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1、【英文读物】Andy Gordon The Fortunes of A Young JanitorCHAPTER I. THE YOUNG JANITOR. The Hamilton Academy, under the charge of Rev. Dr. Euclid, stands on an eminence about ten rods back from the street, in the town of the same name. It is a two-story building, surmounted by a cupola, or belfry, and, being
2、 neatly painted brown and well cared for, is, on the whole, an ornament to the village.It was a quarter of nine, when a boy of sixteen, rather showily dressed, ascended the academy hill and entered the front door, which was already open. He swung a small light cane in his handrather an unusual artic
3、le for a schoolboy to carryand it was clear, from his general appearance and bearing, that he had a high opinion of himself.“I am early,” he said to himself. “I shall4 have a chance to look over my Latin before Dr. Euclid comes.”It may be supposed from this speech that Herbert Ross was an earnest st
4、udent, but this would be altogether a mistake. The fact is, he had been playing with some companions till a late hour the previous evening, and this had prevented his paying the necessary attention to his lessons in Virgil.As Dr. Euclid was strict in his requirements, and very slow to accept excuses
5、, Herbert, to avoid trouble, wished to have, at any rate, a superficial acquaintance with the lesson.As he entered the schoolroom he was met by a cloud of dust. A boy of about his own age was sweeping the floor. He had nearly completed his task, and was just about to sweep the pile of accumulated du
6、st into the entry when Herbert Ross presented himself. The boy who was wielding the broom, the young janitor of the academy, being our hero, we may as well stop here and describe him.His name was Andrew Gordon, commonly changed by his friends to Andy. He was a stout, well-made boy, with a face not e
7、xactly handsome, but bold, frank and good-humored; but about the mouth there were lines indicating firmness and resolution. He was evidently a boy who had a respect for himself.5It may be said, further, that Andy received his tuition free and a dollar a week for his services in taking care of the sc
8、hoolhouse. He was the son of a widow, who was in receipt of a pension of twenty dollars a month from the government, as the widow of an officer who had surrendered his life during the Civil War on the field of Gettysburg. This, with what Andy could earn, was nearly all she and he had to live upon.It
9、 may easily be supposed, therefore, that the dollar a week which Andy received from Dr. Euclid, or, rather, from the trustees of the academy, was an appreciable help in their frugal household.Herbert Ross was the only son of the village lawyer, a man of private fortune, who lived in a style quite be
10、yond the average mode of living among his neighbors. Herbert was impressed, as many boys are under such circumstances, with an idea of his consequence, and this made itself felt in his intercourse with his school fellows.In particular he looked down upon Andy Gordon, the first in rank in his class,
11、because he was poor and filled the position of school janitor, which he regarded as menial.Andy knew very well how his proud classmate regarded him, but it did not materially6 diminish his happiness or cause him to lose even a minutes sleep.“What are you kicking up such a dust for, Andrew Gordon?” a
12、sked Herbert, considerably ruffled in temper, for some of the dust had settled upon his clothing.“I am sweeping the schoolroom, Herbert,” said Andy, “as you see.”“You neednt cover me with your confounded dust,” said Herbert, testily.“I didnt see you coming in,” said Andy, good-naturedly, “or I would
13、 have stopped a minute. The fact is, I am rather late this morning, or my job would be over.”“Ill give you a lesson to teach you to be more careful next time,” said Herbert, who was getting more and more ill-natured, and, as is usual with young bullies, got more impudent on account of Andys good nat
14、ure.As he spoke, he drew back his foot and kicked at the pile of dust which Andy had carefully swept to the doorway, spreading it over a considerable portion of the floor.Good-humored as he was, Andys eye grew stern, and his voice was quick and imperative, as he demanded:“What did you do that for, H
15、erbert Ross?”“I told you already,” said Herbert. “I am7 a gentleman, and I dont mean to let a servant cover me with dust.”“I am the janitor of this academy,” said Andy, “and if that is being a servant, then I am one. But there is one thing I tell you, Herbert. I wont allow any boy, gentleman or not,
16、 to interfere with my work.”“How can you help yourself?” asked Herbert, with a sneer.“Take this broom and sweep up the pile of dust you have scattered,” said the young janitor.As he spoke he tendered the broom to Herbert.“What do you mean?” demanded the young aristocrat, his dark face growing darker
