memoirs of carwin the biloquist-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ion　that　I　should　succeed。　　I　started　with　surprise；　for　it　seemed　as　if　success　had　crowned　my　attempts。　　I　repeated　the　effort；　but　failed。　　A　certain　position　of　the　organs　took　place　on　the　first　attempt；　altogether　new；　unexampled　and　as　it　were；　by　accident；　for　I　could　not　attain　it　on　the　second　experiment。

You　will　not　wonder　that　I　exerted　myself　with　indefatigable　zeal　to　regain　what　had　once；　though　for　so　short　a　space；　been　in　my　power。　　Your　own　ears　have　witnessed　the　success　of　these　efforts。　　By　perpetual　exertion　I　gained　it　a　second　time；　and　now　was　a　diligent　observer　of　the　circumstances　attending　it。　Gradually　I　subjected　these　finer　and　more　subtle　motions　to　the　command　of　my　will。　　What　was　at　first　difficult；　by　exercise　and　habit；　was　rendered　easy。　　I　learned　to　accommodate　my　voice　to　all　the　varieties　of　distance　and　direction。

It　cannot　be　denied　that　this　faculty　is　wonderful　and　rare；　but　when　we　consider　the　possible　modifications　of　muscular　motion；　how　few　of　these　are　usually　exerted；　how　imperfectly　they　are　subjected　to　the　will；　and　yet　that　the　will　is　capable　of　being　rendered　unlimited　and　absolute；　will　not　our　wonder　cease？

We　have　seen　men　who　could　hide　their　tongues　so　perfectly　that　even　an　Anatomist；　after　the　most　accurate　inspection　that　a　living　subject　could　admit；　has　affirmed　the　organ　to　be　wanting；　but　this　was　effected　by　the　exertion　of　muscles　unknown　and　incredible　to　the　greater　part　of　mankind。

The　concurrence　of　teeth；　palate　and　tongue；　in　the　formation　of　speech　should　seem　to　be　indispensable；　and　yet　men　have　spoken　distinctly　though　wanting　a　tongue；　and　to　whom；　therefore；　teeth　and　palate　were　superfluous。　　The　tribe　of　motions　requisite　to　this　end；　are　wholly　latent　and　unknown；　to　those　who　possess　that　organ。

I　mean　not　to　be　more　explicit。　　I　have　no　reason　to　suppose　a　peculiar　conformation　or　activity　in　my　own　organs；　or　that　the　power　which　I　possess　may　not；　with　suitable　directions　and　by　steady　efforts；　be　obtained　by　others；　but　I　will　do　nothing　to　facilitate　the　acquisition。　　It　is　by　far；　too　liable　to　perversion　for　a　good　man　to　desire　to　possess　it；　or　to　teach　it　to　another。

There　remained　but　one　thing　to　render　this　instrument　as　powerful　in　my　hands　as　it　was　capable　of　being。　　From　my　childhood；　I　was　remarkably　skilful　at　imitation。　　There　were　few　voices　whether　of　men　or　birds　or　beasts　which　I　could　not　imitate　with　success。　　To　add　my　ancient；　to　my　newly　acquired　skill；　to　talk　from　a　distance；　and　at　the　same　time；　in　the　accents　of　another；　was　the　object　of　my　endeavours；　and　this　object；　after　a　certain　number　of　trials；　I　finally　obtained。

In　my　present　situation　every　thing　that　denoted　intellectual　exertion　was　a　crime；　and　exposed　me　to　invectives　if　not　to　stripes。　　This　circumstance　induced　me　to　be　silent　to　all　others；　on　the　subject　of　my　discovery。　　But；　added　to　this；　was　a　confused　belief；　that　it　might　be　made；　in　some　way　instrumental　to　my　relief　from　the　hardships　and　restraints　of　my　present　condition。　　For　some　time　I　was　not　aware　of　the　mode　in　which　it　might　be　rendered　subservient　to　this　end。



Chapter　II。


My　father's　sister　was　an　ancient　lady；　resident　in　Philadelphia；　the　relict　of　a　merchant；　whose　decease　left　her　the　enjoyment　of　a　frugal　competence。　　She　was　without　children；　and　had　often　expressed　her　desire　that　her　nephew　Frank；　whom　she　always　considered　as　a　sprightly　and　promising　lad；　should　be　put　under　her　care。　　She　offered　to　be　at　the　expense　of　my　education；　and　to　bequeath　to　me　at　her　death　her　slender　patrimony。

