CHAPTER XXI. TOM BUYS A BUSINESS.

 It was an interesting moment for our two friends when they landed in San Francisco. The future Western metropolis¹ was only a town of scattered² wooden and adobe³ houses, with irregular streets and a general lack of uniformity in its buildings; but everybody seemed on the alert. The number of drones was wonderfully small; even the constitutionally lazy could not resist the golden incentives⁴ to labor⁵. Money was looked upon with very different eyes there and at the East. No one took the trouble to dispute prices; and a man who landed with an article rare or desirable could often obtain twenty times its value. Within ten minutes of his arrival Tom witnessed a case of this kind.

 

Just as he was entering Montgomery street he noticed a man—evidently a new-comer—with a[Pg 197] fine bunch of pineapples in his hand. He had just arrived in the steamer Columbus, then anchored out in the stream.

 

"I shouldn't mind having one of those pineapples," said Tom to Ferguson.

 

"Doubtless they are high-priced, being a rarity," said the Scotchman.

 

Just then a passer-by, attracted like Tom, and feeling a similar longing⁶, stepped up to the new-comer.

 

"Are those pineapples for sale?" he asked.

 

"Yes, if you'll pay enough," was the half-jocular reply.

 

"Name your price."

 

"Ten dollars."

 

"Here is your money;" and he put a gold piece into the hand of the astounded⁷ passenger, which represented ten times the sum he had paid for the fruit at San Blas.

 

"That's a pretty steep price," said Tom, "for six pineapples."

 

"It is very wasteful⁸ to spend such a sight of money to pamper⁹ the appetite," said the canny[Pg 198] Scot. "Truly, a fool and his money are soon parted."

 

He was destined¹⁰ to be still more surprised. The purchaser within five minutes transferred half his purchase to another for fifteen dollars.

 

"Gold seems to be plenty here," said Tom.

 

"I hope all provisions are not as high," said Ferguson, "or we shall soon have a chance to spend all we have."

 

"Where shall we go first?" asked Tom.

 

"We had better go to a public house, and secure a lodging," said Ferguson.

 

"I wish I knew some one here to direct me."

 

Scarcely had Tom uttered these words than he cried out in surprise, "Why, there's John Miles!"

 

They were passing a little, unpainted, wooden building, of one and a half stories, used as a grocery. A German name was on the sign; but behind the rough counter stood the familiar form of John Miles.

 

Tom dashed into the store, followed by his more dignified¹¹ companion.

 

"How are you, John?" he exclaimed.[Pg 199]

 

"Why, if it isn't Tom," returned Miles, his face showing the joy he felt. "And here's Mr. Ferguson, too."

 

Then there ensued a hearty¹² shaking of hands, followed by the question, "When did you get here?"

 

"About twenty minutes ago."

 

"And you came straight to me. That's good."

 

"So it is; but it's an accident. We had no idea where you were. So you are a grocer, John. Is the place yours?"

 

"If it is, then I've changed my name," said Miles, pointing to the sign bearing the name:—

 

JOHN SCHINKELWITZ.

"The first name's right, at any rate," said Tom, laughing. "I suppose you are the clerk, then."

 

"Yes."

 

"How long have you been here?"

 

"Four weeks."

 

"Is it a good business?"

 

"Very good. My Dutch friend pays me five dollars a day, and I sleep here."[Pg 200]

 

"Among the groceries?"

 

"Yes; it saves me the expense of a bed outside, and that is a good deal. I haven't saved quite enough to pay you yet, Tom, but I can soon."

 

"No hurry, John. I have been lucky since I saw you."

 

"I am glad to hear it, Tom. Did the claim prove more productive?"

 

"No; but I have been speculating. Guess how much money I have with me."

 

"A hundred and fifty dollars."

 

"More."

 

"Two hundred."

 

"More yet."

 

"Not three hundred, Tom?"

 

"I won't make you guess any more. I have seven hundred dollars. No wonder you look surprised. I'll tell you how I made it;" and Tom repeated the story of his purchase and its profitable sale.

 

"I am not so much surprised now," said Miles, "for in this country a man will have what he[Pg 201] takes a fancy to, no matter what it costs. I am glad the good luck came to you and Mr. Ferguson. I shouldn't mind having that amount of money myself."

