the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第4章
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the twilight of a long wooden building； open at both ends。 Here we
stopped； and the conductor； thrusting his head in at the car door； cried out；
〃Passengers for Rivermouth！〃
At last we had reached our journey's end。 On the platform my father
shook hands with a straight； brisk old gentleman whose face was very
serene and rosy。 He had on a white hat and a long swallow…tailed coat； the
collar of which came clear up above his cars。 He didn't look unlike a
Pilgrim Father。 This； of course； was Grandfather Nutter； at whose house I
was born。 My mother kissed him a great many times； and I was glad to see
him myself； though I naturally did not feel very intimate with a person
whom I had not seen since I was eighteen months old。
While we were getting into the double…seated wagon which
Grandfather Nutter had provided； I took the opportunity of asking after the
health of the pony。 The pony had arrived all right ten days before； and was
in the stable at home； quite anxious to see me。 20
As we drove through the quiet old town； I thought Rivermouth the
prettiest place in the world； and I think so still。 The streets are long and
wide； shaded by gigantic American elms； whose drooping branches；
interlacing here and there； span the avenues with arches graceful enough
to be the handiwork of fairies。 Many of the houses have small flower…
gardens in front； gay in the season with china…asters； and are substantially
built； with massive chimney…stacks and protruding eaves。 A beautiful river
goes rippling by the town； and； after turning and twisting among a lot of
tiny islands； empties itself into the sea。 20
The harbor is so fine that the largest ships can sail directly up to the
wharves and drop anchor。 Only they don't。 Years ago it was a famous
seaport。 Princely fortunes were made in the West India trade； and in 1812；
when we were at war with Great Britain； any number of privateers were
fitted out at Rivermouth to prey upon the merchant vessels of the enemy。
Certain people grew suddenly and mysteriously rich。 A great many of 〃the
first families〃 of today do not care to trace their pedigree back to the time
when their grandsires owned shares in the Matilda Jane； twenty…four guns。
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Well； well！
Few ships come to Rivermouth now。 Commerce drifted into other
ports。 The phantom fleet sailed off one day； and never came back again。
The crazy old warehouses are empty； and barnacles and eel…grass cling to
the piles of the crumbling wharves； where the sunshine lies lovingly；
bringing out the faint spicy odor that haunts the place…the ghost of the old
dead West India trade！ During our ride from the station； I was struck； of
course； only by the general neatness of the houses and the beauty of the
elm…trees lining the streets。 I describe Rivermouth now as I came to know
it afterwards。
Rivermouth is a very ancient town。 In my day there existed a tradition
among the boys that it was here Christopher Columbus made his first
landing on this continent。 I remember having the exact spot pointed out to
me by Pepper Whitcomb！ One thing is certain； Captain John Smith； who
afterwards； according to the legend； married Pocahontas…whereby he got
Powhatan for a father…in…law…explored the river in 1614； and was much
charmed by the beauty of Rivermouth； which at that time was covered
with wild strawberry…vines。
Rivermouth figures prominently in all the colonial histories。 Every
other house in the place has its tradition more or less grim and entertaining。
If ghosts could flourish anywhere； there are certain streets in Rivermouth
that would be full of them。 I don't know of a town with so many old
houses。 Let us linger； for a moment； in front of the one which the Oldest
Inhabitant is always sure to point out to the curious stranger。
It is a square wooden edifice； with gambrel roof and deep…set window…
frames。 Over the windows and doors there used to be heavy carvings…oak…
leaves and acorns； and angels' heads with wings spreading from the ears；
oddly jumbled together； but these ornaments and other outward signs of
grandeur have long since disappeared。 A peculiar interest attaches itself to
this house； not because of its age； for it has not been standing quite a
century； nor on account of its architecture； which is not striking … but
because of the illustrious men who at various periods have occupied its
spacious chambers。
In 1770 it was an aristocratic hotel。 At the left side of the entrance
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stood a high post； from which swung the sign of the Earl of Halifax。 The
landlord was a stanch loyalist…that is to say； be believed in the king； and
