章节正文
this evening."
"He is welcome," said Mrs. Grover, cheerfully, "We can make room
for him. He is an Italian, I suppose. What is your name?"
"Filippo."
"I will call you Philip. I suppose that is the English name.
Will you lay down your violin and draw up to the fire?"
"I am not cold," said Phil.
"He is not cold, he is hungry, as Ollendorf says," said Edwin,
who had written a few French exercises according to Ollendorf's
system. "Is supper almost ready?"
"It will be ready at once. There is your father coming in at the
front gate, and Henry with him."
Mr. Grover entered, and Phil made the acquaintance of the rest of
the family. He soon came to feel that he was a welcome guest,
and shared in the family supper, which was well cooked and
palatable. Then Edwin brought out his fiddle, and the two played
various tunes. Phil caught one or two new dancing tunes from his
new friend, and in return taught him an Italian air. Three or
four people from a neighboring family came in, and a little
impromptu dance was got up. So the evening passed pleasantly,
and at half-past ten they went to bed, Phil sleeping in a little
room adjoining that in which the brothers Edwin and Harry slept.
After breakfast the next morning Phil left the house, with a
cordial invitation to call again when he happened to be passing.
Before proceeding with his adventures, we must go back to Pietro.
He, as we know, failed to elicit any information from Paul likely
to guide him in his pursuit of Phil. He was disappointed.
Still, he reflected that Phil had but a quarter of an hour's
start of him--scarcely that, indeed-- and if he stopped to play
anywhere, he would doubtless easily find him. There was danger,
of course, that he would turn off somewhere, and Pietro judged it
best to inquire whether such a boy had passed.
Seeing two boys playing in the street, he inquired: "Have you
seen anything of my little brother?"
"What does he look like?" inquired one.
"He is not quite so large as you. He had a fiddle with him."
"No, I haven't seen him. Have you, Dick?"
"Yes," said the other, "there was a boy went along with a
fiddle."
This was true, but, as we know, it was not Phil.
"Did you see where he went?" demanded Pietro, eagerly.
"Straight ahead," was the reply.
Lured by the delusive hope these words awakened, Pietro went on.
He did not stop to play on his organ. He was too intent on
finding Phil. At length, at a little distance before him, he saw
a figure about the size of Phil, playing on the violin. He
hurried forward elated, but when within a few yards he discovered
to his disappointment that it was not Phil, but a little fiddler
of about his size. He was in the employ of a different padrone.
He was doubtless the one the boy had seen.
Disappointed, Pietro now turned back, and bent his steps to the
ferry. But he saw nothing of Phil on the way.
"I would like to beat him, the little wretch!" he said to
himself, angrily. "If I had not been too late for the boat, I
would have easily caught him."
It never occurred to Pietro that Phil might have taken the cars
for a more distant point, as he actually did. The only thing he
could think of, for he was not willing to give up the pursuit,
was to go back. He remained in Jersey City all day, wandering
about the streets, peering here and there; but he did not find
Phil, for a very good reason.
The padrone awaited his report at night with some impatience.
Phil was one of the smartest boys he had, and he had no mind to
lose him.
"Did you find him, Pietro?" he asked as soon as his nephew
entered his presence.
"I saw him," said Pietro.
"Then why did you not bring him back?"
Pietro explained the reason. His uncle listened attentively.
"Pietro, you are a fool," he said, at length.
"Why am I a fool?" asked Pietro, sullenly.
"Because you sought Filippo where he is not."
"Where is he?"
"He did not stop in Jersey City. He went farther. He knew that
you were on his track. Did you ask at the station if such a boy
bought a ticket?"
"I did not think of it."
"Then you were a fool."
"What do you want me to do?"
"To-morrow you must go to Newark. That is the first large town.
I must have Filippo back."
"I will go," said Pietro, briefly.
