CHAPTER III. A LITTLE RETROSPECT.

 Richard Burton, three years previous to the opening of this story, was a dry-goods merchant in St. Louis. Becoming tired of the dull routine of his daily life, and with a wistful remembrance of the country, where he had passed his boyhood, he sold out his business for a few thousand dollars, and with the sum realized bought a large ranch¹ located on a small river or creek² running into the Missouri.

 

In taking this course he was influenced in no small degree by a city acquaintance, Aaron Wolverton, who six months before had located himself in the same township, and who, indeed, had made the purchase of the ranch on his behalf. Wolverton made a large commission on the transaction—larger than Richard Burton was aware; but it must be admitted he had bought him an excellent property. Burton was[Pg 24] entirely³ unacquainted with the fact that Wolverton had at an earlier period been an unsuccessful suitor for his wife's hand, nor did he know it till the morning on which our story opens.

 

It is always rather a hazardous⁴ experiment when a man, engaged till middle life in other business, becomes a tiller of the soil without special training for his new occupation. Few persons make farming profitable, however well qualified⁵, and the St. Louis merchant was hardly likely to do more than make a living. In fact, he did not make both ends meet, but fell behind every year till he felt compelled to borrow three thousand dollars on mortgage of Aaron Wolverton. His wife expressed uneasiness, but he laughed away her remonstrances⁶, and assured her he should be able to pay it back in a couple of years, if fortune favored him with good crops.

 

"You know, Mary," he said cheerfully, "there are a good many extra expenses just at first, but it will be different in future. Wolverton assures me that the ranch is a fine one, and that I can pay him back sooner than he[Pg 25] desires, for he is glad to lend on such excellent security."

 

Mrs. Burton was silent, but she was not convinced.

 

Robert Burton, popularly called Bob, was the only son of the ex-merchant. He thoroughly⁷ enjoyed the removal to the country, having a taste for manly⁸ sports. He usually spent a part of the day in study, reciting to a clergyman in the village, and the rest of his time he employed in hunting, fishing, and farm work. Clip, the young refugee, was his chosen companion, and was sincerely attached to Massa Bob, as he generally called him. The negro lad was full of fun and innocent mischief⁹, but had no malice¹⁰ about him. Bob tried to teach him to read, but Clip was no scholar. He complained that study made his head ache.

 

"But you ought to know something, Clip," expostulated Bob. "You don't want to grow up an ignoramus."

 

"What's dat?" asked Clip, bewildered. "Never heard such a long word. Is it anything very bad?"

 

"It means a know-nothing, Clip."[Pg 26]

 

"I guess you're right, Massa Bob. Dat's what I am."

 

"But don't it trouble you, Clip?"

 

"No, Massa Bob; I guess I was never cut out for a scholar."

 

Still Bob persevered¹¹ in his effort to teach Clip.

 

One day, after an unsuccessful attempt to get him to understand the difference between capital B and R, he said: "Clip, I don't believe you have got any sense."

 

"Spec's I haven't, Massa Bob," answered Clip, philosophically¹². "How many have you got?"

 

Bob laughed.

 

"I don't know exactly," he replied; "but I hope I have as many as the average."

 

"I reckon you've got a lot. You learn awful easy."

 

"I am afraid I shall have to learn for both of us, Clip."

 

"Dat's so!" said Clip, in a tone of satisfaction. "Dat'll do just as well."

 

So Bob was finally obliged to give up teaching Clip in despair. He was led to accept the[Pg 27] conclusion of his young protégé that he was never meant for a scholar.

 

In one respect Bob and Clip shared the prejudices of Mrs. Burton. Neither liked Aaron Wolverton. They felt friendly, however, to Sam Wolverton, the nephew; and more than once Sam, with his appetite unsatisfied at home, came over to Burton's ranch and enjoyed a hearty¹³ lunch, thanks to the good offices of Bob Burton.

 

One day he came over crying, and showed the marks of a severe whipping he had received from his uncle.

 

"What did you do, Sam?" asked Bob.

 

Sam mentioned the offense¹⁴, which was a trifling¹⁵ one, and unintentional besides.

 

"Your uncle is a brute¹⁶!" said Bob indignantly.

 

"Dat's so, Sam," echoed Clip.

 

"It would do me good to lay the whip over his shoulders."

 

Sam trembled, and shook his head. He was a timid boy, and such an act seemed to him to border on the foolhardy.

 

"How old are you, Sam?"[Pg 28]

 

"Fourteen."

 

"In seven years you will be a man, and he can't tyrannize over you any longer."

 

"I don't believe I shall live so long," said Sam, despondently¹⁷.

 

"Yes, you will. Even in four years, when you are eighteen, your uncle won't dare to beat you."

 

"Why don't you run away, like I did?" asked Clip, with a bright idea.

 

But Sam was not of the heroic type. He shrank from throwing himself on the world.

