CHAPTER XVI. — SAM LOSES HIS PLACE.

 "Mr. Dalton wants you to go to the bank, and make a deposit," said William Budd, to Sam, on the forenoon of the same day.

 

"All right," said Sam.

 

"Be particularly careful, as the deposit is unusually large."

 

"Oh, yes, I'll be careful."

 

Sam received the checks and drafts, amounting to several thousand dollars, and started for the Fourth National Bank, on Nassau Street. When he had accomplished¹ a part of the distance, he met an old acquaintance, whom he had known in his boot-blacking days.

 

"How are you, Sam?" said Tim Brady. "I haven't seen you for a long time."

 

"I'm all right, Tim. I haven't seen you, either. Where have you been?"

 

"To Boston," answered Tim, briefly².

 

"You have!" exclaimed Sam, interested. "How did you like it?"

 

"I don't like it as well as York."

 

"Why not? Ain't it a nice place?"

 

"'Tisn't half as big as York. Besides, there ain't half so much fun. There ain't no Old Bowery there, nor Tony Pastor's. I didn't know what to do with myself nights."

 

"What were you doing? Did you black boots?"

 

"No," answered Tim. "I was in a store on Dock Square."

 

"What sort of a store?"

 

"Clothing store."

 

"How did you get the place?"

 

"It is kept by a cousin of the old woman. He wrote that he'd take me if I'd come on. So I went; but I didn't like it."

 

"Where did you live?"

 

"With him. He had a house in Chelsea, just over the river, like Brooklyn is. I got my board and a dollar a week."

 

"That ain't much," said Sam.

 

"No, I should say not. I had to pay my way over the ferry out of it, too. It didn't leave me no money for cigars nor nothing."

 

"How long were you there?"

 

"About three months. I would not have stayed so long, only I couldn't get money to get back."

 

"You got it at last; or did you walk back?"

 

"Walk? I guess not. It's three or four hundred miles."

 

This was not quite exact, but near enough for a guess.

 

"How much did it cost you to come back?"

 

"Five dollars."

 

"That's a good deal. Where did you get so much?"

 

"I found it in the street one day," answered Tim, with a little hesitation³.

 

"How long have you been back?"

 

"About a week. I've been looking round for you. Where do you hang out?"

 

"I've got a room of my own," answered Sam, with an air of importance.

 

"You have! You're in luck. What are you doin'?"

 

"I've got a place with Dalton & Co., on Pearl Street."

 

"What business?

 

"Merchant. He's awful rich. Just look at that!"

 

Sam displayed his bundle of checks.

 

"I don't see nothin' particular except some bits of paper."

 

"You don't know anything about business, Tim. Them's checks."

 

"Are they?"

 

"They're good for a lot of money. Here's a check for twelve hundred dollars, and there's others besides."

 

"That piece of paper worth twelve hundred dollars!" said Tim, incredulously.

 

"Yes."

 

"What are you going to do with it?"

 

"Take it to the bank."

 

"What bank?"

 

"Fourth National Bank."

 

Tim looked at Sam with respect. He must certainly occupy a responsible business position if he was trusted with such a large amount of money.

 

Sam, in putting back his checks, was careless enough to drop the twelve-hundred-dollar check. He hurried off, unconscious of his loss, and Tim quietly secured it. He ought to have restored it to Sam, as he easily might have done; but an idea struck him. He would instead carry it round to Mr. Dalton, and in all probability secure a reward for his honesty. This was sharp practice, and hardly consistent with friendship for Sam; but Tim was a boy not particularly scrupulous⁴, who cared more for number one than for any friend. He went into a store near by, ascertained⁵ the number of Mr. Dalton's place of business, and hurried down there.

 

"Is the boss in?" he asked of William Budd, whom he first encountered.

 

"Yes."

 

"I'd like to see him."

 

"What for?"

 

"Important business," answered Tim.

 

Budd looked at him rather incredulously.

 

"If you want to apply for a place, it's no use. We've got a boy already."

 

"That ain't my business. I've picked up something in the street that belongs to Mr. Dalton, I'm thinkin'."

 

"What is it?"

 

"A check."

 

"Sam must have dropped it," thought William, instantly. "Let me see it," he said, aloud.

 

"I'll show it to the boss," said Tim, obstinately⁶.

 

"Come on, then."

 

"Here is a boy, Mr. Dalton, who thinks he has found something belonging to you," said the young man.

