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RSS FeedShort Story: 'Luck' by Mark Twain??25 March 2011Share ThisDiggYahoo! BuzzFacebookdel.icio.usStumbleUpon
TO DOWNLOAD the MP3 of this story, click on the MP3 link in the upper right corner of the page. Double-click any word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
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SUSAN CLARK: Now, the Special English program, AMERICAN STORIES.
(MUSIC)
Our story today is called "Luck."? It was written by Mark Twain. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story.
(MUSIC)
SHEP O’NEAL:? I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English military men of his time. I do not want to tell you his real name and titles. I will just call him Lieutenant General Lord Arthur Scoresby.
I cannot describe my excitement when I saw this great and famous man. There he sat, the man himself, in person, all covered with medals. I could not take my eyes off him. He seemed to show the true mark of greatness. His fame had no effect on him. The hundreds of eyes watching him, the worship of so many people did not seem to make any difference to him.
Next to me sat a clergyman, who was an old friend of mine. He was not always a clergyman. During the first half of his life he was a teacher in the military school at Woolwich. There was a strange look in his eye as he leaned toward me and whispered – “Privately – he is a complete fool.” He meant, of course, the hero of our dinner.
This came as a shock to me. I looked hard at him. I could not have been more surprised if he has said the same thing about Nepoleon, or Socrates, or Solomon. But I was sure of two things about the clergyman. He always spoke the truth. And, his judgment of men was good. Therefore, I wanted to find out more about our hero as soon as I could.
Some days later I got a chance to talk with the clergyman, and he told me more.? These are his exact words:
About forty years ago, I was an instructor in the military academy at Woolwich, when young Scoresby was given his first examination. I felt extremely sorry for him.? Everybody answered the questions well, intelligently, while he – why, dear me – he did not know anything, so to speak. He was a nice, pleasant young man. It was painful to see him stand there and give answers that were miracles of stupidity.
I knew of course that when examined again he would fail and be thrown out. So, I said to myself, it would be a simple, harmless act to help him as much as I could.
I took him aside and found he knew a little about Julius Ceasar’s history. But, he did not know anything else. So, I went to work and tested him and worked him like a slave. I made him work, over and over again, on a few questions about Ceasar, which I knew he would be asked.
If you will believe me, he came through very well on the day of the examination.? He got high praise too, while others who knew a thousand times more than he were sharply criticized. By some strange, lucky accident, he was asked no questions but those I made him study. Such an accident does not happen more than once in a hundred years.
Well, all through his studies, I stood by him, with the feeling a mother has for a disabled child. And he always saved himself by some miracle.
I thought that what in the end would destroy him would be the mathematics examination.? I decided to make his end as painless as possible. So, I pushed facts into his stupid head for hours. Finally, I let him go to the examination to experience what I was sure would be his dismissal from school. Well, sir, try to imagine the result. I was shocked out of my mind. He took first prize! And he got the highest praise.
I felt guilty day and night – what I was doing was not right. But I only wanted to make his dismissal a little less painful for him. I never dreamed it would lead to such strange, laughable results.
I thought that sooner or later one thing was sure to happen: The first real test once he was through school would ruin him.
Then, the Crimean War broke out. I felt that sad for him that there had to be a war.? Peace would have given this donkey a chance to escape from ever being found out as being so stupid. Nervously, I waited for the worst to happen. It did. He was appointed an officer.? A captain, of all things! Who could have dreamed that they would place such a responsibility on such weak shoulders as his.
I said to myself that I was responsible to the country for this. I must go with him and protect the nation against him as far as I could. So, I joined up with him. And anyway we went to the field.
And there – oh dear, it was terrible. Mistakes, fearful mistakes – why, he never did anything that was right – nothing but mistakes. But, you see, nobody knew the secret of how stupid he really was. Everybody misunderstood his actions. They saw his stupid mistakes as works of great intelligence. They did, honestly!
His smallest mistakes made a man in his right mind cry, and shout and scream too – to himself, of course. And what kept me in a continual fear was the fact that every mistake he made increased his glory and fame. I kept saying to myself that when at last they found out about him, it will be like the sun falling out of the sky.
He continued to climb up, over the dead bodies of his superiors. Then, in the hottest moment of one battle down went our colonel. My heart jumped into my mouth, for Scoresby was the next in line to take his place. Now, we are in for it, I said…
The battle grew hotter. The English and their allies were steadily retreating all over the field. Our regiment occupied a position that was extremely important. One mistake now would bring total disaster. And what did Scoresby do this time – he just mistook his left hand for his right hand…that was all. An order came for him to fall back and support our right. Instead, he moved forward and went over the hill to the left. We were over the hill before this insane movement could be discovered and stopped. And what did we find? A large and unsuspected Russian army waiting! And what happened – were we all killed? That is exactly what would have happened in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred.? But no – those surprised Russians thought that no one regiment by itself would come around there at such a time.
