CHAPTER XXI. JED ARRIVES IN NEW YORK.

 Jed counted over his money and found he had thirty-nine dollars and thirty-seven cents. He would have had more, but he had supplied himself with clothes, so that he was on the whole very well provided in that way.

 

He resolutely¹ refused to borrow from Harry² Bertram, though the actor pressed a loan upon him.

 

"No, Harry," he said, "I have almost forty dollars, and I am sure that will last me till I can earn some more."

 

"Well, perhaps so," replied the actor, "but you have no idea how fast money melts away. What are your plans?"

 

"I am afraid I haven't any," answered Jed, looking perplexed³. "I want to make a living, but I don't know what I am fit for."

 

"Where do you mean to go?"

 

"I think I should like to go to New[Pg 183] York," answered Jed. "I have never been there."

 

"You will find the city very dull at this time of year. Business is very quiet in August."

 

"But there must be a good many chances in a city of over a million inhabitants."

 

"Well, perhaps you may as well find out for yourself. I am afraid you will be disappointed."

 

Jed attached considerable importance to the opinion of his friend Bertram, but in his own mind there was a conviction that the other exaggerated the chances of failure. He was of a sanguine⁴ temperament⁵ himself, and this made him hopeful.

 

There were two ways of reaching New York from Sea Spray. One was a combination of cars and boat, the other took one all the way by steamer. This, on the whole, Jed preferred.

 

With his modest gripsack in his hand he passed over the gang-plank and took a seat forward. Next to him was a tall, thin man, dressed in shabby attire⁶, who did not appear[Pg 184] to have shaved for several days. Though the weather was warm, he had his coat buttoned tight across his chest, possibly to conceal⁷ the lack of a vest.

 

When the boat had been perhaps fifteen minutes under way, he turned and eyed Jed with some attention.

 

"Are you staying at Sea Spray this summer, young man?" he asked.

 

"I have spent some weeks there," answered Jed.

 

"I suppose you are going to New York for the day?"

 

"No; I am going for good. That is I hope I am going for good."

 

"You are going to fill a business position, perhaps?"

 

"I hope so, but I have none engaged."

 

"Are you acquainted in New York?"

 

"No; I have never been there. This will be my first visit."

 

"Indeed! This is very interesting. I should be glad to help you to a position."

 

Jed thought privately⁸ that his new acquaintance must stand quite as much in need[Pg 185] of a place as he, but courtesy led him to say, "Thank you."

 

"Have you any particular choice as to the business you take up?"

 

"No; anything that will enable me to pay my expenses will satisfy me."

 

"Just so. You have heard of H. B. Claflin, probably?"

 

"Yes; he is a dry goods merchant."

 

"On a very large scale. I have a mind to give you a letter to him."

 

"Do you know him?" asked Jed doubtfully.

 

"Yes; Horace and I used to go to school together. He was older than I, but we were pretty intimate."

 

"Why don't you apply for a position for yourself?"

 

"Dry goods are not in my line. I am an editor—that is, an editorial writer."

 

"Indeed!"

 

Jed had read from time to time squibs and witty⁹ paragraphs touching¹⁰ the poverty of editors, and this seemed to explain the shabby appearance of his new friend.

 

"What paper do you write for?" he ventured to ask.

 

"I contribute editorially to most of the city dailies. Sometimes I get as high as fifteen and twenty dollars a column."

 

Jed was rather surprised at this. He concluded that Mr. Hamilton Barry—for this was the name the stranger had given—was not a very good financial manager.

 

"That seems a high price," said Jed.

 

"Yes, but brain-work ought to be paid handsomely. Do you ever write for publication yourself?"

 

"Oh, no," said Jed, flattered nevertheless by the question. "I haven't education enough."

 

"I thought if you did I might get you something to do. But perhaps business is more in your line?"

 

"I think it will be."

 

"Then I had better write you a note to Mr. Claflin. When we get to the city I will run into some hotel and write you a letter of recommendation."

 

"But, Mr. Barry, you don't know me. How can you recommend me?"

 

"My dear boy, I judge you by your appearance. Besides, I know something of phrenology, and you have a good head—a very good head. I read in it honesty, integrity, enterprise and fidelity¹¹. Those qualities certainly ought to qualify you to succeed in business."

 

"I don't know anything about phrenology, but I hope it's true."

 

"My young friend you may rely implicitly¹² on the verdict of the wonderful science."

 

"I shall be glad to," said Jed smiling, "since, as you say, it is so favorable to me."

 

When they reached the pier¹³ Hamilton Barry passed his arm familiarly through Jed's, and led the way to a small public house, the office of which seemed also to be a bar.

 

"Won't you take a glass of something?" asked the editor.

 

"I don't drink," answered Jed, rather embarrassed.

 

"Take a glass of sarsaparilla. It won't harm an infant."

 

"Thank you. I don't mind."

