Ben, the Luggage Boy; or, Among the Wharves
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CHAPTER IV. A RESTAURANT ON FULTON STREET.

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 Ben kept on his way, looking in at the shop windows as before. He had not yet given up the idea of getting a place in a store, though he began to see that his chances of success were rather small.
 
The next pause he came to was before a bookstore. Here, too, there was posted on the window:—
 
"BOY WANTED."
 
Ben entered. There were two or three persons behind the counter. The oldest, a man of forty, Ben decided1 to be the proprietor2. He walked up to him, and said, "Do you want a boy?"
 
"Yes," said the gentleman. "We want a boy to run of errands, and deliver papers to customers. How old are you?"
 
"Ten years old."
 
"That is rather young."
 
"I'm pretty strong of my age," said Ben, speaking[Pg 47] the truth here, for he was rather larger and stouter3 than most boys of ten.
 
"That is not important, as you will not have very heavy parcels to carry. Are you well acquainted with the streets in this part of the city?"
 
This question was a poser, Ben thought. He was at first tempted4 to say yes, but decided to answer truthfully.
 
"No, sir," he answered.
 
"Do you live in the lower part of the city?"
 
"Yes, sir; that is, I'm going to live there."
 
"How long have you lived in the city?"
 
"I only arrived this morning," Ben confessed, reluctantly.
 
"Then I'm afraid you will not answer my purpose. We need a boy who is well acquainted with the city streets."
 
He was another disqualification. Ben left the store a little discouraged. He began to think that it would be harder work making a living than he had supposed. He would apply in two or three more stores, and, if unsuccessful, he must sell papers or black boots. Of the two he preferred selling papers.[Pg 48] Blacking boots would soil his hands and his clothes, and, as it was possible that he might some day encounter some one from his native village, he did not like to have the report carried home that he had become a New York boot-black. He felt that his education and bringing up fitted him for something better than that. However, it was not necessary to decide this question until he had got through applying for a situation in a store.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 proprietor zR2x5     
n.所有人；业主；经营者
参考例句：
  • The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
  • The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。
3 stouter a38d488ccb0bcd8e699a7eae556d4bac     
粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的
参考例句：
  • Freddie was much stouter, more benevolent-looking, cheerful, and far more dandified. 弗烈特显得更魁伟，更善良、更快活，尤其更像花花公子。 来自教父部分
  • Why hadn't she thought of putting on stouter shoes last night? 她昨天晚上怎么没想起换上一双硬些的鞋呢？
4 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）
参考例句：
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
5 guardian 8ekxv     
n.监护人；守卫者，保护者
参考例句：
  • The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
  • The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
6 despondently 9be17148dd640dc40b605258bbc2e187     
adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地
参考例句：
  • It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
  • He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句
7 retraced 321f3e113f2767b1b567ca8360d9c6b9     
v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯
参考例句：
  • We retraced our steps to where we started. 我们折回我们出发的地方。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • We retraced our route in an attempt to get back on the right path. 我们折返，想回到正确的路上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的
参考例句：
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
9 waylaid d51e6f2b42919c7332a3f4d41517eb5f     
v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • I got waylaid on my way here. 我在来这里的路上遭到了拦路抢劫。
  • He was waylaid by thieves. 他在路上被抢了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
10 rustic mCQz9     
adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬
参考例句：
  • It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
  • We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。
11 craved e690825cc0ddd1a25d222b7a89ee7595     
渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求
参考例句：
  • She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
  • A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。
12 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
13 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住
参考例句：
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
14 proffered 30a424e11e8c2d520c7372bd6415ad07     
v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句
15 herald qdCzd     
vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎
参考例句：
  • In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
  • Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。
16 ascertaining e416513cdf74aa5e4277c1fc28aab393     
v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 我当时是要弄清楚地下室是朝前还是朝后延伸的。 来自辞典例句
  • The design and ascertaining of permanent-magnet-biased magnetic bearing parameter are detailed introduced. 并对永磁偏置磁悬浮轴承参数的设计和确定进行了详细介绍。 来自互联网
17 inviting CqIzNp     
adj.诱人的，引人注目的
参考例句：
  • An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
  • The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。
18 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
参考例句：
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
19 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的
参考例句：
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
20 dingy iu8xq     
adj.昏暗的，肮脏的
参考例句：
  • It was a street of dingy houses huddled together. 这是一条挤满了破旧房子的街巷。
  • The dingy cottage was converted into a neat tasteful residence.那间脏黑的小屋已变成一个整洁雅致的住宅。
21 teaspoonful Ugpzi1     
n.一茶匙的量；一茶匙容量
参考例句：
  • Add a teaspoonful of mixed herbs. 加入一茶匙混合药草。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Add a teaspoonful of curry powder. 加一茶匙咖喱粉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 infusion CbAz1     
n.灌输
参考例句：
  • Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
  • Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。
23 beverage 0QgyN     
n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料
参考例句：
  • The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
  • Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。
24 longingly 2015a05d76baba3c9d884d5f144fac69     
adv. 渴望地 热望地
参考例句：
  • He looked longingly at the food on the table. 他眼巴巴地盯着桌上的食物。
  • Over drinks,he speaks longingly of his trip to Latin America. 他带着留恋的心情，一边喝酒一边叙述他的拉丁美洲之行。
25 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
26 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望，前途(恒为复数)
参考例句：
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

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