CHAPTER III. THE SCRANTON POORHOUSE.

 "Ahem!" began Squire¹ Dixon, clearing his throat; "the announcement of my friend Mrs. Fogson furnishes me with a text. I hope you all appreciate your privileges in sharing this comfortable home at the expense of the town. Here all your material wants are cared for, and though you are without means, you need have no anxiety. A well-filled board is spread for you three times a day, and you enjoy the maternal² care of Mrs. Fogson."

 

Here there was a shrill³ laugh from one of the old women.

 

Squire Dixon frowned, and Mrs. Fogson looked anything but maternal as she scowled⁴ at the offending "boarder."

 

"I am surprised at this unseemly interruption," said Squire Dixon severely⁵. "I am[Pg 21] constrained⁶ to believe that there is at least one person present who does not appreciate the privileges of this happy home. You are probably all aware that I am the Overseer of the Poor, and that it was through my agency that the services of Mr. and Mrs. Fogson were obtained."

 

Here it would have been in order for some one to propose "Three cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Fogson," but instead all looked gloomy and depressed⁷.

 

"I don't know that I have any more to say," concluded Squire Dixon after a pause. "I will only exhort⁸ you to do your duty in the position in which Providence⁹ has placed you, and to give as little trouble as possible to your good friends Mr. and Mrs. Fogson."

 

Here there was another cackling laugh, which caused Mrs. Fogson to look angry.

 

"I'm on to you, Sally Stokes," she said sharply. "You'll have to go without your supper to-night."

 

The poor, half-witted creature immediately burst into tears, and rocked to and fro in a dismal¹⁰ manner.

 

[Pg 22]

 

"You have done perfectly¹¹ right in rebuking¹² such unseemly behavior, Mrs. Fogson," said Squire Dixon.

 

"I didn't mind the insult to myself, squire," returned Mrs. Fogson meekly¹³. "It made me angry to have you insulted while you were making your interesting remarks. The paupers¹⁵ are very ill-behaved; I give you my word that I slave for them from morning till night, and you see how I am repaid."

 

"Mrs. Fogson, virtue¹⁶ is its own reward," observed the squire solemnly.

 

"It has to be in my case," said Mrs. Fogson; "but it comforts me to think that you at least appreciate my efforts."

 

"I do; I do, indeed! You can always rely upon me to—to—in a word, to back you up."

 

Here a diversion was made by the appearance of Mr. Fogson and the two boys.

 

"Oh, Simeon!" exclaimed Mrs. Fogson impulsively¹⁷. "You don't know what you have lost."

 

Mr. Fogson mechanically glanced at his vest to see whether his watch-chain and the watch appended were gone.

 

[Pg 23]

 

"What have I lost?" he demanded.

 

"Squire Dixon's interesting speech to the paupers. It was truly eloquent¹⁸."

 

"My dear Mrs. Fogson," said the squire, looking modest, "you quite overrate my simple words."

 

"They were simple, but they were to the point," said the lady of the poorhouse, "and I hope—I do hope that the paupers will lay them to heart."

 

There was an amused smile on the face of Jed, who was sharp enough to see through the shallow humbug¹⁹ which was being enacted²⁰ before him. He understood very well the interested motives²¹ of Mrs. Fogson, and why she saw fit to flatter the town official from whom she and her husband had received their appointment.

 

"I wish you had heard the squire, too, Jed!" said Mrs. Fogson, detecting the smile on the boy's face.

 

"Perhaps, ma'am, you can tell me what he said," returned Jed demurely²².

 

Mrs. Fogson was a little taken aback, but she accepted the invitation.

 

[Pg 24]

 

"He said you ought to consider yourself very lucky to have such a comfortable home."

 

"I do," said Jed with a comical look.

 

"I am glad to hear it," said Mrs. Fogson, suspiciously, "though it hasn't always looked that way, I am bound to say."

 

"Are you going to stay much longer, father?" asked Percy, who was getting tired.

 

"Perhaps we had better go," said Squire Dixon. "We have staid quite a while."

 

"When do you have dinner?" asked Percy, turning to Jed.

 

"In about an hour. I have no doubt Mrs. Fogson will invite you, if you would like to stay."

 

"Me—eat with paupers?" retorted Percy with fine scorn.

 

"I don't think you would like it," said Jed. "I don't."

 

"Why, you are a pauper¹⁴ yourself."

 

"I don't think so. I earn my living, such as it is. I work from morning till night."

 

"What do they give you for dinner?" asked Percy, moved by curiosity.

 

"Mrs. Fogson puts a bone in the boiler²³ and[Pg 25] makes bone soup," answered Jed gravely. "You can't tell how good it is till you try it."

 

"Is there anything else?"

 

"A few soggy potatoes, and some stale bread without butter."

 

"Don't you have tea?"

 

"Once on Sundays. It don't do to pamper²⁴ us, you know."

 

"Do you have puddings or pies?"

 

"No; the town can't afford it," returned Jed without a smile. "What do you think of our bill of fare?"

 

"Pretty mean, I think. Do Mr. and Mrs. Fogson eat with you?"

 

"No; they eat later, in the small room adjoining."

 

"Do they have the same dinner as you?"

 

"Sometimes they have roast chicken, and the other day when I went into the room there was a plum pudding on the table."

 

Percy laughed.

 

"Just what I thought. The old man and old woman aren't going to get left."

 

"I don't know about that."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

[Pg 26]

 

"I'll explain another time," said Jed, nodding. "I wish I was Overseer of the Poor."

 

"What would you do?"

 

"I'd turn out the Fogsons and put back Mr. and Mrs. Avery."

 

"Father says they spoiled the paupers."

 

"At any rate they didn't starve them."

 

"Old Fogson is saving money to the town—so father says."

