- Hi, Thomas! Today I visited Buckingham Palace. It's incredibly beautiful, just wonderful! -You're in luck, John! And I want to get a glimpse of Big Ben. -You're right, this clock tower is simply divine! I've never been there, unfortunately. -I saw the Tower of London last year. This majestic and gloomy building impresses with its beauty! -Great, and I went to Warwick Castle last year. It was designed by brilliant architects! -Have you seen Harleck Castle? very beautiful! - No, unfortunately. But I will definitely go there this weekend. -And I'm dreaming of going to Bodiam Castle this summer, they say it's wonderful there!-Yes, it's really beautiful!-I was there the month before last. -And Alnwick Castle, have you ever been there, John? This building is very beautifully built. - Yes, I was lucky enough to be there. -What a wonderful architecture there is in Great Britain! -I agree, she's just amazing! - John, it was nice talking to you. I'm going on a field trip to Bamburgh Castle.- Bye, friend! Then you can tell me how it is.
O.Henry The real name of the writer is William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina, the USA in the family of a doctor. His mother died when he was three. And his aunt who had a private school, stimulated his reading and storytelling. Porter worked as a clerk in his uncle's drugstore for 5 years. But he wanted to see a new places and he went to Texas. Soon he married and when a daughter was born, Porter was a happy father. But his happiness didn't last long. One day a theft of a thousand dollars was discovered at the Bank where he worked. But it wasn't he who had taken the money, and he left the town and went to Central America. But when he heard that his wife was very ill, he returned home. And was found guilty and put to the prison for 3 years. Porter very often thought about his little daughter. She was living with her relatives and was told that her father had gone far away, and would not return soon. And he want to make some Christmas present for his daughter. Porter decided to write a story and sent it to one of the American magazines. This story was published, and his daughter received a present. Porter had signed the story O'Henry - the first pen-name that came into his had. In 1901 he was released from prison . He continued to write short stories for different magazines. And very soon he became one of the most popular short-story writers in America. During the short period of his literary activity O.Henry wrote 273 short stories and one novel "Cabbages and Kings" . It's a great writer .
Dear friend! I would like to congratulate you with a very happy new year. Did you enjoy this past year though? I hope many good things happened for you. I myself really enjoyed spending this past year with you. We made many good memories together. This new years let's do something interesting. Maybe throw a big party! At least that is what I am planning to do. And I would be very happy if your could participate as well! Would you like something by the way? I want to buy you something special. Look forward to spending the new years with you this year as well. Sincerely, Your friend
