Helping Himself
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CHAPTER II — GRANT MAKES TWO BUSINESS CALLS

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 Deacon Gridley had a small farm, and farming was his chief occupation, but he had a few thousand dollars laid away in stocks and bonds, and, being a thrifty1 man, not to say mean, he managed to save up nearly all the interest, which he added to his original accumulation. He always coveted2 financial trusts, and so it came about that he was parish treasurer3. It was often convenient for him to keep in his hands, for a month at a time, money thus collected which ought to have been paid over at once to the minister, but the deacon was a thoroughly4 selfish man, and cared little how pressed for money Mr. Thornton might be, as long as he himself derived5 some benefit from holding on to the parish funds.
The deacon was mowing6 the front yard of his house when Grant came up to his front gate.
“Good-morning, Deacon Gridley,” said the minister's son.
“Mornin', Grant,” answered the deacon. “How's your folks?”
“Pretty well in health,” returned Grant, coming to business at once, “but rather short of money.”
“Ministers most gen'ally are,” said Deacon Gridley, dryly.
“I should think they might be, with the small salaries they get,” said Grant, indignantly.
“Some of 'em do get poorly paid,” replied the deacon; “but I call six hundred dollars a pooty fair income.”
“It might be for a single man; but when a minister has a wife and three children, like my father, it's pretty hard scratching.”
“Some folks ain't got faculty,” said the deacon, adding, complacently7, “it never cost me nigh on to six hundred dollars a year to live.”
The deacon had the reputation of living very penuriously8, and Abram Fish, who once worked for him and boarded in the family, said he was half starved there.

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1 thrifty NIgzT     
adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的
参考例句：
  • Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
  • She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。
2 coveted 3debb66491eb049112465dc3389cfdca     
adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图
参考例句：
  • He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
  • Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 treasurer VmHwm     
n.司库，财务主管
参考例句：
  • Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
  • The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。
4 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地
参考例句：
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
5 derived 6cddb7353e699051a384686b6b3ff1e2     
vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取
参考例句：
  • Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 mowing 2624de577751cbaf6c6d7c6a554512ef     
n.割草，一次收割量，牧草地v.刈，割( mow的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • The lawn needs mowing. 这草坪的草该割了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • "Do you use it for mowing?" “你是用它割草么？” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
7 complacently complacently     
adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地
参考例句：
  • He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
  • "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
8 penuriously acc546f187e5d7a2266d519c67cf89a3     
adv.penurious（吝啬的）的变形
参考例句：
9 frugality XhMxn     
n.节约，节俭
参考例句：
  • We must build up our country with industry and frugality.我们必须勤俭建国。
  • By frugality she managed to get along on her small salary.凭着节俭，她设法以自己微薄的薪水生活。
10 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽；童帽
参考例句：
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
11 missionaries 478afcff2b692239c9647b106f4631ba     
n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时，从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
12 extravagant M7zya     
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。
13 vexed fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7     
adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论
参考例句：
  • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
  • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
14 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
参考例句：
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
15 injustice O45yL     
n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利
参考例句：
  • They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
  • All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。
16 mite 4Epxw     
n.极小的东西；小铜币
参考例句：
  • The poor mite was so ill.可怜的孩子病得这么重。
  • He is a mite taller than I.他比我高一点点。
17 prospect P01zn     
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
参考例句：
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
18 impoverished 1qnzcL     
adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化
参考例句：
  • the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
  • They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 insignificant k6Mx1     
adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的
参考例句：
  • In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
  • This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。
20 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同
参考例句：
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
21 withering 8b1e725193ea9294ced015cd87181307     
使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的
参考例句：
  • She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
  • The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。
22 sarcasm 1CLzI     
n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）
参考例句：
  • His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
  • She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。
23 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
24 plodded 9d4d6494cb299ac2ca6271f6a856a23b     
v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作）
参考例句：
  • Our horses plodded down the muddy track. 我们的马沿着泥泞小路蹒跚而行。
  • He plodded away all night at his project to get it finished. 他通宵埋头苦干以便做完专题研究。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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