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TheHiddenTreasureThegreatestdiscoveryinlifeisthatahumanbeingcanalterhislifebyalteringattitudes.-----WilliamJamesOldManDonovanwasameanmanwhohatedchildren.Hethrewrocksatthemandevenshotatthemwithashotgun.Atleastthat'swhatwehadheard.Hissmallfarmborderedourneighborhoodwheremyyoungersister,LeighAnn,andIlivedwhenweweregrowingup.Hisfarmwaslong,narrow,andquaint.Itheldtwotreasures.Onewashisbeautifulfruit.Thereweremanyvarietiesoffruit:pears,apples,andlotsmoreIjustcan'tthinkof.Thefruitnaturallydrewthechildrentohisland.Itmadethemintothieves.ButmysisterandIdidn'tdaretotakehisfruitbecauseofthehorriblerumorswehadheardaboutOldManDonovan.Onesummerday,wewereplayinginanearbyfield.Itwastimetoheadbackhome.MysisterandIwerefeelingverydaringthatday.TherewasashortcuttoourhousethatwentthroughtheDonovanfarm.Wethoughthewouldn'tbeabletoseeusrunacrosshispropertyaroundthelusciousfruittrees.Wewerealmostthroughthefarmwhenweheard,Hey,girls!inagruff,lowvoice.Westoppeddeadinourtracks！Therewewere,facetofacewithOldManDonovan.Ourkneeswereshaking.Wehadvisionsofrockspoundingourbodiesandbulletspiercingourhearts.Comehere,hesaid,reachinguptooneofhisappletrees.Stillshaking,wewentovertohim.Heheldoutseveralripe,juicy,redapples.Takethesehome,”hecommanded.Wetooktheappleswithsurprisedheartsandranallthewayhome.Ofcourse,LeighAnnandIatetheapples.Astimewenton,weoftenwentthroughOldManDonovan'sfarm,andhekeptongivingusmorelusciousfruit.Oneday,westoppedbytoseehimwhenhewasonhisfrontporch.Wetalkedtohimforhours.Whilehewastalking,werealizedthatwehadfoundtheotherhiddentreasure:thesweet,kindhearthiddenbehindhisgruffvoice.Soon,hewasoneofourfavoritepeopletotalkto.Unfortunately,hisfamilyneverseemedtoenjoyourcompany.Theyneversmiledorwelcomedusin.Everysummer,wewouldvisitMr.Donovanandtalktohim.Hetoldusallkindsofstorieswelovedtohear.Butonesummer,weheardthathewassick.Whenwefoundoutthathehadcomehomefromthehospital,wevisitedhimrightaway.Hisvoiceboxhadbeenremoved.Whenheplacedhisfingersonhisthroat,hisvoicecameoutasawhisper.Wecouldn'tunderstandhim,butthroughhiseyeswecouldtellwhathemeant.Thenextwinter,wordgotaroundthatOldManDonovanhaddied.LeighAnnandIwereheartbrokenanddecidedtogotothefuneral.Wewerescaredbecausewedidn'tknowifthefamilywouldwelcomeus.Whenwegottothefuneral,thefamilykindlygreetedusandsaidtheyweresogladwehadcome.Weallweptmournfully,butourwonderfulmemoriesofOldManDonovancomfortedus.DuringthosesummerswithMr.Donovan,mysisterandIlearnednottojudgeaheartuntilyouknowit.Onemayjustfindahiddentreasure.