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1、【国外英文文学】The Cash BoyThe Cash Boy, by Horatio Alger, Jr., as the nameimplies, is a story about a boy and for boys.Through some conspiracy, the hero of the storywhen a baby, was taken from his relatives andgiven into the care of a kind woman.Not knowing his name, she gave him her husbandsname, Frank F
2、owler. She had one littledaughter, Grace, and showing no partiality in thetreatment of her children, Frank never suspectedthat she was not his sister. However, at the deathof Mrs. Fowler, all this was related to Frank.The children were left alone in the world. Itseemed as though they would have to g
3、o to thepoorhouse but Frank could not become reconciled to that.A kind neighbor agreed to care for Grace, soFrank decided to start out in the world to makehis way.He had many disappointments and hardships, butthrough his kindness to an old man, his own relativesand right name were revealed to him.CH
4、APTER IA REVELATIONA group of boys was assembled in an open field tothe west of the public schoolhouse in the town ofCrawford. Most of them held hats in their hands,while two, stationed sixty feet distant from eachother, were having catch.Tom Pinkerton, son of Deacon Pinkerton, had justreturned from
5、 Brooklyn, and while there had witnesseda match game between two professional clubs. On his return he proposed that the boys of Crawfordshould establish a club, to be known as theExcelsior Club of Crawford, to play among themselves,and on suitable occasions to challenge clubs belongingto other villa
6、ges. This proposal was receivedwith instant approval.I move that Tom Pinkerton address the meeting,said one boy.Second the motion, said another.As there was no chairman, James Briggs wasappointed to that position, and put the motion, whichwas unanimously carried.Tom Pinkerton, in his own estimation
7、a personageof considerable importance, came forward in aconsequential manner, and commenced as follows:Mr. Chairman and boys. You all know whathas brought us together. We want to start a clubfor playing baseball, like the big clubs they have inBrooklyn and New York.How shall we do it? asked Henry Sc
8、ott.We must first appoint a captain of the club, whowill have power to assign the members to their differentpositions. Of course you will want one thatunderstands about these matters.He means himself, whispered Henry Scott, tohis next neighbor; and here he was right.Is that all? asked Sam Pomeroy.No
9、; as there will be some expenses, there must bea treasurer to receive and take care of the funds, andwe shall need a secretary to keep the records of theclub, and write and answer challenges.Boys, said the chairman, you have heard TomPinkertons remarks. Those who are in favor oforganizing a club on
10、this plan will please signify itin the usual way.All the boys raised their hands, and it was declareda vote.You will bring in your votes for captain, saidthe chairman.Tom Pinkerton drew a little apart with a consciouslook, as he supposed, of course, that no one but himselfwould be thought of as lead
11、er.Slips of paper were passed around, and the boysbegan to prepare their ballots. They were broughtto the chairman in a hat, and he forthwith took themout and began to count them.Boys, he announced, amid a universal stillness,there is one vote for Sam Pomeroy, one for EugeneMorton, and the rest are
12、for Frank Fowler, who iselected.There was a clapping of hands, in which TomPinkerton did not join.Frank Fowler, who is to be our hero, cameforward a little, and spoke modestly as follows:Boys, I thank you for electing me captain of theclub. I am afraid I am not very well qualified forthe place, but
13、I will do as well as I can.The speaker was a boy of fourteen. He was ofmedium height for his age, strong and sturdy inbuild, and with a frank prepossessing countenance,and an open, cordial manner, which made him ageneral favorite. It was not, however, to hispopularity that he owed his election, but
14、to the fact thatboth at bat and in the field he excelled all the boys,and therefore was the best suited to take the lead.The boys now proceeded to make choice of a treasurerand secretary. For the first position Tom Pinkertonreceived a majority of the votes. Though notpopular, it was felt that some o
