Bill Jarvis took over our village news agency at time of life when most of us only want to relax. He just thought he would like something but not too much to do, and the news agency was ready-made. The business produced little enough for him, but then Bill was a chap who only wanted the simplicity and order and regularity of the job. He had been a long-serving sailor, and all his life had done everything by the clock.
Every day he opened his shop at six a.m to catch the early trade; the papers arrived on his door-step before that. Many of Bill's customers were city workers, and the shop was convenient for the station. Business was tailing off by ten o'clock, so at eleven sharp Bill closed for lunch. It was hard luck on anybody who wanted a paper or magazine in the afternoon, for most likely Bill would be down on the river bank, fishing, and his nearest competitor was five kilometres away. Some time in the afternoon, the evening papers landed on the door-mat, and at four o'clock Bill reopened. The evening rush lasted till seven, and it was worthwhile.
He lived in a flat above the shop, alone. Except in very bad weather, you always knew where to find him in the afternoons, as I have said. Once, on a sunny afternoon, I walked home along the river bank from a shopping trip to the village. By my watch it was three minutes past four, so I was astonished to see Bill sitting there on his little chair with a line in the water. He had no luck, I could see, but he was making no effort to move.
"What's wrong, Bill?" I called out from the path. For answer, he put a hand inside his jacket and took out a big, golden object. For a moment I had no idea what it could be, and then it suddenly went off with a noise like a fire engine. Stopping the bell, Bill held the thing up and called back: "Ten to four, you see, and this is dead right." He stood up then and began to wind in his line. I had never known anyone carry a brass alarm clock round with him or her before.
比尔贾维斯接管我们村庄通讯社在生命中的时光当我们大多数人只想放松一下。他只是以为他想要东西,但不要太多做和通讯社是现成。业务产生足够小的他,但然后比尔一章只想要简单和秩序和规律的工作。他曾长期担任水手,和他一生所做的一切的时钟。每一天他打开了他的店在 6 上午赶上早期的贸易;论文准时到了他在此之前的门一步。比尔的顾客大多城市的工人,和商店很方便去车站。业务由 10 上午,下降,所以在十一点条例草案关门吃午饭。运气是困难谁想要一份文件或杂志在下午,最可能的草案将下降在河岸边钓鱼,和他最接近的竞争对手是五公里。一些时间在下午,晚报降落在门垫,和 4 上午条例草案重新开放。傍晚下班时间持续了直到七岁,,还是值得的。他住在商店上面的公寓,孤独。除非在非常恶劣的天气,你一直都知道在哪里可以找到他下午的时候,正如我所说。有一次,在一个阳光明媚的下午,我走回家沿着河岸从购物之旅到村子里。我的手表是过去四个,三分钟所以我吃惊地看到坐在那儿,在他的小椅子上一条线在水中的条例草案。他有没有运气,我能看见,但他正在不遗余力地移动。 "What's wrong, Bill?" I called out from the path. For answer, he put a hand inside his jacket and took out a big, golden object. For a moment I had no idea what it could be, and then it suddenly went off with a noise like a fire engine. Stopping the bell, Bill held the thing up and called back: "Ten to four, you see, and this is dead right." He stood up then and began to wind in his line. I had never known anyone carry a brass alarm clock round with him or her before.
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