章节正文
"No, I won't," replied Katy, pretty sharply. "You are a naughty
man, and I won't trust you with it."
"But I will give you, the watch."
"Give it to me, and then I will show you the note," replied Katy,
who was thinking more of getting the precious relic than of
having the broker punished.
The broker took the watch from his pocket and handed it to her,
and in return she produced the mayor's note.
"I suppose there is no need of your delivering this note now?"
continued the broker, with a cunning smile.
"No; I don't care anything about it, now that I have got the
watch," replied Katy, rejoiced beyond measure to recover the
treasure.
"Well, then, I am somewhat acquainted with the marshal, and I
will hand him the note, and explain the circumstances. He will be
perfectly satisfied."
Katy didn't care whether he was satisfied or not, so long as she
had the watch. But the broker entered the marshal's office, and
they could not see him put the note in his pocket.
"I am so glad I got it!" exclaimed Katy.
"I doubt whether you could have recovered it if I had not used my
influence in your favor," remarked Simon, complacently. "I went
to his office, and assured him my friend the mayor had already
taken the matter in hand. I talked pretty severely to him, and he
got frightened. After all, the best way is to use very pointed
language to these fellows."
"I thank you very much, Master Simon, and I hope I shall be able
to do something for you some time."
But Messrs. Sands & Co.'s affairs were suffering, perhaps, and
Simon hastened back to the store, and Katy ran home to cheer her
mother with the sight of the recovered relic.
CHAPTER X.
KATY, IN DISTRESS, FINDS A CHAMPION.
Now that she had recovered the precious watch Katy had nothing to
engage her attention but the business of selling candy. The
success that had attended her forenoon's exertions was gratifying
beyond her expectations, and she felt as though she had already
solved the problem; that she was not only willing but able to
support her mother. She had originated a great idea, and she was
proud of it.
Just as soon, therefore, as she had told her mother all about the
recovery of the watch, she prepared another tray of candy,
resolved to sell the whole of it before she returned. Her mother
tried to induce her to stay in the house and rest herself, but
her impatience to realize the fruits of her grand idea would not
permit her to remain inactive a single hour.
"Now, mother, I shall sell all this candy before dark; so don't
be uneasy about me. I am going to make lots of money, and you
shall have everything you want in a few weeks," said Katy, as she
put on her bonnet.
"I wish you would stay at home, and rest yourself; you have done
enough for one day."
"I am not tired a bit, mother; I feel just as if I could walk a
hundred miles."
"That's because you have got a new notion in your head. I am
afraid you will be sick, and then what should we do?"
"O, I shan't get sick; I promise you I won't," replied Katy, as
she left the room.
Unfortunately for the little candy merchant it was Wednesday
afternoon, and as the schools did not keep, there were a great
many boys in the street, and many of them were very rude, naughty
boys. When she passed up the court, some of them called out to
her, and asked her where she was going with all that candy. She
took no notice of them, for they spoke very rudely, and were no
friends of hers. Among them was Johnny Grippen, whose
acquaintance the reader made on the pier of South Boston bridge.
This young ruffian led half a dozen others down the court in
pursuit of her, for possibly they were not satisfied with the
cavalier manner in which Katy had treated them.
"Where are you going with all that candy?" repeated the juvenile
bully, when he overtook her in Essex Street.
"I am going to sell it," replied Katy, finding she could not
escape.
"Give us a junk, will you?" said Johnny.
"I can't give it away; I am going to sell it, to get money for my
mother."
"Won't you give a feller a piece?"
"I can't now; perhaps I'll give you some another time."
Katy's heart beat violently, for she was very much alarmed,
knowing that Johnny had not followed her for nothing. As she made
her firm but conciliatory reply, she moved on, hoping they would
not attempt to annoy her. It was a vain hope, for Johnny kept
close to her side, his eyes fixed wistfully on the tempting array
of sweets she carried.
"Come, don't be stingy, Katy," continued Johnny.
