It was not so with Daniel. Though his father’s poverty made it necessary for all to work, Daniel, partly because of his early delicacy2, had plenty of time allowed him for amusement. The favorite companion of his leisure hours was not a boy, but a veteran soldier and near neighbor, named Robert Wise. He had built a little cottage in the corner of the Webster farm, and there with his wife he lived till extreme old age. He was born in Yorkshire, had fought on both sides in the Revolutionary struggle, had travelled in various parts of Europe, and had a thousand stories to tell, to all of which the boy listened with avidity. Though he had twice deserted3 from the English king, his heart still thrilled with pride when Daniel read to him from the newspaper accounts of battles in which the English arms were victorious4. He had never learned to read, and Daniel became his favorite because he was always ready to read to him as they sat together at nightfall at the cottage door.
“Why don’t you learn to read yourself, Robert?” asked Daniel one day.
“It’s too late, Dan. I’m gettin’ an old man now, and I couldn’t do it.”
“What will you do when I am grown up, and gone away?”
“I don’t know, Dan. It will be dull times for me.”
When that time came the old man picked up a fatherless boy, and gave him a home and a chance to secure an education, in order that he might have some one to read the newspaper to him.
Whenever Daniel had a day or a few hours to himself he ran across the fields to his humble5 neighbor’s house.
“Come, Robert,” he would say, “I’ve got nothing to do. Let us go fishing.”
So the two would go down to the banks of the Merrimac, and embark6 in a boat which belonged to the old man, and paddle up and down the river, sometimes for an entire day. Daniel never lost his love of fishing, but in after years, when the cares of statesmanship were upon him, dressed in suitable style he would take his fishing pole and lie in wait for his finny victims, while perhaps he was mentally composing some one of his famous speeches, destined7 to thrill the hearts of thousands, or direct the policy of the government. These happy days spent in the open air corrected his native delicacy, and gradually imparted physical strength and vigor8, and in time knit the vigorous frame which seemed a fitting temple for his massive intellect.
Even the most trivial circumstances in the boyhood of such a man as Daniel Webster are noteworthy, and I am sure my boy-readers will read with interest and sympathy the account of a signal victory which the boy gained, though it was only over a feathered bully10.
Belonging to a neighbor was a cock of redoubtable11 prowess, a champion whose fame was in all the farmyards for miles around. One day Daniel, coming home from school, beheld12 with mortification13 the finish of a contest in which a favorite fowl14 of his own came off decidedly second best. The victorious rooster strutted15 about in conscious and complacent16 triumph.
“It’s too bad, Zeke!” said Daniel in genuine vexation, as he saw the crestfallen17 look of his own vanquished18 fowl. “I should like to see that impudent19 bully get well whipped.”
“There isn’t a rooster about here that can whip him, Dan.”
“I know that, but he will meet his match some time.”
“At any rate I’ll drive him away. He’ll have to run from me.”
Dan picked up a stone, and pelted20 the victor out of the yard, but the feathered bully, even in his flight, raised a crow of victory which vexed21 the boy.
“I’d give all the money I’ve got, Zeke, for a rooster that would whip him,” said Dan.
There came a time when Daniel had his wish.
He was visiting a relation at some distance when mention was made casually22 of a famous fighting cock who had never been beaten.
“Where is he to be found?” asked the boy eagerly.
“Why do you ask?”
“I would like to see him,” said Dan.
“Oh, well, he belongs to Mr.——.”
“Where does he live?”
The desired information was given.
Shortly after Daniel was missed. He found his way to the farm where the pugnacious23 fowl resided. In the yard he saw the owner, a farmer.
“Good morning, sir,” said Dan.
“Good morning, boy. What can I do for you?” was the reply.
“I hear you have a cock who is a famous fighter.”
“Yes, he’s never been beaten yet!” said the farmer complacently24.
“Can I see him?”
“There he is,” said the owner, pointing out the feathered champion.
Daniel surveyed the rooster with great interest.
“Will you sell him?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Why do you want to buy him?”
Daniel explained his object frankly25.
“How much are you willing to give?” asked the farmer, for he was a Yankee, and ready for a trade.
Daniel drew from his pocket half a dollar. It represented his entire cash capital.
“Here is half a dollar,” he said. “I’ll give you that.”
“Haven’t you got anymore money?” asked the farmer, who had a keen scent26 for a bargain.
“No, sir; it is all I have. I’d give you more if I had it.”
Half a dollar in those days was a considerable sum of money, particularly in the eyes of a farmer, who handled very little money, his income being for the most part in the shape of corn, hay and vegetables. Having satisfied himself that it was all he could get, he gave a favorable answer to the boy’s application.
Daniel’s eyes sparkled with delight, and he promptly27 handed over his fifty cent piece.
“When do you want to take it?” asked the farmer.
“Now,” answered Dan.
“Very well.”
The fowl was caught, and Daniel carried it back to the house of his relative in triumph.
“I’m going home,” he said abruptly28.
“Going home? Why, you have only just come.”
“I’ll come again soon, but I want to take this cock home, and see if he can’t whip Mr. ——-’s. I want to teach the little bully a lesson.”
So in spite of all that could be said Daniel started on his way home.
When he had gone a short distance he passed a yard stocked with poultry29, where a large cock was strutting30 about defiantly31, as if throwing down the gage32 of battle to any new comers.
A boy was standing33 near the fence.
“Will your cock fight?” asked Dan.
“He can whip yours,” was the reply.
“Are you willing to try it?”
“Yes, come along.”
The trial was made, and Dan’s new purchase maintained his reputation, by giving a sound drubbing to his feathered rival.
Dan surveyed the result with satisfaction.
“I guess he’ll do,” he said to himself.
He kept on his way till he got within sight of home.
“What brings you home so soon, Dan?” asked Zeke.
“See here, Zeke!” said Dan eagerly.” Here is a cock that will whip Mr. ——’s all to pieces.”
“Don’t be too sure of it!”
“I’ve tried him once, and he’s game.”
The boys did not have long to wait for the trial.
Over came the haughty34 intruder, strutting about with his usual boastful air.
Dan let loose his new fowl, and a battle royal commenced. Soon the tyrant35 of the barnyard found that he had met a foe36 worthy9 of his spur. For a time the contest was an open one, but in ten minutes the feathered bully was ignominiously37 defeated, and led about by the comb in a manner as humiliating as had ever happened when he was himself the victor.
Daniel witnessed the defeat of the whilom tyrant with unbounded delight, and felt abundantly repaid for his investment of all his spare cash, as well as the cutting short of his visit. Probably in the famous passage at arms which he had many years after with Mr. Hayne, of South Carolina, his victory afforded him less satisfaction than this boyish triumph.
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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2
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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7
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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13
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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18
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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19
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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strutting
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| 加固，支撑物 | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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32
gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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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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34
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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35
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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