【英文读物】From Farm to Fortune or Nat Nason's Strange Experience.docx

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1、【英文读物】From Farm to Fortune or Nat Nasons Strange ExperiencePREFACE Nat Nason was a poor country boy with a strong desire to better his condition. Life on the farm was unusually hard for him, and after a quarrel with his miserly uncle, with whom he resided, he resolved to strike out for himself. Nat

2、was poor and it was a struggle to reach the great city, where the youth trusted that fame and fortune awaited him. The boy obtained, by accident, a fair sum of money and with this he resolved to go into a business of some kind. But a sharper quickly relieved him of his wealth, and opened Nats eyes t

3、o the fact that he was not as shrewd as he had thought himself to be. The lesson proved a valuable one, and from that moment the country boy did his best to not alone win success but to deserve it. He worked hard, often in the midst of great difficulties, and what the outcome of his struggle was, wi

4、ll be found in the pages which follow. In penning this tale the author has endeavored to show the difference between life in a quiet country place and in a great bustling city, and especially as that difference shows itself to the eyes of a country boy. Many country lads imagine that to go to the ci

5、ty and win success there is easy; perhaps they will not think it so easy after they have read of what happened to Nat Nason. More than once, in spite of his grit and courage, Nat came close to making a complete failure of what he had started out to do, and his success in the end was perhaps after al

6、l not as great as he had anticipated when first striking out. CHAPTER I NAT ON THE FARM Nat, where have you been? Been fishing, answered the boy addressed, a sturdy youth of sixteen, with clear blue eyes and sandy hair. Fishin? And who said you could go fishin? demanded Abner Balberry, in his high,

7、nervous voice. Nobody said I could go, answered the boy, firmly. But I thought youd all like to have some fish for supper, so I went. Humph! I suppose you thought as how them taters would hoe themselves, eh? sneered Abner Balberry, who was not only Nats uncle, but also his guardian. I hoed the potat

8、oes, was the boys answer. Got through at half-past two oclock. If you got through so soon you didnt half do the job, grumbled the man. I aint goin to have you wastin your time on no fishin, understand? Cant I go fishing at all? Not when there is work to do on this farm. But I did my work, Uncle Abne

9、r. An I say it couldnt have been done right if ye didnt take proper time fer it, Nat Nason! I know you! You are gittin lazy! Im not lazy! cried the boy, indignantly. I work as hard as anybody around here. Dont you talk back to me! ejaculated Abner Balberry. I say you are lazy, an I know. How many fi

10、sh did ye catch? I only got two. They didnt bite very well to-day. Humph! A-wastin three hours an more jest to catch two little fish! If I let you go your own way, Nat Nason, youll be in the poorhouse before you die. I dont think Ill ever get to the poorhouse, Uncle Abner. Oh, dont talk back! Take y

11、our fish to the kitchen an then git down to the barnyard as quick as you can. Youve got to help me milk to-night. An dont you dare to go fishin agin, unless I give ye permission, added Abner Balberry, as he strode off towards the barn. A sharp answer arose to Nat Nasons lips, but he checked it and t

12、urned toward the kitchen of the farmhouse. What luck did you have, Nat? questioned the did woman who was Abner Balberrys housekeeper. Not much luck, Mrs. Felton. They didnt bite very well to-day. What was Mr. Balberry saying to you? went on Mrs. Felton, who had been housekeeper at the place since th

13、e death of Mrs. Balberry, two years before. He was mad because I went fishing. I am sorry to hear that. Uncle Abner never wants me to have any sport. Hes a hard-working man, and always was, Nat. He doesnt believe in wasting time. But a fellow ought to have a little time off. That may be true. Dont y

14、ou think I work pretty hard for a boy of my age? I do, Nat. Uncle Abner wants to make a regular slave out of a fellow. Didnt he say you were to help him milk to-night? Yes, and I might as well get at it right away. If I dont, hell give me another jawing, answered the boy, and placing his fish on a b

15、ench, he strode off toward the barnyard. Nat Nason was an orphan, the only child of Mr. William Nason, who had been a brother to the late Mrs. Balberry. The boys father had been killed in a runaway and his mother had never gotten over the shock of the sudden death. When the youth found himself an or

16、phan he was taken in by his Aunt Mary, who did what she could for him. The Nasons had not been rich, so there was little or no money coming to Nat. From the start he was told that he must earn his own living, and this he proceeded to do to the best of his ability. The death of his Aunt Mary was almo

17、st as much of a blow to the lad as the loss of his mother, for it left him under the entire charge of his uncle, Abner Balberry. The latter had no children of his own and he made Nat work as hard as if he were a full-grown man. The Balberry farm was located in Ohio, not far from the town of Caswell.

