章节正文
was not to be surprised, and facing about, he warded off the
blow. Johnny's imperiled reputation rendered him desperate. He
had gone too far to recede, and he went into action with all the
energy and skill of a true bruiser. Tommy was now fully roused,
and his blows, which were strictly in self-defense, fell rapidly
and heavily on the head of his assailant. But I am not going to
give my young readers the particulars of the fight; and I would
not have let Tommy engage in such a scene, were it not to show up
Johnny as he was, and finish the portrait of him which I had
outlined; to show the difference between the noble, generous,
brave, and true-hearted boy, and the little bully, whom all my
young friends have seen and despised.
In something less than two minutes, Johnny Grippen, after
muttering "foul play," backed out with bloody nose, as completely
whipped, and as thoroughly "cowed down," as though he had been
fighting with a royal Bengal tiger. His supremacy was at an end,
and there was danger that some other bold fellow might take it
into his head to thrash the donkey after the lion's skin had been
stripped from his shoulders.
"If you are satisfied now, I'll go about my business," said
Tommy, as he gazed with mingled pity and contempt upon his
crest-fallen assailant.
"You don't fight fair," grumbled Johnny, who could not account
for his defeat in any other way. "If you're a mind to fight fair,
I'll try it again with you some time."
"I don't fight for the fun of it. I only fight when some cowardly
bully like you comes at me, and I can't help myself. When you
feel like whipping me again, you needn't stop to let me know it
beforehand. But I will tell you this much: if you ever put your
hand on Katy Redburn, or meddle with her in any way, I promise to
pound you as handsomely as I know how, fair or foul, the very
next time I meet you, if it isn't for seven years. Just bear that
in mind."
Johnny made no reply; he was not in a condition to make a reply,
and the victor in the conquestdeparted, leaving the bully to
explain his defeat as best he could to his admirers and
supporters.
"He did not hurt you--did he?" asked Katy, as Tommy joined her at
the foot of the alley, where she had been anxiouslywaiting the
result of the encounter.
"Not a bit, Katy. He talks very loud, but he is a coward. I'm
sorry I had to thrash him though I think it will do him good."
"I was afraid he'd hurt you. You were very kind to save me from
him, Tommy. I shall never forget you, as long as I live, and I
hope I shall be able to do something for you one of these days."
"Oh, don't mind that, Katy. He is an ugly fellow, and I wouldn't
stand by and see him insult a girl. But I must go now. I told
Johnny if he ever meddled with you again I should give him some;
if he does, just let me know."
"I hope he won't again," replied Katy, as Tommy moved towards
home.
This was Katy's first day in mercantile life; it had been full of
incidents, and she feared her path might be a thorny one. But her
light heart soon triumphed over doubts and fears, and when she
reached Washington Street, she was as enthusiastic as ever, and
as ready for a trade.
CHAPTER XI.
KATY MEETS WITH EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS.
"Buy some candy?" said Katy to the first gentleman she met.
He did not even deign to glance at her; and five or six attempts
to sell a stick of candy were failures; but when she remembered
the success that had followed her disappointment in the morning,
she did not lose her courage. Finding that people in the street
would not buy, she entered a shop where the clerks seemed to be
at leisure, though she did not do so without thinking of the rude
manner in which she had been ejected from a store in the
forenoon.
"Buy some candy?" said she to a good-natured young gentleman, who
was leaning over his counterwaiting for a customer.
"How do you sell it?"
"Cent a stick; it is very nice. I sold fourteen sticks of it to
the mayor this forenoon. He said it was good."
"You don't say so? Did he give you a testimonial?"
"No; he gave me half a dollar."
The clerk laughed heartily at Katy's misapprehension of his word,
and his eye twinkled with mischief. It was plain that he was not
a great admirer of molasses candy, and that he only wanted to
amuse himself at Katy's expense.
"You know what they do with quack medicines--don't you?"
"Yes, I do; some folks are fools enough to take them," replied
Katy, smartly.
