Chapter 1 A Chicago Newsboy

 "_News_ and _Mail_, one cent each!"

 

Half a dozen Chicago newsboys, varying in age from ten to sixteen years, with piles of papers in their hands, joined in the chorus.

 

They were standing¹ in front and at the sides of the Sherman House, on the corner of Clark and Randolph Streets, one of the noted² buildings in the Lake City. On the opposite side of Randolph Street stands a gloomy stone structure, the Court House and City Hall. In the shadow of these buildings, at the corner, Luke Walton, one of the largest newsboys, had posted himself. There was something about his bearing and appearance which distinguished³ him in a noticeable way from his companions.

 

To begin with, he looked out of place. He was well grown, with a frank, handsome face, and was better dressed than the average newsboy. That was one reason, perhaps, why he preferred to be by himself, rather than to engage in the scramble⁴ for customers which was the habit of the boys around him.

 

It was half-past five. The numerous cars that passed were full of business men, clerks, and boys, returning to their homes after a busy day.

 

Luke had but two papers left, but these two for some unaccountable reason remained on his hands an unusual length of time. But at length a comfortable-looking gentleman of middle age, coming from the direction of La Salle Street, paused and said, "You may give me a _News_, my boy."

 

"Here you are, sir," he said, briskly.

 

The gentleman took the paper, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, began to feel for a penny, but apparently⁵ without success.

 

"I declare," he said, smiling, "I believe I am penniless. I have nothing but a five-dollar bill."

 

"Never mind, sir! Take the paper and pay me to morrow."

 

"But I may not see you."

 

"I am generally here about this time."

 

"And if I shouldn't see you, you will lose the penny."

 

"I will risk it, sir," said Luke, smiling.

 

"You appear to have confidence in me."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then it is only fair that I should have confidence in you."

 

Luke looked puzzled, for he didn't quite understand what was in the gentleman's mind.

 

"I will take both of your papers. Here is a five-dollar bill. You may bring me the change to-morrow, at my office, No. 155 La Salle Street. My name is Benjamin Afton."

 

"But, sir," objected Luke, "there is no occasion for this. It is much better that I should trust you for two cents than that you should trust me with five dollars."

 

"Probably the two cents are as important to you as five dollars to me. At any rate, it is a matter of confidence, and I am quite willing to trust you."

 

"Thank you, sir, but----"

 

"I shall have to leave you, or I shall be home late to dinner."

 

Before Luke had a chance to protest further, he found himself alone, his stock of papers exhausted⁶, and a five-dollar bill in his hand.

 

While he stood on the corner in some perplexity, a newsboy crossed Randolph Street, and accosted⁷ him.

 

"My eyes, if you ain't in luck, Luke Walton," he said. "Where did you get that bill? Is it a one?"

 

"No, it's a five."

 

"Where'd you get it?"

 

"A gentleman just bought two papers of me."

 

"And gave you five dollars! You don't expect me to swaller all that, do you?"

 

"I'm to bring him the change to-morrow," continued Luke.

 

The other boy nearly doubled up with merriment.

 

"Wasn't he jolly green, though?" he ejaculated.

 

"Why was he?" asked Luke, who by this time felt considerably⁸ annoyed.

 

"He'll have to whistle for his money."

 

"Why will he?"

 

"Cause he will."

 

"He won't do anything of the sort. I shall take him his change to-morrow morning."

 

"What?" ejaculated Tom Brooks⁹.

 

"I shall carry him his change in the morning--four dollars and ninety-eight cents. Can't you understand that?"

 

"You ain't going to be such a fool, Luke Walton?"

 

"If it's being a fool to be honest, then I'm going to be that kind of a fool. Wouldn't you do the same?"

 

"No, I wouldn't. I'd just invite all the boys round the corner to go with me to the theayter. Come, Luke, be a good feller, and give us all a blow-out. We'll go to the theayter, and afterwards we'll have an oyster¹⁰ stew¹¹. I know a bully¹² place on Clark Street, near Monroe."

 

"Do you take me for a thief, Tom Brooks?" exclaimed Luke, indignantly.

 

"The gentleman meant you to have the money. Of course he knew you wouldn't bring it back. Lemme see, there's a good play on to Hooley's. Six of us will cost a dollar and a half, and the oyster stews¹³ will be fifteen cents apiece. That'll only take half the money, and you'll have half left for yourself."

 

"I am ashamed of you, Tom Brooks. You want me to become a thief, and it is very evident what you would do if you were in my place. What would the gentleman think of me?"

 

"He don't know you. You can go on State Street to sell papers, so he won't see you."

 

"Suppose he should see me."

 

"You can tell him you lost the money. You ain't smart, Luke Walton, or you'd know how to manage."

 

"No, I am not smart in that way, I confess. I shan't waste any more time talking to you. I'm going home."

 

"I know what you're going to do. You're goin' to spend all the money on yourself."

 

"Don't you believe that I mean to return the change?"

 

"No, I don't."

 

"I ought not to complain of that. You merely credit me with acting¹⁴ as you would act yourself. How many papers have you got left?"

 

"Eight."

 

"Here, give me half, and I will sell them for you, that is, if I can do it in fifteen minutes."

 

"I'd rather you'd take me to the theayter," grumbled¹⁵ Tom.

 

"I've already told you I won't do it."

 

In ten minutes Luke had sold his extra supply of papers, and handed the money to Tom. Tom thanked him in an ungracious sort of way, and Luke started for home.

 

It was a long walk, for the poor cannot afford to pick and choose their localities. Luke took his way through Clark Street to the river, and then, turning in a north westerly direction, reached Milwaukee Avenue. This is not a fashionable locality, and the side streets are tenanted by those who are poor or of limited means.

 

Luke paused in front of a three-story frame house in Green Street. He ascended¹⁶ the steps and opened the door, for this was the newsboy's home. 

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

4 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

7 accosted   

v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭

参考例句：

• She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上，一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

11 stew   

n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑

参考例句：

• The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
• There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。

12 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

13 stews   

n.炖煮的菜肴( stew的名词复数 )；烦恼，焦虑v.炖( stew的第三人称单数 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• Corn starch is used as a thickener in stews. 玉米淀粉在炖煮菜肴中被用作增稠剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most stews contain meat and vegetables. 炖的食物大多是肉类和蔬菜。 来自辞典例句

14 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

15 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

16 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》