CHAPTER XXIV A DISCOURAGING DAY

 The next day was indeed a trying one and one of many experiences for Frank.

 

The first lady did not buy any tea, to be sure, but seemed sorry that she was already supplied, and questioned Frank as to what success he was meeting with.

 

When twelve o'clock came, Frank had not sold a single pound. Even if he earned nothing however, he had an appetite and must buy lunch.

 

He entered a small oyster¹ saloon, and went up to the proprietor².

 

"Can I sell you some tea?" he asked.

 

"No, I guess not. I get my tea in Harlem."

 

"Take a couple of pounds," said Frank, "and I will take part of the pay in lunch."

 

"That is business," said the other. "Let me look at your tea."

 

Frank showed him his samples.

 

"Who employs you?'

 

"The Great Pekin Tea Company."

 

"They have a good name. Yes, I will try a couple of pounds at fifty cents."

 

This, of course, came to a dollar, and Frank's profit on the sale amounted to twenty cents. This was precisely³ the cost of the lunch which he ordered, so that he felt well satisfied with the arrangement.

 

He left the saloon in better spirits, and resumed his travels from house to house.

 

I am sorry to say, however, that though he certainly exerted himself to the utmost in the interests of the Great Pekin Tea Company and his own, he did not sell another pound of tea that day.

 

About three o'clock he got on board a Third Avenue horse car, bound downtown and sat quietly down in a corner.

 

"Harlem doesn't seem to be a very promising⁴ field for an agent," he said to himself. "Perhaps it isn't fair to judge it by the first day. Still, I don't think I shall have courage to come here to-morrow. I would rather go to Jersey⁵ City or Brooklyn."

 

Frank got off the cars at the Bible House and walked to his boarding house, where a disagreeable surprise was in store for him.

 

The night brought perplexity to Frank, but not discouragement. He was naturally hopeful, and, in a large city like New York, he felt that there are always chances of obtaining employment, provided he could maintain his position, as he would have been able to do if he had not lost the thirty-five dollars which his fellow boarder had stolen. Now, however, circumstances were materially changed.

 

One thing was tolerably clear to Frank, and this was, that he must give up his agency. He had tried it, and been unsuccessful. That is, he had failed to earn money enough to support himself, and this was necessary.

 

As to what he should take up next, Frank was quite in the dark. As a boy in a counting room he would be paid not more than four dollars a week, if he could gain such a situation, which was by no means certain.

 

The more he thought about the matter the more perplexed⁶ he felt, and it was in an uncomfortable frame of mind that he came down to breakfast the next morning.

1 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

2 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

3 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

4 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

5 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。

6 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。