Here I copy how should be for not having a walkback when you select a file
what Squeak cannot could read. Lines are in swapped order.

readContentsBrief: brevityFlag
    "Read the contents of the receiver's selected file, unless it is too
long, in which case show just the first 5000 characters. Don't create a file
if it doesn't already exist."
    | f fileSize first5000 |

    brevityFlag ifTrue: [
        directory isRemoteDirectory ifTrue: [^ self readServerBrief]].
f := directory oldFileOrNoneNamed: self fullName.
>>>f ifNil: [^ 'For some reason, this file cannot be read' translated].
>>>    f converter: (self defaultEncoderFor: self fullName).
    
... Following code

Edgar