17、 still with anger.“I mean what I say,” responded Andy, resolutely. “You must repair the mischief you have done.”“Must? You low-lived servant!” Herbert burst forth. “Do you know who you are talking to?”This was rather ungrammatical, but it is a common mistake, and Herbert was too angry to think of gr
18、ammar.“I am talking to a boy who has done a mean action,” retorted Andy. “Take that broom and sweep up the dust you have scattered.”8Herbert by this time was at white heat. He seized the broom which was extended toward him, but instead of using it as he was requested, he brought it down upon Andys s
19、houlders.It was not the handle, but the broom end which touched the young janitor, and he was not hurt; but it is needless to say that he considered himself insulted. Under such circumstances, though far from quarrelsome, it was his habit to act promptly, and he did so now.First he wrested the broom
20、 from Herbert; then he seized that young gentleman around the waist, and, despite his struggles, deposited him forcibly on the floor, which was thick with dust.“Two can play at your game, Herbert,” he said.“What do you mean? you low hound!” screamed Herbert, as he rose from the floor.“I think you ca
21、n tell, without any explanation,” said Andy, calmly.Herbert looked as if he would like to annihilate the young janitor, but there was something in the strong grasp which he had just felt which convinced him that Andy was stronger than himself, and he hesitated.“Do you know that my father is one of t
22、he trustees of the academy?” he shouted, shaking9 his fist. “Ill get you discharged from your place.”“You can do what you like,” answered Andy, “but youd better get out of the way, for Im going to sweep. Ill let you off from sweeping up, as you have had a lesson already.”“Youll let me off!” exclaime
23、d Herbert, passionately. “Youa servantgive me a lesson! You dont know your place, you young beggar!”“No more talk like that, Herbert Ross, for I wont stand it!” said Andy, firmly.“Ill call you what I please!” retorted Herbert.“If you call me another name, Ill lay you down in the dirt again!” said An
24、dy.Just then, at the open door, appeared the tall, dignified figure of Dr. Euclid, who was in time to hear the last words spoken.“Whats the matter, boys?” he asked, looking keenly from Andy to Herbert.CHAPTER II. HERBERT CONSIDERS HIMSELF INSULTED. Both boys were surprised to see Dr. Euclid, for it
25、was ten minutes before his usual hour of coming.It happened, however, that he had had10 occasion to go to the post office to deposit an important letter, and as it was so near the hour for commencing school, he had not thought it worth his while to go home again.“Whats the matter, boys?” repeated th
26、e doctor.Herbert Ross, who was still fuming with anger, saw a chance to get the janitor into trouble, and answered, spitefully:“That boy has insulted me!”“How did he insult you?” inquired Dr. Euclid, rather surprised.“He seized me, when I wasnt looking, and laid me down on the dirty floor!” exploded
27、 Herbert, looking at Andy as if he would like to wither him with a glance.Dr. Euclid knew something of the character and disposition of Herbert, and reserved his judgment.“What have you to say to this charge, Andrew?” he asked, mildly.“It is true,” said Andy“all except my taking him unawares.”“What
28、could induce you to make such an assault upon your fellow-student?” said the doctor.In reply, Andy made a correct statement of the transaction, in mild and temperate language.11“Is this correct, Herbert?” asked the doctor. “Did you interfere with Andrew in the discharge of his duties?”“I kicked the
29、pile of dirt,” Herbert admitted.“Why did you do that?”“Because I wanted to teach him a lesson.”“What lesson?”“Not to cover a gentleman with dust when he entered the room,” replied Herbert, in a pompous tone.“By the word gentleman you mean to designate yourself, I presume,” said Dr. Euclid.Herbert co
30、lored, for though the doctors words were plain and unemphasized, they seemed to him to imply sarcasm.“Certainly, sir,” he answered.“Those who claim to be gentlemen must behave as such,” said Dr. Euclid, calmly. “It is clear that your being covered with dust was accidental, and you had no occasion to
31、 resent it.”“Had he any right to throw me down?” asked Herbert, biting his lips.“Did you not strike him first?”“Well, yes.”“Then it appears to me that you are quits. I dont approve of fighting, but I hold to the12 right of self-defense. I dont think this affair calls for any interference on my part,
32、” and the doctor passed on to his desk.Herbert Ross was very much mortified. He had confidently expected that Andy would get into trouble, and perhaps receive a punishment, certainly a reprimand, from the preceptor. As it was, he alone had incurred censure.He nodded his head viciously, reflecting:“T
