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 considered economically（经济地，节俭地） disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies（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 of misery（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.
His abstract（抽象的，深奥的） image captured the imagination of his peers（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.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured（喃喃地说，细语） , "It's yours, teacher."
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something
相关单词：virtue
virtue解释：n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力
virtue例句：
He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
相关单词：misery
misery解释：n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
misery例句：
Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
相关单词：frail
frail解释：adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的
frail例句：
Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。
相关单词：recess
recess解释：n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）
recess例句：
The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
相关单词：bent
bent解释：n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
bent例句：
He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
