hans brinker-第31节
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bag； large as the bed； stuffed with swan's down）； and the pink satin quilts； embroidered with garlands of flowers。 He could scarcely sleep for thinking what a queer little bed it was； so comfortable and pretty； too； with all its queerness。 In the morning he examined the top coverlet with care； for he wished to send home a description of it in his next letter。 It was a beautiful Japanese spread； marvelous in texture as well as in its variety of brilliant coloring； and worth； as Ben afterward learned； not less than three hundred dollars。
The floor was of polished wooden mosaic； nearly covered with a rich carpet bordered with thick black fringe。 Another room displayed a margin of satinwood around the carpet。 Hung with tapestry； its walls of crimson silk were topped with a gilded cornice which shot down gleams of light far into the polished floor。
Over the doorway of the room in which Jacob and Ben slept was a bronze stork that； with outstretched neck； held a lamp to light the guests into the apartment。 Between the two narrow beds of carved whitewood and ebony； stood the household treasure of the Van Gends； a massive oaken chair upon which the Prince of Orange had once sat during a council meeting。 Opposite stood a quaintly carved clothespress； waxed and polished to the utmost and filled with precious stores of linen； beside it a table holding a large Bible； whose great golden clasps looked poor compared with its solid； ribbed binding made to outlast six generations。
There was a ship model on the mantleshelf； and over it hung an old portrait of Peter the Great； who； you know； once gave the dockyard cats of Holland a fine chance to look at a king； which is one of the special prerogatives of cats。 Peter； though czar of Russia； was not too proud to work as a common shipwright in the dockyards of Saardam and Amsterdam； that he might be able to introduce among his countrymen Dutch improvements in ship building。 It was this willingness to be thorough even in the smallest beginnings that earned for him the title of Peter the Great。
Peter the little （comparatively speaking） was up first； the next morning； knowing the punctual habits of his brother…in…law； he took good care that none of the boys should oversleep themselves。 A hard task he found it to wake Jacob Poot； but after pulling that young gentleman out of bed； and； with Ben's help； dragging him about the room for a while； he succeeded in arousing him。
While Jacob was dressing and moaning within him because the felt slippers； provided him as a guest； were too tight for his swollen feet； Peter wrote to inform their friends at Broek of the safe arrival of his party at The Hague。 He also begged his mother to send word to Hans Brinker that Dr。 Boekman had not yet reached Leyden but that a letter containing Hans's message had been left at the hotel where the doctor always lodged during his visits to the city。 〃Tell him； also；〃 wrote Peter； 〃that I shall call there again； as I pass through Leyden。 The poor boy seemed to feel sure that 'the meester' would hasten to save his father； but we； who know the gruff old gentleman better； may be confident he will do no such thing。 It would be a kindness to send a visiting physician from Amsterdam to the cottage at once； if Jufvrouw *｛In Holland； women of the lower grades of society do not take the title of Mrs。 （or Mevrouw） when they marry； as with us。 They assume their husbands' names but are still called Miss （Jufvrouw； pronounced Yuffrow）。｝ Brinker will consent to receive any but the great king of the meesters； as Dr。 Boekman certainly is。
〃You know； Mother；〃 added Peter； 〃that I have always considered Sister van Gend's house as rather quiet and lonely； but I assure you； it is not so now。 He says we make him wish that he had a houseful of boys of his own。 He has promised to let us ride on his noble black horses。 They are gentle as kittens； he says； if one have but a firm touch at the rein。 Ben； according to Jacob's account； is a glorious rider； and your son Peter is not a very bad hand at the business； so we two are to go out together this morning mounted like knights of old。 After we return； Brother van Gend says he will lend Jacob his English pony and obtain three extra horses； and all of the party are to trot about the city in a grand cavalcade； led on by him。 He will ride the black horse which Father sent him from Friesland。 My sister's pretty roan with the long white tail is lame； and she will ride none other； else she would accompany us。 I could scarcely close my eyes last night after Sister told me of the plan。 Only the thought of poor Hans Brinker and his sick father checked me； but for that I could have sung for joy。 Ludwig has given us a name alreadythe Broek Cavalry。 We flatter ourselves that we shall make an imposing appearance； especially in single file。 。 。 。〃
