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CHAPTER VI PAUL AS AN ARTIST
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 Paul was not slow in following Mike. He was a good runner, and would have had no difficulty in keeping up with his enemy if the streets had been empty. But to thread his way in and out among the numerous foot passengers that thronged1 the sidewalks was not so easy. He kept up pretty well, however, until, in turning a street corner, he ran at full speed into a very stout2 gentleman, whose scanty3 wind was quite knocked out of him by the collision. He glared in anger at Paul, but could not at first obtain breath enough to speak.
“I beg your pardon, sir,” said Paul, who, in spite of his desire to overtake Mike, felt it incumbent4 upon him to stop and offer an apology.
“What do you mean, sir,” exploded the fat man, at last, “by tearing through the streets like a locomotive? You've nearly killed me.”
“I am very sorry, sir.”
“You ought to be. Don't you know better than to run at such speed? You ought to be indicted5 as a public nuisance.
“I was trying to catch a thief,” said Paul.
“Trying to catch a thief? How's that?” asked the stout gentleman, his indignation giving way to curiosity.
“I was selling packages in front of the post office when he and another boy came up and stole my basket.”
“Indeed! What were you selling?”
“Prize packages, sir.”
“What was in them?”
“Candy.”
“Could you make much that way?”
“About a dollar a day.”
“I'd rather have given you a dollar than had you run against me with such violence. I feel it yet.”
“Indeed, sir, I'm very sorry.”
“Well, I'll forgive you, under the circumstances. What's your name?”
“Paul Hoffman.”
“Well, I hope you'll get back your basket. Some time, if you see me in the street, come up and let me know. Would you know me again?”
“I think I should, sir.”
“Well, good-morning. I hope you'll catch the thief.”
“I thank you, sir.”
They parted company, but Paul did not continue the pursuit. The conversation in which he had taken part had lasted so long that Mike had had plenty of time to find a refuge, and there would be no use in following him.
So Paul went home.
“You are home early, Paul,” said his mother. “Surely you haven't sold out by this time.”
“No, but all my packages are gone.”
“How is that?”
“They were stolen.”
“Tell me about it.”
So Paul told the story.
“That Mike was awful mean,” said Jimmy, indignantly. “I'd like to hit him.”
“I don't think you would hurt him much, Jimmy,” said Paul, amused at his little brother's vehemence6.
“Then I wish I was a big, strong boy,” said Jimmy.
“I hope you will be, some time.”
“How much was your loss, Paul?” asked his mother.
“There were nearly forty packages. They cost me about a dollar, but if I had sold them all they would have brought me in twice as much. I had only sold ten packages.”
“Shall you make some more?”
“No, I think not,” said Paul. “I've got tired of the business. It's getting poorer every day. I'll go out after dinner, and see if I can't find something else to do.”
“You ain't going out now, Paul?” said Jimmy.
“No, I'll stop and see you draw a little while.”
“That's bully7. I'm going to try these oxen.”
“That's a hard picture. I don't think you can draw it, Jimmy.”
“Yes, I can,” said the little boy, confidently. “Just see if I don't.”
“Jimmy has improved a good deal,” said his mother.
“You'll be a great artist one of these days, Jimmy,” said Paul.
“I'm going to try, Paul,” said the little boy. “I like it so much.”
Little Jimmy had indeed made surprising progress in drawing. With no instruction whatever, he had succeeded in a very close and accurate imitation of the sketches8 in the drawing books Paul had purchased for him. It was a great delight to the little boy to draw, and hour after hour, as his mother sat at her work, he sat up to the table, and worked at his drawing, scarcely speaking a word unless spoken to, so absorbed was he in his fascinating employment.
Paul watched him attentively9.
“You'll make a bully artist, Jimmy,” he said, at length, really surprised at his little brother's proficiency10. “If you keep on a little longer, you'll beat me.”
“I wish you'd draw something, Paul,” said Jimmy. “I never saw any of your drawings.”
“I am afraid, if you saw mine, it would discourage you,” said Paul. “You know, I'm older and ought to draw better.”
His face was serious, but there was a merry twinkle of fun in his eyes.
“Of course, I know you draw better,” said Jimmy, seriously.
“What shall I draw?” asked Paul.
“Try this horse, Paul.”
“All right!” said Paul. “But you must go away; I don't want you to see it till it is done.”
Jimmy left the table, and Paul commenced his attempt. Now, though Paul is the hero of my story, I am bound to confess that he had not the slightest talent for drawing, though Jimmy did not know it. It was only to afford his little brother amusement that he now undertook the task.
Paul worked away for about five minutes.
“It's done,” he said.
“So quick?” exclaimed Jimmy, in surprise. “How fast you work!”
He drew near and inspected Paul's drawing. He had no sooner inspected it than he burst into a fit of laughter. Paul's drawing was a very rough one, and such a horse as he had drawn11 will never probably be seen until the race has greatly degenerated12.
“What's the matter, Jimmy?” asked Paul. “Don't you like it?”
“It's awful, Paul,” said the little boy, almost choking with mirth.
