Whenever he was by himself, he used to pull out the ticket and gaze at it with the greatest satisfaction, as the key that was to unlock the portals of Fortune, Independence, and Happiness.
He had been afraid that his appropriation6 of five[Pg 156] dollars would be detected, and every time his father entered the house he looked into his face with some apprehension7; but days rolled by, and nothing was heard. He congratulated himself that he had been able to sell the shawl for precisely8 the sum he needed, otherwise the money might have been missed that very night. As it was, neither the shawl nor the bill had been missed.
About this time he received a letter from Sam Crawford, describing the gayeties of the city. It closed thus:—
"By the way, Josh, when are you coming up to the city, to take a look at the lions? It's a shame that a young man of your age should be cooped up in an insignificant9 little village like Stapleton. I wouldn't exchange the knowledge of the world I have obtained here for five hundred dollars! What a green rustic10 I was when I first came here! But it didn't take me long to find the way round, and now I know the ropes as well as the next man. I generally play billiards11 in the evening, and, if I do say it myself, I am rather hard to beat. When you come up, I'll give you a few lessons. I can't help pitying[Pg 157] you for leading such a slow, humdrum12 life in the country. I should be moped to death if I were in your place. Can't you induce the old man to fork over the stamps, and come up here, if only for a week?"
This letter had the effect of making Joshua very much disgusted with Stapleton. Brilliant visions of city life and city enjoyments13 flitted before his eyes, and he felt that nothing was needed to make a man of him except the knowledge of life which a city residence would be sure to give.
"It's all true what Sam says," he soliloquized. "A man can't learn anything of life here. No wonder he looks upon me as a green rustic. How can I be anything else in this miserable14 little village? But as for the old man's paying my expenses on a visit, he's too mean for that. But then there is the lottery ticket. Just as soon as I get hold of my prize, I'll go on my own hook."
I append a passage from Joshua's reply to Sam's letter:—
"There isn't any chance of the old man's forking over stamps enough to pay for my visit to New[Pg 158] York. He's too thundering mean for that. All he cares for is to make money. But I'm coming, for all that. I've bought a lottery ticket, as you advised, and just as soon as I get hold of the prize, I shall come and make you a visit. I should like very much to learn billiards. I wish there was a billiard table in Stapleton, though it wouldn't do me much good if there were, the old man keeps me so close. I shall be glad when I am twenty-one. I don't see why he can't let me have a few thousand dollars then, and set me up in business in the city. Perhaps we could go in together as partners. However, there is no use in talking about him, for he won't do it. But I may get hold of the money some other way. Would five thousand dollars be enough to set a fellow up in business in New York?
"You will hear from me again soon. I hope I shall be able to write you that I am coming to see you.
"Your friend,
"Joshua Drummond."
It will be seen that Joshua was willing to go into business for himself, though he did not care to take[Pg 159] a situation. He had the idea, which I think is entertained by a large number of boys and young men, that an employer has nothing to do but to sit at his desk, count over his money, and order his clerks around. For such an employment as this Joshua felt that he was well adapted, and would very much have enjoyed the sense of importance it would give him. But Joshua made a great mistake. Many employers look back upon the years which they passed as clerks as years of comparative leisure and ease, certainly of freedom from anxiety. They find that they have a heavy price to pay for the privilege of being their own masters, and the masters of others. But Joshua was thoroughly15 lazy, and it was this feeling that dictated16 the wish which he expressed in his letter to Sam Crawford.
The days passed very slowly, it must be acknowledged. Joshua was in a restless and excited state. Though he expected to draw a prize, he knew that there was a remote chance of failing to draw anything, and he wanted the matter decided17.
But at length the long-expected letter arrived. Joshua did not like to open it in the post-office, lest[Pg 160] it should attract the attention of the postmaster. He therefore withdrew to a place where he was not likely to be disturbed, and with trembling fingers opened the letter.
Something dropped out.
"I wonder if it is a check?" thought Joshua, stooping over and picking it up.
But no, it was an announcement of the drawing.
Joshua's numbers,—for each lottery ticket contains three numbers,—were 9, 15, 50. But of the thirteen lucky numbers drawn18 out of sixty-five, neither of them was one.
Slowly it dawned upon Joshua that he had drawn nothing, that his five dollars had been absolutely thrown away. But there was a letter. Perhaps this would explain it.
Joshua read as follows:—
"Dear Sir:—We regret to say that we are unable to send you a prize this time. We hope, however, you will not be discouraged. Some of our patrons who have been most fortunate have commenced by being unlucky. Indeed, singularly enough, this is a[Pg 161] general rule. Let us cite an instance. Mr. B——, of your State, bought his first ticket of us last spring. It turned out a blank. We wrote him not to be discouraged, but we did not hear from him for some weeks. Finally he sent us a remittance19 for a ticket, adding that he sent it with a very faint hope of success. He was convinced that he was born to ill-luck. But what was the result? In less than a fortnight we had the pleasure and gratification of sending him five thousand dollars, minus our usual commission. Suppose he had been discouraged by a first failure, you can see how much he would have lost.
"Very respectfully,
"Grabb & Co."
The effect of Joshua's ill success was to make him very despondent21.
"It's all very well to say 'Try again,'" he said to himself, "but where can I get the money? That five[Pg 162] dollars is thrown away, and I've got nothing to show for it."
He thought of all he had intended to do, and now his castles had crumbled22, and all in consequence of this letter. He had been so sanguine23 of success. Now he must write to Sam that his visit to New York was indefinitely postponed24, that is, unless he could induce his father to provide him with money enough to go. The prospect25 was not very encouraging, but he felt desperate, and he determined26 to make the attempt.
Accordingly, just after supper, he detained his father, just as he was returning to the store, and said:—
"Father, I wish you'd let me go to New York on a visit."
"What for?" asked Mr. Drummond, elevating his brows.
"Because I'm eighteen years old, and I've never been there yet."
"Then, if you've gone eighteen years without seeing the city, I think you can go a while longer," said his father, under the impression that he had made[Pg 163] a witty27 remark. But Joshua did not appreciate the humor of it.
"I've lived in Stapleton ever since I was born," grumbled28 Joshua, "and have got tired of it. I want to see something of life."
"Do you? Well, I'm sure I've no objection."
"May I go then?"
"Yes."
"To-morrow, if you like; but of course you will pay your own expenses."
"How can I?" exclaimed Joshua, in angry disappointment. "I have no money."
"Then you can save up your allowance till you have enough."
"Save up on twenty-five cents a week! I couldn't go till I was an old man!"
"I know of no other way," said Mr. Drummond, with provoking indifference30, "unless you earn the money in some way."
"You treat me like a little boy!" said Joshua, angrily.
"You are better off than I am. I have to work[Pg 164] for all I get. You get your board, clothes, and pocket-money for nothing."
"Other boys go to New York when they are much younger."
"I have told you you can go when you like, but you mustn't expect me to supply the money."
Mr. Drummond put on his hat and crossed the street to the store, leaving Joshua in a very unfilial frame of mind.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
lottery
|
|
| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
galling
|
|
| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
yoke
|
|
| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dependence
|
|
| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
parsimony
|
|
| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
appropriation
|
|
| n.拨款，批准支出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
billiards
|
|
| n.台球 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
humdrum
|
|
| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
enjoyments
|
|
| 愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
dictated
|
|
| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
remittance
|
|
| n.汇款，寄款，汇兑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
subscribe
|
|
| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
despondent
|
|
| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
crumbled
|
|
| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
sanguine
|
|
| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
postponed
|
|
| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
witty
|
|
| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
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： |
|
|
|
|
29
joyfully
|
|
| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |