Lesson49Theendofadream

　　Tiredofsleepingonthefloor,ayoungmaninTeheransavedupforyearstobuyarealbed.Forthefirsttimeinhislife,hebecametheproudownerofabedwhichhadspringsandamattress.Becausetheweatherwasveryhot,hecarriedthebedontotheroofofhishouse.Hesleptverywellforthefirsttwonights,butonthethirdnight,astormblewup.Agustofwindsweptthebedofftheroofandsentitcrashingintothecourtyardbelow.Theyoungmandidnotwakeupuntilthebedhadstrucktheground.Althoughthebedwassmashedtopieces,themanwasmiraculouslyunhurt.Whenhewokeup,hewasstillonthemattress.Glancingatthebitsofwoodandmetalthatlayaroundhim,themansadlypickedupthemattressandcarrieditintohishouse.Afterhehadputitonthefloor,hepromptlywenttosleepagain.

　　Lesson50Takenforaride

　　Ilovetravellinginthecountry,butIdon'tlikelosingmyway.

　　Iwentonanexcursionrecently,butmytriptookmelongerthanIexpected.

　　'I'mgoingtoWoodfordGreen,'IsaidtotheconductorasIgotonthebus,'butIdon'tknowwhereitis.'

　　'I'lltellyouwheretogetoff.'answeredtheconductor.

　　Isatinthefrontofthebustogetagoodviewofthecountryside.Aftersometime,thebusstopped.Lookinground,IrealizedwithashockthatIwastheonlypassengerleftonthebus.

　　'You'llhavetogetoffhere,'theconductorsaid.'Thisisasfaraswego.'

　　'IsthisWoodfordGreen?'Iasked.

　　'Ohdear,'saidtheconductorsuddenly.'Iforgottoputyouoff.'

　　'Itdoesn'tmatter,'Isaid.'I'llgetoffhere.'

　　'We'regoingbacknow,'saidtheconductor.

　　'Well,inthatcase,Iprefertostayonthebus,'Ianswered.

　　Lesson51Rewardforvirtue

　　Myfriend,Hugh,hasalwaysbeenfat,butthingsgotsobadrecentlythathedecidedtogoonadiet.Hebeganhisdietaweekago.Firstofall,hewroteoutalonglistofallthefoodswhichwereforbidden.ThelistincludedmostofthethingsHughloves:butter,potatoes,rice,beer,milk,chocolate;andsweets.YesterdayIpaidhimavisit.IrangthebellandwasnotsurprisedtoseethatHughwasstillasfatasever.Heledmeintohisroomandhurriedlyhidalargeparcelunderhisdesk.Itwasobviousthathewasveryembarrassed.WhenIaskedhimwhathewasdoing,hesmiledguiltilyandthenputtheparcelonthedesk.Heexplainedthathisdietwassostrictthathehadtorewardhimselfoccasionally.Thenheshowedmethecontentsoftheparcel.Itcontainedfivelargebarsofchocolateandthreebagsofsweets!

　　Lesson52Aprettycarpet

　　WehavejustmovedintoanewhouseandIhavebeenworkinghardallmorning.Ihavebeentryingtogetmynewroominorder.ThishasnotbeeneasybecauseIownoverathousandbooks.Tomakemattersworse,theroomisrathersmall,soIhavetemporarilyputmybooksonthefloor.Atthemoment,theycovereveryinchoffloorspaceandIactuallyhavetowalkonthemtogetinoroutoftheroom.Ashortwhileago,mysisterhelpedmetocarryoneofmyoldbookcasesupthestairs.Shewentintomyroomandgotabigsurprisewhenshesawallthosebooksonthefloor.'ThisistheprettiestcarpetIhaveeverseen,'shesaid.Shegazedatitforsometimethenadded,'Youdon'tneedbookcasesatall.Youcansithereinyoursparetimeandreadthecarpet!'

　　Lesson53Hotsnake

　　AtlastfiremenhaveputoutabigforestfireinCalifornia.Sincethen,theyhavebeentryingto