Chapter 13 An Invitation Declined

 The summer passed quickly, and the time arrived for Robert Leavitt to go to the city. By this time Harry¹ was well qualified² to take his place. It had not been difficult, for he had only been required to peg³, and that is learned in a short time. Harry, however, proved to be a quick workman, quicker, if anything, than Robert, though the latter had been accustomed to the work for several years. Mr. Leavitt was well satisfied with his new apprentice⁴, and quite content to pay him the three dollars a week agreed upon. In fact, it diminished the amount of cash he was called upon to pay.

 

"Good-by, Harry," said Robert, as he saw the coach coming up the road, to take him to the railroad station.

 

"Good-by, and good luck!" said Harry.

 

"When you come to the city, come and see me."

 

"I don't think I shall be going very soon. I can't afford it."

 

"You must save up your wages, and you'll have enough soon."

 

"I've got another use for my wages, Bob."

 

"To buy cigars?"

 

Harry shook his head. "I shall save it up to carry home."

 

"Well, you must try to make my place good in the shop."

 

"He can do that," said Mr. Leavitt, slyly; "but there's one place where he can't equal you."

 

"Where is that?"

 

"At the dinner table."

 

"You've got me there, father," said Bob, good-naturedly. "Well, good-by all, here's the stage."

 

In a minute more he was gone. Harry felt rather lonely, for he had grown used to working beside him. But his spirits rose as he reflected that the time had now come when he should be in receipt of an income. Three dollars a week made him feel rich in anticipation⁵. He looked forward already with satisfaction to the time when he might go home with money enough to pay off his father's debt to Squire⁶ Green. But he was not permitted to carry out his economical purpose without a struggle.

 

On Saturday evening, after he had received his week's pay, Luke Harrison, who worked in a shop near by, met him at the post office.

 

"Come along, Harry," he said. "Let us play a game of billiards⁷."

 

"You must excuse me," said Harry.

 

"Oh, come along," said Luke, taking him by the arm; "it's only twenty-five cents."

 

"I can't afford it,"

 

"Can't afford it! Now that's nonsense. You just changed a two-dollar note for those postage stamps."

 

"I know that; but I must save that money for another purpose."

 

"What's the use of being stingy, Harry? Try one game."

 

"You can get somebody else to play with you, Luke."

 

"Oh, hang it, if you care so much for a quarter, I'll pay for the game myself. Only come and play."

 

Harry shook his head.

 

"I don't want to amuse myself at your expense."

 

"You are a miser⁸," said Luke, angrily.

 

"You can call me so, if you like," said Harry, firmly; "but that won't make it so."

 

"I don't see how you can call yourself anything else, if you are so afraid to spend your money."

 

"I have good reasons."

 

"What are they?"

 

"I told you once that I had another use for the money."

 

"To hoard⁹ away in an old stocking," said Luke, sneering¹⁰.

 

"You may say so, if you like," said Harry, turning away.

 

He knew he was right, but it was disagreeable to be called a miser. He was too proud to justify¹¹ himself to Luke, who spent all his money foolishly, though earning considerably¹² larger wages than he.

 

There was one thing that Harry had not yet been able to do to any great extent, though it was something he had at heart. He had not forgotten his motto, "Live and Learn," and now that he was in a fair way to make a living, he felt that he had made no advance in learning during the few weeks since he arrived in Glenville.

 

The day previous he had heard, for the first time, that there was a public library in another part of the town, which was open evenings. Though it was two miles distant, and he had been at work all day, he determined¹³ to walk up there and get a book. He felt that he was very ignorant, and that his advance in the world depended upon his improving all opportunities that might present themselves for extending his limited knowledge. This was evidently one.

 

After his unsatisfactory interview with Luke, he set out for the upper village, as it was called. Forty minutes' walk brought him to the building in which the library was kept. An elderly man had charge of it--a Mr. Parmenter.

 

"Can I take out a book?" asked Harry.

 

"Do you live in town?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"I don't remember seeing you before. You don't live in this village, do you?"

 

"No, sir. I live in the lower village."

