the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第6章
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A single voyage satisfied him。 There never was but one of our family who
didn't run away to sea； and this one died at his birth。 My grandfather had
also been a soldier…a captain of militia in 1812。 If I owe the British nation
anything； I owe thanks to that particular British soldier who put a musket…
ball into the fleshy part of Captain Nutter's leg； causing that noble warrior
a slight permanent limp； but offsetting the injury by furnishing him with
the material for a story which the old gentleman was never weary of
telling and I never weary of listening to。 The story； in brief； was as
follows。
At the breaking out of the war； an English frigate lay for several days
off the coast near Rivermouth。 A strong fort defended the harbor； and a
regiment of minute…men； scattered at various points along…shore； stood
ready to repel the boats； should the enemy try to effect a landing。 Captain
Nutter had charge of a slight earthwork just outside the mouth of the river。
Late one thick night the sound of oars was heard； the sentinel tried to fire
off his gun at half…cock； and couldn't； when Captain Nutter sprung upon
the parapet in the pitch darkness； and shouted； 〃Boat ahoyl〃 A musket…shot
immediately embedded itself in the calf of his leg。 The Captain tumbled
into the fort and the boat； which had probably come in search of water；
pulled back to the frigate。
This was my grandfather's only exploit during the war。 That his
prompt and bold conduct was instrumental in teaching the enemy the
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hopelessness of attempting to conquer such a people was among the firm
beliefs of my boyhood。
At the time I came to Rivermouth my grandfather had retired from
active pursuits； and was living at ease on his money； invested principally
in shipping。 He bad been a widower many years； a maiden sister； the
aforesaid Miss Abigail； managing his household。 Miss Abigail also
managed her brother； and her brother's servant； and the visitor at her
brother's gate…not in a tyrannical spirit； but from a philanthropic desire to
be useful to everybody。 In person she was tall and angular； she had a gray
complexion； gray eyes； gray eyebrows； and generally wore a gray dress。
Her strongest weak point was a belief in the efficacy of 〃hot…drops〃 as a
cure for all known diseases。
If there were ever two people who seemed to dislike each other； Miss
Abigail and Kitty Collins were those people。 If ever two people really
loved each other； Miss Abigail and Kitty Collins were those people also。
They were always either skirmishing or having a cup of tea lovingly
together。
Miss Abigail was very fond of me； and so was Kitty； and in the course
of their disagreements each let me into the private history of the other。
According to Kitty； it was not originally my grandfather's intention to
have Miss Abigail at the head of his domestic establishment。 She had
swooped down on him （Kitty's own words）； with a band…box in one hand
and a faded blue cotton umbrella； still in existence； in the other。 Clad in
this singular garb…I do not remember that Kitty alluded to…any additional
peculiarity of dress…Miss Abigail bad made her appearance at the door of
the Nutter House on the morning of my grandmother's funeral。 The small
amount of baggage which the lady brought with her would have led the
superficial observer to infer that Miss Abigail's visit was limited to a few
days。 I run ahead of my story in saying she remained seventeen years！
How much longer she would have remained can never be definitely
known now； as she died at the expiration of that period。
Whether or not my grandfather was quite pleased by this unlooked…for
addition to his family is a problem。 He was very kind always to Miss
Abigail； and seldom opposed her； though I think she must have tried his
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patience sometimes； especially when she interfered with Kitty。
Kitty Collins； or Mrs。 Catherine； as she preferred to be called； was
descended in a direct line from an extensive family of kings who formerly
ruled over Ireland。 In consequence of various calamities； among which the
failure of the potato…crop may be mentioned； Miss Kitty Collins； in
company with several hundred of her countrymen and countrywomen…also
descended from kings…came over to America in an emigrant ship； in the
year eighteen hundred and something。
I don't know what freak of fortune caused the royal exile to turn up at
Rivermouth； but turn up she did； a few months after arriving in this
country； and was hired by my grandmother to do 〃general housework〃 for
the sum of four shillings and six…pence a week。
Kitty had been living about seven years in my grandfather's family
