the peterkin papers-第2节

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h。　They　told　her　their　story；…how　their　mother　　had　put　salt　in　her　coffee；　and　how　the　chemist　had　made　it　worse　instead　of　　better；　and　how　their　mother　couldn't　drink　it；　and　wouldn't　she　come　and　see　　what　she　could　do？　And　she　said　she　would；　and　took　up　her　little　old　apron；　　with　pockets　all　round；　all　filled　with　everlasting　and　pennyroyal；　and　went　　back　to　her　house。

　There　she　stopped；　and　stuffed　her　huge　pockets　with　some　of　all　the　kinds　of　　herbs。　She　took　some　tansy　and　peppermint；　and　caraway…seed　and　dill；　spearmint　　and　cloves；　pennyroyal　and　sweet　marjoram；　basil　and　rosemary；　wild　thyme　and　　some　of　the　other　time；…such　as　you　have　in　clocks；…sappermint　and　oppermint；　　catnip；　valerian；　and　hop；　indeed；　there　isn't　a　kind　of　herb　you　can　think　of　　that　the　little　old　woman　didn't　have　done　up　in　her　little　paper　bags；　that　had　　all　been　dried　in　her　little　Dutch…oven。　She　packed　these　all　up；　and　then　went　　back　with　the　children；　taking　her　stick。

Meanwhile　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　getting　quite　impatient　for　her　coffee。

As　soon　as　the　little　old　woman　came　she　had　it　set　over　the　fire；　and　began　to　　stir　in　the　different　herbs。　First　she　put　in　a　little　hop　for　the　bitter。　Mrs。

Peterkin　said　it　tasted　like　hop…tea；　and　not　at　all　like　coffee。　Then　she　tried　　a　little　flagroot　and　snakeroot；　then　some　spruce　gum；　and　some　caraway　and　some　　dill；　some　rue　and　rosemary；　some　sweet　marjoram　and　sour；　some　oppermint　and　　sappermint；　a　little　spearmint　and　peppermint；　some　wild　thyme；　and　some　of　the　　other　tame　time；　some　tansy　and　basil；　and　catnip　and　valerian；　and　sassafras；　　ginger；　and　pennyroyal。　The　children　tasted　after　each　mixture；　but　made　up　　dreadful　faces。　Mrs。　Peterkin　tasted；　and　did　the　same。　The　more　the　old　woman　　stirred；　and　the　more　she　put　in；　the　worse　it　all　seemed　to　taste。

　So　the　old　woman　shook　her　head；　and　muttered　a　few　words；　and　said　she　must　　go。　She　believed　the　coffee　was　bewitched。　She　bundled　up　her　packets　of　herbs；　　and　took　her　trowel；　and　her　basket；　and　her　stick；　and　went　back　to　her　root　of　　sassafras；　that　she　had　left　half　in　the　air　and　half　out。　And　all　she　would　　take　for　pay　was　five　cents　in　currency。

Then　the　family　were　in　despair；　and　all　sat　and　thought　a　great　while。　It　was　　growing　late　in　the　day；　and　Mrs。　Peterkin　hadn't　had　her　cup　of　coffee。　At　last　　Elizabeth　Eliza　said；　〃They　say　that　the　lady　from　Philadelphia；　who　is　staying　　in　town；　is　very　wise。　Suppose　I　go　and　ask　her　what　is　best　to　be　done。〃　To　　this　they　all　agreed；　it　was　a　great　thought；　and　off　Elizabeth　Eliza　went。

　She　told　the　lady　from　Philadelphia　the　whole　story；…how　her　mother　had　put　　salt　in　the　coffee；　how　the　chemist　had　been　called　in；　how　he　tried　everything　　but　could　make　it　no　better；　and　how　they　went　for　the　little　old　herb…woman；　　and　how　she　had　tried　in　vain；　for　her　mother　couldn't　drink　the　coffee。　The　　lady　from　Philadelphia　listened　very　attentively；　and　then　said；　〃Why　doesn't　　your　mother　make　a　fresh　cup　of　coffee？〃　Elizabeth　Eliza　started　with　surprise。

