Long time ago, an old businessman had a large store in Boston. He wanted to hire one boy to work for him, so he put an ad in the newspaper. The next morning, many boys came to the old man's office, asking for the job. There was a post(柱子) near his desk ,and there was a nail(钉子) in the post. He took a walking stick and said, "Everyone has three chances. If anyone can hit that nail with the head of this stick more than once, I will give him the job. "
The boys thought it was very easy. They all tried, but nobody could make it. So the old man said," I'm sorry I can't take any of you. "So they left.
The old man kept the ad in the newspaper, and the next morning more boys came, and among them he saw a thin boy who had been there the day before. The boy hit the nail successfully for three times. The old man said, "Boy, you are great. How did you do it?"
"I failed yesterday," said the boy. "But I thought that if I kept trying, I could do it. So I went home and practiced hitting a nail with a stick till I could do it. I got up very early this morning, and tried again. "
The old man said, "You are the boy for me." Then he gave him the job. Whatever the boy did, he tried to do his best. It was not very long before he became the best clerk in the store.
