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the professor at the breakfast table-第13部分
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Not long after the American Revolution; a young lady was sitting in
her father's chaise in a street of this town of Boston。 She
overheard a little girl talking or singing; and was mightily taken
with the tones of her voice。 Nothing would satisfy her but she must
have that little girl come and live in her father's house。 So the
child came; being then nine years old。 Until her marriage she
remained under the same roof with the young lady。 Her children
became successively inmates of the lady's dwelling; and now; seventy
years; or thereabouts; since the young lady heard the child singing;
one of that child's children and one of her grandchildren are with
her in that home; where she; no longer young; except in heart; passes
her peaceful days。 Three generations linked together by so light a
breath of accident!
I likedthe sound of this youth's voice; I said; and his look when I
came to observe him a little more closely。 His complexion had
something better than ;the bloom and freshness which had first
attracted me;it had that diffused tone which is a sure index of
wholesome; lusty life。 A fine liberal style of nature seemed to be:
hair crisped; moustache springing thick and dark; head firmly
planted; lips finished; as is commonly sees them in gentlemen's
families; a pupil well contracted; and a mouth that opened frankly
with a white flash of teeth that looked as if they could serve him as
they say Ethan Allen's used to serve their owner;to draw nails
with。 This is the kind of fellow to walk a frigate's deck and bowl
his broadsides into the 〃Gadlant Thudnder…bomb;〃 or any forty…port…
holed adventurer who would like to exchange a few tons of iron
compliments。 I don't know what put this into my head; for it was
not till some time afterward I learned the young fellow had been in
the naval school at Annapolis。 Something had happened to change his
plan of life; and he was now studying engineering and architecture in
Boston。
When the youth made the short remark which drew my attention to him;
the little deformed gentleman turned round and took a long look at
him。
Good for the Boston boy! he said。
I am not a Boston boy;said the youth; smiling;I am a Marylander。
I don't care where you come from;we'll make a Boston man of you;
said the little gentleman。 Pray; what part of Maryland did you come
from; and how shall I call you?
The poor youth had to speak pretty loud; as he was at the right upper
corner of the table; and the little gentleman next the lower left…
hand corner。 His face flushed a little; but he answered pleasantly;
telling who he was; as if the little man's infirmity gave him a right
to ask any questions he wanted to。
Here is the place for you to sit;said the little gentleman;
pointing to the vacant chair next his own; at the corner。
You're go'n' to have a young lady next you; if you wait till to…
morrow;said the landlady to him。
He did not reply; but I had a fancy that he changed color。 It can't
be that he has susceptibilities with reference to a contingent young
lady! It can't be that he has had experiences which make him
sensitive! Nature could not be quite so cruel as to set a heart
throbbing in that poor little cage of ribs! There is no use in
wasting notes of admiration。 I must ask the landlady about him。
These are some of the facts she furnished。 Has not been long with
her。 Brought a sight of furniture;could n't hardly get some of it
upstairs。 Has n't seemed particularly attentive to the ladies。 The
Bombazine (whom she calls Cousin something or other) has tried to
enter into conversation with him; but retired with the impression
that he was indifferent to ladies' society。 Paid his bill the other
day without saying a word about it。 Paid it in gold;had a great
heap of twenty…dollar pieces。 Hires her best room。 Thinks he is a
very nice little man; but lives dreadful lonely up in his chamber。
Wants the care of some capable nuss。 Never pitied anybody more in
her lifenever see a more interestin' person。
My intention was; when I began making these notes; to let them
consist principally of conversations between myself and the other
boarders。 So they will; very probably; but my curiosity is excited
about this little boarder of ours; and my reader must not be
disappointed; if I sometimes interrupt a discussion to give an
account of whatever fact or traits I may discover about him。 It so
happens that his room is next to mine; and I have the opportunity of
observing many of his ways without any active movements of curiosity。
That his room contains heavy furniture; that he is a restless little
body and is apt to be up late; that he talks to himself; and keeps
mainly to himself; is nearly all I have yet found out。
One curious circumstance happened lately which I mention without
drawing an absolute inference。 Being at the studio of a sculptor
with whom I am acquainted; the other day; I saw a remarkable cast of
a left arm。 On my asking where the model came from; he said it was
taken direct from the arm of a deformed person; who had employed one
of the Italian moulders to make the cast。 It was a curious case; it
should seem; of one beautiful limb upon a frame otherwise singularly
imperfectI have repeatedly noticed this little gentleman's use of
his left arm。 Can he have furnished the model I saw at the
sculptor's?
So we are to have a new boarder to…morrow。 I hope there will be
something pretty and pleasing about her。 A woman with a creamy
voice; and finished in alto rilievo; would be a variety in the
boarding…house;a little more marrow and a little less sinew than
our landlady and her daughter and the bombazine…clad female; all of
whom are of the turkey…drumstick style of organization。 I don't mean
that these are our only female companions; but the rest being
conversational non…combatants; mostly still; sad feeders; who take in
their food as locomotives take in wood and water; and then wither
away from the table like blossoms that never came to fruit; I have
not yet referred to them as individuals。
I wonder what kind of young person we shall see in that empty chair
to…morrow!
I read this song to the boarders after breakfast the other morning。
It was written for our fellows;you know who they are; of course。
THE BOYS。
Has there any old fellow got mixed with the boys?
If there has; take him out; without making a noise!
Hang the Almanac's cheat and the Catalogue's spite!
Old Time is a liar! We're twenty to…night!
We're twenty! We're twenty! Who says we are more?
He's tipsy;young jackanapes!show him the door!
〃Gray temples at twenty?〃Yes! white; if we please;
Where the snow…flakes fall thickest there's nothing can freeze!
Was it snowing I spoke of? Excuse the mistake!
Look close;you will see not a sign of a flake;
We want some new garlands for those we have shed;
And these a
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