Solomon　John　shouted　with　joy；　so　did　Agamemnon；　who　had　just　finished　his　sum；　　so　did　the　little　boys；　who　had　followed　on。　〃Why　didn't　we　think　of　that？〃　said　　Elizabeth　Eliza；　and　they　all　went　back　to　their　mother；　and　she　had　her　cup　of　　coffee。

　　ABOUT　ELIZABETH　ELIZA'S　PIANO。　　ELIZABETH　ELIZA　had　a　present　of　a　piano；　and　she　was　to　take　lessons　of　the　　postmaster's　daughter。

They　decided　to　have　the　piano　set　across　the　window　in　the　parlor；　and　the　　carters　brought　it　in；　and　went　away。

After　they　had　gone　the　family　all　came　in　to　look　at　the　piano；　but　they　found　　the　carters　had　placed　it　with　its　back　turned　towards　the　middle　of　the　room；　　standing　close　against　the　window。

　How　could　Elizabeth　Eliza　open　it？　How　could　she　reach　the　keys　to　play　upon　　it？

Solomon　John　proposed　that　they　should　open　the　window；　which　Agamemnon　could　do　　with　his　long　arms。　Then　Elizabeth　Eliza　should　go　round　upon　the　piazza；　and　　open　the　piano。　Then　she　could　have　her　music…stool　on　the　piazza；　and　play　upon　　the　piano　there。

So　they　tried　this；　and　they　all　thought　it　was　a　very　pretty　sight　to　see　　Elizabeth　Eliza　playing　on　the　piano；　while　she　sat　on　the　piazza；　with　the　　honeysuckle　vines　behind　her。

It　was　very　pleasant；　too；　moonlight　evenings。　Mr。　Peterkin　liked　to　take　a　doze　　on　his　sofa　in　the　room；　but　the　rest　of　the　family　liked　to　sit　on　the　piazza。

So　did　Elizabeth　Eliza；　only　she　had　to　have　her　back　to　the　moon。

All　this　did　very　well　through　the　summer；　but；　when　the　fall　came；　Mr。　Peterkin　　thought　the　air　was　too　cold　from　the　open　window；　and　the　family　did　not　want　　to　sit　out　on　the　piazza。

　Elizabeth　Eliza　practiced　in　the　mornings　with　her　cloak　on；　but　she　was　　obliged　to　give　up　her　music　in　the　evenings　the　family　shivered　so。

One　day；　when　she　was　talking　with　the　lady　from　Philadelphia；　she　spoke　of　this　　trouble。

The　lady　from　Philadelphia　looked　surprised；　and　then　said；　〃But　why　don't　you　　turn　the　piano　round？〃

One　of　the　little　boys　pertly　said；　〃It　is　a　square　piano。〃

But　Elizabeth　Eliza　went　home　directly；　and；　with　the　help　of　Agamemnon　and　　Solomon　John；　turned　the　piano　round。

〃Why　did　we　not　think　of　that　before？〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。　〃What　shall　we　do　　when　the　lady　from　Philadelphia　goes　home　again？〃

　　THE　PETERKINS　TRY　TO　BECOME　WISE。　　THEY　were　sitting　round　the　breakfast…table；　and　wondering　what　they　should　do　　because　the　lady　from　Philadelphia　had　gone　away。　〃If；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃we　　could　only　be　more　wise　as　a　family！〃　How　could　they　manage　it？　Agamemnon　had　　been　to　college；　and　the　children　all　went　to　school；　but　still　as　a　family　they　　were　not　wise。　〃It　comes　from　books；〃　said　one　of　the　family。　〃People　who　have　a　　great　many　books　are　very　wise。〃　Then　they　counted　up　that　there　were　very　few　　books　in　the　house；…a　few　school…books　and　Mrs。　Peterkin's　cook…book　were　all。

〃That's　the　thing！〃　said　Agamemnon。　〃We　want　a　library。〃

　〃We　want　a　library！〃　said　Solomon　John。　And　all　of　them　exclaimed；　〃We　want　a　　library！〃

