"Alger Jr, Horatio - The Young Explorer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

farm. You're used to that, and I guess you could find a chance before long.
There's Deacon Pitkin wants a boy, and would be glad of the chance of gettin'
you."
"I suppose he would," said Ben, laughing. "Would you advise me to go there?"
"Well, there might be some objections, but-"
"You know I wouldn't get enough to eat, Uncle Job," interrupted Ben. "Why,
Deacon Pitkin's the meanest man in the village."
"You mustn't be hasty in your judgments, nephew."
"I'm not. I know what I'm talking about. I worked for the deacon two days once.
He gave me ten cents a day and board-and such board! Why, I got up from the
table hungry every meal, and yet the deacon reported afterward that I was a
great eater. Mrs. Pitkin cuts a small pie into eight pieces, each about two
mouthfuls, and when I asked for a second piece, she asked if I was allowed to
have two pieces at home."
"What did you say?" asked Uncle Job, evidently amused.
"I said yes, and that each piece was twice as big as she gave."
"I'm afraid that was rather forward, Ben. Did she say anything to that?"
"She said I must be very greedy, and that boys always ate more'n was good for
'em. No, Uncle Job, I don't care to work for Deacon Pitkin."
"Have you formed any plans, Ben? You don't want to go on a farm, and you don't
want to go into a shoeshop, and that's about all you can find to do in Hampton."

"I don't mean to stay in Hampton," said Ben quietly.
"Don't mean to stay in Hampton!" exclaimed Uncle Joe, amazed.
"No, uncle. There's a good many places besides Hampton in the world."
"So there is, Ben," answered Uncle Job, with a disregard of grammar more
excusable than his nephew's, for he had never had any special educational
advantages,-"so there is, but you don't know anybody in them other places."
"It won't take me long to get acquainted," returned Ben, not at all disturbed by
this consideration.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I want to go to California."
"Gracious sakes! Want to go to California!" gasped Job. "What put that idee into
your head?"
"A good many people are going there, and there's a chance to get rich quick out
among the gold-mines."
"But you're only a boy."
"I'm a pretty large boy, Uncle Job," said Ben complacently, "and I'm pretty
strong."
"So you be, Ben, but it takes more than strength."
"What more, Uncle Job?"
"It takes judgment."
"Can't a boy have judgment?"
"Waal, he may have some, but you don't often find an old head on young
shoulders."
"I know all that, uncle, but I can work if I am a boy."
"I know you're willin' to work, Ben, but it'll cost a sight of money to get out
to Californy to start with."
"I know that. It will take two hundred dollars."
"And that's more'n half of all you've got. It seems to me temptin' Providence to