It must be the whole British army, they thought. They turned tail, away they went over the hill and down into the field in wild disorder, and we after them. In no time, there was the greatest turn around you ever saw. The allies turned defeat into a sweeping and shining victory.
The allied commander looked on, his head spinning with wonder, surprise and joy.? He sent right off for Scoresby, and put his arms around him and hugged him on the field in front of all the armies. Scoresby became famous that day as a great military leader – honored throughout the world. That honor will never disappear while history books last.
He is just as nice and pleasant as ever, but he still does not know enough to come in out of the rain. He is the stupidest man in the universe.
Until now, nobody knew it but Scoresby and myself. He has been followed, day by day, year by year, by a strange luck. He has been a shining soldier in all our wars for years.? He has filled his whole military life with mistakes. Every one of them brought him another honorary title. Look at his chest, flooded with British and foreign medals. Well, sir, every one of them is the record of some great stupidity or other. They are proof that the best thing that can happen to a man is to be born lucky. I say again, as I did at the dinner, Scoresby’s a complete fool.
(MUSIC)
SUSAN CLARK: You have just heard the story "Luck."? It was written by Mark Twain and adapted for Special English by Harold Berman. Your narrator was Shep O’Neal.? Listen again next week at this same time for another American Story told in Special English on the Voice of America. This is Susan Clark.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (86)25-03-2011Sergey(Russia)Thank you very helpfull.
26-03-2011This is a very exciting story !
26-03-2011alsen(China)Interesting isn't it?i hope more such stories.
26-03-2011cao cuong(viet nam)Thank u !
26-03-2011thuy(vietnam)I like it, because I can practise my listenning skill
26-03-2011HI~Girls~(China)anyway，it seems that intelligence isn't the key to a success。
26-03-2011Michael(China)i like the style you tell the story.
26-03-2011peter(Québec, Canada)thank you!
26-03-2011(Taiwan)Hahahaha this story is so cool.
26-03-2011Ahmet(XJ,China)I found I really enjoy such a story like this,and the stlye of telling!~
26-03-2011saker(kuwait)The Question is, Do you belive in luck?
26-03-2011drac(China)i finished listening to it, there're obviously no better praise than "he is the stupidest man in the universe". thanks to the great narrator and others working for voa.
26-03-2011凌凌(China)At first thank you very muchit is a good story that speaks in gentle voiceI want to make friends on this web site
26-03-2011dieu lan(Vietnam)I like this story. Lucky is something that we can't explain clearly, isn't it? I aslo love the voice and the way that u read the story. That's wonderful . Thanks a lot.
26-03-2011Sun(Korea)Thank you!
26-03-2011Slava(CR)Mark Twain is excellent writer. In our country is known mostly Adventures of Tom and Huckleberry. The fim was also on TV.
26-03-2011avi(israel)i am so like this program Short Story, thanks allot
26-03-2011Sunny(China)I like it very much !
26-03-2011HUNG(SAIGON , VIETNAM)THANKS YOU VERY MUCH . THIS PROGRAM IS VERY GOODTHANKS AGAIN...
26-03-2011ga cuo(tibet)Thank you very helpfull.
26-03-2011V? Phúc(Vietnam)I often listen "American story". This is good story, the editors should provide more long and good stories. That's good opputinty for foreigners to study American English. Thank a lots!
26-03-2011Noro(France)I'have enjoyed listening to your story told like you do,thanks
26-03-2011George Alfred(Colombia)Thank you so much ! Very nice, interesting and useful.
26-03-2011Ay?e(Türkiye)thank you
27-03-2011Noodles(Taiwan)As you grow older and older, you will understand more and more about the truth is just like what Mark's story tell us.
27-03-2011this is a good story . thinks very much!
27-03-2011puujee(mongolia)thank you very much
27-03-2011David(Guatemala)Thank you for admit to print this article and to download the media clip.
27-03-2011prem(india)nice story!!! i like it.
27-03-2011GOOOOOOOOOOO(CHINA)nice story but i lisen it hardly i need more practice
27-03-2011GOOOOOOOOOOO(CHINA)nice story but i lisen it hardly i need more practice
27-03-2011Morten(sweden)A very Good story! And i can also practise my english.
27-03-2011Cosifei(China)Very vivid! I like it a lot.
27-03-2011thank you .it is more than words,but also perfect reading
27-03-2011asen(egypt)very good story
27-03-2011Mazen(Egypt)Very good
27-03-2011FRANZ(BRAZIL)I would suggest that the program had Short Story exercise of interpretation of texts. Perhaps the text might have some errors in reading that we have to find them.
27-03-2011Lee hyun sook(Korea)Thank you! very helpful Miyake sama
27-03-2011Sasivimol(Thailand)Thank you very much I like this story
27-03-2011thodao(saigon vietnam)I like it, thanks you.
27-03-2011Mercedes Calle(Colombia)My guess is Winston Churchill, isn't it? Nice story, I laughed so much. Thanks VAO members.
