“You will soon be a rich man, Paul,” said Mr. Cameron, with a benevolent1 smile, returning the bill.
“But I want you to keep it, Uncle Hugh.”
“I didn't mean that. You have been supporting me—giving me board and clothes—for three years. It is only right that you should have what I earn.”
“The offer is an honorable one on your part, Paul,” said the sexton; “but I don't need it. If it will please you, I will take two dollars a week for your board, now, and out of the balance you may clothe yourself, and save what you can.”
This arrangement seemed to be a fair one. Mr. Cameron deposited the five dollar note in his pocket-book, and passed one of three dollars to Paul. This sum our hero deposited the next Monday morning, in a savings bank. He estimated that he could clothe himself comfortably for fifty dollars a year. This would leave him one hundred towards the payment of the debt due to Squire3 Conant.
“By-and-by my salary will be raised,” thought Paul. “Then I can save more.”
He looked forward with eager anticipation4 to the time when he should be able to redeem5 his father's name, and no one would be entitled to cast reproach upon his memory.
He endeavored to perform his duties faithfully in the office, and to learn as rapidly as he could the business upon which he had entered. He soon found that he must depend mainly upon himself. George Dawkins seemed disposed to afford him no assistance, but repelled6 scornfully the advances which Paul made towards cordiality. He was by no means as faithful as Paul, but whenever Mr. Danforth was absent from the office, spent his time in lounging at the window, or reading a cheap novel, with one of which he was usually provided.
When Paul became satisfied that Dawkins was not inclined to accept his overtures7, he ceased to court his acquaintance, and confined himself to his own desk.
One day as he was returning from dinner, he was startled by an unceremonious slap upon the shoulder.
Looking up in some surprise, he found that this greeting had come from a man just behind him, whose good-humored face and small, twinkling eyes, he at once recognized.
“I'm so's to be round. How be you?” returned the worthy9 pedler, seizing our hero's hand and shaking it heartily10.
“When did you come to New York?” asked Paul.
“Just arrived; that is, I got in this mornin'. But I say, how you've grown. I shouldn't hardly have known you.”
“Shouldn't you, though?” said Paul, gratified as most boys are, on being told that he had grown. “Have you come to the city on business?”
“Well, kinder on business, and kinder not. I thought I'd like to have a vacation. Besides, the old lady wanted a silk dress, and she was sot on havin' it bought in York. So I come to the city.”
“Where are you stopping, Mr. Stubbs?”
“Over to the Astor House. Pretty big hotel, ain't it?”
“Yes, I see you are traveling in style.”
“Yes, I suppose they charge considerable, but I guess I can stand it. I hain't been drivin' a tin-cart for nothin' the last ten years.
“How have you been enjoying yourself since you arrived?”
“Oh, pretty well. I've been round seeing the lions, and came pretty near seeing the elephant at one of them Peter Funk places.”
“You did! Tell me about it.”
“You see I was walkin' along when a fellow came out of one of them places, and asked me if I wouldn't go in. I didn't want to refuse such a polite invitation, and besides I had a curiosity to see what there was to be seen, so I went in. They put up a silver watch, I could see that it was a good one, and so I bid on it. It ran up to eight dollars and a quarter. I thought it was a pity it should go off so cheap, so I bid eight and a half.”
“'Eight and a half and sold,' said the man; 'shall I put it up for you?”
“'No, I thank you,' said I, 'I'll take it as it is.'
“'But I'll put it up in a nice box for you,' said he.
“I told him I didn't care for the box. He seemed very unwilling13 to let it go, but I took it out of his hand and he couldn't help himself. Well, when they made out the bill, what do you suppose they charged?”
“I don't know.”
“Why, eighteen and a half.”
“'Look here,' said I, 'I guess here's something of a mistake. You've got ten dollars too much.'
“'I think you must be mistaken,' said he, smiling a foxy smile.
“'You know I am not,' said I, rather cross.
“We can't let that watch go for any thing shorter,' said he, coolly.