"I don't mean to be; but I don't think I owe you anything,"
replied Katy, gathering courage in her desperate situation.
"What do you mean by that?" demanded the little ruffian, as he
placed himself in front of her, and thus prevented her further
progress.
"Don't stop me; I'm in a hurry," said Katy.
"Gi' me some candy, then."
"No, I won't!" answered Katy, losing her patience.
"Won't you?"
Johnny made a dive at the tray, with the intention of securing a
portion of the candy; but Katy adroitly dodged the movement, and
turning up a narrow alley way, ran off. Johnny was not to be
balked, and followed her; and then she found she had made a bad
mistake in getting off the street, where there were no passers-by
to interfere in her favor.
"Johnny!" shouted one of the bully's companions. "Johnny, Tom
Howard is coming."
"Let him come!" replied Johnny, doggedly.
He did not half like the insinuation conveyed in the words of his
associates; for to tell him, under the circumstances, that Tommy
was coming, was as much as to say he was afraid of him. Now, as
we have said, Johnny Grippen was a "fighting character," and had
a reputation to maintain. He gloried in the name of being able to
whip any boy of his size in the neighborhood. He was always ready
to fight, and had, perhaps, given some hard knocks in his time;
but he sustained his character rather by his talent for bullying,
than by any conquests he had won. On the whole he was a
miserable, contemptible" target="_blank" title="a.可鄙的；可轻视的">contemptible little bruiser whom no decent boy could
love or respect. He talked so big about "black eyes," "bloody
noses" and "smashed heads," that few boys cared to dispute his
title to the honors he had assumed. Probably some who felt able
to contest the palm with him, did not care to dirty their fingers
upon the bullying cub.
Sensible people, whether men or boys, invariablydespise the
"fighting character," be he young or old. Nine times out of ten
he is both a knave and a fool, a coward and a bully.
On the other hand, Tommy Howard was one of those hearty,
whole-souled boys, who are the real lions of the playground. He
was not a "fighting character;" and being a sensible boy, he had
a heartycontempt for Johnny Grippen. He was not afraid of him,
and though he never went an inch out of his way to avoid a fight
with him, it so happened they had never fought. He was entirely
indifferent to his threats, and had no great opinion of his
courage. Johnny had "stumped" him to fight, and even taken off
his coat and dared him to come; but Tommy would laugh at him,
tell him to put on his coat or he would catch cold; and, contrary
to the general opinion among boys, no one ever thought the less
of him for the true courage he exhibited on these occasions.
Johnny did not like to be told that Tommy was coming, for it
reminded him that, as the king bully of the neighborhood, one of
his subjects was unconquered and rebellious. But Johnny had
discretion--and bullies generally have it. He did not like that
cool, independent way of the refractory vassal; it warned him to
be cautious.
"What's the matter, Katy?" asked Tommy, as he came with quick
pace up the court, without deigning to cast even a glance at the
ruffian who menaced her.
"Stand by, fellers, and see fair play, and I'll lick him now,"
said Johnny, in a low tone, to his companions.
"He won't let me go," replied Katy, pointing to her assailant.
"Go ahead, Katy; don't mind him."
"Won't you give me some candy?" said Johnny, stepping up before
her again.
"Go ahead, Katy," repeated Tommy, placing himself between her and
the bully. "Don't mind him, Katy."
As she advanced, Johnny pushed forward, and made another dive at
the tray, but Katy's champion caught him by the arm and pulled
him away.
"You mind out!" growled the bully, doubling up his fists, and
placing himself in the most approved attitude, in front of the
unwhipped vassal.
"Go ahead, Katy; clear out as fast as you can," said Tommy, who,
though his bosom swelled with indignation, still preserved his
wonted coolness; and it was evident to the excited spectators
that he did not intend to "mind out."
"Come on, if you want to fight!" shouted Johnny, brandishing his
fists.
"I don't want to fight; but you are a mean, dirty blackguard, or
you wouldn't have treated a girl like that," replied Tommy,
standing as stiff as a stake before the bully.
