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1、【英文读物】Brave and BoldCHAPTER I. THE YOUNG RIVALS. The main schoolroom in the Millville Academy was brilliantly lighted, and the various desks were occupied by boys and girls of different ages from ten to eighteen, all busily writing under the general direction of Professor George W. Granville, Instru
2、ctor in Plain and Ornamental Penmanship. Professor Granville, as he styled himself, was a traveling teacher, and generally had two or three evening schools in progress in different places at the same time. He was really a very good penman, and in a course of twelve lessons, for which he charged the
3、very moderate price of a dollar, not, of course, including stationery, he contrived to impart considerable instruction, and such pupils as chose to learn were likely to profit by his instructions. His venture in Millville had been unusually successful. There were a hundred pupils on his list, and th
4、ere had been no disturbance during the course of lessons. At nine precisely, Professor Granville struck a small bell, and said, in rather a nasal voice: You will now stop writing. There was a little confusion as the books were closed and the pens were wiped. Ladies and gentlemen, said the professor,
5、 placing one arm under his coat tails and extending the other in an oratorical attitude, this evening completes the course of lessons which I have had the honor and pleasure of giving you. I have endeavored to impart to you an easy and graceful penmanship, such as may be a recommendation to you in a
6、fter life. It gives me pleasure to state that many of you have made great proficiency, and equaled my highest expectations. There are others, perhaps, who have not been fully sensible of the privileges which they enjoyed. I would say to you all that perfection is not yet attained. You will need prac
7、tice to reap the full benefit of my instructions. Should my life be spared, I shall hope next winter to give another course of writing lessons in this place, and I hope I may then have the pleasure of meeting you again as pupils. Let me say, in conclusion, that I thank you for your patronage and for
8、 your good behavior during this course of lessons, and at the same time I bid you good-by. With the closing words, Professor Granville made a low bow, and placed his hand on his heart, as he had done probably fifty times before, on delivering the same speech, which was the stereotyped form in which
9、he closed his evening schools. There was a thumping of feet, mingled with a clapping of hands, as the professor closed his speech, and a moment later a boy of sixteen, occupying one of the front seats, rose, and, advancing with easy self-possession, drew from his pocket a gold pencil case, containin
10、g a pencil and pen, and spoke as follows: Professor Granville, the members of your writing class, desirous of testifying their appreciation of your services as teacher, have contributed to buy this gold pencil case, which, in their name, I have great pleasure in presenting to you. Will you receive i
11、t with our best wishes for your continued success as a teacher of penmanship? With these words, he handed the pencil to the professor and returned to his seat. The applause that ensued was terrific, causing the dust to rise from the floor where it had lain undisturbed till the violent attack of two
12、hundred feet raised it in clouds, through which the figure of the professor was still visible, with his right arm again extended. Ladies and gentlemen, he commenced, I cannot give fitting utterance to the emotions that fill my heart at this most unexpected tribute of regard and mark of appreciation
13、of my humble services. Believe me, I shall always cherish it as a most valued possession, and the sight of it will recall the pleasant, and, I hope, profitable hours which we have passed together this winter. To you, in particular, Mr. Rushton, I express my thanks for the touching and eloquent manne
14、r in which you have made the presentation, and, in parting with you all, I echo your own good wishes, and shall hope that you may be favored with an abundant measure of health and prosperity. This speech was also vociferously applauded. It was generally considered impromptu, but was, in truth, as st
15、ereotyped as the other. Professor Granville had on previous occasions been the recipient of similar testimonials, and he had found it convenient to have a set form of acknowledgment. He was wise in this, for it is a hard thing on the spur of the moment suitably to offer thanks for an unexpected gift
16、. The professor made a bully speech, said more than one after the exercises were over. So did Bob Rushton, said Edward Kent. I didnt see anything extraordinary in what he said, sneered Halbert Davis. It seemed to me very commonplace. Perhaps you could do better yourself, Halbert, said Kent. Probably
