登陆注册
4710000000024

第24章

"I am glad you think that, sir. I have begun to wonder whether I have not acted rashly."

"In undertaking to support yourself?"

"Yes, sir."

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"At fourteen I was obliged to undertake what you have now before you."

"To support yourself?"

"Yes; I was left an orphan at fourteen, with no money left me by my poor father, and no relatives who could help me."

"How did you make out, sir?" asked Carl, feeling very much interested.

"I sold papers for a while--in Newark, New Jersey--then I got a place at three dollars a week, out of which I had to pay for board, lodging and clothes. Well, I won't go through my history. I will only say that whatever I did I did as well as I could. I am now a man of about middle age, and I am moderately wealthy."

"I am very much encouraged by what you tell me, sir."

"Perhaps you don't understand what a hard struggle I had. More than once I have had to go to bed hungry. Sometimes I have had to sleep out, but one mustn't be afraid to rough it a little when he is young. I shouldn't like to sleep out now, or go to bed without my supper," and the little man laughed softly.

"Yes, sir; I expect to rough it, but if I could only get a situation, at no matter what income, I should feel encouraged."

"You have earned no money yet?"

"Yes, sir; I earned a dollar yesterday."

"At what kind of work?"

"Archery."

The little man looked surprised.

"Is that a business?" he asked, curiously.

"I'll explain how it was," and Carl told about the contest.

"So you hit the mark?" said the little man, significantly.

Somehow, there was something in the little man's tone that put new courage into Carl, and incited him to fresh effort.

"I wonder, sir," he said, after a pause, "that you should be walking, when you can well afford to ride."

The little man smiled.

"It is by advice of my physician," he said.

"He tells me I am getting too stout, and ought to take more or less exercise in the open air.

So I am trying to follow his advice "

"Are you in business near here, sir?"

"At a large town six miles distant. I may not walk all the way there, but I have a place to call at near by, and thought I would avail myself of the good chance offered to take a little exercise. I feel repaid. I have made a pleasant acquaintance."

"Thank you, sir."

"There is my card," and the little man took out a business card, reading thus:

HENRY JENNINGS, FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, MILFORD.

"I manufacture my furniture in the country," he continued, "but I ship it by special ar-rangements to a house in New York in which I am also interested."

"Yes, sir, I see. Do you employ many persons in your establishment?"

"About thirty."

"Do you think you could make room for me?"

"Do you think you would like the business?"

"I am prepared to like any business in which I can make a living."

"That is right. That is the way to look at it. Let me think."

For two minutes Mr. Jennings seemed to be plunged in thought. Then he turned and smiled encouragingly.

"You can come home with me," he said, "and I will consider the matter."

"Thank you, sir," said Carl, gladly.

"I have got to make a call at the next house, not on business, though. There is an old schoolmate lying there sick. I am afraid he is rather poor, too. You can walk on slowly, and I will overtake you in a few minutes."

"Thank you, sir."

"After walking half a mile, if I have not overtaken you, you may sit down under a tree and wait for me."

"All right, sir."

"Before I leave you I will tell you a secret."

"What is it, sir?"

"The two dollars you picked up, I dropped on purpose."

"On purpose?" asked Carl, in amazement.

"Yes; I wanted to try you, to see if you were honest."

"Then you had noticed me?"

"Yes. I liked your appearance, but I wanted to test you."

同类推荐
  • 四诊抉微

    四诊抉微

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金圣叹读批水浒传

    金圣叹读批水浒传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 词径

    词径

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雕虫诗话

    雕虫诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 赴冯翊作

    赴冯翊作

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 总裁的女佣甜心

    总裁的女佣甜心

    她,某国的得宠公主,和小哥哥打赌自己一定能养活自己,毅然甩了保镖,离家出走。一纸女佣招聘显眼地贴在街上,舍她其谁?他,Z市的黑帮老大,全能女佣辞职嫁人,他的生活受到影响,断然让人找个女佣过来!女佣终于送上门!【工作版】"我吸!"她有模有样地晃动吸尘器。"什么破机器,居然不能吸废纸。"丢了。"我拖!"她很勤奋地拿着拖把拖地。"咦?怎么会越拖越黑?奇怪啊…."跑了。【甜蜜版】"亲爱的,为什么家里又要招聘女佣了?"她好奇地看着招聘广告。"因为我舍不得你累着啊。"他真的不想半夜起来偷偷搞卫生了…"可是你招聘了女佣,我做什么啊?""做我一生的妻子就好。"【诱拐篇】"阿姨,请问你是要诱拐我吗?"六岁大的金金一脸害怕。一时不慎躲进了一家豪宅,蓝曦彤愣愣地反问,"我有那么老吗?"金金先是点头接着摇头,"你要躲人的话,这里一下就被发现了哦,要我领路吗?""好~"蓝曦彤以为自己遇到了天使,结果半个小时之后,她惊觉自己遇到了恶魔。对着铁笼外的金金,蓝曦彤失声大叫:"小弟弟,你在诱拐我吗?"【甜蜜一对一,票票多多留言多多二更多多~群么一个~】★★帅哥/美女领养名单★★【孤独夜羽】由彤彤领养~(我们家的彤彤订的男主~~~~~)【蓝曦彤】由宝领养~【蓝曦于】由659195227领养~【蓝米米】由芷芷领养~【推荐】甜心系列一之《总裁的杀手甜心》"你是坠入人间的天使,是上天赐予我最珍贵的礼物。"男人用迷惑的眼神看着她,她为了这句话,脸红了。怀抱自己发誓要守护一生一世的爱人,男人相信爱情可以永永远远。她嘟着嘴,"如果我是一个杀手呢?"甜心系列三之《狼少的通缉军火妻》
  • 那些回不去的年少时光(下)