"Say that again, and I'll black your eye for you."
"Once is enough, if you heard me; but I will tell your father
about it."
"Will you? Just say that again."
Somehow, it often happens that bullies want a person to say a
thing over twice, from which we infer that they must be very deaf
or very stupid. Tommy would not repeat the offensive remark, and
Johnny's supporters began to think he was not half so anxious to
fight as he seemed, which was certainly true. I have no doubt, if
they had been alone, he would have found a convenient excuse for
retiring from the field, leaving it unsullied by a black eye or a
bloody nose.
My young friends will excuse me from digressing so far as to say
that, in more than a dozen years with boys, in school and out, I
have never heard of such a thing as two boys getting up a fight
and having it out alone. There must be a crowd of bruisers and
"scallewags" around, to keep up the courage of the combatants.
Therefore, those who look on are just as bad as those who fight,
for without their presence the fight could not be carried
through.
Tommy Howard had said all he had to say, and was therefore ready
to depart. He turned to do so, and walked several steps down the
alley, though he kept one eye over his shoulder to guard against
accidents.
"Hit him, Johnny!" cried one of the vagabond troops that
followed in the train of the bully.
"He darsen't fight," replied Johnny.
"Nor you, nuther," added another of the supporters.
This was too much for Johnny. It cut him to the quick, and he
could not stand it. If he did not thrash Tommy now, his
reputation would be entirely ruined.
"Darsen't I?" exclaimed he. "Come back here;" but as Tommy did
not come, he ran up behind him, and aimed a blow at the side of
his head.
Katy's intrepid defender, who had perhaps read in some Fourth of
July oration that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,"
man, and I won't trust you with it."
"But I will give you, the watch."
"Give it to me, and then I will show you the note," replied Katy,
who was thinking more of getting the precious relic than of
having the broker punished.
The broker took the watch from his pocket and handed it to her,
and in return she produced the mayor's note.
"I suppose there is no need of your delivering this note now?"
continued the broker, with a cunning smile.
"No; I don't care anything about it, now that I have got the
watch," replied Katy, rejoiced beyond measure to recover the
treasure.
"Well, then, I am somewhat acquainted with the marshal, and I
will hand him the note, and explain the circumstances. He will be
perfectly satisfied."
Katy didn't care whether he was satisfied or not, so long as she
had the watch. But the broker entered the marshal's office, and
they could not see him put the note in his pocket.
"I am so glad I got it!" exclaimed Katy.
"I doubt whether you could have recovered it if I had not used my
influence in your favor," remarked Simon, complacently. "I went
to his office, and assured him my friend the mayor had already
taken the matter in hand. I talked pretty severely to him, and he
got frightened. After all, the best way is to use very pointed
language to these fellows."
"I thank you very much, Master Simon, and I hope I shall be able
to do something for you some time."
But Messrs. Sands & Co.'s affairs were suffering, perhaps, and
Simon hastened back to the store, and Katy ran home to cheer her
mother with the sight of the recovered relic.
CHAPTER X.
KATY, IN DISTRESS, FINDS A CHAMPION.
Now that she had recovered the precious watch Katy had nothing to
engage her attention but the business of selling candy. The
success that had attended her forenoon's exertions was gratifying
beyond her expectations, and she felt as though she had already
solved the problem; that she was not only willing but able to
support her mother. She had originated a great idea, and she was
proud of it.
Just as soon, therefore, as she had told her mother all about the
recovery of the watch, she prepared another tray of candy,
resolved to sell the whole of it before she returned. Her mother
tried to induce her to stay in the house and rest herself, but
her impatience to realize the fruits of her grand idea would not
permit her to remain inactive a single hour.
"Now, mother, I shall sell all this candy before dark; so don't
be uneasy about me. I am going to make lots of money, and you
shall have everything you want in a few weeks," said Katy, as she
put on her bonnet.
"I wish you would stay at home, and rest yourself; you have done
enough for one day."