33、his isnt the last of it. The doctor is partial to that young beggar, but the doctor isnt everybody. Hes responsible to the trustees, and my father is the most important one. Hell find hes made a mistake.”Herbert was not at all improved in temper by a sharp reprimand from the doctor, when he came to
34、recite his lesson, on the shabby character of his recitation.When recess came, he stalked up to Andy, and said, menacingly:“You look out, Andy Gordon! Youll get into trouble before you know it!”“Thank you for telling me!” said Andy, calmly. “What sort of trouble will I get into?”“You think youre all
35、 right because Dr. Euclid took your part this morning!” continued Herbert, not answering the question;13 “but that isnt the end of the matter, by a long shot! The doctor isnt so great a man as he thinks he is.”“I never knew that he considered himself a great man,” answered Andy.“Well, he does. He do
36、esnt know how to treat a gentleman.”“Why dont he?”“He upholds you in what you did.”“He thinks it right to act in self-defense.”“He may have to act in self-defense himself. My father is one of the trustees of this academy.”“You said that this morning.”“He can turn the doctor out of office, and put in
37、 another teacher,” continued Herbert.“That isnt anything to me,” said Andy. “Still, I have one thing to say.”“What is that?” asked Herbert, suspiciously.“That he will have a big job on his hands when he undertakes it,” said Andy.“He can do it,” repeated Herbert, jerking his head emphatically; “but h
38、e wont begin with that.”“Wont he?” said Andy, indifferently.“No; hell begin with you. Im going to tell him to-night all that has happened, and14 hell have you discharged. You can make up your mind to that.”If Herbert expected to see Andy exhibit fear or alarm, he was not gratified. Our hero, on the
39、other hand, looked provokingly indifferent.“Dont you think you could get me off, Herbert?” asked Andy, with a smile, which the young aristocrat did not quite understand.“If you will beg my pardon before the boys for what you did,” he said, magnanimously, “I wont do anything about it.”“That is very k
40、ind. I suppose you will be willing to ask my pardon first for striking me with the broom and calling me bad names.”“No, I wont. I only did and said what was proper.”“Then you wont get any apology out of me,” returned Andy.“You will lose your place, and have to leave school.”“I dont think I shall.”“M
41、y father will have you turned out, and another janitor appointed.”“The janitor is not appointed by the trustees. Dr. Euclid always appoints the janitor.”This was news to Herbert. He had rather a vague idea of the powers of the trustees, and15 fancied that their authority extended to the appointment
42、of so subordinate a person as the janitor.“It doesnt make any difference,” he declared, recovering himself. “The doctor will have to dismiss you, whether he wants to or not.”“You speak very positively,” rejoined Andy, with a contemptuous smile, which Herbert resented.“Youll find its no laughing matt
43、er,” said Herbert, hotly. “For a poor boy, you put on altogether too many airs.”Andys manner changed.“Herbert Ross,” he said, “Ive listened to your talk because it amused me, but Ive heard enough of it. The only boy in school who puts on airs is yourself, and I, for one, dont mean to stand your impu
44、dence. Your father may be a very important person, but you are not. All your talk about Dr. Euclids losing his place is ridiculous. You can go and talk to the doctor on the subject if you think it best.”Here Andy turned on his heel, and called out to Frank Cooper:“Have a catch, Frank?”“Yes, Andy.”Th
45、e two boys began to throw a ball to each16 other, by way of improving their practice, for both belonged to a baseball club, and Andys special and favorite position was that of catcher.“You seem to have considerable business with Herbert Ross,” said Frank. “I thought we should have no time for practi
46、ce.”Andy smiled.“Herbert thinks he has business with me,” he said.“I shouldnt think it was very pleasant business, by the way he looks,” said Frank.Andy smiled, but said nothing.None of the boys had been present when the little difficulty of the morning took place, and he thought it not worth mentio
47、ning.When Herbert left school at the close of the afternoon session, he was fully resolved to make it hot for the young janitor, and for Dr. Euclid, whose censure he had again incurred for a faulty Greek recitation.CHAPTER III. DR. EUCLID RECEIVES A CALL. Dr. Euclid lived in a comfortable dwelling-h
48、ouse not far from the Presbyterian Church. His family was small, consisting only of his wife and himself. Having no children, he devoted17 himself solely to the interests of the academy, of which he had been the principal for a space of fifteen years.The doctor was an unusually learned man for the preceptor of an academy. He by no means confined his attention to the studies pursued in the institution, but devoted his leisure hours to reading classic authors, such as are read in our best colleges. He had published a carefully annotated edition o