the friendly road-第5节

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〃I'm　sure　of　it；　Mr。　Stanley；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　can't　stay　with　you。〃

At　that　the　tide　of　curiosity　which　I　had　seen　rising　ever　since　I　came　began　to　break　through。　Oh；　I　know　how　difficult　it　is　to　let　the　wanderer　get　by　without　taking　toll　of　him！　There　are　not　so　many　people　here　in　the　country　that　we　can　afford　to　neglect　them。　And　as　I　had　nothing　in　the　world　to　conceal；　and；　indeed；　loved　nothing　better　than　the　give　and　take　of　getting　acquainted；　we　were　soon　at　it　in　good　earnest。

But　it　was　not　enough　to　tell　them　that　my　name　was　David　Grayson　and　where　my　farm　was　located；　and　how　many　acres　there　were；　and　how　much　stock　I　had；　and　what　I　raised。　The　great　particular　〃Why？〃　as　I　knew　it　would　beconcerned　my　strange　presence　on　the　road　at　this　season　of　the　year　and　the　reason　why　I　should　turn　in　by　chance；　as　I　had　done；　to　help　at　their　planting。　If　a　man　is　stationary；　it　seems　quite　impossible　for　him　to　imagine　why　any　one　should　care　to　wander；　and　as　for　the　wanderer　it　is　inconceivable　to　him　how　any　one　can　remain　permanently　at　home。

We　were　all　sitting　comfortably　around　the　table　in　the　living…room。　The　lamps　were　lighted；　and　Mr。　Stanley；　in　slippers；　was　smoking　his　pipe　and　Mrs。　Stanley　was　darning　socks　over　a　mending…gourd；　and　the　two　young　Stanleys　were　whispering　and　giggling　about　some　matter　of　supreme　consequence　to　youth。　The　windows　were　open；　and　we　could　smell　the　sweet　scent　of　the　lilacs　from　the　yard　and　hear　the　drumming　of　the　rain　as　it　fell　on　the　roof　of　the　porch。

〃It's　easy　to　explain；〃　I　said。　〃The　fact　is；　it　got　to　the　point　on　my　farm　that　I　wasn't　quite　sure　whether　I　owned　it　or　it　owned　me。　And　I　made　up　my　mind　I'd　get　away　for　a　while　from　my　own　horses　and　cattle　and　see　what　the　world　was　like。　I　wanted　to　see　how　people　lived　up　here；　and　what　they　are　thinking　about；　and　how　they　do　their　farming。〃

As　I　talked　of　my　plans　and　of　the　duty　one　had；　as　I　saw　it；　to　be　a　good　broad　man　as　well　as　a　good　farmer；　I　grew　more　and　more　interested　and　enthusiastic。　Mr。　Stanley　took　his　pipe　slowly　from　his　mouth；　held　it　poised　until　it　finally　went　out；　and　sat　looking　at　me　with　a　rapt　expression。　I　never　had　a　better　audience。　Finally；　Mr。　Stanley　said　very　earnestly：

〃And　you　have　felt　that　way；　too？〃

〃Why；　father！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Stanley；　in　astonishment。

Mr。　Stanley　hastily　put　his　pipe　back　into　his　mouth　and　confusedly　searched　in　his　pockets　for　a　match；　but　I　knew　I　had　struck　down　deep　into　a　common　experience。　Here　was　this　brisk　and　prosperous　farmer　having　his　dreams　toodreams　that　even　his　wife　did　not　know！

