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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Driven From Home Carl Crawford's Experience » CHAPTER XVII. CARL ENTERS THE FACTORY.
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CHAPTER XVII. CARL ENTERS THE FACTORY.
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 When they left the factory Mr. Jennings said, with a smile:
“Now you are one of us, Carl. To-morrow you begin work.”
“I am glad of it, sir.”
“You don’t ask what salary you are to get.”
“I am willing to leave that to you.”
“Suppose we say two dollars a week and board—to begin with.”
“That is better than I expected. But where am I to board?”
“At my house, for the present, if that will suit you.”
“I shall like it very much, if it won’t inconvenience you.”
“Hannah is the one to be inconvenienced, if anyone. I had a little conversation with her while you were getting ready for dinner. She seems to have taken a liking1 for you, though she doesn’t like boys generally. As for me, it will make the home brighter to have a young person in it. Hannah and I are old-fashioned and quiet, and the neighbors don’t have much reason to complain of noise.”
“No, sir; I should think not,” said Carl, with a smile.
“There is one thing you must be prepared for, Carl,” said Mr. Jennings, after a pause.
“What is that, sir?”
“Your living in my house—I being your employer—may excite jealousy2 in some. I think I know of one who will be jealous.”
“Leonard Craig?”
“And his uncle. However, don’t borrow any trouble on that score. I hope you won’t take advantage of your position, and, thinking yourself a favorite, neglect your duties.”
“I will not, sir.”
“Business and friendship ought to be kept apart.”
“That is right, sir.”
“I am going back to the house, but you may like to take a walk about the village. You will feel interested in it, as it is to be your future home. By the way, it may be well for you to write for your trunk. You can order it sent to my house.”
“All right, sir; I will do so.”
He went to the post office, and, buying a postal3 card, wrote to his friend, Gilbert Vance, as follows:
“Dear Gilbert:—Please send my trunk by express to me at Milford, care of Henry Jennings, Esq. He is my employer, and I live at his house. He is proprietor4 of a furniture factory. Will write further particulars soon.
“Carl Crawford.”
This postal carried welcome intelligence to Gilbert, who felt a brotherly interest in Carl. He responded by a letter of hearty5 congratulation, and forwarded the trunk as requested.
Carl reported for duty the next morning, and, though a novice6, soon showed that he was not without mechanical skill.
At twelve o’clock all the factory hands had an hour off for dinner. As Carl passed into the street he found himself walking beside the boy whom he had succeeded—Leonard Craig.
“Good-morning, Leonard,” said Carl, pleasantly.
“Good-morning. Have you taken my place in the factory?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think you shall like it?”
“I think I shall, though, of course, it is rather early to form an opinion.”
“I didn’t like it.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to grow up a workman. I think I am fit for something better.”
“Mr. Jennings began as a factory hand.”
“I suppose he had a taste for it. I haven’t.”
“Then you like your present position better?”
“Oh, yes; it’s more genteel. How much does Jennings pay you?”
“Two dollars a week and board.”
“How is that? Where do you board?”
“With him.”
“Oh!” said Leonard, his countenance7 changing. “So you are a favorite with the boss, are you?”
“I don’t know. He gave me warning that he should be just as strict with me as if we were strangers.”
“How long have you known him?”
Carl smiled.
“I met him for the first time yesterday,” he answered.
“That’s very queer.”
“Well, perhaps it is a little singular.”
“Are you a poor boy?”
“I have to earn my own living.”
“I see. You will grow up a common workman.”
“I shall try to rise above it. I am not ashamed of the position, but I am ambitious to rise.”
“I am going to be a bookkeeper,” said Leonard. “My uncle is going to teach me. I would rather be a bookkeeper than a factory hand.”
“Then you are right in preparing yourself for such a post.”
Here the two boys separated, as they were to dine in different places.
Leonard was pleased with his new position. He really had very little to do. Twice a day he went to the post office, once or twice to the bank, and there was an occasional errand besides. To Carl the idleness would have been insupportable, but Leonard was naturally indolent. He sat down in a chair by the window, and watched the people go by.
The first afternoon he was in luck, for there was a dog fight in the street outside. He seized his hat, went out, and watched the canine8 warfare9 with the deepest interest.
“I think I will buy you a system of bookkeeping,” said his uncle, “and you can study it in the office.”
