the complete writings-4-第7章

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r。　Livingstone　that　some　of　the　tribes　in　Central　Africa　（which　is　represented　by　a　blank　spot　in　the　atlas）　use　the　butter　to　grease　their　hair；　putting　on　pounds　of　it　at　a　time；　and　he　said　he　had　rather　eat　his　butter　than　have　it　put　to　that　use；　especially　as　it　melted　away　so　fast　in　that　hot　climate。

Of　course　it　was　explained　to　John　that　the　missionaries　do　not　actually　carry　butter　to　Africa；　and　that　they　must　usually　go　without　it　themselves　there；　it　being　almost　impossible　to　make　it　good　from　the　milk　in　the　cocoanuts。　　And　it　was　further　explained　to　him　that　even　if　the　heathen　never　received　his　butter　or　the　money　for　it；　it　was　an　excellent　thing　for　a　boy　to　cultivate　the　habit　of　self…denial　and　of　benevolence；　and　if　the　heathen　never　heard　of　him；　he　would　be　blessed　for　his　generosity。　　This　was　all　true。

But　John　said　that　he　was　tired　of　supporting　the　heathen　out　of　his　butter；　and　he　wished　the　rest　of　the　family　would　also　stop　eating　butter　and　save　the　money　for　missions；　and　he　wanted　to　know　where　the　other　members　of　the　family　got　their　money　to　send　to　the　heathen；　and　his　mother　said　that　he　was　about　half　right；　and　that　self…denial　was　just　as　good　for　grown　people　as　it　was　for　little　boys　and　girls。

The　boy　is　not　always　slow　to　take　what　he　considers　his　rights。　Speaking　of　those　thin　pumpkin…pies　kept　in　the　cellar　cupboard。　　I　used　to　know　a　boy；　who　afterwards　grew　to　be　a　selectman；　and　brushed　his　hair　straight　up　like　General　Jackson；　and　went　to　the　legislature；　where　he　always　voted　against　every　measure　that　was　proposed；　in　the　most　honest　manner；　and　got　the　reputation　of　being　the　〃watch…dog　of　the　treasury。〃　　Rats　in　the　cellar　were　nothing　to　be　compared　to　this　boy　for　destructiveness　in　pies。　　He　used　to　go　down　whenever　he　could　make　an　excuse；　to　get　apples　for　the　family；　or　draw　a　mug　of　cider　for　his　dear　old　grandfather　（who　was　a　famous　story…teller　about　the　Revolutionary　War；　and　would　no　doubt　have　been　wounded　in　battle　if　he　had　not　been　as　prudent　as　he　was　patriotic）；　and　come　upstairs　with　a　tallow　candle　in　one　hand　and　the　apples　or　cider　in　the　other；　looking　as　innocent　and　as　unconscious　as　if　he　had　never　done　anything　in　his　life　except　deny　himself　butter　for　the　sake　of　the　heathen。　　And　yet　this　boy　would　have　buttoned　under　his　jacket　an　entire　round　pumpkin…pie。　　And　the　pie　was　so　well　made　and　so　dry　that　it　was　not　injured　in　the　least；　and　it　never　hurt　the　boy's　clothes　a　bit　more　than　if　it　had　been　inside　of　him　instead　of　outside；　and　this　boy　would　retire　to　a　secluded　place　and　eat　it　with　another　boy；　being　never　suspected　because　he　was　not　in　the　cellar　long　enough　to　eat　a　pie；　and　he　never　appeared　to　have　one　about　him。　　But　he　did　something　worse　than　this。　　When　his　mother　saw　that　pie　after　pie　departed；　she　told　the　family　that　she　suspected　the　hired　man；　and　the　boy　never　said　a　word；　which　was　the　meanest　kind　of　lying。　　That　hired　man　was　probably　regarded　with　suspicion　by　the　family　to　the　end　of　his　days；　and　if　he　had　been　accused　of　robbing；　they　would　have　believed　him　guilty。

I　shouldn't　wonder　if　that　selectman　occasionally　has　remorse　now　about　that　pie；　dreams；　perhaps；　that　it　is　buttoned　up　under　his　jacket　and　sticking　to　him　like　a　breastplate；　that　it　lies　upon　his　stomach　like　a　round　and　red…hot　nightmare；　eating　into　his　vitals。　Perhaps　not。　　It　is　difficult　to　say　exactly　what　was　the　sin　of　stealing　that　kind　of　pie；　especially　if　the　one　who　stole　it　ate　it。　It　could　have　been　used　for　the　game　of　pitching　quoits；　and　a　pair　of　them　would　have　made　very　fair　wheels　for　the　dog…cart。　　And　yet　it　is　probably　as　wrong　to　steal　a　thin　pie　as　a　thick　one；　and　it　made　no　difference　because　it　was　easy　to　steal　this　sort。　　Easy　stealing　is　no　better　than　easy　lying；　where　detection　of　the　lie　is　difficult。　　The　boy　who　steals　his　mother's　pies　has　no　right　to　be　surprised　when　some　other　boy　steals　his　watermelons。　　Stealing　is　like　charity　in　one　respect；it　is　apt　to　begin　at　home。




