登陆注册
5249500000006

第6章 CHAPTER II(2)

"Don't tell me any more, mother, it makes you feel so bad, I would rather not hear it. I know now why you value the watch so much, and I hope we shall be able to get it back again."

"I fear not. But you must hear the rest of this sad story."

Mrs. Redburn continued the narrative, though tears blinded her eyes, and sobs chocked her utterance, as she told of the struggle she had had with poverty and want. Her husband had done very well in New York; and, gay and light-hearted in the midst of his prosperity, his habits had been gradually growing worse and worse, till he lost his situation, and became a common sot. The poor wife had then been compelled to toil for her own support and that of her child; and having been brought up in luxury and ease, it was a dreadful task to her.

John obtained another situation, but soon lost it. He was a good-hearted man when he had not been drinking, and keenly felt the disgrace and misery he was heaping upon himself and his unhappy wife. Once he had the resolution to abandon the cup, fully determined to redeem his lost character, and make his family happy again. The better to accomplish this, he removed to Boston, where he obtained a good situation, and for more than a year he adhered to his resolution. Mrs. Redburn was happy again and tremblingly hoped that the clouds of darkness had forever passed away.

The evil time came again, and John Redburn sank down lower than ever before. His wife lost all hope of him, and struggled, with the courage of a hero and the fortitude of a martyr, against the adverse tide that set against her. She was fortunate in obtaining plenty of sewing, and was able to support herself and child very well; but her husband, now lost to all sense of decency, contrived to obtain, from time to time, a portion of her hard earnings. She could never have believed that John Redburn would come to this; for, as a clerk in her father's counting room, he had been all that was good and noble; but there he was a miserable sot, lost to himself, to his family, and the world.

One morning in winter he was brought home to her dead. He had died in the watch-house of delirium tremens. He was buried, and peace, if not hope, settled on the brow of the broken-hearted wife.

Year after year Mrs. Redburn struggled on, often with feeble hands and fainting heart, to earn a subsistence for herself and Katy. She had been bred in opulence, and her wants were not so few and simple as the wants of those who have never enjoyed the luxury of a soft couch and a well-supplied table. She had never learned that calculating economy which provides a great deal with very small means.

Hence it was much harder for her to support herself and child, than it would have been for one who had been brought up in a hovel.

She had done very well, however, until, a few months before our story opens, she had been taken sick, and was no longer able to work. Her disease was an affection of the spine, which was at times very painful, and confined her to the bed.

"But where is your father now?" asked Katy, when her mother had finished the narrative.

"I do not know; if he is alive, he probably lives in Liverpool."

"Why don't you write a letter to him?"

"I have done so several times, but have never received any reply.

I wrote shortly after your father died, giving an account of my situation. I am sure my father never could have got my letter, or he would have answered me. I know he would not let me suffer here in woe and want, if he were aware of my condition."

"Why don't you write again?"

"It is useless."

"Let me write, mother. I will call him dear grandfather, and I am sure he will send you some money then: perhaps he will send for us to go to Liverpool, and live in his great house, and have servants to wait upon us."

"Alas, my child, I have given up all hope of ever seeing him again in this world. In my letters I confessed my fault, and begged his forgiveness. He cannot be alive, or I am sure my last letters would have melted his heart."

"Haven't you any brothers and sisters, mother?"

"I had one sister; and I have written several letters to her, but with no better success. They may be all dead. I fear they are."

"And your mother?"

"She died when I was young. I know Jane would have answered my letters if she had received them."

"She was your sister?"

"Yes; she must be dead; and I suppose my father's property must be in the hands of strangers, covering their floors with soft carpets, and their tables with nice food, while I lie here in misery, and my poor child actually suffers from hunger;" and the afflicted mother clasped her daughter in her arms, and wept as though her heart would burst.

"Don't cry, mother. I was not very hungry. We have had enough to eat till to-day. I am going to take care of you now, you have taken care of me so long," replied Katy, as she wiped away the tears that flowed down her mother's wan cheek.

"What can you do, poor child?"

"I can do a great many things; I am sure I can earn money enough to support us both."

"It is hard to think how much I have suffered, and how much of woe there may be in the future for me," sobbed Mrs. Redburn.

"Don't cry, mother. You know what it says on the watch--`All for the Best.' Who knows but that all your sorrows are for the best?"

"I hope they are; I will try to think they are. But it is time for you to go. Pawn the watch for as much as you can; and I trust that some fortunate event will enable us to redeem it."

Katy took the watch, smoothed down her hair again, put on her worn-out bonnet, and left the house.

