1.Once when there was a famine1，a rich baker sent for twenty of the poorest children in the town，and said to them，"In this basket there is a loaf2 for each of you. Take it，and come back to me every day at this hour till God sends us better times."
1Famine，a general scarcity of food.
2Loaf，a molded mass of regular shape （as of bread or cake）.
2.The hungry children gathered eagerly about the basket，and quarreled for the bread，because each wished to have the largest loaf. At last they went away without even thanking the good gentleman.
3.But Gretchen1，a poorly-dressed little girl，did not quarrelor struggle with the rest，but remained2 standing modestly in the distance3. When the ill-behaved4 girls had left，she took the smallest loaf，which alone was left in the basket，kissed the gentlemanˊs hand，and went home.
4.The next day the children were as ill-behaved as before，and poor，timid Gretchen received a loaf scarcely half the size of the one she got the.rst day. When she came home，and her mother cut the loaf open，many new，shining pieces of silver fell out of it.
5.Her mother was very much alarmed，and said，"Take the money back to the good gentleman at once，for it must have got into the dough by accident5. Be quick，Gretchen！be quick！"
6.But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother’s message6，he said，"No，no，my child，it was no mistake. I had the silver pieces put into the smallest loaf to reward you. Always be as contented，peaceable7，and grateful as you now are. Go home now，and tell your mother that the money is your own."
1 Gretchen，a girlˊs name-the shortened form，or pet name，for Marguerite. 2 Remained，staid.3Distance，place which is far off.4ill-behaved，rude，having bad manners. 5 Accident，mistake.6 Message，word sent，communication. 7 Peaceable，quiet，gentle.
