CHAPTER 41. CONCLUSION.

 The Boston and Portland papers of the next morning contained full accounts of the discovery of the rendezvous¹ of a gang of robbers whose operations had been extensive in and near Boston, together with the arrest of their chief.

 

In the account full credit was given to our young hero, Grit², for his agency in the affair, and it was announced that the prize offered would be divided between Grit and the famous detective, Benjamin Baker³.

 

It may readily be supposed that this account created great excitement in Chester. Most of the villagers were heartily⁴ pleased by the good fortune and sudden renown⁵ of the young boatman; but there was at least one household to which the news brought no satisfaction. This was the home of Phil Courtney.

 

"What a fuss the papers make about that boy!" exclaimed Phil, in disgust. "I [Pg 283]suppose he will put on no end of airs when he gets home."

 

"Very likely," said Mr. Courtney. "He seems to have had good luck, that's all."

 

"It's pretty good luck to get a thousand dollars," said Phil enviously⁶. "Papa, will you do me a favor?"

 

"What is it?"

 

"Can't you put a thousand dollars in the bank for me, so that the boatman can't crow over me?"

 

"Money is very scarce with me just now, Philip," said his father. "It will do just as well to tell him you have a thousand dollars in my hands."

 

"I would rather have it in a bank," said Philip.

 

"Then you'll have to wait till it is convenient for me," said his father shortly.

 

It was true that money was scarce with Mr. Courtney. I have already stated that he had been speculating in Wall Street heavily, and with by no means unvarying success. In fact, the same evening he received a letter from his brother, stating that the market was so heavily against him that he must at once forward five thousand dollars to protect his margin⁷, or the stocks carried on his account must be sold.

 

[Pg 284]

 

As Mr. Courtney was unable to meet this demand, the stocks were sold, involving a loss of ten thousand dollars.

 

This, in addition to previous losses, so far crippled Mr. Courtney that he was compelled materially to change his way of living, and Phil had to come down in the social scale, much to his mortification⁸.

 

But the star of the young boatman was in the ascendant.

 

On his return to Pine Point he found Mr. Jackson, the New York broker⁹, about to leave the hotel for a return to the city. He congratulated Grit on his success as an amateur detective, and then asked:

 

"What are your plans, Grit? Probably you won't care to remain a boatman?"

 

"No, sir; I have decided¹⁰ to give up that business, at any rate."

 

"Have you anything in view?"

 

"I thought I might get a situation of some kind in Boston. The prize-money will keep us going till I can earn a good salary."

 

"Will your mother move from Pine Point?"

 

"Yes, sir; she would be lonely here without me."

 

"I have an amendment¹¹ to offer to your plans, Grit."

 

[Pg 285]

 

"What is that, sir?"

 

"Come to New York instead of Boston."

 

"I have no objection, sir, if there is any opening there for me."

 

"There is, and in my office. Do you think you would like to enter my office?"

 

"I should like it very much," said Grit eagerly.

 

"Then I will engage you at a salary of twelve dollars per week—for the first year."

 

"Twelve dollars!" exclaimed Grit, overwhelmed. "I had no idea a green hand could get such pay."

 

"Nor can they," answered Mr. Jackson, smiling; "but you remember that there is an unsettled account between us. I have not forgotten that you saved the life of my boy."

 

"I don't want any reward for that, sir."

 

"I appreciate your delicacy¹², but I shall feel better satisfied to recognize it in my own way. I have another proposal to make to you. It is this: Place in my hands as much of your thousand dollars as you can spare, and I will invest it carefully for your advantage in stock operations, and hope materially to increase it."

 

"I shall be delighted if you will do so, Mr. Jackson, and think myself very fortunate that you take this trouble for me."

 

[Pg 286]

 

"Now, how soon can you go to New York?"

 

"When you think best, sir?"

 

"I advise you to go on with me, and select a home for your mother. Then you can come back for her, and settle yourself down to work."

