第二章格兰特做了两次生意上的拜访.docx

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1、第二章格兰特做了两次生意上的拜访Chapter 2 Grant Makes Two Business Calls教会的执事叫格里德利，他是一个非常抠门、 小气的家伙，生活极度节俭，即使对自己的妻子也 不例外，那个可怜的女人终年穿得破破烂烂的，已 经五年没有买过一顶新帽子了。不过，他在财务问 题上非常讲求信誉，于是成为了教会的财务官。格兰特来到执事这里，跟他说明了来意。格里 德利刚刚收缴上来五十美元，不过他不情愿付给格 兰特，他更愿意把这笔小钱借出去，收缴百分之一 的利息。于是，他对格兰特说，他可以先拿出五十 美元，不过他要收取利息。格兰特虽然意识到这是 一个比较苛刻的条件，但是一个月五十美分的

2、利息，就可以解决燃眉之急, 还是值得的。于是，格兰特欣然答应，他告诉执事，他回去就通知父母下 午来取钱。随后，格兰特来到杂货店，他把从家里带出来的八美元交给老 板，并且向都德保证，第二天早晨再还二十五美元。这令都德非常满意。 格兰特带着一份轻松的心情回家了，他今天做得很成功。D eacon Gridley had a small farm, and farming was his chief occupation, but he had a few thousand dollars laid away in stocks and bonds, and, being a thritty man,

3、 not to say mean, he managed to save up nearly all the interest, which he added to his original accumulation. He always coveted financial trusts, and so it came about that he was parish treasurer.“Good-morning, Deacon Gridley,“ said the ministers son.“Morning, Grant,“ answered the deacon. Hows your

4、folks?”Pretty well in health J returned Grant, coming to business at oncebut rather short of money.”Ministers most generally are, said Deacon Gridley, dryly.“I should think they might be, with the small salaries they get, said Grant, indignantly.“Some of them do get poorly paid, replied the deacon;

5、but I call six hundred dollars a pretty fair income.”“It might be for a single man; but when a minister has a wife and three children, like my father, its pretty hard scratching.”“Some folks aint got faculty/9 said the deacon, adding, complacently, it never cost me nigh on to six hundred dollars a y

6、ear to live.”The deacon had the reputation of living very penuriously, and Abram Fish, who once worked for him and boarded in the family, said he was half starved there.“You get your milk and vegetables off the farm J said Grant, who felt the comparison was not a fair one. That makes a great deal of

7、 difference/9“It makes some difference/5 the deacon admitted, but not as much as the difference in our expenses. I didnt spend more than a hundred dollars cash last year.”This excessive frugality may have been the reason why Mrs. Deacon Gridley was always so shabbily dressed. The poor woman had not

8、had a new bonnet for five years, as every lady in the parish well knew.Ministers have some expenses that other people dontpersisted Grant.“What kind of expenses, Td like to know?”“They have to buy books and magazines, and entertain missionaries, and hire teams to go on exchanges/5“Thats something, a

9、dmitted the deacon. Maybe it amounts to twenty or thirty dollars a year.”“More likely a hundred/9 said Grant.“That would be awful extravagant sinful waste. If I was a minister, Id be more cheerful.”“Well, Deacon Gridley, I dont want to argue with you. I came to see if you hadnt collected some money

10、for father. Mr. Tudor has sent in his bill, and he wants to be paid.”“How much is it?”“Sixty-seven dollars and thirty-four cents.”“You dont tell me!” said the deacon, scandalized. You folks must be terrible extravagant/5Grant hardly knew whether to be more vexed or amused.“If wanting to have enough

11、to eat is extravagant/5 he said, “then we are.”“You must live on the fat of the land, Grant?5“We havent any of us got the gout, nor are likely to have, answered Grant, provoked. But let us come back to business. Have you got any money for father?Now it so happened that Deacon Gridley had fifty dolla

12、rs collected, but he thought he knew where he could let it out for one per cent, for a month, and he did not like to lose the opportunity.Tm sorry to disappoint you, Grant/5 he answered, “but folks are slow about paying up, and-“Havent you got any money collected?” asked Grant, desperately.Ill tell

13、you what Ill do J said the deacon, with a bright idea.Ive got fifty dollars of my own-say for a month, till I can make collections.“That would be very kind, said Grant, feeling that he had done the deacon an injustice.“Of course, the deacon resumed, hastily, CCI should have to charge interest. In fa

14、ct, I was going to lend out the money to a neighbor for a month at one per cent; but Fd just as live let your father have it at that price.”“Isnt that more than legal interest?” asked Grant.“Well, you see, money is worth good interest nowadays. If your father dont want it, no matter. I can let the o

15、ther man have it.”Grant rapidly calculated that the interest would only amount to fifty cents, and money must be had.“I think father511 agree to your terms,“ he said. Ill let you know this afternoon?5“AU right, Grant. It dont make a mite of difference to me, but if your father wants the money hell h

16、ave to speak for it today.”Ill see that the matter is attended to, said Grant, and he went on his way, pleased with the prospect of obtaining money for their impoverished household, even on such hard terms.Next he made his way to Mr. Tudor 5s store.It was one of those country variety stores where al

17、most everything in the way of house supplies can be obtained, from groceries to dry goods.Mr. Tudor was a small man, with a parchment skin and insignificant features. He was in the act of weighing out a quantity of sugar for a customer when Grant entered.Grant waited till the shopkeeper was at leisu

18、re.“Did you want to see me, Grant?” said Tudor.“Yes, Mr. Tudor. You sent over a bill to our house this morning.”“And youve come to pay it. Thats right. Moneys tight, and Ive got bills to pay in the city.”Ive got a little money for you on account/5 said Grant, watching Tudors face anxiously.“How much

19、?” asked the storekeeper, his countenance changing.“Eight dollars.,“Eight dollars!” ejaculated Tudor, indignantly. “Only eight dollars out of sixty-seven! Thats a regular imposition, and I dont care of your father is a minister, I stick to my words.”Grant was angry, but he remembered his mothers inj

20、unction to restrain his temper.“Wed like to pay the whole, Mr. Tudor, if we had the money, and”“Do you think I can trust the whole neighborhood, and only get one dollar in ten of whats due me?” spluttered Mr. Tudor. Ministers ought to set a better example.”Ministers ought to get better pay,“ said Gr

21、ant.“Theres plenty dont get as much as your father. When do you expect to pay the rest, Id like to know? I spose you expect me to go on trustin, and maybe six months from now youll pay me another eight dollars,“ said the storekeeper, with withering sarcasm.“I was going to tell you, if you hadnt inte

22、rrupted me, said Grant, that we should probably have some more money for you tomorrow.”“How much?Twenty-five dollars/5 answered the boy, knowing that part of the money borrowed must go in other quarters. Will that be satisfactory?55“Thats more like!” said Tudor, calming down. If youU pay that Ill gi

23、ve you a leetle more time on the rest. Do you want anything this mornin5? Ive got some prime butter just come in.”Ill call for some articles this afternoon, Mr. Tudor. Here are the eight dollars. Please credit us with that sum. -“Well, Ive accomplished something/9 said Grant to himself as he plodded homeward.