CHAPTER XXXVIII. — THE BOYS SECURE POSITIONS.

 Before leaving New York, Harry¹ Vane decided² to call upon the nephew to whom Mr. Woolson of Melbourne had given him a letter of introduction. Upon inquiry³, he found that John Woolson & Co. (the style of the firm) were large importers in the lower part of the city.

 

Accompanied by Jack⁴, he called one morning. Mr. John Woolson, a courteous⁵ gentleman, about forty years of age, received him with politeness, which changed to cordiality when he had read his uncle's letter.

 

"My uncle writes here that you two young gentlemen recently rendered him an important service."

 

"We were fortunate enough to save him from being robbed," said Harry modestly.

 

"And maltreated, also, I presume," said the nephew. "When did you arrive in New York?"

 

"Last Thursday, sir."

 

"Did you leave my uncle well?"

 

"He looked in excellent health."

 

"How long do you remain in the city? What are your plans?"

 

"We think of leaving to-morrow. We wish to see friends from whom we have long been parted."

 

"My uncle wishes me to offer you a position in my establishment, Mr. Vane. If that will meet your views, I shall be happy to receive you."

 

"I should like nothing better, sir," replied Harry, his eyes sparkling.

 

"Will fifteen dollars a week satisfy you to begin with?"

 

"But, sir, I can't hope to earn as much as that."

 

"Well perhaps not, just at first," said the merchant, smiling; "but if your looks don't belie⁶ you, it will not be long before your services will be worth that sum. At any rate I am ready to pay it."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Harry gratefully. "When would you wish me to commence?"

 

"When you please. You had better take a vacation of a month to visit your friends. Then come to the city, and enter my employment."

 

Harry renewed his thanks, and Mr. Woolson turned to Jack.

 

"Yon have been trained as a sailor, I believe," he said.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Do you wish to follow the sea?"

 

"Yes, sir," answered Jack promptly⁷. "I love the sea."

 

"Then I will find you a good position on one of my ships, commend you specially⁸ to the captain as a young friend of mine, and promote you as fast as your progress in seamanship will warrant my doing so."

 

Now it was Jack's turn to look jubilant, for nothing could have suited him better.

 

"You too will want a vacation. Take as long as you like, and then come to me. By the way, I don't know how you are situated⁹ as regards money. If either of you desires an advance, I shall be glad to accommodate you."

 

"We met with good luck at the mines," said Harry, "and are both well supplied with money. We thank you, however, for your kind offer."

 

The boys left the office in high spirits.

 

"I don't see but our prospects¹⁰ are bright, Jack," said Harry.

 

"I didn't think so when we were on the island," said Jack, "or when we were captives among the bushrangers."

 

"No; we have certainly seen some hard times. Let us hope that we have had our share, and may look forward now to happier days."

 

Now that their future was arranged, the boys were in a hurry to leave the city and visit their friends. Obed sympathized with them.

 

"Boys," said he, "I'm gettin' kinder homesick. There's an old man and a girl I want to see, and tell 'em of my good luck."

 

"Your father and——"

 

"Suke Stanwood. Suke has been waitin' for me five years, and there aint no need of waitin' any longer. If all goes well she'll be Mrs. Obed Stackpole within a month."

 

"She may not be able to get her wedding things so soon, Obed."

 

"She don't need any wedding things. Any dress'll do to be married in."

 

"You will send us some cards and cake, I hope, Obed."

 

"Better'n that: I'll send you an invite to the weddin'."

 

"Then it'll have to come soon, Obed. I shall be gone to the city, and Jack to sea within a month."

 

"Then we'll hurry it up. It'll give me a good excuse. But there's one thing I'm going to do before I get married."

 

"What is that?"

 

"Pay off the mortgage on dad's farm. It's only a thousand dollars, but dad couldn't lift it if he lived to a hundred."

 

"And what are you going to do, Obed?"

 

"There's a farm alongside I can buy for twenty-five hundred dollars, with a comfortable house thrown in. I can buy it, and have more than enough money left to furnish the house and stock the farm."

 

"I wish you happiness, Obed; but don't you think you'll ever pine to be back in Australia?"

 

"I may hanker after a sight of Fletcher and his two cronies, Colson and Ropes," returned Obed with dry humor, "but we can't have everything in this world, and I'll try to rub along with the blessings¹¹ I have."

 

Let me add here that Obed carried out his programme. He paid the mortgage, bought the farm, and in less than three weeks he was a married man. Harry and Jack were at the wedding, and received great attention from all Obed's friends. To the inhabitants of the little village it seemed wonderful that boys so young should have traveled so far, and passed through such varied¹² experiences.

 

"I expect an invite to each of your weddings, boys," said Obed, as they were on the point of leaving him. "One good turn deserves another."

 

"You will have to exercise a little patience, Obed," said Harry, smiling.

 

"Don't wait as long as I did," said Obed. "I got to be a cranky old bachelor before I hitched¹³ horses."

 

"Mrs. Stackpole will soon cure you of that," said Harry, with a smile.

 

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 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。

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

5 courteous   

adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的

参考例句：

• Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
• He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。

6 belie   

v.掩饰，证明为假

参考例句：

• The gentle lower slopes belie the true nature of the mountain.低缓的山坡掩盖了这座山的真实特点。
• His clothes belie his station.他的衣服掩饰了他的身分。

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。

8 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

9 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

10 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

11 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

13 hitched   

（免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
• We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。