"Sam Archer: You might be in better business than telling lies about me to my aunt. If you think I look dissipated your eyes deceive you, and I advise you to wear glasses the next time you come to Boston. If you choose to come to the store, it is none of my business; but you need not take the trouble in order to see me.
I quite understand your anxiety to get me back into the mill. There was a time when I should have been glad of a place there; but now I have a place that suits me better, and don't care to change. "Benjamin Bradford"
When Sam received this letter, he looked and felt provoked. Somehow or other Ben was always getting the better of him. He wanted to injure him, but there seemed no way. Suddenly it occurred to Sam that he might prejudice Jones & Porter against our hero.
"Messrs. Jones & Porter: I hear that you have taken into your employment a boy named Benjamin Bradford from this town. You probably are not aware that he has a very bad reputation here. He was employed in the mill for a time, but was discharged because he was idle and lazy. He keeps bad company, and none of the respectable boys here cared to associate with him. I don't like to see an honorable firm imposed upon, and that is why I warn you of the character of your new clerk, though I have no personal interest in the matter.
"A Friend"
The next day Ben was summoned to the countingroom.
"Ben," said Mr. Porter, "have you any enemy in Milltown?"
"Yes, sir."
"We have just received a letter warning us against you, as unworthy of our confidence."
Mr. Porter smiled, or Ben might have felt uncomfortable.
"May I see the letter?" he asked.
The letter was placed in his hands.
"It is Sam Archer's handwriting," he said, looking up. "I hope, sir, you won't let it prejudice you against me."
"I would not allow myself to be influenced by an anonymous letter. It is a stab in the dark."
"I want to show you how inconsistent Sam is," said Ben. "He was here a few days ago, and urged me to give up my place here, and take one in the mill."
"That is rather strange, if he is your enemy."
"No, sir; he don't like it because I have a good place here. If I should go into the mill I should probably be discharged in a week or two, and cast adrift."
"Not many, sir, I hope; but Sam is an exception."
"I sympathize with you in your persecution4, Ben; but I can assure you that no anonymous letters will change my opinion of you. If this enemy sends another letter, I shall feel tempted5 to increase your wages."
"Then I hope he'll write again," said Ben, laughing.
"If we continue satisfied with you, we shall probably advance you on the first of January."
"Thank you, sir," said Ben warmly. "May I answer this letter, sir?"
"You may say that we have shown it to you, and that we despise such malicious attempts to injure."
The next day Sam received a letter from Ben, which concluded:
"If you write another similar letter to my employers, you will be doing me quite a service. It will probably cause them to raise my salary. As I owe my place to you, you now have it in your power to increase the obligation. How bad you must feel, Sam, at your inability to do me harm! I can't say I exactly sympathize with you, but I certainly pity you for harboring such malice6 in your heart. I don't know how to express my gratitude7 for all of your kindness. If ever you want a situation in Boston let me know. There is a peanut woman on the Common who wants a smart, active salesman.
"Ben Bradford"
Sam was stung by the cool indifference8 and contempt which appeared in this letter. Ben did not take the trouble to be angry. He evidently despised his enmity, and defied him. Sam felt that he hated Ben worse.
"Is it? Do you correspond with miserable puppies?"
"I can't help their writing to me. If you want to know who it is, it's your friend, Ben Bradford."
"How long have you corresponded?" asked James.
"I wouldn't lower myself by writing to him," said Sam wrathfully. "I'll show you what I think of his letter."
"You're a strange boy, Sam," said James.
"Why am I?"
"Haven't you been working hard to get Ben back to Milltown?"
"I wish he'd come back."
"And yet you can't bear the sight of him."
"I hate him worse than any fellow I know."
"Come, now, Sam, just listen to a little advice. If you had always treated Ben right you would like him as well as I do. Why should you cherish malice against him? He has good qualities, and so have you, if you'd only give 'em a chance to show themselves."
"That's all gammon," said Sam impatiently.
"What, about your having good qualities?"
"You may think differently some time."
On the first of January Ben wrote to his aunt:
"My Dear Aunt: Congratulate me on my good luck. Mr. Porter, this morning, called me into the countingroom, and informed me that henceforth my wages would be eight dollars a week—two dollars more that I have been receiving. I owe this partly to my good luck. I am a favorite of the bookkeeper, who is Mr. Porter's nephew; otherwise, if I had been advanced at all, it would have been only one dollar a week. Don't you think it would have been rather foolish if I had come back and gone into the mill, as you wished me to?"
"After all, I think Ben did right to stay," said Aunt Jane, when she read the letter.
"I wish he'd come home," said Tony. "Then he could play with me."
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1
archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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12
spoke
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| 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 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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