CHAPTER VI. MR. FOGSON MAKES UP HIS MIND.

 "I don't know, Jed, whether I can make up to you for the supper you will lose at the poorhouse," observed the doctor jocosely¹. "Mrs. Redmond may not be as good a cook as Mrs. Fogson."

 

"I will risk it," said Jed.

 

"Is the fare much worse than it was when Mrs. Avery was in charge?"

 

"Very much worse. I don't mind it much myself, for I often get a meal at Fred Morrison's, but the poor old people have a hard time."

 

"I will make it my business to see that there is an improvement."

 

"Dr. Redmond," said Jed after a pause, "do you think it would be wrong for me to run away from the poorhouse?"

 

"Have you any such intention?" asked the doctor quickly.

 

[Pg 50]

 

"Yes; I think I can earn my own living, and a better living than I have there. I am young and strong, and I am not afraid to try."

 

"As to that, Jed, I don't see why there should be any objection to your making the attempt. The town of Scranton ought not to object to lessening² the number it is required to support."

 

"Mr. and Mrs. Fogson would object. They would miss my work."

 

"Have you ever spoken to them on the subject?"

 

"I did one day, and they said I would have to stay till I was twenty-one."

 

"That is not true."

 

"I don't think I could stay that long," said Jed soberly. "I should be dead before that time if I had to live with Mr. and Mrs. Fogson, and fared no better. Besides, you see how I am dressed. I should think you would be ashamed to have me at your table."

 

Jed's clothes certainly were far from becoming. They were of unknown antiquity³, and were two sizes too small for him, so that[Pg 51] the sleeves and the legs of the trousers were so scant⁴ as to attract attention. In his working hours he wore a pair of overalls⁵, but those he took off when he accepted Dr. Redmond's invitation.

 

"I didn't invite your clothes, Jed; I invited you," responded the doctor. "I confess, however, that your suit is pretty shabby. How long have you worn it?"

 

"It was given me nearly two years ago."

 

"And you have had no other since?"

 

"No. If I stayed there till I was twenty-one I expect I should have to wear the same old things."

 

Dr. Redmond laughed.

 

"I am bound to say, Jed, that in that case you would cut a comical figure. However, I don't think it will be as bad as that. My son Ross is in college. He is now twenty. I will ask my wife to look about the house and see if there isn't an old suit of his that will fit you. It will, at any rate, be a good deal better than this."

 

"Thank you, doctor; but will you save it till I am ready to leave Scranton?"

 

[Pg 52]

 

"Yes, Jed. I will have it put in a bundle, and it will be ready for you any time you call for it."

 

"There's another thing, doctor. I think Mr. Fogson will try to get my money away, notwithstanding all you said."

 

"He wouldn't dare to."

 

"He is very cunning. He will find some excuse."

 

Jed was right. To prove this, we will go back to the poorhouse and relate the conversation between the well-matched pair after Dr. Redmond's departure.

 

"Simeon," said his wife, "if you had any spunk⁶ you wouldn't let Dr. Redmond insult and bully⁷ you, as he did just now."

 

"What would you have me to do?" demanded her husband irritably⁸. "I couldn't knock him down, could I?"

 

"No, but you could have talked up to him."

 

"I did; but you must remember that he is an important man in the town, and it wouldn't be wise to make him an enemy."

 

"Squire⁹ Dixon is still more important. If[Pg 53] he backs you up you needn't be afraid of this trumpery¹⁰ doctor."

 

"Well, what would you advise?"

 

"Go this evening and see the squire. Tell him what has happened, and if he gives you authority to take Jed's money, take it."

 

"Really, that is a good suggestion, Mrs. F. I will go soon after supper."

 

"It would do no good to triumph over Dr. Redmond. He is an impertinent meddler¹¹."

 

"So he is. I agree with you there."

 

Soon after seven o'clock Squire Dixon was somewhat surprised when the servant ushered¹² Mr. Fogson into his presence.

 

"Ah, Fogson," he exclaimed. "I was not expecting to see you. Has anything gone wrong?"

