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1、【英文读物】The Young AdventurerCHAPTER I. MARK NELSONS FAMILY. I wish I could pay off the mortgage on my farm, said Mark Nelson soberly, taking his seat on the left of the fireplace, in the room where his wife and family were assembled. Have you paid the interest, Mark? asked his wife. Yes; I paid it thi
2、s afternoon, and it has stripped me of money completely. I have less than five dollars in my pocketbook toward buying you and the children clothes for the winter. Never mind me, said his wife cheerfully. I am pretty well provided for. Why, mother, said Sarah, the oldest daughter, a girl of fourteen;
3、 you havent had a new dress for a year.4 I have enough to last me till spring, at any rate, said the mother. You never buy anything for yourself. I dont go in rags, do I? asked Mrs. Nelson, with a smile. Mrs. Nelson had a happy disposition, which led her to accept uncomplainingly, and even cheerfull
4、y, the sacrifices which, as the wife of a farmer in poor circumstances, she was compelled to make. You are right, Sarah, said Mark Nelson. Your mother never seems to think of herself. She might have been much better off if she had not married me. The children did not understand this allusion. They h
5、ad never been told that their mother had received an offer from Squire Hudson, the wealthiest man in the village, but had chosen instead to marry Mark Nelson, whose only property was a small farm, mortgaged for half its value. Her rejected admirer took the refusal hard, for, as much as it was possib
6、le for him, he loved the prettiest girl in the village, as Mary Dale was generally regarded. But Mary knew him to be cold and selfish, and could not make up her mind to marry him. If she had done so, she would now be5 living in the finest house in the village, with the chance of spending the winter
7、in New York or Boston, instead of drudging in an humble home, where there was indeed enough to eat, but little money for even necessary purposes. She had never regretted her decision. Her husband, though poor, was generally respected and liked, while the squire, though his money procured him a certa
8、in degree of consideration, had no near or attached friends. To Squire Hudson many in the village paid tribute; for he held mortgages on twenty farms and buildings, and was strict in exacting prompt payment of the interest semi-annually. It was he to whom Mark Nelsons farm was mortgaged for two thou
9、sand dollars. The mortgage had originally been for fifteen hundred dollars, but five years before it had been increased to two thousand, which represented more than half the sum which it would have fetched, if put up for sale. The interest on this sum amounted to a hundred and twenty dollars a year,
10、 which Mark Nelson always found it hard to raise. Could he have retained it in his hands, and devoted it to the use of his family, it would have helped them wonderfully, with Mrs. Nelsons good management.6 Tom, the oldest boy, now approaching his sixteenth birthday, looked up from a book he was read
11、ing. He was a bright-looking boy, with brown hair, a ruddy complexion, and dark-blue eyes, who looked, and was, frank and manly. What is the amount of your interest? he asked. Sixty dollars every half-year, Tom. That is what I paid to Squire Hudson this afternoon. It would have made us very comforta
12、ble, if I only could have kept it. It would have done you more good than the squire, said Sarah. He has more money than he knows what to do with, said her father, almost complainingly. It seems hard that money should be so unevenly distributed. Money is not happiness, said Mrs. Nelson quietly. No; b
13、ut it helps to buy happiness. I dont think Squire Hudson is as happy a man as you, Mark. Mark Nelsons face softened as he surveyed his wife and children. I am happy at home, he said, and I dont think the squire is.7 I am sure he isnt, said Tom. Mrs. Hudson is sour and ill-tempered, and Sinclairthe o
14、nly childis a second edition of his mother. He is the most unpopular boy in the village. Still, said the farmer, not quite convinced, money is an important element of happiness, and a farmer stands a very poor chance of acquiring it. Tom, I advise you not to be a farmer. I dont mean to be if I can h
15、elp it, said Tom. I am ready for any opening that offers. I hope some day to pay off the mortgage on the farm, and make you a free man, father. Thank you for your good intentions, Tom; but two thousand dollars is a large sum of money. I know it, father; but I was reading in a daily paper, not long s
16、ince, of a boy, as poor as myself, who was worth twenty-five thousand dollars by the time he was thirty. Why shouldnt this happen to me? Dont build castles in the air, Tom, said his mother sensibly. At least, mother, I may hope for good luck. I have been wanting to talk to you both about8 my future