 

Mr. Dalton looked up.

 

"What is it, my boy?" he said.

 

"It's a check," said Tim, and, taking off his ragged⁷ hat, he handed the paper to Mr. Dalton.

 

"It's Nesbitt's check for twelve hundred dollars!" exclaimed the merchant. "Where did you find it?"

 

"In Nassau Street."

 

"How could it be there, Mr. Budd?" asked Mr. Dalton.

 

"I sent Sam to the bank not long since. He must have dropped it. It is not the first time he has been careless."

 

"I am afraid we shall have to discharge him. How does he perform his duties generally?"

 

"Not very satisfactorily, sir."

 

"Send him to me as soon as he returns. Now, my boy, what is your name?"

 

"Tim Brady, sir."

 

"Did you know the value of this check?"

 

"Yes, sir; it's worth twelve hundred dollars."

 

"How did you know where to bring it?"

 

"I saw the name, and looked in the 'Directory' to find your place of business."

 

"You are a good and honest boy."

 

"Thank you, sir; I try to be," said Tim, meekly⁸.

 

"You have done me a service. Here are ten dollars."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Tim, joyfully⁹. "You're a gentleman."

 

Mr. Dalton smiled.

 

"Always keep honest. 'Honesty is the best policy.'"

 

"I think so myself, sir," said Tim.

 

Tim retired¹⁰ quite elated. From a corner nearly opposite he watched for Sam's return.

 

"He looks sober," said Tim to himself. "It's likely he'll get 'bounced.' I wonder will I stand a chance for his place."

 

"Sam," said William Budd, on his entrance, "Mr. Dalton wants to see you."

 

Sam looked startled. He had ascertained his loss, and was perplexed¹¹ and troubled about it.

 

Mr. Dalton looked up as he entered.

 

"Have you been to the bank, Samuel?" he asked.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Did you deposit all the checks given you?"

 

"I lost one check some way," stammered¹² Sam.

 

"You must have been very careless," said his employer, in a tone of reproof¹³.

 

"I don't think I was," said Sam.

 

"You must have been. Did you not know that you had charge of a large amount?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then, knowing this, you should have been particularly careful."

 

"I'll go back and look for it, sir."

 

"Fortunately there is no need of this, as it was picked up and brought here by an honest boy. It was a check for twelve hundred dollars."

 

"Then, you've got it again?" said Sam, relieved. "Shall I go round to the bank and carry it?"

 

"No, I shall not again trust you to go to the bank. Indeed, I am sorry to say that I cannot retain you in my employ."

 

"I hope you'll keep me," said Sam, alarmed.

 

"I cannot do it in justice to myself. Call Mr. Budd."

 

William Budd entered.

 

"Mr. Budd," said Mr. Dalton, "I think you told me you had a cousin who desired a place."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Tell him to come here to-morrow. I have discharged Sam."

 

"Thank you, sir."

 

"I do not forget, Sam," continued the merchant, "that you once rendered me a service in bringing home my little boy. I regret that I cannot keep you in my employ. To compensate¹⁴ you for the disappointment, I will give you twenty-five dollars, and you are at liberty to go at once if you desire it."

 

Sam's eyes sparkled with pleasure. He felt so rich that he cared little for the loss of his place.

 

"Thank you, sir," he said.

 

"I wish you good luck, Samuel," said Mr. Dalton, good-naturedly.

 

Again Sam thanked him, and left the store looking so cheerful that Tim, who was watching for his appearance, was quite bewildered.

 

"He seems glad he's 'bounced,'" thought Tim. "I'll go and ask him about it."

1 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

2 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

3 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

4 scrupulous   

adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的

参考例句：

• She is scrupulous to a degree.她非常谨慎。
• Poets are not so scrupulous as you are.诗人并不像你那样顾虑多。

5 ascertained   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 obstinately   

ad.固执地，顽固地

参考例句：

• He obstinately asserted that he had done the right thing. 他硬说他做得对。
• Unemployment figures are remaining obstinately high. 失业数字仍然顽固地居高不下。

7 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

8 meekly   

adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地

参考例句：

• He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时，他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

12 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

13 reproof   

n.斥责，责备

参考例句：

• A smart reproof is better than smooth deceit.严厉的责难胜过温和的欺骗。
• He is impatient of reproof.他不能忍受指责。

14 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。