【英文原著类】thecashboy(出纳员)

TheCashBoy1TheCashBoyBYHoratioAlger,Jr.TheCashBoy2PREFACE``TheCashBoy,''byHoratioAlger,Jr.,asthenameimplies,isastoryaboutaboyandforboys.Throughsomeconspiracy,theheroofthestorywhenababy,wastakenfromhisrelativesandgivenintothecareofakindwoman.Notknowinghisname,shegavehimherhusband'sname,FrankFowler.Shehadonelittledaughter,Grace,andshowingnopartialityinthetreatmentofherchildren,Frankneversuspectedthatshewasnothissister.However,atthedeathofMrs.Fowler,allthiswasrelatedtoFrank.Thechildrenwereleftaloneintheworld.ItseemedasthoughtheywouldhavetogotothepoorhousebutFrankcouldnotbecomereconciledtothat.AkindneighboragreedtocareforGrace,soFrankdecidedtostartoutintheworldtomakehisway.Hehadmanydisappointmentsandhardships,butthroughhiskindnesstoanoldman,hisownrelativesandrightnamewererevealedtohim.TheCashBoy3CHAPTERIAREVELATIONAgroupofboyswasassembledinanopenfieldtothewestofthepublicschoolhouseinthetownofCrawford.Mostofthemheldhatsintheirhands,whiletwo,stationedsixtyfeetdistantfromeachother,were``havingcatch.''TomPinkerton,sonofDeaconPinkerton,hadjustreturnedfromBrooklyn,andwhiletherehadwitnessedamatchgamebetweentwoprofessionalclubs.OnhisreturnheproposedthattheboysofCrawfordshouldestablishaclub,tobeknownastheExcelsiorClubofCrawford,toplayamongthemselves,andonsuitableoccasionstochallengeclubsbelongingtoothervillages.Thisproposalwasreceivedwithinstantapproval.``ImovethatTomPinkertonaddressthemeeting,''saidoneboy.``Secondthemotion,''saidanother.Astherewasnochairman,JamesBriggswasappointedtothatposition,andputthemotion,whichwasunanimouslycarried.TomPinkerton,inhisownestimationapersonageofconsiderableimportance,cameforwardinaconsequentialmanner,andcommencedasfollows:``Mr.Chairmanandboys.Youallknowwhathasbroughtustogether.Wewanttostartaclubforplayingbaseball,likethebigclubstheyhaveinBrooklynandNewYork.''``Howshallwedoit?''askedHenryScott.``Wemustfirstappointacaptainoftheclub,whowillhavepowertoassignthememberstotheirdifferentpositions.Ofcourseyouwillwantonethatunderstandsaboutthesematters.''``Hemeanshimself,''whisperedHenryScott,tohisnextneighbor;andherehewasright.``Isthatall?''askedSamPomeroy.``No;astherewillbesomeexpenses,theremustbeatreasurertoreceiveandtakecareofthefunds,andweshallneedasecretarytokeepTheCashBoy4therecordsoftheclub,andwriteandanswerchallenges.''``Boys,''saidthechairman,``youhaveheardTomPinkerton'sremarks.Thosewhoareinfavoroforganizingaclubonthisplanwillpleasesignifyitintheusualway.''Alltheboysraisedtheirhands,anditwasdeclaredavote.``Youwillbringinyourvotesforcaptain,''saidthechairman.TomPinkertondrewalittleapartwithaconsciouslook,ashesupposed,ofcourse,thatnoonebuthimselfwouldbethoughtofasleader.Slipsofpaperwerepassedaround,andtheboysbegantopreparetheirballots.Theywerebroughttothechairmaninahat,andheforthwithtookthemoutandbegantocountthem.``Boys,''heannounced,amidauniversalstillness,``thereisonevoteforSamPomeroy,oneforEugeneMorton,andtherestareforFrankFowler,whoiselected.''Therewasaclappingofhands,inwhichTomPinkertondidnotjoin.FrankFowler,whoistobeourhero,cameforwardalittle,andspokemodestlyasfollows:``Boys,Ithankyouforelectingmecaptainoftheclub.IamafraidIamnotverywellqualifiedfortheplace,butIwilldoaswellasIcan.''Thespeakerwasaboyoffourteen.Hewasofmediumheightforhisage,strongandsturdyinbuild,andwithafrankprepossessingcountenance,andanopen,cordialmanner,whichmadehimageneralfavorite.Itwasnot,however,tohispopularitythatheowedhiselection,buttothefactthatbothatbatandinthefieldheexcelledalltheboys,andthereforewasthebestsuitedtotakethelead.Theboysnowproceededtomakechoiceofatreasurerandsecretary.ForthefirstpositionTomPinkertonreceivedamajorityofthevotes.Thoughnotpopular,itwasfeltthatsomeofficewasduehim.Forsecretary,IkeStanton,whoexcelledinpenmanship,waselected,andthusalltheofficeswerefilled.TheboysnowcrowdedaroundFrankFowler,withpetitionsforsuchplacesastheydesired.``IhopeyouwillgivemealittletimebeforeIdecideaboutpositions,boys,''Franksaid;``Iwanttoconsideralittle.''TheCashBoy5``Allright!Taketillnextweek,''saidoneandanother,``andletushaveascrubgamethisafternoon.''Theboyswereinthemiddleofthesixthinning,whensomeonecalledouttoFrankFowler:``Frank,yoursisterisrunningacrossthefield.Ithinkshewantsyou.''Frankdroppedhisbatandhastenedtomeethissister.``What'sthematter,Gracie?''heaskedinalarm.``Oh,Frank!''sheexclaimed,burstingintotears.``Mother'sbeenbleedingatthelungs,andshelookssowhite.I'mafraidshe'sverysick.''``Boys,''saidFrank,turningtohiscompanions,``Imustgohomeatonce.Youcangetsomeonetotakemyplace,mymotherisverysick.''WhenFrankreachedthelittlebrowncottagewhichhecalledhome,hefoundhismotherinanexhaustedstaterecliningonthebed.``Howdoyoufeel,mother?''askedourhero,anxiously.``Quiteweak,Frank,''sheansweredinalowvoice.``Ihavehadasevereattack.''``Letmegoforthedoctor,mother.''``Idon'tthinkitwillbenecessary,Frank.Theattackisover,andIneednomedicines,onlytimetobringbackmystrength.''Butthreedayspassed,andMrs.Fowler'snervousprostrationcontinued.Shehadattackspreviouslyfromwhichsheralliedsooner,andherpresentweaknessinducedseriousmisgivingsastowh