登陆注册
4710000000032

第32章

"My uncle is going to teach me. I would rather be a bookkeeper than a factory hand."

"Then you are right in preparing yourself for such a post."

Here the two boys separated, as they were to dine in different places.

Leonard was pleased with his new position.

He really had very little to do. Twice a day he went to the post office, once or twice to the bank, and there was an occasional errand besides.

To Carl the idleness would have been insupportable, but Leonard was naturally indolent. He sat down in a chair by the window, and watched the people go by.

The first afternoon he was in luck, for there was a dog fight in the street outside. He seized his hat, went out, and watched the canine warfare with the deepest interest.

"I think I will buy you a system of bookkeeping," said his uncle, "and you can study it in the office."

"Put it off till next week, Uncle Julius. I want to get rested from the factory work."

"It seems to me, Leonard, you were born lazy," said his uncle, sharply.

"I don't care to work with my hands."

"Do you care to work at all?"

"I should like to be a bookkeeper."

"Do you know that my work is harder and more exhausting than that of a workman in the factory?"

"You don't want to exchange with him, do you?" asked Leonard.

"No."

"That's where I agree with you."

Mr. Jennings took several weekly papers.

Leonard was looking over the columns of one of them one day, when he saw the advertisement of a gift enterprise of a most attractive character. The first prize was a house and grounds valued at ten thousand dollars. Following were minor prizes, among them one thousand dollars in gold.

Leonard's fancy was captivated by the brilliant prospect of such a prize.

"Price of tickets--only one dollar!" he read.

"Think of getting a thousand dollars for one!

Oh, if I could only be the lucky one!"

He took out his purse, though he knew beforehand that his stock of cash consisted only of two dimes and a nickel.

"I wonder if I could borrow a dollar of that boy Carl!" he deliberated. "I'll speak to him about it."

This happened more than a week after Carl went to work in the factory. He had already received one week's pay, and it remained untouched in his pocket.

Leonard joined him in the street early in the evening, and accosted him graciously.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Nowhere in particular. I am out for a walk."

"So am I. Shall we walk together?"

"If you like."

After talking on indifferent matters, Leonard said suddenly: "Oh, by the way, will you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Lend me a dollar till next week."

In former days Carl would probably have granted the favor, but he realized the value of money now that he had to earn it by steady work.

"I am afraid it won't be convenient," he answered.

"Does that mean that you haven't got it?" asked Leonard.

"No, I have it, but I am expecting to use it."

"I wouldn't mind paying you interest for it--say twenty-five cents," continued Leonard, who had set his heart on buying a ticket in the gift enterprise.

"I would be ashamed to take such interest as that."

"But I have a chance of making a good deal more out of it myself."

"In what way?"

"That is my secret."

"Why don't you borrow it of your uncle?"

"He would ask too many questions. However, I see that you're a miser, and I won't trouble you."

He left Carl in a huff and walked hastily away. He turned into a lane little traveled, and, after walking a few rods, came suddenly upon the prostrate body of a man, whose deep, breathing showed that he was stupefied by liquor. Leonard was not likely to feel any special interest in him, but one object did attract his attention. It was a wallet which had dropped out of the man's pocket and was lying on the grass beside him.

同类推荐
  • Swan Song

    Swan Song

    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。
  • 淮海原肇禅师语录

    淮海原肇禅师语录

    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。
  • 端溪砚谱

    端溪砚谱

    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。
  • Bound to Rise

    Bound to Rise

    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。
  • 佛说大安般守意经

    佛说大安般守意经

    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
  • 愤怒的公牛也会笑:罗伯特·德尼罗传

    愤怒的公牛也会笑:罗伯特·德尼罗传

    罗伯特·德尼罗(1943-)是20世纪最伟大的电影演员之一,他所塑造的一系列银幕形象不仅成为世界电影史的不朽经典,也让更多的人喜爱并迷恋上了电影。秉承方法派体系的德尼罗独创了“获得授权”的表演理论,以改头换面的方式挑战不同的角色,其间缔造了一个又一个传奇故事,使他当之无愧地得到同行的尊敬和钦佩。
  • 家中有鬼

    家中有鬼

    小成买回一幅绢画后,家里便不再平静,一幅绢画,到底埋葬了多少秘密?绢画的背后,是一个娇妻对战死疆场的丈夫数千年的执爱与等待!为了帮助她,小成远赴北地,他能否找到已被埋葬了几千年的历史真相,想知道大汉不灭的军魂吗?想知道神秘的九转罗盘吗?此文将带你进入古老的国度……
  • 八月迷城