    那些回不去的年少时光(下)

    经过孤独的小学时光,混乱的初中生涯,罗琦琦来到了高中。和所有走过那段岁月的人一样,面对高考的折磨,罗琦琦虽然不情愿,却也无法做到不在乎,学习并不好的她,性格倔强不服输的她,究竟如何才能完成完美转身?爱情,也是挑战她的另一大命题。她和他又走到了一起,他对她似乎已经倾心,只是她们身后还有一个他。她该如何面对,又该如何选择?青春期的友情叫人唏嘘和心碎,青春期的爱情叫人甜蜜又纠结,世纪末的社会如此复杂,叫人难以理清头绪。
  • 笑话王中王:幽默捣蛋小故事

    笑话王中王:幽默捣蛋小故事

    《笑话王中王》系列收集了大量的幽默故事,一则笑话能够让我们感到快乐喜悦,一则笑话可以使我们获得轻松解压。只有在一个轻松幽默的环境下,我们才能笑口常开,才能笑对人生。
  • 情是无情剑决生

    情是无情剑决生

    书生醉翁剑,主持了三次武林大会,写出江湖二十四名人录,然而,名人录中的落魄三生剑,无名沉升刀等,阴阳宗的破灭,归老的死亡,那青湖仙子和浪者,苏赤诚,无名的纠缠,桃花庵中媚娘百种媚态和无名之间的情,十年后,王行健又是如何笑傲江湖,百战称雄!
  • 万古第一进化系统

    万古第一进化系统

    (支持正版订阅!谢谢!)仙陵出来的青铜巨棺,撞破了太阳系的结界,笼罩远古时间长河的灵气苏醒了,进化大世初露一角,掌握万古前神秘的系统科技,楚天觉得应该冲破世间枷锁,成为万众生灵仰望的传说才对。
  • 重生之嫡女为庶

    重生之嫡女为庶

    前世,她是名满京都的左相嫡女,精通巫蛊之术,嫁与王室亲王为妃助夫君成就千秋霸业,却被弃之若敝,以巫术害国妖女惑世为由,于烈火中含恨而终。重生,她是右相庶出小女,利用巫术权谋在朝堂和后宫中搅弄风云,精心布局苦心谋划,只为毁掉那人一手打造的倾世王朝。本无心招惹却命犯桃花,那姻缘桥头月老庙前,他将一朵桃花戴进她发钗之间,笑容温柔,绝世无双。她说:“我命中带煞,凡靠近之人必不得善终。”他笑:“你既如此希望,我便为你颠覆那天下又有何妨?”
  • 曾国藩1:血祭

    曾国藩1:血祭

    修订老版讹误106处!一字未删,原貌呈现手稿!唐浩明独家作序认可版本!阅读收藏最佳版本!政商必读!最受中央国家机关干部欢迎的10本书之一,中纪委“读书推荐”栏目推荐学习。柳传志、宗庆后、白岩松鼎力推荐!历史小说巅峰之作,关于曾国藩最权威、最好看、最畅销的读本。了解千古名臣曾国藩的唯一经典,读懂国人处世智慧的殿堂之作。依据人民文学出版社三卷本《曾国藩》编校而成,全新修订原貌呈现。
  • 盛世风华,悍妃逆天下

    盛世风华,悍妃逆天下

    她是刁蛮任性的惹祸精凤柒公主,一夕之间失去所有,掉入某殿下的陷阱,成了他的药师。他是苍穹大陆最出色的男子,天界未来的王,却因渡劫变成一个病秧子。某女仰着头说:“这个世界上没有我解不了的毒,要想解你身上的毒,你得听我的!”某男在轿子里扑倒某女,邪魅一笑,“要乖乖听话,我有的是办法让你变乖,不信你可以试试。”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 瑜伽论第三十一手记

    瑜伽论第三十一手记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一花一梦生生兰香

    一花一梦生生兰香

    "你可真特别,要不往后我就称你兰吧""既然你以前叫兰,那我就唤你兰吧,如何""你为何要杀了她?当初我就不该收你为徒,我再也不想看见你。""恩情未报,还落得个仇恨的下场,如果我帮你复活了她是不是还了五百年前的恩情??""浮生,我做了一个梦,梦见你还活着,这恩我终究是没报成,可惜没有来世了。""同样是花,为何你选择了水仙,若当初我放手,说不定我已报了恩,你也和她在一起了,也不会人去楼空,只剩下这一盆兰花。"