Mr Smith works in a factory in the middle of the city. The factory is not far from his home. It is about 800 meters away. So Mr Smith doesn't go to work by bus. He usually goes there by bike, sometimes he walks to work. It takes(花费) him 10 minutes to get there by bike or 20 minutes on foot. He usually leaves home at ten minutes to eight. Today something is wrong with his bike. He wants to walk there. His work starts at half past eight in the morning and finishes at a quarter(一刻钟) to five in the afternoon.

    Have you ever been sad because you failed in something? If so, please remember, for often, achieving what you expect is not the most important thing. Here is a story to tell you why.

    One day a little boy decided to dig a hole behind his house after watching a science program. As he was working, a couple of boys stopped by to watch. “What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors. “I want to dig a deep hole all the way through the earth!” the boy answered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling him that it was impossible to do it. Then they left.

    The little boy kept on digging and digging. Suddenly, a few small colorful stones caught his eyes. He collected them and put them into a glass jar (罐) patiently. Humming (哼唱) a song, he went on digging. The jar was full soon. Then he talked to himself calmly and proudly, “Maybe I can't finish digging all the way through the earth, but look at what I have found in the process (过程) of digging!”

    The boy's goal (目标) was too difficult, but it did cause him to go on, in other words, to cause us to keep working!

    Not every goal will be achieved. Not every job will end up with a success. Not every dream will come true. But when you can't achieve your goal, maybe you can say, “Yes, but look what I've found along the way! There are so many wonderful things that have come into my life because I tried to do something!” It is in the digging that life is lived. It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really has a meaning.

    There was a kingdom long, long ago. It was ruled by king who loved riddles. Once a year the king made a new riddle. He gave a prize to the person who could solve the riddle.

    There was a baker who also lived in this kingdom. Everyone agreed that he baked the finest breads. The baker had almost everything he needed except for a horse. If the baker had a horse, he could sell his fine breads from one end of the kingdom to the other.

    One year the king made a new riddle that puzzled everyone. "I will give a prize to the person who can solve my riddle," the king said. Whoever wins will have the pick of one of my strongest horses." He then drew a line down the middle of the courtyard "Make this line shorter without erasing(清除) any part of it," the king challenged.

    People came from far and wide. They looked at the line and squinted at it. They even put their noses to the ground and scratched their heads.

    How can you make a line shorter without erasing any part of it?” the people in the crowd asked each other. Some of them tried. The dressmaker kicked dirt(泥土)over the line to hide it. The farmer poured water over the line to make it disappear. None of these efforts worked, and the people went home disappointed. Everyone was puzzled about how to solve this new riddle.

    A week passed, and nobody had any new ideas. Then one day the baker came into the courtyard with a bag of flour(面粉).

    Your Majesty, "the baker said to the king, I can make your line shorter without erasing any part of it." Then the baker opened his bag of flour. He poured out a line of flour right next to the king's line. The line the baker made was longer than the king's line.

    Now, good king, "the baker smiled, "your line is shorter.

    The people were amazed. The king laughed and clapped his hands. "You have won the prize. I will give you a horse of your choice.

    The baker was excited. Now he could sell his breads from one end of the kingdom to the other.

    Mr. Jenkins liked all kinds of delicious food. As an important officer, he was often asked to dinner. The shopkeepers tried their best to fawn on(巴结) him. They knew it was good for their business. Now the officer got fatter and fatter. He could hardly go upstairs（楼上） at home and had to sleep downstairs. He often felt tired if he walked or did some housework. He was worried about it and had to go to a doctor. "Stop eating much fat(脂肪) and sugar, Mr. Jenkins," said the doctor, "or it will be worse for your health!" It was difficult for the officer to do it. He didn't do as the doctor said. He found something was wrong with his heart a few months later. Now he thought the doctor was right. And he had to be in hospital. "You must lose weight(减肥), sir," said the doctor, " unless you want to die soon!" "Could you tell me a way to lose weight, please?" "You must do some exercise first." "Which exercise?" "To move your head from side to side when you are invited to dinner!"