evergreens-第1节

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Evergreens




　by　Jerome　K。　Jerome









They　look　so　dull　and　dowdy　in　the　spring　weather；　when　the　snow　drops
and　the　crocuses　are　putting　on　their　dainty　frocks　of　white　and　mauve
and　yellow；　and　the　baby…buds　from　every　branch　are　peeping　with
bright　eyes　out　on　the　world；　and　stretching　forth　soft　little　leaves
toward　the　coming　gladness　of　their　lives。　　They　stand　apart；　so　cold
and　hard　amid　the　stirring　hope　and　joy　that　are　throbbing　all　around
them。

And　in　the　deep　full　summer…time；　when　all　the　rest　of　nature　dons　its
richest　garb　of　green；　and　the　roses　clamber　round　the　porch；　and　the
grass　waves　waist…high　in　the　meadow；　and　the　fields　are　gay　with
flowersthey　seem　duller　and　dowdier　than　ever　then；　wearing　their
faded　winter's　dress；　looking　so　dingy　and　old　and　worn。

In　the　mellow　days　of　autumn；　when　the　trees；　like　dames　no　longer
young；　seek　to　forget　their　aged　looks　under　gorgeous　bright…toned
robes　of　gold　and　brown　and　purple；　and　the　grain　is　yellow　in　the
fields；　and　the　ruddy　fruit　hangs　clustering　from　the　drooping　boughs；
and　the　wooded　hills　in　their　thousand　hues　stretched　like　leafy
rainbows　above　the　valeah！　surely　they　look　their　dullest　and
dowdiest　then。　　The　gathered　glory　of　the　dying　year　is　all　around
them。　　They　seem　so　out　of　place　among　it；　in　their　somber；
everlasting　green；　like　poor　relations　at　a　rich　man's　feast。　　It　is
such　a　weather…beaten　old　green　dress。　　So　many　summers'　suns　have
blistered　it；　so　many　winters'　rains　have　beat　upon　itsuch　a　shabby；
mean；　old　dress；　it　is　the　only　one　they　have！

They　do　not　look　quite　so　bad　when　the　weary　winter　weather　is　come；
when　the　flowers　are　dead；　and　the　hedgerows　are　bare；　and　the　trees
stand　out　leafless　against　the　gray　sky；　and　the　birds　are　all　silent；
and　the　fields　are　brown；　and　the　vine　clings　round　the　cottages　with
skinny；　fleshless　arms；　and　they　alone　of　all　things　are　unchanged；
they　alone　of　all　the　forest　are　green；　they　alone　of　all　the　verdant
host　stand　firm　to　front　the　cruel　winter。

They　are　not　very　beautiful；　only　strong　and　stanch　and　steadfastthe
same　in　all　times；　through　all　seasonsever　the　same；　ever　green。
The　spring　cannot　brighten　them；　the　summer　cannot　scorch　them；　the
autumn　cannot　wither　them；　the　winter　cannot　kill　them。

There　are　evergreen　men　and　women　in　the　world；　praise　be　to　God！　　Not
many　of　them；　but　a　few。　　They　are　not　the　showy　folk；　they　are　not
the　clever；　attractive　folk。　　（Nature　is　an　old…fashioned　shopkeeper；
she　never　puts　her　best　goods　in　the　window。）　　They　are　only　the
quiet；　strong　folk；　they　are　stronger　than　the　world；　stronger　than
life　or　death；　stronger　than　Fate。　　The　storms　of　life　sweep　over
them；　and　the　rains　beat　down　upon　them；　and　the　biting　frosts　creep
round　them；　but　the　winds　and　the　rains　and　the　frosts　pass　away；　and
they　are　still　standing；　green　and　straight。　　They　love　the　sunshine
of　life　in　their　undemonstrative　wayits　pleasures；　its　joys。　　But
calamity　cannot　bow　them；　sorrow　and　affliction　bring　not　despair　to
their　serene　faces；　only　a　little　tightening　of　the　lips；　the　sun　of
our　prosperity　makes　the　green　of　their　friendship　no　brighter；　the
frost　of　our　adversity　kills　not　the　leaves　of　their　affection。

