the friendly road-第12章

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s；　I　thought　of　another　sort　of　oil　for　another　sort　of　roads；　and　when　he　spoke　of　curves　in　his　roads　I　was　thinking　of　curves　in　the　roads　I　dealt　with；　and　I　explained　to　him　what　my　roads　were。　I　have　never　seen　a　man　more　intensely　interested：　he　neither　moved　nor　took　his　eyes　from　my　face。

〃And　when　I　spoke　of　selling　you　a　pair　of　spectacles；〃　said　I；　〃it　was　only　a　way　of　telling　you　how　much　I　wanted　to　make　you　see　my　kinds　of　roads　as　well　as　your　own。〃

I　paused；　wondering　if；　after　all；　he　could　be　made　to　see。　I　know　now　how　the　surgeon　must　feel　at　the　crucial　moment　of　his　accomplished　operation。　Will　the　patient　live　or　die？

The　road…worker　drew　a　long　breath　as　he　came　out　from　under　the　anesthetic。

〃I　guess；　partner；〃　said　he；　〃you're　trying　to　put　a　stone　or　two　in　my　ruts！〃

I　had　him！

〃Exactly；〃　I　exclaimed　eagerly。

We　both　paused。　He　was　the　first　to　speakwith　some　embarrassment：

〃Say；　you're　just　like　a　preacher　I　used　to　know　when　I　was　a　kid。　He　was　always　sayin'　things　that　meant　something　else　and　when　you　found　out　what　he　was　drivin'　at　you　always　felt　kind　of　queer　in　your　insides。〃

I　laughed。

〃It's　a　mighty　good　sign；〃　I　said；　〃when　a　man　begins　to　feel　queer　in　the　insides。　It　shows　that　something　is　happening　to　him。〃

With　that　we　walked　back　to　the　road；　feeling　very　close　and　friendlyand　shovelling　again；　not　saying　much。　After　quite　a　time；　when　we　had　nearly　cleaned　up　the　landslide；　I　heard　the　husky　road…worker　chuckling　to　himself；　finally；　straightening　up；　he　said：

〃Say；　there's　more　things　in　a　road　than　ever　I　dreamt　of。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　I；　〃that　the　new　spectacles　are　a　good　fit。〃

The　road…worker　laughed　long　and　loud。

〃You're　a　good　one；　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　see　what　YOU　mean。　I　catch　your　point。〃

〃And　now　that　you've　got　them　on；〃　said　I；　〃and　they　are　serving　you　so　well；　I'm　not　going　to　sell　them　to　you　at　all。　I'm　going　to　present　them　to　youfor　I　haven't　seen　anybody　in　a　long　time　that　I've　enjoyed　meeting　more　than　I　have　you。〃

We　nurse　a　fiction　that　people　love　to　cover　up　their　feelings；　but　I　have　learned　that　if　the　feeling　is　real　and　deep　they　love　far　better　to　find　a　way　to　uncover　it。

〃Same　here；〃　said　the　road…worker　simply；　but　with　a　world　of　genuine　feeling　in　his　voice。

Well；　when　it　came　time　to　stop　work　the　road…worker　insisted　that　I　get　in　and　go　home　with　him。

〃I　want　you　to　see　my　wife　and　kids；〃　said　he。

The　upshot　of　it　was　that　I　not　only　remained　for　supperand　a　good　supper　it　wasbut　I　spent　the　night　in　his　little　home；　close　at　the　side　of　the　road　near　the　foot　of　a　fine　hill。　And　from　time　to　time　all　night　long；　it　seemed　to　me；　I　could　hear　the　rush　of　cars　going　by　in　the　smooth　road　outside；　and　sometimes　their　lights　flashed　in　at　my　window；　and　sometimes　I　heard　them　sound　their　brassy　horns。

I　wish　I　could　tell　more　of　what　I　saw　there；　of　the　garden　back　of　the　house；　and　of　all　the　road…worker　and　his　wife　told　me　of　their　simple　historybut；　the　road　calls！

When　I　set　forth　early　this　morning　the　road…worker　followed　me　out　to　the　smooth　macadam　（his　wife　standing　in　the　doorway　with　her　hands　rolled　in　her　apron）　and　said　to　me；　a　bit　shyly：

〃I'll　be　more　sort　o'sort　o'　interested　in　roads　since　I've　seen　you。〃

〃I'll　be　along　again　some　of　these　days；〃　said　I；　laughing；　〃and　I'll　stop　in　and　show　you　my　new　stock　of　spectacles。　Maybe　I　can　sell　you　another　pair！〃

〃Maybe　you　kin；〃　and　he　smiled　a　broad；　understanding　smile。

Nothing　brings　men　together　like　having　a　joke　in　common。

So　I　walked　off　down　the　roadin　the　best　of　spiritsready　for　the　events　of　another　day。