18、 It consisted of one hundred acres of good land, with a house and several outbuildings. Among his neighbors Abner Balberry was considered the meanest man in the district. Abner himself thought he was a pretty good man and he counted himself a real pillow of the church, as he expressed it. For two ye

19、ars life on the Balberry farm had been one continual grind to Nat Nason. He was expected to work from morning to night, and such a thing as a whole day off was utterly unknown to him. He received next to nothing in the way of spending money. Ill save the money fer ye, Abner Balberry would say, when

20、questioned on the subject. Taint good fer boys to have too much cash on hand. It makes em reckless. But you never give me anything, had been Nats answer. Never mindIm a-givin you a good home an good eatin, was the answer. The good home and good fare were something to be questioned. Nats room was a s

21、mall one under the roof, his clothing usually made over from the garments worn by Mr. Balberry, and such a thing as an elaborate table was unknown on the farm. Many times Mrs. Felton had wished to cook more, or make some fancy dishes, but Abner Balberry had always stopped her from doing such a thing

22、. Plain fare is good enough, he would say. An if ye eat too much it only brings on the dyspepsy. More than once Nat went to bed feeling positively hungry. When Nat reached the barnyard he found his uncle already there with the milk pails and milking an old white cow called Sukey. Go on down the lane

23、 and drive up Jule, cried Abner Balberry, without stopping his milking. She just went down that way. All right, answered Nat, and passing through the barnyard he hurried down the lane mentioned. Jule was a new cow that the farmer had purchased a week before. She did not seem inclined to herd with th

24、e other animals and Nat had had quite a good deal of trouble with her before. At the end of the lane was an orchard and here he found the cow, contentedly eating the fresh grass. She tried to get away from him, but he was too quick for the creature and soon had her turned around and headed up the la

25、ne. Then he stopped to get an apple, for his fishing trip had made him hungry and he knew that supper was still a good hour off. I wish I had some other kind of a job, he murmured, with a sigh. Somehow, farming doesnt seem to be just the right thing for me. Wish I was in some big city. Hurry up with

26、 that cow! cried Abner Balberry. Do you think Im going to stop here all night fer milkin? Im coming! sang out Nat. Get along, Jule, you old slow poke! He gave the cow a slap on the side, and away she flew up the lane. The boy followed, finishing the apple as he went. As it happened several cows were

27、 bunched up near the entrance to the lane and as the new cow appeared, driven by Nat, the bunch scattered. Then Jule ran directly into the barnyard. Hi! hi! stop! yelled Abner Balberry. Drat the beast! Stop! But the new cow did not stop, and a moment later she stepped into a pailful of milk, and tip

28、ped it over. Then she ran against another cow that the farmer was milking. This cow swerved around, and in a twinkling Abner Balberry was thrown on his back and the milk was sent flying over him.CHAPTER II A QUARREL IN THE BARNYARD The sight of Abner Balberry flat on his back, and with the milk flow

29、ing over him, was a comical one, and for the instant Nat had to laugh out-right. Hi! hi! roared the farmer. Git away! Drat the beasts! Now, Nat Nason, jest see what youve done! He struggled to his feet, and Nat at once became sober, for he realized that trouble was at hand. Its too bad, Uncle Abner

30、began the youth. Too bad? I should say it was too bad! cried the farmer. An all your fault, too! I cant see how it was my fault. You told me to drive the cow up here. Dont tell me, Nat Nason! Its your fault. An all that fresh milk gone to waste! Abner Balberry gave a groan. I dont know most what Im

31、a-goin to do with you fer this. I cant see how its my fault. You made the cows git frightened. No, I didnt. Dont tell me! Dont you know that milk is worth money? Yes, but You scart thet cow out o her wits, went on the farmer, his rage growing as he looked at the spilt milk. Nat Nason, I tell you, yo

32、ure a bad boy! To this the youth made no reply. Im a-goin to teach ye a lesson fer it! Shall I milk Jule? Yes, an mind ye dont spill a drop nuther! Silently Nat went to work, and milked not only the new cow but also two of the others. By this time milking was over, and the lacteal fluid was carried