"I am not tired a bit, mother; I feel just as if I could walk a
hundred miles."
"That's because you have got a new notion in your head. I am
afraid you will be sick, and then what should we do?"
"O, I shan't get sick; I promise you I won't," replied Katy, as
she left the room.
Unfortunately for the little candy merchant it was Wednesday
afternoon, and as the schools did not keep, there were a great
many boys in the street, and many of them were very rude, naughty
boys. When she passed up the court, some of them called out to
her, and asked her where she was going with all that candy. She
took no notice of them, for they spoke very rudely, and were no
friends of hers. Among them was Johnny Grippen, whose
acquaintance the reader made on the pier of South Boston bridge.
This young ruffian led half a dozen others down the court in
pursuit of her, for possibly they were not satisfied with the
cavalier manner in which Katy had treated them.
"Where are you going with all that candy?" repeated the juvenile
bully, when he overtook her in Essex Street.
"I am going to sell it," replied Katy, finding she could not
escape.
"Give us a junk, will you?" said Johnny.
"I can't give it away; I am going to sell it, to get money for my
mother."
"Won't you give a feller a piece?"
"I can't now; perhaps I'll give you some another time."
Katy's heart beat violently, for she was very much alarmed,
knowing that Johnny had not followed her for nothing. As she made
her firm but conciliatory reply, she moved on, hoping they would
not attempt to annoy her. It was a vain hope, for Johnny kept
close to her side, his eyes fixed wistfully on the tempting array
of sweets she carried.
"Come, don't be stingy, Katy," continued Johnny.
"I don't mean to be; but I don't think I owe you anything,"
replied Katy, gathering courage in her desperate situation.
"What do you mean by that?" demanded the little ruffian, as he
placed himself in front of her, and thus prevented her further
progress.
"Don't stop me; I'm in a hurry," said Katy.
"Gi' me some candy, then."
"No, I won't!" answered Katy, losing her patience.
"Won't you?"
Johnny made a dive at the tray, with the intention of securing a
portion of the candy; but Katy adroitly dodged the movement, and
turning up a narrow alley way, ran off. Johnny was not to be
balked, and followed her; and then she found she had made a bad
mistake in getting off the street, where there were no passers-by
to interfere in her favor.
"Johnny!" shouted one of the bully's companions. "Johnny, Tom
Howard is coming."
"Let him come!" replied Johnny, doggedly.
He did not half like the insinuation conveyed in the words of his
associates; for to tell him, under the circumstances, that Tommy
was coming, was as much as to say he was afraid of him. Now, as
we have said, Johnny Grippen was a "fighting character," and had
a reputation to maintain. He gloried in the name of being able to
whip any boy of his size in the neighborhood. He was always ready
to fight, and had, perhaps, given some hard knocks in his time;
but he sustained his character rather by his talent for bullying,
than by any conquests he had won. On the whole he was a
miserable, contemptible" target="_blank" title="a.可鄙的；可轻视的">contemptible little bruiser whom no decent boy could
love or respect. He talked so big about "black eyes," "bloody
noses" and "smashed heads," that few boys cared to dispute his
title to the honors he had assumed. Probably some who felt able
to contest the palm with him, did not care to dirty their fingers
upon the bullying cub.
Sensible people, whether men or boys, invariablydespise the
"fighting character," be he young or old. Nine times out of ten
he is both a knave and a fool, a coward and a bully.
On the other hand, Tommy Howard was one of those hearty,
whole-souled boys, who are the real lions of the playground. He
was not a "fighting character;" and being a sensible boy, he had
a heartycontempt for Johnny Grippen. He was not afraid of him,
and though he never went an inch out of his way to avoid a fight
with him, it so happened they had never fought. He was entirely
indifferent to his threats, and had no great opinion of his
courage. Johnny had "stumped" him to fight, and even taken off
his coat and dared him to come; but Tommy would laugh at him,
tell him to put on his coat or he would catch cold; and, contrary
to the general opinion among boys, no one ever thought the less
of him for the true courage he exhibited on these occasions.
