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Chapter VII — Ben Gets Employment
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 When Ben got out into the street, he set himself to consider where he could apply for employment. As far as he knew, he had inquired at every store in Milltown if a boy was wanted, only to be answered in the negative, sometimes kindly1, other times roughly. At the factory, too, he had ascertained2 that there was no immediate3 prospect4 of his being taken on again.
 
"It's a hard case," thought Ben, "when a fellow wants to work, and needs the money, and can find no opening anywhere."
 
It was a hard case; but Ben was by no means the only one so situated5. It may be said of him, at all events, that he deserved to succeed, for he left no stone unturned to procure6 employment.
 
"Perhaps," he thought, "I can get a small job to do somewhere. It would be better to earn a trifle than to be idle."
 
As this thought passed through Ben's mind, he glanced into Deacon Sawyer's yard. The deacon was a near neighbor of his mother, and was reputed rich, though he lived in an old-fashioned house, furnished in the plain manner of forty years back. It was said that probably not fifty dollars' worth of furniture had come into the house since the deacon's marriage, two-and-forty years previous. Perhaps his tastes were plain; but the uncharitable said that he was too fond of his money to part with it.
 
A couple of loads of wood were just being deposited in the deacon's yard. They were brought by a tenant7 of his, who paid a part of his rent in that way.
 
When Ben saw the wood, a bright thought came to him.
 
"Perhaps I can get a chance to saw and split that wood," he said to himself. "The deacon doesn't keep a man, and he is too old to do it himself."
 
As Ben did not mean to let any chance slip, he instantly entered the yard by the gate, and, walking up to the front door, rang the bell. The bell had only been in place for a year. The deacon had been contented8 with the old fashioned knocker, and had reluctantly consented to the innovation of a bell, and he still spoke9 of it as a new-fangled nonsense.
 
Nancy Sawyer, an old-maid daughter of the deacon, answered the bell.
 
"Good morning, ma'am," said Ben politely.
 
"Good morning, Ben," the deacon's daughter responded. "How's your aunt to-day?"
 
"Pretty well, thank you."
 
"Will you come in?"
 
"I called on business," said Ben. "Don't you want that wood sawed and split?"
 
"Yes, I suppose it ought to be," said Nancy. "Do you want to do it?"
 
"Yes," said our hero. "I'm out of work and ready to do anything I can find to do."
 
"Are you used to sawing and splitting wood?" inquired Nancy cautiously. "We had a boy once who broke our saw, because he didn't understand how to use it."
 
"You needn't be afraid of my meeting with such an accident," said Ben confidently. "I saw and split all our wood at home, and have ever since I was twelve years old."
 
"Come in and speak to father," said Nancy; "I guess he'll be willing to hire you."
 
She led the way into a very plain sitting room, covered with a rag carpet, where the deacon sat in a rocking chair, reading an agricultural paper—the only one he subscribed10 to. His daughter, whose literary tastes were less limited, had tried to get him to subscribe11 for a magazine, but he declined, partly on account of the expense, and partly because of the pictures of fashionably dressed ladies, and he feared his daughter would become extravagant12 in dress.
 
Deacon Sawyer looked up as Ben entered the room.
 
"It's Ben Bradford, father," said Nancy, for her father's vision was impaired13.
 
"He ain't come to borrow anything, has he, Nancy?" asked the old man.
 
"No, he wants you to employ him to saw and split your wood."
 
"Don't you know I'm a sawyer myself?" said the deacon, chuckling14 over a familiar joke.
 
Ben laughed, feeling that it was his policy to encourage what feeble glimmering15 of wit the deacon might indulge in.
 
"That's your joke, father," said Nancy. "You'll have to get the wood sawed and split, and you might as well employ Ben."
 
"I thought you was in the factory, Benjamin," said the old man.
 
"So I was, but they cut down the number of hands some weeks ago, and I had to leave among others."
 
"How do you make a livin', then?" inquired the deacon bluntly.
 
"We've got along somehow," said Ben; "but if I don't get work soon, I don't know what we shall do."
 
"Nancy," said the deacon, "seems to me I can saw the wood myself. It will save money."
 
"No, you can't father," said Nancy decidedly. "You are too old for that kind of work, and you can afford to have it done."
 
"You are a sensible woman, even if you are homely," thought Ben, though for obvious reasons he did not say it.
 
"I dunno about that, Nancy," said her father.
 
"Well, I do," said Nancy peremptorily16.
 
The fact is, that she had a will of her own, and ruled the deacon in many things, but, it must be admitted, judiciously17, and with an eye to his welfare.
 
"How much will you charge, Benjamin," the deacon asked, "for sawing and splitting the whole lot."
 
"How much is there of it?" asked Ben.
 
"Two cords."
 
"I don't know how much I ought to charge, Deacon Sawyer. I am willing to go ahead and do it, and leave you to pay me what you think right."
 
"That's right," said the deacon in a tone of satisfaction. "You may go ahead and do it, and I'll do the right thing by you."
 