33、to the spring-house to cool. Then the cows were allowed to wander down to the pasture for the night. When Nat approached the kitchen again an appetizing odor of frying fish filled the air. The boys uncle followed him. Supper is ready, said Mrs. Felton, cheerfully. You had some trouble with the cows,

34、 didnt you? she continued. It was Nats fault, grumbled Abner Balberry. He made them run around an upset everything. Nat, I said as how I was going to teach ye a lesson. You wash up an go to bed at once. Go to bed? queried the boy. Thets what I said, didnt I? Do you mean right after supper? No, I mea

35、n before supper, snarled Abner Balberry. Oh, isnt he to have his supper first? put in the housekeeper, timidly. No, he aint. After this abrupt declaration there was an awkward pause. Do you want me to go to bed without my supper? asked Nat, slowly. Thats what I said. It isnt fair. Aint it? No, it is

36、nt. It wasnt my fault that the milk was spilt, so there! You say much more to me an Ill tan yer hide well fer ye! stormed Abner Balberry. Dont you want him to have none of the fish he brought in? asked the housekeeper. The fish aint worth much. Maybe youd like to have all the fish yourself? put in N

37、at, tartly, before he had stopped to think. Angered at this remark the farmer turned around and caught the youth by the collar and began to shake him. Ill teach ye to talk back to me! he snarled. Ill teach ye! Now go to bed, an be quick about it. I want my supper! came doggedly from Nat. He felt tha

38、t he had earned the meal and he needed it. Not a mouthful. If you dont give me my supper I wont work for you any more, Uncle Abner! Wot! Goin to talk to me like this! screamed the farmer, and caught the boy once again. Up to your room with ye, before I trounce ye well! He shook Nat fiercely, and a s

39、truggle ensued between the pair which came to an end when a chair was overturned and then a side table on which rested some of the things for supper. Oh, the eating! screamed the housekeeper, in alarm. And the teapot is smashed! she added, sadly. Its all Nats fault, came from Abner Balberry. He is a

40、 good-fer-nuthin, he is! Off to bed with ye, before I git my horsewhip! He opened the door leading to the enclosed stairs, and fearful of another attack Nat retreated. As soon as he was on the stairs, the farmer slammed the door shut and bolted it. A minute later he and Mrs. Felton heard the youth a

41、scend the stairs to his own room. It was kind of hard on the boy to make him go to bed without his supper, remarked the housekeeper, as she gathered up the things on the floor. Its his own fault, snorted the farmer. Hes got to be took down, he has! He hasnt had a mouthful since noon, and we had a li

42、ght dinner, too. I cant help that, Mrs. Felton. Im goin to teach him a lesson. Nat is a high-spirited boy, Mr. Balberry. Maybe he wont stand for it. He has got to stand fer it, was the answer, from the sink, where the farmer was washing his face and hands. But if he wont? Wot can he do, Id like to k

43、now? Im sure I dont knowbut he may do something that you least expect. He wont do nuthin, said the farmer, and sank down in his seat at the table. He cant do nuthin. I give him a good home, but he dont seem to apreciate it nohow. To this Mrs. Felton did not reply, but set the food on the table. The

44、fish had not been spoilt, and the farmer ate all he wished of the dish. Why dont you eat? he asked of the housekeeper, seeing that she had abstained from touching the fish. II dont care for it, she answered. She had in mind to save what was left and give it to Nat for his breakfast. That boy is gitt

45、in too big fer his boots, went on Abner Balberry. He acts like he was of age, an he is only sixteen. Last week he wanted to know how soon I was goin to pay him reglar wages. And what did you tell him? Told him Id pay him wages when he was wuth it an not before. He does almost a mans work now, doesnt

46、 he? Not much! Besides, dont I feed an clothe him an give him a comfortable home? Hes got too high-falutin notions, he has! But dont you think he ought to have some money? went on Mrs. Felton, who could be a trifle independent herself at times. No. Money is the ruination o young folks. Week before last he wanted a quarter to go to the circus with, but he didnt git it. Almost all of the boys in this district went to the circus. Tom Bradley told me it was very good, too. Humph! That Bradley boy is going to the dogs as fast as he can go. Deacon Slide thinks he is a