17、 I could, said Halbert, haughtily. Why didnt you volunteer, then? I didnt care to have anything to do with it, returned Halbert, scornfully. Thats lucky, remarked Edward, as there was no chance of your getting appointed. Do you mean to insult me? demanded Halbert, angrily. No, I was only telling the
18、 truth. Halbert turned away, too disgusted to make any reply. He was a boy of sixteen, of slender form and sallow complexion, dressed with more pretension than taste. Probably there was no boy present whose suit was of such fine material as his. But something more than fine clothes is needed to give
19、 a fine appearance, and Halberts mean and insignificant features were far from rendering him attractive, and despite the testimony of his glass, Halbert considered himself a young man of distinguished appearance, and was utterly blind to his personal defects. What contributed to feed his vanity was
20、his position as the son of the richest man in Millville. Indeed, his father was superintendent, and part owner, of the great brick factory on the banks of the river, in which hundreds found employment. Halbert found plenty to fawn upon him, and was in the habit of strutting about the village, swingi
21、ng a light cane, neither a useful nor an ornamental member of the community. After his brief altercation with Edward Kent, he drew on a pair of kid gloves, and looked about the room for Hester Paine, the lawyers daughter, the reigning belle among the girls of her age in Millville. The fact was, that
22、 Halbert was rather smitten with Hester, and had made up his mind to escort her home on this particular evening, never doubting that his escort would be thankfully accepted. But he was not quick enough, Robert Rushton had already approached Hester, and said, Miss Hester, will you allow me to see you
23、 home? I shall be very glad to have your company, Robert, said Hester. Robert was a general favorite. He had a bright, attractive face, strong and resolute, when there was occasion, frank and earnest at all times. His clothes were neat and clean, but of a coarse, mixed cloth, evidently of low price,
24、 suiting his circumstances, for he was poor, and his mother and himself depended mainly upon his earnings in the factory for the necessaries of life. Hester Paine, being the daughter of a well-to-do lawyer, belonged to the village aristocracy, and so far as worldly wealth was concerned, was far abov
25、e Robert Rushton. But such considerations never entered her mind, as she frankly, and with real pleasure, accepted the escort of the poor factory boy. Scarcely had she done so when Halbert Davis approached, smoothing his kid gloves, and pulling at his necktie. Miss Hester, he said, consequentially,
26、I shall have great pleasure in escorting you home. Thank you, said Hester, but I am engaged. Engaged! repeated Halbert, and to whom? Robert Rushton has kindly offered to take me home. Robert Rushton! said Halbert, disdainfully. Never mind. I will relieve him of his duty. Thank you, Halbert, said Rob
27、ert, who was standing by, I wont trouble you. I will see Miss Paine home. Your escort was accepted because you were the first to offer it, said Halbert. Miss Hester, said Robert, I will resign in favor of Halbert, if you desire it. I dont desire it, said the young girl, promptly. Come, Robert, I am
28、ready if you are. With a careless nod to Halbert, she took Roberts arm, and left the schoolhouse. Mortified and angry, Halbert looked after them, muttering, Ill teach the factory boy a lesson. Hell be sorry for his impudence yet.CHAPTER II. PUNISHING A COWARD Mrs. Rushton and her son occupied a litt
29、le cottage, not far from the factory. Behind it were a few square rods of garden, in which Robert raised a few vegetables, working generally before or after his labor in the factory. They lived in a very plain way, but Mrs. Rushton was an excellent manager, and they had never lacked the common comfo
30、rts of life. The husband and father had followed the sea. Two years before, he left the port of Boston as captain of the ship Norman, bound for Calcutta. Not a word had reached his wife and son since then, and it was generally believed that it had gone to the bottom of the sea. Mrs. Rushton regarded
31、 herself as a widow, and Robert, entering the factory, took upon himself the support of the family. He was now able to earn six dollars a week, and this, with his mothers earnings in braiding straw for a hat manufacturer in a neighboring town, supported them, though they were unable to lay up anythi
32、ng. The price of a term at the writing school was so small that Robert thought he could indulge himself in it, feeling that a good handwriting was a valuable acquisition, and might hereafter procure him employment in some business house. For the present, he could not do better than to retain his pla
