eben holden-第48节
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im； awhile； talking volubly of the scene。
'My friend；'said she presently； 'are you a Christian？
''Fore I answer I ll hex if tell ye a story；'said Uncle Eb。 'I recollec a man by the name o'Ranney over n Vermont … he was a pious man。 Got into an argyment an'a feller slapped him in the face。 Ranney turned t other side an'then t other an'the feller kep'a slappin'hot 'n heavy。 It was jes'like strappin'a razor fer haifa minnit。 Then Ranney sailed in … gin him the wust lickin'he ever hed。
'〃I declare；〃 says another man； after 'twas all over； 〃I thought you was a Christian。〃
〃Am up to a cert in p int；〃 says he。 〃Can't go tew fur not 'n these parts … men are tew powerful。 'Twon't do 'less ye wan'if die sudden。 When he begun poundin'uv me I see I wan t eggzac ly prepared。〃
''Fraid 's a good deal thet way with most uv us。 We re Christians up to a cert in p int。 Fer one thing； I think if a rnan ll stan'still an'see himself knocked into the nex'world he's a leetle tew good fer this。
The good lady began to preach and argue。 For an hour Uncle Eb sat listening unable to get in a word。 When； at last； she left him he came to us a look of relief in his face。
'I b'lieve；'said he； 'if Balaam's ass hed been rode by a woman he never 'd hey spoke。
'Why not？'I enquired。
'Never'd hey hed a chance；'Unde Eb added。
We were two weeks at home with mother and father and Uncle Eb。 It was a delightful season of rest in which Hope and I went over the sloping roads of Faraway and walked in the fields and saw the harvesting。 She had appointed Christmas Day for our wedding and I was not to go again to the war； for now my first duty was to my own people。 If God prospered me they were all to come to live with us in town and； though slow to promise； I could see it gave them comfort to know we were to be for them ever a staff and refuge。
And the evening before we came back to townJed Feary was with us and Uncle Eb played his flute and sang the songs that had been the delight of our childhood。
The old poet read these lines written in memory of old times in Faraway and of Hope's girlhood。
'The red was in the clover an'the blue was in the sky： There was music in the meadow； there was dancing in the rye； An'I heard a voice a calling to the flocks o'Faraway An'its echo in the wooded hills … Co'day！ Go'day！ Go'day！
O fair was she … my lady love … an'lithe as the willow tree； An'aye my heart remembers well her parting words t'me。 An'I was sad as a beggar…man but she was blithe an'gay An'I think o'her as I call the flocks Go'day！ Go'day！ Go'day！
Her cheeks they stole the dover's red； her lips the odoured air； An'the glow o'the morning sunlight she took away in her hair； Her voice had the meadow music； her form an'her laughing eye Have taken the blue o'the heavens an'the grace o'the bending rye。
My love has robbed the summer day … the field； the sky； the dell； She has taken their treasures with her； she has taken my heart as well； An'if ever； in the further fields； her feet should go astray May she hear the good God calling her Co'day！ Go'day！ Go'day！
Chapter 41
I got a warm welcome on Monkey Hill。 John Trumbull came to dine with us at the chalet the evening of my arrival。 McGlingan had become editor…in…chief of a new daily newspaper。 Since the war began Mr Force had found ample and remunerative occupation writing the 'Obituaries of Distinguished Persons 。 He sat between Trumbull and McGlingan at table and told again of the time he had introduced the late Daniel Webster to the people of his native town。
Reciting a passage of the immortal Senator he tipped his beer into the lap of McClingan。 He ceased talking and sought pardon。
'It is nothing； Force … nothing；'said the Scotchman； with great dignity； as he wiped his coat and trousers。 'You will pardon me if I say that I had rather be drenched in beer than soaked in recollections。
'That's all right；'said Mr Opper； handing him a new napkin。 'Yes； in the midst of such affliction I should call it excellent fun； McClingan added。 'If you ever die； Force； I will preach the sermon without charge。
'On what text？'the obituary editor enquired。
'〃There remaineth therefore； a rest for the people of God；〃'quoth McClingan solemnly。 'Hebrews； fourth chapter and ninth verse。
'If I continue to live with you I shall need it；'said Force。
'And if I endure to the end；'said McClingan； 'I shall have excellent Christian discipline； I shall feel like opening my mouth and making a loud noise。
McGlingan changed his garments and then came into my room and sat with us awhile after dinner。
