A She was only about five feet tall and probably never weighed more than 110 pounds.However,Miss Bessie was a(n)__1__ presence in the classroom.From 1938 to 1942,when I attended Saint Bernard’s High School,she taught me a lot __2__ I realized. There was never a(n)__3__problem in Miss Bessie’s classes.We didn’t dare to trouble a woman who knew about the Battle of Hastings and could also play the piano and__4__Shakespeare and Milton. Miss Bessie knew that my family couldn’t afford to buy a newspaper.She knew we didn’t__5__own a radio.Still,she __6__me to look out for my__7__and find some ways to__8__what’s going on in the world.__9__I became a delivery boy who delivered newspapers.I__10__made a dollar a week,but I got to read a newspaper every day. Miss Bessie noticed things that had nothing to do with schoolwork but were vital to a youngster’s __11__.Once a few classmates made fun of my __12__overcoat.As I was leaving school__13__me on the back of that old overcoat and said,“Carl,never worry about what you don’t have.Just make the most of what you do have—a(n)__14__.”__15__ in the little wooden house.But because of her__16__,I spent many hours beside a kerosene lamp(煤油灯) reading Shakespeare’s works.Miss Bessie introduced me __17__a wonderful world of poems and stories.She led me to__18__that I could write poems as well as Shakespeare.__19__Miss Bessie told me to,and tried to remember the things she insisted that I store.Years later,her encouragement finally led to that lovely day when Miss Bessie dropped me a note __20__“ I’m so proud to read your article in The Times.” |