CHAPTER XIX. BERT'S EXPERIENCE AS A FARMER'S BOY.

 Bert followed the farmer into the kitchen, in the center of which a table was set. A bony and angular woman was just placing on it a large pitcher¹ of water.

 

"Mis' Wilson," said the farmer, "this is Bert Barton, who is helping² me about the farm work."

 

Bert was no stranger to Mrs. Wilson, whose pew in church was near the one he occupied.

 

"How's your ma?" she inquired jerkily.

 

"Pretty well, thank you, Mrs. Wilson."

 

"I'm glad to hear it. She looks like a friend of mine, Mrs. Dusenberry, who died of heart disease."

 

"I don't think her heart is affected³," said Bert, not without anxiety.

 

"Maybe not, but you can't tell. Folks lives along for years with their hearts out of kilter, who never find it out till some day they drop dead."

 

Mrs. Wilson decidedly was not a cheerful132 converser⁵. She prided herself on detecting signs of unsuspected diseases.

 

"Mebbe you've got heart disease yourself, Sophia," remarked the farmer jocosely⁶.

 

"Just as likely as not," answered Mrs. Wilson calmly. "I'm sure my liver's affected, for I feel it squirm sometimes."

 

"Mebbe I'd better look out for a second Mis' Wilson," suggested the farmer smiling.

 

"You ain't over healthy yourself, Silas," responded his better half, surveying her husband in a business-like manner. "It looks to me as if your kidneys was out of order, and you're the very image of Jed Pettibone, who died of apoplexy. He lived next door to my mother. One day he was alive and well, and to-morrow he was as the grass of the field."

 

The farmer's face wore a very uncomfortable look, and he was evidently by no means pleased with his wife's prognostications.

 

"Nonsense!" he said testily⁷. "I'm as well as any man of my age in Lakeville."

 

"'Boast not thyself of to-morrow'!" quoted Mrs. Wilson solemnly.

 

"Come, Bert, let us set down to dinner," said Silas hastily. "What have you got for us, Sophia?"

 

"I've warmed over them beans we had yesterday," answered his helpmeet, "and there's133 two sausages besides. I don't want any. You'd ought to make a dinner off of that."

 

"Why, to be sure! Beans and sausages is hearty⁸, and will stand by us in the field. The laborer⁹ is worthy¹⁰ of his meat."

 

"Where's the meat," thought Bert.

 

Silas Wilson put a moderate portion of beans on a large plate, flanking it with a thin, consumptive-looking sausage.

 

"Help yourself to potatoes," he said, as he handed the plate to Bert.

 

Bert availed himself of the invitation, and helped himself to a potato in that condition known as soggy. He tried to eat it, but, though fond of potatoes, he left it almost entire on his plate. This, however, was not all. There was a plate of rye-bread on the table, from which Bert helped himself to a slice. It was apparently¹¹ two or three days old, and needed something to make it palatable¹².

 

"Please give me some butter," asked Bert, not having observed that this was a prohibited article on the Wilsons' dinner table.

 

"There ain't none," answered Mrs. Wilson promptly¹³.

 

"I beg pardon. I hadn't noticed," said Bert, blushing.

 

"We never have butter at dinner," explained Silas Wilson. "It's apt to lead to134 humors, particularly in boys, isn't it, Mis' Wilson?"

 

"So I've always heard, Silas. Besides, as we have it at breakfast and supper, that's enough. It goes fast enough, even then. Why, we used most a pound last week."

 

"And butter twenty-seven cents a pound!" chimed in the farmer. "Why, it's extravagant¹⁴!"

 

"Do you know, Silas, how much butter is used in Squire¹⁵ Marlowe's family?"

 

"No," answered the farmer, with interest.

 

"Hannah—Mrs. Marlowe's girl—told me they used six pounds and a half last week, and there's only four of them, including the girl. What do you think of that?"

 

"What do I think? I think it's sinful—positively sinful! Six pounds and a half at twenty-seven cents——"

 

"They pay thirty-two, and get the best in the market," amended¹⁶ his wife.

 

"Worse and worse! That comes to what—Bert?"

 

"Two dollars and eight cents," answered Bert promptly.

 

"Sho! Did you ever?"

 

"Well, I s'pose the squire can stand it. No doubt they live on the fat of the land. I just wish they'd invite me to tea, so I could judge135 for myself. I could tell within five cents how much the supper cost."