 

"I should think so. Jed has rebelled against my lawful¹³ authority, and Dr. Redmond is aiding and abetting¹⁴ him in it."

 

"You astonish me, Fogson. Are you sure you are not mistaken?"

 

"I'll tell you the whole story, squire, and you can judge for yourself."

 

Upon this Mr. Fogson gave an account of[Pg 54] the scenes that had taken place in the poorhouse, including his contest with Jed, and Mrs. Fogson's ill-judged attempt to assist him.

 

"Certainly, you were in bad luck," said the squire. "Is the injury serious?"

 

"The burn is very painful, squire. Mrs. Fogson acted like an idiot. Why didn't she take better aim?"

 

"To be sure, to be sure. Wasn't the boy scalded at all?"

 

"Not a particle," answered Fogson in an aggrieved¹⁵ tone. "Now, what I want to know is, didn't I have a right to take the money from Jed?"

 

"Yes, I think so. The boy would probably have made bad use of it."

 

"The ground I take, squire, is that a pauper¹⁶ has no right to possess money."

 

"I quite agree with you. Since the town maintains him, the town should have a right to exact any money of which he becomes accidentally possessed¹⁷."

 

"I don't quite see that the town should have it," said Fogson. "As the boy's official[Pg 55] guardian¹⁸, I think I ought to keep it, to use for the boy whenever I thought it judicious¹⁹."

 

"Yes, I think that view is correct. I had only given the point a superficial consideration."

 

"Dr. Redmond denies this. He says I have no right to take the money from Jed."

 

"Dr. Redmond's view is not entitled to any weight. He has no official right to intermeddle."

 

"You'd think he had, by the manner in which he lectured Mrs. Fogson and myself. I never heard such impudence²⁰."

 

"Dr. Redmond assumes too much. He doesn't appear to understand that I, and not he, was appointed Overseer of the Poor."

 

"He says you are not fit for the position," said Fogson, transcending²¹ the limits of strict accuracy, as the reader will understand.

 

"What?" ejaculated Squire Dixon, his face flushing angrily.

 

"That's just what he said," repeated Fogson, delighted by the effect of his misrepresentations. "It's my belief that he wanted the office himself."

 

[Pg 56]

 

"Very likely, very likely!" said the squire angrily. "Do I understand you to say that he actually called me unfit for the position?"

 

"Yes he did. He appears to think that he can boss you and Mrs. F. and myself. Why, he stood by that boy, though he had actually assaulted me, and invited him home to supper."

 

"You don't mean this, Mr. Fogson?"

 

"Yes I do. Jed is at this very moment at the doctor's house. What mischief²² they are concocting²³ I can't tell, but I am sure that I shall have more trouble with the boy."

 

Squire Dixon was very much disturbed. He was a vain man, and his pride sustained a severe shock when told that the doctor considered him unfit for his position.

 

"However," resumed the crafty²⁴ Fogson, "I suppose we shall have to give in to the doctor."

 

"Give in!" exclaimed the squire, his face turning purple. "Never, Mr. Fogson, never!"

 

"I hate to give in, I confess, squire, but the doctor is a prominent man, and——"

 

"Prominent man! I should like to know[Pg 57] whether I am not a prominent man also, Mr. Fogson? Moreover, I represent the town, and Dr. Redmond doesn't."

 

"I am glad you will stand by me, squire. With you on my side, I will not fear."

 

"I will stand by you, Mr. Fogson."

 

"I should hate to be triumphed over by a mere²⁵ boy."

 

"You shall not be, Mr. Fogson."

 

"Then will you authorize²⁶ me to demand the money from him?"

 

"I will authorize you, Mr. Fogson, and if the boy persists in refusing, I authorize you to use coercive measures. Do you understand?"

 

"I believe I do, squire. You will let it be understood that you have given me authority, won't you? Suppose the boy complains to Dr. Redmond?"

