drift from two shores(漂流)-第32节
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〃Bedad； yer roight； ye see； sur〃 （confidentially）； 〃ye see； sur； until I get
worrukand it's worruk I'm lukin' forI have to desave now and thin to
shute the locality。 Ah； God save us！ but on the say…coast thay'r that har…
rud upon thim that don't belong to the say。〃
I ventured to suggest that a strong； healthy man like him might have
found work somewhere between Milwaukee and Boston。
〃Ah； but ye see I got free passage on a freight train； and didn't sthop。
It was in the Aist that I expected to find worruk。〃
〃Have you any trade？〃
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〃Trade； is it？ I'm a brickmaker； God knows； and many's the lift I've
had at makin' bricks in Milwaukee。 Shure； I've as aisy a hand at it as any
man。 Maybe yer honor might know of a kill hereabout？〃
Now to my certain knowledge； there was not a brick kiln within fifty
miles of that spot； and of all unlikely places to find one would have been
this sandy peninsula； given up to the summer residences of a few wealthy
people。 Yet I could not help admiring the assumption of the scamp； who
knew this fact as well as myself。 But I said； 〃I can give you work for a day
or two；〃 and； bidding him gather up his sick wife's apparel； led the way
across the downs to my cottage。 At first I think the offer took him by
surprise； and gave him some consternation； but he presently recovered his
spirits； and almost instantly his speech。 〃Ah； worruk； is it？ God be
praised！ it's meself that's ready and willin'。 'Though maybe me hand is
spoilt wid brickmakin'。〃
I assured him that the work I would give him would require no delicate
manipulation； and so we fared on over the sleepy downs。 But I could not
help noticing that； although an invalid； I was a much better pedestrian than
my companion； frequently leaving him behind； and that even as a 〃tramp；〃
he was etymologically an impostor。 He had a way of lingering beside the
fences we had to climb over； as if to continue more confidentially the
history of his misfortunes and troubles； which he was delivering to me
during our homeward walk； and I noticed that he could seldom resist the
invitation of a mossy boulder or a tussock of salt grass。 〃Ye see； sur；〃 he
would say； suddenly sitting down； 〃it's along uv me misfortunes beginnin'
in Milwaukee that〃 and it was not until I was out of hearing that he
would languidly gather his traps again and saunter after me。 When I
reached my own garden gate he leaned for a moment over it； with both of
his powerful arms extended downward； and said； 〃Ah； but it's a blessin'
that Sunday comes to give rest fur the wake and the weary； and them as
walks sivinteen miles to get it。〃 Of course I took the hint。 There was
evidently no work to be had from my friend； the Tramp； that day。 Yet his
countenance brightened as he saw the limited extent of my domain； and
observed that the garden； so called； was only a flower…bed about twenty…
five by ten。 As he had doubtless before this been utilized； to the extent of
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his capacity； in digging； he had probably expected that kind of work； and I
daresay I discomfitted him by pointing him to an almost leveled stone wall；
about twenty feet long； with the remark that his work would be the
rebuilding of that stone wall； with stone brought from the neighboring
slopes。 In a few moments he was comfortably provided for in the kitchen；
where the cook； a woman of his own nativity； apparently； 〃chaffed〃 him
with a raillery that was to me quite unintelligible。 Yet I noticed that when；
at sunset； he accompanied Bridget to the spring for water； ostentatiously
flourishing the empty bucket in his hand； when they returned in the
gloaming Bridget was carrying the water； and my friend； the Tramp； was
some paces behind her； cheerfully 〃colloguing；〃 and picking blackberries。
At seven the next morning he started in cheerfully to work。 At nine；
A。 M。； he had placed three large stones on the first course in position； an
hour having been spent in looking for a pick and hammer； and in the
incidental 〃chaffing〃 with Bridget。 At ten o'clock I went to overlook his
work； it was a rash action； as it caused him to respectfully doff his hat；
discontinue his labors； and lean back against the fence in cheerful and easy
conservation。 〃Are you fond uv blackberries； Captain？〃 I told him that
the children were in the habit of getting them from the meadow beyond；
hoping to estop the suggestion I knew was coming。 〃Ah； but； Captain；
it's meself that with wanderin' and havin' nothin' to pass me lips but the
berries I'd pick from the hedges；it's meself knows where to find thim。
Sure； it's yer childer； and foine boys they are； Captain； that's besaching me
to go wid 'em to the place； known'st only to meself。〃 It is unnecessary to
say that he triumphed。 After the manner of vagabonds of all degrees； he
had enlisted the women and children on his sideand my friend； the
Tramp； had his own way。 He departed at eleven and returned at four； P。
M。； with a tin dinner…pail half filled。 On interrogating the boys it
appeared that they had had a 〃bully time；〃 but on cross…examination it
came out that THEY had picked the berries。 From four to six； three more
stones were laid； and the arduous labors of the day were over。 As I stood
looking at the first course of six stones； my friend； the Tramp； stretched his
strong arms out to their fullest extent and said： 〃Ay； but it's worruk that's
good for me； give me worruk； and it's all I'll be askin' fur。〃
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I ventured to suggest that he had not yet accomplished much。
〃Wait till to…morror。 Ah； but ye'll see thin。 It's me hand that's yet
onaisy wid brick…makin' and sthrange to the shtones。 An ye'll wait till to…
morror？〃
Unfortunately I did not wait。 An engagement took me away at an
early hour； and when I rode up to my cottage at noon my eyes were
greeted with the astonishing spectacle of my two boys hard at work laying
the courses of the stone wall； assisted by Bridget and Norah； who were
dragging stones from the hillsides； while comfortably stretched on the top
of the wall lay my friend； the Tramp； quietly overseeing the operation with
lazy and humorous comment。 For an instant I was foolishly indignant；
but he soon brought me to my senses。 〃Shure； sur； it's only larnin' the
boys the habits uv industhry I wasand may they niver know； be the same
token； what it is to worruk fur the bread betune their lips。 Shure it's but
makin' 'em think it play I was。 As fur the colleens beyint in the kitchen；
sure isn't it betther they was helping your honor here than colloguing with
themselves inside？〃
Nevertheless； I thought it expedient to forbid henceforth any
interruption of servants or children with my friend's 〃worruk。〃 Perhaps it
was the result of this embargo that the next morning early the Tramp
wanted to see me。
〃And it's sorry I am to say it to ye； sur；〃 he began； 〃but it's the handlin'
of this stun that's desthroyin' me touch at the brick… makin'； and it's better I
should lave ye and find worruk at me own thrade。 For it's worruk I am
nadin'。 It isn't meself； Captain； to ate the bread of oidleness here。 And
so good…by to ye； and if it's fifty cints ye can be givin' me ontil I'll find a
killit's God that'll repay ye。〃
He got the money。 But he got also conditionally a note from me to
my next neighbor； a wealthy retired physician； possessed of a large
domain； a man eminently practical and businesslike in his management of
it。 He employed many laborers on the sterile waste he called his 〃farm；〃
and it occurred to me that if there really was any work in my friend；
