tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第3节
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Norse sentences； assured his persecutor that he was a harmless； honest
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traveler； and implored him to release him。 But the official Hercules was
inexorable。
〃My valise； my valise；〃 cried Halfdan。 〃Pray let me get my valise。〃
They returned to the place where he had slept； but the valise was
nowhere to be found。 Then； with dumb despair he resigned himself to
his fate； and after a brief ride on a street…car； found himself standing in a
large； low…ceiled room； he covered his face with his hands and burst into
tears。
〃The grand…the happy republic；〃 he murmured； 〃spontaneous
blossoming of the soul。 Alas！ I have rooted up my life； I fear it will
never blossom。〃
All the high…flown adjectives he had employed in his parting speech in
the Students' Union； when he paid his enthusiastic tribute to the Grand
Republic； now kept recurring to him； and in this moment the paradox
seemed cruel。 The Grand Republic； what did it care for such as he？ A
pair of brawny arms fit to wield the pick…axe and to steer the plow it
received with an eager welcome； for a child…like； loving heart and a
generously fantastic brain； it had but the stern greeting of the law。
III。
The next morning； Halfdan was released from the Police Station；
having first been fined five dollars for vagrancy。 All his money； with the
exception of a few pounds which he had exchanged in Liverpool； he had
lost with his valise； and he had to his knowledge not a single acquaintance
in the city or on the whole continent。 In order to increase his capital he
bought some fifty 〃Tribunes；〃 but； as it was already late in the day； he
hardly succeeded in selling a single copy。 The next morning； he once
more stationed himself on the corner of Murray street and Broadway；
hoping in his innocence to dispose of the papers he had still on hand from
the previous day； and actually did find a few customers among the people
who were jumping in and out of the omnibuses that passed up and down
the great thoroughfare。 To his surprise； however； one of these gentlemen
returned to him with a very wrathful countenance； shook his fist at him；
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
and vociferated with excited gestures something which to Halfdan's ears
had a very unintelligible sound。 He made a vain effort to defend himself；
the situation appeared so utterly incomprehensible to him； and in his dumb
helplessness he looked pitiful enough to move the heart of a stone。 No
English phrase suggested itself to him； only a few Norse interjections rose
to his lips。 The man's anger suddenly abated； he picked up the paper
which he had thrown on the sidewalk； and stood for a while regarding
Halfdan curiously。
〃Are you a Norwegian？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； I came from Norway yesterday。〃
〃What's your name？〃
〃Halfdan Bjerk。〃
〃Halfdan Bjerk！ My stars！ Who would have thought of meeting
you here！ You do not recognize me； I suppose。〃
Halfdan declared with a timid tremor in his voice that he could not at
the moment recall his features。
〃No； I imagine I must have changed a good deal since you saw me；〃
said the man； suddenly dropping into Norwegian。 〃I am Gustav Olson； I
used to live in the same house with you once； but that is long ago now。〃
Gustav Olsonto be sure； he was the porter's son in the house； where
his mother had once during his childhood； taken a flat。 He well
remembered having clandestinely traded jack… knives and buttons with
him； in spite of the frequent warnings he had received to have nothing to
do with him； for Gustav； with his broad freckled face and red hair； was
looked upon by the genteel inhabitants of the upper flats as rather a
disreputable character。 He had once whipped the son of a colonel who
had been impudent to him； and thrown a snow…ball at the head of a new…
fledged lieutenant； which offenses he had duly expiated at a house of
correction。 Since that time he had vanished from Halfdan's horizon。 He
had still the same broad freckled face； now covered with a lusty growth of
coarse red beard； the same rebellious head of hair； which refused to yield
to the subduing influences of the comb； the same plebeian hands and feet；
and uncouth clumsiness of form。 But his linen was irreproachable； and a
certain dash in his manner； and the loud fashionableness of his attire； gave
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unmistakable evidences of prosperity。
〃Come； Bjerk；〃 said he in a tone of good… fellowship； which was not
without its sting to the idealistic republican； 〃you must take up a better
business than selling yesterday's ‘Tribune。' That won't pay here； you
know。 Come along to our office and I will see if something can't be done
for you。〃
〃But I should be sorry to give you trouble；〃 stammered Halfdan；
whose native pride； even in his present wretchedness； protested against
accepting a favor from one whom he had been wont to regard as his
inferior。
〃Nonsense； my boy。 Hurry up； I haven't much time to spare。 The
office is only two blocks from here。 You don't look as if you could afford
to throw away a friendly offer。〃
The last words suddenly roused Halfdan from his apathy； for he felt
that they were true。 A drowning man cannot afford to make nice
distinctionscannot afford to ask whether the helping hand that is
extended to him be that of an equal or an inferior。 So he swallowed his
humiliation and threaded his way through the bewildering turmoil of
Broadway； by the side of his officious friend。
They entered a large； elegantly furnished office； where clerks with
sleek and severely apathetic countenances stood scribbling at their desks。
〃You will have to amuse yourself as best you can；〃 said Olson。 〃Mr。
Van Kirk will be here in twenty minutes。 I haven't time to entertain you。〃
A dreary half hour passed。 Then the door opened and a tall；
handsome man； with a full grayish beard； and a commanding presence；
entered and took his seat at a desk in a smaller adjoining office。 He
opened； with great dispatch； a pile of letters which lay on the desk before
him； called out in a sharp； ringing tone for a clerk； who promptly appeared；
handed him half…a…dozen letters； accompanying each with a brief direction；
took some clean paper from a drawer and fell to writing。 There was
something brisk； determined； and business…like in his manner； which made
it seem very hopeless to Halfdan to appear before him as a petitioner。
Presently Olson entered the private office； closing the door behind him；
and a few minutes later re…appeared and summoned Halfdan into the
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chief's presence。
〃You are a Norwegian； I hear；〃 said the merchant； looking around over
his shoulder at the supplicant； with a preoccupied air。 〃You want work。
What can you do？〃
What can you do？ A fatal question。 But here was clearly no
opportunity for mental debate。 So； summoning all his courage； but
feeling nevertheless very faint； he answered：
〃I have passed both examen artium and philosophicum；＇2＇ and got my
laud clear in the former； but in the latter haud on the first point。〃
＇2＇ Examen artium is the entrance