"That's a fact; but you don't understand me. Dr. Swindlehanger,
round the corner, would give the mayor a hundred dollars to say
his patent elixir is good. Now, if you could only get the mayor's
name on a paper setting forth the virtues of your candy, I dare
say you could sell a thousand sticks in a day. Why don't you ask
him for such a paper?"
"I don't want any paper, except to wrap up my candy in. But you
don't want to buy any candy, I see;" and Katy moved towards some
more clerks at the other end of the store.
"Yes, I do; stop a minute. I want to buy six sticks for my
children!"
"For what?"
"For my grandchildren."
"You are making fun of me," said Katy, who could see this, though
the young man was so pleasant and so funny, she could not be
offended with him. "I don't believe your mother would like it, if
she should hear you tell such a monstrous story."
The young man bit his lip. Perhaps he had a kind mother who had
taught him never to tell a lie, even in jest. He quickly
recovered his humor, however, though it was evident that Katy's
rebuke had not been without its effect.
"For how much will you sell me six sticks?" continued the clerk.
"For six cents."
"But that is the retail price; when you sell goods at wholesale
you ought not to ask so much for them."
"You shall have them for five cents then," replied Katy, struck
with the force of the suggestion.
"I can't afford to give so much as that. I am a poor man. I have
to go to the theater twice a week, and that costs me a dollar.
Then a ride Sunday afternoon costs me three dollars. So you see I
don't have much money to spend upon luxuries."
"I hope you don't go out to ride Sundays," said Katy.
"But I do."
"What does your mother say to it?"
The clerk bit his lip again. He did not like these allusions to
his mother, who perhaps lived far away in the country, and had
taught him to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." Very
likely his conscience smote him, as he thought of her and her
blessed teachings in the far-off home of his childhood.
"I will give you two cents," said the clerk.
"I can't take that; it would hardly pay for the molasses, to say
nothing of firewood and labor."
"Call it three cents, then."
"No, sir; the wholesale price is five cents for six sticks."
"But I am poor."
"You wouldn't be poor if you saved up your money, and kept the
Sabbath. Your mother----"
"There, there! that's enough. I will take a dozen sticks!"
exclaimed the young man, impatiently interrupting her.
"A dozen?"
"Yes, a dozen, and there are twelve cents."
"But I only ask ten."
"No matter, give me the candy, and take the money," he replied,
fearful, it may be, that she would again allude to his mother.
Katy counted out the sticks, wrapped them up in a paper, and put
the money in her pocket. If she had stopped at the door to study
the young man's face, she might have detected a shadow of
uneasiness and anxiety upon it. He was a very good-hearted, but
rather dissolute, young man, and the allusions she had made to
his mother burned like fire in his heart, for he had neglected
her counsels, and wandered from the straight road in which she
had taught him to walk. If she could have followed him home, and
into the solitude of his chamber, she could have seen him open
his desk, and write a long letter to his distant mother--a duty
he had too long neglected. We may not follow the fortunes of this
young man, but if we could, we might see how a few words, fitly
spoken, even by the lips of an innocent youth; will sometimes
produce a powerful impression on the character; will sometimes
change the whole current of a life, and reach forward to the last
day of existence.
Katy, all unconscious of the great work she had done,
congratulated herself on this success, and wished she might find
a few more such customers. Glancing into the shop windows as she
passed along, to ascertain whether there was a good prospect for
her, she soon found an inviting field. It was a crockery ware
store that she entered this time, and there were several persons
there who seemed not to be very busy.
"Buy some candy?" said she, presenting the tray to the first
person she met.
"Go home and wash your face," was the ill-natured response.
Was it possible she had come out with a dirty face? No; she had
washed herself the last thing she had done. It is true her
clothes were shabby, there was many a patch and darn upon her
dress, and its colors had faded out like the "last rose of
summer;" but then the dress was clean.
"Buy some candy?" said she to another, with a sudden resolution
not to be disturbed by the rudeness of those she addressed.
