Rebuilding a Bridge
David and Roy decided to go for a bicycle ride with three other students: Robert, Helen and Betty. But Robert's father couldn't afford to buy a bike for him. So they were going to borrow one for him.
The students had planned to meet at 8 o'clock. But Robert, Helen and Betty were half an hour late, for they had to come a long way since they found the bridge over the stream had been washed away.
When they told the bad news to David and Roy, David said nothing and kept silent for a moment. After a while, an idea came into his mind. “Do you think we could rebuild it?”
All of them agreed and started to consider this seriously. They decided to rebuild the bridge before they went for the bicycle ride. Betty said she could ask her brother to make a plan for them.
The biggest problem was to get enough wood. The next day they visited nearly every house in the village. Mr Robinson agreed to supply the wood so long as they did the work. Several people promised to give money if they could build a new bridge because it was a short cut for them.
The students worked for nearly a week under Mr Robinson's guidance. At the end of a week of hard work, the bridge was completed. They all agreed to ask Mr Robinson to officially open the bridge. “He has helped us most,” David said.
“And tomorrow morning we can go around to all the houses,” added Roy, “and tell the people that the bridge will be officially opened at six o'clock. Then we can remind them about their promises about money,” Roy added.
“But we don't really want that, do we?” said Robert.
“Yes,” said Helen. “We need it and I think we should collect it.” She glanced quickly at the others, who nodded.
The next day, the students visited all the houses again. They were surprised when they saw how pleased the people were with them. By two o'clock they had collected over a hundred dollars. By five o'clock, unknown to Robert, they had spent it.
At six the students gathered at the bridge. Mr Robinson appeared with nearly forty of the people of their district. In a short speech he praised the students for their efforts.
“And now I declare the bridge open,” he said, “and I have a small surprise for you.”
He turned to his son and received a small metal sign from him. Climbing down the bank, he nailed it on the side of the bridge. “Students' Bridge”, it said. The neighbors clapped, and the students felt even more pleased with their work. David turned to Robert.
“And now,” David said, “we have a surprise for you. Look!” ...