Though it may be possible to measure the value of material goods in terms of money； it is extremely difficult to estimate the true value of the services which people perform for us。 There are times when we would willingly give everything we possess to save our lives； yet we might
grudge paying a surgeon a high fee for offering us precisely this service。 The conditions of society are such that skills have to be paid for in the same way that goods are paid for at a shop。 Everyone has something to sell。
Tramps seem to be the only exception to this general rule。 Beggars almost sell themselves as human beings to arouse the pity of passers…by。 But real tramps are not beggars。 They have nothing to sell and require nothing from others。 In seeking independence； they do not sacrifice their human dignity。 A tramp may ask you for money； but he will never ask you to feel sorry for him。 He has deliberately chosen to lead the life he leads and is fully aware of the consequences He； may never be sure where the next meal is coming from； but he is free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict other people。 His few material possession make it possible for him to move from place to place with ease… By having to sleep in the open； he gets far closer to the world of nature than most of us ever do。 He may hunt； beg； or steal occasionally to keep himself alive； he may even in times of real need； do a little work； but he will never sacrifice his freedom。 We often speak of tramps with contempt and put them in the same class as beggars； but how many of us can honestly say that we have not felt a little envious of their simple way of life and their freedom from care？
Lesson28 Five pounds too dear
Small boats loaded with wares sped to the great liner as she was entering the harbour。 Before she had anchored； the men from the boats had climbed on board and the decks were soon covered with colourful rugs from Persia； silks from India； copper coffee pots； and beautiful hand…made silver…ware。 It was difficult not to be tempted。 Many of the tourists on board had begun bargaining with the tradesmen； but I decided not to buy anything until I had disembarked。 I had no sooner got off the ship than I was assailed by a man who wanted to sell me a diamond ring。 I had no intention of buying one； but I could not conceal the fact that I was impressed by the size of the diamonds。 Some of them were as big as marbles。 The man went to great lengths to prove that the diamonds were real。 As we were walking past a shop； he held a diamond firmly against the window and made a deep impression in the glass。 It took me over half an hour to get rid of him。
The next man to approach me was selling expensive pens and watches。 I examined one of the pens closely。 It certainly looked genuine。 At the base of the gold cap； the words 'made in the U。S。A。' had been neatly inscribed。 The man said that the pen was worth &10； but as a special favour； he would let me have it for &8。 I shook my head and held up a finger indicating that I was willing to
pay a pound。 Gesticulating wildly； the man acted as if he found my offer outrageous； but he eventually reduced the price to &3。 Shrugging my shoulders； I began to walk away when； a moment later； he ran after me and thrust the pen into my hands。 Though he kept throwing up his arms in despair； he readily accepted the pound I gave him。 I felt especially pleased with my wonderful bargainuntil I got back to the ship。 No matter how hard I tried； it was impossible to fill this beautiful pen with ink and to this day it has never written a single word ！
lesson29 Funny or not？
Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up。 The sense of humour is mysteriously bound up with national characteristics。 A Frenchman； for instance； might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke。 In the same way； a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears。
Most funny stories are based on comic situations。 In spite of national differences； certain funny situations have a universal appeal。 No matter where you live； you would find it difficult not to laugh at； say； Charlie Chaplin's early films。 However； a new type of humour； which stems largely from America； has recently come into fashion。 It is cal1ed' sick humour '。 Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents。 Many people find this sort of joke distasteful。 The following example of 'sick humour' will enable you to judge for yourself。
A man who had broken his right leg was taken to hospital a few weeks before Christmas。 From the moment he arrived there； he kept on pestering his doctor to tell him when he would be able to go home。 He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital。 Though the doctor did his best； the patient's recovery was slow。 On Christmas day； the man still had his right leg in plaster。 He spent
a miserable day in bed thinking of all the fun he was missing。 The following day； however； the doctor consoled him by telling him that his chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations were good。 The man took heart and； sure enough； on New Year's Eve he was able to hobble along to a party。 To compensate for his unpleasant experiences in hospital； the man drank a little more than was good for him。 In the process； he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals。 He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg。
Lesson30 The death of a ghost
For years villagers believed that Endley farm was haunted。 The farm was owned by two brothers； Joe and Bert Cox。 They employed a few farm hands； but no one was willing to work there long。 Every time a worker gave up his job； he told the same story。 Farm labourers said that they always woke up to find the work had been done overnight。 Hay had been cut and cow sheds had been cleaned。 A farm worker； who stayed up all night； claimed to have seen a figure cutting corn in the
moonlight。 In time； it became an accepted fact that the Cox brothers employed a conscientious ghost that did most of their work for them。
No one suspected that there might be someone else on the farm who had never been seen。 This was indeed the case。 A short time ago； villagers were astonished to learn that the ghost of Endley had died。 Everyone went to the funeral； for the 'ghost' was none other than Eric Cox； a third brother who was supposed to have died as a young man。 After the funeral； Joe and Bert revealed
a secret which they had kept for over forty years。 Eric had been the eldest son of the family。 He had been obliged to join the army during the first World War。 As he hated army life he decided to desert his regiment。 When he learnt that he would be sent abroad； he returned to the farm and his farther hid him until the end of the war。 Fearing the authorities； Eric remained in hiding after the war as well。 His father told everybody that Eric had been killed in action。 The only other people who knew the secret were Joe and Bert。 They did not even tell their wives。 When their father died； they thought it their duty to keep Eric in hiding。 All these years； Eric had lived as a recluse锛堥殣閬佽�叄弧″瘋瀵炶�咃級。 He used to sleep during the day and work at night； quite unaware of the fact that he had become the ghost of Endley。 When he died； however； his brothers found it impossible to keep the secret any longer。
Lesson31 A lovable eccentric
True eccentrics never deliberately set out to draw attention to themselves。 They disregard social conventions without being conscious that they are doing anything extraordinary。 This invariably wins them the love and respect of others； for they add colour to the dull routine of everyday life。
Up to the time of his death； Richard Colson was one of the most notable figures in our town。 He was a shrewd and wealthy business…man； but the ordinary town…folk hardly knew anything about this side of his life。 He was known to us all as Dickie and his eccentricity had become legendary long before he died。 Dickie disliked snobs（鍔垮埄灏忎汉） intensely。 Though he owned a large car； he hardly ever