at the back of the north wind-第32节
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it will。〃
〃I hope it may； my man。 I shouldn't wonder if you're as good
as you look； after all。〃
As Diamond returned； he drew up at a stand he had never been on before：
it was time to give Diamond his bag of chopped beans and oats。
The men got about him； and began to chaff him。 He took it all
good…humouredly； until one of them； who was an ill…conditioned fellow；
began to tease old Diamond by poking him roughly in the ribs；
and making general game of him。 That he could not bear； and the
tears came in his eyes。 He undid the nose…bag； put it in the boot；
and was just going to mount and drive away； when the fellow interfered；
and would not let him get up。 Diamond endeavoured to persuade him；
and was very civil； but he would have his fun out of him；
as he said。 In a few minutes a group of idle boys had assembled；
and Diamond found himself in a very uncomfortable position。
Another cab drew up at the stand； and the driver got off and approached
the assemblage。
〃What's up here？〃 he asked； and Diamond knew the voice。 It was
that of the drunken cabman。
〃Do you see this young oyster？ He pretends to drive a cab；〃
said his enemy。
〃Yes； I do see him。 And I sees you too。 You'd better leave him alone。
He ain't no oyster。 He's a angel come down on his own business。
You be off； or I'll be nearer you than quite agreeable。〃
The drunken cabman was a tall； stout man； who did not look one
to take liberties with。
〃Oh！ if he's a friend of yours；〃 said the other； drawing back。
Diamond got out the nose…bag again。 Old Diamond should have his
feed out now。
〃Yes； he is a friend o' mine。 One o' the best I ever had。
It's a pity he ain't a friend o' yourn。 You'd be the better for it；
but it ain't no fault of hisn。〃
When Diamond went home at night； he carried with him one pound
one shilling and sixpence； besides a few coppers extra； which had
followed some of the fares。
His mother had got very anxious indeedso much so that she
was almost afraid； when she did hear the sound of his cab； to go
and look； lest she should be yet again disappointed； and should
break down before her husband。 But there was the old horse；
and there was the cab all right； and there was Diamond in the box；
his pale face looking triumphant as a full moon in the twilight。
When he drew up at the stable…door； Jack came out； and after a good
many friendly questions and congratulations； said：
〃You go in to your mother； Diamond。 I'll put up the old 'oss。
I'll take care on him。 He do deserve some small attention；
he do。〃
〃Thank you； Jack；〃 said Diamond； and bounded into the house；
and into the arms of his mother； who was waiting him at the top
of the stair。
The poor； anxious woman led him into his own room； sat down on his bed；
took him on her lap as if he had been a baby； and cried。
〃How's father？〃 asked Diamond； almost afraid to ask。
〃Better； my child；〃 she answered； 〃but uneasy about you； my dear。〃
〃Didn't you tell him I was the early bird gone out to catch the worm？〃
〃That was what put it in your head； was it； you monkey？〃
said his mother； beginning to get better。
〃That or something else；〃 answered Diamond； so very quietly
that his mother held his head back and stared in his face。
〃Well！ of all the children！〃 she said； and said no more。
〃And here's my worm；〃 resumed Diamond。
But to see her face as he poured the shillings and sixpences
and pence into her lap！ She burst out crying a second time；
and ran with the money to her husband。
And how pleased he was！ It did him no end of good。 But while he
was counting the coins； Diamond turned to baby； who was lying awake
in his cradle； sucking his precious thumb； and took him up； saying：
〃Baby； baby！ I haven't seen you for a whole year。〃
And then he began to sing to him as usual。 And what he sang was this；
for he was too happy either to make a song of his own or to sing sense。
It was one out of Mr。 Raymond's book。
THE TRUE STORY OF THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE
