Тексты для іспиту 11 класса

A Cent Cut into Two Pieces.

I worked at an office. I wrote short stories about life in New York. One day, as engaged at the office, Tripp came in. I didn’t know exactly where Tripp was working, but he was very poor. He was pale and unhealthy, and whenever he came I knew that he was going to ask me for a dollar, and then spend it on whisky.

This time Tripp looked more unhappy then ever.

«Well, Tripp, how are you?» said I. «Have you got a dollar, Mr. Chalmers?» asked Tripp. «Would you like a good plot for a story? I’ve got an excellent one. It will probably cost you a dollar or two.».

" What is the story?" I asked impatiently.

" It’s a girl. A real beauty. She had lived in a village for twenty years and has never seen New York City before. I happened to meet her in the street. I was passing by when she addressed me and asked where she could find George Brown. Asked me where she could find Gorge Brawn in New York! She comes from a little village and has seen nothing in her life but farms. I talked to her. She told me she was going to marry farmer next week. But there had been a certain Gorge Brown who had left the village some years ago and gone to the city to earn money.

He never returned to the village. But before marrying the farmer, Adaher mane is Ada — wants to find Gorge Brown and to have a talk with him as she seems to care for him still. That is why she has come to New York … I couldn’t leave her along. She told me that she had spent all her money and that she didn’t know what to do and where to go. So I took her to a boarding house and left her there. I want you to come with me to see her.".

" What nonsense you are talking, Tripp," said I. «I thought you said you had a plot of a story.».

«Oh, it will make a story, I assure you,» said Tripp. «You can describe the girl and add a lot about true love — well, you know how to do it and it will cost you only four dollars.».

«how will it cost me four dollars?» I asked.

" One dollar to the landlady in the boarding house," Tripp answered, «and two dollars to pay the girl’s fare home.».

" And the fourth dollar?" I asked .

«One dollar to me ,» said Tripp, «for whisky. Are you coming?».

There was nothing to be done but I said to myself that Tripp.

Would never persuade me to give him his dollar for whisky. Angrily I accompanied him to the boarding house. Tripp was right; she was a beauty. We found Ada comfortably sitting in an armchair and crying. She told me everything. When she spoke about Gorge Brown tears came to her eyes. What could I do? I was not George.

" Gorge and I ," she went on, «loved each other. When he was nineteenthat had six years ago — he left the village and went to New York to earn money. He said he would come back for me. But I never heard from him any more. On the day we parted Gorge and I cut a cent into two pieces. I took one piece and he took the other, and we promised to be devoted to each other. Something has happened to him, I am sure. It certainly was very silly of me to come here looking for him. I never ever suspected what a big place New York is.».

And then Tripp and I told her how important it was for her to stop looking for the unlucky Gorge and to return home at once.

I paid the landlady a dollar, and the three of us left the boarding house. I bought a ticket and a red rose for Ada. We saw her off. And then Tripp and I looked at each other. Tripp seemed even more unhappy then usual.

" Can’t you make a story of it?" he asked me. «not a line,» said I. «There is nothing interesting in this little adventure: but we have helped Ada. Let us try to forget it,» said I. I did not want to give Tripp his dollar for whisky. Just as we were walking toward the bus stop, Tripp took out his handkerchief, and I saw a cheap silver watch chain. Something was hanging on the watch chain. It was a half of a cent that had been cut into halves.

‘What?" I said, looking at him with surprise. «Oh, yes,» he answered," my real name Gorge Brown. But what’s the use?".

Without another word I took Tripp’s whisky dollar out of my pocket and put it into his hand.

(After O. Henry).