CHAPTER XXXII. THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.

 Job Stanton would not have been more utterly¹ overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes. That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible. The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly² true.

 

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

 

"'Goin' to do about it'?" ejaculated Job.

 

"Certainly. When a man indorses a note he knows that he may be called upon to pay, and of course has some plan for doing it."

 

"I don't know what to do," said the poor shoemaker, sadly. "I can't pay the note."

 

"Humph! There seems to be only one thing to do, then."

 

[Pg 256]"What is it?"

 

"You must sell or mortgage your place."

 

"What! sell or mortgage my house? I can't do that, Major Sturgis."

 

"Very well. I won't insist on it if you can pay the note in any other way."

 

"Heaven knows I can't."

 

"Then, Mr. Stanton," said the major, sharply, "it's time to speak plainly. Unless you do as I suggest, I shall attach your property and compel you to raise the money in the way I indicate."

 

Job Stanton was mortally afraid of legal proceedings³, and after a while he acceded⁴ to the major's proposal, which was himself to accept a mortgage for the sum of five hundred dollars secured upon the place. His wife, who had to be told, wept bitterly, for it seemed to her as if they were parting with their main reliance. But Major Sturgis carried his point, and walked off triumphant⁵.

 

And now for the major's motive⁶, for he had one, and he had artfully made use of Richmond to forward his plan: He was desirous of getting possession of the poor shoemaker's house and land,[Pg 257] having in view the purchase of the lot adjoining. Then he would move the house off, throw down the fence between the two lots, build a nice dwelling⁷, and rent it to a city friend who wished to spend his summers in Hampton. He knew very well that Job Stanton wouldn't listen to a proposition for selling his house, and he therefore tried to accomplish by stratagem⁸ what he could not fairly.

 

"Pa, you are looking in good spirits," said Sam Sturgis when his father came home.

 

"I don't feel so," said the major, hypocritically. "I have had to do a very disagreeable thing this morning."

 

"What was it?" Sam asked, his curiosity being excited.

 

"Mr. Richmond the trader owed me a note for five hundred dollars, indorsed by Job Stanton, and as he did not pay it, I had to call on Stanton."

 

"He couldn't pay—he's too poor," said Sam.

 

"Not in money, but he owns his place. I have accepted a mortgage for six months' time on his house and lot."

 

[Pg 258]"Suppose he doesn't pay when the time comes?"

 

"I am afraid I shall have to foreclose the mortgage."

 

"And he'll have to leave, won't he?"

 

"Unless he can raise the money some other way."

 

"There isn't any other way, is there?"

 

"Richmond might hand over the money by that time."

 

"Do you think he will?"

 

"He ought to, but I don't think there is much chance of it."

 

"Ben will be rather astonished when he comes home and finds his uncle has lost his place."

 

"Yes, I suppose he will."

 

"I sha'n't be sorry for him. He puts on a good many airs, considering how poor he is. I wish I knew how he is getting along in California."

 

"He may get a living there, but that is about all," said the major. "I shouldn't be at all surprised if his uncle came to me for money to get him home."

 

"You wouldn't let him have it, would you, pa?"

 

[Pg 259]"I might," answered Major Sturgis, "if he would surrender the place to me without putting me to inconvenience."

 

"Would you take Ben for my servant, pa, in that case?"

 

"Why do you want him for a servant?"

 

"I want to humble⁹ his pride," answered Sam, with a gleam of something like hatred¹⁰ in his eyes.

 

1 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

2 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

3 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

4 acceded   

v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职

参考例句：

• He acceded to demands for his resignation. 他同意要他辞职的要求。
• They have acceded to the treaty. 他们已经加入了那个条约。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

6 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

7 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

8 stratagem   

n.诡计，计谋

参考例句：

• Knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind.眉头一皱，计上心来。
• Trade discounts may be used as a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty.商业折扣可以用作维护顾客忠诚度的一种竞争策略。

9 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

10 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。