CHAPTER I. KIT WATSON.

 There was great excitement in Smyrna, especially among the boys. Barlow's Great American Circus in its triumphal progress from State to State was close at hand, and immense yellow posters announcing its arrival were liberally displayed on fences and barns, while smaller bills were put up in the post office, the hotel, and the principal stores, and distributed from house to house.

 

It was the largest circus that had ever visited Smyrna. At least a dozen elephants marched with ponderous¹ steps in its preliminary procession, while clowns, acrobats², giants, dwarfs³, fat women, cannibals, and hairy savages⁴ from Thibet and Madagascar, were among the strange wonders which were to be seen at each performance for the small sum of fifty cents, children half price.

 

For weeks the young people had been looking forward to the advent⁵ of this marvelous aggregation⁶ of curiosities, and the country papers from farther east had given glowing accounts of the great show, which was emphatically pronounced greater and more gor[Pg 4]geous than in any previous year. But it may be as well to reproduce, in part, the description given in the posters:

 

BARLOW'S GREAT NORTH AMERICAN CIRCUS.

Now in its triumphal march across the continent, will

give two grand performances,

AT SMYRNA

On the afternoon and evening of May 18th.

Never in all its history has this

Unparalleled show embraced a greater variety of attractions,

or included a larger number of world famous

Acrobats, Clowns, Bare back Riders, Rope walkers, Trapeze

Artists, and Star Performers,

In addition to a colossal⁷ menagerie, comprising

Elephants, Tigers, Lions, Leopards⁸,

and other wild animals in great variety.

All this and far more, including a hundred

DARING ACTS,

Can be seen for the trifling⁹ sum of Fifty cents;

Children half price.

Come One!      Come All!

 

Two boys paused to read this notice, pasted with illustrative pictures of elephants and circus performers on the high board fence near Stoddard's grocery store. They were Dan Clark and Christopher Watson, called Kit¹⁰ for short.

 

"Shall you go to the circus, Dan?" asked Kit.

 

"I would like to, but you know, Kit, I have no money to spare."

 

"Don't let that interfere," said Kit, kindly¹¹. "Here is half a dollar. That will take you in."

 

"You're a tip-top fellow, Kit. But I don't think I ought to take it. I don't know when I shall be able to return it."

 

"Who asked you to return it? I meant it as a gift."

 

"You're a true friend, Kit," said Dan, earnestly.[Pg 5] "I don't know as I ought to take it, but I will anyhow. You know I only get my board and a dollar a week from Farmer Clifford, and that I give to my mother."

 

"I wish you had a better place, Dan."

 

"So do I; but perhaps it is as well as I can do at my age. All boys are not born to good luck as you are."

 

"Am I born to good luck? I don't know."

 

"Isn't your uncle Stephen the richest man in Smyrna?"

 

"I suppose he is; but that doesn't make me rich."

 

"Isn't he your guardian¹²?"

 

"Yes; but it doesn't follow because there is a guardian there is a fortune."

 

"I hope there is."

 

"I am going to tell you something in confidence, Dan. Uncle Stephen has lately been dropping a good many hints about the necessity of being economical, and that I may have my own way to make in the world. What do you think it means?"

 

"Have you been extravagant¹³?"

 

"Not that I am aware of. I have been at an expensive boarding school with my cousin Ralph, and I have dressed well, and had a fair amount of spending money."

 

"Have you spent any more than Ralph?"

 

"No; not so much, for I will tell you in confidence that he has been playing pool and cards for money, of course without the knowledge of the principal. I know also that this last term, besides spending his pocket money he ran up bills, which his father had to pay, to the amount of fifty dollars or more."

 

"How did your uncle like it?"

 

"I don't know. Ralph and his father had a pri[Pg 6]vate interview, but he got the money. I believe his mother took his part."

 

"Why don't you ask your uncle just how you stand?"

 

"I have thought of it. If I am to inherit a fortune I should like to know it. If I have my own way to make I want to know that also, so that I can begin to prepare for it."

 

"Would you feel bad if you found out that you were a poor boy—like me, for instance?"

 

"I suppose I should just at first, but I should try to make the best of it in the end."

 

"Well, I hope you won't have occasion to buckle¹⁴ down to hard work. When do you go back to school?"

 

"The next term begins next Monday."

 

"And it is now Wednesday. You will be able to see the circus at any rate. It is to arrive to-night."

 

"Suppose we go round to the lot to-morrow morning. We can see them putting up the tents."

 

"All right! I'll meet you at nine o'clock."

 

They were about to separate when another boy, of about the same age and size, came up.

 

"It's time for dinner, Kit," he said; "mother'll be angry if you are late."

