CHAPTER VIII RANDY AND HIS UNCLE PETER

 From his uncle's home Randy rode on his bicycle to Peter Thompson's store—a fairly large concern, the largest, in fact, in Deep Haven¹. He found his uncle behind a desk in the rear, busy over some accounts. For several minutes he paid no attention to his visitor. Then he stuck his pen behind his ear and gave Randy a sharp look.

 

"How do you do, Uncle Peter?" said the youth.

 

"Why—er—who is this?" stammered² Peter Thompson. "I don't seem to quite know you."

 

"I am Randy Thompson, your nephew."

 

"Oh, yes, my younger brother Louis' son, I believe."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"I remember you now." Peter Thompson held out a flabby and cold hand. "Come to town on business, I suppose."

 

"In a way, yes, sir. Father is down with rheumatism³."

 

"Hum! Didn't take proper care of himself, I suppose."

 

"He had to work in a cellar and that put him in bed."

 

"And you have come to ask help, I suppose." Peter Thompson's face dropped quickly. "I am sorry, but my family expenses are very large, and trade is dull. If I were able——"

 

"You are mistaken," said Randy, a flush mounting to his brow. "I do not come for assistance. I am old enough to work, if I only knew what to do. Mother told me to come to you for advice."

 

Peter Thompson looked relieved when he understood that Randy's visit meant no demand upon his purse, and he regarded the youth more favorably than he had done.

 

"Ah, that's well," he said, rubbing his flabby hands together. "I like your independence. Now, let me see." He scratched his head. "Do you know anything about horses?"

 

"No, sir; but perhaps I could learn."

 

"The livery-stable keeper wants a boy, but he must know all about horses."

 

"How much would he pay a week?"

 

"Two dollars at the start."

 

"That would not be enough for me."

 

"I might get you in some store in the city," continued Peter Thompson. "Would you like that?"

 

"If it paid, yes."

 

"It would pay but little the first year. But you would gain a valuable experience."

 

"I cannot afford that, Uncle Peter. I must earn something at once, to support our family."

 

"Then I don't know what can be done," said the storekeeper, with a shrug⁴ of his shoulders. "There are very few things that boys of your age can do, and it is so easy to obtain boys that people are not willing to pay much in wages."

 

Randy looked crestfallen⁵ and his uncle embarrassed. The merchant feared that he might be compelled by the world's opinion to aid his brother and his family. But suddenly an idea struck him.

 

"Do you know anything about farming?" he inquired.

 

"Yes, sir," said Randy; "a little."

 

"I ask for this reason," pursued Mr. Thompson. "When your grandfather died he left to me a small farm in Riverport. It is not very good and has been used mostly as a pasture. I have been so occupied with other things that I could not look after it. Perhaps you may know something of it."

 

"Yes, sir, I do. It is about half a mile from our house, and is called the twelve-acre lot. But I didn't know it belonged to you."

 

"It does. What I was going to say is that, although I am unable to give you such assistance as I should like, I will, if you wish it, give you the use of that lot, and the little cottage on it, rent-free so long as you care to use it. Perhaps you can put it to some use. Anyway, you can use the cottage."

 

Randy's face lighted up, much to his uncle's satisfaction. The land was not extra good and the cottage all but tumbled down, yet it was better than nothing. They could move out of the cottage in which they were now located, and thus save the monthly rent, which was eight dollars. Besides that, Randy felt that he could do something with the garden, even though it was rather late in the season. Where they now lived there was little room to grow vegetables.

 

"You are sure you don't want to use the place, Uncle Peter?" he asked.

 

"Not at all. You can use it as long as you please."

 

"Maybe you would like to sell it."

 

"Ahem! If you wish to buy it you can make an offer after you are on the place. I once offered it to a man for two hundred dollars, but he would not take me up."

 

"Then you will sell it for two hundred dollars?"

 

"I will sell it to you, or rather your father, for a hundred and fifty dollars."

 

"I'll remember that, sir. It may be that we will like the place so much we shall want to buy—if we can raise the money."

 

"You can pay off the amount at the rate of fifty dollars per year if you wish."

 

"Thank you. You are kind and I appreciate it," and Randy meant what he said.

 

Peter Thompson looked at the clock.

 

"I must go to dinner now. Will you dine with me?"

 

Had his uncle been alone Randy might have accepted the offer, but he remembered the reception his aunt had given him and so declined.

 

"I think I had better get back to Riverport," he said. "I will tell mother and father about the twelve-acre lot and see what they have to say about it."

 

"Very well."

 

"Would you mind giving me a slip of paper so that we can prove we have a right to occupy the place?" pursued Randy. "Some folks may try to dispute our right. I know one man who pastures cows there."

 

"He has no right to do so. Here, I will give you a paper in due form."

 

Whatever his other shortcomings, Peter Thompson was not a slipshod business man. He drew up a paper in due form, stating that his brother could occupy the little farm for five years, rent-free, and if he wished to do so could at any time in said five years buy the little farm for one hundred and fifty dollars, payable⁶ at the rate of fifty dollars per year, without interest.

 

"And now good-by and good luck to you," said he as he handed the paper to Randy. "Some day, if I can get the time, I may call upon you. But I rarely go away from home."

