the complete writings-4-第2章

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tentiona　chipmunk　in　the　fence；　a　bird　on　a　near…tree；　and　a　hen…　hawk　circling　high　in　the　air　over　the　barnyard。　　John　loses　a　little　time　in　stoning　the　chipmunk；　which　rather　likes　the　sport；　and　in　watching　the　bird；　to　find　where　its　nest　is；　and　he　convinces　himself　that　he　ought　to　watch　the　hawk；　lest　it　pounce　upon　the　chickens；　and　therefore；　with　an　easy　conscience；　he　spends　fifteen　minutes　in　hallooing　to　that　distant　bird；　and　follows　it　away　out　of　sight　over　the　woods；　and　then　wishes　it　would　come　back　again。　　And　then　a　carriage　with　two　horses；　and　a　trunk　on　behind；　goes　along　the　road；　and　there　is　a　girl　in　the　carriage　who　looks　out　at　John；　who　is　suddenly　aware　that　his　trousers　are　patched　on　each　knee　and　in　two　places　behind；　and　he　wonders　if　she　is　rich；　and　whose　name　is　on　the　trunk；　and　how　much　the　horses　cost；　and　whether　that　nice…　looking　man　is　the　girl's　father；　and　if　that　boy　on　the　seat　with　the　driver　is　her　brother；　and　if　he　has　to　do　chores；　and　as　the　gay　sight　disappears；　John　falls　to　thinking　about　the　great　world　beyond　the　farm；　of　cities；　and　people　who　are　always　dressed　up；　and　a　great　many　other　things　of　which　he　has　a　very　dim　notion。　　And　then　a　boy；　whom　John　knows；　rides　by　in　a　wagon　with　his　father；　and　the　boy　makes　a　face　at　John；　and　John　returns　the　greeting　with　a　twist　of　his　own　visage　and　some　symbolic　gestures。　　All　these　things　take　time。　　The　work　of　cutting　down　the　big　weeds　gets　on　slowly；　although　it　is　not　very　disagreeable；　or　would　not　be　if　it　were　play。　　John　imagines　that　yonder　big　thistle　is　some　whiskered　villain；　of　whom　he　has　read　in　a　fairy　book；　and　he　advances　on　him　with　〃Die；　ruffian！〃　and　slashes　off　his　head　with　the　bill…hook；　or　he　charges　upon　the　rows　of　mullein…stalks　as　if　they　were　rebels　in　regimental　ranks；　and　hews　them　down　without　mercy。　　What　fun　it　might　be　if　there　were　only　another　boy　there　to　help。　　But　even　war；　single　handed；　gets　to　be　tiresome。　　It　is　dinner…time　before　John　finishes　the　weeds；　and　it　is　cow…time　before　John　has　made　much　impression　on　the　garden。

This　garden　John　has　no　fondness　for。　　He　would　rather　hoe　corn　all　day　than　work　in　it。　　Father　seems　to　think　that　it　is　easy　work　that　John　can　do；　because　it　is　near　the　house！　　John's　continual　plan　in　this　life　is　to　go　fishing。　　When　there　comes　a　rainy　day；　he　attempts　to　carry　it　out。　　But　ten　chances　to　one　his　father　has　different　views。　　As　it　rains　so　that　work　cannot　be　done　out…doors；　it　is　a　good　time　to　work　in　the　garden。　　He　can　run　into　the　house　between　the　heavy　showers。　　John　accordingly　detests　the　garden；　and　the　only　time　he　works　briskly　in　it　is　when　he　has　a　stent　set；　to　do　so　much　weeding　before　the　Fourth　of　July。　　If　he　is　spry；　he　can　make　an　extra　holiday　the　Fourth　and　the　day　after。　　Two　days　of　gunpowder　and　ball…playing！　　When　I　was　a　boy；　I　supposed　there　was　some　connection　between　such　and　such　an　amount　of　work　done　on　the　farm　and　our　national　freedom。　　I　doubted　if　there　could　be　any　Fourth　of　July　if　my　stent　was　not　done。　　I；　at　least；　worked　for　my　Independence。




