whirligigs-第38节
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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
