the professor at the breakfast table-第55节
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has a very little science。 It didn't do this time； for； as the
assailant rushed in with his arms flying everywhere； like the vans
of a windmill； be ran a prominent feature of his face against a fist
which was travelling in the other direction； and immediately after
struck the knuckles of the young man's other fist a severe blow with
the part of his person known as the epigastrium to one branch of
science and the bread…basket to another。 This second round closed
the battle。 The Koh…i…noor had got enough； which in such cases is
more than as good as a feast。 The young fellow asked him if he was
satisfied； and held out his hand。 But the other sulked； and
muttered something about revenge。 Jest as ye like；said the young
man John。 Clap a slice o' raw beefsteak on to that mouse o' yours
'n' 't'll take down the swellin'。 （Mouse is a technical term for a
bluish； oblong； rounded elevation occasioned by running one's
forehead or eyebrow against another's knuckles。） The young fellow
was particularly pleased that he had had an opportunity of trying
his proficiency in the art of self…defence without the gloves。 The
Koh…i…noor did not favor us with his company for a day or two； being
confined to his chamber； it was said； by a slight feverish； attack。
He was chop…fallen always after this； and got negligent in his
person。 The impression must have been a deep one； for it was
observed； that； when he came down again； his moustache and whiskers
had turned visibly white about the roots。 In short； it disgraced
him； and rendered still more conspicuous a tendency to drinking； of
which he had been for some time suspected。 This； and the disgust
which a young lady naturally feels at hearing that her lover has
been 〃licked by a fellah not half his size；〃 induced the landlady's
daughter to take that decided step which produced a change in the
programme of her career I may hereafter allude to。
I never thought he would come to good； when I heard him attempting
to sneer at an unoffending city so respectable as Boston。 After a
man begins to attack the State…House； when he gets bitter about the
Frog…Pond； you may be sure there is not much left of him。 Poor
Edgar Poe died in the hospital soon after he got into this way of
talking； and so sure as you find an unfortunate fellow reduced to
this pass； you had better begin praying for him； and stop lending
him money； for he is on his last legs。 Remember poor Edgar！ He is
dead and gone； but the State…House has its cupola fresh…gilded； and
the Frog…Pond has got a fountain that squirts up a hundred feet into
the air and glorifies that humble sheet with a fine display of
provincial rainbows。
I cannot fulfil my promise in this number。 I expected to gratify
your curiosity； if you have become at all interested in these
puzzles； doubts； fancies； whims； or whatever you choose to call
them； of mine。 Next month you shall hear all about it。
It was evening； and I was going to the sick…chamber。 As I paused
at the door before entering； I heard a sweet voice singing。 It was
not the wild melody I had sometimes heard at midnight：no； this was
the voice of Iris； and I could distinguish every word。 I had seen
the verses in her book； the melody was new to me。 Let me finish my
page with them。
HYMN OF TRUST。
O Love Divine； that stooped to share
Our sharpest pang； our bitterest tear；
On Thee we cast each earthborn care；
We smile at pain while Thou art near！
Though long the weary way we tread；
And sorrow crown each lingering year；
No path we shun； no darkness dread；
Our hearts still whispering； Thou art near！
When drooping pleasure turns to grief；
And trembling faith is changed to fear；
The murmuring wind； the quivering leaf
Shall softly tell us； Thou art near！
On Thee we fling our burdening woe；
O Love Divine； forever dear；
Content to suffer； while we know；
Living and dying； Thou art near！
XII
A young fellow； born of good stock； in one of the more thoroughly
civilized portions of these United States of America； bred in good
principles； inheriting a social position which makes him at his ease
everywhere； means sufficient to educate him thoroughly without
taking away the stimulus to vigorous exertion； and with a good
opening in some honorable path of labor； is the finest sight our
private satellite has had the opportunity of inspecting on the
planet to which she belongs。 In some respects it was better to be a
young Greek。 If we may trust the old marbles； my friend with his
arm stretched over my head； above there； （in plaster of Paris；） or
the discobolus； whom one may see at the principal sculpture gallery
of this metropolis；those Greek young men were of supreme beauty。
Their close curls； their elegantly set heads； column…like necks；
straight noses； short； curled lips； firm chins； deep chests； light
flanks； large muscles； small joints； were finer than anything we
ever see。 It may well be questioned whether the human shape will
ever present itself again in a race of such perfect symmetry。 But
the life of the youthful Greek was local； not planetary； like that
of the young American。 He had a string of legends； in place of our
Gospels。 He had no printed books； no newspaper； no steam caravans；
no forks； no soap； none of the thousand cheap conveniences which
have become matters of necessity to our modern civilization。 Above
all things； if he aspired to know as well as to enjoy； he found
knowledge not diffused everywhere about him； so that a day's labor
would buy him more wisdom than a year could master； but held in
private hands； hoarded in precious manuscripts； to be sought for
only as gold is sought in narrow fissures； and in the beds of
brawling streams。 Never； since man came into this atmosphere of
oxygen and azote； was there anything like the condition of the young
American of the nineteenth century。 Having in possession or in
prospect the best part of half a world； with all its climates and
soils to choose from； equipped with wings of fire and smoke than fly
with him day and night； so that he counts his journey not in miles；
but in degrees； and sees the seasons change as the wild fowl sees
them in his annual flights； with huge leviathans always ready to
take him on their broad backs and push behind them with their
pectoral or caudal fins the waters that seam the continent or
separate the hemispheres； heir of all old civilizations； founder of
that new one which； if all the prophecies of the human heart are not
lies； is to be the noblest； as it is the last； isolated in space
from the races that are governed by dynasties whose divine right
grows out of human wrong； yet knit into the most absolute solidarity
with mankind of all times and places by the one great thought he
inherits as his national birthright； free to form and express his
opinions on almost every subject； and assured that he will soon
acquire the last franchise which men withhold from man；that of
stating the laws of his spiritual being and the beliefs he accepts
without hindrance except from clearer views of truth；he seems to
want nothing for a large； wholesome； noble； beneficent life。 In
fact； the chief danger is that he will think the whole planet is
made for him； and forget that there are some possibilities left in
the debris of the old…world civilization which deserve a certain
respectful consideration at his hands。
The combing and clipping of this shaggy wild continent are in some
measure done for him by those who have gone before。 Society has
subdivided itself enough to have a place for every form of talent。
Thus； if a man show the least sign of ability as a sculptor or a
painter； for instance； he finds the means of education and a demand
for his services。 Even a man who knows nothing but science will be
provided for； if he does not think it necessary to hang about his
birthplace all his days；which is a most unAmerican weakness。 The
apron…strings of an American mother are made of India…rubber。 Her
boy belongs where he is wanted； and that young Marylander of ours
spoke for all our young men； when he said that his home was wherever
the stars and stripes blew over his head。
And that leads me to say a few words of this young gentleman； who
made that audacious movement lately which I chronicled in my last
record；jumping over the seats of I don't know how many boarders to
put himself in the place which the Little Gentleman's absence had
left vacant at the side of Iris。 When a young man is found
habitually at the side of any one given young lady；when he lingers
where she stays； and hastens when she leaves；when his eyes follow
her as she moves and rest upon her when she is still；when he
begins to grow a little timid； he who was so bold； and a little
pensive； he who was so gay； whenever accident finds them alone；
when he thinks very often of the given young lady； and n
