dickory cronke(迪克雷·克龙克)-第2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！
… Page 7…
DICKORY CRONKE
extortion。 His books； of which he had a considerable quantity； and some
of them very good ones； together with his other equipage； he got packed
up； that nothing might be wanting against the first opportunity。
In a few days he heard of a vessel bound to Padstow； the very port he
wished to go to； being within four or five miles of the place where he was
born。 When he came thither； which was in less than a week； his first
business was to inquire after the state of his family。 It was some time
before he could get any information of them； until an old man that knew
his father and mother； and remembered they had a son was born dumb；
recollected him； and after a great deal of difficulty； made him understand
that all his family except his youngest sister were dead； and that she was a
widow； and lived at a little town called St。 Helen's； about ten miles farther
in the country。
This doleful news； we must imagine； must be extremely shocking； and
add a new sting to his former affliction； and here it was that he began to
exercise the philosopher； and to demonstrate himself both a wise and a
good man。 All these things； thinks he； are the will of Providence； and
must not be disputed； and so he bore up under them with an entire
resignation； resolving that； as soon as he could find a place where he
might deposit his trunk and boxes with safety； he would go to St。 Helen's
in quest of his sister。
How his sister and he met； and how transported they were to see each
other after so long an interval； I think is not very material。 It is enough for
the present purpose that Dickory soon recollected his sister； and she him；
and after a great many endearing tokens of love and tenderness； he wrote
to her； telling her that he believed Providence had bestowed on him as
much as would support him as long as he lived； and that if she thought
proper he would come and spend the remainder of his days with her。
The good woman no sooner read his proposal than she accepted it；
adding； withal； that she could wish her entertainment was better； but if he
would accept of it as it was； she would do her best to make everything
easy； and that he should be welcome upon his own terms； to stay with her
as long as he pleased。
This affair being so happily settled to his full satisfaction； he returns to
7
… Page 8…
DICKORY CRONKE
Padstow to fetch the things he had left behind him； and the next day came
back to St。 Helen's； where； according to his own proposal； he continued to
the day of his death； which happened upon the 29th of May； 1718； about
the same hour in which he was born。
Having thus given a short detail of the several periods of his life；
extracted chiefly from the papers which he left behind him； I come in the
next place to make a few observations how he managed himself and spent
his time toward the latter part of it。
His constant practice； both winter and summer； was to rise and set with
the sun； and if the weather would permit； he never failed to walk in some
unfrequented place； for three hours； both morning and evening； and there
it is supposed he composed the following meditations。 The chief part of
his sustenance was milk； with a little bread boiled in it； of which in the
morning； after his walk； he would eat the quantity of a pint； and sometimes
more。 Dinners he never eat any； and at night he would only have a pretty
large piece of bread； and drink a draught of good spring water； and after
this method he lived during the whole time he was at St。 Helen's。 It is
observed of him that he never slept out of a bed； nor never lay awake in
one； which I take to be an argument； not only of a strong and healthful
constitution； but of a mind composed and calm； and entirely free from the
ordinary disturbances of human life。 He never gave the least signs of
complaint or dissatisfaction at anything； unless it was when he heard the
tinners swear； or saw them drunk； and then； too； he would get out of the
way as soon as he had let them see； by some significant signs； how
scandalous and ridiculous they made themselves； and against the next time
he met them； would be sure to have a paper ready written； wherein he
would represent the folly of drunkenness； and the dangerous consequences
that generally attended it。
Idleness was his utter aversion； and if at any time he had finished the
business of the day； and was grown weary of reading and writing； in which
he daily spent six hours at least； he would certainly find something either
within doors or without； to employ himself。
Much might be said both with regard to the wise and regular
management； and the prudent methods he took to spend his time well
8
… Page 9…
DICKORY CRONKE
towards the declension of his life； but； as his history may perhaps be
shortly published at large by a better hand； I shall only observe in the
general； that he was a person of great wisdom and sagacity。 He
understood nature beyond the ordinary capacity； and； if he had had a
competency of learning suitable to his genius； neither this nor the former
ages would have produced a better philosopher or a greater man。
I come next to speak of the manner of his death and the consequences
thereof； which are； indeed； very surprising； and； perhaps； not altogether
unworthy a general observation。 I shall relate them as briefly as I can；
and leave every one to believe or disbelieve as he thinks proper。
Upon the 26th of May； 1718； according to his usual method； about four
in the afternoon； he went out to take his evening walk； but before he could
reach the place he intended； he was siezed with an apoplectic fit； which
only gave him liberty to sit down under a tree； where； in an instant； he was
deprived of all manner of sense and motion； and so he continued； as
appears by his own confession afterwards； for more than fourteen hours。
His sister； who knew how exact he was in all his methods； finding him
stay a considerable time beyond the usual hour； concludes that some
misfortune must needs have happened to him； or he would certainly have
been at home before。 In short； she went immediately to all the places he
was wont to frequent； but nothing could be heard or seen of him till the
next morning； when a young man； as he was going to work； discovered
him； and went home and told his sister that her brother lay in such a place；
under a tree； and； as he believed had been robbed and murdered。
The poor woman； who had all night been under the most dreadful
apprehensions； was now frightened and confounded to the last degree。
However； recollecting herself； and finding there was no remedy； she got
two or three of her neighbours to bear her company； and so hastened with
the young man to the tree； where she found her brother lying in the same
posture that he had described。
The dismal object at first view startled and surprised everybody
present； and filled them full of different notions and conjectures。 But some
of the company going nearer to him； and finding that he had lost nothing；
and that there were no marks of any violence to be discovered about him；
9
… Page 10…
DICKORY CRONKE
they conclude that it must be an apoplectic or some other sudden fit that
had surprised him in his walk； upon which his sister and the rest began to
feel his hands and face； and observing that he was still warm； and that
there were some symptoms of life yet remaining； they conclude that the
best way was to carry him home to bed； which was accordingly done with
the utmost expedition。
When they had got him into the bed； nothing was omitted that they
could think of to bring him to himself； but still he continued utterly
insensible for about six hours。 At the sixth hour's end he began to move
a little； and in a very short time was so far recovered； to the great
astonishment of everybody about him； that he was able to look up； and to
make a sign to his sister to bring him a cup of water。
After he had drunk the water he soon perceived that all his faculties
were returned to their former stations； and though his strength was very
much abated by the length and rigour of the fit； yet his intellects were as
strong and vigorous as ever。
His sister observing him to look earnestly upon the company； as if he
had something extraordinary to communicate to them； fetched him a pen
and ink and a sheet of paper； which； after a short pause； he took； and wrote
as follows：…
〃Dear sister；
〃I have now no need of pen； ink； and paper； to tell you my meaning。 I
find the strings that bound up my tongue； and hindered me from speaking；
are unloosed； and I have words to express myself as freely and distinctly
as any other person。 From whence this strange and unexpected event
should proceed； I must not pretend to say； any farther than this； that it is
doubtless the hand of Providence that has done it； and in that I ought to
acquiesce。 Pray let me be alone for two or three hours； that I may be at
liberty to compose myself； and put my thoughts in the best order I can
before I leave them behind me。〃
The poor woman； though extremely startled at what her brother had
written； yet took care to conceal it from the neighbours； who； she knew； as
well as she； must be mightily surprised at a thing so utterly unexpected。
Says she； my brother desires to be alone； I believe he may have something
10
… Page 11…
DICKORY CRONKE
i
