eben holden-第32章

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heart　of　youth　when　it　begins　to　harden　and　grow　chill；　as　mine　did　then；　to　put　away　its　cheery　confidence　forever；　to　make　a　new　estimate　of　itself　and　others。　Look　out　for　that　time；　O　ye　good　people！　that　have　sons　and　daughters。

I　must　say　for　myself　that　I　had　a　mighty　cOurage　and　no　small　capital　of　cheerfulness。　I　went　to　try　my　luck　with　the　newspapers　of　Philadelphia；　and　there　one　of　them　kept　me　in　suspense　a　week　to　no　purpose。　When　I　came　back　reduced　in　cash　and　courage　Hope　had　sailed。

There　was　a　letter　from　Uncle　Eb　telling　me　when　and　by　what　steamer　they　were　to　leave。　'She　will　reach　there　a　Friday；'he　wrote；　'and　would　like　to　see　you　that　evening　at　Fuller　s。　

I　had　waited　in　Philadelphia；　hoping　I　might　have　some　word；　to　give　her　a　better　thought　of　me；　and；　that　night；　after　such　a　climax　of　ill　luck；　well　…　I　had　need　of　prayer　for　a　wayward　tongue。　I　sent　home　a　good　account　of　my　prospects。　I　could　not　bring　myself　to　report　failure　or　send　for　more　money。　I　would　sooner　have　gone　to　work　in　a　scullery。

Meanwhile　my　friends　at　the　chalet　were　enough　to　keep　me　in　good　cheer。　Therc　were　William　McClingan；　a　Scotchman　of　a　great　gift　of　dignity　and　a　nickname　inseparably　connected　with　his　fame。　He　wrote　leaders　for　a　big　weekly　and　was　known　as　Waxy　　MeClingan；　to　honour　a　pale　ear　of　wax　that　took　the　place　of　a　member　lost　nobody　could　tell　how。　He　drank　deeply　at　times；　but　never　to　the　loss　of　his　dignity　or　self　possession。　In　his　cups　the　natural　dignity　of　the　man　grew　and　expanded。　One　could　tell　the　extent　of　his　indulgence　by　the　degree　of　his　dignity。　Then　his　mood　became　at　once　didactic　and　devotional。　Indeed；　I　learned　in　good　time　of　the　rumour　that　he　had　lost　his　ear　in　an　argument　about　the　Scriptures　over　at　Edinburgh。

I　remember　he　came　an　evening；　soon　after　my　arrival　at　the　chalet；　when　dinner　was　late。　His　dignity　was　at　the　full。　He　sat　awhile　in　grim　silence；　while　a　sense　of　injury　grew　in　his　bosom。

'Mrs　Opper；'said　he；　in　a　grandiose　manner　and　voice　that　nicely　trilled　the　r　s；　'in　the　fourth　chapter　and　ninth　verse　of　Lamentations　you　will　find　these　words　…　here　he　raised　his　voice　a　bit　and　began　to　tap　the　palm　of　his　left　hand　with　the　index　finger　of　his　right；　continuing：　〃They　that　be　slain　with　the　sword　are　better　than　they　that　be　slain　with　hunger。　for　these　pine　away　stricken　through　want　of　the　fruits　of　the　field。〃　Upon　my　honour　as　a　gentleman；　Mrs　Opper；　I　was　never　so　hungry　in　all　my　life。　

The　other　boarder　was　a　rather　frail　man　with　an　easy　cough　and　a　confidential　manner；　lie　wrote　the　'Obituaries　of　Distinguished　Persons'for　one　of　the　daily　papers。　Somebody　had　told　him　once；　his　head　resembled　that　of　Washington。　He　had　never　forgotten　it；　as　I　have　reason　to　remember。　His　mind　lived　ever　among　the　dead。　His　tongue　was　pickled　in　maxims；　his　heart　sunk　in　the　brine　of　recollection；　his　humour　not　less　unconscous　and　familiar　than　that　of　an　epitaph；　his　name　was　Lemuel　Franidin　Force。　To　the　public　of　his　native　city　he　had　introduced　Webster　one　fourth　ofJuly　…　a　perennial　topic　of　his　lighter　moments。

I　fell　an　easy　victim　to　the　obituary　editor　that　first　evening　in　the　chalet。　We　had　risen　from　the　table　and　he　came　and　held　me　a　moment　by　the　coat　lapel。　He　released　my　collar；　when　he　felt　sure　of　me；　and　began　tapping　my　chest　with　his　forefinger　to　drive　home　his　point　I　stood　for　quite　an　hour　out　of　sheer　politeness。　By　that　time　he　had　me　forced　to　the　wall　…　a　God's　mercy；　for　there　I　got　some　sense　of　relief　in　the　legs。　His　gestures；　in　imitation　of　the　great　Webster；　put　my　head　in　some　peril。　Meanwhile　he　continued　drumming　upon　my　chest。　I　looked　longingly　at　the　empty　chairs。　I　tried　to　cut　him　off　with　applause　that　should　be　condusive　and　satisfying；　but　with　no　success。　It　had　only　a　stimulating　effect。　I　felt　somehow　like　a　cheap　hired　man　badly　overworked。　I　had　lost　all　connection。　I　looked；　and　smiled；　and　nodded；　and　exclaimed；　and　heard　nothing。　I　began　to　plan　a　method　of　escape。　McClingan　…　the　great　and　good　Waxy　McClingan　…　came　out　of　his　room　presently　and　saw　myplight。

