第 27 节
作者:人生几何      更新:2021-02-19 17:02      字数:9322
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  for Liverpool。 The bark; though an old one; was; nevertheless; considered
  seaworthy; and the fugitive was working his way out。                     As the vessel left
  the river and gained the open sea; the black man appeared to rejoice at the
  prospect   of   leaving   a   country   in   which   his   right   to   manhood   had   been
  denied him; and his happiness destroyed。
  The   wind   was   proudly   swelling   the   white   sails;   and   the   little   craft
  plunging      into   the  foaming      waves;    with    the  land    fast  receding     in  the
  distance; when Jerome mounted a pile of lumber to take a last farewell of
  his native land。 With tears glistening in his eyes; and with quivering lips;
  he   turned   his   gaze   toward   the   shores   that   were   fast   fading   in   the   dim
  distance; and said;
  〃Though   forced   from   my   native   land   by   the   tyrants   of   the   South;   I
  hope I shall some day be able to return。                 With all her faults; I love my
  country still。〃
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  CHAPTER XXIX
  A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND
  THE rain was falling on the dirty pavements of Liverpool as Jerome
  left the vessel after her arrival。      Passing the custom…house; he took a cab;
  and proceeded to Brown's Hotel; Clayton Square。
  Finding   no   employment   in   Liverpool;   Jerome   determined   to   go   into
  the   interior   and   seek   for   work。 He;   therefore;   called   for   his   bill;   and
  made ready for his departure。          Although but four days at the Albion; he
  found the hotel charges larger than he expected; but a stranger generally
  counts     on  being    〃fleeced〃    in  travelling   through    the  Old    World;    and
  especially in Great Britain。 After paying his bill; he was about leaving the
  room;   when   one   of   the   servants   presented   himself   with   a   low   bow;   and
  said;
  〃Something for the waiter; sir?〃
  〃I thought I had paid my bill;〃 replied the man; somewhat surprised at
  this polite dun。
  〃I am the waiter; sir; and gets only what strangers see fit to give me。〃
  Taking   from   his   pocket   his   nearly   empty   purse;   Jerome   handed   the
  man a half…crown; but he had hardly restored it to his pocket; before his
  eye fell on another man in the waiting costume。
  〃What do you want?〃 he asked。
  〃Whatever your honor sees fit to give me; sir。           I am the tother waiter。〃
  The   purse   was   again   taken   from   the   pocket;   and   another   half…crown
  handed   out。   Stepping   out   into   the   hall;   he   saw   standing   there   a   good…
  looking woman; in a white apron; who made a very pretty courtesy。
  〃What's your business?〃 he inquired。
  〃I am the chambermaid; sir; and looks after the gentlemen's beds。〃
  Out   came   the   purse   again;   and   was   relieved   of   another   half…crown;
  whereupon another girl; with a fascinating smile; took the place of the one
  who had just received her fee。
  〃What do you want?〃 demanded the now half…angry Jerome。
  〃Please; sir; I am the tother chambermaid。〃
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  Finding it easier to give shillings than half…crowns; Jerome handed the
  woman   a   shilling;   and   again   restored   his   purse   to   his   pocket;   glad   that
  another woman was not to be seen。
  Scarcely had he commenced congratulating himself; however; before
  three men made their appearance; one after another。
  〃What have *you* done for me?〃 he asked of the first。
  〃I am the boots; sir。〃
  The   purse   came   out   once   more;   and   a   shilling   was   deposited   in   the
  servant's hand。
  〃What do I owe you?〃 he inquired of the second。
  〃I took your honor's letter to the post; yesterday; sir。〃
  Another shilling left the purse。
  〃In the name of the Lord; what am I indebted to you for?〃 demanded
  Jerome; now entirely out of patience; turning to the last of the trio。
  〃I told yer vership vot time it vas; this morning。〃
  〃Well!〃 exclaimed the indignant man; 〃ask here who o'clock it is; and
  you have got to pay for it。〃
  He   paid   this last   demand   with   a   sixpence;  regretting   that   he had   not
  commenced with sixpences instead of half…crowns。
  Having cleared off all demands in the house; he started for the railway
  station; but had scarcely reached the street; before he was accosted by an
  old   man   with   a   broom  in   his   hand;   who;   with   an   exceedingly   low   bow;
  said;
  〃I is here; yer lordship。〃
  〃I did not send for you; what is your business?〃 demanded Jerome。
  〃I   is  the  man     what   opened     your    lordship's   cab…door;     when    your
  lordship came to the house on Monday last; and I know your honor won't
  allow a poor man to starve。〃
  Putting a sixpence in the old man's hand; Jerome once more started for
  the    depot。     Having      obtained     letters   of   introduction     to   persons    in
  Manchester;       he   found    no   difficulty   in  getting    a  situation   in  a   large
  manufacturing        house    there。   Although       the  salary    was   small;   yet   the
  situation     was   a  much     better   one   than    he  had    hoped    to  obtain。    His
  compensation as out…door clerk enabled him to employ a man to teach him
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  at night; and; by continued study and attention to business; he was soon
  promoted。
  After three years in his new home; Jerome was placed in a still higher
  position; where his salary amounted to fifteen hundred dollars a year。 The
  drinking;   smoking;   and   other   expensive   habits;   which   the   clerks   usually
  indulged in; he carefully avoided。
  Being   fond   of   poetry;   he   turned   his   attention   to   literature。   Johnson's
  〃Lives of the Poets;〃 the writings of Dryden; Addison; Pope; Clarendon;
  and   other   authors   of   celebrity;   he   read   with   attention。   The   knowledge
  which     he   thus   picked    up   during    his  leisure   hours   gave    him   a   great
  advantage over the other clerks; and caused his employers to respect him
  far more than any other in their establishment。 So eager was he to improve
  the   time   that   he   determined   to   see   how   much   he   could   read   during   the
  unemployed time of night and morning; and his success was beyond his
  expectations。
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  CHAPTER XXX
  NEW FRIENDS
  BROKEN down in health; after ten years of close confinement in his
  situation; Jerome resolved to give it up; and thereby release himself from
  an    employment      which    seemed     calculated    to  send   him   to   a  premature
  grave。
  It was on a beautiful morning in summer that he started for Scotland;
  having made up his mind to travel for his health。 After visiting Edinburgh
  and Glasgow; he concluded to spend a few days in the old town of Perth;
  with   a   friend   whose   acquaintance   he   had   made   in   Manchester。      During
  the second day of his stay in Perth; while crossing the main street; Jerome
  saw   a   pony…chaise   coming   toward   him   with   great   speed。   A   lady;   who
  appeared   to   be   the   only   occupant   of   the   vehicle;   was   using   her   utmost
  strength   to   stop   the   frightened   horses。   The   footman;   in   his   fright;   had
  leaped     from   behind    the   carriage;   and   was   following     with   the  crowd。
  With   that   self…forgetfulness   which   was   one   of   his   chief   characteristics;
  Jerome   threw   himself   before   the   horses   to   stop   them;   and;   seizing   the
  high…spirited animals by the bit; as they dashed by him; he was dragged
  several rods before their speed was checked; which was not accomplished
  until   one   of   the   horses   had   fallen   to   the   ground;   with   the   heroic   man
  struggling beneath him。
  All   present   were   satisfied   that   this   daring   act   alone   had   saved   the
  lady's life; for the chaise must inevitably have been dashed in pieces; had
  the horses not been thus suddenly checked in their mad career。
  On the morning following this perilous adventure; Col。 G cal