the friendly road(友好的路)-第5章
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country that we can afford to neglect them。 And as I had nothing in the
world to conceal； and； indeed； loved nothing better than the give and take
of getting acquainted； we were soon at it in good earnest。
But it was not enough to tell them that my name was David Grayson
and where my farm was located； and how many acres there were； and how
much stock I had； and what I raised。 The great particular 〃Why？〃 as I
knew it would beconcerned my strange presence on the road at this
season of the year and the reason why I should turn in by chance； as I had
done； to help at their planting。 If a man is stationary； it seems quite
impossible for him to imagine why any one should care to wander； and as
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for the wanderer it is inconceivable to him how any one can remain
permanently at home。
We were all sitting comfortably around the table in the living…room。
The lamps were lighted； and Mr。 Stanley； in slippers； was smoking his pipe
and Mrs。 Stanley was darning socks over a mending…gourd； and the two
young Stanleys were whispering and giggling about some matter of
supreme consequence to youth。 The windows were open； and we could
smell the sweet scent of the lilacs from the yard and hear the drumming of
the rain as it fell on the roof of the porch。
〃It's easy to explain；〃 I said。 〃The fact is； it got to the point on my farm
that I wasn't quite sure whether I owned it or it owned me。 And I made up
my mind I'd get away for a while from my own horses and cattle and see
what the world was like。 I wanted to see how people lived up here； and
what they are thinking about； and how they do their farming。〃
As I talked of my plans and of the duty one had； as I saw it； to be a
good broad man as well as a good farmer； I grew more and more interested
and enthusiastic。 Mr。 Stanley took his pipe slowly from his mouth； held it
poised until it finally went out； and sat looking at me with a rapt
expression。 I never had a better audience。 Finally； Mr。 Stanley said very
earnestly：
〃And you have felt that way； too？〃
〃Why； father！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Stanley； in astonishment。
Mr。 Stanley hastily put his pipe back into his mouth and confusedly
searched in his pockets for a match； but I knew I had struck down deep
into a common experience。 Here was this brisk and prosperous farmer
having his dreams toodreams that even his wife did not know！
So I continued my talk with even greater fervour。 I don't think that the
boy Ben understood all that I said； for I was dealing with experiences
common mostly to older men； but he somehow seemed to get the spirit of
it； for quite unconsciously he began to hitch his chair toward me； then he
laid his hand on my chair…arm and finally and quite simply he rested his
arm against mine and looked at me with all his eyes。 I keep learning that
there is nothing which reaches men's hearts like talking straight out the
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convictions and emotions of your innermost soul。 Those who hear you
may not agree with you； or they may not understand you fully； but
something incalculable； something vital； passes。 And as for a boy or girl it
is one of the sorriest of mistakes to talk down to them； almost always your
lad of fifteen thinks more simply； more fundamentally； than you do； and
what he accepts as good coin is not facts or precepts； but feelings and
convictionsLIFE。 And why shouldn't we speak out？
〃I long ago decided；〃 I said； 〃to try to be fully what I am and not to be
anything or anybody else。〃
〃That's right； that's right；〃 exclaimed Mr。 Stanley； nodding his head
vigorously。
〃It's about the oldest wisdom there is；〃 I said； and with that I thought
of the volume I carried in my pocket； and straightway I pulled it out and
after a moment's search found the passage I wanted。
〃Listen；〃 I said； 〃to what this old Roman philosopher said〃and I held
the book up to the lamp and read aloud：
〃'You can be invincible if you enter into no contest in which it is not in
your power to conquer。 Take care； then； when you observe a man
honoured before others or possessed of great power； or highly esteemed
for any reason； not to suppose him happy and be not carried away by the
appearance。 For if the nature of the good is in our power； neither envy nor
jealousy will have a place in us。 But you yourself will not wish to be a
general or a senator or consul； but a free man； and there is only one way to
do this； to care not for the things which are not in our power。'〃
〃That；〃 said Mr。 Stanley； 〃is exactly what I've always said； but I didn't
know it was in any book。 I always said I didn't want to be a senator or a