 

"What would you do with it?"

 

"I would buy out my employer, and then I could make money fast."

 

"Does he want to sell?"

 

"Yes, he wants to go to the mines."

 

"Would he sell for such a small sum?"

 

"Yes; there isn't much of a stock, but we are constantly replenishing. I tell you what, Tom, you buy him out, and I'll manage the business."

 

"Are you in earnest, John?"

 

"Certainly I am."

 

"But I want to send some money home," objected Tom.

 

"How much?"

 

"A hundred dollars at least."

 

"I'll lend you the hundred, my lad," said Ferguson, "and fifty more, and you can take your own money and buy the business. I don't favor acting¹³ hastily, in general, but I have faith in[Pg 202] our friend here, and I am led to believe that the enterprise will be a profitable one."

 

"You'll be my partner, Tom, and I'll give you a third of the profits without your doing a thing. If you work with me, you shall have as much more as will be satisfactory."

 

"I would rather go back to the mines, John, and leave you to manage this business by yourself. A quarter of the profits will satisfy me."

 

"No, it shall be a third. As you furnish the capital, that is only fair."

 

"We may be counting our chickens too soon. Perhaps your Dutch friend, whose name I can't pronounce, won't sell."

 

"Here he is to speak for himself."

 

A short German, with a ponderous¹⁴ frame, and a broad, good-humored face, here entered the grocery, panting with the exertion¹⁵ of walking, and looked inquiringly at Tom and the Scotchman.

 

"Herr Schinkelwitz, this is my friend, Tom Nelson," said Miles.

 

"Glad to see you, mine vriend," said the German, addressing Ferguson.[Pg 203]

 

"No, that is Mr. Ferguson," said Miles, smiling. "I should have introduced him first."

 

"Wie gehts, Herr Ferguson?" said the grocer. "You have one strange name."

 

"Your name seems strange to me," said the Scotchman.

 

"Oh, no; Schinkelwitz is a very common name. Most peoples admire my name."

 

Tom was considerably¹⁶ amused, but Herr Schinkelwitz did not observe the smile which he could not repress.

 

"I have told my friends you would like to sell out the business," said Miles.

 

"Oh, ja, it is a good business, but my health is not good. I think it will be much better at the mines. You will do well to buy it yourself."

 

"I would if I had money enough."

 

"Ja, I must have the money, for I shall need it."

 

"My friend here has money, and may buy of you," said Miles, indicating Tom.

 

"What, the boy?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Where did he get so much money?"[Pg 204]

 

"At the mines."

 

"Oh, ja, that is a good place to get gold. Well, my young vriend, I will sell cheap."

 

It will not be necessary to enter into a detailed¹⁷ account of the negotiation¹⁸. It is enough to say that for the sum of seven hundred dollars Herr Schinkelwitz made over the business to Herr Tom, as he called him, and our hero found himself penniless, but the owner of a grocery. In half an hour it was all completed.

 

"Now, Tom, you are my boss," said Miles. "Shall I put your name outside?"

 

"No, John, put your own. I am only a silent partner, you know."

 

"I congratulate you, Tom," said Ferguson. "Here are two hundred dollars, for which you can give me your note."

 

"Two hundred?"

 

"Yes; you will need some yourself, besides what you send to your father."

 

"Suppose I can't pay you back?"

 

"Then I will levy¹⁹ on the grocery, my lad," said Ferguson.

1 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

2 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

3 adobe   

n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司

参考例句：

• They live in an adobe house.他们住在一间土坯屋里。
• Adobe bricks must drived dried completely before are used.土坯砖块使用前一定要完全干燥。

4 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

7 astounded   

v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶

参考例句：

• His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
• How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话？我感到大为震惊。

8 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。

9 pamper   

v.纵容，过分关怀

参考例句：

• Don't pamper your little daughter.别把你的小女儿娇坏了！
• You need to pamper yourself and let your charm come through.你需要对自己放纵一些来表现你的魅力。

10 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

11 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

12 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。

13 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

14 ponderous   

adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的

参考例句：

• His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。
• It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态，很容易使人小看了他。

15 exertion   

n.尽力，努力

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

16 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

17 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

18 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

19 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。