"Wanted: Violin. Can't pay much. Call ..."
I rarely read classified advertisements. So why did I notice that? I laid the paper on my lap and closed my eyes, remembering what had happened many years before, when my family struggled to make a living on our farm. I, too,
had wanted a violin, but we didn't have the money.
When my arms grew long enough, how I wanted one! But I knew it was out of the question. It was not a good year. At harvest the crops did not bring as much as we had hoped. Yet even though times were hard, I couldn't wait
any longer to ask, "Daddy, may I have a violin of my own?" Daddy looked sad. That night, and many following nights, I heard him pray in our family devotions, " ...Mary wants her own violin."
One evening we all sat around the table. Daddy wrote a letter to his friend, Mr Finkle, a fine violinist. When Daddy received a letter from Columbus a few weeks later, he announced, "We'll be driving to Columbus."
The day finally arrived. After we got there Mr Finkle, a tall man older than Daddy, opened the door. "Come in!" he and Daddy heartily shook hands, both talking at once. He picked up a case, opened it, lifted out a violin and started to play. The melody surge like waterfalls. Oh, to play like him, I thought. "Carl, I found it in a pawn shop for seven dollars. It's a good violin. Mary should be able to make a beautiful music with it." Then he handed the
violin to me.
I noticed the tears in Daddy's eyes as I finally comprehended. It was mine! I stroked the violin gently. The wood was a golden brown that seemed to warm in the light. "It's beautiful." I said, barely breathing. I knew Daddy's prayer and mine had been answered. Back home I practised daily, feeling no tiredness.
When I was ready to join the school orchestra（管弦乐队） , I trembled with excitement. Daddy and Mother smiled proudly in the audience at their little girl who held her cherished violin for the world to admire. The years seemed to run more swiftly then. I packed my violin in its case and stepped into the grown-up world. Nurse's training, marriage, working, bringing up four daughters filled my years. Yet none of my children cared about the violin.
注意：1. 续写字数应为 80 词左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I put my thoughts to the present and read again the advertisement.