〃Let　us　think　how　we　shall　get　one；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。　〃I　have　observed　that　　other　people　think　a　great　deal　of　thinking。〃

So　they　all　sat　and　thought　a　great　while。

Then　said　Agamemnon；　〃I　will　make　a　library。　There　are　some　boards　in　the　　wood…shed；　and　I　have　a　hammer　and　some　nails　；　and　perhaps　we　can　borrow　some　　hinges；　and　there　we　have　our　library！〃

They　were　all　very　much　pleased　at　the　idea。

〃That's　the　book…case　part；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃but　where　are　the　books？〃

　So　they　sat　and　thought　a　little　while；　when　Solomon　John　exclaimed；　〃I　will　　make　a　book！〃

They　all　looked　at　him　in　wonder。

〃Yes；〃　said　Solomon　John；　〃books　will　make　us　wise；　but　first　I　must　make　a　　book。〃

So　they　went　into　the　parlor；　and　sat　down　to　make　a　book。　But　there　was　no　ink。

What　should　he　do　for　ink？　Elizabeth　Eliza　said　she　had　heard　that　nutgalls　and　　vinegar　made　very　good　ink。　So　they　decided　to　make　some。　The　little　boys　said　　they　could　find　some　nutgalls　up　in　the　woods。　So　they　all　agreed　to　set　out　and　　pick　some。　Mrs。　Peterkins　put　on　her　cape…bonnet；　and　the　little　boys　got　into　　their　india…rubber　boots；　and　off　they　went。

The　nutgalls　were　hard　to　find。　There　was　almost　everything　else　in　the　　woods；…chestnuts；　and　walnuts；　and　small　hazel…nuts；　and　a　great　many　squirrels；　　and　they　had　to　walk　a　great　way　before　they　found　any　nutgalls。　At　last　they　　came　home　with　a　large　basket　and　two　nutgalls　in　it。　Then　came　the　question　of　　the　vinegar。　Mrs。　Peterkin　had　used　her　very　last　on　some　beets　they　had　the　day　　before。　〃Suppose　we　go　and　ask　the　minister's　wife；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza。　So　　they　all　went　to　the　minister's　wife。　She　said　if　they　wanted　some　good　vinegar　　they　had　better　set　a　barrel　of　cider　down　in　the　cellar；　and　in　a　year　or　two　　it　would　make　very　nice　vinegar。　But　they　said　they　wanted　it　that　very　　afternoon。　When　the　minister's　wife　heard　this；　she　said　she　should　be　very　glad　　to　let　them　have　some　vinegar；　and　gave　them　a　cupful　to　carry　home。

So　they　stirred　in　the　nutgalls；　and　by　the　time　evening　came　they　had　very　good　　ink。

　Then　Solomon　John　wanted　a　pen。　Agamemnon　had　a　steel　one；　but　Solomon　John　　said；　〃Poets　always　used　quills。〃　Elizabeth　Eliza　suggested　that　they　should　go　　out　to　the　poultry…yard　and　get　a　quill。　But　it　was　already　dark。　They　had；　　however；　two　lanterns；　and　the　little　boys　borrowed　the　neighbors'。　They　set　out　　in　procession　for　the　poultry…yard。　When　they　got　there；　the　fowls　were　all　at　　roost；　so　they　could　look　at　them　quietly。

　SOLOMON　JOHN'S　BOOK。　But　there　were　no　geese！　There　were　Shanghais　and　Cochin…Chinas；　and　Guinea　　hens；　and　Barbary　hens；　and　speckled　hens；　and　Poland　roosters；　and　bantams；　and　　ducks；　and　turkeys；　but　not　one　goose！　〃No　geese　but　ourselves；〃　said　Mrs。

Peterkin；　wittily；　as　they　returned　to　the　house。　The　sight　of　this　procession　　roused　up　the　village。　〃A　torchlight　procession！〃　cried　all　the　boys　of　the　　town；　and　they　gathered　round　the　house；　shouting　for　the　flag；　and　Mr。　Peterkin　　had　to　invite　them　in；　and　give　them　cider　and　gingerbread