Let　us　lay　hold　of　such　men　and　women；　let　us　grapple　them　to　us　with
hooks　of　steel；　let　us　cling　to　them　as　we　would　to　rocks　in　a　tossing
sea。　　We　do　not　think　very　much　of　them　in　the　summertime　of　life。
They　do　not　flatter　us　or　gush　over　us。　　They　do　not　always　agree　with
us。　　They　are　not　always　the　most　delightful　society；　by　any　means。
They　are　not　good　talkers；　norwhich　would　do　just　as　well；　perhaps
betterdo　they　make　enraptured　listeners。　　They　have　awkward　manners；
and　very　little　tact。　　They　do　not　shine　to　advantage　beside　our
society　friends。　　They　do　not　dress　well；　they　look　altogether
somewhat　dowdy　and　commonplace。　　We　almost　hope　they　will　not　see　us
when　we　meet　them　just　outside　the　club。　　They　are　not　the　sort　of
people　we　want　to　ostentatiously　greet　in　crowded　places。　　It　is　not
till　the　days　of　our　need　that　we　learn　to　love　and　know　them。　　It　is
not　till　the　winter　that　the　birds　see　the　wisdom　of　building　their
nests　in　the　evergreen　trees。

And　we；　in　our　spring…time　folly　of　youth；　pass　them　by　with　a　sneer；
the　uninteresting；　colorless　evergreens；　and；　like　silly　children　with
nothing　but　eyes　in　their　heads；　stretch　out　our　hands　and　cry　for　the
pretty　flowers。　　We　will　make　our　little　garden　of　life　such　a
charming；　fairy…like　spot；　the　envy　of　every　passer…by！　　There　shall
nothing　grow　in　it　but　lilies　and　roses；　and　the　cottage　we　will　cover
all　over　with　Virginia…creeper。　　And；　oh；　how　sweet　it　will　look；
under　the　dancing　summer　sun…light；　when　the　soft　west　breeze　is
blowing！

And；　oh；　how　we　shall　stand　and　shiver　there　when　the　rain　and　the
east　wind　come！

Oh；　you　foolish；　foolish　little　maidens；　with　your　dainty　heads　so
full　of　unwisdom！　how　oftenoh！　how　often；　are　you　to　be　warned　that
it　is　not　always　the　sweetest　thing　in　lovers　that　is　the　best
material　to　make　a　good…wearing　husband　out　of？　　〃The　lover　sighing
like　a　furnace〃　will　not　go　on　sighing　like　a　furnace　forever。　　That
furnace　will　go　out。　　He　will　become　the　husband；　〃full　of　strange
oathsjealous　in　honor；　sudden　and　quick　in　quarrel；〃　and　grow　〃into
the　lean　and　slipper'd　pantaloon。〃　　How　will　he　wear？　　There　will　be
no　changing　him　if　he　does　not　suit；　no　sending　him　back　to　be
altered；　no　having　him　let　out　a　bit　where　he　is　too　tight　and　hurts
you；　no　having　him　taken　in　where　he　is　too　loose；　no　laying　him　by
when　the　cold　comes；　to　wrap　yourself　up　in　something　warmer。　　As　he
is　when　you　select　him；　so　he　will　have　to　last　you　all　your
lifethrough　all　changes；　through　all　seasons。

Yes；　he　looks　very　pretty　nowhandsome　pattern；　if　the　colors　are
fast　and　it　does　not　fadefeels　soft　and　warm　to　the　touch。　　How　will
he　stand　the　world's　rough　weather？　　How　will　he　stand　life's　wear　and
tear？

