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CHAPTER VII. MR. JOE TUCKER
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Before going further, I will introduce to the reader, a citizen of Norton, who filled a position for which he was utterly1 unfitted. This man was Joe Tucker, in charge of the almshouse.
He had not been selected by the town authorities on the ground of fitness, but simply because he was willing to work cheap. He received a certain low weekly sum for each one of his inmates2, and the free use of apartments for himself and family, with the right to cultivate the ten acres of land connected with the establishment, and known as the Town Farm.
His family consisted of three persons—himself, his wife, and a son, Ezekiel, familiarly known as Zeke, now sixteen years old. The leading family trait was meanness.
Mr. Tucker supplied a mean table even for a poorhouse, and some of the hapless inmates complained bitterly. One had even had the boldness to present a complaint to the selectmen, and that body, rather reluctantly, undertook to investigate the justness of the complaint. They deputed Squire3 Pope to visit the poorhouse and inquire into the matter.
Now, though Squire Pope thought himself unusually sharp, it was the easiest thing in the world for a cunning person like Joe Tucker to satisfy him that all was right.
“Mr. Tucker,” said Squire Pope pompously4, “I am deputed by the selectmen, and I may add by the overseers of the poor, to investigate a complaint made by one of the paupers5 in relation to the fare you offer them.”
“Who is it!” inquired Mr. Tucker.
“It is Ann Carter. She says you don't allow her sugar in her tea, and only allow one slice of bread at supper, and that the meat is so bad she can't eat it.”
“Just like the old woman!” exclaimed Mr. Tucker indignantly. “Oh, she's a high-strung pauper6, she is! Expects all the delicacies7 of the season for seventy-five cents a week. She'd ought to go to the Fifth Avenoo Hotel in New York, and then I'll bet a cent she wouldn't be satisfied.”
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1
utterly
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adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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2
inmates
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n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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3
squire
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n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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4
pompously
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adv.傲慢地,盛大壮观地;大模大样 | |
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5
paupers
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n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 );贫民;贫穷 | |
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6
pauper
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n.贫民,被救济者,穷人 | |
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7
delicacies
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n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 );精致;精美的食物;周到 | |
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8
unreasonable
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adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的 | |
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9
frugal
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adj.节俭的,节约的,少量的,微量的 | |
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10
teaspoonful
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n.一茶匙的量;一茶匙容量 | |
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11
pamper
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v.纵容,过分关怀 | |
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12
perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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13
effusively
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adv.变溢地,热情洋溢地 | |
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14
conscientious
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adj.审慎正直的,认真的,本着良心的 | |
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15
fidelity
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n.忠诚,忠实;精确 | |
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insinuatingly
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17
zealous
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adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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meekly
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adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地 | |
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sneers
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讥笑的表情(言语)( sneer的名词复数 ) | |
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20
incense
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v.激怒;n.香,焚香时的烟,香气 | |
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21
testimony
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n.证词;见证,证明 | |
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22
impartial
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adj.(in,to)公正的,无偏见的 | |
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23
winked
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v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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investigation
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n.调查,调查研究 | |
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ascertained
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v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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yelping
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v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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exquisite
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adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
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peal
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n.钟声;v.鸣响 | |
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immediate
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adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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32
plunged
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v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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filthy
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adj.卑劣的;恶劣的,肮脏的 | |
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