17、prospects. I shall be sixteen next week, and it is time I did something. You are doing somethingworking on the farm now, Tom. That dont count. Father advises me not to be a farmer, and I agree with him. I think I am capable of making my way in the world in some other way, where I can earn more money
18、. There is Walter, who likes the country, to stay with you. Walter, the third child, was now twelve years of age, with decided country tastes. I would like to be a farmer as well as anything, said Walter. I like the fresh air. I shouldnt like to be cooped up in a store, or to live in the city. Let T
19、om go if he likes. I have no objection, said Mr. Nelson; but I have neither money nor influence to help him. He will have to make his own way. I am not afraid to try, said Tom courageously. From this day I will look out for a chance, if you and mother are willing. I shall not oppose your wishes, Tom
20、, said Mrs. Nelson gravely, though it will be a sad day for me when you leave your home. That isnt the way to look at it, mother, said Tom. If gold pieces grew on currant9 bushes, it wouldnt be necessary for me to leave home to make a living. I wish they did, said Harry, a boy nine years of age. Wha
21、t would you do then, Harry? asked his brother, smiling. I would buy a velocipede and a pair of skates. I heard of a boy once who found a penny in the field, right under a potato-vine, said Walter. I dont believe it, said Harry. Its true, for I was the boy. Where did it come from? Tom put it there to
22、 fool me. Wont you put one there to fool me, Tom? asked Harry. You are too smart, Harry, said Tom, laughing. My pennies are too few to try such experiments. I hope, by the time you are as old as Walter, to give you something better. The conversation drifted to other topics, with which we are not con
23、cerned. Tom, however, did not forget it. He felt that an important question had that evening been decided for him. He had only thought of making a start for himself hitherto. Now he had10 broached the subject, and received the permission of his father and mother. The world was all before him where t
24、o choose. His available capital was small, it is true, amounting only to thirty-seven cents and a jack-knife; but he had, besides, a stout heart, a pair of strong hands, an honest face, and plenty of perseverancenot a bad equipment for a young adventurer. CHAPTER II. TOM FINDS A WALLET. Since the ti
25、me of which I am writing, over sixty years have passed, for it was in the year 1850 that Tom made up his mind to leave home and seek a fortune. The papers were full of the new gold discoveries in the new country which had recently been added to the great republic. Thousands were hurrying to the land
26、 of gold; men who had been unfortunate at home, or, though moderately well situated, were seized by the spirit of adventure. At considerable sacrifice many raised the means of11 reaching the new El Dorado, while others borrowed or appropriated the necessary sum. Some, able to do neither, set out on
27、a venture, determined to get there in some way. In the weekly paper, to which Mr. Nelson had for years been a subscriber, Tom had read a good deal about California. His youthful fancy had been wrought upon by the brilliant pictures of a land where a penniless man might, if favored by fortune, secure
28、 a competence in a twelvemonth, and he ardently wished that he, too, might have the chance of going there. It was a wish, but not an expectation. It would cost at least two hundred dollars to reach the Pacific coast, and there was no hope of getting a tithe of that sum. If I could only go to Califor
29、nia, thought Tom, I would make my way somehow; I would cheerfully work twelve hours a day. I dont see why a boy cant dig gold, as well as a man. If somebody would lend me money enough to get there, I could afford to pay high interest. There was one man in Wilton who might lend him the money if he wo
30、uld. That man was Squire Hudson. He always had money on hand in considerable quantities, and two hundred12 dollars would be nothing to him. Tom would not have dreamed of applying to him, however, but for a service which just at this time he was able to render the squire. Tom had been in search of hu
31、ckleberriesfor this was the seasonwhen, in a narrow country road, not much frequented, his attention was drawn to an object lying in the road. His heart hounded with excitement when he saw that it was a well-filled pocketbook. He was not long in securing it. Opening the wallet, he found it was absol
32、utely stuffed with bank-bills, some of large denomination. There were, besides, several papers, to which he paid but little attention. They assured him, however, as he had already surmised, that the wallet was the property of Squire Hudson. I wonder how much money there is here, thought Tom, with na
