Chapter XXX — Sam Is Improved By Adversity

 

 

Mr. Archer¹'s flight made a great commotion² in Milltown. No one entertained a suspicion of his integrity. He had been appropriating the funds of the corporation to his own use, being treasurer³ as well as superintendent⁴. When exposure was inevitable⁵ he fled.

 

To Sam and his mother, it was a great blow, not only on account of the disgrace, but also because it involved poverty and a narrow style of living. To persons of their pretensions⁶ this was heavy to bear. They were not altogether penniless. Mrs. Archer had property of her own, to the amount of four thousand dollars, which was unimpaired. But, even at a liberal rate of interest, this would not support them. Sam remained in the house, dispirited and resentful against the father who had brought this upon him, till he got tired of confinement⁷ and walked out. He hoped to meet no one whom he knew, but at the corner of the street he fell in with James Watson.

 

"He is one of Ben Bradford's friends. He will rejoice at what has happened," thought Sam. But James stopped him, and said in a friendly tone: "Are you out for a walk, Sam? Let us walk together?"

 

"I didn't know as you'd care to walk with me."

 

"You don't think I rejoice over your misfortune?"

 

"I didn't know but you might. You are a friend of Ben Bradford."

 

"He will be very sorry. He won't think of any little difference there has been between you."

 

"I don't believe that," said Sam, shaking his head.

 

"You will, as soon as you see him. You mustn't lose courage, Sam. I know it's bad for you, but——"

 

"I don't know what's going to become of us," said Sam despondently⁸. "We shall be poor."

 

"That isn't the worst thing that can happen to you."

 

"Father has treated us very badly."

 

"He has done wrong; but he is your father. Remember, Sam, I am your friend, and if I can do anything for you I will."

 

"Thank you, James," he said. "You are a good fellow—much better than I thought. I supposed you would be glad I was down in the world."

 

Same was to be still more surprised. The next day he received the following letter from Ben Bradford:

 

"Dear Sam: I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. Of course, no one can blame you or your mother. I believe I was the last acquaintance to see your father before he left Boston. I had occasion to go on board the Cunard steamer which sailed on Wednesday. On the dock I met your father, and had a little conversation with him. He did not tell me that he was going to Europe; but he was in a traveling-dress and, no doubt, he was.

 

"What has happened will, no doubt, make some difference in your plans. If you wish to get a situation in Boston, I may be able to help you to one. At the beginning of next month there will be an opening for a boy in an establishment on Milk Street. The wages will not exceed five dollars a week; but it would be difficult for a beginner to do better. If you wish, I will try to get this place for you. At any rate, I hope you will regard me as a friend who wishes you well. The little quarrel there has been between us is not worth remembering.

 

"Your sincere friend, "Benjamin Bradford."

 

To say that Sam was surprised to receive this cordial letter from a boy whom he had so persistently⁹ tried to injure will hardly express his feelings. He was overwhelmed with astonishment¹⁰, mingled¹¹ with shame.

 

"Ben is a great deal better than I am," he was forced to admit. "I don't deserve such a kindness from him."

 

He showed Ben's letter to his mother.

 

"I think I had better ask Ben to get me the place. We must not be too proud."

 

"We have no right to be proud now. We shall have scarcely enough to support us in the humblest manner."

 

"My wages will help. I shall get five dollars a week. That will be two hundred and sixty dollars a year."

 

Even Mrs. Archer was surprised at the change in Sam.

 

"Do you think you will be willing to work?"

 

"Of course I shall; that is, if I can work in Boston. I don't want to stay here."

 

"Nor I," said Mrs. Archer.

 

"Suppose we both go to Boston, then."

 

"I am afraid our income won't be sufficient."

 

"For two or three years you can spend some of your principal, mother. By that time I shall be getting higher wages, and it may not be necessary."

 

"I didn't expect that you would take it so, Sam."

 

Ben received the following answer to his letter.

 

"Dear Ben: I thank you for your kind letter. I feel very much ashamed of the way I have treated you in the past. I didn't know what a good fellow you were. I am afraid I shouldn't have behaved as well in your place. As to your offer, I accept it thankfully. I shall be very glad to get the place you speak of. Mother and I intend to move to Boston, as it is no longer agreeable to stay here. Do you know of any boarding-house where the prices are reasonable, for we cannot afford to pay high rates? If you do, please find out on what terms we can be accommodated, and let me know."

 

Ben was pleased.

 

"Sam has improved," he thought.

 

By the first of the month Sam and his mother were established in a boarding-house on Warren Avenue and Sam had entered upon his duties in Milk Street.

1 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

2 commotion   

n.骚动，动乱

参考例句：

• They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。
• Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

3 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

4 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

5 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

6 pretensions   

自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力

参考例句：

• The play mocks the pretensions of the new middle class. 这出戏讽刺了新中产阶级的装模作样。
• The city has unrealistic pretensions to world-class status. 这个城市不切实际地标榜自己为国际都市。

7 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

8 despondently   

adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地

参考例句：

• It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
• He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句

9 persistently   

ad.坚持地；固执地

参考例句：

• He persistently asserted his right to a share in the heritage. 他始终声称他有分享那笔遗产的权利。
• She persistently asserted her opinions. 她果断地说出了自己的意见。

10 astonishment   

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。

11 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。