X

FIRST　EXPERIENCE　OF　THE　WORLD

If　I　were　forced　to　be　a　boy；　and　a　boy　in　the　country；the　best　kind　of　boy　to　be　in　the　summer；I　would　be　about　ten　years　of　age。　As　soon　as　I　got　any　older；　I　would　quit　it。　　The　trouble　with　a　boy　is；　that　just　as　he　begins　to　enjoy　himself　he　is　too　old；　and　has　to　be　set　to　doing　something　else。　　If　a　country　boy　were　wise；　he　would　stay　at　just　that　age　when　he　could　enjoy　himself　most；　and　have　the　least　expected　of　him　in　the　way　of　work。

Of　course　the　perfectly　good　boy　will　always　prefer　to　work　and　to　do　〃chores〃　for　his　father　and　errands　for　his　mother　and　sisters；　rather　than　enjoy　himself　in　his　own　way。　　I　never　saw　but　one　such　boy。　　He　lived　in　the　town　of　Goshen；not　the　place　where　the　butter　is　made；　but　a　much　better　Goshen　than　that。　　And　I　never　saw　him；　but　I　heard　of　him；　and　being　about　the　same　age；　as　I　supposed；　I　was　taken　once　from　Zoah；　where　I　lived；　to　Goshen　to　see　him。　　But　he　was　dead。　　He　had　been　dead　almost　a　year；　so　that　it　was　impossible　to　see　him。　　He　died　of　the　most　singular　disease：　it　was　from　not　eating　green　apples　in　the　season　of　them。　　This　boy；　whose　name　was　Solomon；　before　he　died；　would　rather　split　up　kindling…wood　for　his　mother　than　go　a…fishing；the　consequence　was；　that　he　was　kept　at　splitting　kindling…wood　and　such　work　most　of　the　time；　and　grew　a　better　and　more　useful　boy　day　by　day。　　Solomon　would　not　disobey　his　parents　and　eat　green　apples；not　even　when　they　were　ripe　enough　to　knock　off　with　a　stick；　but　he　had　such　a　longing　for　them；　that　he　pined；　and　passed　away。　　If　he　had　eaten　the　green　apples；　he　would　have　died　of　them；　probably；　so　that　his　example　is　a　difficult　one　to　follow。　　In　fact；　a　boy　is　a　hard　subject　to　get　a　moral　from。　　All　his　little　playmates　who　ate　green　apples　came　to　Solomon's　funeral；　and　were　very　sorry　for　what　they　had　done。

John　was　a　very　different　boy　from　Solomon；　not　half　so　good；　nor　half　so　dead。　　He　was　a　farmer's　boy；　as　Solomon　was；　but　he　did　not　take　so　much　interest　in　the　farm。　　If　John　could　have　had　his　way；　he　would　have　discovered　a　cave　full　of　diamonds；　and　lots　of　nail…　kegs　full　of　gold…pieces　and　Spanish　dollars；　with　a　pretty　little　girl　living　in　the　cave；　and　two　beautifully　caparisoned　horses；　upon　which；　taking　the　jewels　and　money；　they　would　have　ridden　off　together；　he　did　not　know　where。　　John　had　got　thus　far　in　his　studies；　which　were　apparently　arithmetic　and　geography；　but　were　in　reality　the　Arabian　Nights；　and　other　books　of　high　and　mighty　adventure。　　He　was　a　simple　country…boy；　and　did　not　know　much　about　the　world　as　it　is；　but　he　had　one　of　his　own　imagination；　in　which　he　lived　a　good　deal。　　I　daresay　he　found　out　soon　enough　what　the　world　is；　and　he　had　a　lesson　or　two　when　he　was　quite　young；　in　two　incidents；　which　I　may　as　well　relate。

If　you　had　seen　John　at　this　time；　you　might　have　thought　he　was　only　a　shabbily　dressed　country　lad；　and　you　never　would　have　guessed　what　beautiful　thoughts　he　sometimes　had　as　he　went　stubbing　his　toes　along　the　dusty　road；　nor　what　a　chivalrous　little　fellow　he　was。　You　would　have　seen　a　short　boy；　barefooted；　with　trousers　at　once　too　big　and　too　short；　held　up　perhaps　by　one　suspender　only；　a　checked　cotton　shirt；　and　a　hat　of　braided　palm…leaf；　frayed　at　the　edges　and　bulged　up　in　the　crown。　　It　is　impossible　to　keep　a　hat　neat　if　you　use　it　to　catch　bumblebees　and　whisk　'em；　to　bail　the　water　from　a　leaky　boat；　to　catch　minnows　in；　to　put　over　honey…bees'　nests；　and　to　transport　pebbles；　strawberries；　and　hens'　eggs。　　John　usually　carried　a　sling　in　his　hand；　or　a　bow；　or　a　limber　stick；　sharp　at　one　end；　from　which　he　could　sling　apples　a　great　distance。　If　he　walked　in　the　road；　he　walked　in　the　middle　of　it；　shuffling　up　the　dust；　or　if　he　went　elsewhere；　he　was　likely　to　be　running　on　the　top　of　the　fence　or　the　stone　wall；　and　chasing　chipmunks。

