CHAPTER IV. — FIRST LESSONS.

 When supper was over Sam inquired, "What shall we do?"

 

"Suppose we take a walk?" suggested his companion.

 

"I'd rather go to the Old Bowery."

 

"I should like to go, but I can't afford it."

 

"You get five dollars a week, don't you?"

 

"Yes; but I need all of it for board, lodging¹ and washing. So will you, too. I advise you to be careful about spending."

 

"What's the use of living if a fellow can't have a little fun?" grumbled² Sam.

 

"There won't be much fun in going a day or two without anything to eat, Sam."

 

"We won't have to."

 

"Let me see about that. It costs a dollar and a quarter for the room, to begin with. Then our meals will cost us as much as forty or fifty cents a day, say three dollars a week. That will leave seventy-five cents for clothes and washing."

 

"It isn't much," Sam admitted.

 

"I should think not."

 

"I don't see how I am going to get any clothes."

 

"You certainly can't if you go to the theater."

 

"I used to go sometimes when I was a newsboy, and I didn't earn so much money then."

 

"Probably you didn't have a regular room then."

 

"No, I didn't; and sometimes I only had one meal a day."

 

"That isn't a very nice way to live. You're so old now you ought to be considering what you'll do when you are a man."

 

"I mean to earn more than five dollars a week then."

 

"So do I; but if I were a street boy, picking up my living by blacking boots or selling papers, I shouldn't expect to. Now we have a chance to learn business, and improve."

 

"Were you ever a street boy?" asked Sam, becoming interested in his companion's history.

 

"No, that is, not over a month. I was born in the country."

 

"So was I," said Sam.

 

"My father and mother both died, leaving nothing, and the people wanted to send me to the poorhouse; but I didn't like that, so I borrowed five dollars and came to New York. When I got here I began to think I should have to go back again. I tried to get a place and couldn't. Finally, I bought some papers and earned a little money selling them. It was better than nothing; but all the while I was hoping to get a place. One day, as I was passing the store where I am now, I saw some boys round the door. I asked them what was going on. They told me that Hamilton & Co. had advertised for an errand³ boy, and they were going to try for the place. I thought I might as well try, too, so I went in and applied⁴. I don't know how it was, but out of about forty boys they took me."

 

"Did they give you five dollars a week right off?"

 

"No; I only got three dollars the first year," answered Henry.

 

"You couldn't live on that, could you?"

 

"I had to."

 

"You didn't have the room you have now, did you?"

 

"I couldn't afford it. I lived at the 'Newsboys Lodge,' and took my breakfast and suppers there. That cost me eighteen cents a day, or about a dollar and a quarter a week. Out of the rest I bought my dinners and clothes. So I got along till the second year, when my wages were raised to four dollars. At the beginning of the third year I got a dollar more."

 

"I suppose you'll get six dollars next year?"

 

"I hope so. Mr. Hamilton has promised to put me in the counting-room then."

 

"It seems a long time to wait," said Sam.

 

"Yes, if you look ahead; but, after all, time goes fast. Next year I expect to lay up some money."

 

"Do you think you can?"

 

"I know I can, if I am well. I've got some money in the savings-bank now."

 

"You have!" exclaimed Sam, pricking⁵ up his ears.

 

"Yes."

 

"How much?"

 

"Thirty dollars."

 

"Thirty dollars!" ejaculated Sam. "I'd feel rich if I was worth thirty dollars."

 

Henry smiled.

 

"I don't feel rich, but I am glad I've got it."

 

"You ain't saving up money now, are you?"

 

"I mean to, now that I pay fifty cents a week less rent on account of your coming in with me. I am going to save all that."

 

"How can you?"

 

"I shall get along on two dollars and a half for meals. I always have, and I can do it now. You can do it, too, if you want to."

 

"I should starve to death," said Sam. "I've got a healthy appetite, and my stomach don't feel right if I don't eat enough."

 

"I don't like to stint⁶ myself any more than you, but if I am ever to be worth anything I must begin to save when I am a boy."

 

"Do you ever smoke?" asked Sam.

 

"Never, and I wouldn't if it didn't cost anything."

 

"Why not? It's jolly."

 

"It isn't good for a boy that is growing, and I don't believe it does men any good. Do you smoke?"

 

"When I get a chance," said Sam. "It warms a fellow up in cold weather."

 

"Well, it isn't cold weather now, and you'll find plenty of other ways to spend your money."

 

"I can't help it. If I don't go to the theater, I must have a cigar."

 

Sam stopped at a cigar store, and bought a cheap article for three cents, which he lighted and smoked with apparent⁷ enjoyment⁸.

 

The conversation which has been reported will give a clew to the different characters of the two boys, who, after less than a day's acquaintance, have become roommates. Henry Martin was about Sam's age, but much more thoughtful and sedate⁹. He had begun to think of the future, and to provide for it. This is always an encouraging sign, and an augury¹⁰ of success. Sam had not got so far yet. He had been in the habit of living from day to day without much thought of the morrow. Whether he would be favorably affected¹¹ by Henry's example remains¹² to be seen.

