小学英语英语故事名人故事HenryH.doc

4HenryH.Rogers(Addedin1909)HenryH.Rogers(Addedin1909)Thevalueofhisadvice.--Hisbeautifulnature.SincehepassedfromlifemanymonthshavegonebyandstillIhavenotfoundmyselfcompetenttoputintowordsmyfeelingsforhimandmyestimateofhim.Forheisasyettooneartherestraintofhisspirittooeffective.AllthroughmylifeIhavebeentheeasypreyofthecheapadventurer.Hecameheliedherobbedandwenthiswayandthenextonearrivedbythenexttrainandbegantoscrapeupwhatwasleft.IwasinthetoilsofoneofthesecreaturessixteenyearsagoanditwasMr.Rogerswhogotmeout.Wewerestrangerswhenwemetandfriendswhenwepartedhalfanhourafterward.Themeetingwasaccidentalandunforeseenbutithadmemorableandfortunateconsequencesforme.Hedraggedmeoutofthatdifficultyandalsooutofthenextone--ayearortwolater--whichwasstillmoreformidablethanitspredecessor.Hedidthesesavingthingsatnocosttomyself-lovenohurttomypride;indeedhedidthemwithsodelicateanartthatIalmostseemedtohavedonethemmyself.BynosignnohintnoworddidheeverbetrayanyconsciousnessthatIwasunderobligationstohim.IhaveneverbeensogreatasthatandIhavenotknownanotherwhowas.Ihaveneverapproachedit;itbelongsamongtheloftiestofhumanattributes.Thisisaworldwhereyougetnothingfornothing;whereyoupayvalueforeverythingyougetand50percentover;andwhenitisgratitudeyouoweyouhavetopayathousand.Infactgratitudeisadebtwhichusuallygoesonaccumulatinglikeblackmail;themoreyoupaythemoreisexacted.Intimeyouaremadetorealizethatthekindnessdoneyouisbecomeacurseandyouwishithadnothappened.YoufindyourselfsituatedaswasMr.W.afriendoffriendsofmineyearsago.Hewasrichandgood-heartedandappreciative.Hiswife'slifewassavedbyagrocer'syoungmanwhostoppedherrunawayhorses.Herhusbandwasgrat