an old town by the sea-第9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！


f　he　turned　into　air。　Meanwhile　the　bewilderment　of　the　bride　was　dramatically　painful。　If　McDonough　had　been　waylaid　and　killed；　she　could　mourn　for　him。　If　he　had　deserted　her；　she　could　wrap　herself　in　her　pride。　But　neither　course　lay　open　to　her；　then　or　afterward。　In　one　of　the　Twice　Told　Tales　Hawthorne　deals　with　a　man　named　Wakefield；　who　disappears　with　like　suddenness；　and　lives　unrecognized　for　twenty　years　in　a　street　not　far　from　his　abandoned　hearthside。　Such　expunging　of　one's　self　was　not　possible　in　Portsmouth；　but　I　never　think　of　McDonough　without　recalling　Wakefield。　I　have　an　inexplicable　conviction　that　for　many　a　year　James　McDonough；　in　some　snug　ambush；　studied　and　analyzed　the　effect　of　his　own　startling　disappearance。

Some　time　in　the　year　1758；　there　dawned　upon　Portsmouth　a　personage　bearing　the　ponderous　title　of　King's　Attorney；　and　carrying　much　gold　lace　about　him。　This　gilded　gentleman　was　Mr。　Wyseman　Clagett；　of　Bristol；　England；　where　his　father　dwelt　on　the　manor　of　Broad　Oaks；　in　a　mansion　with　twelve　chimneys；　and　kept　a　coach　and　eight　or　ten　servants。　Up　to　the　moment　of　his　advent　in　the　colonies；　Mr。　Wyseman　Clagett　had　evidently　not　been　able　to　keep　anything　but　himself。　His　wealth　consisted　of　his　personal　decorations；　the　golden　frogs　on　his　lapels；　and　the　tinsel　at　his　throat；　other　charms　he　had　none。　Yet　with　these　he　contrived　to　dazzle　the　eyes　of　Lettice　Mitchel；　one　of　the　young　beauties　of　the　province；　and　to　cause　her　to　forget　that　she　had　plighted　troth　with　a　Mr。　Warner；　then　in　Europe；　and　destined　to　return　home　with　a　disturbed　heart。　Mr。　Clagett　was　a　man　of　violent　temper　and　ingenious　vindictiveness；　and　proved　more　than　a　sufficient　punishment　for　Lettice's　infidelity。　The　trifling　fact　that　Warner　was　deadhe　died　shortly　after　his　returndid　not　interfere　with　the　course　of　Mr。　Clagett's　jealousy；　he　was　haunted　by　the　suspicion　that　Lettice　regretted　her　first　love；　having　left　nothing　undone　to　make　her　do　so。　〃This　is　to　pay　Warner's　debts；〃　remarked　Mr。　Clagett；　as　he　twitched　off　the　table…cloth　and　wrecked　the　tea…things。

In　his　official　capacity　he　was　a　relentless　prosecutor。　The　noun　Clagett　speedily　turned　itself　into　a　verb；　〃to　Clagett〃　meant　〃to　prosecute；〃　they　were　convertible　terms。　In　spite　of　his　industrious　severity；　and　his　royal　emoluments；　if　such　existed；　the　exchequer　of　the　King's　Attorney　showed　a　perpetual　deficit。　The　stratagems　to　which　he　resorted　from　time　to　time　in　order　to　raise　unimportant　sums　reminded　one　of　certain　scenes　in　Moliere's　comedies。

Mr。　Clagett　had　for　his　ame　damnee　a　constable　of　the　town。　They　were　made　for　each　other；　they　were　two　flowers　with　but　a　single　stem；　and　this　was　their　method　of　procedure：　Mr。　Clagett　dispatched　one　of　his　servants　to　pick　a　quarrel　with　some　countryman　on　the　street；　or　some　sailor　drinking　at　an　inn：　the　constable　arrested　the　sailor　or　the　countryman；　as　the　case　might　be；　and　hauled　the　culprit　before　Mr。　Clagett；　Mr。　Clagett　read　the　culprit　a　moral　lesson；　and　fined　him　five　dollars　and　costs。　The　plunder　was　then　divided　between　the　conspiratorstwo　hearts　that　beat　as　oneClagett；　of　course；　getting　the　lion's　share。　Justice　was　never　administered　in　a　simpler　manner　in　any　country。　This　eminent　legal　light　was　extinguished　in　1784；　and　the　wick　laid　away　in　the　little　churchyard　in　Litchfield；　New　Hampshire。　It　is　a　satisfaction；　even　after　such　a　lapse　of　time；　to　know　that　Lettice　survived　the　King's　Attorney　sufficiently　long　to　be　very　happy　with　somebody　else。　Lettice　Mitchel　was　scarcely　eighteen　when　she　married　Wyseman　Clagett。

