miscellaneous papers(各种各样的文件)-第12章
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on this earth； that the mind first turns in a bereavement。 And greater
things that are known of him； in the way of his warm affections； his quiet
endurance； his unselfish thoughtfulness for others； and his munificent
hand； may not be told。
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If； in the reckless vivacity of his youth； his satirical pen had ever gone
astray or done amiss； he had caused it to prefer its own petition for
forgiveness； long before：…
I've writ the foolish fancy of his brain； The aimless jest that； striking；
hath caused pain； The idle word that he'd wish back again。
In no pages should I take it upon myself at this time to discourse of
his books； of his refined knowledge of character； of his subtle
acquaintance with the weaknesses of human nature； of his delightful
playfulness as an essayist； of his quaint and touching ballads； of his
mastery over the English language。 Least of all； in these pages； enriched
by his brilliant qualities from the first of the series； and beforehand
accepted by the Public through the strength of his great name。
But； on the table before me； there lies all that he had written of his
latest and last story。 That it would be very sad to any one that it is
inexpressibly so to a writerin its evidences of matured designs never to
be accomplished； of intentions begun to be executed and destined never to
be completed； of careful preparation for long roads of thought that he was
never to traverse； and for shining goals that he was never to reach； will be
readily believed。 The pain； however； that I have felt in perusing it； has
not been deeper than the conviction that he was in the healthiest vigour of
his powers when he wrought on this last labour。 In respect of earnest
feeling； far…seeing purpose； character； incident； and a certain loving
picturesqueness blending the whole； I believe it to be much the best of all
his works。 That he fully meant it to be so； that he had become strongly
attached to it； and that he bestowed great pains upon it； I trace in almost
every page。 It contains one picture which must have cost him extreme
distress； and which is a masterpiece。 There are two children in it；
touched with a hand as loving and tender as ever a father caressed his little
child with。 There is some young love as pure and innocent and pretty as
the truth。 And it is very remarkable that； by reason of the singular
construction of the story； more than one main incident usually belonging
to the end of such a fiction is anticipated in the beginning； and thus there is
an approach to completeness in the fragment； as to the satisfaction of the
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reader's mind concerning the most interesting persons； which could hardly
have been better attained if the writer's breaking…off had been foreseen。
The last line he wrote； and the last proof he corrected； are among these
papers through which I have so sorrowfully made my way。 The
condition of the little pages of manuscript where Death stopped his hand；
shows that he had carried them about； and often taken them out of his
pocket here and there； for patient revision and interlineation。 The last
words he corrected in print were； 〃And my heart throbbed with an
exquisite bliss〃。 GOD grant that on that Christmas Eve when he laid his
head back on his pillow and threw up his arms as he had been wont to do
when very weary； some consciousness of duty done and Christian hope
throughout life humbly cherished； may have caused his own heart so to
throb； when he passed away to his Redeemer's rest！
He was found peacefully lying as above described； composed；
undisturbed； and to all appearance asleep； on the twenty…fourth of
December 1863。 He was only in his fifty…third year； so young a man that
the mother who blessed him in his first sleep blessed him in his last。
Twenty years before； he had written； after being in a white squall：
And when； its force expended； The harmless storm was ended； And；
as the sunrise splendid Came blushing o'er the sea； I thought； as day was
breaking； My little girls were waking； And smiling； and making A prayer
at home for me。
Those little girls had grown to be women when the mournful day
broke that saw their father lying dead。 In those twenty years of
companionship with him they had learned much from him； and one of
them has a literary course before her； worthy of her famous name。
On the bright wintry day； the last but one of the old year； he was laid in
his grave at Kensal Green； there to mingle the dust to which the mortal
part of him had returned； with that of a third child； lost in her infancy
years ago。 The heads of a great concourse of his fellow…workers in the
Arts were bowed around his tomb。
ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER INTRODUCTION TO HER
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〃LEGENDS AND LYRICS〃
In the spring of the year 1853； I observed； as conductor of the weekly
journal Household Words； a short poem among the proffered contributions；
very different； as I thought； from the shoal of verses perpetually setting
through the office of such a periodical； and possessing much more merit。
Its authoress was quite unknown to me。 She was one Miss Mary
Berwick； whom I had never heard of； and she was to be addressed by
letter； if addressed at all； at a circulating library in the western district of
London。 Through this channel； Miss Berwick was informed that her
poem was accepted； and was invited to send another。 She complied； and
became a regular and frequent contributor。 Many letters passed between
the journal and Miss Berwick； but Miss Berwick herself was never seen。
How we came gradually to establish； at the office of Household Words；
that we knew all about Miss Berwick； I have never discovered。 But we
settled somehow； to our complete satisfaction； that she was governess in a
family； that she went to Italy in that capacity； and returned； and that she
had long been in the same family。 We really knew nothing whatever of
her； except that she was remarkably business…like； punctual； self…reliant；
and reliable： so I suppose we insensibly invented the rest。 For myself；
my mother was not a more real personage to me； than Miss Berwick the
governess became。
This went on until December； 1854； when the Christmas number；
entitled The Seven Poor Travellers； was sent to press。 Happening to be
going to dine that day with an old and dear friend； distinguished in
literature as Barry Cornwall； I took with me an early proof of that number；
and remarked； as I laid it on the drawing…room table； that it contained a
very pretty poem； written by a certain Miss Berwick。 Next day brought
me the disclosure that I had so spoken of the poem to the mother of its
writer； in its writer's presence； that I had no such correspondent in
existence as Miss Berwick； and that the name had been assumed by Barry
Cornwall's eldest daughter； Miss Adelaide Anne Procter。
The anecdote I have here noted down； besides serving to explain why
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the parents of the late Miss Procter have looked to me for these poor
words of remembrance of their lamented child； strikingly illustrates the
honesty； independence； and quiet dignity； of the lady's character。 I had
known her when she was very young； I had been honoured with her
father's friendship when I was myself a young aspirant； and she had said at
home； 〃If I send him； in my own name； verses that he does not honestly
like； either it will be very painful to him to return them； or he will print
them for papa's sake； and not for their own。 So I have made up my mind
to take my chance fairly with the unknown volunteers。〃
Perhaps it requires an editor's experience of the profoundly
unreasonable grounds on which he is often urged to accept unsuitable
articlessuch as having been to school with the writer's husband's brother…
in…law； or having lent an alpenstock in Switzerland to the writer's wife's
nephew； when that interesting stranger had broken his ownfully to
appreciate the delicacy and the self…respect of this resolution。 Some
verses by Miss Procter had been published in the Book of Beauty； ten
years before she became Miss Berwick。 With the exception of two
poems in the Cornhill Magazine； two in Good Words； and others in a little
book called A Chaplet of Verses （issued in 1862 for the benefit of a Night
Refuge）； her published writings first appeared in Household Words； or All
the Year Round。 The present edition contains the whole of her Legends
and Lyrics； and originates in the great favour with which they have been
received by the public。
Miss Procter was born in Bedford Square； London； on the 30th of
October； 1825。 Her love of poetry was conspicuous at so early an age；
that I have before me a tiny album made of small note…paper； into which
her favourite passages were copied for her by her mother's hand before she
herself could write。 It looks as if she had carried it about； as another little
girl might have carried a doll。 She soon displayed a remarkable memory；
and great quickness of apprehension。 When she was quite a young child；
she learned with facility several of the problems of Euclid。 As she grew
older； she acquired the F