 

"What is your name?"

 

"Harry Walton."

 

"I don't remember any Walton family."

 

"My father lives in Granton. I am working for Mr. James Leavitt."

 

"I have no doubt this is quite correct, but I shall have to have Mr. Leavitt's certificate to that effect, before I can put your name down, and trust you with books."

 

"Then can't I take any book to-night?" asked Harry, disappointed.

 

"I am afraid not."

 

So it seemed his two-mile walk was for nothing. He must retrace¹⁴ his steps and come again Monday night.

 

He was turning away disappointed when Dr. Townley, of the lower village, who lived near Mr. Leavitt, entered the library.

 

"My wife wants a book in exchange for this, Mr. Parmenter," he said. "Have you got anything new in? Ah, Harry Walton, how came you here? Do you take books out of the library?"

 

"That's is what I came up for, but the librarian says I must bring a line from Mr. Leavitt, telling who I am."

 

"If Dr. Townley knows you, that is sufficient," said the librarian.

 

"He is all right, Mr. Parmenter. He is a young neighbor of mine."

 

"That is enough. He can select a book."

 

Harry was quite relieved at this fortunate meeting, and after a little reflection selected the first volume of "Rollin's Universal History," a book better known to our fathers than the present generation.

 

"That's a good, solid book, Harry," said the doctor.

 

"Most of our young people select stories."

 

"I like stories very much," said Harry; "but I have only a little time to read, and I must try to learn something."

 

"You are a sensible boy," said the doctor, emphatically.

 

"I'm afraid there are few of our young people who take such wise views of what is best for them. Most care only for present enjoyment¹⁵."

 

"I have got my own way to make," said Harry, "and I suppose that is what influences me. My father is poor and cannot help me, and I want to rise in the world."

 

"You are going the right way to work. Do you intend to take out books often from the library?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"It will be a long walk from the lower village."

 

"I would walk farther rather than do without the books."

 

"I can save you at any rate from walking back. My chaise is outside, and, if you will jump in, I will carry you home."

 

"Thank you, doctor. I shall be very glad to ride."

 

On the way, Dr. Townley said: "I have a few miscellaneous book in my medical library, which I will lend to you with pleasure, if you will come in. It may save you an occasional walk to the library."

 

Harry thanked him, and not long afterwards availed himself of the considerate proposal. Dr Townley was liberally educated, and as far as his professional engagements would permit kept up with general literature. He gave Harry some valuable directions as to the books which it would benefit him to read, and more than once took him up on the road to the library.

 

Once a week regularly Harry wrote home. He knew that his letters would give pleasure to the family, and he never allowed anything to interfere¹⁶ with his duty.

 

His father wrote: "We are getting on about as usual. The cow does tolerably well, but is not as good as the one I lost. I have not yet succeeded in laying up anything toward paying for her. Somehow, whenever I have a few dollars laid aside Tom wants shoes, or your sister wants a dress, or some other expense swallows it up."

 

Harry wrote in reply: "Don't trouble yourself, father, about your debt to Squire Green. If I have steady work, and keep my health, I shall have enough to pay it by the time it comes due."

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

3 peg   

n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定

参考例句：

• Hang your overcoat on the peg in the hall.把你的大衣挂在门厅的挂衣钩上。
• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet.他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。

4 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

5 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

6 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

7 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

8 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。

9 hoard   

n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积

参考例句：

• They have a hoard of food in the basement.地下室里有他们贮藏的食物。
• How many curios do you hoard in your study?你在你书房里聚藏了多少古玩？

10 sneering   

嘲笑的，轻蔑的

参考例句：

• "What are you sneering at?" “你冷笑什么？” 来自子夜部分
• The old sorceress slunk in with a sneering smile. 老女巫鬼鬼崇崇地走进来，冷冷一笑。

11 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

12 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

13 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

14 retrace   

v.折回；追溯，探源

参考例句：

• He retraced his steps to the spot where he'd left the case.他折回到他丢下箱子的地方。
• You must retrace your steps.你必须折回原来走过的路。

15 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

16 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。