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Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed a virtue. —William Bennett Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment—to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. Most of the class might be consideredeconomically（经济地，节俭地）disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditionalgoodies（好吃的东西，老妇人）of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her students’ art. And they were. But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child ofmisery（痛苦，悲惨）,frail（虚弱的，脆弱的）and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes. Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand. Hisabstract（抽象的，深奥的）image captured the imagination of hispeers（平辈，同事）. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went—until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself. | 
