the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第15节
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nor get a chance to work their passage。 The country was too overrun by
poor devils on that 〃lay。〃
I was on the seafaring…man…who…had…lost…his…clothes…and…money tack；
and they all condoled with me and gave me much sound advice。 To sum
it up； the advice was something like this： To keep out of all places like
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the spike。 There was nothing good in it for me。 To head for the coast
and bend every effort to get away on a ship。 To go to work； if possible；
and scrape together a pound or so； with which I might bribe some steward
or underling to give me chance to work my passage。 They envied me my
youth and strength； which would sooner or later get me out of the country。
These they no longer possessed。 Age and English hardship had broken
them； and for them the game was played and up。
There was one； however； who was still young； and who； I am sure； will
in the end make it out。 He had gone to the United States as a young
fellow； and in fourteen years' residence the longest period he had been out
of work was twelve hours。 He had saved his money； grown too
prosperous； and returned to the mother…country。 Now he was standing in
line at the spike。
For the past two years； he told me； he had been working as a cook。 His
hours had been from 7 a。m to 10。30 p。m。； and on Saturday to 12。30 p。m。
ninety…five hours per week； for which he had received twenty shillings； or
five dollars。
〃But the work and the long hours was killing me；〃 he said； 〃and I had
to chuck the job。 I had a little money saved； but I spent it living and
looking for another place。〃
This was his first night in the spike； and he had come in only to get
rested。 As soon as he emerged； he intended to start for Bristol； a one…
hundred…and…ten…mile walk； where he thought he would eventually get a
ship for the States。
But the men in the line were not all of this calibre。 Some were poor；
wretched beasts； inarticulate and callous； but for all of that； in many ways
very human。 I remember a carter； evidently returning home after the
day's work； stopping his cart before us so that his young hopeful； who had
run to meet him； could climb in。 But the cart was big； the young hopeful
little； and he failed in his several attempts to swarm up。 Whereupon one
of the most degraded… looking men stepped out of the line and hoisted him
in。 Now the virtue and the joy of this act lies in that it was service of
love； not hire。 The carter was poor； and the man knew it； and the man
was standing in the spike line； and the carter knew it； and the man had
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done the little act； and the carter had thanked him； even as you and I
would have done and thanked。
Another beautiful touch was that displayed by the 〃Hopper〃 and his
〃ole woman。〃 He had been in line about half…an…hour when the 〃ole
woman〃 （his mate） came up to him。 She was fairly clad； for her class；
with a weather…worn bonnet on her grey head and a sacking… covered
bundle in her arms。 As she talked to him； he reached forward； caught the
one stray wisp of the white hair that was flying wild； deftly twirled it
between his fingers； and tucked it back properly behind her ear。 From all
of which one may conclude many things。 He certainly liked her well
enough to wish her to be neat and tidy。 He was proud of her； standing
there in the spike line； and it was his desire that she should look well in the
eyes of the other unfortunates who stood in the spike line。 But last and
best； and underlying all these motives； it was a sturdy affection he bore her；
for man is not prone to bother his head over neatness and tidiness in a
woman for whom he does not care； nor is he likely to be proud of such a
woman。
And I found myself questioning why this man and his mate； hard
workers I knew from their talk； should have to seek a pauper lodging。 He
had pride； pride in his old woman and pride in himself。 When I asked him
what he thought I； a greenhorn； might expect to earn at 〃hopping；〃 he
sized me up； and said that it all depended。 Plenty of people were too slow
to pick hops and made a failure of it。 A man； to succeed； must use his
head and be quick with his fingers； must be exceeding quick with his
fingers。 Now he and his old woman could do very well at it； working the
one bin between them and not going to sleep over it； but then； they had
been at it for years。
〃I 'ad a mate as went down last year；〃 spoke up a man。 〃It was 'is fust
time； but 'e come back wi' two poun' ten in 'is pockit； an' 'e was only gone
a month。〃
〃There you are；〃 said the Hopper； a wealth of admiration in his voice。
〃'E was quick。 'E was jest nat'rally born to it； 'e was。〃
Two pound tentwelve dollars and a halffor a month's work when
one is 〃jest nat'rally born to it！〃 And in addition； sleeping out without
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blankets and living the Lord knows how。 There are moments when I am
thankful that I was not 〃jest nat'rally born〃 a genius for anything； not even
hop…picking；
In the matter of getting an outfit for 〃the hops；〃 the Hopper gave me
some sterling advice； to which same give heed； you soft and tender people；
in case you should ever be stranded in London Town。
〃If you ain't got tins an' cookin' things； all as you can get'll be bread
and cheese。 No bloomin' good that！ You must 'ave 'ot tea； an'
wegetables； an' a bit o' meat； now an' again； if you're goin' to do work as is
work。 Cawn't do it on cold wittles。 Tell you wot you do； lad。 Run
around in the mornin' an' look in the dust pans。 You'll find plenty o' tins to
cook in。 Fine tins； wonderful good some o' them。 Me an' the ole
woman got ours that way。〃 （He pointed at the bundle she held； while she
nodded proudly； beaming on me with good…nature and consciousness of
success and prosperity。） 〃This overcoat is as good as a blanket；〃 he went
on； advancing the skirt of it that I might feel its thickness。 〃An' 'oo
knows； I may find a blanket before long。〃
Again the old woman nodded and beamed； this time with the dead
certainty that he WOULD find a blanket before long。
〃I call it a 'oliday； 'oppin'；〃 he concluded rapturously。 〃A tidy way o'
gettin' two or three pounds together an' fixin' up for winter。 The only
thing I don't like〃and here was the rift within the lute〃is paddin' the 'oof
down there。〃
It was plain the years were telling on this energetic pair； and while
they enjoyed the quick work with the fingers； 〃paddin' the 'oof；〃 which is
walking； was beginning to bear heavily upon them。 And I looked at their
grey hairs； and ahead into the future ten years； and wondered how it would
be with them。
I noticed another man and his old woman join the line； both of them
past fifty。 The woman； because she was a woman； was admitted into the
spike； but he was too late； and； separated from his mate； was turned away
to tramp the streets all night。
The street on which we stood； from wall to wall； was barely twenty
feet wide。 The sidewalks were three feet wide。 It was a residence street。
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At least workmen and their families existed in some sort of fashion in the
houses across from us。 And each day and every day； from one in the
afternoon till six； our ragged spike line is the principal feature of the view
commanded by their front doors and windows。 One workman sat in his
door directly opposit
