章节正文
he is young, and there is time to polish him. As
soon as I reach Chicago I will engage a private
tutor for him, who shall not only remedy his defects
of education, but do what he can to improve my
son's manners. I want him to grow up a gentleman."
The next day the three started for Chicago, while
Mr. Granville's real son and heir continued to live at
a cheap lodging-house in New York.
The star of Jonas was in the ascendant, while poor
Philip seemed destined to years of poverty and hard
work. Even now, he was threatened by serious misfortune.
CHAPTER XX.
LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
Of course Phil was utterly ignorant of the
audacious attempt to deprive him of his
rights and keep him apart from the father who
longed once more to meet him. There was nothing
before him so far as he knew except to continue the
up-hill struggle for a living.
He gave very little thought to the prediction of
the fortune-teller whom he had consulted, and didn't
dream of any short-cut to fortune.
Do all he could, he found he could not live on his
wages.
His board cost him four dollars a week, and
washing and lunch two dollars more, thus compelling him
to exceed his salary by a dollar each week.
He had, as we know, a reserve fund, on which he
could draw, but it was small, and grew constantly
smaller. Then, again, his clothes were wearing out,
and he saw no way of obtaining money to buy new.
Phil became uneasy, and the question came up to
his mind, "Should he write to his step-mother and
ask her for a trifling loan?" If the money had been
hers, he would not have done so on any condition;
but she had had nothing of her own, and all the
property in her hands came through Mr. Brent, who,
as he knew, was attached to him, even though no
tie of blood united them. He certainly meant that
Phil should be cared for out of the estate, and at
length Phil brought himself to write the following
letter:
"NEW YORK, March 10, 18--.
"DEAR MRS. BRENT: I suppose I ought to have
written you before, and have no good excuse to offer.
I hope you and Jonas are well, and will continue so.
Let me tell you how I have succeeded thus far.
"I have been fortunate enough to obtain a place
in a large mercantile establishment, and for my
services I am paid five dollars a week. This is more
than boys generally get in the first place, and I am
indebted to the partiality of an old gentleman, the
senior member of the firm, whom I had the chance
to oblige, for faring so well. Still I find it hard to
get along on this sum, though I am as economical as
possible. My board and washing cost me six dollars
a week, and I have, besides, to buy clothing
from time to time. I have nearly spent the extra
money I had with me, and do not know how to
keep myself looking respectable in the way of clothing.
Under the circumstances, I shall have to apply
to you for a loan, say of twenty-five dollars. In a
year or two I hope to earn enough to be entirely
independent. At present I cannot expect it. As
my father--Mr. Brent--undoubtedly intended to
provide for me, I don't think I need to apologize for
making this request. Still I do it reluctantly, for I
would prefer to depend entirely upon myself.
"With regards to you and Jonas, I am yours
truly, PHILIP BRENT."
Phil put this letter in the post-office, and patiently
waited for an answer.
"Mrs. Brent surely cannot refuse me," he said to
himself, "since I have almost wholly relieved her of
the expense of taking care of me."
Phil felt so sure that money would be sent to him
that he began to look round a little among ready-
made clothing stores to see at what price he could
obtain a suit that would do for every-day use. He
found a store in the Bowery where he could secure a
suit, which looked as if it would answer, for thirteen
dollars. If Mrs. Brent sent him twenty-five, that
would leave him twelve for underclothing, and for a
reserve fund to meet the weeklydeficit which he
could not avoid.
Three--four days passed, and no letter came in
answer to his.
"It can't be that Mrs. Brent won't at least answer
my letter," he thought uneasily. "Even if she didn't
send me twenty-five dollars, she couldn't help sending
me something."
Still he felt uneasy, in view of the position in
which he would find himself in case no letter or
remittance should come at all.
It was during this period of anxiety that his heart
leaped for joy when on Broadway he saw the familiar
form of Reuben Gordon, a young man already
mentioned, to whom Phil had sold his gun before
leaving Gresham.
"Why, Reuben, how are you?" exclaimed Phil
joyfully. "When did you come to town?"
"Phil Brent!" exclaimed Reuben, shaking hands
heartily. "I'm thunderin' glad to see you. I was
thinkin' of you only five minutes ago, and wonderin'
where you hung out."
"But you haven't told me when you came to New
York."
"Only this morning! I'm goin' to stay with a
cousin of my father's, that lives in Brooklyn, over
night."
"I wanted to ask you about Mrs. Brent and Jonas.
I was afraid they might be sick, for I wrote four
days ago and haven't got any answer yet."
"Where did you write to?"
"To Gresham, of course," answered Phil, in surprise.
"You don't mean to say you hain't heard of their
leavin' Gresham?" said Reuben, in evident astonishment.
