the friendly road(友好的路)-第21章
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left just that incongruity which is at once the lure； the humour； and the
perplexity of human life。 Instead of satisfying my curiosity I was more
anxious than ever to see Old Toombs with my own eyes。
But the weeks passed and somehow I did not meet him。 He was a
lonely； unneighbourly old fellow。 He had apparently come to fit into the
community without ever really becoming a part of it。 His neighbours
accepted him as they accepted a hard hill in the town road。 From time to
time he would foreclose a mortgage where he had loaned money to some
less thrifty farmer； or he would extend his acres by purchase； hard cash
down； or he would build a bigger barn。 When any of these things
happened the community would crowd over a little； as it were； to give him
more room。 It is a curious thing； and tragic； too； when you come to think
of it； how the world lets alone those people who appear to want to be let
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alone。 〃I can live to myself；〃 says the unneighbourly one。 〃Well； live to
yourself； then；〃 cheerfully responds the world； and it goes about its more
or less amusing affairs and lets the unneighbourly one cut himself off。
So our small community had let Old Toombs go his way with all his
money； his acres； his hedge； and his reputation for being a just man。
Not meeting him； therefore； in the familiar and friendly life of the
neighbourhood； I took to walking out toward his farm； looking freshly at
the wonderful hedge and musing upon that most fascinating of all
subjectshow men come to be what they are。 And at last I was rewarded。
One day I had scarcely reached the end of the hedge when I saw Old
Toombs himself； moving toward me down the country road。 Though I had
never seen him before； I was at no loss to identify him。 The first and vital
impression he gave me； if I can compress it into a single word； was； I
think；forceforce。 He came stubbing down the country road with a brown
hickory stick in his hand which at every step he set vigorously into the soft
earth。 Though not tall； he gave the impression of being enormously strong。
He was thick； solid； firmthick through the body； thick through the thighs；
and his shoulderswhat shoulders they were！round like a maple log； and
his great head with its thatching of coarse iron…gray hair； though thrust
slightly forward； seemed set immovably upon them；
He presented such a forbidding appearance that I was of two minds
about addressing him。 Dour he was indeed！ Nor shall I ever forget how he
looked when I spoke to him。 He stopped short there in the road。 On his big
square nose he wore a pair of curious spring…bowed glasses with black
rims。 For a moment he looked at me through these glasses； raising his chin
a little； and then； deliberately wrinkling his nose； they fell off and dangled
at the length of the faded cord by which they were hung。 There was
something almost uncanny about this peculiar habit of his and of the way
in which； afterward； he looked at me from under his bushy gray brows。
This was in truth the very man of the neighbourhood portrait。
〃I am a new settler here；〃 I said； 〃and I've been interested in looking at
your wonderful hedge。〃
The old man's eyes rested upon me a moment with a mingled look of
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suspicion and hostility。
〃So you've heard o' me；〃 he said in a high…pitched voice； 〃and you've
heard o' my hedge。〃
Again he paused and looked me over。 〃Well；〃 he said； with an
indescribably harsh； cackling laugh； 〃I warrant you've heard nothing good
o' me down there。 I'm a skinflint； ain't I ？ I'm a hard citizen； ain't I？ I grind
the faces o' the poor； don't I？〃
At first his words were marked by a sort of bitter humour； but as he
continued to speak his voice rose higher and higher until it was positively
menacing。
There were just two things I could dohaul down the flag and retreat
ingloriously； or face the music。 With a sudden sense of rising spiritsfor
such things do not often happen to a man in a quiet country roadI paused
a moment； looking him square in the eye。
〃Yes；〃 I said； with great deliberation； 〃you've given me just about the
neighborhood picture of yourself as I have had it。 They do say you are a
skinflint； yes； and a hard man。 They say that you are rich and friendless；
they say that while you are a just man； you do not know mercy。 These are
terrible things to say of any man if they are true。〃
I paused。 The old man looked for a moment as though he were going
to strike me with his stick； but he neither stirred nor spoke。 It was
evidently a wholly new experience for him。
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃you are not popular in this community； but what do you
