A Story for Christmas
韩坤
Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly covered packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elfin like pupil with wide innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas.
Mark was a 10 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter, middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister’s son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn’t been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child.
I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day （at the risk of arousing his aunt's anger so I learned later） to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude（幽静）of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite young when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman who always spent time with him.
As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper（奔跑） hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked him why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large brown eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?”
I explained how he had been my best helper, “I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially, “It’s for Christmas.” With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn’t stay after school any more after that.
Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept（溜进） slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing（隐藏） something behind his back. “I have your present.” He said timidly（羞怯地） when I looked up. “I hope you like it.” He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms（掌心） was a tiny wooden box.
“It’s beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?” I asked opening the top to look inside. “Oh you can’t see what’s in it,” he replied, “and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights and safe when you’re all alone.”
I gazed into the empty box. “What is it, Mark,” I asked gently, “that will make me feel so good?” “It’s love,” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.” He turned and quietly left the room.
So now I keep a small box crudely（粗糙地）made of scraps（小片） of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile when inquiring（打听的）friends raise quizzical（疑问的）eyebrows when I explain to them there is love in it.
Yes, Christmas is for gaiety（快乐）, mirth（欢笑）, song, and for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.
Some difficult expressions in the text:
tinsel /ˈtɪnsl/ 金属箔; elfin /ˈelfɪn/ 小精灵; wondrous /ˈwʌndrəs/ 奇妙的；
wide innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks 天真无邪的大眼睛和柔嫩的玫瑰色脸蛋；
orphan /ˈɔːfn/ 孤儿；a vagrant /ˈveɪɡrənt/, homeless waif/weɪf/一个流浪的/无家可归的人；
the scolding and chilliness /ˈtʃɪlinəs/ 受到的训斥和冷遇；straighten up 清理
solitude /ˈsɒlətjuːd/ 幽静、独处；scamper /ˈskæmpə(r)/ 蹦蹦跳跳；奔跑；
lit up 点亮，点燃；confidentially /ˌkɒnfɪˈdenʃəli/ 秘密地；creep into 悄悄溜进；
conceal /kənˈsiːl/ 隐匿，隐藏; timidly /ˈtɪmɪdli/ 羞怯地；胆小地;
a tiny wooden box 一个小小的木头盒子；gaze into 凝视，注视；
raise quizzical eyebrows 抬起疑惑的眉头；gaiety /ˈɡeɪəti/ 快乐；庆祝活动；
mirth /mɜːθ/ 欢笑；欢乐；wondrous gifts 奇妙的礼物；
Learning aims:
In this period, you will be able to
1. practice the words: wondrous, tinsel, gaiety, mirth, orphan, waif, vagrant, straighten up, lit up, solitude, scamper, creep, conceal, timidly, gaze into …
2. practice the reading skill of prediction and deep understanding;
3. get more background information about Christmas Day and western culture;
4. be brave enough to express their love to others after learning the passage.
Learning procedures:
Step 1: Free talk
What is Christmas like in your memory?
What is Christmas for in your opinion?
Step 2: Intensive reading
Para1: For the writer, what is Christmas for? Where did he get it?
Para2: What do you think of the aunt and Mark?
From what Mark encountered, we can see he l love at the beginning.
Para3: What did Mark do after class?
Where did his kindness come from?
How did Mark and the writer get along with each other?
From what Mark said, we can see he W love at this moment.
Para4-5: What is the writer’s reaction when Mark failed to stay after school?
From what Mark responded, we can see he R love at this moment.
Para6-7: What do you think is in this tiny wooden box?
From what Mark gave, we can see he S love in the end.
What is love?
Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never failed. ---from Bible
What is the love between the teacher and Mark?
The writer listened to Mark’s story.
Mark obligated the writer’s listening.
The writer and Mark valued each other.
They both earned each other’s care and love.
To choose one word from every sentence above to compose the word LOVE
Step 3: Text division
Part 1(Para ):
Part 2(Para ):
Part 3(Para ):