He took a stick, and threw down a cent, without a word. One more
did her a similar favor, and she left the store well satisfied
with the visit. Pretty soon she came to a large piano-forte
manufactory, where she knew that a great many men were employed.
She went up-stairs to the counting-room, where she sold three
sticks, and was about to enter the work-room, when a sign, "No
admittance except on business," confronted her. Should she go on?
Did the sign refer to her? She had business there, but perhaps
they would not be willing to admit that her business was very
urgent, and she dreaded the indignity of being turned out again.
Her mother had told her there was always a right way and a wrong
way. It certainly was not right to enter in the face of a
positive prohibition, and at last she decided to return to the
office and ask permission to visit the workshop.
"Please may I go into the workshop?" said she, addressing the man
who had purchased the candy.
"Go in? why not?" replied he, placing his pen behind his ear, and
looking at her with a smile of curiosity.
"Why, it says on the door, `No admittance except on business.'"
"So it does. Well, I declare, you have got an amount of
conscience beyond your station. No one thinks of taking any
notice of that sign. Peddlers and apple men go in without a
question."
"I thought you wouldn't let people go in."
"We don't like to have visitors there, for they sometimes do
injury, and generally take off the attention of the men from
their work. But you have got so much conscience about the matter,
that you shall not only go in, but I will go with you, and
introduce you."
"Thank you, sir; I won't give you all that trouble. I can
introduce myself."
But the bookkeeper led the way to the door, and they entered a
large room in which a great many men were busily at work.
blow. Johnny's imperiled reputation rendered him desperate. He
had gone too far to recede, and he went into action with all the
energy and skill of a true bruiser. Tommy was now fully roused,
and his blows, which were strictly in self-defense, fell rapidly
and heavily on the head of his assailant. But I am not going to
give my young readers the particulars of the fight; and I would
not have let Tommy engage in such a scene, were it not to show up
Johnny as he was, and finish the portrait of him which I had
outlined; to show the difference between the noble, generous,
brave, and true-hearted boy, and the little bully, whom all my
young friends have seen and despised.
In something less than two minutes, Johnny Grippen, after
muttering "foul play," backed out with bloody nose, as completely
whipped, and as thoroughly "cowed down," as though he had been
fighting with a royal Bengal tiger. His supremacy was at an end,
and there was danger that some other bold fellow might take it
into his head to thrash the donkey after the lion's skin had been
stripped from his shoulders.
"If you are satisfied now, I'll go about my business," said
Tommy, as he gazed with mingled pity and contempt upon his
crest-fallen assailant.
"You don't fight fair," grumbled Johnny, who could not account
for his defeat in any other way. "If you're a mind to fight fair,
I'll try it again with you some time."
"I don't fight for the fun of it. I only fight when some cowardly
bully like you comes at me, and I can't help myself. When you
feel like whipping me again, you needn't stop to let me know it
beforehand. But I will tell you this much: if you ever put your
hand on Katy Redburn, or meddle with her in any way, I promise to
pound you as handsomely as I know how, fair or foul, the very
next time I meet you, if it isn't for seven years. Just bear that
in mind."
Johnny made no reply; he was not in a condition to make a reply,
and the victor in the conquestdeparted, leaving the bully to
explain his defeat as best he could to his admirers and
supporters.
"He did not hurt you--did he?" asked Katy, as Tommy joined her at
the foot of the alley, where she had been anxiouslywaiting the
result of the encounter.
"Not a bit, Katy. He talks very loud, but he is a coward. I'm
sorry I had to thrash him though I think it will do him good."
"I was afraid he'd hurt you. You were very kind to save me from
him, Tommy. I shall never forget you, as long as I live, and I
hope I shall be able to do something for you one of these days."
"Oh, don't mind that, Katy. He is an ugly fellow, and I wouldn't
stand by and see him insult a girl. But I must go now. I told
Johnny if he ever meddled with you again I should give him some;
if he does, just let me know."
"I hope he won't again," replied Katy, as Tommy moved towards
home.
