Chapter 3

      Frank listened to this revelation with wonder.

　　For the first time in his life he asked himself, ``Whoam I?''

　　``How came I by my name, mother?'' he asked.

　　``I must tell you. After the sudden departure ofthe gentleman who brought you, we happened tothink that we had not asked your name. We accordinglywrote to the address which had been given us,making the inquiry¹. In return we received a slipof paper containing these words: `The name isimmaterial; give him any name you please. A. M.' ''

　　``You gave me the name of Frank.''

　　``It was Mr. Fowler's name. We should have givenit to you had you been our own boy; as the choicewas left to us, we selected that.''

　　``It suits me as well as any other. How soon didyou leave Brooklyn, mother?''

　　``In a week we had made all arrangements, andremoved to this place. It is a small place, but itfurnished as much work as my husband felt able todo. With the help of the allowance for your support,we not only got on comfortably, but saved up a hundredand fifty dollars annually², which we depositedin a savings³ bank. But after five years the moneystopped coming. It was the year 1857, the year ofthe great panic, and among others who failed wasGiles Warner's agent, from whom we received ourpayments. Mr. Fowler went to New York to inquireabout it, but only learned that Mr. Warner, weigheddown by his troubles, had committed suicide, leavingno clew to the name of the man who left you withus.''

　　``How long ago was that, mother?''

　　``Seven years ago nearly eight.''

　　``And you continued to keep me, though thepayments stopped.''

　　``Certainly; you were as dear to us as our ownchild--for we now had a child of our own--Grace.

　　We should as soon have thought of casting off heras you.''

　　``But you must have been poor, mother.''

　　``We were economical, and we got along till yourfather died three years ago. Since then it has beenhard work.''

　　``You have had a hard time, mother.''

　　``No harder on your account. You have been agreat comfort to me, Frank. I am only anxious forthe future. I fear you and Grace will suffer after Iam gone.''

　　``Don't fear, mother, I am young and strong; Iam not afraid to face the world with God's help.''

　　``What are you thinking of, Frank?'' asked Mrs.

　　Fowler, noticing the boy's fixed⁴ look.

　　``Mother,'' he said, earnestly, ``I mean to seek forthat man you have told me of. I want to find outwho I am. Do you think he was my father?''

　　``He said he was, but I do not believe it. Hespoke with hesitation⁵, and said this to deceive us,probably.''

　　``I am glad you think so, I would not like to thinkhim my father. From what you have told me ofhim I am sure I would not like him.''

　　``He must be nearly fifty now--dark complexion,with dark hair and whiskers. I am afraid thatdescription will not help you any. There are manymen who look like that. I should know him by hisexpression, but I cannot describe that to you.''

　　Here Mrs. Fowler was seized with a very severefit of coughing, and Frank begged her to say nomore.

　　Two days later, and Mrs. Fowler was no better.

　　She was rapidly failing, and no hope was entertainedthat she would rally. She herself felt that deathwas near at hand and told Frank so, but he foundit hard to believe.

　　On the second of the two days, as he was returningfrom the village store with an orange for hismother, he was overtaken by Sam Pomeroy.

　　``Is your mother very sick, Frank?'' he asked.

　　``Yes, Sam, I'm afraid she won't live.''

　　``Is it so bad as that? I do believe,'' he added, witha sudden change of tone, ``Tom Pinkerton is themeanest boy I ever knew. He is trying to get yourplace as captain of the baseball club. He says thatif your mother doesn't live, you will have to go tothe poorhouse, for you won't have any money, andthat it will be a disgrace for the club to have acaptain from the poorhouse.''

　　``Did he say that?'' asked Frank, indignantly.

　　``Yes.''

　　``When he tells you that, you may say that I shallnever go to the poorhouse.''

　　``He says his father is going to put you and yoursister there.''

　　``All the Deacon Pinkertons in the world can nevermake me go to the poorhouse!'' said Frank, resolutely⁶.

　　``Bully for you, Frank! I knew you had spunk⁷.''

　　Frank hurried home. As he entered the littlehouse a neighbor's wife, who had been watchingwith his mother, came to meet him.

　　``Frank,'' she said, gravely, ``you must prepareyourself for sad news. While you were out yourmother had another hemorrhage, and--and--''

　　``Is she dead?'' asked the boy, his face very pale.

　　``She is dead!''

1 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

2 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

3 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

4 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

5 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

6 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

7 spunk   

n.勇气，胆量

参考例句：

• After his death,the soldier was cited for spunk.那位士兵死后因作战勇敢而受到表彰。
• I admired her independence and her spunk.我敬佩她的独立精神和勇气。