“Put it off till next week, Uncle Julius. I want to get rested from the factory work.”
“It seems to me, Leonard, you were born lazy,” said his uncle, sharply.
“I don’t care to work with my hands.”
“Do you care to work at all?”
“I should like to be a bookkeeper.”
“Do you know that my work is harder and more exhausting than that of a workman in the factory?”
“You don’t want to exchange with him, do you?” asked Leonard.
“No.”
“That’s where I agree with you.”
Mr. Jennings took several weekly papers. Leonard was looking over the columns of one of them one day, when he saw the advertisement of a gift enterprise of a most attractive character. The first prize was a house and grounds valued at ten thousand dollars. Following were minor10 prizes, among them one thousand dollars in gold.
Leonard’s fancy was captivated by the brilliant prospect11 of such a prize.
“Price of tickets—only one dollar!” he read. “Think of getting a thousand dollars for one! Oh, if I could only be the lucky one!”
He took out his purse, though he knew beforehand that his stock of cash consisted only of two dimes12 and a nickel.
“I wonder if I could borrow a dollar of that boy Carl!” he deliberated. “I’ll speak to him about it.”
This happened more than a week after Carl went to work in the factory. He had already received one week’s pay, and it remained untouched in his pocket.
Leonard joined him in the street early in the evening, and accosted13 him graciously.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Nowhere in particular. I am out for a walk.”
“So am I. Shall we walk together?”
“If you like.”
After talking on indifferent matters, Leonard said suddenly: “Oh, by the way, will you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Lend me a dollar till next week.”
In former days Carl would probably have granted the favor, but he realized the value of money now that he had to earn it by steady work.
“I am afraid it won’t be convenient,” he answered.
“Does that mean that you haven’t got it?” asked Leonard.
“No, I have it, but I am expecting to use it.”
“I wouldn’t mind paying you interest for it—say twenty-five cents,” continued Leonard, who had set his heart on buying a ticket in the gift enterprise.
“I would be ashamed to take such interest as that.”
“But I have a chance of making a good deal more out of it myself.”
“In what way?”
“That is my secret.”
“Why don’t you borrow it of your uncle?”
“He would ask too many questions. However, I see that you’re a miser14, and I won’t trouble you.”
He left Carl in a huff and walked hastily away. He turned into a lane little traveled, and, after walking a few rods, came suddenly upon the prostrate15 body of a man, whose deep, breathing showed that he was stupefied by liquor. Leonard was not likely to feel any special interest in him, but one object did attract his attention. It was a wallet which had dropped out of the man’s pocket and was lying on the grass beside him.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
2 jealousy WaRz6     
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌
参考例句:
  • Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
  • I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
3 postal EP0xt     
adj.邮政的,邮局的
参考例句:
  • A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
  • Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。
4 proprietor zR2x5     
n.所有人;业主;经营者
参考例句:
  • The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
  • The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。
5 hearty Od1zn     
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。
6 novice 1H4x1     
adj.新手的,生手的
参考例句:
  • As a novice writer,this is something I'm interested in.作为初涉写作的人,我对此很感兴趣。
  • She realized that she was a novice.她知道自己初出茅庐。
7 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
8 canine Lceyb     
adj.犬的,犬科的
参考例句:
  • The fox is a canine animal.狐狸是犬科动物。
  • Herbivorous animals have very small canine teeth,or none.食草动物的犬牙很小或者没有。
9 warfare XhVwZ     
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突
参考例句:
  • He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
  • Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。
10 minor e7fzR     
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修
参考例句:
  • The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
  • I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
11 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
12 dimes 37551f2af09566bec564431ef9bd3d6d     
n.(美国、加拿大的)10分铸币( dime的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters are United States coins. 1分铜币、5分镍币、1角银币和2角5分银币是美国硬币。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • In 1965 the mint stopped putting silver in dimes. 1965年,铸币厂停止向10分硬币中加入银的成分。 来自辞典例句
13 accosted 4ebfcbae6e0701af7bf7522dbf7f39bb     
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭
参考例句:
  • She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上,一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
  • His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 miser p19yi     
n.守财奴,吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)
参考例句:
  • The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
  • The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
15 prostrate 7iSyH     
v.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的
参考例句:
  • She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
  • The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。


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