the uncommercial traveller-第59节
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all my expectations) like what I now describe with scrupulous
exactness。
The Mormon Agent who had been active in getting them together; and
in making the contract with my friends the owners of the ship to
take them as far as New York on their way to the Great Salt Lake;
was pointed out to me。 A compactly…made handsome man in black;
rather short; with rich brown hair and beard; and clear bright
eyes。 From his speech; I should set him down as American。
Probably; a man who had 'knocked about the world' pretty much。 A
man with a frank open manner; and unshrinking look; withal a man of
great quickness。 I believe he was wholly ignorant of my
Uncommercial individuality; and consequently of my immense
Uncommercial importance。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 These are a very fine set of people you have brought
together here。
MORMON AGENT。 Yes; sir; they are a VERY fine set of people。
UNCOMMERCIAL (looking about)。 Indeed; I think it would be
difficult to find Eight hundred people together anywhere else; and
find so much beauty and so much strength and capacity for work
among them。
MORMON AGENT (not looking about; but looking steadily at
Uncommercial)。 I think so。 … We sent out about a thousand more;
yes'day; from Liverpool。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 You are not going with these emigrants?
MORMON AGENT。 No; sir。 I remain。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 But you have been in the Mormon Territory?
MORMON AGENT。 Yes; I left Utah about three years ago。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 It is surprising to me that these people are all so
cheery; and make so little of the immense distance before them。
MORMON AGENT。 Well; you see; many of 'em have friends out at Utah;
and many of 'em look forward to meeting friends on the way。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 On the way?
MORMON AGENT。 This way 'tis。 This ship lands 'em in New York
City。 Then they go on by rail right away beyond St。 Louis; to that
part of the Banks of the Missouri where they strike the Plains。
There; waggons from the settlement meet 'em to bear 'em company on
their journey 'cross…twelve hundred miles about。 Industrious
people who come out to the settlement soon get waggons of their
own; and so the friends of some of these will come down in their
own waggons to meet 'em。 They look forward to that; greatly。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 On their long journey across the Desert; do you arm
them?
MORMON AGENT。 Mostly you would find they have arms of some kind or
another already with them。 Such as had not arms we should arm
across the Plains; for the general protection and defence。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 Will these waggons bring down any produce to the
Missouri?
MORMON AGENT。 Well; since the war broke out; we've taken to
growing cotton; and they'll likely bring down cotton to be
exchanged for machinery。 We want machinery。 Also we have taken to
growing indigo; which is a fine commodity for profit。 It has been
found that the climate on the further side of the Great Salt Lake
suits well for raising indigo。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 I am told that these people now on board are
principally from the South of England?
MORMON AGENT。 And from Wales。 That's true。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 Do you get many Scotch?
MORMON AGENT。 Not many。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 Highlanders; for instance?
MORMON AGENT。 No; not Highlanders。 They ain't interested enough
in universal brotherhood and peace and good will。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 The old fighting blood is strong in them?
MORMON AGENT。 Well; yes。 And besides; they've no faith。
UNCOMMERCIAL (who has been burning to get at the Prophet Joe Smith;
and seems to discover an opening)。 Faith in … !
MORMON AGENT (far too many for Uncommercial)。 Well。 … In anything!
Similarly on this same head; the Uncommercial underwent
discomfiture from a Wiltshire labourer: a simple; fresh…coloured
farm…labourer; of eight…and…thirty; who at one time stood beside
him looking on at new arrivals; and with whom he held this
dialogue:
UNCOMMERCIAL。 Would you mind my asking you what part of the
country you come from?
WILTSHIRE。 Not a bit。 Theer! (exultingly) I've worked all my life
o' Salisbury Plain; right under the shadder o' Stonehenge。 You
mightn't think it; but I haive。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 And a pleasant country too。
WILTSHIRE。 Ah! 'Tis a pleasant country。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 Have you any family on board?
