Four weeks passed. The duties of a cash-boy aresimple enough, and Frank had no difficulty in dischargingthem satisfactorily. At first he found ittiresome, being on his feet all day, for the cash-boyswere not allowed to sit down, but he got used tothis, being young and strong.

　　All this was very satisfactory, but one thing gaveFrank uneasiness. His income was very inadequateto his wants.

　　``What makes you so glum¹, Frank?'' asked JasperWheelock one evening.

　　``Do I look glum?'' said Frank. ``I was onlythinking how I could earn more money. You knowhow little I get. I can hardly take care of myself,much less take care of Grace.''

　　``I can lend you some money, Frank. Thanks toyour good advice, I have got some laid up.''

　　``Thank you, Jasper, but that wouldn't helpmatters. I should owe you the money, and I don't knowhow I could pay you.''

　　``About increasing your income, I really don'tknow,'' said Jasper. ``I am afraid Gilbert & Mackwouldn't raise your wages.''

　　``I don't expect it. All the rest of the cash-boyswould ask the same thing.''

　　``True; still I know they are very well pleasedwith you. Duncan told me you did more work thanany of the rest of the boys.''

　　``I try to do all I can.''

　　``He said you would make a good salesman, hethought. Of course you are too young for that yet.''

　　``I suppose I am.''

　　``Frank, I am earning fifteen dollars a week, youknow, and I can get along on ten, but of the five Isave let me give you two. I shall never feel it, andby and by when you are promoted it won't be necessary.''

　　``Jasper, you are a true friend,'' said Frank,warmly; ``but it wouldn't be right for me to acceptyour kind offer, though I shan't forget it. You havebeen a good friend to me.''

　　``And you to me, Frank. I'll look out for you.

　　Perhaps I may hear of something for you.''

　　Small as Frank's income was, he had managed tolive within it. It will be remembered that he hadpaid but fifty cents a week for a room. By greateconomy he had made his meals cost but two dollarsa week, so that out of his three dollars he savedfifty cents. But this saving would not be sufficientto pay for his clothes. However, he had had nooccasion to buy any as yet, and his little fundaltogether amounted to twenty dollars. Of this sum heinclosed{sic} eight dollars to Mr. Pomeroy to pay for fourweeks' board for Grace.

　　``I hope I shall be able to keep it up,'' he said tohimself, thoughtfully. ``At any rate, I've got enoughto pay for six weeks more. Before that time somethingmay turn up.''

　　Several days passed without showing Frank anyway by which he could increase his income. Jasperagain offered to give him two dollars a week out ofhis own wages, but this our hero

点击收听单词发音  

1 glum
adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的
参考例句：
He was a charming mixture of glum and glee.他是一个很有魅力的人，时而忧伤时而欢笑。 She laughed at his glum face.她嘲笑他闷闷不乐的脸。

2 steadily
adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地
参考例句：
The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。 Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 strap
n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎
参考例句：
She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。 The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。

4 descend
vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降
参考例句：
I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。 We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

5 cane
n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的
参考例句：
This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。 English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

6 helping
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的
参考例句：
The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。 By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 kindly
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。 A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

8 parlor
n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅
参考例句：
She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。 Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

9 ushered
v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。 A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 housekeeper
n.管理家务的主妇，女管家
参考例句：
A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。 She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

11 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 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》

13 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。