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1、【国外英文文学】Cast Upon the BreakersCast Upon the Breakersby Horatio AlgerCHAPTER I.A FAITHLESS GUARDIAN.Well, good by, Rodney! I leave school tomorrow. I am going tolearn a trade.I am sorry to part with you, David. Couldnt you stay another term?No: my uncle says I must be earning my living, and I have ac
2、hance to learn the carpenters trade.Where are you going?To Duffield, some twenty miles away. I wish I were inyour shoes. You have no money cares, and can go on quietlyand complete your education.I dont know how I am situated, David. I only know that myguardian pays my expenses at this boarding schoo
3、l.Yes, you are a star boarder, and have the nicest room inthe institution. I am only a poor day scholar. Still I feelthankful that I have been allowed to remain as long as I have. Who is your guardian?A Mr. Benjamin Fielding, of New York.Is he a business man?I believe so.Do you know how much you wil
4、l inherit when you come of age?asked David, after a short pause.I havent an idea.It seems to me your guardian ought to have told you.I scarcely know my guardian. Five years ago I spent a week athis home. I dont remember much about it except that he livesin a handsome house, and has plenty of servant
5、s. Since then, asyou know, I have passed most of my time here, except that in thesummer I was allowed to board at the Catkills or any countryplace I might select,Yes, and I remember one year you took me with you and paid allmy expenses. I shall never forget your kindness, and how muchI enjoyed that
6、summer.Rodney Ropes smiled, and his smile made his usually grave facelook very attractive.My dear David, he said, it was all selfishness on my part. I knew I should enjoy myself much better with a companion.You may call that selfishness, Rodney, but it is a kind ofselfishness that makes me your devo
7、ted friend. How long do youthink you shall remain at school?I dont know. My guardian has never told me his plans for me. I wish he would.I shall miss you, Rodney, but we will correspond, wont we?Surely. You know I shall always feel interested in you andyour welfare.David was a plain boy of humble pa
8、rentage, and would probably bea hard working mechanic. In fact he was looking for nothing better.But Rodney Ropes looked to be of genteel blood, and had the airof one who had been brought up a gentleman. But different asthey were in social position the two boys had always beendevoted friends.The boa
9、rding school of which Rodney was, as his friend expressedhimself, a star pupil, was situated about fifty miles from thecity of New York. It was under the charge of Dr. Sampson, atall, thin man of fair scholarship, keenly alive to his owninterest, who showed partiality for his richer pupils, andwhene
10、ver he had occasion to censure bore most heavily upon boyslike David Hull, who was poor.Rodney occupied alone the finest room in the school. There wasa great contrast between his comfortable quarters and theextremely plain dormitories occupied by less favored pupils.In the case of some boys the favo
11、ritism of the teacher wouldhave led them to put on airs, and made them unpopular with theirschool fellows. But Rodney had too noble a nature to beinfluenced by such considerations. He enjoyed his comfortableroom, but treated his school fellows with a frank cordialitythat made him a general favorite.
