One day a rich man was invited to dinner at the home of one of his friends. He did not know what “to1the wine, meat and chicken he had just bought.” Certainly he could not2them to the servant. Then he had3 idea. He called up the servant and4to him.

     “I'll be away for the whole evening, and I'll leave you to look after the house. In the cupboard there are two bottles filled with5 Be careful about it. You'll be killed if you take even a6of it. There is also some meat and chicken in the cupboard. Take care of them.”7these words the rich man left the home.

    8the master turned his back, the servant opened the cupboard and began to enjoy all the nice things in it. He 9the two bottles and ate up the meat, the chicken and10he found in the cupboard.He was11and soon fell12

    At mid- night the rich man returned home. He looked into the cupboard and to his great13 all his wine and food were14 He was mad with15and called the servant up. “Oh, Master,” the servant began to say16the rich man could open his mouth; “while you were away, the neighbor's black cat stole into our kitchen and ate up everything in the cupboard. I know you would be angry with me. I was so17that I drank the two bottles of poison to kill18” There were tears in the servant's eyes. “Oh, Master,” he continued, “Please don't get angry with a 19man. I'll soon be dead." The rich man, of course, did not20a word of his story. But again, he could do nothing about it.

    In the Middle Eastern country of Syria (叙利亚), there are over 4 million refugees (难民). Youssef was 10 years old when a local Syrian musician discovered his talent: a deep, powerful voice. However, Syria's civil (内部的) war took place. He and his family lost their home.

    When the Action for Hope Music School announced that it was looking for talented children to train, his family encouraged him to attend the school. A year and half later, the now 14-year-old, Youssef, with another 11 children, was chosen to take part in a concert.

    Youssef, a shy boy, was a lead singer in the concert. He gave a confident performance of traditional Syrian songs. “We only heard the sound of a mortar ( 迫 击 炮 ). It fell near us. Many buildings fell down. That is all I remember,” said Youssef. “Music makes me forget everything. Music is the most important thing.”

    Basma, director of Action for Hope, said the music school offers strength to the children who suffer (遭受) from the war. They can find a good way to express themselves and stop thinking of themselves as refugees.

    “Art gives strength. It comes from the ability to create,” Basma said. “People who are in difficult conditions need this strength much more than the rich.”