 

*         *         *         *         *         *         *         *

 

A year later, in a pleasant cottage on Staten Island, Grit and his mother sat in a neatly¹³ furnished sitting-room¹⁴. Our young hero was taller, as befitted his increased age, but there was the same pleasant, frank expression which had characterized him as a boy.

 

"Mother," said he, "I have some news for you."

 

"What is it, Grit?"

 

"Mr. Jackson has raised my pay to twenty dollars a week."

 

"That is excellent news, Grit."

 

"He has besides rendered an account of the eight hundred dollars he took from me to operate with. How much do you think it amounts to now?"

 

"Perhaps a thousand."

 

"Between four and five thousand!" answered Grit, in exultation¹⁵.

 

"How can that be possible?" exclaimed Mrs. Morris, in astonishment¹⁶.

 

"He used it as a margin to buy stocks[Pg 287] which advanced greatly in a short time. This being repeated once or twice, has made me almost rich."

 

"I can hardly believe it, Grit. It is too good to be true."

 

"But it is true, mother. Now we can change our mode of living."

 

"Wait till you are worth ten thousand dollars, Grit—then I will consent. But, I, too, have some news for you."

 

"What is it?"

 

"I had a letter from Chester to-day. Our old neighbor, Mr. Courtney, has lost everything—or almost everything—and has been compelled to accept the post of bank messenger, at a salary of fifty dollars per month."

 

"That is indeed a change," said Grit. "What will Phil do?"

 

"He has gone into a store in Chester, on a salary of three dollars a week."

 

"Poor fellow!" said Grit. "I pity him. It must be hard for a boy with his high notions to come down in the world so. I would rather begin small and rise, than be reared in affluence¹⁷ only to sink into poverty afterward¹⁸."

 

It was quite true. The result of his rash speculations¹⁹ was to reduce Mr. Courtney to poverty, and make him for the balance of his life a soured, discontented man.

 

 

As for Phil, he is still young, and adversity may teach him a valuable lesson. Still, I hardly think he will ever look with satisfaction upon the growing success and prosperity of the young boatman.

 

I must note another change. It will be observed that I have referred to Grit's mother as Mrs. Morris. Mr. Brandon was accidentally drowned in Portland Harbor, having undertaken, while under the influence of liquor, to row to Peake's Island, some two miles distant. His wife and Grit were shocked by his sudden death, but they could hardly be expected to mourn for him. His widow resumed the name of her former husband, and could now lay aside all anxiety as to the quiet tenor²⁰ of her life being broken in upon by her ill-chosen second husband.

 

It looks as if Grit's prosperity had come to stay. I am privately²¹ informed that Mr. Jackson intends next year to make him junior partner, and this will give him a high position in business circles. I am sure my young readers will feel that his prosperity has been well earned, and will rejoice heartily in the brilliant success of the young boatman of Pine Point.

THE END.

1 rendezvous   

n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇

参考例句：

• She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
• I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。

2 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。

3 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

4 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

5 renown   

n.声誉，名望

参考例句：

• His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。
• She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

6 enviously   

adv.满怀嫉妒地

参考例句：

• Yet again, they were looking for their way home blindly, enviously. 然而，它们又一次盲目地、忌妒地寻找着归途。 来自辞典例句
• Tanya thought enviously, he must go a long way south. 坦妮亚歆羡不置，心里在想，他准是去那遥远的南方的。 来自辞典例句

7 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

8 mortification   

n.耻辱，屈辱

参考例句：

• To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
• The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

9 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。

10 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。

11 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

12 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

13 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

14 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

15 exultation   

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。

16 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

17 affluence   

n.充裕，富足

参考例句：

• Their affluence is more apparent than real.他们的富有是虚有其表。
• There is a lot of affluence in this part of the state because it has many businesses.这个州的这一部分相当富有，因为它有很多商行。

18 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

19 speculations   

n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断

参考例句：

• Your speculations were all quite close to the truth. 你的揣测都很接近于事实。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• This possibility gives rise to interesting speculations. 这种可能性引起了有趣的推测。 来自《用法词典》

20 tenor   

n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意

参考例句：

• The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
• The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。

21 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。