the friendly road-第18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！


　his　hedge。　When　I　hesitated；　for　I　was　decidedly　uncomfortable；　he　came　up　to　me　and　laid　his　hand　awkwardly　on　my　arm。

〃You'll　see　something；　I　warrant；　you　never　see　before。〃

It　was　so　evident　that　he　regretted　his　outbreak　that　I　followed　him；　and　he　showed　me　an　odd　double　ladder　set　on　low　wheels　which　he　said　he　used　in　trimming　the　higher　parts　of　his　hedge。

〃It's　my　own　invention；〃　he　said　with　pride。

〃And　that〃he　pointed　as　we　came　out　of　the　tool　shed〃is　my　housea　good　house。　I　planned　it　all　myself。　I　never　needed　to　take　lessons　of　any　carpenter　I　ever　see。　And　there's　my　barns。　What　do　you　think　o'　my　barns？　Ever　see　any　bigger　ones？　They　ain't　any　bigger　in　this　country　than　Old　Toombs's　barns。　They　don't　like　Old　Toombs；　but　they　ain't　any　of　one　of　'em　can　ekal　his　barns！〃

He　followed　me　down　to　the　roadside　now　quite　loquacious。　Even　after　I　had　thanked　him　and　started　to　go　he　called　after　me。

When　I　stopped　he　came　forward　hesitatinglyand　I　had　the　impressions；　suddenly；　and　for　the　first　time　that　he　was　an　old　man。　It　may　have　been　the　result　of　his　sudden　fierce　explosion　of　anger；　but　his　hand　shook；　his　face　was　pale；　and　he　seemed　somehow　broken。

〃Youyou　like　my　hedge？〃　he　asked。

〃It　is　certainly　wonderful　hedge；〃　I　said。　〃I　never　have　seen　anything　like　it？〃

〃The'　AIN'T　nothing　like　it；〃　he　responded；　quickly。　〃The'　ain't　nothing　like　it　anywhere。〃

In　the　twilight　as　I　passed　onward　I　saw　the　lonely　figure　of　the　old　man　moving　with　his　hickory　stick　up　the　pathway　to　his　lonely　house。　The　poor　rich　old　man！

〃He　thinks　he　can　live　wholly　to　himself；〃　I　said　aloud。

I　thought；　as　I　tramped　homeward；　of　our　friendly　and　kindly　community；　of　how　we　often　come　together　of　an　evening　with　skylarking　and　laughter；　of　how　we　weep　with　one　another；　of　how　we　join　in　making　better　roads　and　better　schools；　and　building　up　the　Scotch　Preacher's　friendly　little　church。　And　in　all　these　things　Old　Toombs　has　never　had　a　part。　He　is　not　even　missed。


As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　reflected；　and　this　is　a　strange；　deep　thing；　no　man　is　in　reality　more　dependent　upon　the　community　which　he　despises　and　holds　at　arm's　length　than　this　same　Old　Nathan　Toombs。　Everything　he　has；　everything　he　does；　gives　evidence　of　it。　And　I　don't　mean　this　in　any　mere　material　sense；　though　of　course　his　wealth　and　his　farm　would　mean　no　more　than　the　stones　in　his　hills　to　him　if　he　did　not　have　us　here　around　him。　Without　our　work；　our　buying；　our　selling；　our　governing；　his　dollars　would　be　dust。　But　we　are　still　more　necessary　to　him　in　other　ways：　the　unfriendly　man　is　usually　the　one　who　demands　most　from　his　neighbours。　Thus；　if　he　have　not　people's　love　or　confidence；　then　he　will　smite　them　until　they　fear　him；　or　admire　him；　or　hate　him。　Oh；　no　man；　however　may　try；　can　hold　himself　aloof！

I　came　home　deeply　stirred　from　my　visit　with　Old　Toombs　and　lost　no　time　in　making　further　inquiries。　I　learned；　speedily；　that　there　was　indeed　something　in　the　old　man's　dread　of　a　road　being　built　through　his　farm。　The　case　was　already　in　the　courts。　His　farm　was　a　very　old　one　and　extensive；　and　of　recent　years　a　large　settlement　of　small　farmers　had　been　developing　the　rougher　lands　in　the　upper　part　of　the　townships　called　the　Swan　Hill　district。　Their　only　way　to　reach　the　railroad　was　by　a　rocky；　winding　road　among　the　'hills；'　while　their　outlet　was　down　a　gently　sloping　through　Old　Toombs's　farm。　They　were　now　so　numerous　and　politically　important　that　they　had　stirred　up　the　town　authorities。　A　proposition　had　been　made　to　Old　Toombs　for　a　right…of…way；　they　argued　with　him　that　it　was　a　good　thing　for　the　whole　country；　that　it　would　enhance　the　values　of　his　own　upper　lands；　and　that　they　would　pay　him　far　more　for　a　right…of…way　than　the　land　was　actually　worth；　but　he　had　spurned　themI　can　imagine　with　what　vehemence。

