Another chance

Jack had gone to the university to study history, but at the end of his first year, his history professor failed him in his examinations, and he was told that he would have to leave the university.

However, his father decided that he would go to see the professor to urge him to let Jack continue his studies the following year.

– “He’s a good boy,” said Jack’s father, “and if you let him pass this time, I’m sure he’ll improve a lot next year and pass the examinations at the end of it really well.”

– “No, no, that’s quite impossible!” replied the professor immediately. “Do you know, last month I asked him when Napoleon had died, and he didn’t know!”

– “Please, sir, give him another chance,” said Jack’s father. “You see, I’m afraid we don’t take any newspapers in our house, so none of us even knew that Napoleon was ill.”

A very strict officer was talking to some new soldiers whom he had to train. He had never seen them before, so he began:

– “My name is Stone, and I’m even harder than stone, so do what I tell you or there ’ll be trouble. Don’t try any tricks with me, and then we’ll get on well together.”

Then he went to each soldier one after the other and asked him his name. “Speak loudly so that everyone can hear you clearly,” he said, and don’t forget to call me “sir”.

Each soldier told him his name, until he came to the last one. This man remained last one. This man remained silent, and so Captain Stone shouted at him,

– “When I ask you a question, answer it! I’ll ask you again: What’s your name, soldier?”

The soldier was very unhappy, but at last he replied.

– “My name’s Stone-breaker, sir”, he said nervously.