 

"I should starve," he said. "Would you run away, Clip, if you were in my place?"

 

"Wouldn't I just!"

 

"And you, Bob?"

 

"He wouldn't strike me but once," said Bob, proudly.

 

"It's all well enough for you, but I think I'm a coward. When my uncle comes at me my heart sinks into my boots, and I want to run away."

 

"You'll never make a hero, Sam."

 

"No, I won't. I'm an awful coward, and I know it."[Pg 29]

 

"How is your aunt? Is she any better than your uncle?"

 

"She's about the same. She don't whip me, but she's got an awful rough tongue. She will scold till she's out of breath."

 

"How long have you lived with your uncle?"

 

"About four years. When my father died, he told me to go to Uncle Aaron."

 

"Didn't he leave any property?"

 

"Uncle Aaron says he didn't leave a cent, and I suppose it's so; but father told me in his last sickness there'd be some property for me."

 

"I've no doubt there was, and he cheated you out of it," said Bob indignantly. "That's just my opinion of your uncle."

 

"Even if it is so, I can't do anything. It'll do no good. But I'd like to know how it is, for Uncle Aaron is all the time twitting me with living on him."

 

"As if you don't do enough to earn your own living. Why, you work harder than Clip, here, though that isn't saying much," added Bob, with a smile.[Pg 30]

 

Clip showed his white teeth, and seemed to enjoy the joke.

 

"Spec's I was born lazy," he said, promptly¹⁸. "Dat ain't my fault, ef I was born so."

 

"That wouldn't be any excuse with Uncle Aaron," remarked Sam. "He thinks I'm lazy, and says he means to lick the laziness out of me."

 

"I think we had better hire out Clip to him. He needs a little discipline like that sort."

 

"Oh golly, massa Bob! I couldn't stand it nohow," said Clip, with a comical expression of alarm. "Massa Wolverton's the meanest white man I ever seed. Wish an earthquake would come and swallow him up."

 

"Your father was round to see my uncle this morning," said Sam.

 

"Yes, I know; he went to pay him some interest money."

 

"Your father is a nice gentleman. I wish I was his nephew," said poor Sam, enviously¹⁹.

 

"Yes, Sam; he's always kind. He's a father to be proud of."[Pg 31]

 

"By the way, Sam, I've got some good news for you."

 

"What is it, Bob?"

 

"Your uncle carried home a pair of prairie chickens this morning. You'll have one good dinner, at least."

 

"Where did he get them?"

 

"I shot them."

 

"And you gave them to him?" asked Sam, surprised.

 

"Well, yes, after a little squabble," and Bob related the adventure of the morning.

 

"How brave you are, Bob!" said Sam admiringly. "You actually had a quarrel with Uncle Aaron?"

 

"Yes," answered Bob, with a smile. "When I got through, your uncle was lying on his back resting. I threw down two of the chickens, as much for your sake as any other reason. I hope you'll get your share."

 

"I saw the chickens in the kitchen before I came away, and wondered where they came from. I knew Uncle Aaron wouldn't buy them."

 

"Has your uncle got a gun?"[Pg 32]

 

"No; I think he's afraid of a gun."

 

"And you are afraid of him?"

 

"I can't help it, Bob. He flogs me sometimes with a horsewhip."

 

"I'd like to see him try it on me," said Bob, with emphasis. "But as I said before, you'll be a man some time, Sam, and then he won't dare touch you."

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

5 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

6 remonstrances   

n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were remonstrances, but he persisted notwithstanding. 虽遭抗议，他仍然坚持下去。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Mr. Archibald did not give himself the trouble of making many remonstrances. 阿奇博尔德先生似乎不想自找麻烦多方规劝。 来自辞典例句

7 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

8 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

9 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

10 malice   

n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋

参考例句：

• I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
• There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。

11 persevered   

v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She persevered with her violin lessons. 她孜孜不倦地学习小提琴。
• Hard as the conditions were, he persevered in his studies. 虽然条件艰苦，但他仍坚持学习。 来自辞典例句

12 philosophically   

adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地

参考例句：

• He added philosophically that one should adapt oneself to the changed conditions. 他富于哲理地补充说，一个人应该适应变化了的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Harry took his rejection philosophically. 哈里达观地看待自己被拒的事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

14 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

15 trifling   

adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的

参考例句：

• They quarreled over a trifling matter.他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。
• So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency,though surely a very trifling one.直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利，不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。

16 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

17 despondently   

adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地

参考例句：

• It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
• He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句

18 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

19 enviously   

adv.满怀嫉妒地

参考例句：

• Yet again, they were looking for their way home blindly, enviously. 然而，它们又一次盲目地、忌妒地寻找着归途。 来自辞典例句
• Tanya thought enviously, he must go a long way south. 坦妮亚歆羡不置，心里在想，他准是去那遥远的南方的。 来自辞典例句