“I see how it is,” said Paul, with feigned13 resentment14. “You're jealous of me because you can't draw as well.”
“Oh, Paul, you'll kill me!” and Jimmy again burst into a fit of merriment. “Can't you really draw any better?”
“No, Jimmy,” said Paul, joining in the laugh. “I can't draw any better than an old cow. You've got all the talent in the family in that line.”
“But you're smart in other ways, Paul,” said Jimmy, who had a great admiration15 of Paul, notwithstanding the discovery of his artistic16 inferiority.
“I'm glad there's one that thinks so, Jimmy,” said Paul. “I'll refer to you when I want a recommendation.”
Jimmy resumed his drawing, and was proud of the praises which Paul freely bestowed17 upon him.
“I'll get you a harder drawing book when you've got through with these,” said Paul; “that is, if I don't get reduced to poverty by having my stock in trade stolen again.”
After a while came dinner. This meal in Mrs. Hoffman's household usually came at twelve o'clock. It was a plain, frugal18 meal always, but on Sunday they usually managed to have something a little better, as they had been accustomed to do when Mr. Hoffman was alive.
Paul was soon through.
He took his hat from the bureau, and prepared to go out.
“I'm going out to try my luck, mother,” he said. “I'll see if I can't get into something I like a little better than the prize-package business.”
“I hope you'll succeed, Paul.”
“Better than I did in drawing horses, eh, Jimmy?”
“Yes, I hope so, Paul,” said the little boy.
“Don't you show that horse to visitors and pretend it's yours, Jimmy.”
“No danger, Paul.”
Paul went downstairs and into the street. He had no definite plan in his head, but was ready for anything that might turn up. He did not feel anxious, for he knew there were plenty of ways in which he could earn something. He had never tried blacking boots, but still he could do it in case of emergency. He had sold papers, and succeeded fairly in that line, and knew he could again. He had pitted himself against other boys, and the result had been to give him a certain confidence in his own powers and business abilities. When he had first gone into the street to try his chances there, it had been with a degree of diffidence. But knocking about the streets soon gives a boy confidence, sometimes too much of it; and Paul had learned to rely upon himself; but the influence of a good, though humble19 home, and a judicious20 mother, had kept him aloof21 from the bad habits into which many street boys are led.
So Paul, though his stock in trade had been stolen, and he was obliged to seek a new kind of business, was by no means disheartened. He walked a little way downtown, and then, crossing the City Hall Park, found himself on Broadway.
A little below the Astor House he came to the stand of a sidewalk-merchant, who dealt in neckties. Upon an upright framework hung a great variety of ties of different colors, most of which were sold at the uniform price of twenty-five cents each.
Paul was acquainted with the proprietor22 of the stand, and, having nothing else to do, determined23 to stop and speak to him.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 thronged bf76b78f908dbd232106a640231da5ed     
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Mourners thronged to the funeral. 吊唁者蜂拥着前来参加葬礼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The department store was thronged with people. 百货商店挤满了人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3 scanty ZDPzx     
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的
参考例句:
  • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
  • The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。
4 incumbent wbmzy     
adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的
参考例句:
  • He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
  • It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。
5 indicted 4fe8f0223a4e14ee670547b1a8076e20     
控告,起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
  • He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。
6 vehemence 2ihw1     
n.热切;激烈;愤怒
参考例句:
  • The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
  • She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。
7 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
8 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 proficiency m1LzU     
n.精通,熟练,精练
参考例句:
  • He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺,技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
  • How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何?
11 drawn MuXzIi     
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。
12 degenerated 41e5137359bcc159984e1d58f1f76d16     
衰退,堕落,退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The march degenerated into a riot. 示威游行变成了暴动。
  • The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track. 铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄,成了一条崎岖不平的小径。
13 feigned Kt4zMZ     
a.假装的,不真诚的
参考例句:
  • He feigned indifference to criticism of his work. 他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
  • He accepted the invitation with feigned enthusiasm. 他假装热情地接受了邀请。
14 resentment 4sgyv     
n.怨愤,忿恨
参考例句:
  • All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
  • She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。
15 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
16 artistic IeWyG     
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的
参考例句:
  • The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
  • These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
17 bestowed 12e1d67c73811aa19bdfe3ae4a8c2c28     
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
  • He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
18 frugal af0zf     
adj.节俭的,节约的,少量的,微量的
参考例句:
  • He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人,但生活俭朴。
  • The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。
19 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
20 judicious V3LxE     
adj.明智的,明断的,能作出明智决定的
参考例句:
  • We should listen to the judicious opinion of that old man.我们应该听取那位老人明智的意见。
  • A judicious parent encourages his children to make their own decisions.贤明的父亲鼓励儿女自作抉择。
21 aloof wxpzN     
adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的
参考例句:
  • Never stand aloof from the masses.千万不可脱离群众。
  • On the evening the girl kept herself timidly aloof from the crowd.这小女孩在晚会上一直胆怯地远离人群。
22 proprietor zR2x5     
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。
23 determined duszmP     
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。


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