CHAPTER XXXII. — CONCLUSION.

 Henry Martin meanwhile had not stood still. Two years after Sam entered Mr. Brown's counting-room Henry became chief clerk in the office of his New York employer. Mr. Hamilton had permitted him to share in the general ventures of the firm, and this had enabled Henry, with his habits of prudence¹, combined with his savings² from a largely increased salary, to lay up four thousand dollars, which were securely invested. His salary now was one hundred dollars a month, and he was promised, on the approaching first of January, further increase. His prudence, industry and self-denial had reaped their fitting reward.

 

He had never heard a word from Sam since the latter left New York for Boston.

 

It would be difficult to explain why Sam had not written, for he had learned to respect Henry, and to prize the traits he had formerly³ laughed at.

 

"I am afraid Sam has come to no good," Henry sometimes said to himself. "He was always a harum-scarum fellow, good-natured, but lazy and heedless. I wish I could do him a good turn. I have been so prospered⁴ that I could afford to help him along if I could only find him."

 

But months and years passed, and there were no tidings of Sam.

 

One day as Henry was engaged at his desk, a young man entered the counting-room. He was handsomely dressed, with a bright, intelligent look, and the appearance of one who was on good terms with the world. He glanced inquiringly at Henry, and then said: "Am I speaking to Mr. Henry Martin?"

 

"Yes, sir," said young Martin, politely. "What can I do for you?"

 

"I believe I used to know you, Mr. Martin," said Sam, smiling; for it was our old friend, the young outlaw⁶.

 

"I beg your pardon," said Henry Martin; "I must apologize for my poor memory, but I cannot recall your face."

 

"I should have known you at once," said Sam. "You have the same sedate⁷, grave manner that you had when a boy."

 

"Did you know me as a boy?" asked Henry, puzzled.

 

"Slightly," answered Sam, smiling again. "I used to room with you."

 

"You are not Sam Barker!" exclaimed Henry, in the deepest astonishment⁸.

 

"Who says I am not?" said Sam.

 

Henry Martin jumped from his stool, and grasped Sam's hands cordially.

 

"I see it now," he said. "There is the same look, though you are five years older. I am delighted to see you, Sam. Where have you been all these years?"

 

"In and near Boston," answered Sam.

 

"You look as if you had prospered."

 

"I have. I am bookkeeper for a Boston merchant, with a handsome salary."

 

"Where on earth did you pick up bookkeeping?" asked Henry, in continued amazement⁹.

 

"I studied under a private tutor for two or three years," answered Sam, enjoying his perplexity. "I have only been in business two years."

 

"Didn't it make your head ache?" asked Henry, slyly.

 

"It did at first, but I got over that after a while."

 

"I can't understand it at all, Sam. It seems like a romance. I never thought you would turn out like this."

 

"Nor I, Henry. But it is a long story. Come and see me this evening at the St. Nicholas, and I will tell you all. I must leave you now, as I have a little business to attend to."

 

That evening Henry and Sam met at the hotel, and each told his story, to the deep interest of the other.

 

"You have been very lucky, Sam," said Henry, at the end. "I never supposed you would reform so completely and thoroughly¹⁰. You were a pretty hard case when I knew you."

 

"So I was," said Sam; "and I would have been to this day if I had not turned over a new leaf. Sometime I hope to introduce you to the two friends to whom I owe my reformation."

 

"Who are they?"

 

"A young lady of Boston, Miss Julia Stockton, and my most valued friend, Arthur Brown."

 

"So there is a young lady in the case, Sam?"

 

"I know what you are thinking of, Henry; but it isn't as you suppose. Julia Stockton will never be any more than a friend to me. Indeed, she is engaged to be married next month to Arthur's elder brother, Charlie, who has just been admitted to the bar. But I shall always feel indebted to her for first leading me to look upon myself as an ignorant and heedless boy. I never became ambitious till I met her."

 

"Then my lectures did no good, Sam?"

 

"Not at the time. Afterward¹¹ I thought of them, and saw that you were right. And now that we have found each other, Henry, don't let us remain strangers. Can't you come and see me in Boston?"

 

"I am to visit Boston, on business, in October, Sam. I won't fail to look you up then."

 

Henry kept his word. Sam received him with cordial hospitality, and henceforth the two remained fast friends. It is not necessary to sketch¹² their future. Both are on the right track, though Sam was much later in finding it; and the young outlaw, as well as his more prudent¹³ companion, is likely to prosper⁵ more and more as the years roll by.

The End
 

1 prudence   

n.谨慎，精明，节俭

参考例句：

• A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
• The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

4 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

5 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

6 outlaw   

n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法

参考例句：

• The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
• The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

7 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。

8 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。

9 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

10 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

11 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

12 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

13 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。