This was Katy's first day in mercantile life; it had been full of
incidents, and she feared her path might be a thorny one. But her
light heart soon triumphed over doubts and fears, and when she
reached Washington Street, she was as enthusiastic as ever, and
as ready for a trade.
CHAPTER XI.
KATY MEETS WITH EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS.
"Buy some candy?" said Katy to the first gentleman she met.
He did not even deign to glance at her; and five or six attempts
to sell a stick of candy were failures; but when she remembered
the success that had followed her disappointment in the morning,
she did not lose her courage. Finding that people in the street
would not buy, she entered a shop where the clerks seemed to be
at leisure, though she did not do so without thinking of the rude
manner in which she had been ejected from a store in the
forenoon.
"Buy some candy?" said she to a good-natured young gentleman, who
was leaning over his counterwaiting for a customer.
"How do you sell it?"
"Cent a stick; it is very nice. I sold fourteen sticks of it to
the mayor this forenoon. He said it was good."
"You don't say so? Did he give you a testimonial?"
"No; he gave me half a dollar."
The clerk laughed heartily at Katy's misapprehension of his word,
and his eye twinkled with mischief. It was plain that he was not
a great admirer of molasses candy, and that he only wanted to
amuse himself at Katy's expense.
"You know what they do with quack medicines--don't you?"
"Yes, I do; some folks are fools enough to take them," replied
Katy, smartly.
"That's a fact; but you don't understand me. Dr. Swindlehanger,
round the corner, would give the mayor a hundred dollars to say
his patent elixir is good. Now, if you could only get the mayor's
name on a paper setting forth the virtues of your candy, I dare
say you could sell a thousand sticks in a day. Why don't you ask
him for such a paper?"
"I don't want any paper, except to wrap up my candy in. But you
don't want to buy any candy, I see;" and Katy moved towards some
more clerks at the other end of the store.
"Yes, I do; stop a minute. I want to buy six sticks for my
children!"
"For what?"
"For my grandchildren."
"You are making fun of me," said Katy, who could see this, though
the young man was so pleasant and so funny, she could not be
offended with him. "I don't believe your mother would like it, if
she should hear you tell such a monstrous story."
The young man bit his lip. Perhaps he had a kind mother who had
taught him never to tell a lie, even in jest. He quickly
recovered his humor, however, though it was evident that Katy's
rebuke had not been without its effect.
"For how much will you sell me six sticks?" continued the clerk.
"For six cents."
"But that is the retail price; when you sell goods at wholesale
you ought not to ask so much for them."
"You shall have them for five cents then," replied Katy, struck
with the force of the suggestion.
"I can't afford to give so much as that. I am a poor man. I have
to go to the theater twice a week, and that costs me a dollar.
Then a ride Sunday afternoon costs me three dollars. So you see I
don't have much money to spend upon luxuries."
"I hope you don't go out to ride Sundays," said Katy.
"But I do."
"What does your mother say to it?"
The clerk bit his lip again. He did not like these allusions to
his mother, who perhaps lived far away in the country, and had
taught him to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." Very
likely his conscience smote him, as he thought of her and her
blessed teachings in the far-off home of his childhood.
"I will give you two cents," said the clerk.
"I can't take that; it would hardly pay for the molasses, to say
nothing of firewood and labor."
"Call it three cents, then."
"No, sir; the wholesale price is five cents for six sticks."
"But I am poor."
"You wouldn't be poor if you saved up your money, and kept the
Sabbath. Your mother----"
"There, there! that's enough. I will take a dozen sticks!"
exclaimed the young man, impatiently interrupting her.
"A dozen?"
"Yes, a dozen, and there are twelve cents."
"But I only ask ten."
"No matter, give me the candy, and take the money," he replied,
fearful, it may be, that she would again allude to his mother.