 

"You may refer Dr. Redmond to me, Mr. Fogson," said the squire pompously²⁷. "I think I shall be tempted²⁸ to give this meddling²⁹ doctor a piece of my mind."

 

Mr. Fogson took leave of the squire and pursued his way homeward with a smile on[Pg 58] his face. He had accomplished³⁰ what he desired, and secured a powerful ally in his campaign against the boy Jed and Dr. Redmond.

 

He returned home a little after eight, and just before nine Jed made his appearance at the door of the poorhouse. He was in good spirits, for he had decided³¹ that he would soon turn his back upon the place which had been his home for fourteen years.

1 jocosely   

adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地

参考例句：

2 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。

3 antiquity   

n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹

参考例句：

• The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
• There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。

4 scant   

adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略

参考例句：

• Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
• Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。

5 overalls   

n.（复）工装裤；长罩衣

参考例句：

• He is in overalls today.他今天穿的是工作裤。
• He changed his overalls for a suit.他脱下工装裤，换上了一套西服。

6 spunk   

n.勇气，胆量

参考例句：

• After his death,the soldier was cited for spunk.那位士兵死后因作战勇敢而受到表彰。
• I admired her independence and her spunk.我敬佩她的独立精神和勇气。

7 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

8 irritably   

ad.易生气地

参考例句：

• He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了，暴躁地斥责孩子们。
• On this account the silence was irritably broken by a reproof. 为了这件事，他妻子大声斥责，令人恼火地打破了宁静。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 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。

10 trumpery   

n.无价值的杂物；adj.（物品）中看不中用的

参考例句：

• The thing he bought yesterday was trumpery.他昨天买的只是一件没有什么价值的东西。
• The trumpery in the house should be weeded out.应该清除房子里里无价值的东西。

11 meddler   

n.爱管闲事的人，干涉者

参考例句：

• "I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." “我知道你，这个恶棍。我以前听过你。你是福尔摩斯，爱管闲事的人。” 来自互联网

12 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

14 abetting   

v.教唆（犯罪）( abet的现在分词 )；煽动；怂恿；支持

参考例句：

• On Earth, unknowingly abetting a criminal doesn't merit this kind of punishment. 在地球上，不知不觉地帮助罪犯并不构成这种惩罚。 来自电影对白
• "By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder." 援助和唆使谋杀的塔利班政权与杀人犯同罪。 来自互联网

15 aggrieved   

adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• He felt aggrieved at not being chosen for the team. 他因没被选到队里感到愤愤不平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She is the aggrieved person whose fiance&1& did not show up for their wedding. 她很委屈，她的未婚夫未出现在他们的婚礼上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 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。

17 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

18 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

19 judicious   

adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的

参考例句：

• We should listen to the judicious opinion of that old man.我们应该听取那位老人明智的意见。
• A judicious parent encourages his children to make their own decisions.贤明的父亲鼓励儿女自作抉择。

20 impudence   

n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼

参考例句：

• His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
• What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

21 transcending   

超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的现在分词 )； 优于或胜过…

参考例句：

• She felt herself transcending time and space. 她感到自己正在穿越时空。
• It'serves as a skeptical critic of the self-transcending element. 它对于超越自身因素起着一个怀疑论批评家的作用。

22 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

23 concocting   

v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的现在分词 )；调制；编造；捏造

参考例句：

• I judged that he was concocting a particularly knotty editorial. 我估计他是在拼凑一篇特别伤脑筋的社论。 来自辞典例句
• 'And you,' returned Sydney, busy concocting the punch, 'are such a sensitive and poetical spirit.' “可你呢，”西德尼一边忙着调五味酒，一边回答，“你却是这样一个敏感而有诗意的精灵。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

24 crafty   

adj.狡猾的，诡诈的

参考例句：

• He admired the old man for his crafty plan.他敬佩老者的神机妙算。
• He was an accomplished politician and a crafty autocrat.他是个有造诣的政治家，也是个狡黠的独裁者。

25 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

26 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

27 pompously   

adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样

参考例句：

• He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网

28 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

29 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

30 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

31 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。