He was mortified at the name applied to him by his uncle, as well
as by the fact of Phil's having thus far outwitted him. He
secretly determined that when he did get him into his power he
would revenge himself for all the trouble to which he had been
put, and there was little doubt that he would keep his word.
CHAPTER XX
PIETRO'S DISAPPOINTMENT
Though Phil had not taken in much money during the first day of
independence, he had more than paid his expenses. He started on
the second day with a good breakfast, and good spirits. He
determined to walk back to Newark, where he might expect to
collect more money than in the suburbs. If he should meet Pietro
he determined not to yield without a struggle. But he felt
better now than at first, and less afraid of the padrone.
Nine o'clock found him again in Newark. He soon came to a halt,
and began to play. A few paused to listen, but their interest in
music did not extend so far as to affect their pockets. Phil
passed around his hat in vain. He found himself likely to go
unrewarded for his labors. But just then he noticed a carriage
with open door, waiting in front of a fashionable dry-goods
store. Two ladies had just come out and taken their seats
preparatory to driving off, when Phil stepped up bareheaded and
held his cap. He was an unusuallyattractive boy, and as he
smiled one of the ladies, who was particularly fond of children,
noticed him.
"What a handsome boy!" she said to her companion.
"Some pennies for music," said Phil.
"How old are you?" asked the lady.
"Twelve years."
"Just the age of my Johnny. If I give you some money what will
you do with it?"
"I will buy dinner," said Phil.
"I never give to vagrants," said the second lady, a spinster of
uncertain age, who did not share her niece's partiality for
children.
"It isn't his fault if he is a vagrant, Aunt Maria," said the
younger lady.
"I have no doubt he is a thief," continued Aunt Maria, with
acerbity.
"I am not a thief," said Phil, indignantly, for he understood
very well the imputation, and he replaced his cap on his head.
"I don't believe you are," said the first lady; "here, take
this," and she put in his hand twenty-five cents.
"Thank you, signora," said Phil, with a grateful smile.
"That money is thrown away," said the elderly lady; "you are very
indiscriminate in your charity, Eleanor."
"It is better to give too much than too little, Aunt Maria, isn't
it?"
"You shouldn't give to unworthy objects."
"How do you know this boy is an unworthy object?"
"He is a young vagrant."
"Can he help it? It is the way he makes his living."
The discussion continued, but Phil did not stop to hear it. He
had received more than he expected, and now felt ready to
continue his business. One thing was fortunate, and relieved him
from the anxiety which he had formerly labored under. He was not
obliged to obtain a certain sum in order to escape a beating at
night. He had no master to account to. He was his own employer,
as long as he kept out of the clutches of the padrone.
Phil continued to roam about the streets very much after the old
fashion, playing here and there as he thought it expedient. By
noon he had picked up seventy-five cents, and felt very well
satisfied with his success. But if, as we are told, the hour
that is darkest is just before day, it also happens sometimes
that danger lies in wait for prosperity, and danger menaced our
young hero, though he did not know it. To explain this, we must
go back a little.
When Pietro prepared to leave the lodging-house in the morning,
the padrone called loudly to him.
"Pietro," said he, "you must find Filippo today."
"Where shall I go?" asked Pietro.
"Go to Newark. Filippo went there, no doubt, while you, stupid
that you are, went looking for him in Jersey City. You have been
in Newark before?"
"Yes, signore padrone."
"Very good; then you need no directions."
"If I do not find him in Newark, where shall I go?"
"He is in Newark," said the padrone, confidently. "He will not
leave it."
He judged that Phil would consider himself safe there, and would
prefer to remain in a city rather than go into the country.
"I will do my best," said Pietro.
"I expect you to bring him back to-night."
"I should like to do so," said Pietro, and he spoke the truth.
Apart from his natural tendency to play the tyrant over smaller
boys, he felt a personal grudge against Phil for eluding him the
day before, and so subjecting him to the trouble of another day's
pursuit, besides the mortification of incurring a reprimand from
his uncle. Never did agent accept a commission more readily than
Pietro accepted that of catching and bringing Filippo to the
padrone.
