the professor at the breakfast table-第13章

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Is　n't　there　any　old　whisper　which　will　tarnish　that　wearisome

aureole　of　saintly　perfection？　　Does　n't　she　carry　a　lump　of　opium　in

her　pocket？　　Is　n't　her　cologne…bottle　replenished　oftener　than　its

legitimate　use　would　require？　　It　would　be　such　a　comfort！



Not　for　the　world　would　a　young　creature　like　Iris　have　let　such

words　escape　her；　or　such　thoughts　pass　through　her　mind。　　Whether　at

the　bottom　of　her　soul　lies　any　uneasy　consciousness　of　an　oppressive

presence；　it　is　hard　to　say；　until　we　know　more　about　her。　　Iris　sits

between　the　Little　Gentleman　and　the　〃Model　of　all　the　Virtues；〃　as

the　black…coated　personage　called　her。　I　will　watch　them　all。



Here　I　stop　for　the　present。　　What　the　Professor　said　has　had　to

make　way　this　time　for　what　he　saw　and　heard。



…And　now　you　may　read　these　lines；　which　were　written　for　gentle

souls　who　love　music；　and　read　in　even　tones；　and；　perhaps；　with

something　like　a　smile　upon　the　reader's　lips；　at　a　meeting　where

these　musical　friends　had　gathered。　　Whether　they　were　written　with

smiles　or　not；　you　can　guess　better　after　you　have　read　them。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　OPENING　OF　THE　PIANO。