legislator； or any other sort of office…holder。 It's good enough for me right
here on this farm。〃
At that moment I glanced down into Ben's shining eyes。
〃But I want to be a senator orsomethingwhen I grow up；〃 he said
eagerly。
At this the older brother； who was sitting not far off； broke into a laugh；
and the boy； who for a moment had been drawn out of his reserve； shrank
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back again and coloured to the hair。
〃Well； Ben；〃 said I； putting my hand on his knee； 〃don't you let
anything stop you。 I'll back you up； I'll vote for you。〃
After breakfast the next morning Mr。 Stanley drew me aside and said：
〃Now I want to pay you for your help yesterday and the day before。〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃I've had more than value received。 You've taken me in
like a friend and brother。 I've enjoyed it。〃
So Mrs。 Stanley half filled my knapsack with the finest luncheon I've
seen in many a day； and thus； with as pleasant a farewell as if I'd been a
near relative； I set off up the country road。 I was a little distressed in
parting to see nothing of the boy Ben； for I had formed a genuine liking
for him； but upon reaching a clump of trees which hid the house from the
road I saw him standing in the moist grass of a fence corner。
〃I want to say good…bye；〃 he said in the gruff voice of embarrassment。
〃Ben；〃 I said； 〃I missed you； and I'd have hated to go off without
seeing you again。 Walk a bit with me。〃
So we walked side by side； talking quietly and when at last I shook his
hand I said：
〃Ben； don't you ever be afraid of acting up to the very best thoughts
you have in your heart。〃
He said nothing for a moment； and then： 〃Gee！ I'm sorry you're goin'
away！〃
〃Gee！〃 I responded； 〃I'm sorry； too！〃
With that we both laughed； but when I reached the top of the hill； and
looked back； I saw him still standing there bare…footed in the road looking
after me。 I waved my hand and he waved his： and I saw him no more。
No country； after all； produces any better crop than its inhabitants。 And
as I travelled onward I liked to think of these brave； temperate； industrious；
God…friendly American people。 I have no fear of the country while so
many of them are still to be found upon the farms and in the towns of this
land。
So I tramped onward full of cheerfulness。 The rain had ceased； but all
the world was moist and very green and still。 I walked for more than two
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hours with the greatest pleasure。 About ten o'clock in the morning I
stopped near a brook to drink and rest； for I was warm and tired。 And it
was then that I bethought me of the little tin pipe in my knapsack； and
straightway I got it out； and； sitting down at the foot of a tree near the
brook； I put it to my lips and felt for the stops with unaccustomed fingers。
At first I made the saddest sort of work of it； and was not a little
disappointed； indeed； with the sound of the whistle itself。 It was nothing to
my memory of it！ It seemed thin and tinny。
However； I persevered at it； and soon produced a recognizable
imitation of Tom Madison's 〃Old Dan Tucker。〃 My success quite pleased
me； and I became so absorbed that I quite lost account of the time and
place。 There was no one to hear me save a bluejay which for an hour or
more kept me company。 He sat on a twig just across the brook； cocking his
head at me； and saucily wagging his tail。 Occasionally he would dart off
among the trees crying shrilly； but his curiosity would always get the
better of him and back he would come again to try to solve the mystery of
this rival whistling； which I'm sure was as shrill and as harsh as his own。
Presently； quite to my astonishment； I saw a man standing near the
brookside not a dozen paces away from me。 How long he had been there I
don't know； for I had heard nothing of his coming。 Beyond him in the
town road I could see the head of his horse and the top of his buggy。 I said
not a word； but continued with my practising。 Why shouldn't I？ But it gave
me quite a thrill for the moment； and at once I began to think of the
possibilities of the situation。 What a thing it was have so many unexpected
and interesting situations developing！ So I nodded my head and tapped my
foot； and blew into my whistle all the more energetically。 I knew my
visitor could not possibly keep away。 And he could not； presently he came
nearer and said：
〃What are you doing； neighbour？〃
I continued a moment with my playing； but commanded him with my
eye。
Oh； I assure you I assumed all the airs of a virtuoso。 When I had
finished my tune I removed my whistle deliberately and wiped my lips。
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〃Why； enjoying myself；〃 I replied w