33、ce in the factory. Robert was up at six the next morning. He spent half an hour in sawing and splitting wood enough to last his mother through the day, and then entered the kitchen, where breakfast was ready. I am a little late this morning, mother, he said. I must hurry down my breakfast, or I shal
34、l be late at the factory, and that will bring twenty-five cents fine. It would be a pity to get fined, but you mustnt eat too fast. It is not healthful. Ive got a pretty good digestion, mother, said Robert, laughing. Nothing troubles me. Still, you mustnt trifle with it. Do you remember, Robert, add
35、ed his mother, soberly, it is just two years to-day since your poor father left us for Boston to take command of his ship? So it is, mother; I had forgotten it. I little thought then that I should never see him again! and Mrs. Rushton sighed. It is strange we have never heard anything of the ship. N
36、ot so strange, Robert. It must have gone down when no other vessel was in sight. I wish we knew the particulars, mother. Sometimes I think father may have escaped from the ship in a boat, and may be still alive. I used to think it possible, Robert; but I have given up all hopes of it. Two years have
37、 passed, and if your father were alive, we should have seen him or heard from him ere this. I am afraid you are right. Theres one thing I cant help thinking of, mother, said Robert, thoughtfully. How is it that father left no property? He received a good salary, did he not? Yes; he had received a go
38、od salary for several years. He did not spend the whole of it, did he? No, I am sure he did not. Your father was never extravagant. Didnt he ever speak to you on the subject? He was not in the habit of speaking of his business; but just before he went away, I remember him telling me that he had some
39、 money invested, and hoped to add more to it during the voyage which proved so fatal to him. He didnt tell you how much it was, nor how it was invested? No; that was all he said. Since his death, I have looked everywhere in the house for some papers which would throw light upon it; but I have been a
40、ble to find nothing. I do not care so much for myself, but I should be glad if you did not have to work so hard. Never mind me, mother; Im young and strong, I can stand workbut its hard on you. I am rich in having a good son, Robert. And I in a good mother, said Robert, affectionately. And, now, to
41、change the subject. I suspect I have incurred the enmity of Halbert Davis. How is that? asked Mrs. Rushton. I went home with Hester Paine, last evening, from writing school. Just as she had accepted my escort, Halbert came up, and in a condescending way, informed her that he would see her home. What
42、 did she say? She told him she was engaged to me. He said, coolly, that he would relieve me of the duty, but I declined his obliging offer. He looked mad enough, I can tell you. Hes full of self-conceit, and I suppose he wondered how any one could prefer me to him. I am sorry you have incurred his e
43、nmity. I didnt lose any sleep by it. You know his father is the superintendent of the factory. Halbert isnt. But he may prejudice his father against you, and get you discharged. I dont think he would be quite so mean as that. We wont borrow trouble, mother. But times up, and I must go. Robert seized
44、 his hat and hurried to the mill. He was in his place when the great factory bell stopped ringing on the stroke of seven, and so escaped the fine, which would have cut off one-quarter of a days pay. Meanwhile, Halbert Davis had passed an uncomfortable and restless night. He had taken a fancy to Hest
45、er Paine, and he had fully determined to escort her home on the previous evening. As she was much sought after among her young companions, it would have gratified his pride to have it known that she had accepted his company. But he had been cut out, and by Robert Rushtonone of his fathers factory ha
46、nds. This made his jealousy more intolerable, and humiliated his pride, and set him to work devising schemes for punishing Roberts presumption. He felt that it was Roberts duty, even though he had been accepted, to retire from the field as soon as his, Halberts, desire was known. This Robert had exp
47、ressly declined to do, and Halbert felt very indignant. He made up his mind that he would give Robert a chance to apologize, and if he declined to do so he would do what he could to get him turned out of the factory. At twelve oclock the factory bell pealed forth a welcome sound to the hundreds who
48、were busily at work within the great building. It was the dinner hour, and a throng of men, women and children poured out of the great portals and hastened to their homes or boarding houses to dine. Among them was Robert Rushton. As he was walking homeward with his usual quick, alert step, he came upon Halbert Davis, at the corner of the street. Halbert was dressed carefully, and, as usual, was swing