Leaving the lodging-house he walked down to the ferry at the foot
of Cortlandt Street, and took the first train for Newark. It was
ten o'clock before he reached the city. He had nothing in
particular to guide him, but made up his mind to wander about all
day, inquiring from time to time if anyone had seen his little
brother, describing Phil. After a while his inquiries were
answered in the affirmative, and he gradually got on the track of
our hero.
At twelve o'clock Phil went into a restaurant, and invested
thirty cents in a dinner. As the prices were low, he obtained
for this sum all he desired. Ten minutes afterward, as he was
walking leisurely along with that feeling of tranquil enjoyment
which a full stomach is apt to give, Pietro turned the corner
behind him. No sooner did the organ-grinder catch sight of his
prey, than a fierce joy lighted up his eyes, and he quickened his
pace.
"Ah, scelerato, I have you now," he exclaimed to himself.
"To-night you shall feel the stick."
But opportunely for himself Phil looked behind him. When he saw
Pietro at but a few rods' distance his heart stood still with
sudden fright, and for an instant his feet were rooted to the
ground. Then the thought of escape came to him, and he began to
run, not too soon.
"Stop!" called out Pietro. "Stop, or I will kill you!"
But Phil did not comprehend the advantage of surrendering himself
to Pietro. He understood too well how he would be treated, if he
returned a prisoner. Instead of obeying the call, he only sped
on the faster. Now between the pursuer and the pursued there was
"He is welcome," said Mrs. Grover, cheerfully, "We can make room
for him. He is an Italian, I suppose. What is your name?"
"Filippo."
"I will call you Philip. I suppose that is the English name.
Will you lay down your violin and draw up to the fire?"
"I am not cold," said Phil.
"He is not cold, he is hungry, as Ollendorf says," said Edwin,
who had written a few French exercises according to Ollendorf's
system. "Is supper almost ready?"
"It will be ready at once. There is your father coming in at the
front gate, and Henry with him."
Mr. Grover entered, and Phil made the acquaintance of the rest of
the family. He soon came to feel that he was a welcome guest,
and shared in the family supper, which was well cooked and
palatable. Then Edwin brought out his fiddle, and the two played
various tunes. Phil caught one or two new dancing tunes from his
new friend, and in return taught him an Italian air. Three or
four people from a neighboring family came in, and a little
impromptu dance was got up. So the evening passed pleasantly,
and at half-past ten they went to bed, Phil sleeping in a little
room adjoining that in which the brothers Edwin and Harry slept.
After breakfast the next morning Phil left the house, with a
cordial invitation to call again when he happened to be passing.
Before proceeding with his adventures, we must go back to Pietro.
He, as we know, failed to elicit any information from Paul likely
to guide him in his pursuit of Phil. He was disappointed.
Still, he reflected that Phil had but a quarter of an hour's
start of him--scarcely that, indeed-- and if he stopped to play
anywhere, he would doubtless easily find him. There was danger,
of course, that he would turn off somewhere, and Pietro judged it
best to inquire whether such a boy had passed.
Seeing two boys playing in the street, he inquired: "Have you
seen anything of my little brother?"
"What does he look like?" inquired one.
"He is not quite so large as you. He had a fiddle with him."
"No, I haven't seen him. Have you, Dick?"
"Yes," said the other, "there was a boy went along with a
fiddle."
This was true, but, as we know, it was not Phil.
"Did you see where he went?" demanded Pietro, eagerly.
"Straight ahead," was the reply.
Lured by the delusive hope these words awakened, Pietro went on.
He did not stop to play on his organ. He was too intent on
finding Phil. At length, at a little distance before him, he saw
a figure about the size of Phil, playing on the violin. He
hurried forward elated, but when within a few yards he discovered
to his disappointment that it was not Phil, but a little fiddler
of about his size. He was in the employ of a different padrone.