'What　is　this？'he　asked；　interrupting；　'a　serial　stawry？　

Getting　no　answer　he　called　my　name；　and　when　Force　had　paused　he　came　near。

'In　the　sixth　chapter　and　fifth　verse　of　Proverbs；'said　he；　'it　is　written：

〃Deliver　thyself　as　a　roe　from　the　hand　of　the　hunter　and　as　a　bird　from　the　hand　of　the　fowler。〃　Deliver　thyself；　Brower。　

I　did　so；　ducking　under　Force's　arm　and　hastening　to　my　chamber。

'Ye　have　a　brawling；　busy　tongue；　man；'I　heard　McClingan　saying。　'By　the　Lord！　ye　should　know　a　dull　tongue　is　sharper　than　a　serpent's　tooth。　

'You　are　a　meddlesome　fellow；'said　Force。

'If　I　were　you；'said　McClingan；　'I　would　go　and　get　for　myself　the　long　ear　of　an　ass　and　empty　my　memory　into　it　every　day。　Try　it；　man。　Give　it　your　confidence　exclusively。　Believe　me；　my　dear　Force；　you　would　win　golden　opinions。　

'It　would　be　better　than　addressing　an　ear　of　wax；'said　Force；　hurriedly　withdrawing　to　his　own　room。

This　answer　made　McClingan　angry。

'Better　an　ear　of　wax　than　a　brain　of　putty；'he　called　after　him。　'Blessed　is　he　that　hath　no　ears　when　a　fool's　tongue　is　busy；'and　then　strode　up　and　down　the　floor；　muttering　ominously。

I　came　out　of　my　room　shortly；　and　then　he　motioned　me　aside。

'Pull　your　own　trigger　first；　man；'he　said　to　me　in　a　low　tone。　'When　ye　see　he's　going　to　shoot　pull　your　own　trigger　first。　Go　right　up　if　him　and　tap　him　on　the　chest　quiddy　and　say；　〃My　dear　Force；　I　have　a　glawrious　stawry　to　tell　you；〃　and　keep　tapping　him…　his　own　trick；　you　know；　and　he　can't　complain。　Now　he　has　a　weak　chest；　and　when　he　begins　to　cough　…　man；　you　are　saved。　

Our　host；　Opper；　entered　presently；　and　in　removing　the　tabledoth　inadvertently　came　between　us。　McClingan　resented　it　promptly。

'Mr　Opper；'said　he；　leering　at　the　poor　German；　'as　a　matter　of　personal　obligement；　will　you　cease　to　interrupt　us？　

'All　right！　all　right！　gentlemens；'he　replied；　and　then；　fearingthat　he　had　not　quite　squared　himself；　turned　back；　at　the　kitchen　door；　and　added；　'Oxcuse　me。　

McClingan　looked　at　him　with　that　leering　superior　smile　of　his；　and　gave　him　just　the　slightest　possible　nod　of　his　head。

McClingan　came　into　my　room　with　me　awhile　then。　He　had　been　everywhere；　it　seemed　to　me；　and　knew　everybody　worth　knowing。　I　was　much　interested　in　his　anecdotes　of　the　great　men　of　the　time。　Unlike　the　obituary　editor　his　ear　was　quite　as　ready　as　his　tongue；　though　I　said　little　save　now　and　then　to　answer　a　question　that　showed　a　kindly　interest　in　me。

I　went　with　him　to　his　room　at　last。　where　he　besought　me　to　join　him　in　drinking　'confusion　to　the　enemies　of　peace　and　order　。　On　my　refusing；　he　drank　the　toast　alone　and　shortly　proposed　'death　to　slavery　。　This　was　followed　in　quick　succession　by　'death　to　the　arch　traitor；　Buchanan　；　'peace　to　the　soul　of　John　Brown　；　'success　to　Honest　Abe'and　then　came　a　hearty　'here's　to　the　protuberant　abdomen　of　the　Mayor　。

I　left　him　at　midnight　standing　in　the　middle　of　his　room　and　singing　'The　Land　o'the　Leal'in　a　low　tone　savoured　with　vast　dignity。

Chapter　35

I　was　soon　near　out　of　money　and　at　my　wit's　end；　but　my　will　was　unconquered。　In　this　plight　I　ran　upon　Fogarty；　the　policeman　who　had　been　the　good　angel　of　my　one　hopeftil　day　in　journalism。　His　manner　invited　my　confidence。