同类推荐
  • The Mirror of Kong Ho

    The Mirror of Kong Ho

    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。
  • 送韦书记归京

    送韦书记归京

    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。
  • 致身录

    致身录

    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。
  • 滹南集

    滹南集

    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。
  • 龙源夜话

    龙源夜话

    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。
热门推荐
  • 我就是开外挂了

    我就是开外挂了

    5%笔者亲身经历+10%所见所闻+35%修饰夸张+50%胡编乱造=外挂版传奇
  • 灵枢识

    灵枢识

    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。
  • 人间世之梅雪奇缘

    人间世之梅雪奇缘

    故事由萧家庄一桩灭门案说起。死里逃生唯一得救的十一岁女孩,被寄养到一个寻常人家。而后在流浪途中,遇到深中狼毒的少年,以此展开的奇情武侠故事。
  • 豪门专宠,领养多面女友

    豪门专宠,领养多面女友

    暗夜降临,她被他粗鲁地推倒在床:“宝贝,听说你觉得我中看不中用,要不我们今晚试试,看看到底谁才是真正的loser?”她一个用力,反扑在他身上,如暗夜鬼魅美得夺人心魄:“试试就试试,不仅中看不中用,我还听说你肾虚呢……”潇离从来没有想过,她会被自己最好的朋友背叛,并且那个女人瞒着自己和她的男朋友睡在一起,甚至还生下了孩子!她就像一个跳梁小丑一样被人蒙在鼓里,还傻傻的对那个渣男千依百顺,付出一切。三年后,她华丽归来。只是这一次,既然她选择重新来过,那么,不管是渣男还是绿茶婊,她都绝不原谅!想要她原谅?好啊,除非他们通通被她踩在脚下跪地求饶!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 浩瀚无垠的宇宙

    浩瀚无垠的宇宙

    人类对宇宙的解读和探秘跨越了千年,宇宙的面貌也越来越清晰地展现在人类面前。人类已不满足于地球上不同人种间的交流,人类对地外的文明充满了渴望,甚至已然接收到了来自外星的神秘信号。人类甚至不满足于现有的宇宙,我们还猜想宇宙之外还有宇宙。让我们通过本书详细为你解开宇宙之谜,让你尽览宇宙的神奇。
  • 秦岭一日

    秦岭一日

    翻过鹰嘴峡,小关往地上一躺,哎哟不行了,班长我要累死了。梁启红擦把汗,拄着砍刀歇口气,忽然喊一声,蛇!小关一个蹦子跳起来,脸都变了色,扭身四处找,哪儿呢哪儿呢?梁启红哈哈笑。小关明白过来,冲着梁启红就是一拳,你这样子哪像个全国劳模!梁启红好奇,全国劳模应该是什么样子?小关重新躺回地上,就跟前些天你在电视上那样,面带微笑,彬彬有礼,态度诚恳,举止得当。梁启红说,你总结的倒好。小关说,不是我总结的,是大家集中看电视时候刘经理总结的,说你代表了咱们秦岭供电公司的形象。
  • 略述金刚顶瑜伽分别圣位修证法门

    略述金刚顶瑜伽分别圣位修证法门

    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。
  • 父母的反省:要教育孩子先修正自己

    父母的反省:要教育孩子先修正自己

    本书从家庭教育实施者——广大父母的角度,深入剖析了家庭教育存在的诸多难题及其根源,深刻地反思了父母们普遍存在的问题,给父母朋友们以警示、启发与指导。书中还深入探讨了家庭教育存在的普遍问题和热点问题的,并给出了具体的指导,帮助广大父母解决教育实践中遇到的困惑和迷茫。
  • 凝望

    凝望

    杨春雪只是深深地点了点头,用来表示她的感激,她深情的目光始终凝视着一个方向。在她的前方山林叠嶂,渺渺茫茫,她保持着一种憧憬状态,岿然于景致之间,独钟在历史的风景之中。她突然偏了一下头,似乎聆听到了一种声音,对我说:“你听……”我侧耳去倾听,只是听到了各种山鸟的啁啾声,小溪的汩汩声,再就风的声音,并没有感到有什么特别的声音。我想告诉自己感受到的这一切,我扭过脸,依然看到她还是那副专注的神情,我不忍心打搅她的宁静,只是默默地注视着她。过了很长一段时间,她才不好意思地对我笑了,不好意思地说:“我还以为我听到了汽车的声音呢,其实什么也没有的。老了,老了。”随即,她又对我笑笑,还有些难为情地说:“你说,他们会来接我吗?”
  • 重生之超神保安

    重生之超神保安

    本是一个绝世杀手却无奈只能做一个小区保安小区保安又如何?我依然可以站在世界的巅峰!