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Perseverance
Many years ago! I stepped into a bookstore in Cincinmati in search of some books that I wanted. While I was there,a poor little boy,not over twelve years of age, came in to ask whether they had geographies to sell.
"Plenty of them,"was the salseman's reply.
"How much do they cost?"
"One dollar, my lad."
"I didn't know they cost so much."
He turned to go out and even opened the door, but closed it again and came back. "I have only sixty-two cents," he said. 'Will you let me have the book and wait a little while for the rest of the money?"
How eargerly the lad looked for answer,and how disappointed he seemed when the man refused him his request! The little fellow looked up at me with a weak smile, and left the store. I followed him.
"And what now?" I asked.
"I shall try another place,sir."
"Do you mind if I go too and see how you succeed?"
"If you like,"he said in surprise.
For different stores I entered with him,and four times I saw they boy's face turn to disappointment.
"Are you going to try again?" I asked.
"Yes, sir. I shall try them all, or I shall not know whether I could get one."
We entered the fifth store and the little fellow walked straight up and told the gentleman just what he wanted and how much money he had.
"Do you want the book very much?"asked the bookseller.
"Yes,sir,very much."
"Why do you want it so much/"
"To study,sir. I cannot go to shcool, but when I have time I study at home.All the boys have geographies and they will be ahead of me if I do not get one.Besides, my father was a sailor,and I want to know how about the places he used to go to."
"Does he go to those places now?"
"He is dead,"replied the boy, softly.In a moment he added," I'm going to be a sailor ,too."
"Are you ,my boy?"asked the gentleman ,raising his eyebrows curiously.
"Yes,sir, If i live."
"Well, my lad,I'll tell you what I will do.I'll let you have the new geography and you may pay me the remainder of the money when you can,or I will let you have one that is not new for fifty cents."
"Are the leaves all in it and is it just like the others,only not new?"
"Yes, it's as good as the new ones."
"It'll do just as well then,and I shall have twelve cents left to buy some other book. I'm glad they didn't let me have one at any of the other places."
At the boy's last remark the bookseller looked at him. What did they boy mean? I told him what I had seen and heard at the five other places.When the boy had bought the book, the bookseller gave him a nice new pencil and some clean white paper.
"A present, my lad, for you perseverance.Always have courage like that and you will make your mark,"said the bookseller.
"Thank you, sir,it's very knid of you."
"What is your name,my lad?"
"Willianm Hartley,sir."
"Do you want any more books?" I now asked, earnestly regarding the boy's serious face.
"More than I can ever get," he replied.
I gave him two dollars."The money will buy some for you,"I said.
Tears of joy came into his eyes.
"May I buy what I want with it?"
"Yes,my lad, whatever you want."
"Then i'll buy a book for Mother,"he said, "I think you very much,and some day I hope I can repay you."
He asked my name and I gave it to him.Then I left him standing by the counter so happy that I almost envied him.
Many years later,I was going to Europea on one of the finest ships that ever ploughed the waters of the Atlantic.We had pleasant weather ther greater part of the voyage,but toward the end there came a terrible storm and the ship would have sunk with all on board had it not been for the captain.
A great leak was filling the ship with water. The crew was made up of strong and able men and the mates were experienced seamen of the first class.But after pumping for one one whole night with the water still gaining upon them,the sailors gave up in despair.
The captain ,who had been below,now cam up.He saw how matters stood.
He ordered every man to his opsition. It was surprising to see those strong men how before his strong will and hurry back to the pumps. The captain then started below to look for the leak. As he passed me I asked him whether there was any hop of saving the ship.
He looked at me. "Yes, sir," he said," So long as one inch of this deck remains above water, there is hope. Only when that fails shall I leave the sip, but not before that, nor shall any of my crew.Everything shall be done to save the ship, and if we fail, it will not be our fault. "Then he turned to allof us passengers on board and said," Every one of you ,at the pumps!"
Three times during that day we gave up in despair. But the captain's courage,perseverance,and powerful will mastered every man on board,and we went to work again. "I will land you safe in Liverpool.," he said, "if you will be men."
And in the end he did land us safe, but the ship sank soon after he she reached Liverpool. The captain stood on the deck of the sinking ship receiving the thanks of the passenger as they hurried off the ship.
As I passed, he grasped my hand and said," Sir, do you not recognize me"?" I told him that I did not.
"Do you remember the boy whom you followed when he had so much difficulty in getting a geography,some thirty years ago, in Cincinnati?"
"Why yes, I remember that boy very well. His name was Willian Hartley."
"I am Willian Hartley,"said the captain. "God bess you!"
"And may God bless you too, Captain Hartley," I said ." The perseverance that thirty years ago got you that geography has today saved our lives."
The story told me that how important and usefull the persevrance is.Ｐerseverance is vital to success.[ 此帖被xiaoxiao9wo在2011-08-29 18:37重新编辑 ]
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