"That's a pretty good crop for a boy to raise, mother," said Bob, with pardonable exultation3. "You haven't lost anything by allowing me to run the ranch4."
"Quite true, Robert. You have accomplished5 wonders. I don't know what I could have done without you. I know very little of farming myself."
"Yes," said Bob, smiling. "Clip has been my right-hand man. I can't say he has worked very hard himself, but he has superintended the others."
"Yes, missis; dat's what I done!" said Clip, proudly.
He did not venture to pronounce the word, for it was too much for him, but he was vaguely7 conscious that it was something important and complimentary8.
"Then I must buy Clip a new suit," said Mrs. Burton, smiling.
"I'll buy it in St. Louis, mother."
When the grain was all gathered in Bob began to load it on the ferry-boat. Wolverton sent Sam round every day to report progress, but did not excite his nephew's suspicions by appearing to take unusual interest in the matter.
To prepare the reader for a circumstance which happened about this time, I find it necessary to introduce another character, who was able to do Bob an important service.
In a small house, about three-quarters of a mile beyond the Burton ranch, lived Dan[Pg 148] Woods, a poor man, with, a large family. He hired the house which he occupied and a few acres of land from Aaron Wolverton, who had obtained possession of it by foreclosing a mortgage which he held. He permitted Woods, the former owner, to remain as a tenant9 in the house which once belonged to him, charging him rather more than an average rent. The poor man raised vegetables and a small crop of wheat, enough of each for his own family, and hired out to neighbors for the balance of his time. He obtained more employment on the Burton ranch than anywhere else, and Mrs. Burton had also sympathized with him in his difficult struggle to maintain his family. But, in spite of friends and his own untiring industry, Dan Woods fell behind. There were five children to support, and they required not only food but clothing, and Dan found it uphill work.
His monthly rent was ten dollars; a small sum in itself, but large for this much-burdened man to pay. But, however poorly he might fare in other respects, Dan knew that it was important to have this sum ready on the first[Pg 149] day of every month. Wolverton was a hard landlord, and admitted of no excuse. More than once after the rent had been paid there was not a dollar left in his purse, or a pinch of food in his house.
A week before this time Dan was looking for his landlord's call with unusual anxiety. He had been sick nearly a week during the previous month, and this had so curtailed10 his earnings11 that he had but six dollars ready in place of ten. Would his sickness be accepted as an excuse? He feared not.
Wolverton's call was made on time. He had some expectation that the rent would not be ready, for he knew Dan had been sick; but he was resolved to show him no consideration.
"His sickness is nothing to me," he reflected. "It would be a pretty state of affairs if landlords allowed themselves to be cheated out of their rent for such a cause."
Dan Woods was at work in the yard when Wolverton approached. He was splitting some wood for use in the kitchen stove. His heart sank within him when he saw the keen, sharp features of his landlord.[Pg 150]
"Good morning, Dan," said Wolverton, with suavity12. His expression was amiable13, as it generally was when he was collecting money, but it suffered a remarkable14 change if the money was not forthcoming.
"Good-morning, sir," answered Woods, with a troubled look.
"I don't complain of it, sir. As I once owned it myself, probably I set more store by it than a stranger would."
"Just so, Dan. You get it at a very low rent, too. If it were any one but yourself I should really feel that I ought to raise the rent to twenty dollars."
"I hope you won't do that, sir," said Woods, in alarm. "It's all I can do to raise ten dollars a month, with all my other expenses."
"Oh, well, I'll let it remain at the present figure as long as you pay me promptly," emphasizing the last words. "Of course I have a right to expect that."
Dan's heart sank within him. It was clear[Pg 151] he could not expect any consideration from such a man. But the truth must be told.
"No doubt you are right, Mr. Wolverton, and you've found me pretty prompt so far."
"So I have, Dan. I know you wouldn't be dishonest enough to make me wait."
"Still, Mr. Wolverton, bad luck will come——"
"As I was saying, sir, a man is sometimes unlucky. Now, I have been sick nearly a week out of the last month, as you may have heard, and it's put me back."
"What are you driving at, Dan Woods?" demanded Wolverton, severely18. "I hope you're not going to say that you are not ready to pay your rent?"
"I haven't got the whole of it, sir; and that's a fact."
"You haven't got the whole of it? How much have you got?"[Pg 152]
"I can pay you six dollars, Mr. Wolverton."
"Six dollars out of ten! Why, this is positively19 shameful20! I wonder you are not ashamed to tell me."
"There is no shame about it that I can see," answered Dan, plucking up his spirit. "I didn't fall sick on purpose; and when I was sick I couldn't work."
"You ought to have one month's rent laid by, so that whatever happens you could pay it on time."
"That's easy to say, Mr. Wolverton, but it takes every cent of my earnings to pay my monthly expenses. There's little chance to save."
"Any one can save who chooses," retorted Wolverton, sharply.
"Shall I get you the six dollars, sir?"
"Yes, give it to me."
"And you will wait for the other four?"
"Till to-morrow night."
"But how can I get it by to-morrow night?" asked Dan in dismay.
"That's your lookout21, not mine. All I have[Pg 153] to say is, unless it is paid to me to-morrow night you must move the next day."
With these words Wolverton went off. Dan Woods, in his trouble, went to Bob Burton the next day, and Bob readily lent him the money he needed.
"Thank you!" said Dan, gratefully; "I won't forget this favor."
"Don't make too much of it, Dan; it's a trifle."
"It's no trifle to me. But for you my family would be turned out of house and home to-morrow. The time may come when I can do you a service."
"Thank you, Dan."
The time came sooner than either anticipated.
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1
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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3
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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6
coveting
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| v.贪求，觊觎( covet的现在分词 ) | |
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7
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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8
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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10
curtailed
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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12
suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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13
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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14
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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15
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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16
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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17
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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18
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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