“Just then a man that was present stepped up and said, 'the man is right; don't attempt to impose upon him.'
“With that he calmed right down. It seems it was a policeman who was sent to watch them, that spoke14. So I paid the money, but as I went out I heard the auctioneer say that the sale was closed for the day. I afterwards learned that if I had allowed them to put the watch in a box, they would have exchanged it for another that was only plated.”
“Do you know anybody in the city?” asked Paul.
“I've got some relations, but I don't know where they live.”
“What is the name?” asked Paul, “we can look into the directory.”
“The name is Dawkins,” answered the pedler.
“Dawkins!” repeated Paul, in surprise.
“Yes, do you happen to know anybody of the name?”
“Yes, but I believe it is a rich family.”
“Well, so are my relations,” said Jehoshaphat. “You didn't think Jehoshaphat Stubbs had any rich relations, did you? These, as I've heard tell, hold their heads as high as anybody.”
“Perhaps I may be mistaken,” said Paul.
“George.”
“It must be he, then. There is a boy of about my own age of that name. He works in the same office.”
“You don't say so! Well, that is curious, I declare. To think that I should have happened to hit upon you so by accident too.”
“How are you related to them?” inquired Paul.
“Why, you see, I'm own cousin to Mr. Dawkins. His father and my mother were brother and sister.”
“What was his father's business?” asked Paul.
“I don't know what his regular business was, but he was a sexton in some church.”
This tallied16 with the account Paul had received from Mr. Cameron, and he could no longer doubt that, strange as it seemed, the wealthy Mr. Dawkins was own cousin to the pedler.
“Didn't you say the boy was in the same office with you, Paul?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I've a great mind to go and see him, and find out where his father lives. Perhaps I may get an invite to his house.”
“How shocked Dawkins will be!” thought Paul, not, it must be confessed, without a feeling of amusement. He felt no compunction in being the instrument of mortifying17 the false pride of his fellow clerk, and he accordingly signified to Mr. Stubbs that he was on his way to the counting-room.
“Are you, though? Well, I guess I'll go along with you. Is it far off?”
“Only in the next street.”
The pedler, it must be acknowledged, had a thoroughly18 countrified appearance. He was a genuine specimen19 of the Yankee,—a long, gaunt figure, somewhat stooping, and with a long aquiline20 nose. His dress has already been described.
As Dawkins beheld21 him entering with Paul, he turned up his nose in disgust at what he considered Paul's friend.
What was his consternation22 when the visitor, approaching him with a benignant smile, extended his brown hand, and said, “How d'ye do, George? How are ye all to hum?”
“What do you mean?” he said, pale with passion.
“Mr. Dawkins,” said Paul, with suppressed merriment, “allow me to introduce your cousin, Mr. Stubbs.”
“Jehoshaphat Stubbs,” explained that individual. “Didn't your father never mention my name to you?”
“Sir,” said Dawkins, darting24 a furious glance at Paul, “you are entirely25 mistaken if you suppose that any relationship exists between me and that—person.”
“No, it's you that are mistaken,” said Mr. Stubbs, persevering26, “My mother was Roxana Jane Dawkins. She was own sister to your grandfather. That makes me and your father cousins Don't you see?”
“I see that you are intending to insult me,” said Dawkins, the more furiously, because he began to fear there might be some truth in the man's claims. “Mr. Prescott, I leave you to entertain your company yourself.”
And he threw on his hat and dashed out of the counting-room.
“Well,” said the pedler, drawing a long breath, “that's cool,—denyin' his own flesh and blood. Rather stuck up, ain't he?”
“He is, somewhat,” said Paul; “if I were you, I shouldn't be disposed to own him as a relation.”
“Darned ef I will!” said Jehoshaphat sturdily; “I have some pride, ef I am a pedler. Guess I'm as good as he, any day.”
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收听单词发音
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1
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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4
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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5
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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6
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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7
overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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8
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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9
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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10
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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11
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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13
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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14
spoke
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| 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 | |
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15
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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tallied
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| v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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18
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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21
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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22
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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23
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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25
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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