The hardworking blacksmith(铁匠)Jones used to work all day in his shop and so hard working was he that at times he would make the sparks fly from his hammer.The son of Mr.Smith, a rich 1 , used to come to see the blacksmith every day and for hours and hours he would enjoy himself watching how the tradesman worked.
“Young man, why don't you try your hand to learn to make shoe tacks(铁钉), even if it is only to 2 ?” said the blacksmith.“Who knows, one day, it may 3 to you.” The 4 boy began to see what he could do.But after a little 5 he found that he was becoming very 6 and soon he was making some of the finest tacks.
Old Mr.Smith died and the son 7 the war lost all his things.He had to leave home and began tolive a simple life in a small village in another country.In this village there were a lot of 8 who were spending a lot of money buying tacks for their 9 and even 10 when they paid high prices they were not always able to get what they wanted, 11 in that part of the country soliders' shoes were in great need.
Our young Mr.Smith, who was finding it difficult to 12 his daily bread, remembered that once upon a time he had learned the art of making tacks from his neighbor and had the sudden idea of making a bargain(达成协议)with the shoemakers.He told them that he would make the tacks 13 they would help to get him settled(安家)in his workshop.The shoemakers were only too glad of the offer.And after a while, Mr.Smith found that he was soon making the finest tacks 14 .“How 15 it seems,” he used to say, “even making tacks can make my life better.My skill is more useful to me than all the riches that I've had before..”