Katy counted out the sticks, wrapped them up in a paper, and put
the money in her pocket. If she had stopped at the door to study
the young man's face, she might have detected a shadow of
uneasiness and anxiety upon it. He was a very good-hearted, but
rather dissolute, young man, and the allusions she had made to
his mother burned like fire in his heart, for he had neglected
her counsels, and wandered from the straight road in which she
had taught him to walk. If she could have followed him home, and
into the solitude of his chamber, she could have seen him open
his desk, and write a long letter to his distant mother--a duty
he had too long neglected. We may not follow the fortunes of this
young man, but if we could, we might see how a few words, fitly
spoken, even by the lips of an innocent youth; will sometimes
produce a powerful impression on the character; will sometimes
change the whole current of a life, and reach forward to the last
day of existence.
Katy, all unconscious of the great work she had done,
congratulated herself on this success, and wished she might find
a few more such customers. Glancing into the shop windows as she
passed along, to ascertain whether there was a good prospect for
her, she soon found an inviting field. It was a crockery ware
store that she entered this time, and there were several persons
there who seemed not to be very busy.
"Buy some candy?" said she, presenting the tray to the first
person she met.
"Go home and wash your face," was the ill-natured response.
Was it possible she had come out with a dirty face? No; she had
washed herself the last thing she had done. It is true her
clothes were shabby, there was many a patch and darn upon her
dress, and its colors had faded out like the "last rose of
summer;" but then the dress was clean.
"Buy some candy?" said she to another, with a sudden resolution
not to be disturbed by the rudeness of those she addressed.
He took a stick, and threw down a cent, without a word. One more
did her a similar favor, and she left the store well satisfied
with the visit. Pretty soon she came to a large piano-forte
manufactory, where she knew that a great many men were employed.
She went up-stairs to the counting-room, where she sold three
sticks, and was about to enter the work-room, when a sign, "No
admittance except on business," confronted her. Should she go on?
Did the sign refer to her? She had business there, but perhaps
they would not be willing to admit that her business was very
urgent, and she dreaded the indignity of being turned out again.
Her mother had told her there was always a right way and a wrong
way. It certainly was not right to enter in the face of a
positive prohibition, and at last she decided to return to the
office and ask permission to visit the workshop.
"Please may I go into the workshop?" said she, addressing the man
who had purchased the candy.
"Go in? why not?" replied he, placing his pen behind his ear, and
looking at her with a smile of curiosity.
"Why, it says on the door, `No admittance except on business.'"
"So it does. Well, I declare, you have got an amount of
conscience beyond your station. No one thinks of taking any
notice of that sign. Peddlers and apple men go in without a
question."
"I thought you wouldn't let people go in."
"We don't like to have visitors there, for they sometimes do
injury, and generally take off the attention of the men from
their work. But you have got so much conscience about the matter,
that you shall not only go in, but I will go with you, and
introduce you."
"Thank you, sir; I won't give you all that trouble. I can
introduce myself."
But the bookkeeper led the way to the door, and they entered a
large room in which a great many men were busily at work.