 

"Very well! I'll go home with you. Good morning, Dan."

 

"Good morning, Kit. Good morning, Ralph."

 

Ralph mumbled¹⁵ out "Morning," but did not deign¹⁶ to look at Dan.

 

"I wonder you associate with that boy, Kit," he said.

 

"Why?" inquired Kit, rather defiantly¹⁷.

 

"Because he's only a farm laborer¹⁸."

 

"Does that hurt him?"[Pg 7]

 

"I don't care to associate with such a low class."

 

"Daniel Webster worked on a farm when he was a boy."

 

"Dan Clark isn't a Webster."

 

"We don't know what he will turn out to be."

 

"I don't consider him fit for me to associate with," said Ralph. "It may be different in your case."

 

"Why should it be different in my case?" asked Kit, suspiciously.

 

"Oh, no offense¹⁹ at all, but your circumstances and social position are likely to be different from mine."

 

"Are they? That's just what I should like to find out."

 

"My father says so, and as you are under his guardianship²⁰ he ought to know."

 

"Yes, he ought to know, but he has never told me."

 

"He has told me, but I am not at liberty to say anything," said Ralph, looking mysterious.

 

"I think I ought to be the first to be told," said Kit, not unreasonably²¹.

 

"You will be told soon. There is one thing I can tell you, however. You are not to go back to boarding school on Monday."

 

Kit paused in the street, and gazed at his companion in surprise.

 

"Are you going back?" he asked.

 

"Yes; I'm going to keep on till I am ready for college."

 

"And what is to be done with me?"

 

Ralph shrugged²² his shoulders.

 

"I am not at liberty to tell you," he answered.

 

"I shall ask my uncle this very day."

 

"Just as you please."[Pg 8]

 

Kit walked on in silence. His mind was busy with thoughts of the change in his prospects²³. He did not know what was coming, but he was anxious. It was likely to be a turning point in his life, and he was apprehensive²⁴ that the information soon to be imparted to him would not be of an agreeable nature.

1 ponderous   

adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的

参考例句：

• His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。
• It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态，很容易使人小看了他。

2 acrobats   

n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人

参考例句：

• I was always fascinated by the acrobats at the circus. 我总是着迷于马戏团里的杂技演员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The acrobats' performance drew forth applause from the audience. 杂技演员的表演博得了观众的掌声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 dwarfs   

n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Shakespeare dwarfs other dramatists. 莎士比亚使其他剧作家相形见绌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The new building dwarfs all the other buildings in the town. 新大楼使城里所有其他建筑物都显得矮小了。 来自辞典例句

4 savages   

未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
• That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。

5 advent   

n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临

参考例句：

• Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。
• The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。

6 aggregation   

n.聚合，组合；凝聚

参考例句：

• A high polymer is a very large aggregation of units.一个高聚物是许多单元的非常大的组合。
• Moreover,aggregation influences the outcome of chemical disinfection of viruses.此外，聚集作用还会影响化学消毒的效果。

7 colossal   

adj.异常的，庞大的

参考例句：

• There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。
• Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。

8 leopards   

n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移

参考例句：

• Lions, tigers and leopards are all cats. 狮、虎和豹都是猫科动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• For example, airlines never ship leopards and canaries on the same flight. 例如，飞机上从来不会同时运送豹和金丝雀。 来自英语晨读30分（初三）

9 trifling   

adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的

参考例句：

• They quarreled over a trifling matter.他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。
• So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency,though surely a very trifling one.直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利，不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。

10 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

11 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

12 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

13 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

14 buckle   

n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲

参考例句：

• The two ends buckle at the back.带子两端在背后扣起来。
• She found it hard to buckle down.她很难专心做一件事情。

15 mumbled   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
• George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。

16 deign   

v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事)

参考例句：

• He doesn't deign to talk to unimportant people like me. 他不肯屈尊和像我这样不重要的人说话。
• I would not deign to comment on such behaviour. 这种行为不屑我置评。

17 defiantly   

adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地

参考例句：

• Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

19 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

20 guardianship   

n. 监护, 保护, 守护

参考例句：

• They had to employ the English language in face of the jealous guardianship of Britain. 他们不得不在英国疑忌重重的监护下使用英文。
• You want Marion to set aside her legal guardianship and give you Honoria. 你要马丽恩放弃她的法定监护人资格，把霍诺丽娅交给你。

21 unreasonably   

adv. 不合理地

参考例句：

• He was also petty, unreasonably querulous, and mean. 他还是个气量狭窄，无事生非，平庸刻薄的人。
• Food in that restaurant is unreasonably priced. 那家饭店价格不公道。

22 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

24 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。