III

THE　DELIGHTS　OF　FARMING

There　are　so　many　bright　spots　in　the　life　of　a　farm…boy；　that　I　sometimes　think　I　should　like　to　live　the　life　over　again；　I　should　almost　be　willing　to　be　a　girl　if　it　were　not　for　the　chores。　　There　is　a　great　comfort　to　a　boy　in　the　amount　of　work　he　can　get　rid　of　doing。　　It　is　sometimes　astonishing　how　slow　he　can　go　on　an　errand；　he　who　leads　the　school　in　a　race。　　The　world　is　new　and　interesting　to　him；　and　there　is　so　much　to　take　his　attention　off；　when　he　is　sent　to　do　anything。　　Perhaps　he　himself　couldn't　explain　why；　when　he　is　sent　to　the　neighbor's　after　yeast；　he　stops　to　stone　the　frogs；　he　is　not　exactly　cruel；　but　be　wants　to　see　if　he　can　hit　'em。　　No　other　living　thing　can　go　so　slow　as　a　boy　sent　on　an　errand。　　His　legs　seem　to　be　lead；　unless　he　happens　to　espy　a　woodchuck　in　an　adjoining　lot；　when　he　gives　chase　to　it　like　a　deer；　and　it　is　a　curious　fact　about　boys；　that　two　will　be　a　great　deal　slower　in　doing　anything　than　one；　and　that　the　more　you　have　to　help　on　a　piece　of　work　the　less　is　accomplished。　　Boys　have　a　great　power　of　helping　each　other　to　do　nothing；　and　they　are　so　innocent　about　it；　and　unconscious。　　〃I　went　as　quick　as　ever　I　could；〃　says　the　boy：　his　father　asks　him　why　he　did　n't　stay　all　night；　when　he　has　been　absent　three　hours　on　a　ten…minute　errand。　　The　sarcasm　has　no　effect　on　the　boy。

Going　after　the　cows　was　a　serious　thing　in　my　day。　　I　had　to　climb　a　hill；　which　was　covered　with　wild　strawberries　in　the　season。　　Could　any　boy　pass　by　those　ripe　berries？　　And　then　in　the　fragrant　hill　pasture　there　were　beds　of　wintergreen　with　red　berries；　tufts　of　columbine；　roots　of　sassafras　to　be　dug；　and　dozens　of　things　good　to　eat　or　to　smell；　that　I　could　not　resist。　　It　sometimes　even　lay　in　my　way　to　climb　a　tree　to　look　for　a　crow's　nest；　or　to　swing　in　the　top；　and　to　try　if　I　could　see　the　steeple　of　the　village　church。　　It　became　very　important　sometimes　for　me　to　see　that　steeple；　and　in　the　midst　of　my　investigations　the　tin　horn　would　blow　a　great　blast　from　the　farmhouse；　which　would　send　a　cold　chill　down　my　back　in　the　hottest　days。　　I　knew　what　it　meant。　　It　had　a　frightfully　impatient　quaver　in　it；　not　at　all　like　the　sweet　note　that　called　us　to　dinner　from　the　hay…field。　　It　said；　〃Why　on　earth　does　n't　that　boy　come　home？　　It　is　almost　dark；　and　the　cows　ain't　milked！〃　　And　that　was　the　time　the　cows　had　to　start　into　a　brisk　pace　and　make　up　for　lost　time。　　I　wonder　if　any　boy　ever　drove　the　cows　home　late；　who　did　not　say　that　the　cows　were　at　the　very　farther　end　of　the　pasture；　and　that　〃Old　Brindle〃　was　hidden　in　the　woods；　and　he　couldn't　find　her　for　ever　so　long！　　The　brindle　cow　is　the　boy's　scapegoat；　many　a　time。

No　other　boy　knows　how　to　appreciate　a　holiday　as　the　farm…boy　does；　and　his　best　ones　are　of　a　peculiar　kind。　　Going　fishing　is　of　course　one　sort。　　The　excitement　of　rigging　up　the　tackle；　digging　the　bait；　and　the　anticipation　of　great　luck！　　These　are　pure　pleasures；　enjoyed　because　they　are　rare。　　Boys　who　can　go　a…fishing　any　time　care　but　little　for　it。　　Tramping　all　day　through　bush　and　brier；　fighting　flies　and　mosquitoes；　and　branches　that　tangle　the　line；　and　snags　that　break　the　hook；　and　returning　home　late　and　hungry；　with　wet　feet　and　a　string　of　speckled　trout　on　a　willow　twig；　and　having　the　family　crowd　out　at　the　kitchen　door　to　look　at　'em；　and　say；　〃Pretty　well　done　for　you；　bub；　did　you　catch　that　big　one　yourself？〃　this　is　also　pure　happiness；　the　like　of　which　the　boy　will　never　have　again；　not　if　he　comes　to　be　selectman　and　deacon　and　to　〃keep　store。〃

But　the　holidays　I　recall　with　delight　were　the　two　days　in　spring　and　fall；　when　we　went　to　the　distant　pasture…land；　in　a　neighboring　town；　maybe；　to　drive　thither　the　young　cattle　and　colts；　and　to　bring　them　back　again。　　It　was　a　wild　and　rocky　upland　where　our　great　pasture　was；　many　miles　from　home；　the　road　to　it　running　by　a　brawling　river；　and　up　a　dashing　brook…side　among　great　hills。　　What　a　day's　adventure　it　was！　　It　was　like　a　journey　to　Europe。　　The　night　before；　I　could　scarcely　sleep　for　thinking　of　it！　and　there　was　no　trouble　about　getting　me　up　at　sunrise　that　morning。　　The　breakfast　was　eaten；　the　luncheon　was　packed　in　a　large　basket；　with　bottles　of　root　beer　and　a　jug　of　switchel；　which　packing　I　superintended　with　the　greatest　interest；　and　then　the　cattle　were　to　be　collected　for　the　march；　and　the　horses　hitched　up。　　Did　I　shirk　any　duty？　　Was　I　slow？　　I　think　not。　　I　was　willing　to　run　my　legs　off　after　the　frisky　steers；　who　seemed　to　have　an　idea　they　were　going　on　a　lark；　and　frolicked　about；　dashing　into　all　gates；　and　through　all　bars　except　the　right　ones；　and　how　cheerfully　I　did　yell　at　them。