"Who has left Gresham?"
"Your mother--leastwise, Mrs. Brent--and Jonas.
They cleared out three weeks ago, and nobody's
heard a word of them since--that is, nobody in the
village."
"Don't you know where they've gone?" asked
Phil, in amazement.
"No. I was goin' to ask you. I s'posed, of course,
they'd write and let you know."
"I didn't even know they had left Gresham."
"Well, that's what I call cur'us. It ain't treatin'
you right accordin' to my ideas."
"Is the house shut up?"
"It was till two days ago. Then a brother of
Mrs. Brent came and opened it. He has brought his
wife and one child with him, and it seems they're
goin' to live there. Somebody asked him where his
sister and Jonas were, but they didn't get no
satisfaction. He said he didn't rightly know himself.
He believed they was travelin'; thought they might
be in Canada."
Phil looked and felt decidedly" target="_blank" title="ad.坚决地，果断地">decidedly sober at this
information. He understood, of course, now, why his
letter had not been answered. It looked as if he
were an outcast from the home that had been his so
long. When he came to New York to earn a living
he felt that he was doing so voluntarily, and was
not obliged to do so. Now he was absolutely thrown
upon his own resources, and must either work or
starve.
"They've treated you real mean," said Reuben.
"I never did like Mrs. Brent, or Jonas either, for
that matter.
"Where are you working?"
Phil answered this question and several others
which his honest country friend asked, but his mind
was preoccupied, and he answered some of the questions
at random. Finally he excused himself on
the ground that he must be getting back to the
store.
That evening Phil thought seriously of his position.
Something must be done, that was very evident.
His expenses exceeded his income, and he
needed some clothing. There was no chance of getting
his wages raised under a year, for he already
received more pay than it was customary to give to
a boy. What should he do?
Phil decided to lay his position frankly before the
only friend he had in the city likely to help him--
Mr. Oliver Carter. The old gentleman had been so
friendly and kind that he felt that he would not at
any rate repulse him. After he had come to this
decision he felt better. He determined to lose no
time in calling upon Mr. Carter.
After supper he brushed his hair carefully, and
made himself look as well as circumstances would
admit. Then he bent his steps toward Twelfth
Street, where, as the reader will remember, Mr.
Carter lived with his niece.
He ascended the steps and rang the bell. It was
opened by Hannah, who recognized him, having admitted
him on the former occasion of his calling.
"Good-evening," said Phil pleasantly. "Is Mr.
Carter at home?"
"No, sir," answered Hannah. "Didn't you know
he had gone to Florida?"
"Gone to Florida!" repeated Phil, his heart
sinking. "When did he start?"
"He started this afternoon."
"Who's asking after Uncle Oliver?" asked a boy's
voice.
Looking behind Hannah, Phil recognized the
speaker as Alonzo Pitkin.
CHAPTER XXI.
"THEY MET BY CHANCE."
Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?" demanded
Alonzo superciliously.
"I was," answered Philip.
"Oh! it's you, is it?" said Alonzo, rather
disdainfully.
"Yes," answered Phil calmly, though he felt
provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be
offensive. "You remember me, don't you?"
"You are the boy that got round Uncle Oliver,
soon as I reach Chicago I will engage a private
tutor for him, who shall not only remedy his defects
of education, but do what he can to improve my
son's manners. I want him to grow up a gentleman."
The next day the three started for Chicago, while
Mr. Granville's real son and heir continued to live at
a cheap lodging-house in New York.
The star of Jonas was in the ascendant, while poor
Philip seemed destined to years of poverty and hard
work. Even now, he was threatened by serious misfortune.
CHAPTER XX.
LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
Of course Phil was utterly ignorant of the
audacious attempt to deprive him of his
rights and keep him apart from the father who
longed once more to meet him. There was nothing
before him so far as he knew except to continue the
up-hill struggle for a living.
He gave very little thought to the prediction of
the fortune-teller whom he had consulted, and didn't
dream of any short-cut to fortune.
Do all he could, he found he could not live on his
wages.
His board cost him four dollars a week, and
washing and lunch two dollars more, thus compelling him
to exceed his salary by a dollar each week.
He had, as we know, a reserve fund, on which he
could draw, but it was small, and grew constantly
smaller. Then, again, his clothes were wearing out,
and he saw no way of obtaining money to buy new.
Phil became uneasy, and the question came up to
his mind, "Should he write to his step-mother and
ask her for a trifling loan?" If the money had been
hers, he would not have done so on any condition;
but she had had nothing of her own, and all the
property in her hands came through Mr. Brent, who,
as he knew, was attached to him, even though no
tie of blood united them. He certainly meant that
Phil should be cared for out of the estate, and at
length Phil brought himself to write the following
letter:
"NEW YORK, March 10, 18--.
