``So this is New York,'' said Frank to himself, ashe emerged from the railway station and lookedabout him with interest and curiosity.

　　``Black yer boots? Shine?'' asked a bootblack,seeing our hero standing¹ still.

　　Frank looked at his shoes. They were dirty,without doubt, but he would not have felt disposed to beso extravagant², considering his limited resources,had he not felt it necessary to obtain some informationabout the city.

　　``Yes,'' he said, ``you may black them.''

　　The boy was on his knees instantly and at work.

　　``How much do you make in a day?'' asked Frank.

　　``When it's a good day I make a dollar.''

　　``That's pretty good,'' said Frank.

　　``Can you show me the way to Broadway?''

　　``Go straight ahead.''

　　Our hero paid for his shine and started in thedirection indicated.

　　Frank's plans, so far as he had any, were to getinto a store. He knew that Broadway was the principalbusiness street in the city, and this was aboutall he did know about it.

　　He reached the great thoroughfare in a fewminutes, and was fortunate enough to find on the windowof the corner store the sign:

　　``A Boy Wanted.''

　　He entered at once, and going up to the counter,addressed a young man, who was putting up goods.

　　``Do you want a boy?''

　　``I believe the boss wants one; I don't. Go out tothat desk.''

　　Frank found the desk, and propounded³ the samequestion to a sandy-whiskered man, who looked upfrom his writing.

　　``You're prompt,'' he said. ``That notice was onlyput out two minutes ago.''

　　``I only saw it one minute ago.''

　　``So you want the place, do you?''

　　``I should like it.''

　　``Do you know your way about the city?''

　　``No, sir, but I could soon find out.''

　　``That won't do. I shall have plenty ofapplications from boys who live in the city and are familiarwith the streets.''

　　Frank left the store rather discomfited⁴.

　　He soon came to another store where there was asimilar notice of ``A Boy Wanted.'' It was a drygoods store.

　　``Do you live with your parents?'' was asked.

　　``My parents are dead,'' said Frank, sadly.

点击收听单词发音  

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 extravagant
adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的
参考例句：
They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。 He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

3 propounded
v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
the theory of natural selection, first propounded by Charles Darwin 查尔斯∙达尔文首先提出的物竞天择理论 Indeed it was first propounded by the ubiquitous Thomas Young. 实际上，它是由尽人皆知的杨氏首先提出来的。 来自辞典例句

4 discomfited
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败
参考例句：
He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句

5 drawn
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。 Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 beet
n.甜菜；甜菜根
参考例句：
He farmed his pickers to work in the beet fields. 他出租他的摘棉工去甜菜地里干活。 The sugar beet is an entirely different kind of plant.糖用甜菜是一种完全不同的作物。

7 vigor
n.活力，精力，元气
参考例句：
The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。 She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。

8 exclamation
n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词
参考例句：
He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。 The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

9 scrupulous
adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的
参考例句：
She is scrupulous to a degree.她非常谨慎。 Poets are not so scrupulous as you are.诗人并不像你那样顾虑多。

10 imposing
adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的
参考例句：
The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。 He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

11 economize
v.节约，节省
参考例句：
We're going to have to economize from now on. 从现在开始，我们不得不节约开支。 We have to economize on water during the dry season. 我们在旱季不得不节约用水。

12 inquiries
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。 I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 retail
v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格
参考例句：
In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。 These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

14 vacancy
n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺
参考例句：
Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。 The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

15 spacious
adj.广阔的，宽敞的
参考例句：
Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。 The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

16 suspense
n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑
参考例句：
The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。 The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

17 dreading
v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 )
参考例句：
She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. 她正在为不得不向父亲提出钱的事犯愁。 This was the moment he had been dreading. 这是他一直最担心的时刻。