This　arrangement　was　obstinately　rejected　by　my　father；　because　it　was　merely　fostering　and　giving　scope　to　propensities；　which　he　considered　as　hurtful；　and　because　his　avarice　desired　that　this　inheritance　should　fall　to　no　one　but　himself。　　To　me；　it　was　a　scheme　of　ravishing　felicity；　and　to　be　debarred　from　it　was　a　source　of　anguish　known　to　few。　　I　had　too　much　experience　of　my　father's　pertinaciousness　ever　to　hope　for　a　change　in　his　views；　yet　the　bliss　of　living　with　my　aunt；　in　a　new　and　busy　scene；　and　in　the　unbounded　indulgence　of　my　literary　passion；　continually　occupied　my　thoughts：　　for　a　long　time　these　thoughts　were　productive　only　of　despondency　and　tears。

Time　only　enchanced　the　desirableness　of　this　scheme；　my　new　faculty　would　naturally　connect　itself　with　these　wishes；　and　the　question　could　not　fail　to　occur　whether　it　might　not　aid　me　in　the　execution　of　my　favourite　plan。

A　thousand　superstitious　tales　were　current　in　the　family。　Apparitions　had　been　seen；　and　voices　had　been　heard　on　a　multitude　of　occasions。　　My　father　was　a　confident　believer　in　supernatural　tokens。　　The　voice　of　his　wife；　who　had　been　many　years　dead；　had　been　twice　heard　at　midnight　whispering　at　his　pillow。　　I　frequently　asked　myself　whether　a　scheme　favourable　to　my　views　might　not　be　built　upon　these　foundations。　　Suppose　（thought　I）　my　mother　should　be　made　to　enjoin　upon　him　compliance　with　my　wishes？

This　idea　bred　in　me　a　temporary　consternation。　　To　imitate　the　voice　of　the　dead；　to　counterfeit　a　commission　from　heaven；　bore　the　aspect　of　presumption　and　impiety。　　It　seemed　an　offence　which　could　not　fail　to　draw　after　it　the　vengeance　of　the　deity。　My　wishes　for　a　time　yielded　to　my　fears；　but　this　scheme　in　proportion　as　I　meditated　on　it；　became　more　plausible；　no　other　occurred　to　me　so　easy　and　so　efficacious。　　I　endeavoured　to　persuade　myself　that　the　end　proposed；　was；　in　the　highest　degree　praiseworthy；　and　that　the　excellence　of　my　purpose　would　justify　the　means　employed　to　attain　it。

My　resolutions　were；　for　a　time；　attended　with　fluctuations　and　misgivings。　　These　gradually　disappeared；　and　my　purpose　became　firm；　I　was　next　to　devise　the　means　of　effecting　my　views；　this　did　not　demand　any　tedious　deliberation。　　It　was　easy　to　gain　access　to　my　father's　chamber　without　notice　or　detection；　cautious　footsteps　and　the　suppression　of　breath　would　place　me；　unsuspected　and　unthought　of；　by　his　bed　side。　　The　words　I　should　use；　and　the　mode　of　utterance　were　not　easily　settled；　but　having　at　length　selected　these；　I　made　myself　by　much　previous　repetition；　perfectly　familiar　with　the　use　of　them。

I　selected　a　blustering　and　inclement　night；　in　which　the　darkness　was　augmented　by　a　veil　of　the　blackest　clouds。　　The　building　we　inhabited　was　slight　in　its　structure；　and　full　of　crevices　through　which　the　gale　found　easy　way；　and　whistled　in　a　thousand　cadences。　　On　this　night　the　elemental　music　was　remarkably　sonorous；　and　was　mingled　not　unfrequently　with　~~thunder　heard　remote~~。

I　could　not　divest　myself　of　secret　dread。　　My　heart　faultered　with　a　consciousness　of　wrong。　　Heaven　seemed　to　be　present　and　to　disapprove　my　work；　I　listened　to　the　thunder　and　the　wind；　as　to　the　stern　voice　of　this　disapprobation。　　Big　drops　stood　on　my　forehead；　and　my　tremors　almost　incapacitated　me　from　proceeding。

These　impediments　however　I　surmounted；　I　crept　up　stairs　at　midnight；　and　entered　my　father's　chamber。　　The　darkness　was　intense　and　I　sought　with　outstretched　hands　for　his　bed。　　The　darkness；　added　to　the　trepidation　of　my　thoughts；　disabled　me　from　making　a　right　estimate　of　distances：　　I　was　conscious　of　this；　and　when　I　advanced　within　the　room；　paused。