"DEAR MRS. BRENT: I suppose I ought to have
written you before, and have no good excuse to offer.
I hope you and Jonas are well, and will continue so.
Let me tell you how I have succeeded thus far.
"I have been fortunate enough to obtain a place
in a large mercantile establishment, and for my
services I am paid five dollars a week. This is more
than boys generally get in the first place, and I am
indebted to the partiality of an old gentleman, the
senior member of the firm, whom I had the chance
to oblige, for faring so well. Still I find it hard to
get along on this sum, though I am as economical as
possible. My board and washing cost me six dollars
a week, and I have, besides, to buy clothing
from time to time. I have nearly spent the extra
money I had with me, and do not know how to
keep myself looking respectable in the way of clothing.
Under the circumstances, I shall have to apply
to you for a loan, say of twenty-five dollars. In a
year or two I hope to earn enough to be entirely
independent. At present I cannot expect it. As
my father--Mr. Brent--undoubtedly intended to
provide for me, I don't think I need to apologize for
making this request. Still I do it reluctantly, for I
would prefer to depend entirely upon myself.
"With regards to you and Jonas, I am yours
truly, PHILIP BRENT."
Phil put this letter in the post-office, and patiently
waited for an answer.
"Mrs. Brent surely cannot refuse me," he said to
himself, "since I have almost wholly relieved her of
the expense of taking care of me."
Phil felt so sure that money would be sent to him
that he began to look round a little among ready-
made clothing stores to see at what price he could
obtain a suit that would do for every-day use. He
found a store in the Bowery where he could secure a
suit, which looked as if it would answer, for thirteen
dollars. If Mrs. Brent sent him twenty-five, that
would leave him twelve for underclothing, and for a
reserve fund to meet the weeklydeficit which he
could not avoid.
Three--four days passed, and no letter came in
answer to his.
"It can't be that Mrs. Brent won't at least answer
my letter," he thought uneasily. "Even if she didn't
send me twenty-five dollars, she couldn't help sending
me something."
Still he felt uneasy, in view of the position in
which he would find himself in case no letter or
remittance should come at all.
It was during this period of anxiety that his heart
leaped for joy when on Broadway he saw the familiar
form of Reuben Gordon, a young man already
mentioned, to whom Phil had sold his gun before
leaving Gresham.
"Why, Reuben, how are you?" exclaimed Phil
joyfully. "When did you come to town?"
"Phil Brent!" exclaimed Reuben, shaking hands
heartily. "I'm thunderin' glad to see you. I was
thinkin' of you only five minutes ago, and wonderin'
where you hung out."
"But you haven't told me when you came to New
York."
"Only this morning! I'm goin' to stay with a
cousin of my father's, that lives in Brooklyn, over
night."
"I wanted to ask you about Mrs. Brent and Jonas.
I was afraid they might be sick, for I wrote four
days ago and haven't got any answer yet."
"Where did you write to?"
"To Gresham, of course," answered Phil, in surprise.
"You don't mean to say you hain't heard of their
leavin' Gresham?" said Reuben, in evident astonishment.
"Who has left Gresham?"
"Your mother--leastwise, Mrs. Brent--and Jonas.
They cleared out three weeks ago, and nobody's
heard a word of them since--that is, nobody in the
village."
"Don't you know where they've gone?" asked
Phil, in amazement.
"No. I was goin' to ask you. I s'posed, of course,
they'd write and let you know."
"I didn't even know they had left Gresham."
"Well, that's what I call cur'us. It ain't treatin'
you right accordin' to my ideas."
"Is the house shut up?"
"It was till two days ago. Then a brother of
Mrs. Brent came and opened it. He has brought his
wife and one child with him, and it seems they're
goin' to live there. Somebody asked him where his
sister and Jonas were, but they didn't get no
satisfaction. He said he didn't rightly know himself.
He believed they was travelin'; thought they might
be in Canada."
Phil looked and felt decidedly" target="_blank" title="ad.坚决地，果断地">decidedly sober at this
information. He understood, of course, now, why his
letter had not been answered. It looked as if he
were an outcast from the home that had been his so
long. When he came to New York to earn a living
he felt that he was doing so voluntarily, and was
not obliged to do so. Now he was absolutely thrown
upon his own resources, and must either work or
starve.
"They've treated you real mean," said Reuben.
"I never did like Mrs. Brent, or Jonas either, for
that matter.
"Where are you working?"
Phil answered this question and several others
which his honest country friend asked, but his mind
was preoccupied, and he answered some of the questions
at random. Finally he excused himself on
the ground that he must be getting back to the
store.
That evening Phil thought seriously of his position.
Something must be done, that was very evident.