 

It must be confessed that Bert did not enjoy his dinner. The sausage was far from rich or juicy, and the beans were almost cold. The potatoes and bread have already been referred to. However, there was to be a second course, and to that Bert looked forward anxiously, for he had by no means satisfied his appetite. It was a plain rice pudding, and partially¹⁷ satisfactory, for it takes very little skill to boil rice, and there is little variety in the quality. By way of sauce Mrs. Wilson provided cheap grade of molasses. Still Bert enjoyed it better than any other article on the table.

 

"There's nothing like a good dinner to strengthen us for the labors¹⁸ of the field," said Silas Wilson complacently¹⁹, as he rose from the table. "Come, Bert, now let us get to work to make up for lost time."

 

"So Mr. Wilson considers the time spent in eating as lost time," thought Bert. "I'd rather have one of mother's dinners than half a dozen like this. Ugh! how nasty those potatoes were."

 

Bert returned to the field, and resumed his work. He found it hard to keep up with Silas Wilson, whose energies seemed to be quickened by his midday meal.136

 

About four o'clock a man came along who wanted to see Silas on business, and he went back to the house, leaving Bert to continue his work alone.

 

"This is about the longest day I ever passed," thought Bert, pausing to wipe his moistened forehead. "I am afraid I shall never want to be a farmer. I mustn't forget, though, that I am to receive sixteen cents and a little over per day, besides board—and such board! Yet this is the way Silas Wilson has lived all his life, and he must be sixty-five at least. How much more enjoyment²⁰ Uncle Jacob has out of life, though he is a poor man compared to the farmer."

 

At this moment he heard wheels passing on the road hard by, and looking up he recognized Percy Marlowe, neat and trim in his attire²¹, driving a light buggy.

 

"Hallo!" called out Percy, checking his horse.

 

"Hallo, Percy!"

 

"Are you working for Silas Wilson?"

 

"Yes, for a few days."

 

"I guess you'll make a fortune in that time?" said Percy laughing.

 

"It seems like it," responded Bert.

 

"How much does he pay you?"

 

"Fifty cents for three days and board."137

 

Percy laughed.

 

"I should want fifty cents an hour, and then I wouldn't do it."

 

"I'd work all the year round at that price," said Bert.

 

"I never expect to work—with my hands," went on Percy.

 

"Have you decided⁴ what to do?" asked Bert curiously²².

 

"My father wants me to be a manufacturer, but I think I shall be a lawyer."

 

"I am afraid I shan't have much choice. I must take what I can get."

 

"You might stay with Mr. Wilson and be a farmer."

 

"I don't think that will suit me at any rate, unless I can work for a different man."

 

"Perhaps father can take you back into the shop when you are older."

 

"I wish he would take me back now. I like it a great deal better than working out in the field here."

 

"You mustn't get too high notions into your head, Bert. You know you are a working boy and mustn't expect to have things all your own way."

 

"I am not likely to forget that I am a working boy, especially with kind friends to remind me of it. But we live in the best country in the world, and there is many a working boy who grows up to be a distinguished²³ man."

 

Percy laughed ironically.

 

"I wouldn't get such silly ideas into your head," he said.

 

"Why are they silly?"

 

"You talk as if you expected to be a distinguished man. Ha, ha!"

 

"I hope to be a successful man," answered Bert stoutly²⁴.

 

Percy laughed again and drove on. Five minutes later Bert saw the farmer running from the house in a state of great apparent excitement.

 

"Have you seen anything of my wallet?" he gasped²⁵, as he came within hearing distance.

 

1 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 converser   

交谈，谈话； [计]对话，会话

参考例句：

• The converse of this statement may not be true. 这话反过来说就不一定对。
• Seeks help CONVERSE the Kuang prestige canvas shoe I to buy the big code? 求助CONVERSE匡威帆布鞋我该买多大的码？

6 jocosely   

adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地

参考例句：

7 testily   

adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地

参考例句：

• He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement. 有报道称他反对军队参与，对此他很是恼火。 来自柯林斯例句

8 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。

9 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

10 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

11 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

12 palatable   

adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的

参考例句：

• The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
• This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。

13 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。

14 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

15 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

16 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

17 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

18 labors   

v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。 来自辞典例句
• Farm labors used to hire themselves out for the summer. 农业劳动者夏季常去当雇工。 来自辞典例句

19 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

20 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

21 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

22 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

23 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

24 stoutly   

adv.牢固地，粗壮的

参考例句：

• He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
• Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难，但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。

25 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》