So　I　continued　my　talk　with　even　greater　fervour。　I　don't　think　that　the　boy　Ben　understood　all　that　I　said；　for　I　was　dealing　with　experiences　common　mostly　to　older　men；　but　he　somehow　seemed　to　get　the　spirit　of　it；　for　quite　unconsciously　he　began　to　hitch　his　chair　toward　me；　then　he　laid　his　hand　on　my　chair…arm　and　finally　and　quite　simply　he　rested　his　arm　against　mine　and　looked　at　me　with　all　his　eyes。　I　keep　learning　that　there　is　nothing　which　reaches　men's　hearts　like　talking　straight　out　the　convictions　and　emotions　of　your　innermost　soul。　Those　who　hear　you　may　not　agree　with　you；　or　they　may　not　understand　you　fully；　but　something　incalculable；　something　vital；　passes。　And　as　for　a　boy　or　girl　it　is　one　of　the　sorriest　of　mistakes　to　talk　down　to　them；　almost　always　your　lad　of　fifteen　thinks　more　simply；　more　fundamentally；　than　you　do；　and　what　he　accepts　as　good　coin　is　not　facts　or　precepts；　but　feelings　and　convictionsLIFE。　And　why　shouldn't　we　speak　out？

〃I　long　ago　decided；〃　I　said；　〃to　try　to　be　fully　what　I　am　and　not　to　be　anything　or　anybody　else。〃

〃That's　right；　that's　right；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Stanley；　nodding　his　head　vigorously。

〃It's　about　the　oldest　wisdom　there　is；〃　I　said；　and　with　that　I　thought　of　the　volume　I　carried　in　my　pocket；　and　straightway　I　pulled　it　out　and　after　a　moment's　search　found　the　passage　I　wanted。

〃Listen；〃　I　said；　〃to　what　this　old　Roman　philosopher　said〃and　I　held　the　book　up　to　the　lamp　and　read　aloud：

〃'You　can　be　invincible　if　you　enter　into　no　contest　in　which　it　is　not　in　your　power　to　conquer。　Take　care；　then；　when　you　observe　a　man　honoured　before　others　or　possessed　of　great　power；　or　highly　esteemed　for　any　reason；　not　to　suppose　him　happy　and　be　not　carried　away　by　the　appearance。　For　if　the　nature　of　the　good　is　in　our　power；　neither　envy　nor　jealousy　will　have　a　place　in　us。　But　you　yourself　will　not　wish　to　be　a　general　or　a　senator　or　consul；　but　a　free　man；　and　there　is　only　one　way　to　do　this；　to　care　not　for　the　things　which　are　not　in　our　power。'〃

〃That；〃　said　Mr。　Stanley；　〃is　exactly　what　I've　always　said；　but　I　didn't　know　it　was　in　any　book。　I　always　said　I　didn't　want　to　be　a　senator　or　a　legislator；　or　any　other　sort　of　office…holder。　It's　good　enough　for　me　right　here　on　this　farm。〃

At　that　moment　I　glanced　down　into　Ben's　shining　eyes。

〃But　I　want　to　be　a　senator　orsomethingwhen　I　grow　up；〃　he　said　eagerly。

At　this　the　older　brother；　who　was　sitting　not　far　off；　broke　into　a　laugh；　and　the　boy；　who　for　a　moment　had　been　drawn　out　of　his　reserve；　shrank　back　again　and　coloured　to　the　hair。

〃Well；　Ben；〃　said　I；　putting　my　hand　on　his　knee；　〃don't　you　let　anything　stop　you。　I'll　back　you　up；　I'll　vote　for　you。〃

After　breakfast　the　next　morning　Mr。　Stanley　drew　me　aside　and　said：

〃Now　I　want　to　pay　you　for　your　help　yesterday　and　the　day　before。〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I've　had　more　than　value　received。　You've　taken　me　in　like　a　friend　and　brother。　I've　enjoyed　it。〃

So　Mrs。　Stanley　half　filled　my　knapsack　with　the　finest　luncheon　I've　seen　in　many　a　day；　and　thus；　with　as　pleasant　a　farewell　as　if　I'd　been　a　near　relative；　I　set　off　up　the　country　road。　I　was　a　little　distressed　in　parting　to　see　nothing　of　the　boy　Ben；　for　I　had　formed　a　genuine　liking　for　him；　but　upon　reaching　a　clump　of　trees　which　hid　the　house　from　the　road　I　saw　him　standing　in　the　moist　grass　of　a　fence　corner。

