People once went hungry．A rich man who made bread and cakes sent for twenty of the1.children in the town，and told them to take a loaf（条）of bread from a 2every day till the hard days passed．

    The hungry children came together3 ， and argued for the bread，because each wished to have the largest one．Finally they went away without even thanking the good gentleman．

    But Gretchen，a poorly﹣dressed little girl，did not argue or 4with the rest，but remained standing quietly far away from them．5the bad﹣mannered girls left，she took the smallest bread，which alone was left in the basket，kissed the gentleman's hand，and went home．

    The next day the children were as bad﹣mannered as before，and poor，shy Gretchen 6loaf hardly the size of the one she got the first day．When she came home，her mother cut the loaf open．Many new shining pieces of 7fell out of it．

    Her mother was very surprised and worried，and said，"Take the money back to the good gentleman at once，for it must have got into the dough（生面团）8mistake．Be quick，Gretchen!Be quick!"

    But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's 9 ， he said，"No，no，my child，it was no mistake．I had the silver pieces put into the smallest loaf to give you．Always be as satisfied，quiet，and 10as you now are．Go home now，and tell your mother that money is your own．"