CHAPTER XV ERASTUS TARBOX, OF NEWARK

 Erastus Tarbox kept a dry-goods store in the city of Newark, New Jersey¹. He was well to do, not so much because of his enterprise and skill as a merchant as because of his extreme poverty. Some people called it parsimony². He only employed two clerks to assist him in his store, and they, as well as the boy who carried out parcels and ran the errands, were paid scarcely more than two-thirds the rates paid in neighboring stores.

 

Mr. Tarbox prided himself upon his relationship to the Courtneys. They were rich, and riches, in his eyes were a great merit. He often sighed to think that there was no chance for him to benefit by a share of the large property owned by his cousins. Without hope of personal advantage, however, he had always been obsequious³ to them, and often took occasion to mention them, by way of enhancing his own social credit somewhat.

 

Mr. Tarbox had heard of Mrs. Courtney's death, but had not heard the particulars of the will. He took it for granted that Frank was sole heir, and it did cross his mind more than once how very agreeable it would be if he could be selected as guardian⁴ of the rich young heir. Of course, he knew that there was no probability of it, since the stepfather would undoubtedly⁵ be appointed to that position.

 

Mr. Tarbox had just sold a calico dress pattern to a poor woman, when his attention was drawn⁶ to the entrance of Frank Courtney, who entered his store, valise in hand.

 

Mr. Tarbox was rather short-sighted, and did not immediately recognize the son of his rich cousin.

 

"What can I do for you, young man?" he asked, in his business tone.

 

"This is Mr. Tarbox, I believe?" said Frank, who did not know his relatives very well.

 

"Yes, that is my name."

 

"I am Frank Courtney."

 

"Bless my soul!" ejaculated Mr. Tarbox, surprised and delighted. "When did you arrive in Newark?"

 

"I have only just arrived."

 

"I do hope you are going to make us a visit," said Mr. Tarbox, cordially.

 

"Thank you!" answered Frank, cheered by this warm reception. "If you are sure it won't inconvenience you."

 

"Inconvenience me! We shall be delighted to have you with us."

 

"You must come up and see Mrs. Tarbox. She will be delighted to see you."

 

Mr. Tarbox lived over his store. There was a door from the street adjoining the shop front. Mr. Tarbox opened it with a pass-key, and conducted Frank upstairs, ushering⁷ him into a gloomy parlor⁸, with stiff, straightbacked chairs, ranged at regular intervals⁹ along the sides of the room, and a marble-topped center table, with two or three books lying upon it. There was a framed engraving¹⁰, representing Washington crossing the Delaware, over the mantel, and two plaster figures and similar ornaments¹¹ on the mantelpiece. The whole aspect of the room chilled Frank.

 

"Wait here, and I will call my wife," said Mr. Tarbox.

 

Frank sat down on a hard sofa and awaited the entrance of Mrs. Tarbox.

 

She came in, a tall, thin woman, about as handsome for a woman as her husband was for a man. Indeed, they were very well matched. She was quite as mean as he, and between them they managed to make annually¹² a sensible addition to their world possessions.

 

Mr. Tarbox privately¹³ hinted his hopes respecting Frank to his wife, and she instantly agreed that it would be a most eligible¹⁴ arrangement.

 

"We must make him contented¹⁵, my dear," said her husband. "Give him the best bedroom, and I think it might be well to have something a little extra for supper."

 

"I did intend to put on the rest of that cold mutton," said Mrs. Tarbox, doubtfully.

 

"It won't do, Martha. There is only a little of it, you know, and the boy has been traveling, and, of course, is hungry. What do you say, now, to some nice beefsteak?"

 

"Beefsteak is high now," said Mrs. Tarbox. "Still, if we buy round steak—that is cheaper than sirloin or tenderloin."

 

"And quite as good," said her economical partner. "We can tell Frank, however, that no sirloin was to be had so late in the day at the markets."

 

Mrs. Tarbox nodded her head, approving the suggestion.

 

This little matter being adjusted, the husband and wife entered the parlor where our hero was waiting patiently.

 

"This is our young cousin, Martha," said Mr. Tarbox, smiling pleasantly.

 

"Welcome to Newark," said Mrs. Tarbox, extending her hand. "And how did you leave your stepfather?"

 

"He is well," said Prank¹⁶, coolly.

 

The two exchanged glances. It was clear that Frank did not like his stepfather, and this was satisfactory to them. There was the more chance of his leaving him and boarding with them.

 

"The children will be so glad to see you," said Mr. Tarbox; "won't they, Martha?"

 

"Delighted!" assured the lady.

 

"Pliny must be about your age. How old are you, by the way?"

 

"Sixteen."

 

"Just Pliny's age. Do you remember him?"

 

Frank remembered a tall, thin stripling who had accompanied his parents to the Cedars¹⁷, and who appeared to have an inexhaustible appetite.

 

"Yes, I remember him. Does he go to school?"

 

"No; Pliny is in a store," answered Mr. Tarbox.

 

"Your store?"

 

"Oh, no! I thought it would be better for him to enter the employ of a stranger. He is in a bookstore."

 

There was one great advantage in Pliny's entering the employ of a stranger. He was paid four dollars a week, whereas Mr. Tarbox paid his boy but two. Here, then, was a clear gain of two dollars a week.

 

"But you must be tired," said Mrs. Tarbox. "You will see the children at supper. Martha, I think Frank would like to go to his room."

 

The best bedroom was over the parlor. It was rather more cheerful, because lighter¹⁸.

 

"Here," said Mr. Tarbox, "you must make yourself at home. Martha, isn't one of the drawers in that bureau empty? I thought so. Take your clothes out of the valise and put them away. Now, is there anything you would like?"

 

"Only a little water to wash in," said Frank. "You are both very kind."

 

"We hope to make you comfortable. You are our relative, you know."

 

The water was brought up by Mrs. Tarbox herself, and Frank was left alone, on the whole well pleased with his reception.

1 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

2 parsimony   

n.过度节俭，吝啬

参考例句：

• A classic example comes from comedian Jack Benny, famous for his parsimony.有个经典例子出自以吝啬著称的喜剧演员杰克?班尼。
• Due to official parsimony only the one machine was built.由于官方过于吝啬，仅制造了那一台机器。

3 obsequious   

adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的

参考例句：

• He looked at the two ladies with an obsequious air.他看着两位太太,满脸谄媚的神情。
• He was obsequious to his superiors,but he didn't get any favor.他巴结上司，但没得到任何好处。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。

7 ushering   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时，叫马车的服务员正打开车门，请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前，向他们道谢，一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句

8 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

9 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

10 engraving   

n.版画；雕刻（作品）；雕刻艺术；镌版术v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的现在分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中）

参考例句：

• He collected an old engraving of London Bridge. 他收藏了一张古老的伦敦桥版画。 来自辞典例句
• Some writing has the precision of a steel engraving. 有的字体严谨如同钢刻。 来自辞典例句

11 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

13 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。

14 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

15 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

16 prank   

n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己

参考例句：

• It was thought that the fire alarm had been set off as a prank.人们认为火警报警器响是个恶作剧。
• The dean was ranking the boys for pulling the prank.系主任正在惩罚那些恶作剧的男学生。

17 cedars   

雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The old cedars were badly damaged in the storm. 风暴严重损害了古老的雪松。
• Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 1黎巴嫩哪，开开你的门，任火烧灭你的香柏树。

18 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。