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第38节

whirligigs-第38节

小说: whirligigs 字数: 每页4000字

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By and by Rivington stopped and said we were in the

heart of the Bowery。  There was a policeman on the

corner whom Rivington knew。



〃Hallo; Donahue!〃  said my guide。  〃How goes it?

My friend and I are down this way looking up a bit of

local colour。  He's anxious to meet one of the Bowery

types。  Can't you put us on to something genuine in that

line  something that's got the colour; you know?〃



Policeman Donahue turned himself about ponder…

ously; his florid face full of good…nature。  He pointed with

his club down the street。



〃Sure!〃  he said huskily。  〃Here comes a lad now

that was born on the Bowery and knows every inch of

it。  If he's ever been above Bleecker street he's kept it

to himself。〃



A man about twenty…eight or twenty…nine; with a smooth

face; was sauntering toward us with his hands in his

coat pockets。  Policeman Donahue stopped him with a

courteous wave of his club。



〃Evening; Kerry;〃 he said。  〃Here's a couple of gents;

friends of mine; that want to hear you spiel something

about the Bowery。  Can you reel 'em off a few yards?〃



〃Certainly; Donahue;〃 said the young man; pleas…

antly。  〃Good evening; gentlemen;〃 he said to us;

with a pleasant smile。  Donahue walked off on his beat。



〃This is the goods;〃 whispered Rivington; nudging

me with his elbow。  〃Look at his jaw!〃



〃Say; cull;〃 said Rivington; pushing back his hat;

wot's doin'?  Me and my friend's taking a look down

de old line  see?  De copper tipped us off dat you was

wise to de bowery。  Is dat right?〃



I could not help admiring Rivington's power of adapt…

ing himself to his surroundings。



〃Donahue was right;〃 said the young man; frankly;

〃I was brought up on the Bowery。  I have been news…

boy; teamster; pugilist; member of an organized band

of 'toughs;' bartender; and a 'sport' in various mean…

ings of the word。  The experience certainly warrants the

supposition that I have at least a passing acquaintance

with a few phases of Bowery life。  I will be pleased to

place whatever knowledge and experience I have at the

service of my friend Donahue's friends。〃



Rivington seemed ill at ease。



〃I say;〃 he said  somewhat entreatingly; 〃I thought 

you're not stringing us; are you?  It isn't just the kind

of talk we expected。  You haven't even said 'Hully gee!'

once。  Do you really belong on the Bowery?〃



〃I am afraid;〃 said the Bowery boy; smilingly; 〃that

at some time you have been enticed into one of the dives

of literature and had the counterfeit coin of the Bowery

passed upon you。  The 'argot' to which you doubtless

refer was the invention of certain of your literary 'dis…

coverers' who invaded the unknown wilds below Third

avenue and put strange sounds into the mouths of the

inhabitants。  Safe in their homes far to the north and

west; the credulous readers who were beguiled by this

new 'dialect' perused and believed。  Like Marco Polo

and Mungo Park  pioneers indeed; but ambitious souls

who could not draw the line of demarcation between dis…

covery and invention  the literary bones of these

explorers are dotting the trackless wastes of the sub…

way。  While it is true that after the publication of the

mythical language attributed to the dwellers along the

Bowery certain of its pat phrases and apt metaphors

were adopted and; to a limited extent; used in this locality;

it was because our people are prompt in assimilating

whatever is to their commercial advantage。  To the

tourists who visited our newly discovered clime; and

who expected a realization of their literary guide books;

they supplied the demands of the market。



〃But perhaps I am wandering from the question。  In

what way can I assist you; gentlemen?  I beg you will

believe that the hospitality of the street is extended to

all。  There are; I regret to say; many catchpenny places

of entertainment; but I cannot conceive that they would

entice you。〃



I felt Rivington lean somewhat heavily against me。

〃Say!〃  he remarked; with uncertain utterance; 〃come

and have a drink with us。〃



〃Thank you; but I never drink。  I find that alcohol;

even in the smallest quantities; alters the perspective。

And I must preserve my perspective; for I am studyinc;

