For years I wanted a flower garden. But then we had Matthew. And Marvin. And the twins, Alisa and Alan. And then Helen. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.

    Money was limited, as well as time. Often when my children were little, one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.”

Finally, all five got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about having a garden. I wasn’t sure, though, I mean, gardens do cost money.

    Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I realized that cars were tooting their horns as they drove by. I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard. I thought it must be a weeping willow, because I saw things blowing around on all its branches.

    There was a money tree in my yard !It was true! There were dollar bills, one hundred of them, taped all over that tree. There was also a note attached: “IOU eight hours of digging time. Love. Marvin.”

    Marvin kept his promise, too. He dug up a nice ten-by-fifteen foot bed for me. And my other children bought me tools, ornaments, a trellis, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books.

    That was three years ago. My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted. When I go out and weed or tend my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they are right there with me. I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes every time.

    I’m still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!

《十二铜表法》第9表规定：“不得为了任何个人的利益，制定特别的法律……对刑事判决不服的，有权上告……任何人非经审判，不得处死刑。”该条款体现了（    ）

驴咀（jué）____食物的时候，沉默寡言，似乎是有所（juàn）____念，偶尔一叫却惊天地泣鬼神。这使我（méng）____发了一个念想：驴若识字，我的诗歌呀散文呀就用不着往报刊社寄了，写好后（tuō）____付给驴，让它用高亢的鸣叫向世界宣读，那该有多轰动！