over the teacups-第9节
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before him：
〃'No voice did they impart
No voice； but oh！ the silence sank
Like music on my heart。'〃
I said that the lenient way in which the old look at the failings of
others naturally leads them to judge themselves more charitably。
They find an apology for their short…comings and wrong…doings in
another consideration。 They know very well that they are not the
same persons as the middle…aged individuals； the young men； the boys；
the children； that bore their names； and whose lives were continuous
with theirs。 Here is an old man who can remember the first time he
was allowed to go shooting。 What a remorseless young destroyer he
was； to be sure！ Wherever he saw a feather； wherever a poor little
squirrel showed his bushy tail； bang！ went the old 〃king's arm；〃 and
the feathers or the fur were set flying like so much chaff。 Now that
same old man；the mortal that was called by his name and has passed
for the same person for some scores of years；is considered absurdly
sentimental by kind…hearted women； because he opens the fly…trap and
sets all its captives free；out…of…doors； of course； but the dear
souls all insisting； meanwhile； that the flies will； every one of
them； be back again in the house before the day is over。 Do you
suppose that venerable sinner expects to be rigorously called to
account for the want of feeling he showed in those early years； when
the instinct of destruction； derived from his forest…roaming
ancestors； led him to acts which he now looks upon with pain and
aversion？
〃Senex〃 has seen three generations grow up； the son repeating the
virtues and the failings of the father； the grandson showing the same
characteristics as the father and grandfather。 He knows that if such
or such a young fellow had lived to the next stage of life he would
very probably have caught up with his mother's virtues； which； like a
graft of a late fruit on an early apple or pear tree； do not ripen in
her children until late in the season。 He has seen the successive
ripening of one quality after another on the boughs of his own life；
and he finds it hard to condemn himself for faults which only needed
time to fall off and be succeeded by better fruitage。 I cannot help
thinking that the recording angel not only drops a tear upon many a
human failing； which blots it out forever； but that he hands many an
old record…book to the imp that does his bidding； and orders him to
throw that into the fire instead of the sinner for whom the little
wretch had kindled it。
〃And pitched him in after it； I hope；〃 said Number Seven； who is in
some points as much of an optimist as any one among us； in spite of
the squint in his brain；or in virtue of it； if you choose to have
it so。
〃I like Wordsworth's 'Matthew；'〃 said Number Five； 〃as well as any
picture of old age I remember。〃
〃Can you repeat it to us？〃 asked one of The Teacups。
〃I can recall two verses of it；〃 said Number Five； and she recited
the two following ones。 Number Five has a very sweet voice。 The
moment she speaks all the faces turn toward her。 I don't know what
its secret is； but it is a voice that makes friends of everybody。
〃'The sighs which Matthew heaved were sighs
Of one tired out with fun and madness；
The tears which came to Matthew's eyes
Were tears of light； the dew of gladness。
〃'Yet； sometimes； when the secret cup
Of still and serious thought went round；
It seemed as if he drank it up；
He felt with spirit so profound：'
〃This was the way in which Wordsworth paid his tribute to a
〃'Soul of God's best earthly mould。'〃
The sweet voice left a trance…like silence after it； which may have
lasted twenty heart…beats。 Then I said； We all thank you for your
charming quotation。 How much more wholesome a picture of humanity
than such stuff as the author of the 〃Night Thoughts〃 has left us：
〃Heaven's Sovereign saves all beings but Himself
That hideous sight； a naked human heart。〃
Or the author of 〃Don Juan；〃 telling us to look into
〃Man's heart； and view the hell that's there！ 〃
I hope I am quoting correctly； but I am more of a scholar in
Wordsworth than in Byron。 Was Parson Young's own heart such a
hideous spectacle to himself？
If it was； he had better have stripped off his surplice。 No；it was
nothing but the cant of his calling。 In Byron it was a mood； and he
might have said just the opposite thing the next day； as he did in
his two descriptions of the Venus de' Medici。 That picture of old
Matthew abides in the memory； and makes one think better of his kind。
What nobler tasks has the poet than to exalt the idea of manhood； and
to make the world we live in more beautiful？
We have two or three young people with us who stand a fair chance of
furnishing us the element without which life and tea…tables alike are
wanting in interest。 We are all； of course； watching them； and
curious to know whether we are to have a romance or not。 Here is one
of them； others will show themselves presently。
I cannot say just how old the Tutor is； but I do not detect a gray
hair in his head。 My sight is not so good as it was； however； and he
may have turned the sharp corner of thirty； and even have left it a
year or two behind him。 More probably he is still in the twenties；
say twenty…eight or twenty…nine。 He seems young； at any rate；
excitable； enthusiastic； imaginative； but at the same time reserved。
I am afraid that he is a poet。 When I say 〃I am afraid；〃 you wonder
what I mean by the expression。 I may take another opportunity to
explain and justify it； I will only say now that I consider the Muse
the most dangerous of sirens to a young man who has his way to make
in the world。 Now this young man； the Tutor； has； I believe； a
future before him。 He was born for a philosopher；so I read his
horoscope；but he has a great liking for poetry and can write well
in verse。 We have had a number of poems offered for our
entertainment； which I have commonly been requested to read。 There
has been some little mystery about their authorship； but it is
evident that they are not all from the same hand。 Poetry is as
contagious as measles； and if a single case of it break out in any
social circle； or in a school； there are certain to be a number of
similar cases； some slight； some serious； and now and then one so
malignant that the subject of it should be put on a spare diet of
stationery； say from two to three penfuls of ink and a half sheet of
notepaper per diem。 If any of our poetical contributions are
presentable； the reader shall have a chance to see them。
It must be understood that our company is not invariably made up of
the same persons。 The Mistress； as we call her； is expected to be
always in her place。 I make it a rule to be present。 The Professor
is almost as sure to be at the table as I am。 We should hardly know
what to do without Number Five。 It takes a good deal of tact to
handle such a little assembly as ours； which is a republic on a small
scale； for all that they give me the title of Dictator； and Number
Five is a great help in every social emergency。 She sees when a
discussion tends to become personal； and heads off the threatening
antagonists。 She knows when a subject has been knocking about long
enough and dexterously shifts the talk to another track。 It is true
that I am the one most frequently appealed to as the highest tribunal
in doubtful cases； but I often care more for Number Five's opinion
than I do for my own。 Who is this Number Five； so fascinating； so
wise； so full of knowledge； and so ready to learn？ She is suspected
of being the anonymous author of a book which produced a sensation
when published； not very long ago； and which those who read are very
apt to read a second time； and to leave on their tables for frequent
reference。 But we have never asked her。 I do not think she wants to
be famous。 How she comes to be unmarried is a mystery to me； it must
be that she has found nobody worth caring enough for。 I wish she
would furnish us with the romance which； as I said； our tea…table
needs to make it interesting。 Perhaps the new…comer will make love
to her；I should think it possible she might fancy him。
And who is the new…comer？ He is a Counsellor and a Politician。 Has
a good war record。 Is about forty…five years old； I conjecture。 Is
engaged in a great law case just now。 Said to be very eloquent。 Has
an intellectual head； and the bearing of one who has commanded a
regiment or perhaps a brigade。 Altogether an attractive person；
scholarly； refined has some accomplishments not so common as they
might be in the class we call gentlemen； with an accent on the word。
There is also a young Doctor； waiting for his bald spot to come； so
that he may get into practice。
We have two young ladies at the table
