CHAPTER XVIII. MR. FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.

 Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse. Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house. It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor¹, but still more to paying for having it done.

 

He had thought of requiring Isaac Needham, one of the paupers², to do the sawing; but the old man, who was over seventy-five, proved physically³ unable to do the work, and very much against his will Mr. Fogson found himself compelled to undertake it himself.

 

"Drat that Jed!" he muttered, as he stopped to mop his forehead with his red cotton handkerchief. "It's an outrage⁴ for him to throw his work on me. I wish I had him here this blessed minute and could give him a taste of the strap⁵."

 

[Pg 163]

 

At this point a neighbor's boy, Joe Coakley, entered the yard.

 

"Here's a letter for you, Mr. Fogson," he said. "I guess it's from a lady."

 

With considerable surprise Mr. Fogson took the letter in his hand. The envelope was square, and of fine paper, while the address was in a lady's handwriting.

 

Mr. Fogson examined the postmark curiously⁶.

 

"Sea Spray!" he repeated. "Why, that's a fashionable watering-place. Who can have written me from there?"

 

Just then Mrs. Fogson came out from the side door.

 

"What letter have you there?" she asked.

 

"It is from a lady, Mrs. F.," answered her husband with a grin.

 

"What business has a lady writing to you?" demanded Mrs. Fogson suspiciously.

 

"Really I don't know, as I have not read the letter."

 

"Give it to me!"

 

"No, thank you. I read my own letters."

 

"Mr. Fogson, if you are engaged in a [Pg 164]private correspondence with any lady I intend to find out all about it."

 

"Don't be a fool, Mrs. F.; I don't know who the writer is, and I have never had a letter from her before."

 

By this time he had opened the envelope, and his face quickly assumed an expression of interest.

 

"It's about Jed," he exclaimed. "I'll read it to you."

 

This was the letter:

 

My Dear Sir:

 

I am informed that you can give me information as to the past history of Jedediah Gilman. Some weeks ago my brother, Robert Holbrook, a well-known merchant of New York, engaged the boy as a companion and personal attendant of his young son Chester, without knowing much about him or taking the trouble to inquire. Having seen the boy, I have doubts as to whether he is a suitable companion for a boy in my nephew's high social station. I learn from young Mr. Percy Dixon, of your town, that you can give me full information as to the boy's antecedents. I shall feel indebted to you if you will take the trouble to communicate with me by letter.

 

My brother is now in Chicago, and I am in temporary charge of my nephew. I feel that it is my[Pg 165] duty to inquire into the character of a boy who by his intimate association with him may, if he is unworthy, do incalculable harm to his young and trustful nature.

 

Yours very truly, 

Maria Holbrook, 

Spray Hotel, 

Sea Spray, N. J.

 

"Well, upon my word!" ejaculated Mrs. Fogson. "So that young villain⁷ has wormed his way into the confidence of a rich New York merchant!"

 

"Like a snake in the grass," suggested Simeon Fogson.

 

"Exactly. It makes me shudder⁸ to think what an impostor he is. It is providential that Percy Dixon should find him out and show him up."

 

"I'll show him up!" said Fogson, nodding. "I'll just write to Miss Holbrook, and tell her of his goin's on. I reckon he won't keep his place long after they get my letter."

 

"You'd better let me write the letter, Simeon."

 

"No, Mrs. F., the letter was addressed to me, and I'm goin' to answer it."

 

[Pg 166]

 

"Just as you like, Mr. Fogson, but you are well aware that you are weak in your spelling."

 

"Never mind, Mrs. F., I reckon I can make myself understood."

 

"Just as you like, Fogson. Only make it strong enough."

 

"You can trust me for that."

1 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。

2 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

3 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

4 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

5 strap   

n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎

参考例句：

• She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。
• The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。

6 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

7 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

8 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。