15、ffice was due him.For secretary, Ike Stanton, who excelled inpenmanship, was elected, and thus all the offices werefilled.The boys now crowded around Frank Fowler, withpetitions for such places as they desired.I hope you will give me a little time before Idecide about positions, boys, Frank said; I
16、want toconsider a little.All right! Take till next week, said one andanother, and let us have a scrub game this afternoon.The boys were in the middle of the sixth inning,when some one called out to Frank Fowler: Frank,your sister is running across the field. I think shewants you.Frank dropped his ba
17、t and hastened to meet hissister.Whats the matter, Gracie? he asked in alarm.Oh, Frank! she exclaimed, bursting into tears. Mothers been bleeding at the lungs, and she looksso white. Im afraid shes very sick.Boys, said Frank, turning to his companions,I must go home at once. You can get some one tot
18、ake my place, my mother is very sick.When Frank reached the little brown cottagewhich he called home, he found his mother in anexhausted state reclining on the bed.How do you feel, mother? asked our hero, anxiously.Quite weak, Frank, she answered in a low voice.I have had a severe attack.Let me go f
19、or the doctor, mother.I dont think it will be necessary, Frank. Theattack is over, and I need no medicines, only timeto bring back my strength.But three days passed, and Mrs. Fowlers nervousprostration continued. She had attacks previouslyfrom which she rallied sooner, and her present weaknessinduce
20、d serious misgivings as to whether shewould ever recover. Frank thought that her eyesfollowed him with more than ordinary anxiety, andafter convincing himself that this was the case, hedrew near his mothers bedside, and inquired:Mother, isnt there something you want me to do?Nothing, I believe, Fran
21、k.I thought you looked at me as if you wanted tosay something.There is something I must say to you before Idie.Before you die, mother! echoed Frank, in astartled voice.Yes. Frank, I am beginning to think that this ismy last sickness.But, mother, you have been so before, and gotup again.There must al
22、ways be a last time, Frank; andmy strength is too far reduced to rally again, Ifear.I cant bear the thought of losing you, mother,said Frank, deeply moved.You will miss me, then, Frank? said Mrs. Fowler.Shall I not? Grace and I will be alone in theworld.Alone in the world! repeated the sick woman,so
23、rrowfully, with little help to hope for from man,for I shall leave you nothing. Poor children!That isnt what I think of, said Frank, hastily.I can support myself.But Grace? She is a delicate girl, said themother, anxiously. She cannot make her way asyou can.She wont need to, said Frank, promptly; Is
24、hall take care of her.But you are very young even to support yourself. You are only fourteen.I know it, mother, but I am strong, and I am notafraid. There are a hundred ways of making a living.But do you realize that you will have to startwith absolutely nothing? Deacon Pinkerton holds amortgage on
25、this house for all it will bring in themarket, and I owe him arrears of interest besides.I didnt know that, mother, but it doesnt frightenme.And you will take care of Grace?I promise it, mother.Suppose Grace were not your sister? said thesick woman, anxiously scanning the face of the boy.What makes
26、you suppose such a thing as that,mother? Of course she is my sister.But suppose she were not, persisted Mrs.Fowler, you would not recall your promise?No, surely not, for I love her. But why do youtalk so, mother? and a suspicion crossed Franksmind that his mothers intellect might be wandering.It is
27、time to tell you all, Frank. Sit down by thebedside, and I will gather my strength to tell youwhat must be told.Grace is not your sister, Frank!Not my sister, mother? he exclaimed. You arenot in earnest?I am quite in earnest, Frank.Then whose child is she?She is my child.Then she must be my sister-a
28、re you not mymother?No, Frank, I am not your mother!CHAPTER IIMRS. FOWLERS STORYNot my mother! he exclaimed. Who, then, ismy mother?I cannot tell you, Frank. I never knew. Youwill forgive me for concealing this from you for solong.No matter who was my real mother since I haveyou. You have been a mot