〃Let　'em　drive　round；〃　he　said。　〃Didn't　they　know　what　they'd　have　to　do　when　they　settled　up　there？　What　a　passel　o'　curs！　They　can　keep　off　o'　my　land；　or　I'll　have　the　law　on　'em。〃

And　thus　the　matter　came　to　the　courts　with　the　town　attempting　to　condemn　the　land　for　a　road　through　Old　Toombs's　farm。

〃What　can　we　do？〃　asked　the　Scotch　Preacher；　who　was　deeply　distressed　by　the　bitterness　of　feeling　displayed。　〃There　is　no　getting　to　the　man。　He　will　listen　to　no　one。〃

At　one　time　I　thought　of　going　over　and　talking　with　Old　Toombs　myself；　for　it　seemed　that　I　had　been　able　to　get　nearer　to　him　than　any　one　had　in　a　long　time。　But　I　dreaded　it。　I　kept　dallying；for　what；　indeed；　could　I　have　said　to　him？　If　he　had　been　suspicious　of　me　before；　how　much　more　hostile　he　might　be　when　I　expressed　an　interest　in　his　difficulties。　As　to　reaching　the　Swan　Hill　settlers；　they　were　now　aroused　to　an　implacable　state　of　bitterness；　and　they　had　the　people　of　the　whole　community　with　them；　for　no　one　liked　Old　Toombs。

Thus　while　I　hesitated　time　passed　and　my　next　meeting　with　Old　Toombs；　instead　of　being　premeditated；　came　about　quite　unexpectedly。　I　was　walking　in　the　town　road　late　one　afternoon　when　I　heard　a　wagon　rattling　behind　me；　and　then；　quite　suddenly；　a　shouted；　〃Whoa。〃

Looking　around；　I　saw　Old　Toombs；　his　great　solid　figure　mounted　high　on　the　wagon　seat；　the　reins　held　fast　in　the　fingers　of　one　hand。　I　was　struck　by　the　strange　expression　in　his　facea　sort　of　grim　exaltation。　As　I　stepped　aside　he　burst　out　in　a　loud；　shrill；　cackling　laugh：

〃He…he…hehe…he…he〃

I　was　too　astonished　to　speak　at　once。　Ordinarily　when　I　meet　any　one　in　the　town　road　it　is　in　my　heart　to　cry　out　to　him；

〃Good　morning；　friend；〃　or；　〃How　are　you；　brother？〃　but　I　had　no　such　prompting　that　day。

〃Git　in；　Grayson；〃　he　said；　〃git　in；　git　in。〃

I　climbed　up　beside　him；　and　he　slapped　me　on　the　knee　with　another　burst　of　shrill　laughter。

〃They　thought　they　had　the　old　man；〃　he　said；　starting　up　his　horses。　〃They　thought　there　weren't　no　law　left　in　Israel。　I　showed　'em。〃

I　cannot　convey　the　bitter　triumphancy　of　his　voice。

〃You　mean　the　road　case？〃　I　asked。

〃Road　case！〃　he　exploded；　〃they　wan't　no　road　case；　they　didn't　have　no　road　case。　I　beat　'em。　I　says　to　'em；　'What　right　hev　any　o'　you　on　my　property？　Go　round　with　you；'　I　says。　Oh；　I　beat　'em。　If　they'd　had　their　way；　they'd　'a'　cut　through　my　hedgethe　hounds！〃


When　he　set　me　down　at　my　door；　I　had　said　hardly　a　word。　There　seemed　nothing　that　could　be　said。　I　remember　I　stood　for　some　time　watching　the　old　man　as　he　rode　away；　his　wagon　jolting　in　the　country　road；　his　stout　figure　perched　firmly　in　the　seat。　I　went　in　with　a　sense　of　heaviness　at　the　heart。

〃Harriet；〃　I　said；　〃there　are　some　things　in　this　world　beyond　human　remedy。〃

Two　evenings　later　I　was　surprised　to　see　the　Scotch　Preacher　drive　up　to　my　gate　and　hastily　tie　his　horse。

〃David；〃　said　he；　〃there's　bad　business　afoot。　A　lot　of　the　young　fellows　in　Swan　Hill　are　planning　a　raid　on　Old　Toombs's　hedge。　They　are　coming　down　to…night。〃

I　got　my　hat　and　jumped　in　with　him。　We　drove　up　the　hilly　road　and　out　around　Old　Toombs's　farm　and　thus　came；　near　to　the　settlement。　I　had　no　conception　of　the　bitterness　that　the　lawsuit　had　engendered。

〃Where　once　you　start　men　hating　one　another；〃　said　the　Scotch　Preacher；　〃there's　utterly　no　end　of　it。〃

