One bright winter morning a stranger walked down a small town street (1) for a grindstone to sharpen an axe that he carried in his hand ,He met a youngster and asked, My good boy ,does your father have a grindstone? Yes,answered the boyl You are a fine fellow,said the man. Will you let me sharpen my axe (2)it? The boy was pleased to hear (3)called a fine fellow. Yes ,sir ,just (4)me. The man asked the boy his name and how old he was. And as they (5)at the grindstone,the man said, You are one of the nicest lads that I have (6)seen. Now,will you just turn the stone a few (7)for me? The mans voice was warm and his words of (8)made the boy happier than ever. And he was (9)to help the man to grind,and sharpen his axe. It was hard (10).The boy turned the stone,again and again. His hand began to (11).He got so tired that he thought he would die. Buthe (12)grinding and sharpening the axe, (13)the man cheered him on with (14)of high praise. At last,the job was done.The axe was sharpened (15)a fine edge that gleamed in the (16).The boy proudly handed it to the man. But suddenly, a (17) came over the man. He was no (18) such a friendly man. He did not even thank the boy.(19)he told him to run along now, or he might be (20) for school. This little story was (21)in the school books for the time and became widely (22)all over the country. It gave (23)to many unpleasant stories about people with axes to grind, (24)who try to get something ror themselves but (25)the fact under an false appearance. |