CHAPTER 32. GRIT RECEIVES A BUSINESS LETTER.

 Grit¹ returned to his old business, but I am obliged to confess that he was not as well contented² with it as he had been a week previous. The incidents of the past four days had broadened his views, and given him thoughts of a career which would suit him better. He earned a dollar and a quarter during the day, and this made a very good average. Multiply it by six, and it stood for an income of seven[Pg 233] dollars and a half per week. This, to be sure, was not a large sum, but it was quite sufficient to maintain the little household in a degree of comfort which left nothing to be desired.

 

"It's all very well now," thought Grit, "but it won't lead to anything. I'm so old now"—he was not quite sixteen—"that I ought to be getting hold of some business that I can follow when I am a man. I don't mean to be a boatman when I am twenty-five years old."

 

There was something in this, no doubt. Still Grit need not have felt in such a hurry. He was young enough to wait. Waiting, however, is a very bad thing for boys of his age. I only want to show how his mind was affected³, in order that the reader may understand how it happened that he fell unsuspiciously into a trap which Colonel Johnson prepared for him.

 

After supper—it was two days later—Grit prepared to go to the village. He had a little errand of his own, and besides, his mother wanted a few articles at the grocery-store. Our hero, unlike some boys that I know, was always ready to do any errands for his mother, so that she was spared the trouble of exacting⁴ unwilling⁵ service.

 

Grit had done all his business, when he[Pg 234] chanced to meet his friend Jesse Burns, who, as I have already said, was the son of the postmaster.

 

"How are you, Jesse?" said Grit.

 

"All right, Grit. Have you got your letter?"

 

"My letter!" returned Grit, in surprise.

 

"Yes; there's a letter for you in the post-office."

 

"I wonder who it can be from?"

 

"Perhaps it's from your affectionate stepfather," suggested Jesse, smiling.

 

"I hope not, I don't want to see or hear from him."

 

"Well, you can easily solve the problem. You have only to take the letter out."

 

"That's good advice, Jesse. I'll follow it."

 

Grit called for his letter, and noticed, with some surprise, that it was addressed to him, not under his real name, but under that familiar name by which we know him.

 

"Grit Morris," said Jesse, scanning the envelope. "Who can it be from?"

 

The letter was postmarked Boston, and was addressed in a bold, business hand.

 

Grit opened the envelope, read it through hastily, and with a look of evident pleasure.

 

"What's it all about, Grit?" asked Jesse.

 

"Read it for yourself, Jesse," said the[Pg 235] young boatman, handing the letter to his friend.

 

This was the letter:

 

"Dear Sir: I need a young person on whom I can rely to travel for me at the West. I don't know you personally, but you have been recommended to me as likely to suit my purpose. I am willing to pay twelve dollars per week and traveling expenses. If this will suit your views, come to Boston at once, and call upon me at my private residence, No. ——, Essex Street.

 

"Yours truly, 

"Solomon Weaver⁶."

 

"What are you going to do about it, Grit?" asked Jesse, when he had finished reading the letter.

 

"I shall go to Boston to-morrow morning," answered Grit promptly⁷.

1 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

2 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

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 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

5 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

6 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

7 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。