 

"Wait till the end of the year. You'll find the town will have just as much to pay. What they save off the food they will put into their own pockets."

 

"What are you talking about?" asked Mrs. Fogson suspiciously.

 

Jed did not have to reply, for Percy took offense²⁵ at what he rightly judged to be a piece of impertinence.

 

"Mrs. Fogson," he said, "what we are talking about is no concern of yours."

 

A bright red spot showed itself in either cheek of Mrs. Fogson, and she would have annihilated²⁶ the speaker if she could; but she was politic²⁷, and remembered that Percy was the son of the overseer.

 

[Pg 27]

 

"I didn't mean any offense, Master Percy," she said. "It was simply a playful remark on my part."

 

"I'm glad to hear it," responded Percy. "You didn't look very playful."

 

Squire Dixon was conversing²⁸ with Mr. Fogson, and didn't hear this little conversation.

 

"I am just digging my potatoes," said Fogson deferentially²⁹. "I have some excellent Jackson whites. I will send you round a bushel to try."

 

"You are very kind, Mr. Fogson," said the squire, smiling urbanely³⁰. "I shall appreciate them, you may be sure. Mr. Avery never would have made me such an offer. It is clear to me that you are the right man in the right place."

 

"I am proud to hear you say so, Squire Dixon. With such an Overseer of the Poor as you are, I am sure the interests of the town will be safe."

 

"Thank you! Good-by."

 

"Come again soon, squire," said Mrs. Fogson with a frosty smile. She did not extend a[Pg 28] similar invitation to Percy, who had wounded her pride by his unceremonious words.

 

"They are very worthy³¹ people, Percy," said the squire as they rode away.

 

"Do you think so, father? I don't admire your taste."

 

"My son, I am surprised at you," but in his secret heart the squire agreed with Percy.

 

Soon after Squire Dixon and Percy left the poorhouse dinner was served. It answered very well the description given by Jed. Though the boy was hungry, he found it almost impossible to eat his portion, scanty³² though it was.

 

"Turning up your nose at your dinner as usual!" said Mrs. Fogson sharply. "If you don't like it you can get another boarding-house."

 

"I think I shall," answered Jed.

 

"What do you mean by that?" demanded Mrs. Fogson quickly.

 

"If the board doesn't improve I shall dry up and blow away," returned Jed.

 

Mrs. Fogson sniffed³³ and let the matter drop.

 

[Pg 29]

 

Towards the close of the afternoon, as Jed was splitting wood in the yard, his attention was drawn³⁴ to a runaway³⁵ horse which was speeding down the road at breakneck speed, while a lady's terrified face was visible looking vainly around in search of help.

 

Jed dropped his axe³⁶, ran to the bend of the road, and dashed out, waving a branch which he picked up by the roadside. The horse slowed down, and Jed, seizing the opportunity, ran to his head, seized him by the bridle³⁷, and brought him to a permanent stop.

 

"How brave you are!" said the lady. "Will you jump into the buggy and drive me to my home? I don't dare to trust myself alone with the horse again."

 

Jed did as desired, and at the end of the ride Mrs. Redmond (she was the wife of Dr. Redmond) gave him a dollar, accompanying it with hearty³⁸ thanks.

 

"I suppose Fogson will try to get this dollar away from me," thought Jed, "but he won't succeed."

1 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

2 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。

3 shrill   

adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫

参考例句：

• Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
• The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。

4 scowled   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He scowled his displeasure. 他满脸嗔色。
• The teacher scowled at his noisy class. 老师对他那喧闹的课堂板着脸。

5 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

6 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

7 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

8 exhort   

v.规劝，告诫

参考例句：

• The opposition can only question and exhort.反对党只能提出质问和告诫。
• This is why people exhort each other not to step into stock market.这就是为什么许多人互相告诫，不要涉足股市的原因。

9 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

10 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

11 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

12 rebuking   

责难或指责( rebuke的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Rebuking people who disagree with them. 指责和自己意见不同的人。
• We could hear the director rebuking Jim for being late from work again. 我们听得见主任在斥辞责吉姆上班又迟到了。

13 meekly   

adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地

参考例句：

• He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时，他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

15 paupers   

n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷

参考例句：

• The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵，你这穷鬼根本买不起！ 来自互联网
• Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索，马拉维，这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网

16 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

17 impulsively   

adv.冲动地

参考例句：

• She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前，感情冲动地吻了他。
• Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。

18 eloquent   

adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。

19 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

20 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

21 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

22 demurely   

adv.装成端庄地，认真地

参考例句：

• "On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额，像个好哥哥那样，"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘（部分）
• Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛，低声细语，或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分

23 boiler   

n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等)

参考例句：

• That boiler will not hold up under pressure.那种锅炉受不住压力。
• This new boiler generates more heat than the old one.这个新锅炉产生的热量比旧锅炉多。

24 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。

25 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

26 annihilated   

v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃

参考例句：

• Our soldiers annihilated a force of three hundred enemy troops. 我军战士消灭了300名敌军。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We annihilated the enemy. 我们歼灭了敌人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 politic   

adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政

参考例句：

• He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明，不会与这么重要的人争吵。
• The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。

28 conversing   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

29 deferentially   

adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地

参考例句：

• "Now, let me see,'said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder very deferentially. “来，让我瞧瞧你的牌。”赫斯渥说着，彬彬有礼地从嘉莉背后看过去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• He always acts so deferentially around his supervisor. 他总是毕恭毕敬地围着他的上司转。 来自互联网

30 urbanely   

adv.都市化地，彬彬有礼地，温文尔雅地

参考例句：

• Don't let the repoter spook you, and you have to behave urbanely. 别让记者缠住你，而你还得举止文雅。 来自互联网

31 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

32 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

33 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

34 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

35 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

36 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

37 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

38 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。