Johnny did not like to be told that Tommy was coming, for it
reminded him that, as the king bully of the neighborhood, one of
his subjects was unconquered and rebellious. But Johnny had
discretion--and bullies generally have it. He did not like that
cool, independent way of the refractory vassal; it warned him to
be cautious.
"What's the matter, Katy?" asked Tommy, as he came with quick
pace up the court, without deigning to cast even a glance at the
ruffian who menaced her.
"Stand by, fellers, and see fair play, and I'll lick him now,"
said Johnny, in a low tone, to his companions.
"He won't let me go," replied Katy, pointing to her assailant.
"Go ahead, Katy; don't mind him."
"Won't you give me some candy?" said Johnny, stepping up before
her again.
"Go ahead, Katy," repeated Tommy, placing himself between her and
the bully. "Don't mind him, Katy."
As she advanced, Johnny pushed forward, and made another dive at
the tray, but Katy's champion caught him by the arm and pulled
him away.
"You mind out!" growled the bully, doubling up his fists, and
placing himself in the most approved attitude, in front of the
unwhipped vassal.
"Go ahead, Katy; clear out as fast as you can," said Tommy, who,
though his bosom swelled with indignation, still preserved his
wonted coolness; and it was evident to the excited spectators
that he did not intend to "mind out."
"Come on, if you want to fight!" shouted Johnny, brandishing his
fists.
"I don't want to fight; but you are a mean, dirty blackguard, or
you wouldn't have treated a girl like that," replied Tommy,
standing as stiff as a stake before the bully.
"Say that again, and I'll black your eye for you."
"Once is enough, if you heard me; but I will tell your father
about it."
"Will you? Just say that again."
Somehow, it often happens that bullies want a person to say a
thing over twice, from which we infer that they must be very deaf
or very stupid. Tommy would not repeat the offensive remark, and
Johnny's supporters began to think he was not half so anxious to
fight as he seemed, which was certainly true. I have no doubt, if
they had been alone, he would have found a convenient excuse for
retiring from the field, leaving it unsullied by a black eye or a
bloody nose.
My young friends will excuse me from digressing so far as to say
that, in more than a dozen years with boys, in school and out, I
have never heard of such a thing as two boys getting up a fight
and having it out alone. There must be a crowd of bruisers and
"scallewags" around, to keep up the courage of the combatants.
Therefore, those who look on are just as bad as those who fight,
for without their presence the fight could not be carried
through.
Tommy Howard had said all he had to say, and was therefore ready
to depart. He turned to do so, and walked several steps down the
alley, though he kept one eye over his shoulder to guard against
accidents.
"Hit him, Johnny!" cried one of the vagabond troops that
followed in the train of the bully.
"He darsen't fight," replied Johnny.
"Nor you, nuther," added another of the supporters.
This was too much for Johnny. It cut him to the quick, and he
could not stand it. If he did not thrash Tommy now, his
reputation would be entirely ruined.
"Darsen't I?" exclaimed he. "Come back here;" but as Tommy did
not come, he ran up behind him, and aimed a blow at the side of
his head.
