Xiao ming went up to him and tried to ___ the umbrella for for the old man but he faild.

Xiao ming went up to him and tried to ___ the umbrella for for the old man but he faild.
全文是这样的：It was a r afternoon.Xiao Ming was on his way home from school .Suddenly he saw an old man walking in the rain.The old man hadn't got an umbrella(伞) with him and he was wet all over.Xiao Ming went up to him and tried to ___ the umbrella for the old man but he failed.He was too short and it was difficult for him to hold it high enough.Then he saw the old man's stick(手杖) and he tried hard to tie it to the handle(柄) of the umbrella.This time the umbrella was made to be long enough and it stopped the old man from getting wet.The old man was very pleased and thanked the boy again and again.Then they went on their way t .
中间填什么?provide可不可以啊?