adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第69节
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of growing poverty with a growing family。 And his savings had
been so constantly drawn upon （besides the terrible sweep of
paying for Seth’s substitute in the militia） that he had not enough
money beforehand to furnish even a small cottage； and keep
something in reserve against a rainy day。 He had good hope that
he should be “firmer on his legs” by and by； but he could not be
satisfied with a vague confidence in his arm and brain； he must
have definite plans； and set about them at once。 The partnership
with Jonathan Burge was not to be thought of at present—there
were things implicitly tacked to it that he could not accept； but
Adam thought that he and Seth might carry on a little business for
themselves in addition to their journeyman’s work； by buying a
small stock of superior wood and making articles of household
furniture； for which Adam had no end of contrivances。 Seth might
gain more by working at separate jobs under Adam’s direction
than by his journeyman’s work； and Adam； in his over…hours；
could do all the “nice” work that required peculiar skill。 The
money gained in this way； with the good wages he received as
foreman； would soon enable them to get beforehand with the
world； so sparingly as they would all live now。 No sooner had this
little plan shaped itself in his mind than he began to be busy with
exact calculations about the wood to be bought and the particular
article of furniture that should be undertaken first—a kitchen
cupboard of his own contrivance； with such an ingenious
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arrangement of sliding…doors and bolts； such convenient nooks for
stowing household provender； and such a symmetrical result to
the eye； that every good housewife would be in raptures with it；
and fall through all the gradations of melancholy longing till her
husband promised to buy it for her。 Adam pictured to himself Mrs。
Poyser examining it with her keen eye and trying in vain to find
out a deficiency； and； of course； close to Mrs。 Poyser stood Hetty；
and Adam was again beguiled from calculations and contrivances
into dreams and hopes。 Yes； he would go and see her this
evening—it was so long since he had been at the Hall Farm。 He
would have liked to go to the night…school； to see why Bartle
Massey had not been at church yesterday； for he feared his old
friend was ill； but； unless he could manage both visits； this last
must be put off till to…morrow—the desire to be near Hetty and to
speak to her again was too strong。
As he made up his mind to this； he was coming very near to the
end of his walk； within the sound of the hammers at work on the
refitting of the old house。 The sound of tools to a clever workman
who loves his work is like the tentative sounds of the orchestra to
the violinist who has to bear his part in the overture： the strong
fibres begin their accustomed thrill； and what was a moment
before joy； vexation； or ambition； begins its change into energy。 All
passion becomes strength when it has an outlet from the narrow
limits of our personal lot in the labour of our right arm； the
cunning of our right hand； or the still； creative activity of our
thought。 Look at Adam through the rest of the day； as he stands on
the scaffolding with the two…feet ruler in his hand； whistling low
while he considers how a difficulty about a floor…joist or a window…
frame is to be overcome； or as he pushes one of the younger
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workmen aside and takes his place in upheaving a weight of
timber； saying； “Let alone； lad！ Thee’st got too much gristle i’ thy
bones yet”； or as he fixes his keen black eyes on the motions of a
workman on the other side of the room and warns him that his
distances are not right。 Look at this broad…shouldered man with
the bare muscular arms； and the thick； firm； black hair tossed
about like trodden meadow…grass whenever he takes off his paper
cap； and with the strong barytone voice bursting every now and
then into loud and solemn psalm…tunes； as if seeking an outlet for
superfluous strength； yet presently checking himself； apparently
crossed by some thought which jars with the singing。 Perhaps； if
you had not been already in the secret； you might not have
guessed what sad memories what warm affection； what tender
fluttering hopes； had their home in this athletic body with the
broken finger…nails—in this rough man； who knew no better lyrics
than he could find in the Old and New Version and an occasional
hymn； who knew the smallest possible amount of profane history；
and for whom the motion and shape of the earth； the course of the
sun； and the changes of the seasons lay in the region of mystery
just made visible by fragmentary knowledge。 It had cost Adam a
great deal of trouble and work in over…hours to know what he
knew over and above the secrets of his handicraft； and that
acquaintance with mechanics and figures； and the nature of the
materials he worked with； which was made easy to him by inborn
inherited faculty—to get the mastery of his pen； and write a plain
hand； to spell without any other mistakes than must in fairness be
attributed to the unreasonable character of orthography rather
than to any deficiency in the speller； and； moreover； to learn his
musical notes and part…singing。 Besides all this； he had read his
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Bible； including the apocryphal books； Poor Richard’s Almanac；
Taylor’s Holy Living and Dying； The Pilgrim’s Progress； with
Bunyan’s Life and Holy War； a great deal of Bailey’s Dictionary；
Valentine and Orson； and part of a History of Babylon； which Bartle
Massey had lent him。 He might have had many more books from
Bartle Massey； but he had no time for reading “the commin print；”
as Lisbeth called it； so busy as he was with figures in all the leisure
moments which he did not fill up with extra carpentry。
Adam； you perceive； was by no means a marvellous man； nor；
properly speaking； a genius； yet I will not pretend that his was an
ordinary character among workmen； and it would not be at all a
safe conclusion that the next best man you may happen to see with
a basket of tools over his shoulder and a paper cap on his head has
the strong conscience and the strong sense； the blended
susceptibility and self…command； of our friend Adam。 He was not
an average man。 Yet such men as he are reared here and there in
every generation of our peasant artisans—with an inheritance of
affections nurtured by a simple family life of common need and
common industry； and an inheritance of faculties trained in skilful
courageous labour： they make their way upwards； rarely as
geniuses； most commonly as painstaking honest men； with the
skill and conscience to do well the tasks that lie before them。 Their
lives have no discernible echo beyond the neighbourhood where
they dwelt； but you are almost sure to find there some good piece
of road； some building； some application of mineral produce； some
improvement in farming practice； some reform of parish abuses；
with which their names are associated by one or two generations
after them。 Their employers were the richer for them； the work of
their hands
