CHAPTER XXVI FRED GIVES UP CITY LIFE

 "Now then, Fred, tell me how it is that you are in New York," said Nat, when the newsboy had departed.

 

"I—I ran away from home."

 

"Did you have the carfare to this city?"

 

"No, I stole a ride to Cleveland on a freight train, and then I stole another ride on two trains to New York. I was kicked off of one train."

 

"And what have you been doing since you landed here?"

 

"Selling papers, and doing odd jobs. I couldn't get anything steady."

 

"Did you try to find me?"

 

"No," and the gawk of a boy hung his head.

 

"Why not?"

 

"Because I—I wanted to make my own way, same as you are doing. But, oh, Nat, it's awfully¹ hard."

 

"Where have you been staying nights?"

 

"One night I slept in a doorway², and last night I slept in a park until a policeman came and chased me away."

 

Fred looked so forlorn and hungry that Nat could not help but pity him. Coming to the city to earn his living had evidently hit Fred hard.

 

"Had any supper?" he asked, kindly³.

 

"I had a—a bun."

 

"Is that all?"

 

"Yes."

 

"How much money have you?"

 

"Fifteen cents, and I wanted to make that last just as long as I could."

 

"Come with me, and I'll get you something to eat," said our hero.

 

Fred was willing enough, and seated at a table in a restaurant he fairly devoured⁴ the beef and beans, bread and coffee set before him.

 

"Have a piece of lemon pie?" asked Nat.

 

"Can you afford it, Nat?"

 

"I guess so," and our hero ordered the pie, and also ate a piece, and drank a glass of milk, to keep Fred company.

 

"It costs a terrible pile to live in the city," sighed Fred. "You've got to pay for everything. When I landed, a man made me pay ten cents for crossing a torn-up street."

 

"He swindled you, Fred."

 

"Maybe he did. I know he ran off as soon as he got the money."

 

"Where were you going to stop to-night?"

 

"I—I don't know."

 

"You had better come with me."

 

"I—I can't pay for regular lodging," and again the boy from the farm hung his head.

 

"Well, I'll do the paying."

 

"Will you?" Fred's face brightened. "Say, Nat, you're real good! I'm sorry I treated you so meanly when you paid us a visit."

 

"We'll let that pass. Now, you are here, the question is, what are you going to do?"

 

"Can't I find a job? I'm willing to do anything."

 

"We'll see about that."

 

They walked to Mrs. Talcott's place, and here Nat explained the situation, and Fred was placed in a room that chanced to be vacant. He was exceedingly tired and dropped to sleep almost instantly.

 

"I'm going to telegraph to Brookville that you are here and safe," said Nat, the next morning. "I don't want your mother to worry about you." And the telegram was sent off before our hero went to the office. Nat gave Fred a dollar, and told him to try his best that day to find something to do.

 

"I'll get something," said Fred, but that night he came back greatly disheartened.

 

"I couldn't get a thing," he declared. "I tried about fifty places. In one place a man kicked me out, and in another place a lot of boys called me 'Hayseed,' and threw lumps of dirt at me. I—I guess I'll go back to the farm."

 

"Don't you want to try it for another day?" asked Nat. "I'll pay your way." He knew the experience would do Fred good. The boy from the country consented; but at night he returned more discouraged than ever.

 

"I was a big fool to leave the farm," he sighed. "The city is no place for me. The noise makes my head ache, and I get lost every time I turn a corner. I wish I was back to Brookville."

 

"Very well, you shall start back to-morrow," answered Nat.

 

"But I ain't got the carfare, and I hate to try riding on the freight cars again."

 

"I'll get you a railroad ticket," answered Nat, and he did so, and also gave Fred some change for his meals. Fred was more than thankful, and actually cried on parting.

 

"You're the best boy in the world, Nat," he sobbed⁵. "The very best! Just wait till you come back to the farm! I'll show you how I can treat you!" And then he was off for home, a sadder but a wiser youth.

 

"To go back to the farm was the best thing that fellow could do," was Dick's comment. "Why, he wouldn't amount to shucks here, even if he stayed a year."

 

"We can't all be city folks," said Mrs. Talcott. "Some men must remain farmers."

 

"The trouble with Fred is, he doesn't like to work," said Nat. "But this may teach him a lesson."

 

On the day that Fred left, Nat was called to the office by John Garwell.

 

"Nat, I want you to go to Springfield, Massachusetts, immediately," said the real estate broker⁶. "See when you can catch a train."

 

"A train leaves the Grand Central Depot⁷ at eleven-thirty," was our hero's answer, after consulting a time-table.

 

"Then you have plenty of time. Take this document and turn it over to Mr. Perry Robertson."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Don't give it to anybody else."

 

"Shall I wait for Mr. Robertson, if he isn't in when I call?"

 

"Yes."

 

"All right, sir."

 

No more was said, and Nat prepared for the trip without further delay. He wished to ask his employer about the documents found in the trunk, but saw that Mr. Garwell was too busy to be interrupted.

 

Nat was getting used to taking short trips to various cities, so the ride to Springfield was no great novelty. He put in part of his time at reading a newspaper, and the balance at studying shorthand from a book which he carried with him.

 

Arriving at Springfield, Nat found he would have to wait until evening before he could see Mr. Perry Robertson. This made him stay in the city overnight, and he did not arrange to go back to New York until ten o'clock the next morning.

 

He had just paid his bill at the hotel, and was passing the smoking room, when he saw a man who looked familiar, get up from reading a newspaper, and walk toward him.

 

"Hamilton Dart⁸!" gasped⁹ our hero, and rushing forward he caught the swindler by the arm.

1 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

2 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

3 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

4 devoured   

吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志，还是报纸，只要能弄得到，她都看得津津有味。
• The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。

5 sobbed   

哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说

参考例句：

• She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
• She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。

6 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

7 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

8 dart   

v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲

参考例句：

• The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
• Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。

9 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》