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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Bob Burton or The Young Ranchman of the Missouri » CHAPTER XVII. WOLVERTON'S POOR TENANT.
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CHAPTER XVII. WOLVERTON'S POOR TENANT.
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 Bob hired a couple of extra hands, and made haste to finish harvesting his wheat, for he was anxious to start on the trip down the river as soon as possible. His anticipations1 as to the size of the crop were justified2. It footed up fourteen hundred and seventy-five bushels, and this, at two dollars per bushel, would fetch in market nearly three thousand dollars.
 
"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."
 
"I helped him, missis," said Clip, coveting6 a share of approval for himself.[Pg 147]
 
"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.
 
"You've got a nice, snug15 place here, Dan; it's a fine home for your family."
 
"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."
 
Dan's heart sank still lower. It was becoming harder every minute to own that he was deficient16.
 
"Still, Mr. Wolverton, bad luck will come——"
 
"What!" exclaimed Wolverton, with a forbidding scowl17.
 
"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.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 anticipations 5b99dd11cd8d6a699f0940a993c12076     
预期( anticipation的名词复数 ); 预测; (信托财产收益的)预支; 预期的事物
参考例句:
  • The thought took a deal of the spirit out of his anticipations. 想到这,他的劲头消了不少。
  • All such bright anticipations were cruelly dashed that night. 所有这些美好的期望全在那天夜晚被无情地粉碎了。
2 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的,有理的
参考例句:
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
3 exultation wzeyn     
n.狂喜,得意
参考例句:
  • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
  • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
4 ranch dAUzk     
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。
5 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
6 coveting bcf51cc820cec5bf2c09ea88ad1492a4     
v.贪求,觊觎( covet的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • We begin by coveting what we see every day. 垂涎的开始是我们每天看见的东西。 来自互联网
  • We coveting what we see every day. 之所以如此,是因为我们垂涎每日所见的一些东西。 来自互联网
7 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
8 complimentary opqzw     
adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的
参考例句:
  • She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
  • The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。
9 tenant 0pbwd     
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用
参考例句:
  • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
  • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
10 curtailed 7746e1f810c323c484795ba1ce76a5e5     
v.截断,缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Spending on books has been severely curtailed. 购书开支已被大大削减。
  • Their public health programme had to be severely curtailed. 他们的公共卫生计划不得不大大收缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 earnings rrWxJ     
n.工资收人;利润,利益,所得
参考例句:
  • That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
  • Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。
12 suavity 0tGwJ     
n.温和;殷勤
参考例句:
  • He's got a surface flow of suavity,but he's rough as a rasp underneath.他表面看来和和气气的,其实是个粗野狂暴的恶棍。
  • But the well-bred,artificial smile,when he bent upon the guests,had its wonted steely suavity.但是他哈着腰向宾客招呼的那种彬彬有礼、故意装成的笑容里,却仍然具有它平时那种沉着的殷勤。
13 amiable hxAzZ     
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的
参考例句:
  • She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
  • We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。
14 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
15 snug 3TvzG     
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
参考例句:
  • He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
  • She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。
16 deficient Cmszv     
adj.不足的,不充份的,有缺陷的
参考例句:
  • The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
  • I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。
17 scowl HDNyX     
vi.(at)生气地皱眉,沉下脸,怒视;n.怒容
参考例句:
  • I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
  • The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色,清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。
18 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
19 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实
参考例句:
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
20 shameful DzzwR     
adj.可耻的,不道德的
参考例句:
  • It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己,真不害臊。
  • We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。
21 lookout w0sxT     
n.注意,前途,瞭望台
参考例句:
  • You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
  • It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来,公司的前景可就不妙了。


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