when the overtaxed colonies determined to throw off the British yoke； the
adherents to the Crown held private meetings in one of the back rooms of
the tavern。 This irritated the rebels； as they were called； and one night they
made an attack on the Earl of Halifax； tore down the signboard； broke in
the window…sashes； and gave the landlord hardly time to make himself
invisible over a fence in the rear。
For several months the shattered tavern remained deserted。 At last the
exiled innkeeper； on promising to do better； was allowed to return； a new
sign； bearing the name of William Pitt； the friend of America； swung
proudly from the door…post； and the patriots were appeased。 Here it was
that the mail…coach from Boston twice a week； for many a year； set down
its load of travelers and gossip。 For some of the details in this sketch； I am
indebted to a recently published chronicle of those times。
It is 1782。The French fleet is lying in the harbor of Rivermouth； and
eight of the principal officers； in white uniforms trimmed with gold lace；
have taken up their quarters at the sign of the William Pitt。 Who is this
young and handsome officer now entering the door of the tavern？ It is no
less a personage than the Marquis Lafayette； who has come all the way
from Providence to visit the French gentlemen boarding there。 What a
gallant…looking cavalier he is； with his quick eyes and coal black hair！
Forty years later he visited the spot again； his locks were gray and his step
was feeble； but his heart held its young love for Liberty。
Who is this finely dressed traveler alighting from his coach and…four；
attended by servants in livery？ Do you know that sounding name； written
in big valorous letters on the Declaration of Independence…written as if by
the hand of a giant？ Can you not see it now？ JOHN HANCOCK。 This is
he。
Three young men； with their valet； are standing on the doorstep of the
William Pitt； bowing politely； and inquiring in the most courteous terms in
the world if they can be accommodated。 It is the time of the French
Revolution； and these are three sons of the Duke of Orleans…Louis
Philippe and his two brothers。 Louis Philippe never forgot his visit to
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Rivermouth。 Years afterwards； when he was seated on the throne of France；
he asked an American lady； who chanced to be at his court； if the pleasant
old mansion were still standing。
But a greater and a better man than the king of the French has honored
this roof。 Here； in 1789； came George Washington； the President of the
United States； to pay his final complimentary visit to the State dignitaries。
The wainscoted chamber where he slept； and the dining…hall where he
entertained his guests； have a certain dignity and sanctity which even the
present Irish tenants cannot wholly destroy。
During the period of my reign at Rivermouth； an ancient lady； Dame
Jocelyn by name； lived in one of the upper rooms of this notable building。
She was a dashing young belle at the time of Washington's first visit to the
town； and must have been exceedingly coquettish and pretty； judging from
a certain portrait on ivory still in the possession of the family。 According
to Dame Jocelyn； George Washington flirted with her just a little bit…in
what a stately and highly finished manner can be imagined。
There was a mirror with a deep filigreed frame hanging over the
mantel…piece in this room。 The glass was cracked and the quicksilver
rubbed off or discolored in many places。 When it reflected your face you
had the singular pleasure of not recognizing yourself。 It gave your features
the appearance of having been run through a mince…meat machine。 But
what rendered the looking…glass a thing of enchantment to me was a faded
green feather； tipped with scarlet； which drooped from the top of the
tarnished gilt mouldings。 This feather Washington took from the plume of
his three…cornered hat； and presented with his own hand to the worshipful
Mistress Jocelyn the day he left Rivermouth forever。 I wish I could
describe the mincing genteel air； and the ill…concealed self…complacency；
with which the dear old lady related the incident。
Many a Saturday afternoon have I climbed up the rickety staircase to
that dingy room； which always had a flavor of snuff about it； to sit on a
stiff…backed chair and listen for hours together to Dame Jocelyn's stories
of the olden time。 How she would prattle！ She was bedridden…poor
creature！…and had not been out of the chamber for fourteen years。
Meanwhile the world had shot ahead of Dame Jocelyn。 The changes that
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had taken place under her very nose were unknown to this faded； crooning
old gentlewoman； whom the eighteenth century had neglected to
