the friendly road-第27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！


y　road　stretching　straight　before　me。　I　remember　how　eagerly；　I　looked　out　across　the　fields　and　meadows　and　rested　my　eyes　upon　the　distant　hills。　How　roomy　it　all　was！　I　looked　up　into　the　clear　blue　of　the　sky。　There　was　space　here　to　breathe；　and　distances　in　which　the　spirit　might　spread　its　wings。　As　the　old　prophet　says；　it　was　a　place　where　a　man　might　be　placed　alone　in　the　midst　of　the　earth。

I　was　strangely　glad　that　morning　of　every　little　stream　that　ran　under　the　bridges；　I　was　glad　of　the　trees　I　passed；　glad　of　every　bird　and　squirrel　in　the　branches；　glad　of　the　cattle　grazing　in　the　fields；　glad　of　the　jolly　boys　I　saw　on　their　way　to　school　with　their　dinner　pails；　glad　of　the　bluff；　red…faced　teamster　I　met；　and　of　the　snug　farmer　who　waved　his　hand　at　me　and　wished　me　a　friendly　good　morning。　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　liked　every　one　I　saw；　and　that　every　one　liked　me。

So　I　walked　onward　that　morning；　nor　ever　have　had　such　a　sense　of　relief　and　escape；　nor　ever　such　a　feeling　of　gayety。

〃Here　is　where　I　belong；〃　I　said。　〃This　is　my　own　country。　Those　hills　are　mine；　and　all　the　fields；　and　the　trees　and　the　sky　and　the　road　here　belongs　to　me　as　much　as　it　does　to　any　one。〃

Coming　presently　to　a　small　house　near　the　side　of　the　road；　I　saw　a　woman　working　with　a　trowel　in　her　sunny　garden。　It　was　good　to　see　her　turn　over　the　warm　brown　soil；　it　was　good　to　see　the　plump　green　rows　of　lettuce　and　the　thin　green　rows　of　onions；　and　the　nasturtiums　and　sweet　peas；　it　was　goodafter　so　many　days　in　that　desert　of　a　cityto　get　a　whiff　of　blossoming　things。　I　stood　for　a　moment　looking　quietly　over　the　fence　before　the　woman　saw　me。　When　at　last　she　turned　and　looked　up；　I　said：

〃Good　morning。〃

She　paused；　trowel　in　hand。

〃Good　morning；〃　she　replied；　〃you　look　happy。〃

I　wasn't　conscious　that　I　was　smiling　outwardly。

〃Well；　I　am；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　going　home。〃

〃Then　you　OUGHT　to　be　happy；〃　said　she。

〃And　I'm　glad　to　escape　THAT；〃　and　I　pointed　toward　the　city。

〃What？〃

〃Why；　that　old　monster　lying　there　in　the　valley。〃

I　could　see　that　she　was　surprised　and　even　a　little　alarmed。　So　I　began　intently　to　admire　her　young　cabbages　and　comment　on　the　perfection　of　her　geraniums。　But　I　caught　her　eying　me　from　time　to　time　as　I　leaned　there　on　the　fence；　and　I　knew　that　she　would　come　back　sooner　or　later　to　my　remark　about　the　monster。　Having　shocked　your　friend　（not　too　unpleasantly）；　abide　your　time；　and　he　will　want　to　be　shocked　again。　So　I　was　not　at　all　surprised　to　hear　her　ask：

〃Have　you　travelled　far？〃

〃I　should　say　so！〃　I　replied。　〃I've　been　on　a　very　long　journey。　I've　seen　many　strange　sights　and　met　many　wonderful　people。〃

〃You　may　have　been　in　California；　then。　I　have　a　daughter　in　California。〃

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃I　was　never　in　California。〃

〃You've　been　a　long　time　from　home；　you　say？〃

〃A　very　long　time　from　home。〃

〃How　long？〃

〃Three　weeks。〃

〃Three　weeks！　And　how　far　did　you　say　you　had　travelled？〃

〃At　the　farthest　point；　I　should　say　sixty　miles　from　home。〃

〃But　how　can　you　say　that　in　travelling　only　sixty　miles　and　being　gone　three　weeks　that　you　have　seen　so　many　strange　places　and　people？〃

〃Why；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃haven't　you　seen　anything　strange　around　here？'〃

〃Why；　no〃　glancing　quickly　around　her。

〃Well；　I'm　strange；　am　I　not？〃

〃Well〃

〃And　you're　strange。〃

She　looked　at　me　with　the　utmost　amazement。　I　could　scarcely　keep　from　laughing。

〃I　assure　you；〃　I　said；　〃that　if　you　travel　a　thousand　miles　you　will　find　no　one　stranger　than　I　amor　you　arenor　anything　more　wonderful　than　all　this〃　and　I　waved　my　hand。

This　time　she　looked　really　alarmed；　glancing　quickly　toward　the　house；　so　that　I　began　to　laugh。

