好英文娓娓动听 Words and Expressions
In 1945 in Bay Roberts，a 12-year-old boy saw something in a shop window that set his heart racing.But the price-five dollars-was far beyond Reuben Earle's means.Reuben couldn't ask his father for the money.Because he knew the family was supported by his father fishing in Bay Roberts.Reuben's mother stretched like eIastic to feed and clothe their flve children.
One day he opened the shop's weather-beaten door and went inside.He told the shopkeeper what he wanted，adding，"But I don't have the money now.Can you please hold it for me？""I'lltry."the shopkeeper smiled.
Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out into the warm sunlight.The bay rippIed in a freshening wind that ruffled his short hair.There was purpose in his loping stride.He would raise the five dollars and not tellanybody.Hearing the sound of hammering from a side street，Reuben had an idea.He ran towards the sound and stopped at a construction site.People built their own homes in Bay Roberts，using nails purchased in hessian sacks from a localfactory.Sometimes the sacks were discarded in the flurry of building，and Reuben knew he could sellthem back to the factory for flve cents a piece.
That day he found two sacks，which he took to the rambling wooden factory and sold to the man in charge of packing nails.The boy's hand tightly clutched the smallflve-cent pieces as he ran the two kilometers home.Every day after chores and school，Reuben scoured the town，collecting the hessian nailbags.On the day the two-room schoolclosed for the summer，no student was more delighted than Reuben.Now he would have more time to devote to his mission.
Allsummer long，Reuben kept to his secret task.Soon the leaves felland the winds blew cold and gusty from the bay.Reuben wandered the streets，diligently searching for his hessian treasures.Often he was cold，tired and hungry，but the thought of the object in the store window sustained him.
Finally spring burst into glorious green and Reuben's spirits erupted.He ran into the barn，climbed to the hayloft and uncovered the tin can.He poured the coins out and began to count.Then，clutching the tin can，he headed for the store.
"I have the money."he solemnly told the owner，putting his coins onto the counter.
The man went to the window and retrieved Reuben's treasure.He wiped the dust off and gently wrapped it in brown paper.Then he placed the parcelin Reuben's hands.[A]Racing home，Reuben burst through the front door.His mother was scrubbing the kitchen stove."Here，Mom！Here！"Reuben exclaimed as he ran to her side.He placed a smallbox in her work roughened hand.
She unwrapped it carefully to save the paper.A blue-velvet jewel box appeared.Dora lifted the lid tears beginning to blur her vision.[B]In gold lettering on a small almond-shaped brooch was the word Mother.
It was Mother's Day，1946.Dora had never received such a flnery except wedding ring.Speechless，she smiled radiantly and gathered her son into her arms.
难点重点，一目了然！
长难句解析 Sentence Structures
A Racing home，Reuben burst through the front door.
鲁本一路跑回家，冲进前门。
racing home是现在分词短语，race v.和……比速度；（使）参加比赛。例如，He's a very good swimmer and often races.他是个优秀游泳选手，经常参加比赛。I'llrace you home.我和你比赛看谁先到家。
B In gold lettering on a small almond-shaped brooch was the word Mother.
在一个小巧的扁桃状胸针上刻着金字：母亲。
Companionship of Books 与书为友
Track 006.MP3
朗读指数：★★★★☆
背诵指数：★★★☆☆
难度指数：★★☆☆☆
总词汇量：0373词汇
每个好故事都有灵魂！
今日关键语导读 Today's Key Points
一本好书就是一个朋友，它会给我们带来乐趣与教诲、安慰与快乐；一本好书是一个人珍藏着人生所能发现的精华的最佳器皿；一本好书介绍我们结识一群最优秀的人，把我们带到那些曾经在世的最伟大的思想家面前。
文中障碍词抢先攻克！
障碍词先听为快 Words and Expressions
精彩文字，耳听心受！
好英文娓娓动听 Words and Expressions
A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps，for there is a companionship of books as wellas of men.A good book may be among the best of friends.It is the same today that always was，and it will never change.It is the most patient and cheerfulof companions.[A]It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress.It always receives us with the same kindness，amusing and instructing us in youth，and comforting and consoling us in age.
There is an old proverb："Love me，love my dog."But there is more wisdom in this："Love me，love my book."The book is a truer and higher bond of union.Men can think，feeland sympathize with each other through their favorite author.
"Books，"said Hazlitt，"Wind into the heart，the poet's verse slides in the current of our blood.We read them when young.We remember them when old.We feelthat it has happened to ourselves.They are to be very cheap and good.We breathe but the air of books."
A good book is often the best urn of a life，enshrining the best that life could think out；for the world of a man's life is，for the most part，but the world of his thoughts.Thus the best books are treasuries of good words，the golden thoughts，which remembered and cherished，become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality.They are by far the most lasting products of human effort.Temples and statues decay，but books survive.[B]Time is of no account with great thoughts，which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds ages ago.What was then said and thought stillspeaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page.
Books introduce us into the best society，they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived.We feelas if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe.
难点重点，一目了然！
长难句解析 Sentence Structures
A It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress.
它不会在困难或沮丧的时候对我们置之不理。
turn one's back upon/on 转过身背向；抛弃；走开。
B Time is of no account with great thoughts，which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds ages ago.
对于思想而言，时间并不重要，它们今天仍然能同多年前第一次在作者头脑里产生一样鲜活。