CHAPTER XV. — ANY WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.

 Boys who have a good home are apt to undervalue it. They do not realize the comfort of having their daily wants provided for without any anxiety on their part. They are apt to fancy that they would like to go out into the great world to seek their fortunes. Sometimes it may be necessary and expedient¹ to leave the safe anchorage of home, and brave the dangers of the unknown sea; but no boy should do this without his parents' consent, nor then, without making up his mind that he will need all his courage and all his resolution to obtain success.

 

Sam found himself penniless in a great city, and with no way open, that he could think of, to earn money. Even the business of the boot-black, humble² as it is, required a small capital to buy a brush and box of blacking. So, too, a newsboy must pay for his papers when he gets them, unless he is well known. So Sam, sitting on the door-step, felt that he was in a tight place. Where was he to get his dinner from? He did not care to repeat his operation of the morning, for it was not pleasant to be "bounced."

 

"I wonder if I couldn't get a chance in a store," he thought. "That wouldn't need any money. There seems to be a lot of stores in the city. I guess there must be a place for me somewhere."

 

This thought encouraged Sam. He rose from his lowly seat, and determined³ to look about for a place. Presently he came to a real-estate office. Sam did not understand very well what kind of a business that was, but on the window a piece of paper was pasted, on which was written, "A Boy Wanted."

 

"I guess I'll go in," thought Sam. "Maybe they'll take me."

 

There were three boys ahead of him; but they were not very eligible-looking specimens⁴. So they were dismissed with small ceremony, and Sam was beckoned⁵ to the desk.

 

"I suppose you have come about the place," said a man with black whiskers, and a pen behind his ear.

 

"Yes," answered Sam.

 

"How old are you?"

 

"Twelve."

 

"Rather young. Still you are large of your age."

 

"I am pretty strong," said Sam, anxious to succeed in his application.

 

"There isn't any work to be done that requires strength," said the black-whiskered man. "How is your education?"

 

"Pretty good," said Sam, with hesitation⁶.

 

"Do you live in the city?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"With your parents?"

 

"No, sir. They are dead."

 

"That is an objection. Perhaps, however, you live with an aunt or uncle. That will answer as well."

 

"Yes," said Sam, determined to obviate⁷ this objection. "I live with my uncle."

 

"Where does he live?"

 

"In New York," answered Sam.

 

"Don't you understand me? I mean to ask the street and number."

 

Sam was posed. He could not at the moment think of the name of any street except Broadway. But it would not do to hesitate. So he said promptly⁸, "He lives at No. 656 Broadway."

 

"What is his business?" inquired the black-whiskered man.

 

"He keeps a store," answered Sam, feeling that he was getting deeper and deeper into the mire⁹.

 

"What sort of a store?"

 

"A grocery store."

 

"What, at 656 Broadway?" demanded the other, in surprise. "I didn't know there was a grocery store in that neighborhood."

 

"Oh, murder!" thought Sam. "I'm found out."

 

He made no answer, because he could not think of any.

 

"Why don't your father give you a place in his own store?" asked the real-estate agent, with some suspicion in his tone.

 

"He's got all the help he wants," said Sam, quickly.

 

Here another boy entered the office, a boy neatly¹⁰ dressed, and intelligent in appearance.

 

"Sit down a moment," said the agent to Sam, "while I speak with this other lad."

 

Sam took a seat, and listened to the conversation with the other boy. The conclusion of the matter was, that the other boy was engaged and Sam was obliged to go out to offer his services in some other quarter.

 

"What a lot of lies I had to tell!" he reflected. "What's the use of their asking so many questions? I don't see. I'll have to try somewhere else."

 

As Sam was sauntering along he was accosted¹¹ by a tall man, evidently from the country.

 

"Boy, can you direct me to the 'Tribune' office?"

 

"Yes, sir," said Sam, "but it's some ways from here. It'll be worth ten cents to lead you there."

 

The gentleman hesitated.

 

"Well," he said after a pause, "I'll give it to you."

 

"Will you give it to me now?" asked Sam.

 

"I will pay you when you have done your work."

 

"The reason I asked was, because I showed a man the other day, and then he wouldn't pay me."

 

"That was mean," said the stranger. "I hope you don't think I would serve you so."

 

"Oh, no, sir. You're a gentleman," said Sam. "You wouldn't cheat a poor boy that hasn't had any breakfast this mornin'."

 

"Dear me! you don't say so?" ejaculated the compassionate¹³ stranger, shocked at Sam's fiction. "Here, take this twenty-five cents. Do you often have to go without your breakfast?"

 

"Often, sir," said Sam, unblushingly. "It's hard times for poor boys like me."

 

"There's another quarter," said the stranger, his compassion¹² still more deeply moved.