- desperate [´despərit]
a.拼死的；绝望的 (初中英语单词) - bloody [´blʌdi] a.(流)血的；血腥的 (初中英语单词)
- thoroughly [´θʌrəli] ad.完全地，彻底地 (初中英语单词)
- conquest [´kɔŋkwest] n.赢得；获得；占领地 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- coward [´kauəd] n.胆怯者 a.胆小的 (初中英语单词)
- insult [in´sʌlt, ´insʌlt] n.&vt.侮辱；损害 (初中英语单词)
- extraordinary [ik´strɔ:dinəri] a.非常的；额外的 (初中英语单词)
- disappointment [,disə´pɔintmənt] n.失望；挫折 (初中英语单词)
- mischief [´mistʃif] n.伤害；故障；调皮 (初中英语单词)
- patent [´peitənt, ´pæ-] a.专利的 n.专利品 (初中英语单词)
- evident [´evidənt] a.明显的，明白的 (初中英语单词)
- conscience [´kɔnʃəns] n.良心；道德心 (初中英语单词)
- anxiety [æŋ´zaiəti] n.挂念；渴望；焦虑的事 (初中英语单词)
- innocent [´inəsənt] a.无罪的；单纯的 (初中英语单词)
- impression [im´preʃən] n.印刷；印象；效果 (初中英语单词)
- character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)
- prospect [´prɔspekt, prəs´pekt] n.景色；境界 v.勘察 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- prohibition [,prəuhi´biʃən] n.禁止；禁令；禁酒 (初中英语单词)
- permission [pə´miʃən] n.允许；同意；许可 (初中英语单词)
- amount [ə´maunt] n.总数；数量 v.合计 (初中英语单词)
- strictly [´striktli] ad.严格地 (高中英语单词)
- portrait [´pɔ:trit] n.肖像；相片；雕像 (高中英语单词)
- thrash [θræʃ] v.打(谷)；(用棍)痛打 (高中英语单词)
- donkey [´dɔŋki] n.驴子；蠢人；顽固的人 (高中英语单词)
- contempt [kən´tempt] n.轻蔑；受辱；不顾 (高中英语单词)
- meddle [´medl] vi.干涉(预)；乱弄 (高中英语单词)
- anxiously [´æŋkʃəsli] ad.挂念地；渴望地 (高中英语单词)
- enthusiastic [inθju:zi´æstik] a.热情的，热心的 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- leisure [´leʒə] n.空闲；悠闲；安定 (高中英语单词)
- counter [´kauntə] n.计算者；柜台；计算机 (高中英语单词)
- heartily [´hɑ:tili] ad.衷心地；亲切地 (高中英语单词)
- monstrous [´mɔnstrəs] a.怪异的；庞大的 (高中英语单词)
- solitude [´sɔlitju:d] n.孤独；寂寞；荒凉 (高中英语单词)
- chamber [´tʃeimbə] n.房间；议院；会议室 (高中英语单词)
- unconscious [ʌn´kɔnʃəs] a.无意识的；不觉察的 (高中英语单词)
- ascertain [,æsə´tein] vt.探查；查明 (高中英语单词)
- shabby [´ʃæbi] a.(衣服)破旧的 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- reputation [repju´teiʃən] n.名誉；名声；信誉 (英语四级单词)
- assailant [ə´seilənt] n.攻击者 (英语四级单词)
- supremacy [sju´preməsi] n.优越性；最高地位 (英语四级单词)
- victor [´viktə] n.&a.胜利者(的) (英语四级单词)
- good-natured [´gud-´neitʃəd] a.脾气好的，温厚的 (英语四级单词)
- forenoon [´fɔ:nu:n] n.午前，上午 (英语四级单词)
- admirer [əd´maiərə] n.赞美者，羡慕者 (英语四级单词)
- molasses [mə´læsiz] n.糖浆，糖蜜 (英语四级单词)
- setting [´setiŋ] n.安装；排字；布景 (英语四级单词)
- retail [´ri:teil, ri´teil] n.&a.&v.零售(商品的) (英语四级单词)
- sabbath [´sæbəθ] n.安息日 (英语四级单词)
- far-off [´fɑ:rɔ:f] a.远方的，遥远的 (英语四级单词)
- wholesale [´həulseil] n.&vt.批发 a.批发的 (英语四级单词)
- impatiently [im´peiʃəntli] ad.不耐烦地，急躁地 (英语四级单词)
- allude [ə´lu:d] vi.暗指；侧面提到 (英语四级单词)
- busily [´bizili] ad.忙碌地 (英语四级单词)
- recede [ri´si:d] vi.后退；收回 vt.交还 (英语六级单词)
- bengal [beŋ´gɔ:l] n.孟加拉 (英语六级单词)
- departed [di´pɑ:tid] a.已往的；已故的 (英语六级单词)
- thorny [´θɔ:ni] a.多刺的，棘手的 (英语六级单词)
- firewood [´faiəwud] n.柴，薪 (英语六级单词)
- inviting [in´vaitiŋ] a.动人的 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- bookkeeper [´buk,ki:pə] n.记帐员，簿记员 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
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