It　will　surely　be　a　great　adventure；　one　of　these　days；　to　come　this　way　againand　to　visit　the　Stanleys；　and　the　Vedders；　and　the　Minister；　and　drop　in　and　sell　another　pair　of　specs　to　the　Road…worker。　It　seems　to　me　I　have　a　wonderfully　rosy　future　ahead　of　me！


P。　S。I　have　not　yet　found　out　who　painted　the　curious　signs；　but　I　am　not　as　uneasy　about　it　as　I　was。　I　have　seen　two　more　of　them　already　this　morningand　find　they　exert　quite　a　psychological　influence。



CHAPTER　VI。　　　AN　EXPERIMENT　IN　HUMAN　NATURE

In　the　early　morning　after　I　left　the　husky　road…mender　（wearing　his　new　spectacles）；　I　remained　steadfastly　on　the　Great　Road　or　near　it。　It　was　a　prime　spring　day；　just　a　little　hazy；　as　though　promising　rain；　but　soft　and　warm。

〃They　will　be　working　in　the　garden　at　home；〃　I　thought；　〃and　there　will　be　worlds　of　rhubarb　and　asparagus。〃　Then　I　remembered　how　the　morning　sunshine　would　look　on　the　little　vine…clad　back　porch　（reaching　halfway　up　the　weathered　door）　of　my　own　house　among　the　hills。

It　was　the　first　time　since　my　pilgrimage　began　that　I　had　thought　with　any　emotion　of　my　farmor　of　Harriet。

And　then　the　road　claimed　me　again；　and　I　began　to　look　out　for　some　further　explanation　of　the　curious　sign；　the　single　word　〃Rest；〃　which　had　interested　me　so　keenly　on　the　preceding　day。　It　may　seem　absurd　to　some　who　read　these　linessome　practical　people！but　I　cannot　convey　the　pleasure　I　had　in　the　very　elusiveness　and　mystery　of　the　sign；　nor　how　I　wished　I　might　at　the　next　turn　come　upon　the　poet　himself。　I　decided　that　no　one　but　a　poet　could　have　contented　himself　with　a　lyric　in　one　word；　unless　it　might　have　been　a　humourist；　to　whom　sometimes　a　single　small　word。　is　more　blessed　than　all　the　verbal　riches　of　Webster　himself。　For　it　is　nothing　short　of　genius　that　uses　one　word　when　twenty　will　say　the　same　thing！

Or；　would　he；　after　all；　turn　out　to　be　only　a　more　than　ordinarily　alluring　advertiser？　I　confess　my　heart　went　into　my　throat　that　morning；　when　I　first　saw　the　sign；　lest　it　read：

＇　RESTaurant　2　miles　east　＇

nor　should　I　have　been　surprised　if　it　had。

I　caught　a　vicarious　glimpse　of　the　sign…man　to…day；　through　the　eyes　of　a　young　farmer。　Yes；　he　s'posed　he'd　seen　him；　he　said；　wore　a　slouch　hat；　couldn't　tell　whether　he　was　young　or　old。　Drove　into　the　bushes　（just　down　there　beyond　the　brook）　and；　standin'　on　the　seat　of　his　buggy；　nailed　something　to　a　tree。　A　day　or　two　laterthe　dull　wonder　of　mankind！the　young　farmer；　passing　that　way　to　town；　had　seen　the　odd　sign　〃Rest〃　on　the　tree：　he　s'posed　the　fellow　put　it　there。

〃What　does　it　mean？〃

〃Well；　naow；　I　hadn't　thought；〃　said　the　young　farmer。

〃Did　the　fellow　by　any　chance　have　long　hair？〃

〃Well；　naow；　I　didn't　notice；〃　said　he。

〃Are　you　sure　he　wore　a　slouch　hat？〃

〃Ye…esor　it　may　a…been　straw；〃　replied　the　observant　young　farmer。


So　I　tramped　that　morning；　and　as　I　tramped　I　let　my　mind　go　out　warmly　to　the　people　living　all　about　on　the　farms　or　in　the　hills。　It　is　pleasant　at　times　to　feel　life；　as　it　were；　in　general　terms：　no　specific　Mr。　Smith　or　concrete　Mr。　Jones；　but　just　human　life。　I　love　to　think　of　people　all　around　going　out　busily　in　the　morning　to　their　work　and　returning　at　night；　weary；　to　rest。　I　like　to　think　of　them　growing　up；　growing　old；　loving；　achieving；　sinning；　failingin　short；　living。

In　such　a　live…minded　mood　as　this　it　often　happens　that　the　most　ordinary　things　appear　charged　with　new　significance。　I　suppose　I　had　seen　a　thousand　rural…mail　boxes　along　country　roads　before　that　day；　but　I　had　seen　them　as　the　young　farmer　saw　the　sign…man。　They　were　mere　inert　objects　of　iron　and　wood。