His expenses exceeded his income, and he
needed some clothing. There was no chance of getting
his wages raised under a year, for he already
received more pay than it was customary to give to
a boy. What should he do?
Phil decided to lay his position frankly before the
only friend he had in the city likely to help him--
Mr. Oliver Carter. The old gentleman had been so
friendly and kind that he felt that he would not at
any rate repulse him. After he had come to this
decision he felt better. He determined to lose no
time in calling upon Mr. Carter.
After supper he brushed his hair carefully, and
made himself look as well as circumstances would
admit. Then he bent his steps toward Twelfth
Street, where, as the reader will remember, Mr.
Carter lived with his niece.
He ascended the steps and rang the bell. It was
opened by Hannah, who recognized him, having admitted
him on the former occasion of his calling.
"Good-evening," said Phil pleasantly. "Is Mr.
Carter at home?"
"No, sir," answered Hannah. "Didn't you know
he had gone to Florida?"
"Gone to Florida!" repeated Phil, his heart
sinking. "When did he start?"
"He started this afternoon."
"Who's asking after Uncle Oliver?" asked a boy's
voice.
Looking behind Hannah, Phil recognized the
speaker as Alonzo Pitkin.
CHAPTER XXI.
"THEY MET BY CHANCE."
Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?" demanded
Alonzo superciliously.
"I was," answered Philip.
"Oh! it's you, is it?" said Alonzo, rather
disdainfully.
"Yes," answered Phil calmly, though he felt
provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be
offensive. "You remember me, don't you?"
"You are the boy that got round Uncle Oliver,
- poverty [´pɔvəti]
n.贫穷(乏，瘠)；不足 (初中英语单词) - ignorant [´ignərənt] a.无知的，愚昧的 (初中英语单词)
- exceed [ik´si:d] v.超(胜)过；凌驾 (初中英语单词)
- trifling [´traifliŋ] a.微小的；轻浮的 (初中英语单词)
- estate [i´steit] n.财产；庄园；等级 (初中英语单词)
- fortunate [´fɔ:tʃənət] a.幸运的，侥幸的 (初中英语单词)
- obtain [əb´tein] v.获得；买到；得到承认 (初中英语单词)
- establishment [i´stæbliʃmənt] n.建(成)立；研究所 (初中英语单词)
- oblige [ə´blaidʒ] vt.责成；迫使；使感激 (初中英语单词)
- wholly [´həul-li] ad.完全，十足；统统 (初中英语单词)
- weekly [´wi:kli] a.&ad.每周一次(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)
- evident [´evidənt] a.明显的，明白的 (初中英语单词)
- absolutely [´æbsəlu:tli] ad.绝对地；确实 (初中英语单词)
- seriously [´siəriəsli] ad.严肃；严重，重大 (初中英语单词)
- income [´inkʌm] n.收入，所得 (初中英语单词)
- frankly [´fræŋkli] ad.直率地；慷慨地 (初中英语单词)
- calmly [´kɑ:mli] ad.平静地；无风浪地 (初中英语单词)
- remedy [´remidi] n.药品 vt.医治；减轻 (高中英语单词)
- deprive [di´praiv] vt.剥夺，使丧失 (高中英语单词)
- uneasy [ʌn´i:zi] a.不安的；不自在的 (高中英语单词)
- respectable [ri´spektəbəl] a.可敬的；有身价的 (高中英语单词)
- post-office [´pəust-´ɔfis] a.邮政的 (高中英语单词)
- broadway [´brɔ:dwei] n.&a.百老汇大街(的) (高中英语单词)
- decidedly [di´saididli] ad.坚决地，果断地 (高中英语单词)
- random [´rændəm] n.偶然的行动 (高中英语单词)
- customary [´kʌstəməri] a.通常的；惯例的 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- pleasantly [´plezntli] ad.令人愉快地；舒适地 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- polish [´pəuliʃ] a.波兰(人)的 n.波兰语 (英语四级单词)
- chicago [ʃi´kɑ:gəu] n.芝加哥 (英语四级单词)
- prediction [pri´dikʃən] n.预告；(气象等)预报 (英语四级单词)
- economical [,i:kə´nɔmikəl] a.节俭的；经济的 (英语四级单词)
- reluctantly [ri´lʌktəntli] a.不情愿地；勉强地 (英语四级单词)
- rightly [´raitli] ad.正义地；正确地 (英语四级单词)
- repulse [ri´pʌls] vt.拒绝；排斥 n.击退 (英语四级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- deficit [´defisit] n.缺乏，赤字，亏空 (英语六级单词)
- uneasily [ʌn´i:zili] ad.不安地；局促地 (英语六级单词)
- preoccupied [pri´ɔkjupaid] a.被先占的；出神的 (英语六级单词)
- calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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