Franklin's life is full of charming stories which all young men should know -- how he sold books in Boston, and became the guest of kings in Europe; how he was made Major General Franklin, only to quit because, as he said, he was no soldier, and yet helped to organize the army that stood before the trained troops of England and Germany.
This poor Boston boy, without a day's schooling1, became master of six languages and never stopped studying; this neglected apprentice2 conquered the lightning, made his name famous, received degrees and diplomas from many colleges, and became forever remembered as "Doctor Franklin", philosopher, scientist and political leader.
Self-made, self-taught, the candle maker's son gave light to all the world; the street bookseller set all men singing of liberty; the apprentice became the most sought after man across the world, and brought his native land to praise and honor him.
He built America, for what our nation is today is largely due to the management, the forethought, the wisdom, and the ability of Benjamin Franklin. He belongs to the world, but especially he belongs to America. The people around the world honored him while he was living; he is still regarded as the loftiest man by the common people today after his death. And he will live in people's hearts forever.
Washington was the first president of the U.S. He was very clever even when he was still a 12-year-old-boy.
Once a thief stole some money from Uncle Post, Washington's neighbor. The door of the house was not broken, and things in the room were in good order. Washington concluded that the thief must have been committed by one of the villagers.
That evening at the villagers' meeting the said, "We don't know who stole the money but God does. God sends his wasp1 to tell good from evil. Every night the wasp flies among us but few people notice it…" Then, all of a sudden Washington waved his hand and cried out, "Look! The wasp has landed on the thief's hat. It is going to sting2!"
The crowd burst into an uproar3. Everybody turned to look for the thief. But soon the noise died down. All eyes were fixed4 on a man who was trying hard to drive the "Wasp" off his hat.
"Now we know who stole the money," Washington said with a smile.
Demades the orator1 was once speaking in the assembly at Athens; but the people were very inattentive to what he was saying, so he stopped and said, "Gentlemen, I should like to tell you one of Aesop's fables2." This made every one listen intently. Then Demades began: "Demeter, a swallow, and an eel3 were once travelling together, and came to a river without a bridge: the swallow flew over it, and the eel swam across", and then he stopped. "What happened to Demeter?" cried several people in the audience. "Demeter," he replied, "is very angry with you for listening to fables when you ought to be minding public business."
Once a neighbor1 stole2 one of Washington4's horse. Washington horse back. But the neighbor refused to give the horse back. He said5 that it was3 his horse.
Suddenly6 Washington had7 a good idea. He put both of his hands over the eyes of the horse and said to the neighbor, xiaogushi8.com "If this is your horse, then you must tell us in which eye the horse is blind8."
"In the left, "said the neighbor. Washington took9 his hand from the left eye of the horse and showed the policeman that the horse was not blind in the left eye.
"Oh , I have made10 a mistake," said the neighbor. "He is blind in the right eye." Washington then showed that the horse was not blind in the right eye, either11.
"I have made another mistake," said the neighbor.
"Yes," said the policeman, " and you have also proved12 that the horse isn't yours. You must return13 it to Mr Washington. "
Chinese readers eager to learn about the life of Steve Jobs, the enigmatic founder of Apple Inc, have lined up outside bookstores and gone online to order copies of his biography since it was released globally on Monday.
The Chinese version of the book, titled Steve Jobs, hit 30 bookstores in 21 Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, at 10:05 am Monday morning as a way to commemorate Jobs, who died on Oct 5, according to a statement from China CITIC Press, the publisher of the biography's simplified Chinese edition.