The Broek Cavalry were not disappointed。 Mynheer van Gend readily procured good horses； and all the boys could ride； though none was as perfect horsemen （or horseboys） as Peter and Ben。 They saw The Hague to their hearts' content； and The Hague saw themexpressing its approbation loudly； through the mouths of small boys and cart dogs； silently； through bright eyes that； not looking very deeply into things； shone as they looked at the handsome Carl and twinkled with fun as a certainly portly youth with shaking cheeks rode past bumpetty； bumpetty； bump！
On their return； the boys pronounced the great porcelain stove in the family sitting room a decidedly useful piece of furniture； for they could gather around it and get warm without burning their noses or bringing on chilblains。 It was so very large that； though hot elsewhere； it seemed to send out warmth by the houseful。 Its pure white sides and polished brass rings made it a pretty object to look upon； notwithstanding the fact that our ungrateful Ben； while growing thoroughly warm and comfortable beside it； concocted a satirical sentence for his next letter； to the effect that a stove in Holland must； of course； resemble a great tower of snow or it wouldn't be in keeping with the oddity of the country。
To describe all the boys saw and did on that day and the next would render this little book a formidable volume indeed。 They visited the brass cannon foundry； saw the liquid fire poured into molds； and watched the smiths； who； half naked； stood in the shadow； like demons playing with flame。 They admired the grand public buildings and massive private houses； the elegant streets； and noble Boschpride of all beauty…loving Hollanders。 The palace with its brilliant mosaic floors； its frescoed ceilings； and gorgeous ornaments； filled Ben with delight； he was surprised that some of the churches were so very plainelaborate sometimes in external architecture but bare and bleak within with their blank； whitewashed walls。
If there were no printed record； the churches of Holland would almost tell her story。 I will not enter into the subject here； except to say that Benwho had read of her struggles and wrongs and of the terrible retribution she had from time to time dealt forthcould scarcely tread a Holland town without mentally leaping horror…stricken over the bloody stepping…stones of its history。 He could not forget Philip of Spain nor the Duke of Alva even while rejoicing in the prosperity that followed the Liberation。 He looked into the meekest of Dutch eyes for something of the fire that once lit the haggard faces of those desperate； lawless men who； wearing with pride the title of 〃Beggars；〃 which their oppressors had mockingly cast upon them； became the terror of land and sea。 In Haarlem he had wondered that the air did not still resound with the cries of Alva's three thousand victims。 In Leyden his heart had swelled in sympathy as he thought of the long procession of scarred and famished creatures who after the siege； with Adrian van der Werf at their head； tottered to the great church to sing a glorious anthem because Leyden was free！ He remembered that this was even before they had tasted the bread brought by the Dutch ships。 They would praise God first； then eat。 Thousands of trembling voices were raised in glad thanksgiving。 For a moment it swelled higher and higher； then suddenly changed to sobbingnot one of all the multitude could sing another note。 But who shall say that anthem； even to its very end； was not heard in heaven！
Here； in The Hague； other thoughts came to Benof how Holland in later years unwillingly put her head under the French yoke； and how； galled and lashed past endurance； she had resolutely jerked it out again。 He liked her for that。 What nation of any spirit； thought he； could be expected to stand such work； paying all her wealth into a foreign treasury and yielding up the flower of her youth under foreign conscription。 It was not so very long ago； either； since English guns had been heard booming close by in the German Ocean； wellall the fighting was over at last。 Holland was a snug little monarchy now in her own right； and Ben； for one； was glad of it。 Arrived at this charitable conclusion； he was prepared to enjoy to the utmost all the wonders of her capital； he quite delighted Mynheer van Gend with his hearty and intelligent interestso；