 

After a walk of an hour or more the boys went back to their room.

 

"Are you going to bed, Henry?" asked Sam.

 

"Not yet."

 

"What are you going to do?"

 

"Study a little."

 

"Study!" exclaimed Sam, in astonishment¹³. "Who's goin' to hear your lessons?"

 

"Perhaps you will," said Henry, with a smile.

 

"I! Why, I'm a regular know-nothing! What are you going to study?"

 

"To begin with, I'm going to do some sums."

 

Henry drew from under the bed a tattered¹⁴ arithmetic and a slate¹⁵ and pencil. He opened the arithmetic at interest, and proceeded to set down a problem on the slate.

 

"Have you got away over there?" asked Sam.

 

"Yes; I've been at work ever since last October. I don't get on very fast, because I have only my evenings."

 

"What do you do when you come to a tough customer?"

 

"I try again. There are some sums I have tried a half a dozen times."

 

"You must have a lot of patience," said Sam.

 

"I don't know about that. I always feel paid when I get the right answer at last."

 

"It must be dull work studyin' every night. I couldn't do it. It would make my head ache."

 

"Your head is tougher than you think for," said Henry.

 

"Just let me see what sum you are tryin'." His roommate handed him the books, and he read the following example:

 

"John Smith borrowed $546.75 at 7 per cent., and repaid¹⁶ it at the end of two years, five months and six days. What amount was he required to pay?"

 

"Can you do that?" asked Sam.

 

"I think so; it isn't very hard."

 

"I never could do it; it's too hard."

 

"Oh, yes, you could, if you had gone over the earlier part of the arithmetic."

 

"What's the use of it, any way?"

 

"Don't you see it's business? If you are going to be a business man, you may need to understand interest. I shouldn't expect to be promoted if I didn't know something about arithmetic. I am only an errand boy, now, and don't need it."

 

"I wish I knew as much as you. What else do you study?"

 

"I practice writing every evening. Here is my writing-book."

 

Henry drew out, from under the bed, a writing-book, which was more than half written through. He had evidently taken great pains to imitate the copy, and with fair success.

 

Sam was quite impressed.

 

"You can write as well as the teacher I went to up in the country," he said.

 

"You can write, can't you, Sam?"

 

"Not much. I haven't tried lately."

 

"Everybody ought to know how to read, and write a decent¹⁷ hand."

 

"I s'pose so," said Sam; "but there's a lot of work in it."

 

He got into bed, and while he was watching Henry doing sums, he fell asleep. His roommate devoted¹⁸ an hour to arithmetic, and wrote a page in his copy-book. Then he, too, undressed, and went to bed.

1 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

2 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

3 errand   

n.差使（如送信，买东西等），（短程）差事

参考例句：

• I've come on a special errand.我是专程来办一件差事的。
• This is a formidable errand for me.这对我来说是个太艰巨的任务。

4 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

5 pricking   

刺，刺痕，刺痛感

参考例句：

• She felt a pricking on her scalp. 她感到头皮上被扎了一下。
• Intercostal neuralgia causes paroxysmal burning pain or pricking pain. 肋间神经痛呈阵发性的灼痛或刺痛。

6 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

7 apparent   

adj.表面上的，貌似真实的，显然的，明明白白的

参考例句：

• The apparent truth was really a lie.表面上看似实话，实际上是个谎言。
• His guilt is apparent to all.他的罪恶尽人皆知。

8 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

9 sedate   

adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的

参考例句：

• After the accident,the doctor gave her some pills to sedate her.事故发生后，医生让她服了些药片使她镇静下来。
• We spent a sedate evening at home.我们在家里过了一个恬静的夜晚。

10 augury   

n.预言，征兆，占卦

参考例句：

• Augury is the important part of Chinese traditional culture.占卜是中国传统文化中的一个重要组成部分。
• The maritime passage was a good augury for the aerial passage.顺利的航海仿佛也是航空的好预兆。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

14 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

15 slate   

n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订

参考例句：

• The nominating committee laid its slate before the board.提名委员会把候选人名单提交全体委员会讨论。
• What kind of job uses stained wood and slate? 什么工作会接触木头污浊和石板呢？

16 repaid   

v. 偿还, 报答 vbl. 偿还, 报答

参考例句：

• The business quickly repaid the initial outlay on advertising. 这家公司很快偿付了初期的广告费。
• She doesn't intend to be repaid to her kindness. 她不图回报她的好心。

17 decent   

adj.象样的，不错的，体面的，正派的，恰当的

参考例句：

• We want to raise our children to be decent men and women.我们盼望把孩子们培养成优秀人才。
• There isn't even a decent table in this room.这屋里连张像样的桌子也没有。

18 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。