Sometime after Paul died, his widow¹, Lily, was finally able to speak about what a thoughtful² and wonderful man her late husband had been.

 

"Paul thought of everything," she told her friends. Just before he died, Paul handed me three envelopes. 'Lily,' he told me, 'I have put all my last wishes in these three envelopes. After I am dead, please open them and do exactly that I have instructed. Then, I can rest in peace.'"

 

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

 

"The first envelope contained $5000 with a note, 'please use this money to buy a nice casket.' So I bought a beautiful mahogany（桃花心木） casket with such a comfortable lining³ that I know Paul is resting comfortably.”

 

"The second envelope contained $10000 with a note, 'Please use this for a nice funeral.' I arranged Paul a vey dignified⁴ funeral and bought all his favorite food for everyone attending."

 

"And the third envelope?" asked her friends.

 

"The third envelope contained $30000 with a note, 'Please use this to buy a nice stone.'"

 

Holding her hand in the air, Lily said, "So, do you like my stone?" showing off her 10 carat diamond ring.

 

保罗死后过了一段时间，遗孀莉莉最终觉得是时候跟大伙说说她的丈夫多么体贴多么好。

 

“保罗什么事情都安排好了，”莉莉跟朋友们说，“临死时，保罗给我三个信封。‘莉莉’他说，‘这三个信封里装有我的遗愿。我死后请你打开，按照我说的去做，那样，我就安息了。’”

 

“信封里装的什么愿望啊？”朋友们问。

 

“第一个信封里有5000美元和一张条，‘请用这些钱每一副好棺材。’我就买了一副舒适衬里的红木棺材，漂亮大方，我知道保罗躺在里面一定很舒适。”

 

“第二个信封里有一万美元和一张条，‘请用这些钱办一个像样的葬礼。’‘我就为保罗张罗了一个体面的葬礼，买了所有保罗最爱吃东西给所有人分享。’”

 

“第三个信封呢？”朋友们追问。

 

“第三个信封里有3万美金和一张条，‘请用这些钱买一块上好的石头（指墓碑）’”

 

莉莉举起手来说：“看，这块石头好看吗？”莉边说边秀着她十克拉的钻戒。

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