CHAPTER XXXVII FRANK RECEIVES A LETTER FROM MR. PERCIVAL

 While Frank was waiting for an answer to a letter to Mr. Percival he devoted¹ part of his time to the business which was supposed to be his only reason for remaining in Jackson.

 

I am bound to say that as regards this business his trip might be pronounced a failure. There was little ready money in Jackson. Many of the people were tenants² of Mr. Percival, and found it difficult to pay the excessive rents demanded by his agent. Of course, they had no money to spare for extras. Even if they had been better off, there was little demand for stationery³ in the village. The people were chiefly farmers, and did not indulge in much correspondence.

 

When Frank returned to his boarding place on the afternoon of the first day, Mr. Hamlin asked him, not without solicitude⁴, with what luck he had met.

 

"I have sold twenty-five cents' worth of note paper," answered Frank, with a smile.

 

Mr. Hamlin looked troubled.

 

"How many places did you call at?" he inquired.

 

"About a dozen."

 

"I am afraid you will get discouraged."

 

"If you don't do better, you won't begin to pay expenses."

 

"That is true."

 

"But perhaps you may do better to-morrow."

 

"I hope so."

 

"I wish you could find something in Jackson that would induce you to remain here permanently⁵, and make your home with us. I would charge you only the bare cost of board."

 

"Thank you very much, Mr. Hamlin. I should enjoy being with you, but I don't believe I shall find any opening here. Besides, I like a more stirring life."

 

"No doubt—no doubt! Boys like a lively place. Well, I am glad you feel independent of your business."

 

"For a little time. I am afraid it wouldn't do for me to earn so little for any length of time."

 

Frank enjoyed the society of Dick Hamlin. Together they went fishing and hunting, and a mutual⁶ liking⁷ sprang up between them.

 

"I wish you were going to stay longer, Frank," said Dick. "I shall feel very lonely when you are gone."

 

"We may meet again under different circumstances," said Frank. "While I am here, we will enjoy ourselves as well as we can."

 

So the days passed, and at length a letter came from Mr. Percival. I append the most important passages:

 

"Your report is clear, and I have perfect confidence in your statement. Mr. Fairfield has abused my confidence and oppressed my tenants, and I shall dismiss him. I am glad you have found in Jackson a man who is capable of succeeding him. Solely⁸ upon your recommendation, I shall appoint Mr. Hamlin my resident agent and representative for the term of six months. Should he acquit⁹ himself to my satisfaction, he will be continued in the position. I am prepared to offer him one hundred dollars a month, if that will content him.

 

"Upon receipt of this letter, and the accompanying legal authority, you may call upon Mr. Fairfield and require him to transfer his office, and the papers and accounts connected with it, to Mr. Hamlin. I inclose a check for three hundred dollars, payable¹⁰ to your order, which you may make payable to him, in lieu of three months' notice, provided he immediately surrenders his office. Should he not, I shall dismiss him summarily, and proceed against him for the moneys he has misappropriated to his own use, and you may so inform him."

 

With this letter was a letter to Mr. Fairfield, of the same purport¹¹, and a paper appointing Mr. Hamlin agent.

 

When this letter was received, Frank was overjoyed, knowing how much pleasure he was about to give his new friends.

 

With this appointment and salary, Mr. Hamlin would consider himself a rich man, and Dick's hope for a liberal education might be realized.

 

The letter came just before supper, and, at the close of the evening meal, Frank determined¹² to inform his friends of their good fortune.

 

"Mr. Hamlin," said he, "I have some good news for you."

 

"Indeed!" said the farmer, surprised.

 

"Your rent will not be increased."

 

"But how do you know this! Has Mr. Fairfield told you so?"

 

"No," answered Frank. "I have a question to ask. Would you be willing to take Mr. Fairfield's place at a hundred dollars a month?"

 

"Willing? I should be delighted to do so. But why do you say this?"

 

"Because," answered Frank, quietly, "I am authorized¹³ to offer it to you at that salary."

 

The whole family looked at Frank in bewildered surprise. It occurred to them that he might have become crazy.

 

"You!" exclaimed the farmer. "What can you have to do with the agency?"

 

Frank explained to a very happy family group and then he and Mr. Hamlin set out for the house of the agent.

1 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

2 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

3 stationery   

n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封

参考例句：

• She works in the stationery department of a big store.她在一家大商店的文具部工作。
• There was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationery.文具一多，心里自会觉得踏实。

4 solicitude   

n.焦虑

参考例句：

• Your solicitude was a great consolation to me.你对我的关怀给了我莫大的安慰。
• He is full of tender solicitude towards my sister.他对我妹妹满心牵挂。

5 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

6 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

7 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

8 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

9 acquit   

vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出

参考例句：

• That fact decided the judge to acquit him.那个事实使法官判他无罪。
• They always acquit themselves of their duty very well.他们总是很好地履行自己的职责。

10 payable   

adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的

参考例句：

• This check is payable on demand.这是一张见票即付的支票。
• No tax is payable on these earnings.这些收入不须交税。

11 purport   

n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是...

参考例句：

• Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.许多理论都标榜以单一的原因解释生长。
• Her letter may purport her forthcoming arrival.她的来信可能意味着她快要到了。

12 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

13 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。