Try this function - Just stick it in a label and you are on your way.
Function readfile(ByVal contentRequest As String) As String
Trace.Warn("Requested: ", contentRequest)
Dim FILENAME As String = Server.MapPath("/pplContent/" & contentRequest &
".txt")
Trace.Write(FILENAME)
'Dim FILENAME As String = "Rand.txt"
'Get a StreamReader class that can be used to read the file
Dim objStreamReader As StreamReader
Try
objStreamReader = File.OpenText(FILENAME)
Dim contents As String = objStreamReader.ReadToEnd()
lblNicerOutput.Text = contents.Replace(vbCrLf, "<br>")
Catch
lblNicerOutput.Text = "<h3>Sorry that file can not be located</h3>"
End Try
'We may wish to replace carraige returns with <br>s
objStreamReader.Close()
End Function