About　eighty　years　ago；　a　witless　fellow　named　Tilton　seems　to　have　been　a　familiar　figure　on　the　streets　of　the　old　town。　Mr。　Brewster　speaks　of　him　as　〃the　well…known　idiot；　Johnny　Tilton；〃　as　if　one　should　say；　〃the　well…known　statesman；　Daniel　Webster。〃　It　is　curious　to　observe　how　any　sort　of　individuality　gets　magnified　in　this　parochial　atmosphere；　where　everything　lacks　perspective；　and　nothing　is　trivial。　Johnny　Tilton　does　not　appear　to　have　had　much　individuality　to　start　with；　it　was　only　after　his　head　was　cracked　that　he　showed　any　shrewdness　whatever。　That　happened　early　in　his　unobtrusive　boyhood。　He　had　frequently　watched　the　hens　flying　out　of　the　loft　window　in　his　father's　stable；　which　stood　in　the　rear　of　the　Old　Bell　Tavern。　It　occurred　to　Johnny；　one　day；　that　though　he　might　not　be　as　bright　as　other　lads；　he　certainly　was　in　no　respect　inferior　to　a　hen。　So　he　placed　himself　on　the　sill　of　the　window　in　the　loft；　flapped　his　arms；　and　took　flight。　The　New　England　Icarus　alighted　head　downward；　lay　insensible　for　a　while；　and　was　henceforth　looked　upon　as　a　mortal　who　had　lost　his　wits。　Yet　at　odd　moments　his　cloudiness　was　illumined　by　a　gleam　of　intelligence　such　as　had　not　been　detected　in　him　previous　to　his　mischance。　As　Polonius　said　of　Hamletanother　unstrung　mortalTilton's　replies　had　〃a　happiness　that　often　madness　hits　on；　which　reason　and　sanity　could　not　so　prosperously　be　delivered　of。〃　One　morning；　he　appeared　at　the　flour…mill　with　a　sack　of　corn　to　be　ground　for　the　almshouse；　and　was　asked　what　he　knew。　〃Some　things　I　know；〃　replied　poor　Tilton；　〃and　some　things　I　don't　know。　I　know　the　miller's　hogs　grow　fat；　but　I　don't　know　whose　corn　they　fat　on。〃　To　borrow　another　word　from　Polonius；　though　this　be　madness；　yet　there　was　method　in　it。　Tilton　finally　brought　up　in　the　almshouse；　where　he　was　allowed　the　liberty　of　roaming　at　will　through　the　town。　He　loved　the　water…side　as　if　he　had　had　all　his　senses。　Often　he　was　seen　to　stand　for　hours　with　a　sunny；　torpid　smile　on　his　lips；　gazing　out　upon　the　river　where　its　azure　ruffles　itself　into　silver　against　the　islands。　He　always　wore　stuck　in　his　hat　a　few　hen's　feathers；　perhaps　with　some　vague　idea　of　still　associating　himself　with　the　birds　of　the　air；　if　hens　can　come　into　that　category。

George　Jaffrey；　third　of　the　name；　was　a　character　of　another　complexion；　a　gentleman　born；　a　graduate　of　Harvard　in　1730；　and　one　of　His　Majesty's　Council　in　1766a　man　with　the　blood　of　the　lion　and　the　unicorn　in　every　vein。　He　remained　to　the　bitter　end；　and　beyond；　a　devout　royalist；　prizing　his　shoe…buckles；　not　because　they　were　of　chased　silver；　but　because　they　bore　the　tower　mark　and　crown　stamp。　He　stoutly　objected　to　oral　prayer；　on　the　ground　that　it　gave　rogues　and　hypocrites　an　opportunity　to　impose　on　honest　folk。　He　was　punctilious　in　his　attendance　at　church；　and　unfailing　in　his　responses；　though　not　of　a　particularly　devotional　temperament。　On　one　occasion；　at　least；　his　sincerity　is　not　to　be　questioned。　He　had　been　deeply　irritated　by　some　encroachments　on　the　boundaries　of　certain　estates；　and　had　gone　to　church　that　forenoon　with　his　mind　full　of　the　matter。　When　the　minister　in　the　course　of　reading　the　service　came　to　the　apostrophe；　〃Cursed　be　he　who　removeth　his　neighbor's　landmark；〃　Mr。　Jeffrey's　feelings　were　too　many　for　him；　and　he　cried　out　〃Amen！〃　in　a　tone　of　voice　that　brought　smiles　to　the　adjoining　pews。

