音频下载[点击右键另存为][00:02.73]The Shoe Tacks鞋钉
[00:05.58]The hardworking blacksmith Jones used to work all day in his shop
[00:10.49]and so hard working was he
[00:12.67]that at times he would make the sparks fly from his hammer.
[00:16.72]The son of Mr. Smith, a rich neighbor,
[00:19.45]used to come to see the blacksmith everyday
[00:22.31]and for hours and hours he would enjoy himself watching how the tradesman worked.
[00:27.65]"Young man, why don’t you try your hand to learn to make shoe tacks,
[00:32.10] even if it is only to pass the time?" said the blacksmith.
[00:36.58] "Who knows, one day, it may be of use to you."
[00:39.87]The lazy boy began to see what he could do.
[00:42.73]But after a little practice he found that he was becoming very skilled
[00:47.74]and soon he was making some of the finest tacks.
[00:51.24]Old Mr. Smith died and the son on account of the war lost all his goods.
[00:57.36] He had to leave home and was forced to take up residence in another country.
[01:02.72]It so happened that in this village
[01:05.90]there were numerous shoemakers who were spending a lot of money to buy tacks for their shoes
[01:10.85] and even at times when they paid high prices
[01:14.54]they were not always able to get what they wanted,
[01:17.60]because in that part of the country there was a high demand for soldiers’ shoes.
[01:22.41]Our young Mr. Smith, who was finding it difficult to earn his daily bread,
[01:27.99] remembered that once upon a time he had learned the art of making tacks
[01:32.25] and had the sudden idea of making a bargain with the shoemakers.
[01:36.30] He told them that he would make the tacks
[01:39.62] if they would help to get him settled in his workshop.
[01:42.86]The shoemakers were only too glad of the offer.
[01:46.80]And after a while, Mr. Smith found that he was soon making the finest tacks in the village.
[01:52.81]"How funny it seems," he used to say,
[01:56.04] "even making tacks can bring a fortune.
[01:58.61] My trade is more useful to me than were all my former riches."