He was doubtless the one the boy had seen.
Disappointed, Pietro now turned back, and bent his steps to the
ferry. But he saw nothing of Phil on the way.
"I would like to beat him, the little wretch!" he said to
himself, angrily. "If I had not been too late for the boat, I
would have easily caught him."
It never occurred to Pietro that Phil might have taken the cars
for a more distant point, as he actually did. The only thing he
could think of, for he was not willing to give up the pursuit,
was to go back. He remained in Jersey City all day, wandering
about the streets, peering here and there; but he did not find
Phil, for a very good reason.
The padrone awaited his report at night with some impatience.
Phil was one of the smartest boys he had, and he had no mind to
lose him.
"Did you find him, Pietro?" he asked as soon as his nephew
entered his presence.
"I saw him," said Pietro.
"Then why did you not bring him back?"
Pietro explained the reason. His uncle listened attentively.
"Pietro, you are a fool," he said, at length.
"Why am I a fool?" asked Pietro, sullenly.
"Because you sought Filippo where he is not."
"Where is he?"
"He did not stop in Jersey City. He went farther. He knew that
you were on his track. Did you ask at the station if such a boy
bought a ticket?"
"I did not think of it."
"Then you were a fool."
"What do you want me to do?"
"To-morrow you must go to Newark. That is the first large town.
I must have Filippo back."
"I will go," said Pietro, briefly.
He was mortified at the name applied to him by his uncle, as well
as by the fact of Phil's having thus far outwitted him. He
secretly determined that when he did get him into his power he
would revenge himself for all the trouble to which he had been
put, and there was little doubt that he would keep his word.
CHAPTER XX
PIETRO'S DISAPPOINTMENT
Though Phil had not taken in much money during the first day of
independence, he had more than paid his expenses. He started on
the second day with a good breakfast, and good spirits. He
determined to walk back to Newark, where he might expect to
collect more money than in the suburbs. If he should meet Pietro
he determined not to yield without a struggle. But he felt
better now than at first, and less afraid of the padrone.
Nine o'clock found him again in Newark. He soon came to a halt,
and began to play. A few paused to listen, but their interest in
music did not extend so far as to affect their pockets. Phil
passed around his hat in vain. He found himself likely to go
unrewarded for his labors. But just then he noticed a carriage
with open door, waiting in front of a fashionable dry-goods
store. Two ladies had just come out and taken their seats
preparatory to driving off, when Phil stepped up bareheaded and
held his cap. He was an unusuallyattractive boy, and as he
smiled one of the ladies, who was particularly fond of children,
noticed him.
"What a handsome boy!" she said to her companion.
"Some pennies for music," said Phil.
"How old are you?" asked the lady.
"Twelve years."
"Just the age of my Johnny. If I give you some money what will
you do with it?"
"I will buy dinner," said Phil.
"I never give to vagrants," said the second lady, a spinster of
uncertain age, who did not share her niece's partiality for
children.
"It isn't his fault if he is a vagrant, Aunt Maria," said the
younger lady.
"I have no doubt he is a thief," continued Aunt Maria, with
acerbity.
"I am not a thief," said Phil, indignantly, for he understood
very well the imputation, and he replaced his cap on his head.
"I don't believe you are," said the first lady; "here, take
this," and she put in his hand twenty-five cents.
"Thank you, signora," said Phil, with a grateful smile.
"That money is thrown away," said the elderly lady; "you are very
indiscriminate in your charity, Eleanor."
"It is better to give too much than too little, Aunt Maria, isn't
it?"
"You shouldn't give to unworthy objects."
"How do you know this boy is an unworthy object?"
"He is a young vagrant."
"Can he help it? It is the way he makes his living."