〃I　want　to　say　good…bye；〃　he　said　in　the　gruff　voice　of　embarrassment。

〃Ben；〃　I　said；　〃I　missed　you；　and　I'd　have　hated　to　go　off　without　seeing　you　again。　Walk　a　bit　with　me。〃

So　we　walked　side　by　side；　talking　quietly　and　when　at　last　I　shook　his　hand　I　said：

〃Ben；　don't　you　ever　be　afraid　of　acting　up　to　the　very　best　thoughts　you　have　in　your　heart。〃

He　said　nothing　for　a　moment；　and　then：　〃Gee！　I'm　sorry　you're　goin'　away！〃

〃Gee！〃　I　responded；　〃I'm　sorry；　too！〃

With　that　we　both　laughed；　but　when　I　reached　the　top　of　the　hill；　and　looked　back；　I　saw　him　still　standing　there　bare…footed　in　the　road　looking　after　me。　I　waved　my　hand　and　he　waved　his：　and　I　saw　him　no　more。

No　country；　after　all；　produces　any　better　crop　than　its　inhabitants。　And　as　I　travelled　onward　I　liked　to　think　of　these　brave；　temperate；　industrious；　God…friendly　American　people。　I　have　no　fear　of　the　country　while　so　many　of　them　are　still　to　be　found　upon　the　farms　and　in　the　towns　of　this　land。

So　I　tramped　onward　full　of　cheerfulness。　The　rain　had　ceased；　but　all　the　world　was　moist　and　very　green　and　still。　I　walked　for　more　than　two　hours　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　About　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning　I　stopped　near　a　brook　to　drink　and　rest；　for　I　was　warm　and　tired。　And　it　was　then　that　I　bethought　me　of　the　little　tin　pipe　in　my　knapsack；　and　straightway　I　got　it　out；　and；　sitting　down　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　near　the　brook；　I　put　it　to　my　lips　and　felt　for　the　stops　with　unaccustomed　fingers。　At　first　I　made　the　saddest　sort　of　work　of　it；　and　was　not　a　little　disappointed；　indeed；　with　the　sound　of　the　whistle　itself。　It　was　nothing　to　my　memory　of　it！　It　seemed　thin　and　tinny。

However；　I　persevered　at　it；　and　soon　produced　a　recognizable　imitation　of　Tom　Madison's　〃Old　Dan　Tucker。〃　My　success　quite　pleased　me；　and　I　became　so　absorbed　that　I　quite　lost　account　of　the　time　and　place。　There　was　no　one　to　hear　me　save　a　bluejay　which　for　an　hour　or　more　kept　me　company。　He　sat　on　a　twig　just　across　the　brook；　cocking　his　head　at　me；　and　saucily　wagging　his　tail。　Occasionally　he　would　dart　off　among　the　trees　crying　shrilly；　but　his　curiosity　would　always　get　the　better　of　him　and　back　he　would　come　again　to　try　to　solve　the　mystery　of　this　rival　whistling；　which　I'm　sure　was　as　shrill　and　as　harsh　as　his　own。

Presently；　quite　to　my　astonishment；　I　saw　a　man　standing　near　the　brookside　not　a　dozen　paces　away　from　me。　How　long　he　had　been　there　I　don't　know；　for　I　had　heard　nothing　of　his　coming。　Beyond　him　in　the　town　road　I　could　see　the　head　of　his　horse　and　the　top　of　his　buggy。　I　said　not　a　word；　but　continued　with　my　practising。　Why　shouldn't　I？　But　it　gave　me　quite　a　thrill　for　the　moment；　and　at　once　I　began　to　think　of　the　possibilities　of　the　situation。　What　a　thing　it　was　have　so　many　unexpected　and　interesting　situations　developing！　So　I　nodded　my　head　and　tapped　my　foot；　and　blew　into　my　whistle　all　the　more　energetically。　I　knew　my　visitor　could　not　possibly　keep　away。　And　he　could　not；　presently　he　came　nearer　and　said：

〃What　are　you　doing；　neighbour？〃

I　continued　a　moment　with　my　playing；　but　commanded　him　with　my