when she unburdened her heart of a secret which had been weighing upon
it all that time。 It may be said of people； as it is said of nations； 〃Happy
are they that have no history。〃 Kitty had a history； and a pathetic one； I
think。
On board the emigrant ship that brought her to America； she became
acquainted with a sailor； who； being touched by Kitty's forlorn condition；
was very good to her。 Long before the end of the voyage； which had been
tedious and perilous； she was heartbroken at the thought of separating
from her kindly protector； but they were not to part just yet； for the sailor
returned Kitty's affection； and the two were married on their arrival at port。
Kitty's husband…she would never mention his name； but kept it locked in
her bosom like some precious relic…had a considerable sum of money
when the crew were paid off； and the young couple…for Kitty was young
then…lived very happily in a lodging…house on South Street； near the docks。
This was in New York。
The days flew by like hours； and the stocking in which the little bride
kept the funds shrunk and shrunk； until at last there were only three or four
dollars left in the toe of it。 Then Kitty was troubled； for she knew her
sailor would have to go to sea again unless he could get employment on
shore。 This he endeavored to do； but not with much success。 One morning
as usual he kissed her good day； and set out in search of work。
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〃Kissed me goodby； and called me his little Irish lass；〃 sobbed Kitty；
telling the story； 〃kissed me goodby； and； Heaven help me； I niver set oi on
him nor on the likes of him again！〃
He never came back。 Day after day dragged on； night after night； and
then the weary weeks。 What had become of him？ Had be been murdered？
Had be fallen into the docks？ Had he…deserted her？ No！ She could not
believe that； he was too brave and tender and true。 She couldn't believe
that。 He was dead； dead； or he'd come back to her。
Meanwhile the landlord of the lodging…house turned Kitty into the
streets； now that 〃her man〃 was gone； and the payment of the rent doubtful。
She got a place as a servant。 The family she lived with shortly moved to
Boston； and she accompanied them； then they went abroad； but Kitty
would not leave America。 Somehow she drifted to Rivermouth； and for
seven long years never gave speech to her sorrow； until the kindness of
strangers； who had become friends to her； unsealed the heroic lips。
Kitty's story； you may be sure； made my grandparents treat her more
kindly than ever。 In time she grew to be regarded less as a servant than as
a friend in the home circle； sharing its joys and sorrows…a faithful nurse； a
willing slave； a happy spirit in spite of all。 I fancy I hear her singing over
her work in the kitchen； pausing from time to time to make some witty
reply to Miss Abigail…for Kitty； like all her race； had a vein of unconscious
humor。 Her bright honest face comes to me out from the past； the light and
life of the Nutter House when I was a boy at Rivermouth。
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Six
Lights and Shadows
The first shadow that fell upon me in my new home was caused by the
return of my parents to New Orleans。 Their visit was cut short by business
which required my father's presence in Natchez； where he was establishing
a branch of the bankinghouse。 When they had gone； a sense of loneliness
such as I had never dreamed of filled my young breast。 I crept away to the
stable； and； throwing my arms about Gypsy's neck； sobbed aloud。 She too
had come from the sunny South； and was now a stranger in a strange land。
The little mare seemed to realize our situation； and gave me all the
sympathy I could ask； repeatedly rubbing her soft nose over my face and
lapping up my salt tears with evident relish。
When night came； I felt still more lonesome。 My grandfather sat in his
arm…chair the greater part of the evening； reading the Rivermouth Bamacle；
the local newspaper。 There was no gas in those days； and the Captain read
by the aid of a small block…tin lamp； which he held in one hand。 I observed
that he had a habit of dropping off into a doze every three or four minutes；
and I forgot my homesickness at intervals in watching him。 Two or three
times； to my vast amusement； he scorched the edges of the newspaper with
the wick of the lamp； and at about half past eight o'clock I had the
satisfactions am sorry to confess it was a satisfaction…of seeing the
Rivermouth Barnacle in flames。
My grandfather leisurely extinguished the fire with his hands； and
Miss Abigail； who sat near a low table； knitting by the light of an astral
lamp； did not even look up。 She was quite used to this catastrophe。
There was little or no conversation d
