CHAPTER VII. AARON BICKFORD, THE BLACKSMITH.

 Kit¹ returned to breakfast in good spirits. He saw a way out of his difficulties. Though he had no false pride, he felt that a blacksmith's life would be distasteful to him. He was fond of study, and had looked forward to a college course. Now this was out of the question. It seemed that he was as poor as his friend, Dan Clark, with his own way to make in the world. When he left school, at the beginning of the vacation, he supposed that he would inherit a competence². It was certainly a great change in his prospects³, but now he did not feel dispirited. He thought, upon the whole, he would enjoy traveling with the circus. His duties would be light, and the pay liberal.

 

Before he returned to breakfast, Ralph had come down-stairs, and had a few words with his father.

 

"I think you are going to have trouble with Kit, father," he commenced.[Pg 35]

 

"What makes you think so, and what about?" asked Mr. Watson.

 

"I told him last evening about your plan of apprenticing⁴ him to Mr. Bickford."

 

"You did wrong. I did not propose to mention the matter to him till Mr. Bickford's arrival. What did he say?"

 

"He turned up his nose at the idea. He thinks he ought to become a merchant or a professional man like me. He is too proud to be a blacksmith."

 

"Then he must put his pride in his pocket. It will be all I can do to pay the expenses of your education. I can't provide for two boys."

 

"When Kit is off your hands won't you increase my allowance, father?" asked Ralph, insinuatingly⁵.

 

"Suppose we postpone⁶ that matter," replied Mr. Watson, in a tone of voice that was not encouraging. "I have lost some money lately, and I can't do anything more for you just at present."

 

Ralph looked disappointed, but did not venture to press the subject.

 

"Where have you been, Kit?" he asked, as he saw his cousin entering the gate, and coming up the path to the front door.

 

"I have been taking a walk," answered Kit, cheerfully.

 

"It's a good idea to rise early."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because you will probably be required to do so in your new place."

 

"What new place?"

 

"At the blacksmith's."

 

Kit smiled. To Ralph's surprise he did not appear to be annoyed.

 

"I see you are getting reconciled to the idea. Last evening you seemed to dislike it."[Pg 36]

 

"Your father has not said anything about it to me."

 

"He will very soon."

 

"Won't you come round and see me occasionally, Ralph?" asked Kit, with a curious smile.

 

"Yes; I may call on Saturday. I should like to see how you look."

 

Kit smiled again. He thought it extremely doubtful whether Ralph would see him at the blacksmith's forge.

 

Half an hour after breakfast, while Ralph and Kit were in the stable, the sound of wheels was heard, and a stout⁷, broad-shouldered man, with a bronzed complexion⁸, drove up in a farm wagon⁹. Throwing his reins¹⁰ over the horse's neck, he descended¹¹ from the wagon, and turned in at the gate. Mr. Watson, who had been sitting at the front window, opened the door for him.

 

"Glad to see you, Mr. Bickford," he said.

 

"Is the boy ready?" asked the blacksmith. "I can take him right over with me this morning."

 

"Come into the house, I will send for him."

 

Mr. Bickford noticed the handsome appearance of the hall, and the front room, the door of which was partly open, and said: "If the boy's been used to livin' here, he must be kind of high strung. I can't give him no such home as this."

 

"Of course not, Mr. Bickford. He can't expect it. He's a poor boy, and will have to make his own way in the world. Beggars can't be choosers, you know."

 

A servant was sent to the stable to summon Kit. Ralph, who thought he should enjoy the scene, accompanied him.

 

Kit regarded the blacksmith with some curiosity.[Pg 37]

 

"This is Mr. Aaron Bickford, of Oakford, Kit," began his uncle.

 

"I hope you are well, Mr. Bickford," said Kit, politely.

 

The blacksmith gazed at Kit with earnest scrutiny¹².

 

"Humph!" said he; "are you strong and muscular?"

 

"Pretty fair," answered Kit, with a smile.