27-03-2011samuel(china)very good
27-03-2011saeed abdigafar(somalia)realy it it 's best story in my life hahahhahaahh
27-03-2011M. Megahed(Egypt)Thank you this is very good practise.
27-03-2011Eric(China)I think Scorsby is the prototype of Forrest Gump who is my favorite movie character. The movie tells us miracles happen every day. We should live hopefully everyday.
27-03-2011AngelDarbelli(Canada)Thank you very very helpful
27-03-2011Haydar (Emilka's)(Turkiye)thanks!
27-03-2011Gulden(Kazakhstan)now i am studying English at university in Turkey becase the education language is English. Voa is really helpful to make easier learning it
28-03-2011Johan(Indonesia)Amazing...thanks
28-03-2011Levin(CHINA)It's such a intresting story that i really liake it. I hope my English can be better and better。
28-03-2011Maoyang(china)good listening
28-03-2011matchgirlVery interesting and funny a story.The title of this story should be "miracle" instead of "luck".It's a very happy experience if i were followed by luck just as Scoresby.haha.
28-03-2011monikal(china)I will graduated from university for not a long time ,I wanna prevent my second language,it is good,thanks.
28-03-2011Azza(Sudan)It is useful story and the lanuage was clear
28-03-2011rolita(China)The story is excellent,and the pace of the speed is very helpful for follow to practise my pronunciation,thank u
28-03-2011ruanjianqiang(china)i like it ,i hope this web can improve my listening skill
28-03-2011tuan anh(viet nam)the story very interesting! I like it veery muchand I like this program too
28-03-2011Rushan(Tatarstan)Absolutely admiring story. Luck makes our life Great Wonder
28-03-2011Maki(Japan)I could read this story because it's written in Special English. Otherwise it's hard to read a regular book. The vocabulary is difficult. It seems the name of Mark Twain is well-known because there is an attraction named after him in Tokyo Disney Land. People who don't know an American history even know him. I was that kind of person. But I'm glad to have a chance to read here. Thanks to the adaptation, I enjoyed the story. Thank you.
29-03-2011akon cao(china)That's a good story, but i wonder if it is a fact. In the story, Scoresby was a real sucessful leader in his time, but how can he arrived that high position in military ? In my opinion , no one can be sucessful without hard struggle.
29-03-2011nhaphuong(vietnam)i didn't think that story written in english is so meaningful like this. because of the acadamic written way and confusingly used words. but, this story has made me change my view on english stories. i like the story very much! thanks.
29-03-2011Thank you!(South Korea)Everybody who read this article will be lucky today.
29-03-2011Thursday(Cambodia)It is helpful program for second language learners all over the world.
29-03-2011minhhoang(vietnam)how can u know if he was a genius?
29-03-2011Eugene(Russia)I've just bumped at the resource. Very helpful. Waiting impatiently for the next story.
29-03-2011Susumu(Japan)I enjoyed reading this story. I hope to improve my english skills. By the way, the name of Mark Twain is quite pupular even in Japan. But I don't konow why.
30-03-2011viet Dung(viet nam)goooood thank's so much, thought i do not understand
30-03-2011Nguyen Van(Vietnam)Mark Twain is a famous writer. I learned two of his stories, one in highschool and one in university.
30-03-2011J.I.Choi(S.Korea)Thank you so much. It was interesting story so I had a good time for a moment.Thanks VOA !
30-03-2011If things will happen they will happen
30-03-2011Ivy(china)I think I should practise it for more time，if I want to read it frequently.And I hope to improve my spoken English quickly!
30-03-2011cloud is the horse(China)This story is really interesting!So good!What do you guy think?LOL!
30-03-2011thank you so much
30-03-2011long(vietnam)this is a great story. Thanks so much!
31-03-2011Steven(China)a story full of satire, so classic and so good
31-03-2011Chang(China)The most humorous story narrated by the most charming narrator Shep O'neal !!
31-03-2011Lois(Uganda)thanhs so much for the story it will help me improve on my vocabulary.good work done.
31-03-2011Mia(Taiwan)Good story and narrator!...He is just as nice and pleasant as ever, but he still does not know enough to "come in out of the rain..."Does anyone know what it means ? I don't get it.
31-03-2011giothang6(vietnam)thank you!
31-03-2011mimi(cebu)thank you so much for this story looking forward of hearing more stories like this.
01-04-2011hary(indonesia)that's good .but i confuse how to abselutly transleted in indonesia
02-04-2011Sergey Shilayev(Russia)The older I am, the more number of stupid bosses I have. Do I become wiser, or they are just luckier than me? Thanks, VOA, for charming story narrated by charming voice.
02-04-2011liye(china)i finished it but i din not understand the story.it is so long
03-04-2011yumi(Japan)I enjoyed this in Japan. As you know, Japan is now under terrible disasters, but It made me laugh for a while.Thank you.
03-04-2011Genny(Vietnam)I love Mark Twain, I love this story
04-04-2011pheonyGood, not everybody have such a luck.
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