12、After David left his room Rodney sat down to prepare a lesson inCicero, when he was interrupted by the entrance through the halfopen door of a younger boy.Rodney, he said, the doctor would like to see you in his office.Very well, Brauner, I will go down at once.He put aside his book and went down to
13、 the office of Dr. Sampsonon the first floor.The doctor was sitting at his desk. He turned slightly asRodney entered.Take a seat, Ropes, he said curtly.His tone was so different from his usual cordiality that Rodneywas somewhat surprised.Am I in disgrace? he asked himself. Dr. Sampson doesnt seemas
14、friendly as usual.After a brief interval Dr. Sampson wheeled round in his office chair.I have a letter for you from your guardian, Ropes, he said. Here it is. Do me the favor to read it here.With some wonder Rodney took the letter and read as follows:DEAR RODNEY-I have bad news to communicate. As yo
15、u know, I wasleft by your father in charge of you and your fortune. I havenever told you the amount, but I will say now that it was aboutfifty thousand dollars. Until two years since I kept it intactbut then began a series of reverses in which my own fortune wasswallowed up. In the hope of relieving
16、 myself I regret to saythat I was tempted to use your money. That went also, and nowof the whole sum there remains but enough to pay the balance ofyour school bills, leaving you penniless. How much I regretthis I cannot tell you. I shall leave New York at once. I donot care at present to say where I
17、 shall go, but I shall try tomake good the loss, and eventually restore to you your lost fortune. I may be successful or I may not. I shall do my best and I hopein time to have better news to communicate.One thing I am glad to say. I have a casket containing yourmothers jewels. These are intact. I s
18、hall send you the casketby express, knowing that you will wish to keep them out ofregard for your mothers memory. In case you are reduced to thenecessity of pawning or selling them, I am sure that yourmother, could she be consulted, would advise you to do so. This would be better than to have you su
19、ffer from want.There is nothing further for me to write except to repeat myregret, and renew my promise to make up your lost fortune if Ishall ever to able to do so. Your Guardian, BENJAMIN FIELDING.Rodney read this like one dazed. In an instant he was reducedfrom the position of a favorite of fortu
20、ne to a needy boy, withhis living to make.He could not help recalling what had passed between his friendDavid and himself earlier in the day. Now he was as poor asDavid-poorer, in fact for David had a chance to learn a tradethat would yield him a living, while he was utterly withoutresources, except
21、 in having an unusually good education.Well, said Dr. Sampson, have you read your letter?Yes, sir.Your guardian wrote to me also. This is his letter, and heplaced the brief epistle in Rodneys hands.DR. SAMPSON-I have written my ward, Rodney Ropes, an importantletter which he will show you. The news
22、which it contains willmake it necessary for him to leave school. I inclose a checkfor one hundred and twenty five dollars. Keep whatever is dueyou, and give him the balance. BENJAMIN FIELDING.I have read the letter, but I dont know what it means, saidDr. Sampson. Can you throw any light upon it?Here
23、 is my letter, doctor. You can read it for yourself.Dr. Sampsons face changed as he read Rodneys letter. It changedand hardened, and his expression became quite different from thatto which Rodney had been accustomed.This is a bad business, Ropes, said the doctor in a hard tone.He had always said Rod
24、ney before.Yes, sir.That was a handsome fortune which your father left you.Yes, sir. I never knew before how much it amounted to.You only learn when you have lost it. Mr. Fielding has treatedyou shamefully.Yes, sir, I suppose he has, but he says he will try to make itup to me in the future.Pish! tha
25、t is all humbug. Even if he is favored by fortuneyou will never get back a cent.I think I shall, sir.You are young. You do not know the iniquities of business men. I do.I prefer to hope for the best.Just as you please.Have you anything more to say to me?Only that I will figure up your account and se
26、e how muchmoney is to come to you out of the check your guardian has sent. You can stay here till Monday; then you will find it best tomake new arrangements.Very well, sir.Rodney left the room, realizing that Dr. Sampsons feelings hadbeen changed by his pupils reverse of fortune.It was the way of th
27、e world, but it was not a pleasant way, andRodney felt depressed.CHAPTER II.THE CASKET OF JEWELS.It was not till the latter part of the afternoon that thecasket arrived. Rodney was occupied with a recitation,and it was only in the evening that he got an opportunityto open it. There was a pearl neckl
28、ace, very handsome,a pair of bracelets, two gold chains, some minor articlesof jewelry and a gold ring.A locket attracted Rodneys notice, and he opened it. It contained the pictures of his father and mother.His father he could barely remember, his mother died before hewas old enough to have her imag