 

Randy shook hands and left, and in a minute more was riding home on the bicycle.

 

"Well, I think I've gained something," he thought, as he sped along. "Anyway, we will have a roof over our heads and that is something. To be sure, the cottage is a poor one, but poor folks can't have everything as they want it."

 

When the boy arrived home he found his father had had another bad turn but was now resting easier. Without delay he told of what had happened at Deep Haven.

 

"Your aunt is a Tartar," said Louis Thompson. "I never liked her, and that is why I and your Uncle Peter have drifted apart. I thought he had sold the twelve-acre lot to Jerry Borden, who pastures his cows there."

 

"Jerry Borden will have to get out—that is, if we take possession," said Randy. "Mother, what do you think of it?"

 

"Is the cottage usable? I have not seen it for a year or more."

 

"It will have to be fixed⁷ up some. But I am sure I can do the work, with father's tools."

 

"It will save the rent money."

 

"And I can plant a garden, even if it is late. And we can keep some chickens, and then, after everything is in shape, I can again look for outside work."

 

"Randy's idea is a good one," answered the boy's father. "Our month will be up here next week. I'll notify the owner at once about leaving."

 

The next morning Randy went over to the twelve-acre farm, a corner of which sloped down to the river. He had passed it a hundred times before, but it was with an entirely⁸ different feeling that he surveyed it now.

 

It was pasture land, naturally good, but much neglected. A great many stones needed to be removed and the fences wanted propping⁹ up and here and there a new rail. The house, which faced a little side road, was a story and a half in height, with two rooms below and two chambers¹⁰ above. There was a well that needed fixing and also a cistern¹¹. Around the cottage the weeds grew high, and one of the windows was out and a door was missing.

 

"I can fix this place up, I am sure of it," said the boy to himself.

 

He was making a mental note of what was to be done when he heard a noise on the road and saw a farmer approaching, driving a dozen cows before him. It was Jerry Borden, the man who had been using the pasture lot without paying for it.

 

"Hullo! What air you a-doin' here?" asked Jerry Borden, looking at Randy in some surprise.

 

"We are going to move over here, Mr. Borden," answered Randy, calmly.

 

"Move over here!" ejaculated the farmer.

 

"Yes."

 

"In this air tumble-down cottage?"

 

"I am going to fix it up some."

 

"Well, I vow¹²! It ain't fit to live in!"

 

"It will be."

 

"An' the land ain't wuth shucks."

 

"It seems to be good enough for the cows."

 

At this Jerry Borden's face fell a little.

 

"If you air a-goin' to move in, I guess thet means I'm to move out," he ventured.

 

"It does, unless——" Randy paused, struck by a sudden idea.

 

"Unless what?" asked the farmer, eagerly. He wanted to use the lot very much, for he was short of pasturing on his own farm.

 

"Unless we can come to some sort of an agreement for milk and butter. Of course I can't let you use the whole lot, but you might use part of it."

 

"Did the owner say you could use the place?"

 

"Yes, we have it down in writing. We are to use it for five years and then we can buy it if we wish."

 

"I see." The farmer scratched his head. "Well, I dunno. Maybe we could let ye have butter an' milk. One thing is certain, I've got to have pasturin'."

 

"We could fence off part of the lot in some way and you could use that."

 

"Thet's so."

 

"Besides that, I'll want some plowing¹³ done. I may have to hire you for that," pursued Randy.

 

"I must say I like your spunk¹⁴, Randy. I shan't charge ye a cent fer plowin'."

 

After that the farmer and our hero talked matters over for half an hour, and the farmer told the youth what might be planted to advantage even so late in the season. Then Randy went home, feeling that the family was going to make a good move.

1 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

2 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

3 rheumatism   

n.风湿病

参考例句：

• The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism.潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。
• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。

4 shrug   

v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)

参考例句：

• With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩，走出了房间。
• I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。

5 crestfallen   

adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的

参考例句：

• He gathered himself up and sneaked off,crushed and crestfallen.他爬起来，偷偷地溜了，一副垂头丧气、被斗败的样子。
• The youth looked exceedingly crestfallen.那青年看上去垂头丧气极了。

6 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。

7 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 propping   

支撑

参考例句：

• You can usually find Jack propping up the bar at his local. 你常常可以看见杰克频繁出没于他居住的那家酒店。
• The government was accused of propping up declining industries. 政府被指责支持日益衰败的产业。

10 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

11 cistern   

n.贮水池

参考例句：

• The cistern is empty but soon fills again.蓄水池里现在没水，但不久就会储满水的。
• The lavatory cistern overflowed.厕所水箱的水溢出来了

12 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

13 plowing   

v.耕( plow的现在分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过

参考例句：

• "There are things more important now than plowing, Sugar. "如今有比耕种更重要的事情要做呀，宝贝儿。 来自飘（部分）
• Since his wife's death, he has been plowing a lonely furrow. 从他妻子死后，他一直过着孤独的生活。 来自辞典例句

14 spunk   

n.勇气，胆量

参考例句：

• After his death,the soldier was cited for spunk.那位士兵死后因作战勇敢而受到表彰。
• I admired her independence and her spunk.我敬佩她的独立精神和勇气。