A gentleman once advertised (登广告) for a boy to help him in his office, and nearly fifty persons asked for the place. Out of the whole number he chose one in a short time, and sent all the other boys away.
"I would like to know," said a friend, "on what ground you chose that boy. He didn't even have a recommendation (推荐信) with him."
"You are mistaken," said the gentleman, "he had a great many."
"He made his shoes clean when he came in, and closed the door after him, showing that he was orderly (井然有序的)."
"He gave his seat to the disabled old man, showing that he was."
"He took off his cap when he came in. and answered my questions quickly and respectfully (恭敬地), showing that he was polite."
"He lifted up the book which I had purposely (故意地) laid on the floor, and put it on the table, while all the others stepped over it or pushed it aside, showing that he was careful."
"And he waited quietly for his turn, instead of pushing the others aside, showing that he was modest (谦逊的)."
"When I talked with him, I noticed that his clothes were carefully brushed, his hair in nice order, and his teeth as white as milk. When he wrote his name, I noticed that his fingernails were clean, instead of having some untidy personal habits."
"Don't you call these things letters of recommendation? I do, and the things that I can discover about a boy by using my eyes for ten minutes, are worth more than all the fine letters that he can bring."