〃Madam；〃　I　said；　〃good　morning！〃

So　I　left　her　standing　there　by　the　fence　looking　after　me；　and　I　went　on　down　the　road。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃she'll　have　something　new　to　talk　about。　It　may　add　a　month　to　her　life。　Was　there　ever　such　an　amusing　world！〃

About　noon　that　day　I　had　an　adventure　that　I　have　to　laugh　over　every　time　I　think　of　it。　It　was　unusual；　too；　as　being　almost　the　only　incident　of　my　journey　which　was　of　itself　in　the　least　thrilling　or　out　of　the　ordinary。　Why；　this　might　have　made　an　item　in　the　country　paper！

For　the　first　time　on　my　trip　I　saw　a　man　that　I　really　felt　like　calling　a　trampa　tramp　in　the　generally　accepted　sense　of　the　term。　When　I　left　home　I　imagined　I　should　meet　many　tramps；　and　perhaps　learn　from　them　odd　and　curious　things　about　life；　but　when　I　actually　came　into　contact　with　the　shabby　men　of　the　road；　I　began　to　be　puzzled。　What　was　a　tramp；　anyway？

I　found　them　all　strangely　different；　each　with　his　own　distinctive　history；　and　each　accounting　for　himself　as　logically　as　I　could　for　myself。　And　save　for　the　fact　that　in　none　of　them　I　met　were　the　outward　graces　and　virtues　too　prominently　displayed；　I　have　come　back　quite　uncertain　as　to　what　a　scientist　might　call　type…characteristics。　I　had　thought　of　following　Emerson　in　his　delightfully　optimistic　definition　of　a　weed。　A　weed；　he　says；　is　a　plant　whose　virtues　have　not　been　discovered。　A　tramp；　then；　is　a　man　whose　virtues　have　not　been　discovered。　Or；　I　might　follow　my　old　friend　the　Professor　（who　dearly　loves　all　growing　things）　in　his　even　kindlier　definition　of　a　weed。　He　says　that　it　is　merely　a　plant　misplaced。　The　virility　of　this　definition　has　often　impressed　me　when　I　have　tried　to　grub　the　excellent　and　useful　horseradish　plants　out　of　my　asparagus　bed！　Let　it　be　thena　tramp　is　a　misplaced　man；　whose　virtues　have　not　been　discovered。

Whether　this　is　an　adequate　definition　or　not；　it　fitted　admirably　the　man　I　overtook　that　morning　on　the　road。　He　was　certainly　misplaced；　and　during　my　brief　but　exciting　experience　with　him　I　discovered　no　virtues　whatever。

In　one　way　he　was　quite　different　from　the　traditional　tramp。　He　walked　with　far　too　lively　a　step；　too　jauntily；　and　he　had　with　him　a　small；　shaggy；　nondescript　dog；　a　dog　as　shabby　as　he；　trotting　close　at　his　heels。　He　carried　a　light　stick；　which　he　occasionally　twirled　over　in　his　hand。　As　I　drew　nearer　I　could　hear　him　whistling　and　even；　from　time　to　time；　breaking　into　a　lively　bit　of　song。　What　a　devil…may…care　chap　he　seemed；　anyway！　I　was　greatly　interested。

When　at　length　I　drew　alongside　he　did　not　seem　in　the　least　surprised。　He　turned；　glanced　at　me　with　his　bold　black　eyes；　and　broke　out　again　into　the　song　he　was　singing。　And　these　were　the　words　of　his　songat　least；　all　I　can　remember　of　them：

Oh；　I'm　so　fine　and　gay；　I'm　so　fine　and　gay；　I　have　to　take　a　dog　along；　To　kape　the　ga…irls　away。

What　droll　zest　he　put　into　it！　He　had　a　red　nose；　a　globular　red　nose　set　on　his　face　like　an　overgrown　strawberry；　and　from　under　the　worst　derby　hat　in　the　world　burst　his　thick　curly　hair。

〃Oh；　I'm　so　fine　and　gay；〃　he　sang；　stepping　to　the　rhythm　of　his　song；　and　looking　the　very　image　of　good…humoured　impudence。　I　can't　tell　how　amused　and　pleased　I　wasthough　if　I　had　known　what　was　to　happen　later　I　might　not　have　been　quite　so　friendlyyes；　I　would　too！

We　fell　into　conversation；　and　it　wasn't　long　before　I　suggested　that　we　stop　for　luncheon　together　somewhere　along　the　road。　He　cast　a　quick　appraising　eye　at　my　bag；　and　assented　with　alacrity。　We　climbed　a　fence　and　found　a　quiet　spot　near　a　little　brook。

