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小说: the old street lamp 字数: 每页4000字

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chair; and guess where! Why; at the old watchman's house。 He had

begged; as a favor; that the mayor and corporation would allow him

to keep the street lamp; in consideration of his long and faithful

service; as he had himself hung it up and lit it on the day he first

commenced his duties; four…and…twenty years ago。 He looked upon it

almost as his own child; he had no children; so the lamp was given

to him。 There it lay in the great arm…chair near to the warm stove。 It

seemed almost as if it had grown larger; for it appeared quite to fill

the chair。 The old people sat at their supper; casting friendly

glances at the old lamp; whom they would willingly have admitted to

a place at the table。 It is quite true that they dwelt in a cellar;

two yards deep in the earth; and they had to cross a stone passage

to get to their room; but within it was warm and comfortable and

strips of list had been nailed round the door。 The bed and the

little window had curtains; and everything looked clean and neat。 On

the window seat stood two curious flower…pots which a sailor; named

Christian; had brought over from the East or West Indies。 They were of

clay; and in the form of two elephants; with open backs; they were

hollow and filled with earth; and through the open space flowers

bloomed。 In one grew some very fine chives or leeks; this was the

kitchen garden。 The other elephant; which contained a beautiful

geranium; they called their flower garden。 On the wall hung a large

colored print; representing the congress of Vienna; and all the

kings and emperors at once。 A clock; with heavy weights; hung on the

wall and went 〃tick; tick;〃 steadily enough; yet it was always

rather too fast; which; however; the old people said was better than

being too slow。 They were now eating their supper; while the old

street lamp; as we have heard; lay in the grandfather's arm…chair near

the stove。 It seemed to the lamp as if the whole world had turned

round; but after a while the old watchman looked at the lamp; and

spoke of what they had both gone through together;… in rain and in

fog; during the short bright nights of summer; or in the long winter

nights; through the drifting snow…storms; when he longed to be at home

in the cellar。 Then the lamp felt it was all right again。 He saw

everything that had happened quite clearly; as if it were passing

before him。 Surely the wind had given him an excellent gift。 The old

people were very active and industrious; they were never idle for even

a single hour。 On Sunday afternoons they would bring out some books;

generally a book of travels which they were very fond of。 The old

man would read aloud about Africa; with its great forests and the wild

elephants; while his wife would listen attentively; stealing a

glance now and then at the clay elephants; which served as

flower…pots。

    〃I can almost imagine I am seeing it all;〃 she said; and then

how the lamp wished for a wax taper to be lighted in him; for then the

old woman would have seen the smallest detail as clearly as he did

himself。 The lofty trees; with their thickly entwined branches; the

naked negroes on horseback; and whole herds of elephants treading down

bamboo thickets with their broad; heavy feet。

    〃What is the use of all my capabilities;〃 sighed the old lamp;

〃when I cannot obtain any wax lights; they have only oil and tallow

here; and these will not do。〃 One day a great heap of wax…candle

ends found their way into the cellar。 The larger pieces were burnt;

and the smaller ones the old woman kept for waxing her thread。 So

there were now candles enough; but it never occurred to any one to put

a little piece in the lamp。

    〃Here I am now with my rare powers;〃 thought the lamp; 〃I have

faculties within me; but I cannot share them; they do not know that

I could cover these white walls with beautiful tapestry; or change

them into noble forests; or; indeed; to anything else they might

wish for。〃 The lamp; however; was always kept clean and shining in a

corner where it attracted all eyes。 Strangers looked upon it as

lumber; but the old people did not care for that; they loved the lamp。

One day… it was the watchman's birthday… the old woman approached

the lamp; smiling to herself; and said; 〃I will have an illumination

to…day in honor of my old man。〃 And the lamp rattled in his metal

frame; for he thought; 〃Now at last I shall have a light within me;〃

but after all no wax light was placed in the lamp; but oil as usual。

The lamp burned through the whole evening; and began to perceive too

clearly that the gift of the stars would remain a hidden treasure

all his life。 Then he had a dream; for; to one with his faculties;

dreaming was no difficulty。 It appeared to him that the old people

were dead; and that he had been taken to the iron foundry to be melted

down。 It caused him quite as much anxiety as on the day when he had

been called upon to appear before the mayor and the council at the

town…hall。 But though he had been endowed with the power of falling

into decay from rust when he pleased; he did not make use of it。 He

was therefore put into the melting…furnace and changed into as elegant

an iron candlestick as you could wish to see; one intended to hold a

wax taper。 The candlestick was in the form of an angel holding a

nosegay; in the centre of which the wax taper was to be placed。 It was

to stand on a green writing table; in a very pleasant room; many books

were scattered about; and splendid paintings hung on the walls。 The

owner of the room was a poet; and a man of intellect; everything he

thought or wrote was pictured around him。 Nature showed herself to him

sometimes in the dark forests; at others in cheerful meadows where the

storks were strutting about; or on the deck of a ship sailing across

the foaming sea with the clear; blue sky above; or at night the

glittering stars。 〃What powers I possess!〃 said the lamp; awaking from

his dream; 〃I could almost wish to be melted down; but no; that must

not be while the old people live。 They love me for myself alone;

they keep me bright; and supply me with oil。 I am as well off as the

picture of the congress; in which they take so much pleasure。〃 And

from that time he felt at rest in himself; and not more so than such

an honorable old lamp really deserved to be。





                            THE END




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