'One needs ear lappers and a rubber coat at that table；'said he。
'And a chest protector；'I suggested； remembering the finger of Force。
'I shall be leaving here soon； Brower；'said McGlingan as he lit a cigar。
'Where shall you go？'I asked。
'To my own house。
'Going to hire a housekeeper？
'Going to marry one；'said he。
'That's funny；'I said。 We re all to be married … every man of us。
'By Jove！'said McClingan； 'this is a time for congratulation。 God save us and grant for us all the best woman in the world。
Chapter 42
For every man he knew and loved Mr Greeley had a kindness that filled him to the fingertips。 When I returned he smote me on the breast … an unfailing mark of his favour … and doubled my salary。
'If he ever smites you on the breast；'McClingan had once said to me；
'turn the other side； for； man； your fortune is made。
And there was some truth in the warning。
He was writing when I came in。 A woman sat beside him talking。 An immense ham lay on the marble top of the steam radiator； a basket of eggs sat on the floor near Mr Greeley's desk All sorts of merchandise were sent to the Tribune those days； for notice； and sold at auction； to members of the staff； by Mr Dana。
'Yes； yes； Madame； go on； I hear you；'said the great editor； as his pen flew across the white page。
She asked him then for a loan of money。 He continued writing but； presently； his left hand dove into his trousers pocket coming up full of bills。
'Take what you want；'said he； holding it toward her； 'and please go for I am very busy。'Whereupon she helped herself liberally and went away。
Seeing me； Mr Greeley came and shook my hand warmly and praised me fer a good soldier。
'Going down town；'he said in a moment； drawing on his big white overcoat； 'walk along with me … won't you？
We crossed the park； he leading me with long strides。 As we walked he told how he had been suffering from brain fever。 Passing St Paul's churchyard he brushed the iron pickets with his hand as if to try the feel of them。 Many turned to stare at him curiously。 He asked me； soon； if I would care to do a certain thing for the Tribune； stopping； to look in at a shop window； as I answered him。 I waited while he did his errand at a Broadway shop； then we came back to the office。 The publisher was in Mr Greeley's room。
'Where's my ham； Dave？'said the editor as he looked at the slab of marble where the ham had lain。
'Don't know for sure；'said the publisher； 'it's probably up at the house of the … editor by this time。
'What did you go 'n give it to him for？'drawled Mr Greeley in a tone of irreparable injury。 'I wanted that ham for myself。
'I didn t give it to him；'said the publisher。 'He came and helped himself。 Said he supposed it was sent in for notice。
'The infernal thief！'Mr Greeley piped with a violent gesture。 'I ll swear！ if I didn t keep my shirt buttoned tight they d have that； too。
The ham was a serious obstacle in the way of my business and it went over until evening。 But that and like incidents made me to know the man as I have never seen him pictured … a boy grown old and grey； pushing the power of manhood with the ardours of youth。
I resumed work on the Tribune that week。 My first assignment was a mass meeting in a big temporary structure … then called a wigwam … over in Brooklyn。 My political life began that day and all by an odd chance。 The wigwam was crowded to the doors。 The audience bad been waiting half an hour for the speaker。 The chairman had been doing his best to kill time but had run out of ammunition。 He had sat down to wait； an awkward silence had begun。 The crowd was stamping and whistling and clapping with impatience。 As I walked down the centre aisle； to the reporter s table； they seemed to mistake me for the speaker。 Instantly a great uproar began。 It grew louder every step I took。 I began to wonder and then to fear the truth。 As I neared the stage the chairman came forward beckoning to me。 I went to the ffight of steps leading up to that higher level of distinguished citizens and halted； not knowing just what to do。 He came and leaned over and whispered down at me。 I remember he was red in the face and damp with perspiration。
'What is your name？'he enquired。
'Brower；'said I in a whisper。
A look of relief came into his face and I am sure a look of anxiety came into mine。 He had taken the centre of the stage before I could stop him。
'Lathes and gentlemen；'said he； 'I am glad to inform you that General Brower has at last arrived。
I remembered then there was a General Brower in the army who was also a power in politics。
In the storm of
