6.Sometimes his lessons were very difficult，but he would say，“I have had hard lessons before，and learned them，too，and I will not give up now.”
7.Arthur found plenty to do in getting his lessons，in teaching his little sister，and in doing errands for his mother；but still he kept thinking，“How can I help mother earn some money？”
8.As，day after day，he watched his mother so constantly at work，he would try to think how he could help her more.
9.“I can learn a hard lesson，why can I not do some hard work？”said he；and the more he thought of it，the more he thought he could.
10.“I am twelve years old to-day.I know I can do something to help mother，”he said，one day，as he was walking along the street，“and I will，yes，I will！”and he stamped his foot on the pavement and stopped.
11.Just then he noticed a paper on a shopwindow.
“WANTED！”“Wanted what？I will go and see，”said he.
12.“A boy wanted！”He read it over again，to be sure he read it right.But there was no mistake.“A boy wanted！”And his heart beat so，he could almost hear it，as he read.
13.“If I could only get the place，I could help mother，I am sure I could；”and he ran home as fast as he could to ask if he might try to get it.
14.He was not long in getting consent.“Yes，you may try，my boy，and may God bless you，”said his mother；and she gave him such a look and kiss as mothers only can give.
15.Arthur saw and felt their meaning，and he said to himself，“I can do any thing for you，mother，and I will，too.”He was not long in brushing his clothes and blacking his shoes，and making himself very neat.
16.He was so fearful that some one else would get there first，that he could not wait to eat what his mother had set out for him，but hurried back to the store.
17.Yes，there it is-“A boy wanted！”and Arthur walked into the store.“I fear，”said the gentleman，“that you are too small.”“I am twelve years old，sir，”said Arthur，standing up straight，“and I could try.”
18.The gentleman smiled and said，“I should like to have you，my boy，if you were only a little stouter.I do not think you could carry large bundles like that，could you？”
19.“I could try，sir.I can learn a hard lesson，and mother says，if I try，and never give up，I can do almost any thing.”
20.“You are the right kind of a boy；I will try you.Come in the morning.”Arthur‘s feet could not go fast enough as he ran home to tell his mother of his success.
21.“And，mother，”said he，in a lower tone，“I am glad I learned that hard lesson，because now，when I feel like giving up，I think of it，and I say，No，I won’t give up yet；I will try again.
22.”O，mother，I mean to be a rich man some day，so I cantake care of you，you are such a dear mother.“23.”But，“said his mother，“do not forget that it is God who giveth the power to do.Ask Him to keep you and to help you overcome the difficulties that may come in your way.”
【中文阅读】
1.“亚瑟，我的孩子，”一天，妈妈对他说，“这学期你不能上学了，因为我没有钱给你交学费。
2.”现在挣钱很难，我挣的钱只够买粮食和衣服。很抱歉让你辍学，不过我想你可以在家里学习，多少还能帮我干些活。“3.由于亚瑟背会了那篇难背的课文，因此他对学习的兴趣正浓。他的背诵总是非常熟练。确实，这需要下工夫，他总是说：“一切有价值的东西总是要有付出，这是妈妈说的。”
4.亚瑟因为不能上学了，所以感到很伤心，但他并没有抱怨，也没有让妈妈知道他伤心。当妈妈告诉他下学期不能再去上学的时候，他说：“好的，妈妈。我在家里一样可以学习。
5.”我可以把课本买回家学习，还能教妹妹玛丽读书，而且也许，“他又说，”我还可以去做小工帮您挣钱养家。“6.有时他的课文很难学，他就总是会说：“我以前能背下来最难学的课文，现在我也不能放弃。”
7.亚瑟发现在家里，他有许多事情要做，要学习课文、要教妹妹学习、要帮妈妈做事。不过他一直在考虑：“我怎么能帮妈妈挣些钱呢？”
8.一天一天过去了，他看着妈妈每天忙忙碌碌一刻不停地工作，所以总想着如何做才能帮妈妈更多一些。
9.“我可以背下来难背的课文，为什么就不能做艰苦的工作呢？”他说道。他越琢磨越认为自己可以做。
10.“我今天12岁了，我知道自己已经能帮助妈妈做事了，”一天，他正走在路上时说道，“我行，是的，我行！”说着一跺脚，停了下来。
11.正在这时，他注意到商店橱窗上贴着一张纸，是“招聘启事！”“招聘什么呢？我过去看看。”他说。
12.“招聘男童工！”他为了能看清楚内容，读了一遍又一遍。
一点不错，“招聘男童工！”他的心跳加快，心跳声在他读启示的时候几乎自己都能听到。
13.“如果能得到这份工作，我就能帮到妈妈了。我肯定行。”想到这里，他飞快地跑回家里去，问妈妈是否同意他去试一试。
14.很快，他就得到了许可。“好的，孩子，你可以试一试，上帝会保佑你。”像其他妈妈对自己的孩子一样，她看着亚瑟，还给了他一个只有妈妈才会给的亲切的吻。
15.亚瑟明白了其中的含义，他对自己说：“我可以为你做任何事，妈妈，我也愿意为你做任何事。”很快，他洗干净衣服，刷干净鞋子，穿戴整齐，让自己看起来干净利落。
16.他很害怕别人抢了先，因此他等不及吃妈妈给他做好的饭，就向商店跑去。
17.有，还在那里呢--那个招聘启事！亚瑟走进了商店。“恐怕，”商店老板说，“你太小了。”“我已经十二岁了，先生。”亚瑟说道，直直地站在那里，“您可以试用我。”
18.老板笑了，说：“如果你够壮实，我就会雇你了。孩子，我想你搬不动这么重的东西，不是吗？”
19.“我可以尽力，先生。我连很难记住的课文都能背下来，妈妈说，如果我不放弃，我就能做任何事情。”
20.“你真是个好孩子，我决定试用你了。明天一早来上班吧。”亚瑟迫不及待地飞快地跑回家，去告诉妈妈他成功了的好消息。
21.“妈妈，”他压着嗓子，抑制着兴奋的心情对妈妈说，“我很高兴我背下来了那篇课文，因为从那以后到现在，只要我一感觉要放弃，我就会说，不！我还不能放弃，我要再努力。”
22.“妈妈，将来有一天我要成为富有的人，那样我就可以照顾您了，您真是个好妈妈。”
23.“但是，”妈妈说，“不要忘了是上帝给了你力量，向他祈祷让你保持这个力量并帮助你克服在未来道路上会遇到的困难吧。”