At twenty-six, Paul Matthews has attained wealth, position, and popularity as a financial manager in one of New York's leading companies. His life of fast cars, expensive restaurants, and beautiful women is the envy of his peers and one he believes will keep him satisfied--until Brooke comes into his life. Brooke's beauty captures his attention the moment he sets eyes on her. Her intelligence, talent, and strong character cause him to consider what part she may play in his life. Her strong faith, however, reminds him of a past he has long tried to forget, one he rejected long ago and to which vowed never to return.

When a series of high-risk financial decisions prove to be profitable for the company and their clients, Paul is promoted and given access to secrets within the company--illegal activity that could bring the company, its executives and stockholders to ruin. A wealthy and influential foreign business executive, Marcus Reed, befriends Paul and reveals to him the great power and success that can be his if he is willing to compromise his moral principles and accept these secrets as necessary business practices.

Paul must decide whether he will continue his path of corruption in order to maintain his lavish lifestyle or listen to the voice within, the voice awakened by Brooke's faith, urging him to make the honorable choice--a choice that would cost him his wealth, position and perhaps even his life.

The papers in this book have been collected in celebration of Carl Wellman, who, after forty-five years, is retiring from teaching. Here I would like to highlight a few of the moments which have shaped Carl as a person and a philosopher. Although his childhood was not unhappy, Carl faced considerable challenges growing up in Manchester, New Hampshire. He ne ver knew his father; he and his mother, Carolyn, had little money; and he fought a long battle with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, an illness which made hirn more familiar with hospitals than any young person should be. (His mother once told me that there were times when the doctors put Carl in his own hospital room because, while he was too young to be housed with adult men, they did not want the other children to see hirn die. ) Following a year of physician-prescribed rest after high school, the doctors recommended the University of Arizona in the misguided hope that the desert climate might improve his health. In spite of the doctors' hopes, life in Tucson was not easy. The heat takes its toll on everyone, but the desert was especially oppressive for Carl since his unusually sensitive eyes were no match for the intense sun. Still, Carl enjoyed college.

The papers in this book have been collected in celebration of Carl Wellman, who, after forty-five years, is retiring from teaching. Here I would like to highlight a few of the moments which have shaped Carl as a person and a philosopher. Although his childhood was not unhappy, Carl faced considerable challenges growing up in Manchester, New Hampshire. He ne ver knew his father; he and his mother, Carolyn, had little money; and he fought a long battle with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, an illness which made hirn more familiar with hospitals than any young person should be. (His mother once told me that there were times when the doctors put Carl in his own hospital room because, while he was too young to be housed with adult men, they did not want the other children to see hirn die. ) Following a year of physician-prescribed rest after high school, the doctors recommended the University of Arizona in the misguided hope that the desert climate might improve his health. In spite of the doctors' hopes, life in Tucson was not easy. The heat takes its toll on everyone, but the desert was especially oppressive for Carl since his unusually sensitive eyes were no match for the intense sun. Still, Carl enjoyed college.

He stared at the man in the mirror whom he barely recognized. When he first looked at his image he winced, startled by the pitifully gloomy figure looking back at him. He wanted to go back but pride kept him from doing so, the kind of stubbornness that causes a man to temporarily feel powerless. He felt as if he were in a darkened theater watching a depressingly bad movie. But instead of a movie, it was his life-and this, the darkest scene yet. He remembered how he felt on the day John F. Kennedy was killed-numb from the shock of it all. Of course his experience was not world shaking, like the assassination of the President of the United States. No, but in a way, this was worse. This event had shaken the very foundation of his world, and he feared that it, too, would never be the same. Read THE INHERITANCE: A story that will touch your heart in a way that could change your life and your relationships.

Me Through Poetry is a collection of different styles and themes of poetry written by Samuel K. Parsons.

At twenty-six, Paul Matthews has attained wealth, position, and popularity as a financial manager in one of New York's leading companies. His life of fast cars, expensive restaurants, and beautiful women is the envy of his peers and one he believes will keep him satisfied--until Brooke comes into his life. Brooke's beauty captures his attention the moment he sets eyes on her. Her intelligence, talent, and strong character cause him to consider what part she may play in his life. Her strong faith, however, reminds him of a past he has long tried to forget, one he rejected long ago and to which vowed never to return.

When a series of high-risk financial decisions prove to be profitable for the company and their clients, Paul is promoted and given access to secrets within the company--illegal activity that could bring the company, its executives and stockholders to ruin. A wealthy and influential foreign business executive, Marcus Reed, befriends Paul and reveals to him the great power and success that can be his if he is willing to compromise his moral principles and accept these secrets as necessary business practices.

Paul must decide whether he will continue his path of corruption in order to maintain his lavish lifestyle or listen to the voice within, the voice awakened by Brooke's faith, urging him to make the honorable choice--a choice that would cost him his wealth, position and perhaps even his life.

This is an audio-cassette version of two of the Beginner Level stories in a series of ELT readers comprising a wide range of titles - some original and some simplified - from modern and classic novels, and designed to appeal to all age-groups, tastes and cultures. The books are divided into five levels: Starter Level, with about 300 basic words; Beginner Level (600 basic words); Elementary Level (1100); Intermediate Level (1600); and Upper Level (2200).