29、her to me, and I shall alwaysthink of you as such.You make me happy, Frank, when you say that. And you will look upon Grace as a sister also, willyou not?Always, said the boy, emphatically. Mother,will you tell all you know about me? I dont knowwhat to think; now that I am not your son I cannotrest
30、till I learn who I am.I can understand your feelings, Frank, but I mustdefer the explanation till to-morrow. I have fatiguedmyself with talking. but to-morrow you shallknow all that I can tell you.Forgive me for not thinking of your being tired,mother, and he bent over and pressed his lips uponthe c
31、heek of the sick woman. But dont talk anymore. Wait till to-morrow.In the afternoon Frank had a call from Sam Pomeroy.The club is to play to-morrow afternoon againsta picked nine, Frank, he said. Will you be there?I cant, Sam, he answered. My mother is verysick, and it is my duty to stay at home wit
32、h her.We shall miss you-that is, all of us but one. Tom Pinkerton said yesterday that you ought toresign, as you cant attend to your duties. Hewouldnt object to filling your place, I fancy.He is welcome to the place as soon as the clubfeels like electing him, said Frank. Tell the boysI am sorry I ca
33、nt be on hand. They had better getyou to fill my place.Ill mention it, but I dont think theyll see it inthat light. Theyre all jealous of my superior playing,said Sam, humorously. Well, good-bye, Frank. I hope your motherll be better soon.Thank you, Sam, answered Frank, soberly. Ihope so, too, but s
34、he is very sick.The next day Mrs. Fowler again called Frank tothe bedside.Grace is gone out on an errand, she said, andI can find no better time for telling you what I knowabout you and the circumstances which led to myassuming the charge of you.Are you strong enough, mother?Yes, Frank. Thirteen yea
35、rs ago my husband andmyself occupied a small tenement in that part ofBrooklyn know as Gowanus, not far from GreenwoodCemetery. My husband was a carpenter, andthough his wages were small he was generallyemployed. We had been married three years, but hadno children of our own. Our expenses were small,
36、and we got on comfortably, and should have continuedto do so, but that Mr. Fowler met with anaccident which partially disabled him. He fell froma high scaffold and broke his arm. This was setand he was soon able to work again, but he mustalso have met with some internal injury, for his fullstrength
37、never returned. Half a days work tiredhim more than a whole days work formerly haddone. Of course our income was very much diminished,and we were obliged to economize very closely. This preyed upon my husbands mind and seeing hisanxiety, I set about considering how I could helphim, and earn my share
38、 of the expenses.One day in looking over the advertising columnsof a New York paper I saw the following advertisement: For adoption-A healthy male infant. The parentsare able to pay liberally for the childs maintenance,but circumstances compel them to delegatethe care to another. Address for intervi
39、ew A. M.I had no sooner read this advertisement than Ifelt that it was just what I wanted. A liberalcompensation was promised, and under our presentcircumstances would be welcome, as it was urgentlyneeded. I mentioned the matter to my husband, andhe was finally induced to give his consent.Accordingl
40、y, I replied to the advertisement.Three days passed in which I heard nothing fromit. But as we were sitting at the supper table atsix oclock one afternoon, there came a knock at ourfront door. I opened it, and saw before me a tallstranger, a man of about thirty-five, of darkcomplexion, and dark whis
41、kers. He was well dressed,and evidently a gentleman in station. Is this Mrs. Fowler? he asked. Yes, sir, I answered, in some surprise Then may I beg permission to enter your housefor a few minutes? I have something to say to you.Still wondering, I led the way into the sitting-room, where your father
42、-where Mr. Fowler-Call him my father-I know no other, saidFrank.Where your father was seated. You have answered an advertisement, said thestranger. Yes, sir, I replied. I am A. M., was his next announcement. Ofcourse I have received many letters, but on the wholeI was led to consider yours most favorably. I havemade inquiries about you in the neighborhood, andthe answers have been satisfactory. You have nochildren of your