Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the friendly road(ÓѺõÄ·) >

µÚ20½Ú

the friendly road(ÓѺõÄ·)-µÚ20½Ú

С˵£º the friendly road(ÓѺõÄ·) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡gone¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡dozen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡times¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡added¡¡

variations¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡trills¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡command£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡children¡¡

hopping¡¡about¡¡in¡¡the¡¡yard£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡forlorn¡¡man¡¡tapping¡¡his¡¡toe¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tune£»¡¡

and¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡on¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forlorn¡¡woman£»¡¡I¡¡wound¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rush¡¡and¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡72¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡73¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡hold¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡longer¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡couldn't¡¡¡¡¡¡either£¡£©£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

suddenly¡¡burst¡¡out£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yankee¡¡doodle¡¡dandy£¡¡¡Yankee¡¡doodle¡¡dandy£¡¡¡Mind¡¡the¡¡music¡¡and¡¡the¡¡

step£»¡¡And¡¡with¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡be¡¡handy¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡seem¡¡¡¡¡¡surprising£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡understand¡¡¡¡¡¡why¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

when¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡woman¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡doorway¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡tears¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

eyes£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡'John¡¡¡¡¡¡Brown's¡¡¡¡¡¡Body'£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡eagerly¡¡¡¡inquired¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡

with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dipper£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡done¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡bold¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

improper£»¡¡she¡¡blushed¡¡and¡¡edged¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡go£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bold¡¡¡¡¡¡lads¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡yard¡¡

instantly¡¡¡¡¡¡puckered¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡lips¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡show¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡immediately¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡

trying¡¡it¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Here¡¡goes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡few¡¡minutes£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡my¡¡very¡¡best¡¡

style£»¡¡I¡¡hung¡¡Jeff¡¡Davis¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sour¡¡apple¡­tree£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡John¡¡

Brown¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡marching¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡onward¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡altogether¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡unnecessary¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡number¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

hallelujahs¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡sometimes¡¡that¡¡peoplewhole¡¡families¡¡of¡¡'emliterally¡¡perish¡¡

for¡¡want¡¡of¡¡a¡¡good£»¡¡hearty£»¡¡whole¡­souled£»¡¡mouth¡­opening£»¡¡throat¡­stretching£»¡¡

side¡­aching¡¡laugh¡£¡¡They¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡think¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡abused¡¡of¡¡creation£»¡¡

they¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡advise¡¡with¡¡their¡¡livers¡¡and¡¡to¡¡hate¡¡their¡¡neighbours£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡

whole¡¡world¡¡becomes¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡miserable¡¡dark¡¡blue¡¡place¡¡quite¡¡unfit¡¡for¡¡human¡¡

habitation¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡often¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡result¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡neglect¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡exercise¡¡

properly¡¡those¡¡muscles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body¡¡£¨and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soul£©¡¡which¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡

honest¡¡laughter¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I've¡¡never¡¡supposed¡¡I¡¡was¡¡an¡¡especially¡¡amusing¡¡person£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡I¡¡

got¡¡through¡¡with¡¡it¡¡I¡¡had¡¡the¡¡Clark¡¡family¡¡well¡¡loosened¡¡up¡¡with¡¡laughter£»¡¡

although¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡wasn't¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡sure¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡whether¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Clark¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

laughing¡¡or¡¡crying¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡them¡¡all¡¡laughing¡¡and¡¡talking£»¡¡asking¡¡questions¡¡

and¡¡answering¡¡them¡¡as¡¡though¡¡I¡¡were¡¡an¡¡old¡¡and¡¡valued¡¡neighbour¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Isn't¡¡it¡¡odd¡¡how¡¡unconvinced¡¡we¡¡often¡¡are¡¡by¡¡the¡¡crises¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡

other¡¡people£¿¡¡They¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡us¡¡trivial¡¡or¡¡unimportant£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡is£»¡¡the¡¡

crises¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡boy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡example£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡73¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡74¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



commanding¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡crises¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡greatest¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡statesman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡

millionaire£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡involve¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡equally¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡personality£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡entire¡¡

prospects¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Clark¡¡family£»¡¡I¡¡soon¡¡learned£»¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡its¡¡pig¡£¡¡A¡¡trivial¡¡matter£»¡¡you¡¡

say£¿¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡anything¡¡is¡¡ever¡¡trivial¡£¡¡A¡¡year¡¡of¡¡poor¡¡crops£»¡¡sickness£»¡¡

low¡¡¡¡¡¡prices£»¡¡¡¡¡¡discouragement¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡end¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡top¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡all£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

cherished¡¡pig¡¡had¡¡died£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡all¡¡accounts¡¡£¨and¡¡the¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡porch¡¡quite¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡apathy¡¡in¡¡

telling¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡it£©¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡pig¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡remarkable¡¡¡¡¡¡virtues¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

attainments£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡paragon¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡pigs¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡whom¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡bound¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡

possibilities¡¡of¡¡new¡¡shoes¡¡for¡¡the¡¡children£»¡¡a¡¡hat¡¡for¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡a¡¡new¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡

overalls¡¡for¡¡the¡¡gentleman£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡what¡¡other¡¡kindred¡¡luxuries¡£¡¡I¡¡

do¡¡not¡¡think£»¡¡¡¡indeed£»¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pig¡¡drawn¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡

quite¡¡such¡¡ardent¡¡enthusiasm¡¡of¡¡detail£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡more¡¡questions¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡

more¡¡eager¡¡the¡¡story£»¡¡until¡¡finally¡¡it¡¡became¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡

barn£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cattle¡­pen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡pig¡­pen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chicken¡­house£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡might¡¡

visualize¡¡more¡¡clearly¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tragedy¡£¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡family¡¡trooped¡¡

after¡¡us¡¡like¡¡a¡¡classic¡¡chorus£»¡¡but¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark¡¡himself¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

stage¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡plainly¡¡I¡¡could¡¡read¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡this¡¡hill¡¡

farmer¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡meagre¡¡¡¡¡¡existencehis¡¡¡¡¡¡ill¡­directed¡¡¡¡¡¡effort¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡wring¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡

living¡¡for¡¡his¡¡family¡¡from¡¡these¡¡upland¡¡fields£»¡¡his¡¡poverty£»¡¡and£»¡¡above¡¡all£»¡¡

his¡¡evident¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡calling¡£¡¡Added¡¡to¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡perhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡depressing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡difficulties£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡utter¡¡

loneliness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡task£»¡¡the¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡it¡¡mattered¡¡little¡¡to¡¡any¡¡one¡¡whether¡¡

the¡¡Clark¡¡family¡¡worked¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡or¡¡indeed¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡or¡¡died¡£¡¡A¡¡

perfectly¡¡good¡¡American¡¡family¡¡was¡¡here¡¡being¡¡wasted£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡precious¡¡

land¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡on£»¡¡¡¡because¡¡no¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡trouble¡£¡¡to¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡

feel¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Great¡¡American¡¡Job¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡freckled¡­nosed¡¡¡¡¡¡neighbour's¡¡¡¡¡¡boy¡¡

came¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gate¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡letter¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡up¡¡with¡¡our¡¡mail¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡letter£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Clark¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡74¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡75¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡letter£¡¡¨¡¡echoed¡¡at¡¡least¡¡three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡children¡¡in¡¡unison¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Probably¡¡a¡¡dun¡¡from¡¡Brewster£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark¡¡discouragingly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡sensation¡¡about¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡eagerness¡¡of¡¡interest¡¡I¡¡

have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rarely¡¡¡¡¡¡experienced¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡idea¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mere¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡lettera¡¡¡¡mere¡¡

unopened¡¡unread¡¡letterwould¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡a¡¡family¡¡like¡¡this¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡has¡¡no¡¡stamp¡¡on¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡the¡¡older¡¡girl¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Clark¡¡turned¡¡it¡¡over¡¡wonderingly¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark¡¡hastily¡¡