In　the　little　southern　parlor　of　the　house　you　may　have　seen

With　the　gambrel…roof；　and　the　gable　looking　westward　to　the　green；

At　the　side　toward　the　sunset；　with　the　window　on　its　right；

Stood　the　London…made　piano　I　am　dreaming　of　to…night。



Ah　me！　how　I　remember　the　evening　when　it　came！

What　a　cry　of　eager　voices；　what　a　group　of　cheeks　in　flame；

When　the　wondrous　boa　was　opened　that　had　come　from　over　seas；

With　its　smell　of　mastic…varnish　and　its　flash　of　ivory　keys！



Then　the　children　all　grew　fretful　in　the　restlessness　of　joy；

For　the　boy　would　push　his　sister；　and　the　sister　crowd　the　boy；

Till　the　father　asked　for　quiet　in　his　grave　paternal　way；

But　the　mother　hushed　the　tumult　with　the　words；　〃Now；　Mary；　play。〃



For　the　dear　soul　knew　that　music　was　a　very　sovereign　balm；

She　had　sprinkled　it　over　Sorrow　and　seen　its　brow　grow　calm；

In　the　days　of　slender　harpsichords　with　tapping　tinkling　quills；

Or　caroling　to　her　spinet　with　its　thin　metallic　thrills。



So　Mary；　the　household　minstrel；　who　always　loved　to　please；

Sat　down　to　the　new　〃Clementi；〃　and　struck　the　glittering　keys。

Hushed　were　the　children's　voices；　and　every　eye　grew　dim；

As；　floating　from　lip　and　finger；　arose　the　〃Vesper　Hymn。〃



Catharine；　child　of　a　neighbor；　curly　and　rosy…red；

（Wedded　since；　and　a　widow；something　like　ten　years　dead；）

Hearing　a　gush　of　music　such　as　none　before；

Steals　from　her　mother's　chamber　and　peeps　at　the　open　door。



Just　as　the　〃Jubilate　〃　in　threaded　whisper　dies；

〃Open　it！　open　it；　lady！〃　the　little　maiden　cries；

（For　she　thought't　was　a　singing　creature　caged　in　a　box　she　heard；）

〃Open　it！　open　it；　lady！　and　let　me　see　the　bird！〃









IV



I　don't　know　whether　our　literary　or　professional　people　are　more

amiable　than　they　are　in　other　places；　but　certainly　quarrelling　is

out　of　fashion　among　them。　　This　could　never　be；　if　they　were　in　the

habit　of　secret　anonymous　puffing　of　each　other。　　That　is　the　kind　of

underground　machinery　which　manufactures　false　reputations　and

genuine　hatreds。　　On　the　other　hand；　I　should　like　to　know　if　we　are

not　at　liberty　to　have　a　good　time　together；　and　say　the　pleasantest

things　we　can　think　of　to　each　other；　when　any　of　us　reaches　his

thirtieth　or　fortieth　or　fiftieth　or　eightieth　birthday。



We　don't　have　〃scenes；〃　I　warrant　you；　on　these　occasions。　　No

〃surprise〃　parties！　　You　understand　these；　of　course。　　In　the　rural

districts；　where　scenic　tragedy　and　melodrama　cannot　be　had；　as　in

the　city；　at　the　expense　of　a　quarter　and　a　white　pocket…

handkerchief；　emotional　excitement　has　to　be　sought　in　the　dramas　of

real　life。　　Christenings；　weddings；　and　funerals；　especially　the

latter；　are　the　main　dependence；　but　babies；　brides；　and　deceased

citizens　cannot　be　had　at　a　day's　notice。　　Now；　then；　for　a　surprise…

party！



A　bag　of　flour；　a　barrel　of　potatoes；　some　strings　of　onions；　a

basket　of　apples；　a　big　cake　and　many　little　cakes；　a　jug　of

lemonade；　a　purse　stuffed　with　bills　of　the　more　modest

denominations；　may；　perhaps；　do　well　enough　for　the　properties　in　one

of　these　private　theatrical　exhibitions。　　The　minister　of　the　parish；

a　tender…hearted；　quiet；　hard…working　man；　living　on　a　small　salary；

with　many　children；　sometimes　pinched　to　feed　and　clothe　them；

praying　fervently　every　day　to　be　blest　in　his　〃basket　and　store；〃

but　sometimes　fearing　he　asks　amiss；　to　judge　by　the　small　returns；

has　the　first　role；not；　however；　by　his　own　choice；　but　forced　upon

him。　　The　minister's　wife；　a　sharp…eyed；　unsentimental　body；　is　first

lady；　the　remaining　parts　by　the　rest　of　the　family。　　If　they　only

had　a　playbill；　it　would　run　thus：





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ON　TUESDAY　NEXT

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WILL　BE　PRESENTED

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　AFFECTING　SCENE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CALLED