 

"Kit," said his uncle, clearing his throat, "in your circumstances I have thought it desirable that you should learn a trade, and have spoken to Mr. Bickford about taking you as an apprentice¹³."

 

"In what business?" asked Kit.

 

"I'm a blacksmith," said Mr. Bickford, taking it upon himself to reply, "and it's a good, healthy business as any you'd want to follow."

 

"I have no doubt of it," said Kit, quietly, "but I don't think I should like it all the same. Uncle Stephen, how does it happen that you have selected such a business for me?"

 

"I heard that Mr. Bickford needed an apprentice, and I have arranged matters with him to take you, and teach you his trade."

 

"Yes," put in Mr. Bickford, "I've agreed to give you your board and a dollar a week the first year. That's more than I got when I was 'prentice. My old master only paid me fifty cents a week."

 

Kit turned to his uncle.

 

"Do you think my education has fitted me for a blacksmith's trade?" he asked.

 

"It won't interfere," replied Mr. Watson, a little uneasily.

 

"Wouldn't it have been well to consult me in the matter? It seems to me I am rather interested."[Pg 38]

 

"Oh, I supposed you would object, as you had been looking forward to being a gentleman, but I can't afford to keep you in idleness any longer, and so have arranged matters with Mr. Bickford."

 

"Suppose I object to going with him?" said Kit, calmly.

 

"Then I shall overrule your objections, and compel you to do what I think is for your good."

 

Kit's eye flashed with transient anger, but as he had no idea of acceding¹⁴ to his uncle's order, he did not allow himself to become unduly¹⁵ excited. Indeed he had a plan, which made temporary submission¹⁶ a matter of policy.

 

"What's the boy's name?" asked Aaron Bickford.

 

"I am generally called Kit. My right name is Christopher."

 

"Then, Kit, you'd better be getting your traps together, for I can't stop long away from the shop."

 

"I have arranged to have you go back with Mr. Bickford to-day," said Stephen Watson.

 

"That's rather short notice, isn't it?" Kit rejoined.

 

"The sooner the matter is arranged, the better!" answered his uncle.

 

"Very well," said Kit, with unexpected submission. "I'll go and pack up my clothes."

 

Mr. Watson looked relieved. He had expected to have more trouble with his nephew.

 

In twenty minutes Kit reappeared with his school valise. He had packed up a supply of shirts, socks, handkerchiefs, and underclothing.

 

"I am all ready," he said.

 

"Then we'll be going," said the blacksmith, rising with alacrity¹⁷.[Pg 39]

 

Kit took his place on the seat beside Mr. Bickford.

 

"Good-by, uncle!" he said; "it may be some time before we meet again."

 

"What does the boy mean?" asked Stephen Watson, turning to Ralph with a puzzled look.

 

"I don't know. He's been acting¹⁸ queer all the morning."

 

So Kit rode away with Aaron Bickford, but he had not the slightest intention of becoming blacksmith. Instead of blacksmith's forges, visions of a circus ring and acrobatic feats¹⁹ were dancing before his mind.

1 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。

2 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

3 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。

4 apprenticing   

学徒，徒弟( apprentice的现在分词 )

参考例句：

5 insinuatingly   

参考例句：

• Corell said insinuatingly,"Are you afraid, Colonel?" 科雷尔很婉转地说：“你害怕了吗，上校？” 来自辞典例句

6 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

8 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

9 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

10 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

11 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

12 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

13 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

14 acceding   

v.（正式）加入( accede的现在分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职

参考例句：

• After all, political careers depend acceding tothe demands the central government. 毕竟政治事业是要满足中央政府的要求的。 来自互联网
• Shall you have any problem acceding the folders, please let me knows. 如果存取文件有任何问题请和我联系。 来自互联网

15 unduly   

adv.过度地，不适当地

参考例句：

• He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect.他的口气听上去对前景并不十分担忧。
• He argued that the law was unduly restrictive.他辩称法律的约束性有些过分了。

16 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

17 alacrity   

n.敏捷，轻快，乐意

参考例句：

• Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
• He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。

18 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

19 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。