put¡¡on¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡steel¡­bowed¡¡spectacles¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡also¡¡had¡¡inspected¡¡it¡¡minutely¡¡he¡¡

solemnly¡¡tore¡¡open¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡forth¡¡my¡¡letter¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡assure¡¡you¡¡I¡¡never¡¡awaited¡¡the¡¡reading¡¡of¡¡any¡¡writing¡¡of¡¡mine¡¡with¡¡

such¡¡¡¡¡¡breathless¡¡¡¡¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Would¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡catch¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

meaning¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡meant¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡convey£¿¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡they¡¡¡¡suspect¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡

written¡¡it£¿¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡porch¡¡and¡¡read¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡slowly¡¡through¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡

turned¡¡the¡¡sheet¡¡over¡¡and¡¡examined¡¡it¡¡carefully£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡began¡¡reading¡¡it¡¡

again¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Clark¡¡leaning¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡does¡¡it¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡too¡¡good¡¡to¡¡be¡¡true£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Clark¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sigh¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡long¡¡the¡¡discussion¡¡might¡¡have¡¡continuedprobably¡¡

for¡¡days¡¡or¡¡weekshad¡¡not¡¡the¡¡older¡¡girl£»¡¡now¡¡flushed¡¡of¡¡face¡¡and¡¡rather¡¡

pretty£»¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡and¡¡said¡¡breathlessly¡¡£¨she¡¡was¡¡as¡¡sharp¡¡as¡¡a¡¡briar£©£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡wrote¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡battery¡¡of¡¡all¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡smiling¡¡and¡¡rather¡¡

excited¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡earnestly£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡wrote¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡mean¡¡every¡¡word¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡anticipated¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡shock¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡suspicion¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡inquiry£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

surprise¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡accepted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡simply¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡neighbourly¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

suppose¡¡the¡¡mystery¡¡of¡¡it¡¡was¡¡eclipsed¡¡by¡¡my¡¡astonishing¡¡presence¡¡there¡¡

upon¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡with¡¡my¡¡tin¡¡whistle¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡rate£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡changed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡eager£»¡¡¡¡¡¡interested¡¡¡¡¡¡family¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡

occupied¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡porch¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡dilapidated¡¡¡¡¡¡farmhouse¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡immediately¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡

fell¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡lively¡¡¡¡discussion¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡crops¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡farming£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡indeed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡75¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡76¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



farm¡¡¡¡¡¡question£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡both¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡wife¡¡¡¡¡¡singularly¡¡

acutesharpened¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡of¡¡hard¡¡experience¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡times¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡

American¡¡farmers£»¡¡an¡¡intelligence¡¡£¨a¡¡literacy¡¡growing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡what¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡

to¡¡be¡¡improper¡¡education£©¡¡which¡¡was¡¡better¡¡able¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡the¡¡problems¡¡of¡¡

rural¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡grapple¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡solve¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡¡¡dull£»¡¡¡¡¡¡illiterate¡¡¡¡¡¡Polish¡¡

farmer£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡found£»¡¡will¡¡sometimes¡¡succeed¡¡much¡¡better¡¡at¡¡the¡¡job¡¡of¡¡life¡¡

than¡¡his¡¡American¡¡neighbour¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Talk¡¡with¡¡almost¡¡any¡¡man¡¡for¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find¡¡that¡¡his¡¡

conversation£»¡¡like¡¡an¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡song£»¡¡has¡¡a¡¡regularly¡¡recurrent¡¡chorus¡£¡¡

I¡¡soon¡¡discovered¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clark's¡¡chorus¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Now£»¡¡if¡¡only¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cash£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡sang£»¡¡or£»¡¡¡¨If¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡few¡¡dollars£»¡¡I¡¡

could¡¡do¡¡so¡¡and¡¡so¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡as¡¡helplessly£»¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡money¡¡as¡¡any¡¡soft¡­handed¡¡

millionairess¡£¡¡He¡¡considered¡¡himself¡¡poor¡¡and¡¡helpless¡¡because¡¡he¡¡lacked¡¡

dollars£»¡¡whereas¡¡people¡¡are

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