 

Sam did feel some compunction now, for he was about to make a very poor return for the kindness of his new acquaintance. The fact was, he had not the slightest idea where the "Tribune" office was, and he had therefore undertaken what he was unable to perform. But he had gone too far to recede¹⁴. Besides, he did not feel prepared to give up the money which he had obtained through false pretences¹⁵. So counterfeiting¹⁶ a confidence which he did not feel he led the way up Centre street, saying, "This way, sir. I'll lead you right to the office."

 

"I never was at the office," said the stranger, "though I've been a subscriber¹⁷ to the weekly 'Tribune' for ten years."

 

"That's a good while," said Sam.

 

"It is indeed, my boy. I live in Illinois, more than a thousand miles from this city. Indeed, I have never been in New York before."

 

"Haven't you?"

 

"No; now you, I suppose, my young friend, know your way all about the city."

 

"Of course I do," said Sam, in an off-hand manner.

 

"If I had more time, I would get you to guide me round the city," said the stranger.

 

"Wouldn't I lead you a wild-goose chase, old gentleman?" thought Sam. "You'd be pretty well taken in, I guess."

 

"I am obliged to go away to-night," continued the old gentleman, "but I thought I would renew my subscription¹⁸ to the 'Tribune' before I went."

 

"All right, sir; it's a nice paper," said Sam, who had never read a line in the "Tribune."

 

"So I think. Are we almost at the office?"

 

"Almost," said Sam. "If you don't mind waiting I'll run over and speak to my cousin a minute."

 

There was a boot-black on the opposite side of the street. It struck Sam, who did not like to deceive so generous a patron, that he could obtain the information he needed of this boy.

 

"Can you tell me where the 'Tribune' office is?" he asked hurriedly.

 

The boot-black had no more scruples¹⁹ about lying than Sam, and answered, glibly²⁰, pointing to the Tombs prison, a little farther on, "Do you see that big stone buildin'?"

 

"Yes," said Sam.

 

"That's it."

 

"Thank you," said Sam, feeling relieved, and never doubting the correctness of this statement.

 

He returned to the stranger, and said, cheerfully, "We're almost there."

 

"Is that boy your cousin?" asked his acquaintance.

 

"Yes," said Sam.

 

"He blacks boots for a living."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Does he do well at it?"

 

"Pretty well."

 

"Did you ever black boots?"

 

"No, sir," answered Sam, telling the truth by way of variety.

 

"That's the Tribune office," said Sam, a moment later, pointing to the gloomy-looking prison.

 

"Is it?" echoed the stranger, in surprise. "Really, it's a very massive structure."

 

"Yes," said Sam, mistaking the word employed, "it's very massy."

 

"It doesn't look much like a newspaper office."

 

For the first time Sam began to suspect that he had been deceived, and he naturally felt in a hurry to get away.

 

"You go right in," he said, confidently, "and they'll attend to you inside. Now I'll go and get some breakfast."

 

"To be sure. You must be hungry."

 

The stranger walked up the massive steps, and Sam hurried away.

 

"I wonder what place that is, anyhow," he said to himself. "Now I've got money enough for dinner."

 

For a country boy Sam was getting along fast.

1 expedient   

adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计

参考例句：

• The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little.政府发现略微放宽审查是可取的。
• Every kind of expedient was devised by our friends.我们的朋友想出了各种各样的应急办法。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

7 obviate   

v.除去，排除，避免，预防

参考例句：

• Improved public transportation would obviate the need tor everyone to have their own car.公共交通的改善消除了每人都要有车的必要性。
• This deferral would obviate pressure on the rouble exchange rate.这一延期将消除卢布汇率面临的压力。

8 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

9 mire   

n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境

参考例句：

• I don't want my son's good name dragged through the mire.我不想使我儿子的名誉扫地。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

10 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

11 accosted   

v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭

参考例句：

• She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上，一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

13 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

14 recede   

vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进

参考例句：

• The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。
• He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

15 pretences   

n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称

参考例句：

• You've brought your old friends out here under false pretences. 你用虚假的名义把你的那些狐朋狗党带到这里来。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• There are no pretences about him. 他一点不虚伪。 来自辞典例句

16 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

17 subscriber   

n.用户，订户；（慈善机关等的）定期捐款者；预约者；签署者

参考例句：

• The subscriber to a government loan has got higher interest than savings. 公债认购者获得高于储蓄的利息。 来自辞典例句
• Who is the subscriber of that motto? 谁是那条座右铭的签字者？ 来自辞典例句

18 subscription   

n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方）

参考例句：

• We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。
• Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。

19 scruples   

n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
• I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调

20 glibly   

adv.流利地，流畅地；满口

参考例句：

• He glibly professed his ignorance of the affair. 他口口声声表白不知道这件事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He put ashes on his head, apologized profusely, but then went glibly about his business. 他表示忏悔，满口道歉，但接着又故态复萌了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》