第 20 节
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上网找工作 更新:2024-04-14 09:14 字数:9321
I looked up and beheld Captain Boltrope; endeavoring to calm his stern
features; but the twitching around his mouth betrayed his intense
enjoyment of the scene。 〃Go to the mastheadup with you; sir!〃 he
repeated sternly to Briggs。
〃Very good; sir;〃 said the boy; coolly preparing to mount the shrouds。
〃Good by; Johnny Crapaud。 Humph!〃 he added; in a tone intended for my
ear; 〃a pretty way to treat a hero。 The service is going to the devil!〃
I thought so too。
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CHAPTER VI。
We were ordered to the West Indies。 Although Captain Boltrope's
manner toward me was still severe; and even harsh; I understood that my
name had been favorably mentioned in the despatches。
Reader; were you ever at Jamaica? If so; you remember the negresses;
the oranges; Port Royal Tomthe yellow fever。 After being two weeks at
the station; I was taken sick of the fever。 In a month I was delirious。
During my paroxysms; I had a wild distempered dream of a stern face
bending anxiously over my pillow; a rough hand smoothing my hair; and a
kind voice saying:
〃Bess his 'ittle heart! Did he have the naughty fever?〃 This face
seemed again changed to the well…known stern features of Captain
Boltrope。
When I was convalescent; a packet edged in black was put in my hand。
It contained the news of my father's death; and a sealed letter which he had
requested to be given to me on his decease。 I opened it tremblingly。 It read
thus:
〃My dear Boy:I regret to inform you that in all probability you are
not my son。 Your mother; I am grieved to say; was a highly improper
person。 Who your father may be; I really cannot say; but perhaps the
Honorable Henry Boltrope; Captain R。 N。; may be able to inform you。
Circumstances over which I have no control have deferred this important
disclosure。
〃YOUR STRICKEN PARENT。〃
And so Captain Boltrope was my father。 Heavens! Was it a dream? I
recalled his stern manner; his observant eye; his ill…concealed uneasiness
when in my presence。 I longed to embrace him。 Staggering to my feet; I
rushed in my scanty apparel to the deck; where Captain Boltrope was just
then engaged in receiving the Governor's wife and daughter。 The ladies
shrieked; the youngest; a beautiful girl; blushed deeply。 Heeding them not;
I sank at his feet; and; embracing them; cried:
〃My father!〃
〃Chuck him overboard!〃 roared Captain Boltrope。
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〃Stay;〃 pleaded the soft voice of Clara Maitland; the Governor's
daughter。
〃Shave his head! he's a wretched lunatic!〃 continued Captain Boltrope;
while his voice trembled with excitement。
〃No; let me nurse and take care of him;〃 said the lovely girl; blushing
as she spoke。 〃Mamma; can't we take him home?〃
The daughter's pleading was not without effect。 In the mean time I had
fainted。 When I recovered my senses I found myself in Governor
Maitland's mansion。
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CHAPTER VII。
The reader will guess what followed。 I fell deeply in love with Clara
Maitland; to whom I confided the secret of my birth。 The generous girl
asserted that she had detected the superiority of my manner at once。 We
plighted our troth; and resolved to wait upon events。
Briggs called to see me a few days afterward。 He said that the purser
had insulted the whole cockpit; and all the midshipmen had called him out。
But he added thoughtfully: 〃I don't see how we can arrange the duel。 You
see there are six of us to fight him。〃
〃Very easily;〃 I replied。 〃Let your fellows all stand in a row; and take
his fire; that; you see; gives him six chances to one; and he must be a bad
shot if he can't hit one of you; while; on the other hand; you see; he gets a
volley from you six; and one of you'll be certain to fetch him。〃
〃Exactly〃; and away Briggs went; but soon returned to say that the
purser had declined;〃like a dd coward;〃 he added。
But the news of the sudden and serious illness of Captain Boltrope put
off the duel。 I hastened to his bedside; but too late;an hour previous he
had given up the ghost。
I resolved to return to England。 I made known the secret of my birth;
and exhibited my adopted father's letter to Lady Maitland; who at once
suggested my marriage with her daughter; before I returned to claim the
property。 We were married; and took our departure next day。
I made no delay in posting at once; in company with my wife and my
friend Briggs; to my native village。 Judge of my horror and surprise when
my late adopted father came out of his shop to welcome me。
〃Then you are not dead!〃 I gasped。
〃No; my dear boy。〃
〃And this letter?〃
My fatheras I must still call himglanced on the paper; and
pronounced it a forgery。 Briggs roared with laughter。 I turned to him and
demanded an explanation。
〃Why; don't you see; Greeny; it's all a joke;a midshipman's joke!〃
〃But〃 I asked。
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〃Don't be a fool。 You've got a good wife;be satisfied。〃
I turned to Clara; and was satisfied。 Although Mrs。 Maitland never
forgave me; the jolly old Governor laughed heartily over the joke; and so
well used his influence that I soon became; dear reader; Admiral Breezy; K。
C。 B。
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JOHN JENKINS;OR;THE
SMOKER REFORMED。
BY T。 S。 ATHR。
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CHAPTER I。
One cigar a day!〃 said Judge Boompointer。
One cigar a day!〃 repeated John Jenkins; as with trepidation he
dropped his half…consumed cigar under his work…bench。
〃One cigar a day is three cents a day;〃 remarked Judge Boompointer;
gravely; 〃and do you know; sir; what one cigar a day; or three cents a day;
amounts to in the course of four years?〃
John Jenkins; in his boyhood; had attended the village school; and
possessed considerable arithmetical ability。 Taking up a shingle which lay
upon his work…bench; and producing a piece of chalk; with a feeling of
conscious pride he made an exhaustive calculation。
〃Exactly forty…three dollars and eighty cents;〃 he replied; wiping the
perspiration from his heated brow; while his face flushed with honest
enthusiasm。
〃Well; sir; if you saved three cents a day; instead of wasting it; you
would now be the possessor of a new suit of clothes; an illustrated Family
Bible; a pew in the church; a complete set of Patent Office Reports; a
hymn…book; and a paid subscription to Arthur's Home Magazine; which
could be purchased for exactly forty… three dollars and eighty cents; and;〃
added the Judge; with increasing sternness; 〃if you calculate leap…year;
which you seem to have strangely omitted; you have three cents more; sir;
THREE CENTS MORE! What would that buy you; sir?〃
〃A cigar;〃 suggested John Jenkins; but; coloring again deeply; he hid
his face。
〃No; sir;〃 said the Judge; with a sweet smile of benevolence stealing
over his stern features; 〃properly invested; it would buy you that which
passeth all price。 Dropped into the missionary…box; who can tell what
heathen; now idly and joyously wantoning in nakedness and sin; might be
brought to a sense of his miserable condition; and made; through that three
cents; to feel the torments of the wicked?〃
With these words the Judge retired; leaving John Jenkins buried in
profound thought。 〃Three cents a day;〃 he muttered。 〃In forty years I might
be worth four hundred and thirty…eight dollars and ten cents;and then