He　looks　so　manly　and　brave。　　His　hair　curls　so　divinely。　　He　dresses
so　well　（I　wonder　if　the　tailor's　bill　is　paid？）　　He　kisses　your　hand
so　gracefully。　　He　calls　you　such　pretty　names。　　His　arm　feels　so
strong　a　round　you。　　His　fine　eyes　are　so　full　of　tenderness　as　they
gaze　down　into　yours。

Will　he　kiss　your　hand　when　it　is　wrinkled　and　old？　　Will　he　call　you
pretty　names　when　the　baby　is　crying　in　the　night；　and　you　cannot　keep
it　quietor；　better　still；　will　he　sit　up　and　take　a　turn　with　it？
Will　his　arm　be　strong　around　you　in　the　days　of　trouble？　　Will　his
eyes　shine　above　you　full　of　tenderness　when　yours　are　growing　dim？

And　you　boys；　you　silly　boys！　what　materials　for　a　wife　do　you　think
you　will　get　out　of　the　empty…headed　coquettes　you　are　raving　and
tearing　your　hair　about。　　Oh！　yes；　she　is　very　handsome；　and　she
dresses　with　exquisite　taste　（the　result　of　devoting　the　whole　of　her
heart；　mind　and　soul　to　the　subject；　and　never　allowing　her　thoughts
to　be　distracted　from　it　by　any　other　mundane　or　celestial　object
whatsoever）；　and　she　is　very　agreeable　and　entertaining　and
fascinating；　and　she　will　go　on　looking　handsome；　and　dressing
exquisitely；　and　being　agreeable　and　entertaining　and　fascinating　just
as　much　after　you　have　married　her　as　beforemore　so；　if　anything。

But　_you_　will　not　get　the　benefit　of　it。　　Husbands　will　be　charmed
and　fascinated　by　her　in　plenty；　but　_you_　will　not　be　among　them。
You　will　run　the　show；　you　will　pay　all　the　expenses；　do　all　the　work。
Your　performing　lady　will　be　most　affable　and　enchanting　to　the　crowd。
They　will　stare　at　her；　and　admire　her；　and　talk　to　her；　and　flirt
with　her。　　And　you　will　be　able　to　feel　that　you　are　quite　a
benefactor　to　your　fellow…men　and　womento　your　fellow…men
especiallyin　providing　such　delightful　amusement　for　them；　free。
But　_you_　will　not　get　any　of　the　fun　yourself。

You　will　not　get　the　handsome　looks。　　_You_　will　get　the　jaded　face；
and　the　dull；　lusterless　eyes；　and　the　untidy　hair　with　the　dye
showing　on　it。　　You　will　not　get　the　exquisite　dresses。　　_You_　will
get　dirty；　shabby　frocks　and　slommicking　dressing…gowns；　such　as　your
cook　would　be　ashamed　to　wear。　　_You_　will　not　get　the　charm　and
fascination。　　_You_　will　get　the　after…headaches；　the　complainings　and
grumblings；　the　silence　and　sulkiness；　the　weariness　and　lassitude　and
ill…temper　that　comes　as　such　a　relief　after　working　hard　all　day　at
being　pleasant！

It　is　not　the　people　who　shine　in　society；　but　the　people　who　brighten
up　the　back　parlor；　not　the　people　who　are　charming　when　they　are　out；
but　the　people　who　are　charming　when　they　are　in；　that　are　good　to
_live_　with。　　It　is　not　the　brilliant　men　and　women；　but　the　simple；
strong；　restful　men　and　women；　that　make　the　best　traveling　companions
for　the　road　of　life。　　The　men　and　women　who　will　only　laugh　as　they
put　up　the　umbrella　when　the　rain　begins　to　fall；　who　will　trudge
along　cheerfully　through　the　mud　and　over　the　stony　placesthe
comrades　who　will　lay　their　firm　hand　on　ours　and　strengthen　us　when
the　way　is　dark　and　we　are　growing　weakthe　evergreen　men　and　women；