suppose I care about that？ I'm interested in your hedge。 What I'm curious
to knowand I might as well tell you franklyis how such a man as you
are reputed to be could grow such an extraordinary hedge。 You must have
been at it a very long time。〃
I was surprised at the effect of my words。 The old man turned partly
aside and looked for a moment along the proud and flaunting
embattlements of the green marvel before us。 Then he said in a moderate
voice：
〃It's a putty good hedge； a putty good hedge。〃
〃I've got him；〃 I thought exultantly； 〃I've got him！〃
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〃How long ago did you start it？〃 I pursued my advantage eagerly。
〃Thirty…two years come spring；〃 said he。
〃Thirty…two years！〃 I repeated； 〃you've been at it a long time。〃
With that I plied him with questions in the liveliest manner； and in five
minutes I had the gruff old fellow stumping along at my side and pointing
out the various notable…features of his wonderful creation。 His suppressed
excitement was quite wonderful to see。 He would point his hickory stick
with a poking motion； and； when he looked up； instead of throwing back
his big； rough head； he bent at the hips； thus imparting an impression of
astonishing solidity。 〃It took me all o' ten years to get that bell right；〃 he
said； and； 〃Take a look at that arch： now what is your opinion o' that？〃
Once； in the midst of our conversation； he checked himself abruptly
and looked around at me with a sudden dark expression of suspicion。 I saw
exactly what lay in his mind； but I continued my questioning as though I
perceived no change in him。 It was only momentary； however； and he was
soon as much interested as before。 He talked as though he had not had
such an opportunity before in yearsand I doubt whether he had。 It was
plain to see that if any one ever loved anything in this world； Old Toombs
loved that hedge of his。 Think of it； indeed！ He had lived with it； nurtured
it； clipped it； groomed itfor thirty…two years。
So we walked down the sloping field within the hedge； and it seemed
as though one of the deep mysteries of human nature was opening there
before me。 What strange things men set their hearts upon！
Thus； presently； we came nearly to the farther end of the hedge。 Here
the old man stopped and turned around； facing me。
〃Do you see that valley？〃 he asked。 〃Do you see that slopin' valley up
through the meadow？〃
His voice rose suddenly to a sort of high…pitched violence。
〃That' passel o' hounds up there；〃 he said； 〃want to build a road down
my valley。〃
He drew his breath fiercely。
〃They want to build a road through my land。 They want to ruin my
farmthey want to cut down my hedge。 I'll fight 'em。 I'll fight 'em。 I'll
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show 'em yet！〃
It was appalling。 His face grew purple； his eyes narrowed to pin points
and grew red and angrylike the eyes of an infuriated boar。 His hands
shook。 Suddenly he turned upon me； poising his stick in his hand； and said
violently。
〃And who are you？ Who are you？ Are you one of these surveyor
fellows？〃
〃My name；〃 I answered as quietly as I could； 〃is Grayson。 I live on the
old Mather farm。 I am not in the least interested in any of your road
troubles。〃
He looked at me a moment more； and then seemed to shake himself or
shudder； his eyes dropped away and he began walking toward his house。
He had taken only a few steps； however； before he turned； and； without
looking at me； asked if I would like to see the tools he used for trimming
his hedge。 When I hesitated； for I was decidedly uncomfortable； he came
up to me and laid his hand awkwardly on my arm。
〃You'll see something； I warrant； you never see before。〃
It was so evident that he regretted his outbreak that I followed him；
and he showed me an odd double ladder set on low wheels which he said
he used in trimming the higher parts of his hedge。
〃It's my own invention；〃 he said with pride。
〃And that〃he pointed as we came out of the tool shed〃is my house…
…a good house。 I planned it all myself。 I never needed to take lessons of
any carpenter I ever see。 And there's my barns。 What do you think o' my
barns？ Ever see any bigger ones？ They ain't any bigger in this country
than Old Toombs's barns。 They don't like Old Toombs； but they ain't any
of one of 'em can ekal his barns！〃
He followed me down to the roadside now quite loquacious。 Even
after I had thanked him and started to go he called after me。
When I stopped he came forward hesitatinglyand I had the
impressions； suddenly； and for the first time that he was an old man。 It
may have been the result of his sudden fierce explosion of anger； but his
hand shook； his face was pale； and he seemed somehow broken。
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〃Youyou like my hedge？〃 he
