最后一根稻草(上).docVIP

最后一根稻草(上) 　　麦克唐纳家有四个并不相亲相爱的孩子,他们常常斗嘴、打架。在圣诞节即将来临之际,母亲如何通过一个古老的圣诞习俗――同时也是一个游戏――试图让孩子们学会互助互爱,从而领悟圣诞节真谛呢? 　　这是小编最近阅读到的尤为感动的故事之一。文章比较长,为了能和读者们分享它,小编决定在对其进行适当删节后,分两期进行刊登。文字难度不大,大家可要耐着性子把它读完哦。这绝对是今年最值得期待的圣 　　 诞故事之一! 　　――Lavender 　　 　　It was another long, winter afternoon with everyone 1)stuck in the house and the four McDonald children were at it again―2)bickering, teasing, fighting over their toys. At times like these, Mother was almost ready to believe that her children didn’t love each other, though she knew that wasn’t really true. All brothers and sisters fight, of course, but lately her little lively bunch had been particularly horrible to each other, especially Eric and Kelly, who were just a year apart. They seemed determined to spend the whole winter making each other miserable. 　　“3)Gimme that. It’s mine!” 　　“Is not, 4)fatso! I had it first!” 　　Mother sighed as she listened to the latest argument coming from the living room. With Christmas only a month away, the McDonald house seemed sadly lacking in Christmas spirit. This was supposed to be the season of sharing and love, of warm feelings and happy hearts. A home needed more than just pretty packages or twinkling lights on the tree to fill it with the Christmas spirit. But how could any mother convince her children that being kind to each other was the most important way to get ready for Christmas. 　　Mother had only one idea. Years ago her grandmother had told her about an old Christmas custom that helped people discover the real meaning of Christmas. Perhaps it would work for her family. It was worth a try. Mother gathered her four little 5)rascals together and sat them down on the stairs, smallest to tallest―Mike, Randi, Kelly and Eric. 　　“How would you kids like to start a new Christmas project this year?” she asked. “It’s like a game, but it can only be played by people who can keep a secret. Can everyone here do that?” 　　“I can!” shouted Eric, wildly waving his arm in the air. 　　“I can keep a