Katy's intrepid defender, who had perhaps read in some Fourth of
July oration that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,"
- sharply [´ʃɑ:pli]
ad.锋利地；剧烈地 (初中英语单词) - cunning [´kʌniŋ] a.&n.狡猾(诡诈)的 (初中英语单词)
- measure [´meʒə] n.量度；范围 vt.测量 (初中英语单词)
- suffering [´sʌfəriŋ] n.痛苦；灾害 (初中英语单词)
- distress [di´stres] n.痛苦 vt.使苦恼 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- desperate [´despərit] a.拼死的；绝望的 (初中英语单词)
- intention [in´tenʃən] n.意图；打算；意义 (初中英语单词)
- movement [´mu:vmənt] n.活动；运动；动作 (初中英语单词)
- interfere [,intə´fiə] vi.干涉；妨碍；打扰 (初中英语单词)
- maintain [mein´tein] vt.维持；保持；继续 (初中英语单词)
- neighborhood [´neibəhud] n.邻居；邻近；附近 (初中英语单词)
- character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)
- talent [´tælənt] n.天才；才干；天资 (初中英语单词)
- dispute [di´spju:t] v.&n.争论，辩论；争吵 (初中英语单词)
- contest [kən´test, ´kɔntest] v.争辩 n.争夺；竞赛 (初中英语单词)
- despise [di´spaiz] vt.轻视，藐视 (初中英语单词)
- coward [´kauəd] n.胆怯者 a.胆小的 (初中英语单词)
- sensible [´sensəbəl] a.感觉得到的 (初中英语单词)
- advanced [əd´vɑ:nst] a.先进的；高级的 (初中英语单词)
- champion [´tʃæmpiən] n.冠军 vt.拥护 (初中英语单词)
- evident [´evidənt] a.明显的，明白的 (初中英语单词)
- stupid [´stju:pid] a.愚蠢的；糊涂的 (初中英语单词)
- anxious [´æŋkʃəs] a.担忧的；渴望的 (初中英语单词)
- convenient [kən´vi:niənt] a.方便的 (初中英语单词)
- severely [si´viəli] ad.剧烈地；严格地 (高中英语单词)
- uneasy [ʌn´i:zi] a.不安的；不自在的 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- violently [´vaiələntli] ad.强暴地；猛烈地 (高中英语单词)
- decent [´di:sənt] a.体面的，正派的 (高中英语单词)
- invariably [in´veəriəbli] ad.不变地；永恒地 (高中英语单词)
- playground [´pleigraund] n.操场；运动场 (高中英语单词)
- hearty [´hɑ:ti] a.热忱的；强健的 (高中英语单词)
- contempt [kən´tempt] n.轻蔑；受辱；不顾 (高中英语单词)
- indignation [,indig´neiʃən] n.愤慨；气愤 (高中英语单词)
- offensive [ə´fensiv] a.冒犯的 n.进攻 (高中英语单词)
- thrash [θræʃ] v.打(谷)；(用棍)痛打 (高中英语单词)
- broker [´brəukə] n.经纪人，掮客 (英语四级单词)
- marshal [´mɑ:ʃəl] n.(陆军)元帅 (英语四级单词)
- impatience [im´peiʃəns] n.不耐烦，急躁 (英语四级单词)
- overtook [,əuvə´tuk] overtake的过去式 (英语四级单词)
- tempting [´temptiŋ] a.引诱人的，吸引人的 (英语四级单词)
- gathering [´gæðəriŋ] n.集会，聚集 (英语四级单词)
- reputation [repju´teiʃən] n.名誉；名声；信誉 (英语四级单词)
- vassal [´væsəl] n.诸侯；封臣；属下 (英语四级单词)
- vagabond [´vægəbɔnd] n.流浪者 a.流浪的 (英语四级单词)
- defender [di´fendə] n.保卫者；辩护者 (英语四级单词)
- assured [ə´ʃuəd] a.确实的 n.被保险人 (英语六级单词)
- inactive [in´æktiv] a.不活动的 (英语六级单词)
- rudely [´ru:dli] ad.粗鲁地；粗略地 (英语六级单词)
- ruffian [´rʌfiən] n.流氓 a.残暴的 (英语六级单词)
- wistfully [´wistfuli] ad.渴望地；不满足地 (英语六级单词)
- contemptible [kən´temptəbəl] a.可鄙的；可轻视的 (英语六级单词)
- rebellious [ri´beljəs] a.造反的；反叛的 (英语六级单词)
- coolness [´ku:lnis] n.凉，凉爽；冷静 (英语六级单词)
- oration [ə´reiʃən] n.演说；引语 (英语六级单词)
- vigilance [´vidʒiləns] n.警惕，警戒 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
京公网安备 11011202003401号