29、e impressed upon his memory. He examined the locket and his heart was saddened. He felt howdifferent his life would have been had his parents lived.He had never before realized the sorrow of being alone inthe world. Misfortune had come upon him, and so far as he knewhe had not a friend. Even Dr. Sam
30、pson, who had been paid so muchmoney on his account, and who had always professed so greatfriendship for him, had turned cold.As he was standing with the locket in his hand there was a knockat the door.Come in! he called out.The door opened and a stout, coarse looking boy, dressed in anexpensive man
31、ner, entered.Good evening, John, said Rodney, but not cordially.Next to himself, John Bundy, who was the son of a wealthy saloonkeeper in the city of New York, had been a favorite with Dr. Sampson.If there was anything Dr. Sampson bowed down to and respected itwas wealth, and Mr. Bundy, senior, was
32、reputed to be worth aconsiderable fortune.In Rodneys mood John Bundy was about the last person whom hewanted to see.Ha! said John, espying the open casket, where did you get allthat jewelry?It contains my mothers jewels, said Rodney gravely.You never showed it to me before.I never had it before. It
33、came to me by express this afternoon.It must be worth a good pile of money, said John, his eyesgleaming with cupidity.I suppose it is.Have you any idea what it is worth?I have no thought about it.What are you going to do with it? It wont be of use to you,especially the diamond earrings, he added, wi
34、th a coarse laugh.No, answered Rodney shortly.My eyes, wouldnt my mother like to own all this jewelry. Shes fond of ornament, but pa wont buy them for her.Rodney did not answer.I say, Ropes, I mustnt forget my errand. Will you do me a favor?What is it?Lend me five dollars till the first of next mont
35、h. My allowance comes due then. Now I havent but a quarter left.What makes you apply to me, Bundy?Because you always have money. I dont suppose you are worthas much as my father, but you have more money for yourself thanI have.I have had, perhaps, but I havent now.Why, whats up? What has happened?I
36、have lost my fortune.John whistled. This was his way of expressing amazement.Why, what have you been doing? How could you lose your fortune?My guardian has lost it for me. That amount to the same thing.When did you hear that?This morning.Is that true? Are you really a poor boy?Yes.John Bundy was ast
37、onished, but on the whole he was not saddened. In the estimation of the school Rodney had always ranked higherthan he, and been looked upon as the star pupil in point of wealth.Now that he was dethroned John himself would take his place. This would be gratifying, though just at present, and till the
38、beginning of the next month, he would be distressed for ready money.Well, thats a stunner! he said. How do you feel about it? Shall you stay in school?No; I cant afford it. I must get to work.Isnt there anything left-not a cent?There may be a few dollars.And then, said Bundy with a sudden thought, t
39、here is thiscasket of jewelry. You can sell it for a good deal of money.I dont mean to sell it.Then youre a fool; thats all Ive got to say.I dont suppose you will understand my feeling in the matter,but these articles belonged to my mother. They are all Ihave to remind me of her. I do not mean to se
40、ll them unlessit is absolutely necessary.I would sell them quickern a wink, said Bundy. Whats thegood of keeping them?We wont discuss the matter, said Rodney coldly.Do you mind my telling the other boys about your losing your money?No; it will be known tomorrow at any rate; there is noadvantage in c
41、oncealing it.A heavy step was heard outside. It stopped before the door.I must be getting, said Bundy, or Ill get into trouble.It was against the rule at the school for boys to make callsupon each other in the evening unless permission were given.John Bundy opened the door suddenly, and to his disma
42、y foundhimself facing the rigid figure of Dr. Sampson, the principal.How do you happen to be here, Bundy? asked the doctor sternly.Please, sir, I was sympathizing with Ropes on his losing hismoney, said Bundy with ready wit.Very well! I will excuse you this time.Im awful sorry for you, Ropes, said B
43、undy effusively.Thank you, responded Rodney.You can go now, said the principal. I have a little businesswith Master Ropes.All right, sir. Good night.Good night.Wont you sit down, Dr. Sampson? said Rodney politely, and hetook the casket from the chair.Yes, I wish to have five minutes conversation wit
44、h you. So these are the jewels, are they?Yes, sir.They seem to be quite valuable, went on the doctor, liftingthe pearl necklace and poising it in his fingers. It will bewell for you to have them appraised by a jeweler.It would, sir, if I wished to sell them, but I mean to keepthem as they are.I woul
45、d hardly advise it. You will need the money. Probably you do not know how near penniless you are.No, sir; I dont know.Your guardian, as you are aware, sent me a check for onehundred and twenty five dollars. I have figured up how much ofthis sum is due to me, and I find it to be one hundred andthirteen dollars and thirty seven cents.Yes, sir, said Rodney indifferently.This leaves for you only eleven dollars and sixty three cents.