太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the seven poor travellers >

第7节

the seven poor travellers-第7节

小说: the seven poor travellers 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




the beef;and the Wassail is out of the questionbut in every

endeavour that I made to get to sleep I failed most dismally。  I was

never asleep; and in whatsoever unreasonable direction my mind

rambled; the effigy of Master Richard Watts perpetually embarrassed

it。



In a word; I only got out of the Worshipful Master Richard Watts's

way by getting out of bed in the dark at six o'clock; and tumbling;

as my custom is; into all the cold water that could be accumulated

for the purpose。  The outer air was dull and cold enough in the

street; when I came down there; and the one candle in our supper…

room at Watts's Charity looked as pale in the burning as if it had

had a bad night too。  But my Travellers had all slept soundly; and

they took to the hot coffee; and the piles of bread…and…butter;

which Ben had arranged like deals in a timber…yard; as kindly as I

could desire。



While it was yet scarcely daylight; we all came out into the street

together; and there shook hands。  The widow took the little sailor

towards Chatham; where he was to find a steamboat for Sheerness; the

lawyer; with an extremely knowing look; went his own way; without

committing himself by announcing his intentions; two more struck off

by the cathedral and old castle for Maidstone; and the book…pedler

accompanied me over the bridge。  As for me; I was going to walk by

Cobham Woods; as far upon my way to London as I fancied。



When I came to the stile and footpath by which I was to diverge from

the main road; I bade farewell to my last remaining Poor Traveller;

and pursued my way alone。  And now the mists began to rise in the

most beautiful manner; and the sun to shine; and as I went on

through the bracing air; seeing the hoarfrost sparkle everywhere; I

felt as if all Nature shared in the joy of the great Birthday。



Going through the woods; the softness of my tread upon the mossy

ground and among the brown leaves enhanced the Christmas sacredness

by which I felt surrounded。  As the whitened stems environed me; I

thought how the Founder of the time had never raised his benignant

hand; save to bless and heal; except in the case of one unconscious

tree。  By Cobham Hall; I came to the village; and the churchyard

where the dead had been quietly buried; 〃in the sure and certain

hope〃 which Christmas time inspired。  What children could I see at

play; and not be loving of; recalling who had loved them!  No garden

that I passed was out of unison with the day; for I remembered that

the tomb was in a garden; and that 〃she; supposing him to be the

gardener;〃 had said; 〃Sir; if thou have borne him hence; tell me

where thou hast laid him; and I will take him away。〃  In time; the

distant river with the ships came full in view; and with it pictures

of the poor fishermen; mending their nets; who arose and followed

him;of the teaching of the people from a ship pushed off a little

way from shore; by reason of the multitude;of a majestic figure

walking on the water; in the loneliness of night。  My very shadow on

the ground was eloquent of Christmas; for did not the people lay

their sick where the more shadows of the men who had heard and seen

him might fall as they passed along?



Thus Christmas begirt me; far and near; until I had come to

Blackheath; and had walked down the long vista of gnarled old trees

in Greenwich Park; and was being steam…rattled through the mists now

closing in once more; towards the lights of London。  Brightly they

shone; but not so brightly as my own fire; and the brighter faces

around it; when we came together to celebrate the day。  And there I

told of worthy Master Richard Watts; and of my supper with the Six

Poor Travellers who were neither Rogues nor Proctors; and from that

hour to this I have never seen one of them again。











End 

返回目录 上一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的