1. Henry Bond was about ten years old when his father died. His mother found it difficult to provide for the support of a large family, thus left entirely in her care. By good management , however, she contrived to do so, and also to send Henry, the oldest, to school, and to supply him, for the most part, with such books as he needed.
2. At one time, however, Henry wanted a grammar, in order to join a class in that study, and his mother could not furnish him with the money to buy it. He was very much troubled about it, and went to bed with a heavy heart, thinking what could be done.
3. On waking in the morning, he found that a deep snow had fallen, and the cold wind was blowing furiously . “Ah,” said he, “it is an ill wind that blows nobody good.”
4. He rose, ran to the house of a neighbor, and offered his service to clear a path around his premises . The offer was accepted. Having completed this work, and received his pay, he went to another place for the same purpose, and then to another, until he had earned enough to buy a grammar.
5. When school commenced, Henry was in his seat, the happiest boy there, ready to begin the lesson in his new book.
6. From that time, Henry was always the first in all his classes. He knew no such word as fail, but always succeeded in all he attempted. Having the will, he always found the way.
【中文阅读】
1. 在亨利· 邦德大约十岁时,他的父亲去世了。支撑整个大家庭的重任全都落在了他母亲的身上,这让她感到异常的艰辛。但通过不断的苦心经营,她想尽办法撑起了这个家,还送她最大的孩子亨利去读书,给他提供了上学所需要的大部分书籍。
2. 然而,有一次,亨利为了参加语法学习班,需要一本语法书,他母亲实在没有钱供他买书。这件事让他非常纠结,晚上躺在床上仍然忧心忡忡,一直在想能做些什么。
3. 早晨醒来,他看到外面已经下了厚厚的一层雪,寒风猛烈地吹着。 他说:“啊,这场恶劣的寒风让大家都够难受的。”
4. 他迅速地起床,跑到邻居家里,提出为邻居的房屋四周清扫积雪。邻居接受了他的提议。当完成了这项工作,拿到了工钱,他又跑到另一处帮人扫雪,然后又去了另一家,直到他赚够了买语法书的钱。
5. 等到开学时,亨利坐在他的位子上,等待开始学习新书上的第一课,他是班里最最开心的。
6. 从那时起,亨利总是班上到校最早的。在他的心目中,没有“失败”一词,他总能够成功地做好他想做的事。有了意愿,他就总能够找到成功之路。