It　was　a　glorious　chance　to　〃holler；〃　and　I　have　never　since　heard　any　public　speaker　on　the　stump　or　at　camp…meeting　who　could　make　more　noise。　　I　have　often　thought　it　fortunate　that　the　amount　of　noise　in　a　boy　does　not　increase　in　proportion　to　his　size；　if　it　did；　the　world　could　not　contain　it。

The　whole　day　was　full　of　excitement　and　of　freedom。　　We　were　away　from　the　farm；　which　to　a　boy　is　one　of　the　best　parts　of　farming；　we　saw　other　farms　and　other　people　at　work；　I　had　the　pleasure　of　marching　along；　and　swinging　my　whip；　past　boys　whom　I　knew；　who　were　picking　up　stones。　　Every　turn　of　the　road；　every　bend　and　rapid　of　the　river；　the　great　bowlders　by　the　wayside；　the　watering…troughs；　the　giant　pine　that　had　been　struck　by　lightning；　the　mysterious　covered　bridge　over　the　river　where　it　was；　most　swift　and　rocky　and　foamy；　the　chance　eagle　in　the　blue　sky；　the　sense　of　going　somewhere；why；　as　I　recall　all　these　things　I　feel　that　even　the　Prince　Imperial；　as　he　used　to　dash　on　horseback　through　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　with　fifty　mounted　hussars　clattering　at　his　heels；　and　crowds　of　people　cheering；　could　not　have　been　as　happy　as　was　I；　a　boy　in　short　jacket　and　shorter　pantaloons；　trudging　in　the　dust　that　day　behind　the　steers　and　colts；　cracking　my　black…stock　whip。

I　wish　the　journey　would　never　end；　but　at　last；　by　noon；　we　reach　the　pastures　and　turn　in　the　herd；　and　after　making　the　tour　of　the　lots　to　make　sure　there　are　no　breaks　in　the　fences；　we　take　our　luncheon　from　the　wagon　and　eat　it　under　the　trees　by　the　spring。　This　is　the　supreme　moment　of　the　day。　　This　is　the　way　to　live；　this　is　like　the　Swiss　Family　Robinson；　and　all　the　rest　of　my　delightful　acquaintances　in　romance。　　Baked　beans；　rye…and…indian　bread　（moist；　remember）；　doughnuts　and　cheese；　pie；　and　root　beer。　　What　richness！　You　may　live　to　dine　at　Delmonico's；　or；　if　those　Frenchmen　do　not　eat　each　other　up；　at　Philippe's；　in　Rue　Montorgueil　in　Paris；　where　the　dear　old　Thackeray　used　to　eat　as　good　a　dinner　as　anybody；　but　you　will　get　there　neither　doughnuts；　nor　pie；　nor　root　beer；　nor　anything　so　good　as　that　luncheon　at　noon　in　the　old　pasture；　high　among　the　Massachusetts　hills！　　Nor　will　you　ever；　if　you　live　to　be　the　oldest　boy　in　the　world；　have　any　holiday　equal　to　the　one　I　have　described。　　But　I　always　regretted　that　I　did　not　take　along　a　fishline；　just　to　〃throw　in〃　the　brook　we　passed。　　I　know　there　were　trout　there。




IV

NO　FARMING　WITHOUT　A　BOY

Say　what　you　will　about　the　general　usefulness　of　boys；　it　is　my　impression　that　a　farm　without　a　boy　would　very　soon　come　to　grief。　What　the　boy　does　is　the　life　of　the　farm。　　He　is　the　factotum；　always　in　demand；　always　expected　to　do　the　thousand　indispensable　things　that　nobody　else　will　do。　　Upon　him　fall　all　the　odds　and　ends；　the　most　difficult　things。　　After　everybody　else　is　through；　he　has　to　finish　up。　　His　work　is　like　a　woman's；perpetual　waiting　on　others。　　Everybody　knows　how　much　easier　it　is　to　eat　a　good　dinner　than　it　is　to　wash　the　dishes　afterwards。　　Consider　what　a　boy　on　a　farm　is　required　to　do；　things　that　must　be　done；　or　life　would　actually　stop。

It　is　understood；　in　the　first　place；　that　he　is　to　do　all　the　errands；　to　go　to　the　store；　to　the　post　office；　and　to　carry　all　sorts　of　messages。　　If　he　had　as　many　legs　as　a　centip