I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts．I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days, like 1 and straightforward．And it's still what 2 a man a good citizen．This is my secret, and I try to live by．
I've been in the taxi business for thirty-five years, 3 there is a lot about it that is not so good．Taxi drivers have to be rough and tumble(
乱作一团)fellows to be able to take it in New York．You've got to be 4 to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day．
Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the 5 impression that they are bad．Taxi drivers are just like other people．Most of them will act as 6 fellows．You read in the papers almost every week 7 a taxi driver turns in money or jewels or like that people leave in their 8 ．If they weren't honest, you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers．One time, I found an emerald(
翡翠的)ring in my car．I remembered helping a lady with a lot of suitcases that day, so I went back to where I had 9 ．It took me almost two days to wait for her in order to return her 10 to her．I didn't get as much as “thank you．” 11 , I felt good because I had done what was right．I think I felt better than she 12 ．
I was born and raised in Ireland until I was nineteen years old．I came to this country in 1913 where I 13 several jobs to earn a few dollars before joining the army in World War I．After being discharged(
退伍), I bought my own car and have owned one ever since．It hasn't been too easy 14 , but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit 15 for a rainy day(一时之需)．In all my years of driving a taxi, I have never had 16 with the public, not even with drunks．Even if they get a little headstrong(顽固的)once in a while, I just agree with them and then they behave themselves．
People ask me about tips．As far as I know, 17 everyone will give you something, because most Americans are 18 generous．I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they 19 or not．I believe in God and try to be a good member of my parish(
教区)．I try to act toward others like I think God wants me to act．I have been trying this for a long time, and the 20 I try, the easier it gets．