“Everything happens for the best，”my mother said whenever Ifaced disappointment．“If you carry on，one day something good willhappen．And you’11 realize that it wouldn’t have happened if not for thatprevious disappointment．”
Mother was right，as I discovered after graduating from college in1932，I had decided to try for a job in radio，then work my way up tosports announcer．I hitchhiked to Chicago and knocked on the door of ev—ery station--and got turned down every time．
In one studio，a kind lady told me that big stations couldn’t risk hir—ing an inexperienced person．“Go out in the sticks and find a small sta—tion that’11 give you a chance．”She said．
I thumbed home to Dixon，Illinois．While there were no radio—an—nouncing jobs in Dixon，my father said Montgomery Ward had opened astore and waned a local athlete to manage its sports department．SinceDixon was where I had played high school football，I applied．The jobsounded just right for me．But 1 wasn’t hired．
My disappointment must have shown．“Everything happens for thebest．”Mom reminded me．Dad offered me the Car to hunt job．I triedWOC Radio in Davenport，Iowa．The program director，a wonderfulScotsman named Peter MacArthur，told me they had already hired an an—nouncer．
As I left his office，my frustration boiled over．I asked aloud，“Howcan a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he Can’t get a job in a radiostation．”1 was waiting for the elevator when I heard MacArthur calling，“What was you said about sports？Do you know anything about foot-ball t”Then he stood me before a microphone and asked me broadcast animaginary game．
The preceding autumn．My team had won a game in the last 20 sec—onds with a 65一yard run．I did a 15一minute build—up t0 that play，andPeter told me 1 would be broadcasting Saturday’S game！
On my way home，as I have many times since，I thought of mymother’S words：“If you carry on，one day something good will happen．Something wouldn’t have happened if not for that previous disappoint—ment．”
I often wonder what direction my life might have taken if I’d gottenthe job at Montgomery Ward．
disappointment n．失望
hitchhike V．搭便车；要求
inexperienced adj．经验不足的，不熟练
remind V．提醒；使想起，使记起
imaginary adj．想象中的；幻想的；虚构的；虚数的
Montgomery n．蒙哥马利郡
生存的教训
当我遇到困难时，母亲总会说：“一切都会好的”，“如果你坚持下去，总会有幸运出现的一天。你会意识到，假如没有先前的失望，现在的一切 都不会出现。”
1932年，在我大学毕业时，我发现母亲是对的。我已打算在电台找个 事儿做，然后争取做体育节目的播音员。我搭便车来到芝加哥，一家电台地敲门推销自己，可是每次都遭到拒绝。
在一个播音室里，一位好心肠的女士对我说，电台是不会冒险雇佣毫 无经验的新手的，“去小镇上找一家愿意给你机会的小电台吧。”她说。
于是我又搭便车回到我的家乡伊利诺伊的迪克森。在迪克森没有像电 台播音员这样的工作，父亲说，一家新商店刚在蒙哥马利·沃德营业，它 的体育部想要在当地雇一个运动员管理。因为中学时曾在迪克森打过橄榄 球，所以我申请了这份工作。它听起来似乎挺适合我，可我落选了。
我的失落肯定在脸上流露出来了。“一切总会好的。”母亲对我说。爸 爸给我买了一辆专门找工作用的汽车，随后我到了爱荷华的达文波特的wOC电台求职。那里的电台节目负责人是一个很棒的苏格兰人，叫彼得· 麦克阿瑟，他说他们已经雇佣了一位播音员。
离开他办公室后，我的挫败感达到极限。我大声地说：“在电台都找 不到工作的家伙怎么会成为体育节目的播音员呢？”等电梯的时候，我听 到麦克阿瑟在喊：“你说什么体育？你了解橄榄球吗？”接着我就站到麦克 风前，他让我解说一场想象中的比赛。
前年秋天，我们球队曾很精彩地在最后20秒内以65码的距离赢了一场球，我用尽浑身解数花了15分钟解说那场球赛。彼得说我能够解说星期六的比赛了。
回家的路上——以后的很多时候也都是这样，我在思考着母亲的话：”如果你坚持下去，总有好事降临的一天。假如没有先前的失望，现在的一切都不会出现”。
我常想：假如我当年赢得了蒙哥马利·沃德的那份工作，我的人生之路又会是什么样子呢？
名人名言Every little helps a mickle．聚沙成塔，集腋成裘。