"Are these all the clo'es you brought with you?" asked Bickford, surveying Kit's neat and rather expensive suit with disapproval3.
"Yes. Am I not well enough dressed for a blacksmith?" asked Kit, with a smile.[Pg 45]
"You're a plaguy sight too well dressed," returned Bickford. "You want a good rough suit, for the forge is a dirty place."
"I thought I told you I did not intend to work for you, Mr. Bickford."
"That's what you said, but I don't take no stock in it. Your uncle has bound you out to me, and that settles it."
"If he has bound me out, where are the papers, Mr. Bickford?" asked Kit, keenly.
This question was a poser. The blacksmith supposed that Kit might be ignorant that papers were required, but he found himself mistaken.
"There ain't no papers, but that don't make no difference," he said. "He says you're to work for me, and I'm goin' to hold you to it."
Kit did not reply, for he saw no advantage in discussion.
"You'll get a dollar a week and your board, and you can't do better. I reckon dinner is about ready now."
Kit felt ready for the dinner, for the morning's ride had sharpened his appetite. So when, five minutes later, he was summoned to the table, he willingly accepted the invitation.
"This is my new 'prentice, Mrs. Bickford," said the blacksmith, by way of introduction, to a spare, red headed woman, who was bustling4 about the kitchen, where the table was spread.
Mrs. Bickford eyed Kit critically.
"He's one of the kid glove kind, by his looks," she said. "You don't expect to get much work out of him, do you?"
"I reckon I will, or know the reason why," responded Bickford, significantly.[Pg 46]
"Set right down and I'll dish up the victuals," said Mrs. Bickford. "We don't stand on no ceremony here. What's your name, young man?"
"People call me Kit."
"Sounds like a young cat. It's rediculous to give a boy such a name. First thing you know I'll be calling you Kitty."
"I hope I don't look like a cat," said Kit laughing.
"You ain't got no fur on your cheeks yet," said the blacksmith, laughing heartily5 at his own witticism6. "What have you got for dinner, mother?"
"It's a sort of picked-up dinner," answered Mrs. Bickford. "There's some pork and beans warmed up, some slapjacks from breakfast, and some fried sassidges."
"Why, that's a dinner for a king," said the blacksmith, rubbing his hands.
He took his seat, and put on a plate for Kit specimens8 of the delicacies9 mentioned above. In spite of his appetite Kit partook sparingly, supplementing his meal with bread, which, being from the baker's shop, was of good quality. He congratulated himself that he was not to board permanently10 at Mr. Bickford's table.
When dinner was over, the blacksmith in a genial11 mood said to Kit: "You needn't begin to work till to-morrow. You can tramp round the village if you want to."
Kit was glad of the delay, as early the next morning he expected to bid farewell to Oakford, and thus would avoid a conflict.
He had been in Oakford before, and knew his way about. He went out of the yard and walked about in a leisurely12 way. It was early in June, and the[Pg 47] country was at its best. The birds were singing, the fields were green with verdure, and Kit's spirits rose. He felt that it would be delightful13 to travel about the country, as he would do if he joined Barlow's Circus.
He overtook a boy somewhat larger than himself, a stout14, strong country boy, attired15 in a rough, coarse working suit. He was about to pass him, when the country boy called out, "Hallo, you!"
"Were you speaking to me?" asked Kit, turning and looking back.
"Yes. Didn't I see you riding into town with Aaron Bickford?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to work for him?"
"That is what he expects," answered Kit diplomatically. He hesitated about confiding16 his plans to a stranger.
"Then I pity you."
"Why?"
"I used to work for him."
"Did you?"
"Yes, I stood it as long as I could."
"Then you didn't like it?"
"I guess not."
"What was the trouble?"
"Everything. He's a stingy old hunks, to begin with. I went to work for a dollar a week and board. If the board had been decent, it would have been something, but I'd as soon board at the poorhouse."
"I have taken dinner there," said Kit, smiling.
"Did you like it?"
"I have dined better. In fact I have seldom dined worse."
"What did the old woman give you?"[Pg 48]
Kit enumerated17 the articles composing the bill of fare.
"That's better than usual," said the new acquaintance.
"I suppose the dollar a week is all right," said Kit.
"Good enough if you can get it. It's about as easy to get blood out of a stone, as money out of old Bickford. Generally I had to wait ten days after the time before I could get the money."
"How is the work?"
"Hard, and plenty of it. It's work early and work late, and if there isn't work at the forge, you've got to help the old woman, by drawing water and doing chores. You don't live in Oakford, do you?"
"No; I came from Smyrna."
"I thought not. Bickford can't get a boy to work for him here. What made you come? Couldn't you get a place at home?"
"I didn't try."
"Well, you haven't done much in coming here."
"I begin to think so," Kit responded, with a smile.
"Hasn't the circus been in your town?"
"Yes."
"I wanted to go, but I guess I'll manage to see it in Grafton. It shows there to-morrow."
"Are you going?" asked Kit with interest.
"Yes; I shall walk. I'll start early and spend the day there."
"We may meet there."
"You don't expect to go, do you? Bickford won't let you off."
Kit smiled.
"I don't think Mr. Bickford will have much to say about it," he said.[Pg 49]
"I didn't mean to tell you, but I will. I have made up my mind not to work for Mr. Bickford at all."
"Then why did you come here?"
"Because my uncle saw fit to arrange with him."
"What are you going to do, then?"
"I am offered work with the circus."
"You are!" exclaimed the country boy, opening wide his eyes in astonishment18. "What are you going to do?"
"What's that?"
Kit explained as well as he could.
"What are they going to pay you?"
"Ten dollars a week and my expenses," answered Kit, proudly.
"Jehu!" ejaculated the other boy. "Why, that's good wages for a man. Do you think they'd hire me, too?"
"If you think you can do what they require, you can ask them."
"Why can't I do it as well as you?"
"Because I have been practicing for a long time at a gymnasium. What is your name?"
"Bill Morris."
"Then, Bill, don't say a word to any one about my plans. Suppose we go to Grafton together?"
"All right!"
Before the boys parted they made an agreement to meet at five o'clock the next morning, to set out on their walk to Grafton.
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收听单词发音
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1
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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witticism
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| n.谐语，妙语 | |
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7
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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8
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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9
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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10
permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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12
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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13
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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15
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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acrobat
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| n.特技演员，杂技演员 | |
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