John　knew　the　best　place　to　dig　sweet…flag　in　all　the　farm；　it　was　in　a　meadow　by　the　river；　where　the　bobolinks　sang　so　gayly。　　He　never　liked　to　hear　the　bobolink　sing；　however；　for　he　said　it　always　reminded　him　of　the　whetting　of　a　scythe；　and　that　reminded　him　of　spreading　hay；　and　if　there　was　anything　he　hated；　it　was　spreading　hay　after　the　mowers。　　〃I　guess　you　would　n't　like　it　yourself；〃　said　John；　〃with　the　stubbs　getting　into　your　feet；　and　the　hot　sun；　and　the　men　getting　ahead　of　you；　all　you　could　do。〃

Towards　evening；　once；　John　was　coming　along　the　road　home　with　some　stalks　of　the　sweet…flag　in　his　hand；　there　is　a　succulent　pith　in　the　end　of　the　stalk　which　is　very　good　to　eat；tender；　and　not　so　strong　as　the　root；　and　John　liked　to　pull　it；　and　carry　home　what　he　did　not　eat　on　the　way。　　As　he　was　walking　along　he　met　a　carriage；　which　stopped　opposite　to　him；　he　also　stopped　and　bowed；　as　country　boys　used　to　bow　in　John's　day。　　A　lady　leaned　from　the　carriage；　and　said：

〃What　have　you　got；　little　boy？

She　seemed　to　be　the　most　beautiful　woman　John　had　ever　seen；　with　light　hair；　dark；　tender　eyes；　and　the　sweetest　smile。　　There　was　that　in　her　gracious　mien　and　in　her　dress　which　reminded　John　of　the　beautiful　castle　ladies；　with　whom　he　was　well　acquainted　in　books。　He　felt　that　he　knew　her　at　once；　and　he　also　seemed　to　be　a　sort　of　young　prince　himself。　　I　fancy　he　did　n't　look　much　like　one。　　But　of　his　own　appearance　he　thought　not　at　all；　as　he　replied　to　the　lady's　question；　without　the　least　embarrassment：

〃It's　sweet…flag　stalk；　would　you　like　some？〃

〃Indeed；　I　should　like　to　taste　it；〃　said　the　lady；　with　a　most　winning　smile。　　〃I　used　to　be　very　fond　of　it　when　I　was　a　little　girl。〃

John　was　delighted　that　the　lady　should　like　sweet…flag；　and　that　she　was　pleased　to　accept　it　from　him。　　He　thought　himself　that　it　was　about　the　best　thing　to　eat　he　knew。　　He　handed　up　a　large　bunch　of　it。　　The　lady　took　two　or　three　stalks；　and　was　about　to　return　the　rest；　when　John　said：

〃Please　keep　it　all；　ma'am。　　I　can　get　lots　more。〃

〃I　know　where　it's　ever　so　thick。〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；〃　said　the　lady；　and　as　the　carriage　started；　she　reached　out　her　hand　to　John。　　He　did　not　understand　the　motion；　until　he　saw　a　cent　drop　in　the　road　at　his　feet。　　Instantly　all　his　illusion　and　his　pleasure　vanished。　　Something　like　tears　were　in　his　eyes　as　he　shouted：

〃I　don't　want　your　cent。　　I　don't　sell　flag！〃

John　was　intensely　mortified。　　〃I　suppose；〃　he　said；　〃she　thought　I　was　a　sort　of　beggar…boy。　　To　think　of　selling　flag！〃

At　any　rate；　he　walked　away　and　left　the　cent　in　the　road；　a　humiliated　boy。　　The　next　day　he　told　Jim　Gates　about　it。　　Jim　said　he　was　green　not　to　take　the　money；　he'd　go　and　look　for　it　now；　if　he　would　tell　him　about　where　it　dropped。　　And　Jim　did　spend　an　hour　poking　about　in　the　dirt；　but　he　did　not　find　the　cent。　　Jim；　however；　had　an　idea；　he　said　he　was　going　to　dig　sweet…flag；　and　see　if　another　carriage　wouldn't　come　along。

John's　next　rebuff　and　knowledge　of　the　world　was　of　another　sort。　He　was　again　walking　the　road　at　twilight；　when　he　was　overtaken　by　a　wagon　with　one　seat；　upon　which　were　two　pretty　girls；　and　a　young　gentleman　sat　between　them