33、tural curiosity. He stepped into the woods to avoid notice, and carefully counted the bills. There were two hundred-dollar bills, and three fifties, and so many of smaller denominations that Tom found the whole to amount to five hundred and sixty-seven dollars. Almost six hundred dollars! ejaculated
34、13 Tom, in excitement, for he had never seen so much money before. How happy should I be if I had as much money! How rich the squire is! He ought to be a happy man. Then the thought stole into our heros mind, that the wallet contained nearly three times as much as he would need to take him to Califo
35、rnia. If it were only mine! he thought to himself. Perhaps Tom ought to have been above temptation, but he was not. For one little instant he was tempted to take out two hundred dollars, and then drop the wallet where he had picked it up. No one would probably find out where the missing money was. B
36、ut Tom had been too well brought up to yield to this temptation. Not even the thought that he might, perhaps within a year, return the money with interest, prevailed upon him. It wouldnt be honest, he decided, and if I began in that way I could not expect that God would prosper me. If that is the on
37、ly way by which I can go to California I must make up my mind to stay at home. So the question was settled in Toms mind. The money must be returned to the owner.14 His pail was nearly full of huckleberries, but he postponed going home, for he felt that Squire Hudson would be feeling anxious about hi
38、s loss, and he thought it his duty to go and return the money first of all. Accordingly he made his way directly to the imposing residence of the rich man. Passing up the walk which led to the front door, Tom rang the bell. This was answered by a cross-looking servant. She glanced at the pail of ber
39、ries, and said quickly: We dont want any berries, and if we did you ought to go round to the side door. I havent asked you to buy any berries, have I? said Tom, rather provoked by the rudeness of the girl, when he had come to do the squire a favor. No, but thats what youre after. We have bought all
40、we want. I tell you I didnt come here to sell berries, said Tom independently; I picked these for use at home. Then what do you come here for, anyway, takin up my time wid comin to the door, when Im busy gettin supper? I want to see Squire Hudson. I dont know if hes at home.15 Then youd better find
41、out, and not keep me waiting. I never see such impudence, ejaculated the girl. I mean what I say, continued Tom stoutly. I want to see the squire on important business. Much business you have wid him! said the girl scornfully. Tom by this time was out of patience. Go and tell your master that I wish
42、 to see him, he said firmly. Ive a great mind to slam the door in your face, returned Bridget angrily. I wouldnt advise you to, said Tom calmly. A stop was put to the contention by an irritable voice. Whats all this, hey? Whos at the door, Bridget? A boy wid berries, sir. Tell him I dont want any. I
43、 have told him, and he wont go. Wont go, hey? and Squire Hudson came out into the hall. Whats all this, I say? Wont go? I wish to see you, sir, said Tom, undaunted. I have told the girl that I didnt16 come here to sell berries; but she objects to my seeing you. Squire Hudson was far from an amiable
44、man, and this explanation made him angry with the servant. He turned upon her fiercely. What do you mean, you trollop, he demanded, by refusing to let the boy see me? What do you mean by your insolence, I say? Bridget was overwhelmed, for the squires temper was like a tornado. I thought he wanted to
45、 sell berries, she faltered. That isnt true, said Tom. I told you expressly that I picked the berries for use at home, and had none to sell. Go back to the kitchen, you trollop! thundered the squire. You deserve to go to jail for your outrageous conduct. Bridget did not venture to answer a word, for
46、 it would only have raised a more violent storm, but retreated crestfallen to her own realm, and left our hero in possession of the field. She contented herself with muttering under her breath what she did not dare to speak aloud. You are Tom Nelson, are you not? asked17 the squire, adjusting his sp
47、ectacles, and looking more carefully at the boy. Yes, sir. Have you any message from your father? No, sir. Then why did you come here to take up my time? demanded the squire, frowning. I came to do you a service, Squire Hudson. You cametodomeaservice? repeated the squire slowly. Yes, sir. You may as well come in, said the rich man, leading into the sitting-room. Tom followed him into a handsomely furnished room, and the two sat down opposite each other.CHAPTER III. TOM ASKS A LOAN.