I　endeavoured　to　compare　the　progress　I　had　made　with　my　knowledge　of　the　room；　and　governed　by　the　result　of　this　comparison；　proceeded　cautiously　and　with　hands　still　outstretched　in　search　of　the　foot　of　the　bed。　　At　this　moment　lightning　flashed　into　the　room：　　the　brightness　of　the　gleam　was　dazzling；　yet　it　afforded　me　an　exact　knowledge　of　my　situation。　　I　had　mistaken　my　way；　and　discovered　that　my　knees　nearly　touched　the　bedstead；　and　that　my　hands　at　the　next　step；　would　have　touched　my　father's　cheek。　　His　closed　eyes　and　every　line　in　his　countenance；　were　painted；　as　it　were；　for　an　instant　on　my　sight。

The　flash　was　accompanied　with　a　burst　of　thunder；　whose　vehemence　was　stunning。　　I　always　entertained　a　dread　of　thunder；　and　now　recoiled；　overborne　with　terror。　　Never　had　I　witnessed　so　luminous　a　gleam　and　so　tremendous　a　shock；　yet　my　father's　slumber　appeared　not　to　be　disturbed　by　it。

I　stood　irresolute　and　trembling；　to　prosecute　my　purpose　in　this　state　of　mind　was　impossible。　　I　resolved　for　the　present　to　relinquish　it；　and　turned　with　a　view　of　exploring　my　way　out　of　the　chamber。　　Just　then　a　light　seen　through　the　window；　caught　my　eye。　　It　was　at　first　weak　but　speedily　increased；　no　second　thought　was　necessary　to　inform　me　that　the　barn；　situated　at　a　small　distance　from　the　house；　and　newly　stored　with　hay；　was　in　flames；　in　consequence　of　being　struck　by　the　lightning。

My　terror　at　this　spectacle　made　me　careless　of　all　consequences　relative　to　myself。　　I　rushed　to　the　bed　and　throwing　myself　on　my　father；　awakened　him　by　loud　cries。　　The　family　were　speedily　roused；　and　were　compelled　to　remain　impotent　spectators　of　the　devastation。　　Fortunately　the　wind　blew　in　a　contrary　direction；　so　that　our　habitation　was　not　injured。

The　impression　that　was　made　upon　me　by　the　incidents　of　that　night　is　indelible。　　The　wind　gradually　rose　into　an　hurricane；　the　largest　branches　were　torn　from　the　trees；　and　whirled　aloft　into　the　air；　others　were　uprooted　and　laid　prostrate　on　the　ground。　The　barn　was　a　spacious　edifice；　consisting　wholly　of　wood；　and　filled　with　a　plenteous　harvest。　　Thus　supplied　with　fuel；　and　fanned　by　the　wind；　the　fire　raged　with　incredible　fury；　meanwhile　clouds　rolled　above；　whose　blackness　was　rendered　more　conspicuous　by　reflection　from　the　flames；　the　vast　volumes　of　smoke　were　dissipated　in　a　moment　by　the　storm；　while　glowing　fragments　and　cinders　were　borne　to　an　immense　hight；　and　tossed　everywhere　in　wild　confusion。　　Ever　and　anon　the　sable　canopy　that　hung　around　us　was　streaked　with　lightning；　and　the　peals；　by　which　it　was　accompanied；　were　deafning；　and　with　scarcely　any　intermission。

It　was；　doubtless；　absurd　to　imagine　any　connexion　between　this　portentous　scene　and　the　purpose　that　I　had　meditated；　yet　a　belief　of　this　connexion；　though　wavering　and　obscure；　lurked　in　my　mind；　something　more　than　a　coincidence　merely　casual；　appeared　to　have　subsisted　between　my　situation；　at　my　father's　bed　side；　and　the　flash　that　darted　through　the　window；　and　diverted　me　from　my　design。　　It　palsied　my　courage；　and　strengthened　my　conviction；　that　my　scheme　was　criminal。

After　some　time　had　elapsed；　and　tranquility　was；　in　some　degree；　restored　in　the　family；　my　father　reverted　to　the　circumstances　in　which　I　had　been　discovered　on　the　first　alarm　of　this　event。　　The　truth　was　impossible　to　be　told。　　I　felt　the　utmost　reluctance　to　be　guilty　of　a　falsehood；　but　by　falsehood　only　could　I　elude　detection。　　That　my　guilt　was　the　offspring　of　a　fatal　necessity；　that　the　injustice　of　others　gave　it　birth　and　made　it　unavoidable；　afforded　me　slight　consolation。　　Nothing　can　be　more　injurious　than　a　lie；　but　its　evil　tendency　chiefly　respects　our　future　conduct。　　Its　direct　consequences　may　be　transient　and　few；　but　it　facilitates　a　repetition；　strengthens　temptation；　and　grows　into　habit。　　I　pretended　s