But　as　I　tramped；　thinking　of　the　people　in　the　hills；　I　came　quite　unexpectedly　upon　a　sandy　by…road　that　came　out　through　a　thicket　of　scrub　oaks　and　hazel…brush；　like　some　shy　countryman；　to　join　the　turn…pike。　As　I　stood　looking　into　itfor　it　seemed　peculiarly　invitingI　saw　at　the　entrance　a　familiar　group　of　rural…mail　boxes。　And　I　saw　them　not　as　dead　things；　but　for　the　momentthe　illusion　was　over…poweringthey　were　living；　eager　hands　outstretched　to　the　passing　throng　I　could　feel；　hear；　see　the　farmers　up　there　in　the　hills　reaching　out　to　me；　to　all　the　world；　for　a　thousand　inexpressible　things；　for　more　life；　more　companionship；　more　comforts；　more　money。

It　occurred　to　me　at　that　moment；　whimsically　and　yet　somehow　seriously；　that　I　might　respond　to　the　appeal　of　the　shy　country　road　and　the　outstretched　hands。　At　first　I　did　not　think　of　anything　I　could　dosave　to　go　up　and　eat　dinner　with　one　of　the　hill　farmers；　which　might　not　be　an　unmixed　blessing！and　then　it　came　to　me。

〃I　will　write　a　letter！〃

Straightway　and　with　the　liveliest　amusement　I　began　to　formulate　in　my　mind　what　I　should　say：

Dear　Friend：　You　do　not　know　me。　I　am　a　passerby　in　the　road。　My　name　is　David　Grayson。　You　do　not　know　me；　and　it　may　seem　odd　to　you　to　receive　a　letter　from　an　entire　stranger。　But　I　am　something　of　a　farmer　myself；　and　as　I　went　by　I　could　not　help　thinking　of　you　and　your　family　and　your　farm。　The　fact　is；　I　should　like　to　look　you　up；　and　talk　with　you　about　many　things。　I　myself　cultivate　a　number　of　curious　fields；　and　raise　many　kinds　of　crops

At　this　interesting　point　my　inspiration　suddenly　collapsed；　for　I　had　a　vision；　at　once　amusing　and　disconcerting；　of　my　hill　farmer　（and　his　practical　wife！）　receiving　such　a　letter　（along　with　the　country　paper；　a　circular　advertising　a　cure　for　catarrh；　and　the　most　recent　catalogue　of　the　largest　mail…order　house　in　creation）。　I　could　see　them　standing　there　in　their　doorway；　the　man　with　his　coat　off；　doubtfully　scratching　his　head　as　he　read　my　letter；　the　woman　wiping　her　hands　on　her　apron　and　looking　over　his　shoulder；　and　a　youngster　squeezing　between　the　two　and　demanding；　〃What　is　it；　Paw？〃

I　found　myself　wondering　how　they　would　receive　such　an　unusual　letter；　what　they　would　take　it　to　mean。　And　in　spite　of　all　I　could　do；　I　could　imagine　no　expression　on　their　faces　save　one　of　incredulity　and　suspicion。　I　could　fairly　see　the　shrewd　worldly　wise　look　come　into　the　farmer's　face；　I　could　hear　him　say：

〃Ha；　guess　he　thinks　we　ain't　cut　our　eye…teeth！〃　And　he　would　instantly　begin　speculating　as　to　whether　this　was　a　new　scheme　for　selling　him　second…rate　nursery　stock；　or　the　smooth　introduction　of　another　sewing…machine　agent。

Strange　world；　strange　world！　Sometimes　it　seems　to　me　that　the　hardest　thing　of　all　to　believe　in　is　simple　friendship。　Is　it　not　a　comment　upon　our　civilization　that　it　is　so　often　easier　to　believe　that　a　man　is　a　friend…for…profit；　or　even　a　cheat；　than　that　he　is　frankly　a　well…wisher　of　his　neighbours？


These　reflections　put　such　a　damper　upon　my　enthusiasm　that　I　was　on　the　point　of　taking　again　to　the　road；　when　it　came　to　me　powerfully：　Why　not　try　the　experiment？　Why　not？

〃Friendship；〃　I　said　aloud；　〃is　the　greatest　thing　in　the　world。　There　is　no　door　it　will　not　unlock；　no　problem　it　will　not　solve。　It　is；　after　all；　the　only　real　thing　in　this　world。〃

The　sound　of　my　own　voice　brought　me　suddenly　to　myself；　and　I　found　that　I　was　standing　there　in　the　middle　of　the　public　road；　one　clenched　fist　absurdly　raised　in　air；　delivering　an　oration　to　a　congregation　of　rural…mail　boxes！

And　yet；　in　spite　of　the　humorous　aspects　of　the　idea；　it　still　appeared　to　me　that　such　an　experiment　would　not　only　fit　in　with　the　true　object　of　my　journeying；　but　that　it　might　be　full　of　amusing　and　interesting　adventures。