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

"I guess we can't make a bargain, Deacon Pitkin," he said.
Deacon Pitkin knew that he had made a very mean offer, and felt that he could
afford to increase it somewhat; but he was a close hand at a bargain, and meant
to get Ben as cheap as he could.
"What was you expectin'?" he asked cautiously. "You must remember that you're
only a boy, and can't expect men's wages."
Ben had no idea, as we know, of engaging to work for Deacon Pitkin at all; but
he decided that the easiest way to avoid it was to put such a value on his
services as to frighten the old man.
"I am almost as strong as a man," he said, "and I can earn a great deal more
than my board the first year."
"I might be willin' to give you twenty dollars the first year," said the deacon.

"I've been thinking," said Ben soberly, "that I ought to have a hundred and
fifty dollars and board the first year."
Deacon Pitkin fairly gasped for breath. He was fairly overpowered by Ben's
audacity.
"A-hundred-and-fifty-dollars!" he ejaculated, turning his wrinkled face toward
our hero.
"That's about the figure," said Ben cheerfully. "A hundred and fifty dollars and
board, or three hundred dollars, and I'll board with my uncle."
"Is the boy crazy?" asked the deacon, in a bewildered tone.
"You'd have to pay a man as much as twenty dollars a month," pursued Ben.
"That's about a hundred dollars a year more."
"Benjamin," said the deacon solemnly, "do you want to ruin me?"
"No, sir, I hope not," answered our hero innocently.
"Then why do you ask such an unheard-of price?"
"I think I'm worth it," said Ben.
"Boys haven't much jedgment," said the deacon. "You'd better let me talk over
this matter with your Uncle Job."
"It won't be any use, Deacon Pitkin. Uncle Job won't interfere with me."
"You can't get such wages anywhere. You'll have to work for less."
"Perhaps I can't get my price in Hampton," said Ben.
"Of course you can't. There ain't no one goin' to pay you men's wages."
"Perhaps you are right, Deacon Pitkin. In that case, my mind is made up."
"What will you do?" asked the deacon, showing some curiosity.
"I'll leave town."
"It's a resky thing, Benjamin. You ain't old enough to take care of yourself."
"I think I can do it. Deacon Pitkin. I am not afraid to try. Still, if you'll
give me a hundred and fifty dollars and boardЧ"
"You must think I'm crazy," said the deacon hastily. "I don't throw money away
that way."
"Then I'm afraid we can't make a bargain, deacon. Here is the store, and I'll
bid you good morning."
"If you think better of my offer, you can let me know, Benjamin. You can talk it
over with your uncle."
"All right, sir. If you think better of mine, just let me know within a week, or
I may be gone from Hampton."
"That's a cur'us boy," said the deacon meditatively. "He's got the most
conceited idea of his vally to work of any boy I ever came across. A hundred and