I　have　seen　our　Scotch　Preacher　in　many　difficult　places；　but　never　have　I　seen　him　rise　to　greater　heights　than　he　did　that　night。　It　is　not　in　his　preaching　that　Doctor　McAlway　excels；　but　what　a　power　he　is　among　men！　He　was　like　some　stern　old　giant；　standing　there　and　holding　up　the　portals　of　civilization。　I　saw　men　melt　under　his　words　like　wax；　I　saw　wild　young　fellows　subdued　into　quietude；　I　saw　unwise　old　men　set　to　thinking。

〃Man；　man；〃　he'd　say；　lapsing　in　his　earnestness　into　the　broad　Scotch　accent　of　his　youth；　〃you　canna'　mean　plunder；　and　destruction；　and　riot！　You　canna！　Not　in　this　neighbourhood！〃

〃What　about　Old　Toombs？〃　shouted　one　of　the　boys。

I　never　shall　forget　how　Doctor　McAlway　drew　himself　up　nor　the　majesty　that　looked　from　his　eye。

〃Old　Toombs！〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　thrilled　one　to　the　bone；　〃Old　Toombs！　Have　you　no　faith；　that　you　stand　in　the　place　of　Almighty　God　and　measure　punishments？〃

Before　we　left　it　was　past　midnight　and　we　drove　home；　almost　silent；　in　the　darkness。

〃Doctor　McAlway；〃　I　said；　〃if　Old　Toombs　could　know　the　history　of　this　night　it　might　change　his　point　of　view。〃

〃I　doot　it；〃　said　the　Scotch　Preacher。　〃I　doot　it。〃

The　night　passed　serenely；　the　morning　saw　Old　Toombs's　hedge　standing　as　gorgeous　as　ever。　The　community　had　again　stepped　aside　and　let　Old　Toombs　have　his　way：　they　had　let　him　alone；　with　all　his　great　barns；　his　wide　acres　and　his　wonderful　hedge。　He　probably　never　even　knew　what　had　threatened　him　that　night；　nor　how　the　forces　of　religion；　of　social　order；　of　neighbourliness　in　the　community　which　he　despised　had；　after　all；　held　him　safe。　There　is　a　supreme　faith　among　common　peopleit　is；　indeed；　the　very　taproot　of　democracythat　although　the　unfriendly　one　may　persist　long　in　his　power　and　arrogance；　there　is　a　moving　Force　which　commands　events。

I　suppose　if　I　were　writing　a　mere　story　I　should　tell　how　Old　Toombs　was　miraculously　softened　at　the　age　of　sixty…eight　years；　and　came　into　new　relationships　with　his　neighbours；　or　else　I　should　relate　how　the　mills　of　God；　grinding　slowly；　had　crushed　the　recalcitrant　human　atom　into　dust。

Either　of　these　results　conceivably　might　have　happenedall　things　are　possibleand　being　ingeniously　related　would　somehow　have　answered　a　need　in　the　human　soul　that　the　logic　of　events　be　constantly　and　conclusively　demonstrated　in　the　lives　of　individual　men　and　women。

But　as　a　matter　of　fact；　neither　of　these　things　did　happen　in　this　quiet　community　of　ours。　There　exists；　assuredly；　a　logic　of　events；　oh；　a　terrible；　irresistible　logic　of　events；　but　it　is　careless　of　the　span　of　any　one　man's　life。　We　would　like　to　have　each　man　enjoy　the　sweets　of　his　own　virtues　and　suffer　the　lash　of　his　own　misdeedsbut　it　rarely　so　happens　in　life。　No；　it　is　the　community　which　lives　or　dies；　is　regenerated　or　marred　by　the　deeds　of　men。

So　Old　Toombs　continued　to　live。　So　he　continued　to　buy　more　land；　raise　more　cattle；　collect　more　interest；　and　the　wonderful　hedge　continued　to　flaunt　its　marvels　still　more　notably　upon　the　country　road。　To　what　end？　Who　knows？　Who　knows？

I　saw　him　afterward　from　time　to　time；　tried　to　maintain　some　sort　of　friendly　relations　with　him；　but　it　seemed　as　the　years　passed　that　he　grew　ever　lonelier　and　more　bitter；　and　not　only　more　friendless；　but　seemingly　more　incapable　of　friendliness。　In　times　past　I　have　seen　what　men　call　tragediesI　saw　once　a　perfect　young　man　die　in　his　strengthbut　it　seems　to　me　I　never　knew　anything　more　tragic　than　the　life　and　death　of　Old　Toombs。　If　it　cannot　be　said　of　a　man　when　he　dies　that　either　his　nation；　his　state；　his　neighborhood；　his　family；　or　at　least　his　wife　or　child；　is　better　for　his　having　lived；　what　CAN　be　said　for　him？

Old　Toombs　is　dead。　Like　Jehoram；　King　of　Judah；　of　whom　it　is　terribly　said　in　the　Book　of　Chronicles；　〃he　departed　without　being　desired。〃