    八月迷城

    一个鲜为人知的海岛,一家名叫八月的咖啡厅。当不羁的警察遇上“盲人”的她,又会是怎样的火花?深海浮尸,楼阁失声,种种纠缠,声声嗟叹。泪水背后的挣扎,真情乍现的温情。你以为你看到的就是善恶?你以为你追寻的就是真相?做了错事,总是要还的。你是我的红药水,他只是杯黑咖啡。你会问我累不累,他却让我不能睡。
  • 领导艺术36计

    领导艺术36计

    毫无疑问,没有人希望自己在失败和平庸中度过自己的一生。也没有人不渴望自己能在一方舞台上纵横驰骋,成就一番或大或小的事业。但是现实生活却是这样的:有的人成功了,有的人失败了,而有的人却一生平庸!那么究竟是什么决定了我们人生的不同呢?人生成败的关键因素又是什么呢?是家庭背景吗?有的人因出身显贵而平步青云,有的人虽出身低贱也步步高升,可见家庭背景不是成功的关键因素。是经济实力吗?有的人从大富起步而成为巨富,有的人白手起家而成为巨富,可见经济实力不是成功的关键因素。是才华学问吗?有的人学富五车而功成名就,有的人识字不多而功成名就,可见才华学问也不是成功的关键因素。是勤奋努力吗?
  • 山海龙行

    山海龙行

    相传,每一个完整的王朝,都有这一块龙玉。每当东方面临大难,龙玉的力量就会复苏,龙玉持有者无法逃避这份责任,只能为了东方的安全而战。而血龙玉,不属于任何一个王朝,他的出现,只是为了迎击最大的灾难,但这一次,危险的恐怕不止是东方了。
  • 侠道惊缘录

    侠道惊缘录

    一场惊心动魄的穿越,隐藏着尘封的阴谋。一个叫伊风的年青人,如何在现实中成长,如何在风云诡秘的时代,成就他自己的侠道。他究竟有什么魔力去改变,去争取,去挽救属于他,前世今生的使命。上古的神物在召唤着他,侠义的心在鼓舞着他,生命的灵魂在激荡之中。
  • 一日一悟

    一日一悟

    豁达安祥的生活态度深刻积极的人生哲理。人生需要自悟。自悟就是自己觉醒、自己觉悟、自己领会、自己理解。本书所撷取的短文,其内容涵盖自然、心灵、生命、爱情、婚姻、幸福、快乐、人生等方面,篇篇如醍醐灌顶,让你有所感悟、醒悟、觉悟、开悟。
  • 亲子鉴定密档

    亲子鉴定密档

    《亲子鉴定秘档》的女鉴定师参加过国际人类DNA基因组计划,负责过印度洋海啸泰国救援。并勇敢地参加了sars病毒的基因测序工作,现在是国内亲子鉴定机构的负责人。8年问16000宗亲子鉴定案例,让她旁观了无数亲情的割裂与挣扎:背叛、欺骗、谎言……《亲子鉴定秘档》中每个案例都有鲜为人知的隐情,名人、明星、罪犯……每桩委托都是跌宕起伏的故事。
  • 余光是你,余生也是你

    余光是你,余生也是你

    尹弈从来没想过自己的生命里会出现一个如白杨树一般坚韧挺拔、有着明媚笑容的女孩儿。她的笑容温暖了岁月,惊艳了时光。直致多年以后他仍能回想起那个冬日里如白杨一般美好的女孩儿脸上绽放的温暖笑容……而他就像是在黑夜里游走了很久很久的孤魂一般,渴望阳光,也知一碰阳光就会魂飞魄散。但他义无反顾,别人说的多了,他只消一句“她值得”。只要那个人是她,晚一点也没关系。看到她的那刻起,他就知道她会是他一生的羁绊。甜文VS宠文VS青梅竹马本人是个简介废,请移步正文。男女主身心干净,欢迎各位小可爱入坑~
  • 汉学研究新视野

    汉学研究新视野

    著名汉学家顾彬教授以丰富的外文资料、融贯中西的学识,对近年来德语、英语世界所出版的汉学新书中所涉及的新译本、新材料、新观点进行了介绍和讨论,其中绝大多数的材料都是第一次被介绍到中国来。同时,他也对中西文化在文、史、哲等领域的异同进行了深入探讨。材料新颖别致,分析鞭辟入里,是了解西方汉学界学术前沿的最佳捷径。