The discussion continued, but Phil did not stop to hear it. He
had received more than he expected, and now felt ready to
continue his business. One thing was fortunate, and relieved him
from the anxiety which he had formerly labored under. He was not
obliged to obtain a certain sum in order to escape a beating at
night. He had no master to account to. He was his own employer,
as long as he kept out of the clutches of the padrone.
Phil continued to roam about the streets very much after the old
fashion, playing here and there as he thought it expedient. By
noon he had picked up seventy-five cents, and felt very well
satisfied with his success. But if, as we are told, the hour
that is darkest is just before day, it also happens sometimes
that danger lies in wait for prosperity, and danger menaced our
young hero, though he did not know it. To explain this, we must
go back a little.
When Pietro prepared to leave the lodging-house in the morning,
the padrone called loudly to him.
"Pietro," said he, "you must find Filippo today."
"Where shall I go?" asked Pietro.
"Go to Newark. Filippo went there, no doubt, while you, stupid
that you are, went looking for him in Jersey City. You have been
in Newark before?"
"Yes, signore padrone."
"Very good; then you need no directions."
"If I do not find him in Newark, where shall I go?"
"He is in Newark," said the padrone, confidently. "He will not
leave it."
He judged that Phil would consider himself safe there, and would
prefer to remain in a city rather than go into the country.
"I will do my best," said Pietro.
"I expect you to bring him back to-night."
"I should like to do so," said Pietro, and he spoke the truth.
Apart from his natural tendency to play the tyrant over smaller
boys, he felt a personal grudge against Phil for eluding him the
day before, and so subjecting him to the trouble of another day's
pursuit, besides the mortification of incurring a reprimand from
his uncle. Never did agent accept a commission more readily than
Pietro accepted that of catching and bringing Filippo to the
padrone.
Leaving the lodging-house he walked down to the ferry at the foot
of Cortlandt Street, and took the first train for Newark. It was
ten o'clock before he reached the city. He had nothing in
particular to guide him, but made up his mind to wander about all
day, inquiring from time to time if anyone had seen his little
brother, describing Phil. After a while his inquiries were
answered in the affirmative, and he gradually got on the track of
our hero.
At twelve o'clock Phil went into a restaurant, and invested
thirty cents in a dinner. As the prices were low, he obtained
for this sum all he desired. Ten minutes afterward, as he was
walking leisurely along with that feeling of tranquil enjoyment
which a full stomach is apt to give, Pietro turned the corner
behind him. No sooner did the organ-grinder catch sight of his
prey, than a fierce joy lighted up his eyes, and he quickened his
pace.
"Ah, scelerato, I have you now," he exclaimed to himself.
"To-night you shall feel the stick."
But opportunely for himself Phil looked behind him. When he saw
Pietro at but a few rods' distance his heart stood still with
sudden fright, and for an instant his feet were rooted to the
ground. Then the thought of escape came to him, and he began to
run, not too soon.
"Stop!" called out Pietro. "Stop, or I will kill you!"