 

Upon this Mr. Barry stepped up to the bar[Pg 188] and ordered one sarsaparilla and one whisky straight. While Jed was solemnly drinking the first, the editor poured down the whisky at one gulp¹⁴.

 

Then he felt in his pockets for the fifteen cents which were due. But somehow no silver was forthcoming.

 

"Upon my word," he exclaimed, "I must have left my money at home. Mr. Gilman, can you oblige me with a quarter?"

 

Jed produced the required coin. Taking it, Barry paid the score, and quietly pocketed the change.

 

"Now for the letter!" he said. "Where is your writing-room?"

 

"Haven't got any," answered the barkeeper.

 

"Can't you scare up a sheet of paper and an envelope?"

 

After some time these were produced, also a pen and a bottle of ink. Barry sat down at one of the tables generally used for bar customers, and in a short time produced a letter which he handed to Jed.

 

It ran thus:

 

Dear Horace:

 

This letter will be handed to you by a talented young friend, who is in search of a business position. Mr. J. Gilman is in my judgment¹⁵ possessed¹⁶ of superior business qualifications, and will prove a valuable man in your store. I advise you to engage him at once.

 

Your old friend, 

Hamilton Barry.

 

This note was placed in an envelope directed to Horace B. Claflin. In the corner Barry wrote: "To introduce Mr. J. Gilman."

 

"There," he said. "Take this letter round to Claflin and he will undoubtedly¹⁷ give you a good place."

 

He spoke¹⁸ with so much confidence that Jed was led to think himself in luck to be the recipient¹⁹ of such a testimonial.

 

"Thank you," he said. "I feel very much obliged."

 

"Oh don't mention it!" said Barry in an airy way. "It gives me pleasure to assist you, Mr. Gilman, I assure you. When you have ascended²⁰ round by round until you are at the top of the ladder, I trust you will not forget your chance acquaintance, Hamilton Barry."

 

"I certainly will not, Mr. Barry," said Jed warmly, grasping the hand of the editor. "I hope some day to thank you as I wish."

 

"My dear boy, the sentiment does you credit. I know you are sincere."

 

"Certainly," said Jed.

 

"It is because I know this that I venture to suggest that you may do me a favor at once."

 

"What is it?"

 

"Let me have a fiver till next Monday. I shall then call at the office of the Tribune for twenty dollars due me for two editorials published early this week."

 

This request rather staggered Jed. Now that he had paid his fare to New York he had only about thirty-seven dollars, and five dollars would cut rather seriously into his small balance.

 

"I am afraid," he said awkwardly, "that I can hardly spare five dollars. If two dollars would help you——"

 

"It would materially," interposed Barry. "Of course it is only a loan. Meet me here next Monday, at six o'clock, say, after your[Pg 191] duties are over at Claflin's, and I will gladly repay you."

 

This off-hand allusion²¹ to Claflin, taking for granted his engagement there, made Jed ashamed of his temporary distrust, and he drew from his pocketbook a two-dollar note, which he handed to Mr. Barry.

 

"Thanks," said the editor, as he carelessly slipped it into his pocket. "Be here on Monday at six o'clock sharp."

 

Then with a jaunty²² air he touched his hat and walked rapidly around the corner.

 

"I think I will go around to Claflin's at once," decided²³ Jed. "I may as well strike while the iron is hot."

 

1 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

2 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。

3 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

4 sanguine   

adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的

参考例句：

• He has a sanguine attitude to life.他对于人生有乐观的看法。
• He is not very sanguine about our chances of success.他对我们成功的机会不太乐观。

5 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

6 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

7 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

8 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

9 witty   

adj.机智的，风趣的

参考例句：

• Her witty remarks added a little salt to the conversation.她的妙语使谈话增添了一些风趣。
• He scored a bull's-eye in their argument with that witty retort.在他们的辩论中他那一句机智的反驳击中了要害。

10 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

11 fidelity   

n.忠诚，忠实；精确

参考例句：

• There is nothing like a dog's fidelity.没有什么能比得上狗的忠诚。
• His fidelity and industry brought him speedy promotion.他的尽职及勤奋使他很快地得到晋升。

12 implicitly   

adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地

参考例句：

• Many verbs and many words of other kinds are implicitly causal. 许多动词和许多其他类词都蕴涵着因果关系。
• I can trust Mr. Somerville implicitly, I suppose? 我想，我可以毫无保留地信任萨莫维尔先生吧？

13 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

14 gulp   

vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽

参考例句：

• She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
• Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽，要嚼碎了再咽下去。

15 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

16 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。

17 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

18 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

19 recipient   

a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器

参考例句：

• Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
• Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。

20 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 allusion   

n.暗示，间接提示

参考例句：

• He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
• She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。

22 jaunty   

adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意

参考例句：

• She cocked her hat at a jaunty angle.她把帽子歪戴成俏皮的样子。
• The happy boy walked with jaunty steps.这个快乐的孩子以轻快活泼的步子走着。

23 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。