the Bowery。  I have lived in it nearly thirty years; and

I am just beginning to understand its heartbeats。  It is

like a great river fed by a hundred alien streams。  Each

influx brings strange seeds on its flood; strange silt and

weeds; and now and then a flower of rare promise。  To

construe this river requires a man who can build dykes

against the overflow; who is a naturalist; a geologist; a

humanitarian; a diver and a strong swimmer。  I love

my Bowery。  It was my cradle and is my inspiration。

I have published one book。  The critics have been kind。

I put my heart in it。  I am writing another; into which

I hope to put both heart and brain。  Consider me your

guide; gentlemen。  Is there arything I can take you to

see; any place to which I can conduct you?〃



I was afraid to look at Rivington except with one

eye。



〃Thanks;〃 said Rivington。  〃We were looking up

。 。 。 that is 。 。 。 my friend 。 。 。 confound

it; it's against all precedent; you know 。 。 。 awfully

obliged 。 。 。 just the same。〃



〃In case;〃 said our friend; 〃you would like to meet

some of our Bowery young men I would be pleased to

have you visit the quarters of our East Side Kappa Delta

Phi Society; only two blocks east of here。〃



〃Awfully sorry;〃 said Rivington; 〃but my friend's got

me on the jump to…nioht。  He's a terror when he's out

after local colour。  Now; there's nothing I would like

better than to drop in at the Kappa Delta Phi; but 

some other time!〃



We said our farewells and boarded a home…bound car。

We had a rabbit on upper Broadway; and then I parted

with Rivington on a street corner。



〃Well; anyhow;〃 said he; braced and recovered; 〃it

couldn't have happened anywhere but in little old New

York。〃



Which to say the least; was typical of Rivington。







              GEORGIA'S RULING



If you should chance to visit the General Land Office;

step into the draughtsmen's room and ask to be shown

the map of Salado County。  A leisurely German  pos…

sibly old Kampfer himself  will bring it to you。  It will

be four feet square; on heavy drawing…cloth。  The lettering

and the figures will be beautifully clear and distinct。

The title will be in splendid; undecipherable German

text; ornamented with classic Teutonic designs  very

likely Ceres or Pomona leaning against the initial letters

with cornucopias venting grapes and wieners。  You

must tell him that this is not the map you wish to see;

that he will kindly bring you its official predecessor。

He will then say; 〃Ach; so!〃  and bring out a map

half the size of the first; dim; old; tattered; and

faded。



By looking carefully near its northwest corner you will

presently come upon the worn contours of Chiquito

River; and; maybe; if your eyes are good; discern the

silent witness to this story。



The Commissioner of the Land Office was of the old

style; his antique courtesy was too formal for his day。

He dressed in fine black; and there was a suggestion of

Roman drapery in his long coat…skirts。  His collars were

〃undetached〃 (blame haberdashery for the word); his

tie was a narrow; funereal strip; tied in the same knot as

were his shoe…strings。  His gray hair was a trifle too long

behind; but he kept it smooth and orderly。  His face was

clean…shaven; like the old statesmen's。  Most people

thought it a stern face; but when its official expression was

off; a few had seen altogether a different countenance。

Especially tender and gentle it had appeared to those

who were about him during the last illness of his only

child。



The Commissioner had been a widower for years; and

his life; outside his official duties; had been so devoted

to little Georgia that people spoke of it as a touching and

admirable thing。  He was a reserved man; and dignified

almost to austerity; but the child had come below it all

and rested upon his very heart; so that she scarcely missed

the mother's love that had been taken away。  There was

a wonderful companionship between them; for she had

many of his own ways; being thoughtful and serious

beyond her years。



One day; while she was lying with the fever burning

brightly in her checks; she said suddenly:



〃Papa; I wish I could do something good for a whole

lot of children!〃



〃What would you like to do; dear?〃  asked the Com…

Missioner。  〃Give them a party?〃



〃Oh; I don't mean those kind。  I mean poor children

who haven't homes; and aren't loved and cared for as

I am。  I tell you what; papa!〃



〃What; my own child?〃



〃If I shouldn't get well; I'll leave them you  not

give you; but just lend you; for you must come to mamma

and me when you die too。  If y

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