But Phil did not comprehend the advantage of surrendering himself
to Pietro. He understood too well how he would be treated, if he
returned a prisoner. Instead of obeying the call, he only sped
on the faster. Now between the pursuer and the pursued there was
- italian [i´tæliən]
a.意大利 n.意大利人 (初中英语单词) - acquaintance [ə´kweintəns] n.相识；熟人，相识的人 (初中英语单词)
- welcome [´welkəm] a.受欢迎的；可喜的 (初中英语单词)
- neighboring [´neibəriŋ] a.邻近的；接壤的 (初中英语单词)
- sleeping [´sli:piŋ] n.&a.睡着(的) (初中英语单词)
- invitation [,invi´teiʃən] n.邀请；请帖；吸引 (初中英语单词)
- pursuit [pə´sju:t] n.追踪；追击；事务 (初中英语单词)
- doubtless [´dautlis] ad.无疑地；大概，多半 (初中英语单词)
- intent [in´tent] a.专心致志的 n.意图 (初中英语单词)
- disappointment [,disə´pɔintmənt] n.失望；挫折 (初中英语单词)
- actually [´æktʃuəli] ad.事实上；实际上 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- jersey [´dʒə:zi] n.毛织运动衫；毛线衫 (初中英语单词)
- revenge [ri´vendʒ] vt.报复 n.报仇；报复 (初中英语单词)
- affect [ə´fekt] vt.影响；感动；假装 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- attractive [ə´træktiv] a.有吸引力；诱人的 (初中英语单词)
- grateful [´greitful] a.感谢的；令人愉快的 (初中英语单词)
- discussion [di´skʌʃən] n.讨论；辩论 (初中英语单词)
- fortunate [´fɔ:tʃənət] a.幸运的，侥幸的 (初中英语单词)
- anxiety [æŋ´zaiəti] n.挂念；渴望；焦虑的事 (初中英语单词)
- formerly [´fɔ:məli] ad.从前，以前 (初中英语单词)
- obtain [əb´tein] v.获得；买到；得到承认 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- prosperity [prɔ´speriti] n.繁荣；成功；幸运 (初中英语单词)
- tendency [´tendənsi] n.趋势；倾向 (初中英语单词)
- readily [´redili] ad.乐意地；容易地 (初中英语单词)
- wander [´wɔndə, ´wɑ:n:dər] v.徘徊；流浪 (初中英语单词)
- restaurant [´restərɔnt] n.饭店，菜馆 (初中英语单词)
- stomach [´stʌmək] n.胃；胃口，食欲 (初中英语单词)
- fierce [fiəs] a.残忍的；强烈的 (初中英语单词)
- fright [frait] n.惊吓；恐怖；怪人 (初中英语单词)
- instant [´instənt] a.立即的 n.紧迫；瞬间 (初中英语单词)
- advantage [əd´vɑ:ntidʒ] n.优势；利益 (初中英语单词)
- cheerfully [´tʃiəfuli] ad.高兴地，愉快地 (高中英语单词)
- proceeding [prə´si:diŋ] n.程序；进程；行动 (高中英语单词)
- angrily [´æŋgrili] ad.生气地；愤怒地 (高中英语单词)
- fashionable [´fæʃənəbəl] a.流行的，时髦的 (高中英语单词)
- charity [´tʃæriti] n.施舍；慈悲；博爱 (高中英语单词)
- tyrant [´taiərənt] n.暴君；霸主；专制君主 (高中英语单词)
- grudge [grʌdʒ] vt.&n.吝啬；怨恨 (高中英语单词)
- commission [kə´miʃən] n.委任(状) vt.委任 (高中英语单词)
- comprehend [,kɔmpri´hend] vt.了解；领会；包含 (高中英语单词)
- violin [,vaiə´lin] n.(小)提琴 (英语四级单词)
- fiddle [´fidl] n.小提琴 v.拉提琴 (英语四级单词)
- unusually [ʌn´ju:ʒuəli] ad.异常地；非常 (英语四级单词)
- elderly [´eldəli] a. 较老的，年长的 (英语四级单词)
- unworthy [ʌn´wə:ði] a.不值得的；不足道的 (英语四级单词)
- expedient [ik´spi:diənt] a.合适的 n.权宜之计 (英语四级单词)
- leisurely [´leʒəli] a.从容地，慢慢地 (英语四级单词)
- applied [ə´plaid] a.实用的，应用的 (英语六级单词)
- vagrant [´veigrənt] n.流浪者 a.流浪的 (英语六级单词)
- indignantly [in´dignəntli] ad.愤慨地，义愤地 (英语六级单词)
- beating [´bi:tiŋ] n.敲；搅打；失败 (英语六级单词)
- confidently [´kɔnfidəntli] ad.有信心地；自信地 (英语六级单词)
- tranquil [´træŋkwil] a.平静的，稳定的 (英语六级单词)
- pursuer [pə´sju:ə] n.追赶者；追求者；从事者 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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