WILTSHIRE。 Two children; boy and gal。 I am a widderer; I am; and
I'm going out alonger my boy and gal。 That's my gal; and she's a
fine gal o' sixteen (pointing out the girl who is writing by the
boat)。 I'll go and fetch my boy。 I'd like to show you my boy。
(Here Wiltshire disappears; and presently comes back with a big;
shy boy of twelve; in a superabundance of boots; who is not at all
glad to be presented。) He is a fine boy too; and a boy fur to
work! (Boy having undutifully bolted; Wiltshire drops him。)
UNCOMMERCIAL。 It must cost you a great deal of money to go so far;
three strong。
WILTSHIRE。 A power of money。 Theer! Eight shillen a week; eight
shillen a week; eight shillen a week; put by out of the week's
wages for ever so long。
UNCOMMERCIAL。 I wonder how you did it。
WILTSHIRE (recognising in this a kindred spirit)。 See theer now!
I wonder how I done it! But what with a bit o' subscription heer;
and what with a bit o' help theer; it were done at last; though I
don't hardly know how。 Then it were unfort'net for us; you see; as
we got kep' in Bristol so long … nigh a fortnight; it were … on
accounts of a mistake wi' Brother Halliday。 Swaller'd up money; it
did; when we might have come straight on。
UNCOMMERCIAL (delicately approaching Joe Smith)。 You are of the
Mormon religion; of course?
WILTSHIRE (confidently)。 O yes; I'm a Mormon。 (Then
reflectively。) I'm a Mormon。 (Then; looking round the ship;
feigns to descry a particular friend in an empty spot; and evades
the Uncommercial for evermore。)
After a noontide pause for dinner; during which my Emigrants were
nearly all between…decks; and the Amazon looked deserted; a general
muster took place。 The muster was for the ceremony of passing the
Government Inspector and the Doctor。 Those authorities held their
temporary state amidships; by a cask or two; and; knowing that the
whole Eight hundred emigrants must come face to face with them; I
took my station behind the two。 They knew nothing whatever of me;
I believe; and my testimony to the unpretending gentleness and good
nature with which they discharged their duty; may be of the greater
worth。 There was not the slightest flavour of the Circumlocution
Office about their proceedings。
The emigrants were now all on deck。 They were densely crowded aft;
and swarmed upon the poop…deck like bees。 Two or three Mormon
agents stood ready to hand them on to the Inspector; and to hand
them forward when they had passed。 By what successful means; a
special aptitude for organisation had been infused into these
people; I am; of course; unable to report。 But I know that; even
now; there was no disorder; hurry; or difficulty。
All being ready; the first group are handed on。 That member of the
party who is entrusted with the passenger…ticket for the whole; has
been warned by one of the agents to have it ready; and here it is
in his hand。 In every instance through the whole eight hundred;
without an exception; this paper is always ready。
INSPECTOR (reading the ticket)。 Jessie Jobson; Sophronia Jobson;
Jessie Jobson again; Matilda Jobson; William Jobson; Jane Jobson;
Matilda Jobson again; Brigham Jobson; Leonardo Jobson; and Orson
Jobson。 Are you all here? (glancing at the party; over his
spectacles)。
JESSIE JOBSON NUMBER TWO。 All here; sir。
This group is composed of an old grandfather and grandmother; their
married son and his wife; and THEIR family of children。 Orson
Jobson is a little child asleep in his mother's arms。 The Doctor;
with a kind word or so; lifts up the corner of the mother's shawl;
looks at the child's face; and touches the little clenched hand。
If we were all as well as Orson Jobson; doctoring would be a poor
profession。
INSPECTOR。 Quite right; Jessie Jobson。 Take your ticket; Jessie;
and pass on。
And away they go。 Mormon agent; skilful and quiet; hands them on。
Mormon agent; skilful and quiet; hands next party up。
INSPECTOR (reading ticket again)。 Susannah Cleverly and William
Cleverly。 Brother and sister; eh?
SISTER (young woman of business; hustling slow brother)。 Yes; sir。
INSPECTOR。 Very good; Susannah Cleverly。 Take your ticket;
Susannah; and take care of it。
And away they go。
INSPECTOR (taking ticket again)。 Sampson Dibble and Dorothy Dibble
(surveying a very old couple over his spectacles; with some
surprise)。 Your husband quite blind; Mrs。 Dibble?
MRS。 DIBBLE。 Yes; sir; he be stone…bli