Hey； diddle； diddle！
The cat and the fiddle！
He played such a merry tune；
That the cow went mad
With the pleasure she had；
And jumped right over the moon。
But then； don't you see？
Before that could be；
The moon had come down and listened。
The little dog hearkened；
So loud that he barkened；
〃There's nothing like it； there isn't。〃
Hey； diddle； diddle！
Went the cat and the fiddle；
Hey diddle； diddle； dee； dee！
The dog laughed at the sport
Till his cough cut him short；
It was hey diddle； diddle； oh me！
And back came the cow
With a merry； merry low；
For she'd humbled the man in the moon。
The dish got excited；
The spoon was delighted；
And the dish waltzed away with the spoon。
But the man in the moon；
Coming back too soon
From the famous town of Norwich；
Caught up the dish；
Said； 〃It's just what I wish
To hold my cold plum…porridge！〃
Gave the cow a rat…tat；
Flung water on the cat；
And sent him away like a rocket。
Said； 〃O Moon there you are！〃
Got into her car；
And went off with the spoon in his pocket
Hey ho！ diddle； diddle！
The wet cat and wet fiddle；
They made such a caterwauling；
That the cow in a fright
Stood bolt upright
Bellowing now； and bawling；
And the dog on his tail；
Stretched his neck with a wail。
But 〃Ho！ ho！〃 said the man in the moon
〃No more in the South
Shall I burn my mouth；
For I've found a dish and a spoon。〃
CHAPTER XXV
DIAMOND'S DREAM
〃THERE； baby！〃 said Diamond； 〃I'm so happy that I can only
sing nonsense。 Oh； father； think if you had been a poor man；
and hadn't had a cab and old Diamond！ What should I have done？〃
〃I don't know indeed what you could have done；〃 said his father
from the bed。
〃We should have all starved； my precious Diamond；〃 said his mother；
whose pride in her boy was even greater than her joy in the shillings。
Both of them together made her heart ache； for pleasure can do that
as well as pain。
〃Oh no！ we shouldn't；〃 said Diamond。 〃I could have taken Nanny's
crossing till she came back； and then the money； instead of going
for Old Sal's gin； would have gone for father's beef…tea。 I wonder
what Nanny will do when she gets well again。 Somebody else
will be sure to have taken the crossing by that time。 I wonder
if she will fight for it； and whether I shall have to help her。
I won't bother my head about that。 Time enough yet！ Hey diddle！
hey diddle！ hey diddle diddle！ I wonder whether Mr。 Raymond would
take me to see Nanny。 Hey diddle！ hey diddle！ hey diddle diddle！
The baby and fiddle！ O； mother； I'm such a silly！ But I can't help it。
I wish I could think of something else； but there's nothing will
come into my head but hey diddle diddle！ the cat and the fiddle！
I wonder what the angels dowhen they're extra happy； you know
when they've been driving cabs all day and taking home the money to
their mothers。 Do you think they ever sing nonsense； mother？〃
〃I daresay they've got their own sort of it；〃 answered his mother；
〃else they wouldn't be like other people。〃 She was thinking more
of her twenty…one shillings and sixpence； and of the nice dinner
she would get for her sick husband next day； than of the angels
and their nonsense； when she said it。 But Diamond found her answer
all right。
〃Yes； to be sure；〃 he replied。 〃They wouldn't be like other people
if they hadn't their nonsense sometimes。 But it must be very
pretty nonsense； and not like that silly hey diddle diddle！ the cat
and the fiddle！ I wish I could get it out of my head。 I wonder
what the angels' nonsense is like。 Nonsense is a very good thing；
ain't it； mother？a little of it now and then； more of it for baby；
and not so much for grown people like cabmen and their mothers？
It's like the pepper and salt that goes in the soupthat's it
isn't it； mother？ There's baby fast asleep！ Oh； what a nonsense baby
it isto sleep so much！ Shall I put him down； mother？〃
Diamond chattered away。 What rose in his happy little heart ran
out of his mouth； and did his father and mother good。 When he went
to bed； which he did early； being more tired； as you may suppose；
than usu
