She was one of those magnificent steamers that ply2 regularly between Panama and California. She had rather more than her full cargo3 of freight and passengers; but, among the hundreds of the latter, we have to do with but three.
On this moonlight night, there were gathered by themselves these three personages, consisting of Tim O'Rooney, Elwood Brandon and Howard Lawrence. The first was a burly, good-natured Irishman, and the two latter were cousins, their ages differing by less than a month, and both being in their sixteenth year.
The financial storm that swept over the country in 18—, toppling down merchants and banking-houses like so many ten-pins, carried with it in the general wreck4 and ruin, that of Brandon, Herman & Co., and the senior partner, Sylvanus Brandon, returned to his home in Brooklyn, New York, one evening worse than penniless. While he was meditating5, dejected and gloomy, as to the means by which he was to keep the wolf from the door, his clerk brought him a letter which had been overlooked in the afternoon's mail, postmarked, "San Francisco, Cal." At once he recognized the bold, handsome superscription as that of his kind-hearted brother-in-law, Thomas Lawrence. His heart beat with a strong hope as he broke the envelope, and his eyes glistened6 ere he had read one-half.
In short, it stated that Mr. Lawrence had established himself successfully in business, and was doing so well that he felt the imperative8 need of a partner, and ended by urging Mr. Brandon to accept the position. The bankrupt merchant laid the epistle in his lap, removed his spectacles and looked smilingly toward his wife. They held a long discussion, and both decided9 to accept the offer at once, as there was no other recourse left to them.
It was evident from the letter that Mr. Lawrence had some apprehensions10 regarding Mr. Brandon's ability to weather the storm, but he could not be aware of his financial crash, as it had only become known on the street within the last twenty-four hours. Mr. Brandon deemed it proper, therefore, before closing with the offer, to acquaint his brother-in-law with his circumstances, that he might fully7 understand the disadvantage under which he would be placed by the new partnership11.
The letter was written and duly posted, and our friends rather anxiously awaited the answer. It came in the gratifying form of a draft for $1,000 to defray "his necessary expenses," and an urgent entreaty12 to start without delay.
The advice was acted upon, and within two weeks of the reception of the second letter, Mr. Brandon and his wife were on board the steamer at New York, with their state-rooms engaged for California. They had but one child, Elwood, whom they had placed at a private school where he was to prepare himself for college, in company with his cousin, Howard Lawrence, who had been sent from California by his father and had entered the school at the same time.
Mr. Brandon learned that Mr. Lawrence was a brother indeed. The position in which the two men were placed proved so favorable to the former that in a few years he found himself almost as wealthy as in his palmiest days, when his name was such a power in Wall Street. He had come to like the young and growing State of California, and ere he had been there two years both himself and wife had lost all longings13 for the metropolis14 of the New World.
In the meanwhile, Elwood and Howard were doing well at their studies in Brooklyn. They had been inseparable friends from infancy15, and as their years increased the bonds of affection seemed to strengthen between them. They were the only children of twin sisters, and bore a remarkable16 resemblance in person, character and disposition17. Both had dark, curling, chestnut18 hair, hazel eyes, and an active muscular organization that made them leaders in boyish pastimes and sports. If there was any perceptible difference between the two, it was that Elwood Brandon was a little more daring and impetuous than his companion; he was apt to follow out his first impulses and venture upon schemes without deliberating fully enough. Both were generous, unselfish, and either would have willingly risked his life for the other.
Thus matters stood until the summer when our young heroes had completed their preparatory course, and were ready to enter college. It was decided by their parents that this should be done in the autumn, and that the summer of this year should be spent by the boys with their parents in California. They had been separated from them for five years, during which they had met but once, when the parents made a journey to New York for that purpose, spending several months with them. That visit, it may be said, was now to be returned, and the boys meant that it should be returned with interest.
And so Tim O'Rooney, a good-natured, trustworthy Irishman, who had been in the employ of Mr. Lawrence for eight years, almost ever since his arrival in America, was sent to New York to accompany the boys on their visit home.
Howard and Elwood were standing19 one afternoon on the corner of Montague Street, in Brooklyn, chatting with each other about their expected trip to California. They had closed their school studies a week before, and boy-like were now anxious to be off upon their journey. Suddenly an Irishman came in sight, smoking furiously at a short black pipe. The first glance showed them that it was no other than Tim O'Rooney, the expected messenger.
"Isn't that good?" exclaimed Elwood, "the steamer sails on Saturday, and we'll go in it. Here he comes, as though he was in a great hurry!"
"Don't say anything, and see whether he will know us!"
"Why shouldn't he?"
"You know we've grown a good deal since he was here, and the beard is getting so stiff on my chin that it scratches my hand every time I touch it."
"Yes; that mustache, too, is making you look as fierce as a Bluebeard; but here he is!"
At this instant Tim O'Rooney came opposite them. He merely glanced up, puffed20 harder than ever and was passing on, when both burst out in a loud laugh.
"Be the powers! what's the mather with ye spalpeens?" he angrily demanded. "Can't a dacent man be passing the sthrats widout being insulted——Howly mother! is it yerselves or is it your grandfathers?"
He had recognized them, and a hearty21 hand-shaking followed. Tim grinned a great deal over his mistake, and answered their questions in his dry, witty22 way, and assured them that his instructions were to bring them home as soon as possible. Accordingly, they embarked23 on the steamer on the following Saturday; and, passing over the unimportant incidents of their voyage, we come back to our starting point, where all three were within a day's journey of their destination.
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1
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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2
ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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3
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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4
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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5
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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6
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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8
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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10
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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11
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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12
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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13
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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14
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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15
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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16
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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17
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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18
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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19
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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20
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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21
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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22
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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23
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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