Christmas oranges

In the early 19th century, a 14-year-old boy named John was admitted to an orphanage in England. Life in an orphanage at that time was terrible, and orphans meant no one to like and no one to love. The director of this orphanage has little love for the children, and there is no game that the children like, no sympathy, no understanding.

　　 The children have to work all year round. They get up at dawn every day and work until dark. Only on Christmas day of the year do the children not have to work, and they can also receive a present - an orange. John looked forward to Christmas and this orange every year after he went to the orphanage.

　　 In England, oranges were a rarity, both for John and his companions. Children treasure an orange every time they get it, and they keep the precious orange for days, weeks, even months - guarding, smelling, touching, admiring the orange. Usually they keep it for a long time, and when they peel the orange, they find it rotten.

　　 Whenever Christmas is approaching, children will have a lot of ideas, and they will boast, "I'm going to save my oranges for the longest time." John likes to put his oranges by the pillow when he sleeps. He put the oranges on his nose to smell its fragrance, and he does not dare to use force when he holds it in his hand, for fear of breaking the orange peel. Oranges can bring him a sense of security and abundance, so that he can temporarily leave the poverty in front of him and have a yearning for a better life.

　　 This Christmas, John was especially happy because he was about to come of age. He knew he would be stronger and would soon be able to leave the orphanage. He happily imagined his future, and he wanted to save the orange for his birthday next year. If it is kept well, without falling or touching, he may be able to eat it on his birthday.

　　 Christmas was finally here, and the children were so excited that they ran to the dining room with joy. John smelled a different aroma than usual, and he ran quickly because he was too excited and his shoes didn't fit, and he fell to the ground, causing a commotion. As soon as John got up from the ground, he heard the dean roar sternly: "John go out, there will be no oranges for you this year!" John burst into tears, and he ran quickly back to the cold dormitory, hiding in the corner of the bed, lest other children see his pain.

　　 After a while, the door opened and his companions returned. Elizabeth walked up to him, with tears in her eyes, and handed John a cloth bag.

　　 'Here, John, 'she said.' This is for you. '

　　 John reached out to lift a corner of the cloth bag and saw that there was a large orange inside, but there were several cuts on the orange peel. He understood that it was each of his mates who cut a flap from their oranges and put together this big and beautiful orange, and John was very moved.

　　 John will never forget the love his friends gave him that Christmas. His childhood was spent in a cold environment, but in the year he grew up, he gained friendship and love.

　　 Later, John had his own business, but he never forgot this orange. Every time Christmas came, he would buy a lot of oranges for the children in the orphanage, because he never forgot his dream to let all Children can enjoy the scent of oranges at Christmas.