Mr。　Jaffrey's　last　will　and　testament　was　a　whimsical　document；　in　spite　of　the　Hon。　Jeremiah　Mason；　who　drew　up　the　paper。　It　had　originally　been　Mr。　Jaffrey's　plan　to　leave　his　possessions　to　his　beloved　friend；　Colonel　Joshua　Wentworth；　but　the　colonel　by　some　maladroitness　managed　to　turn　the　current　of　Pactolus　in　another　direction。　The　vast　property　was　bequeathed　to　George　Jaffrey　Jeffries；　the　testator's　grandnephew；　on　condition　that　the　heir；　then　a　lad　of　thirteen；　should　drop　the　name　of　Jeffries；　reside　permanently　in　Portsmouth；　and　adopt　no　profession　excepting　that　of　gentleman。　There　is　an　immense　amount　of　Portsmouth　as　well　as　George　Jaffrey　in　that　final　clause。　George　the　fourth　handsomely　complied　with　the　requirements；　and　dying　at　the　age　of　sixty…six；　without　issue　or　assets；　was　the　last　of　that　particular　line　of　Georges。　I　say　that　he　handsomely　complied　with　the　requirements　of　the　will；　but　my　statement　appears　to　be　subject　to　qualification；　for　on　the　day　of　his　obsequies　it　was　remarked　of　him　by　a　caustic　contemporary：　〃Well；　yes；　Mr。　Jaffrey　was　a　gentleman　by　profession；　but　not　eminent　in　his　profession。〃

This　modest　exhibition　of　profiles；　in　which　I　have　attempted　to　preserve　no　chronological　sequence；　ends　with　the　silhouette　of　Dr。　Joseph　Moses。

If　Boston　in　the　colonial　days　had　her　Mather　Byles；　Portsmouth　had　her　Dr。　Joseph　Moses。　In　their　quality　as　humorists；　the　outlines　of　both　these　gentlemen　have　become　rather　broken　and　indistinct。　〃A　jest's　prosperity　lies　in　the　ear　that　hears　it。〃　Decanted　wit　inevitably　loses　its　bouquet。　A　clever　repartee　belongs　to　the　precious　moment　in　which　it　is　broached；　and　is　of　a　vintage　that　does　not　usually　bear　transportation。　Dr。　Moseshe　received　his　diploma　not　from　the　College　of　Physicians；　but　from　the　circumstance　of　his　having　once　drugged　his　private　demijohn　of　rum；　and　so　nailed　an　inquisitive　negro　named　SamboDr。　Moses；　as　he　was　always　called；　had　been　handed　down　to　us　by　tradition　as　a　fellow　of　infinite　jest　and　of　most　excellent　fancy；　but　I　must　confess　that　I　find　his　high　spirits　very　much　evaporated。　His　humor　expended　itself；　for　the　greater　part；　in　practical　pleasantrieslike　that　practiced　on　the　minion　Sambobut　these　diversions；　however　facetious　to　the　parties　concerned；　lack　magnetism　for　outsiders。　I　discover　nothing　about　him　so　amusing　as　the　fact　that　he　lived　in　a　tan…colored　little　tenement；　which　was　neither　clapboarded　nor　shingled；　and　finally　got　an　epidermis　from　the　discarded　shingles　of　the　Old　South　Church　when　the　roof　of　that　edifice　was　repaired。

Dr。　Moses；　like　many　persons　of　his　time　and　class；　was　a　man　of　protean　employmentjoiner；　barber；　and　what　not。　No　doubt　he　had　much　pithy　and　fluent　conversation；　all　of　which　escapes　us。　He　certainly　impressed　the　Hon。　Theodore　Atkinson　as　a　person　of　uncommon　parts；　for　the　Honorable　Secretary　of　the　Province；　like　a　second　Haroun　Al　Raschid；　often　summoned　the　barber　to　entertain　him　with　his　company。　One　eveningand　this　is　the　only　reproducible　instance　of　the　doctor's　readinessMr。　Atkinson　regaled　his　guest　with　a　diminutive　glass　of　choice　Madeira。　The　doctor　regarded　it　against　the　light　with　the　half…closed　eye　of　the　connoisseur；　and　after　sipping　the　molten　topaz　with　satisfaction；　inquired　how　old　it　was。　〃Of　the　vintage　of　about　sixty　years　ago；〃　was　the　answer。　〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor　reflectively；　〃I　never　in　my　life　saw　so　small　a　thing　of　such　an　age。〃　There　are　other　mots　of　his　on　record；　but　their　faces　are　suspiciously　familiar。　In　fact；　all　the　witty　things　were　said　aeons　ago。　If　one　nowadays　perpetrates　an　original　joke；　one　immediately　afterward　finds　it　in　the　Sanskirt。　I　am　afraid　that　Dr。　Joseph　Moses　has　no　very　solid　claims　on　us。　I　have　given　him　place　here　because　he　has　long　had　the　reputation　of　a　wit；　which　is　almost　as　good　as　to　be　one。

VII。

PERSONAL　REMINISCENCES

THE　running　of　the　first　train　over　the　Eastern　Road　from　Boston　to　Portsmouthit　took　place　somewhat　more　than　forty　years　agowas　attended　by　a　serious　accident。　The　accident　occurred　in　the　crowded　station　at　the　Portsmouth　terminus；　and　was