'What　luck？'said　he。

'Bad　luck'I　answered。　'Only　ten　dollars　in　my　pocket　and　nothing　to　do。　

He　swung　his　stick　thoughtfully。

'If　I　was　you；'said　he；　'I　d　take　anything　honest。　Upon　me　wurred；　I　d　ruther　pound　rocks　than　lay　idle。　

'So　would　I。　

'Wud　ye？'said　he　with　animation；　as　he　took　my　measure　from　head　to　foot。

'I　ll　do　anything　that's　honest。　

'Ah　ha！'said　he；　rubbing　his　sandy　chin　whiskers。　'Don't　seem　like　ye　d　been　used　if　hard　wurruk。　

'But　I　can　do　it；'I　said。

He　looked　at　me　sternly　and　beckoned　with　his　head。

'Come　along；'said　he。

He　took　me　to　a　gang　of　Irishmen　working　in　the　street　near　by。

'Boss　McCormick！'he　shouted。

A　hearty　voice　answered；　'Aye；　aye；　Counsellor；'and　McCormick　came　out　of　the　crowd；　using　his　shovel　for　a　staff。

'A　happy　day　if　ye！'said　Fogarty。

'Same　if　youse　an'manny　o'thim；'said　McCormick。

'Ye　ll　gi'me　one　if　ye　do　me　a　favour；'said　Fogarty。

'An'what？'said　the　other。

'A　job　for　this　lad。　Wull　ye　do　it？　

'I　wall；'said　McCormick；　and　he　did。

I　went　to　work　early　the　next　morning；　with　nothing　on　but　my　underclothing　and　trousers；　save　a　pair　of　gloves；　that　excited　the　ridicule　of　my　fellows。　With　this　livery　and　the　righteous　determination　of　earning　two　dollars　a　day；　I　began　the　inelegant　task　of　'pounding　rocks　no　merry　occupation；　I　assure　you；　for　a　hot　summer's　day　on　Manhattan　Island。

We　were　paving　Park　Place　and　we　had　to　break　stone　and　lay　them　and　shovel　dirt　and　dig　with　a　pick　and　crowbar。

My　face　and　neck　were　burned　crimson　when　we　quit　work　at　five；　and　I　went　home　with　a　feeling　of　having　been　run　over　by　the　cars。　I　had　a　strong　sense　of　soul　and　body；　the　latter　dominated　by　a　mighty　appetite。　McClingan　viewed　me　at　first　with　suspicion　in　which　there　was　a　faint　flavour　of　envy。　He　invited　me　at　once　to　his　room；　and　was　amazed　at　seeing　it　was　no　lark。　I　told　him　franldy　what！　was　doing　and　why　and　where。

'I　would　not　mind　the　loaning　of　a　few　dollars；'he　said；　'as　a　matter　o'personal　obligement　I　would　be　most　happy　to　do　it　…　most　happy；　Brower；　indeed　I　would。　

I　thanked　him　cordially；　but　declined　the　favour；　for　at　home　they　had　always　taught　me　the　danger　of　borrowing；　and　I　was　bound　to　have　it　out　with　ill　luck　on　my　own　resources。

'Greeley　is　back；'said　he；　'and　I　shall　see　him　tomorrow。　I　will　put　him　in　mind　o'you。　

I　went　away　sore　in　the　morning；　but　with　no　drooping　spirit。　In　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　I　straightened　up　a　moment　to　ease　my　back　and　look　about　me。

There　at　the　edge　of　the　gang　stood　the　great　Horace　Greeley　and　Waxy　McClingan。　The　latter　beckoned　me　as　he　caught　my　eye。　Iwent　aside　to　greet　them。　Mr　Greeley　gave　me　his　hand。

'Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　you　d　rather　work　than　beg　or　borrow？'said　he。

'That's　about　it；'I　answered。

'And　ain't　ashamed　of　it？　

'Ashamed！　Why？'said　I；　not　quite　sure　of　his　meaning。　It　had　never　occurred　to　me　that　one　had　any　cause　to　be　ashamed　of　working。

He　turned　to　McClingan　and　laughed。

'I　guess　you　ll　do　for　the　Tribune；'he　said。　'Come　and　see　me　at　twelve　tomorrow。　

And　then　they　went　away。

ff1　had　been　a　knight　of　the　garter　I　could　not　have　been　treated　with　more　distinguished　courtesy　by　those　hard…handed　men　the　rest　of　the　day。　I　bade　them　goodbye　at　night　and　got　my　order　for　four　dollars。　One　Pat　Devlin；　a　great…hearted　Irishman；　who　had　shared　my　confidence　and　some　of　my　doughnuts　on　the　curb　at　luncheon　time；　I　remember　best　of　all。

'Ye　ll　niver　fergit　the　toime　we　wurruked　together　under　Boss　McCormick；'said　he。

And　to　this　day；　whenever　I　meet　the　good　man；　now　bent　and　grey；　he　says　always；　'Good…day　if　ye；　Mr　Brower。　D'ye　mind　the　toime　we　pounded　the　rock　under　Boss　McCormick？　

Mr　Greeley　gave　me　a　place　a