I　was　much　astonished　to　observe　the　resources　of　my　jovial　companion。　Although　he　carried　neither　bag　nor　pack　and　appeared　to　have　nothing　whatever　in　his　pockets；　he　proceeded；　like　a　professional　prestidigitator；　to　produce　from　his　shabby　clothing　an　extraordinary　number　of　curious　thingsa　black　tin　can　with　a　wire　handle；　a　small　box　of　matches；　a　soiled　package　which　I　soon　learned　contained　tea；　a　miraculously　big　dry　sausage　wrapped　in　an　old　newspaper；　and　a　clasp…knife。　I　watched　him　with　breathless　interest。

He　cut　a　couple　of　crotched　sticks　to　hang　the　pail　on　and　in　two　or　three　minutes　had　a　little　fire；　no　larger　than　a　man's　hand；　burning　brightly　under　it。　（〃Big　fires；〃　said　he　wisely；　〃are　not　for　us。〃）　This　he　fed　with　dry　twigs；　and　in　a　very　few　minutes　he　had　a　pot　of　tea　from　which　he　offered　me　the　first　drink。　This；　with　my　luncheon　and　part　of　his　sausage；　made　up　a　very　good　meal。

While　we　were　eating；　the　little　dog　sat　sedately　by　the　fire。　From　time　to　time　his　master　would　say；　〃Speak；　Jimmy。〃

Jimmy　would　sit　up　on　his　haunches；　his　two　front　paws　hanging　limp；　turn　his　head　to　one　side　in　the　drollest　way　imaginable　and　give　a　yelp。　His　master　would　toss　him　a　bit　of　sausage　or　bread　and　he　would　catch　it　with　a　snap。

〃Fine　dog！〃　commented　my　companion。

〃So　he　seems；〃　said　I。

After　the　meal　was　over　my　companion　proceeded　to　produce　other　surprises　from　his　pocketsa　bag　of　tobacco；　a　brier　pipe　（which　he　kindly　offered　to　me　and　which　I　kindly　refused）；　and　a　soiled　packet　of　cigarette　papers。　Having　rolled　a　cigarette　with　practised　facility；　he　leaned　up　against　a　tree；　took　off　his　hat；　lighted　the　cigarette　and；　having　taken　a　long　draw　at　it；　blew　the　smoke　before　him　with　an　incredible　air　of　satisfaction。

〃Solid　comfort　this　herehey！〃　he　exclaimed。

We　had　some　further　talk；　but　for　so　jovial　a　specimen　he　was　surprisingly　uncommunicative。　Indeed；　I　think　he　soon　decided　that　I　somehow　did　not　belong　to　the　fraternity；　that　I　was　a　〃farmer〃in　the　most　opprobrious　senseand　he　soon　began　to　drowse；　rousing　himself　once　or　twice　to　roll　another　cigarette；　but　finally　dropping　（apparently；　at　least）　fast　asleep。

I　was　glad　enough　of　the　rest　and　quiet　after　the　strenuous　experience　of　the　last　；　two　daysand　I；　too；　soon　began　to　drowse。　It　didn't　seem　to　me　then　that　I　lost　consciousness　at　all；　but　I　suppose　I　must　have　done　so；　for　when　I　suddenly　opened　my　eyes　and　sat　up　my　companion　had　vanished。　How　he　succeeded　in　gathering　up　his　pail　and　packages　so　noiselessly　and　getting　away　so　quickly　is　a　mystery　to　me。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃that's　odd。〃

Rousing　myself　deliberately　I　put　on　my　hat　and　was　about　to　take　up　my　bag　when　I　suddenly　discovered　that　it　was　open。　My　rain…cape　was　missing！　It　wasn't　a　very　good　rain…cape；　but　it　was　missing。

At　first　I　was　inclined　to　be　angry；　but　when　I　thought　of　my　jovial　companion　and　the　cunning　way　in　which　he　had　tricked　me；　I　couldn't　help　laughing。　At　the　same　time　I　jumped　up　quickly　and　ran　down　the　road。

〃I　may　get　him　yet；〃　I　said。

Just　as　I　stepped　out　of　the　woods　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　man　some　hundreds　of　yards　away；　turning　quickly　from　the　main　road　into　a　lane　or　by…path。　I　wasn't　altogether　sure　that　he　was　my　man；　but　I　ran　across　the　road　and　climbed　the　fence。　I　had　formed　the　plan　instantly　of　cutting　across　the　field　and　so　striking　the　by…road　farther　up　the　hill。　I　had　a　curious　sense　of　amused　exultation；　the　very　spirit　of　the　chase；　and　my　mind　dwelt　with　the　liveliest　excitement　on　what　I　should　say　or　do　if　I　really　caught　that　jolly　spark　of　impudence

So　I　came　by　way　of　a　thicket　along　an　old　stone　fence　to　the　by…road；　and　there；　sure　enough；　only　a　little　way　ahead　of　me；　was　my　man　with　the　shaggy　little　dog　close　at　his　heels。　He　was　making　pretty　good　time；　bu