of the town she came from，a strange light filled his eyes.Immediately he rose and went to her room.Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her.He recognized her at once.He went back to the consultation room，determined to do his best to save her life.From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle，the battle was won.Dr.Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.He looked at it，then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.She feared to open it，for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all.Finally she looked，and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.She began to read the following words：“Paid in full with one glass of milk.Signed，Dr.Howard Kelly.”