Sometime after Sidney died, his  widow, Tillie, was finally able to speak about what a thoughtful and wonderful man her late husband had been.

　　"Sidney thought of  everything," she told them. "Just before he died, Sidney called me to his bedside. He handed me three envelopes. `Tillie,' he told me, 'I have put all my last wishes in these three envelopes. After I am dead, please open them and do exactly as I have instructed. Then I can rest in peace  ."

　　"What was in the envelopes?" her friends asked.

　　"The first envelope contained $5,000 with a note, 'Please use this money to buy a nice casket.' So I bought a beautiful mahogany casket with such a comfortable lining that I know Sidney is resting very comfortably.

　　"The second envelope contained $10,000 with a note, 'Please use this for a nice funeral.' I arranged Sidney a very dignified funeral and bought all his favorite foods for everyone attending."

　　"And the third envelope?" asked her friends.

　　"The third envelope contained $25,000 with a note, 'Please use this to buy a nice stone.'

 ring., Tillie said, showed her  hand,"So, do you like my stone?"

Key  words：

widow　（n.）寡婦　click 發音  

thoughtful　（adj.）體貼的、關切的　click 發音 

late　（adj.）已故的　  click  發音              

thought  of    think  of  的過去式　想到

wish（n.）願望

instruct　（v.）指示　click 發音  

rest in peace　安息

casket　（n.）棺材　click 發音  

mahogany　（n.）桃花心木　click 發音  

lining　（n.）　click 發音 

funeral　（n.）葬禮　click 發音  

dignified　（adj.）尊貴的、莊嚴的　　click 發音  

＊她先生在第三個信封指示妻子買”stone”，意思是買「墓碑」（tombstone）；

    但”stone”的另一個意思卻是「鑽石」。