"All right," said Ben cheerfully. "I'll go right to work."
 
I am obliged to say that in this agreement Ben was unbusiness-like. There are some men with whom it will answer to make such contracts, but it is generally wiser to have a definite understanding. For the lack of this, disputes often arise, and mean men will take advantage when so fair an opportunity is afforded them.
 
After Ben left the room, Nancy, who was sensible and practical, and by no means niggardly18 as her father, said to him; "You ought to have named your terms, Ben. Then you would know just what you are earning."
 
"I was afraid I might ask too much, and lose the job."
 
"Now you may get too little."
 
"Even if I do, I would rather be at work than be doing nothing."
 
"That's the right way to feel," said Nancy, approvingly. "I like to see a boy at your age industrious19. As to the terms, I will try to make my father do you justice."
 
"Thank you, ma'am. Can you tell me where you keep the saw and ax?"
 
"You will find them in the woodshed, in the L part."
 
"Thank you."
 
"How long do you expect the job will take you?"
 
"I should think two or three days; but I have never undertaken such a large job of any kind before."
 
"Very well. I didn't speak of it because there is any hurry about it."
 
"You may not be in a hurry, but I am," thought Ben, "for I want the money."
 
Ben tackled the wood-pile vigorously. It was not a kind of work he was partial to; but he was sensible enough to know that he must accept what work came in his way without regard to his own preferences.
 
He had been at work about an hour when he heard his name called from the street. Looking up, he recognized James Watson.
 
"Is that you, Ben?" asked James, in some astonishment20.
 
"It is supposed to be. Don't I look natural?" asked Ben, smiling.
 
"What are you doing?"
 
"Don't you see? I am sawing wood."
 
"You don't mean you go around from house to house sawing wood?"
 
"Why not?"
 
"I should think you would be too proud to do it."
 
"I am not too proud to do any honest work that will put money in my pocket. Isn't it as respectable as working in the factory?"
 
"Certainly not. I am willing to work in the factory, but I wouldn't go round sawing wood."
 
"You can afford to be proud, James, but I can't. We are almost out of money, and I must do something."
 
"I don't believe the deacon will give you much of anything. He hasn't the reputation of being very generous."
 
"I must take my chance at that."
 
"I am sorry for it. I wanted you to go fishing with me this afternoon."
 
"I should like to go, James, but business before pleasure, they say."
 
"Ben has not pride," thought James, as he went away, disappointed.
 
But he was mistaken. Ben was proud in his way, but he was not too proud to do honest work.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 kindly tpUzhQ     
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。
2 ascertained e6de5c3a87917771a9555db9cf4de019     
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
4 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
5 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的
参考例句:
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
6 procure A1GzN     
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条
参考例句:
  • Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗?
  • I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。
7 tenant 0pbwd     
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用
参考例句:
  • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
  • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
8 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
9 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
10 subscribed cb9825426eb2cb8cbaf6a72027f5508a     
v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 );签署,题词;订阅;同意
参考例句:
  • It is not a theory that is commonly subscribed to. 一般人并不赞成这个理论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I subscribed my name to the document. 我在文件上签了字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 subscribe 6Hozu     
vi.(to)订阅,订购;同意;vt.捐助,赞助
参考例句:
  • I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
  • The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。
12 extravagant M7zya     
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。
13 impaired sqtzdr     
adj.受损的;出毛病的;有(身体或智力)缺陷的v.损害,削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
14 chuckling e8dcb29f754603afc12d2f97771139ab     
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时,我能听见他的轻声发笑。
  • He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
15 glimmering 7f887db7600ddd9ce546ca918a89536a     
n.微光,隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I got some glimmering of what he was driving at. 他这么说是什么意思,我有点明白了。 来自辞典例句
  • Now that darkness was falling, only their silhouettes were outlined against the faintly glimmering sky. 这时节两山只剩余一抹深黑,赖天空微明为画出一个轮廓。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
16 peremptorily dbf9fb7e6236647e2b3396fe01f8d47a     
adv.紧急地,不容分说地,专横地
参考例句:
  • She peremptorily rejected the request. 她断然拒绝了请求。
  • Their propaganda was peremptorily switched to an anti-Western line. 他们的宣传断然地转而持反对西方的路线。 来自辞典例句
17 judiciously 18cfc8ca2569d10664611011ec143a63     
adv.明断地,明智而审慎地
参考例句:
  • Let's use these intelligence tests judiciously. 让我们好好利用这些智力测试题吧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His ideas were quaint and fantastic. She brought him judiciously to earth. 他的看法荒廖古怪,她颇有见识地劝他面对现实。 来自辞典例句
18 niggardly F55zj     
adj.吝啬的,很少的
参考例句:
  • Forced by hunger,he worked for the most niggardly pay.为饥饿所迫,他为极少的工资而工作。
  • He is niggardly with his money.他对钱很吝啬。
19 industrious a7Axr     
adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的
参考例句:
  • If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
  • She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。
20 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。


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