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SURPRISE…PARTY



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OR



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　OVERCOME　FAMILY；





WITH　THE　FOLLOWING　STRONG　CAST　OF　CHARACTERS。



The　Rev。　　Mr。　Overcome；　by　the　Clergyman　of　this　Parish。

Mrs。　　Overcome；　by　his　estimable　lady。

Masters　Matthew；　Mark；　Luke；　and　John　Overcome；

Misses　Dorcas；　Tabitha；　Rachel；　and　Hannah；　Overcome；　by　their

interesting　children。

Peggy；　by　the　female　help。



The　poor　man　is　really　grateful；it　is　a　most　welcome　and　unexpected

relief。　　He　tries　to　express　his　thanks；his　voice　falters；he

chokes；and　bursts　into　tears。　　That　is　the　great　effect　of　the

evening。　　The　sharp…sighted　lady　cries　a　little　with　one　eye；　and

counts　the　strings　of　onions；　and　the　rest　of　the　things；　with　the

other。　　The　children　stand　ready　for　a　spring　at　the　apples。　　The

female　help　weeps　after　the　noisy　fashion　of　untutored　handmaids。



Now　this　is　all　very　well　as　charity；　but　do　let　the　kind　visitors

remember　they　get　their　money's　worth。　　If　you　pay　a　quarter　for　dry

crying；　done　by　a　second…rate　actor；　how　much　ought　you　to　pay　for

real　hot；　wet　tears；　out　of　the　honest　eyes　of　a　gentleman　who　is　not

acting；　but　sobbing　in　earnest？



All　I　meant　to　say；　when　I　began；　was；　that　this　was　not　a　surprise…

party　where　I　read　these　few　lines　that　follow：



We　will　not　speak　of　years　to…night；

For　what　have　years　to　bring；

But　larger　floods　of　love　and　light

And　sweeter　songs　to　sing？



We　will　not　drown　in　wordy　praise

The　kindly　thoughts　that　rise；

If　friendship　owns　one　tender　phrase；

He　reads　it　in　our　eyes。



We　need　not　waste　our　schoolboy　art

To　gild　this　notch　of　time；

Forgive　me；　if　my　wayward　heart

Has　throbbed　in　artless　rhyme。



Enough　for　him　the　silent　grasp

That　knits　us　hand　in　hand；

And　he　the　bracelet's　radiant　clasp

That　locks　our　circling　band。



Strength　to　his　hours　of　manly　toil！

Peace　to　his　starlit　dreams！

Who　loves　alike　the　furrowed　soil；

The　music…haunted　streams！



Sweet　smiles　to　keep　forever　bright

The　sunshine　on　his　lips；

And　faith；　that　sees　the　ring　of　light

Round　Nature's　last　eclipse！





One　of　our　boarders　has　been　talking　in　such　strong　language　that　I

am　almost　afraid　to　report　it。　　However；　as　he　seems　to　be　really

honest　and　is　so　very　sincere　in　his　local　prejudices；　I　don't

believe　anybody　will　be　very　angry　with　him。



It　is　here；　Sir！　　right　here！said　the　little　deformed　gentleman；

in　this　old　new　city　of　Boston；this　remote　provincial　corner　of　a

provincial　nation；　that　the　Battle　of　the　Standard　is　fighting；　and

was　fighting　before　we　were　born；　and　will　be　fighting　when　we　are

dead　and　gone；please　God！　　The　battle　goes　on　everywhere　throughout

civilization；　but　here；　here；　here　is　the　broad　white　flag　flying

which　proclaims；　first　of　all；　peace　and　good…will　to　men；　and；　next

to　that；　the　absolute；　unconditional　spiritual　liberty　of　each

individual　immortal　soul！　　The　three…hilled　city　against　the　seven…

hilled　city！　　That　is　it；　Sir；nothing　less　than　that；　and　if　you

know　what　that　means；　I　don't　think　you'll　ask　for　anything　more。　　I

swear　to　you；　Sir；　I　believe　that　these　two　centres　of　civilization

are　just　exactly　the　two　points　that　close　the　circuit　in　the　battery

of　our　planetary　intelligence！　　And　I　believe　there　are　spiritual

eyes　looking　out　from　Uranus　and　unseen　Neptune；ay；　Sir；　from　the

systems　of　Sirius　and　Arcturus　and　Aldebaran；　and　as　far　as　that

faint　stain　of　sprinkled　worlds　confluent　in　the　distance　that　we

call　the　nebula　of　Orion；looking　on；　Sir；　with　what　organs　I　know

not；　to　see　which　are　going　to　melt　in　that　fiery　fusion；　the

accidents　and　hindrances　of　humanity　or　man　himself；　Sir；the

stupendous　abortion；　the　illustrious　failure　that　he　is；　if　the

three…hilled　city　does　not　ride　down　and　trample　out　the　seven…hilled

city！



Steam　's　up！said　the　young　man　John；　so　called；　in　a　low　tone。

Three　hundred　and　sixty…five　tons　to　the　square　inch。　　Let　him　blow

her　off；　or　he'll　bu'st　his　b'iler。



The　divinity…student　took　it　calmly；　only　whispering　that　he　thought

there　was　a　little　confusion　of　images　between　a　galvanic　battery　and

a　charge　of　cavalry。



But　the　Koh…i…noorthe　gentleman；　you　remember；　with　a　very　large

diamond　in　his　shirt…front　laughed　his　scornful　laugh；　and　made　as　if

to　speak。



Sail　in；　Metropolis！said　that　same　young　man　John；　by　name。　　And

then；　in　a　lower　lane；　not　meaning　to　be　heard；Now；　then；　Ma'am

Allen！



But　he　was　heard；and　the　Koh…i…noor's　face　turned　so　white　with

rage；　that　his　blue…black　moustache　and　beard　looked　fearful；　seen

against　it。　　He　grinned　with　wrath；　and　caught　at　a　tumbler；　as　if　he

would　have　thrown　it　or　its　contents　at　the　speaker。　　The　young

Marylander　fixed　his　clear；　steady　eye　upon　him；　and　laid　his　hand　on

his　arm；　carelessly　almost；　but　the　Jewel　found　it　was　held　so　that

he　could　not　move　it。　　It　was　of　no　use。　　The　youth　was　his　master　in

muscle；　and　in　that　deadly　Indian　hug　in　which　men　wrestle　with　their

eyes；over　in　five　seconds；　but　breaks　one　of　their　two　backs；　and

is　good　for　threescore　years　and　ten；one　trial　enough；settles　the

whole　matter；just　as　when　two　feathered　songsters　of　the　barnyard；

game　and　dunghill；　come　together；…after　a　jump　or　two　at　each　other；

and　a　few　sharp　kicks；　there　is　the　end　of　it；　and　it　is；　Apres　vous；

Monsieur；　with　the　beaten　party　in　all　the　social　relations　for　all

the　rest　of　his　days。



I　cannot　philosophically　account　for　the　Koh…i…noor's　wrath。　　For

though　a　cosmetic　is　sold；　bearing　the　name　of　the　lady　to　whom

reference　was　made　by　the　young　person　John；　yet；　as　it　is　publicly

asserted　in　respectable　prints　that　this　cosmetic　is　not　a　dye；　I　see

no　reason　why　he　should　have　felt　offended　by　any　suggestion　that　he

was　indebted　to　it　or　its