eben holden-第42部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



'Wife'n　I　hes　talked　it　over　a　good　deal；'　said　the　man。　'Some　says　it's　ag'in　the　Bible。　The　minister　'at　preaches　over　'n　our　neighbourhood　says　if　God　hed　wanted　men　t'　fly　he'd　g'in　'em　wings。'

'S'pose　if　he'd　ever　wanted　'm　t'　skate　he'd　hed　'em　born　with　skates　on？'　said　Uncle　Eb。

'Danno；'　said　the　man。　'It　behooves　us　all　to　be　careful。　The　Bible　says　〃Go　not　after　new　things。〃'

'My　friend；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　between　bites　of　a　doughnut；　'I　don'　care　what　I　ride　in　so　long　as　'tain't　a　hearse。　I　want　sumthin'　at's　comfortable　an'　purty　middlin'　spry。　It'll　do　us　good　up　here　t'　git　jerked　a　few　hunderd　miles　an'　back　ev'ry　leetle　while。　Keep　our　j'ints　limber。　We'll　live　longer　fer　it；　an'　thet'll　please　God　sure　…　cuz　I　don't　think　he's　hankerin'　fer　our　society　…　not　a　bit。　Don'　make　no　difference　t'　hirn　whuther　we　ride　'n　a　spring　wagon　er　on　the　cars　so　long's　we're　right　side　up　'n　movin'。　We　need　more　steam；　we're　too　dum　slow。　Kind　o'　think　a　leetle　more　steam　in　our　religion　wouldn't　hurt　us　a　bit。　It's　purty　fur　behind。'

We　got　to　Albany　in　the　evening；　just　in　time　for　the　night　boat。　Uncle　Eb　was　a　sight　in　his　dusty　broadcloth；　when　we　got　off　the　cars；　and　I　know　my　appearance　could　not　have　been　prepossessing。　Once　we　were　aboard　the　boat　and　had　dusted　our　clothes　and　bathed　our　hands　and　faces　we　were　in　better　spirits。

'Consarn　it！'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　we　left　the　washroom；　'le's　have　a　dum　good　supper。　I'll　stan'　treat'

'Comes　a　leetle　bit　high；'　he　said；　as　he　paid　the　bill；　'but　I　don'　care　if　it　does。　'Fore　we　left　I　says　t'　myself；　〃Uncle　Eb；〃　says　I；　〃you　go　right　in　fer　a　good　time　an'　don'　ye　count　the　pennies。　Everybody's　a　right　t'　be　reckless　once　in　seventy…five　year。〃'

We　went　to　our　stateroom　a　little　after　nine。　I　remember　the　berths　had　not　been　made　up；　and　removing　our　boots　and　coats　we　lay　down　upon　the　bare　mattresses。　Even　then　I　had　a　lurking　fear　that　we　might　be　violating　some　rule　of　steamboat　etiquette。　when　I　went　to　New　York　before　I　had　dozed　all　night　in　the　big　cabin。

A　dim　light　came　through　the　shuttered　door　that　opened　upon　the　dinning…saloon　where　the　rattle　of　dishes　for　a　time　put　away　the　possibility　of　sleep。

'I'll　be　awful　glad　t'　see　Hope；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　lay　gaping。

'Guess　I'll　be　happier　to　see　her　than　she　will　to　see　me；'　I　said。

'What　put　that　in　yer　head？'　Unde　Eb　enquired。

''Fraid　we've　got　pretty　far　apart；'　said　I。

'Shame　on　ye；　Bill；'　said　the　old　gentleman。　'If　thet's　so　ye　ain't　done　right　Hedn't　orter　let　a　girl　like　thet　git　away　from　ye　…　th'　ain't　another　like　her　in　this　world。'

'I　know　it'　I　said'　'but　I　can't　help　it　Somebody's　cut　me　out　Uncle　Eb。'

''Tain't　so；'　said　he　emphatically。　'Ye　want　t'　prance　right　up　t'　her。'

'I'm　not　afraid　of　any　woman；'　I　said；　with　a　great　air　of　bravery；　'but　if　she　don't　care　for　me　I　ought　not　to　throw　myself　at　her。'

'Jerusalem！'　said　Uncle　Eb；　rising　up　suddenly；　'what　hev　I　gone　an'　done？'

He　jumped　out　of　his　berth　quickly　and　in　the　dim　light　I　could　see　him　reaching　for　several　big　sheets　of　paper　adhering　to　the　back　of　his　shirt　and　trousers。　I　went　quickly　to　his　assistance　and　began　stripping　off　the　broadsheets　which；　covered　with　some　strongly　adhesive　substance；　had　laid　a　firm　hold　upon　him。　I　rang　the　bell　and　ordered　a　light。

'Consam　it　all！　what　be　they　…　plasters？'　said　Uncle　Eb；　quite　out　of　patience。

'Pieces　of　brown　paper；　covered　with　…　West　India　molasses；　I　should　think；'　said　I。

'West　Injy　molasses！'　he　exclaimed。　'By　mighty！　That　makes　me　hotter'n　a　pancake。　what's　it　on　the　bed　fer？'

'To　catch　flies；'　I　answered。

'An'　ketched　me；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　flung　the　sheet　he　was　examimng　into　a　corner。　'My　extry　good　suit'　too！'

He　took　off　his　trousers；　then；　holding　them　up　to　the　light。

'They're　sp'ilt；'　said　he　mournfully。　'Hed　'em　fer　more'n　ten　year；　too。'

'That's　long　enough；'　I　suggested。

'Got　kind　o'　'tached　to　'em；'　he　said；　looking　down　at　them　and　rubbing　his　chin　thoughtfully。　Then　we　had　a　good　laugh。

'You　can　put　on　the　other　suit；'　I　suggested；　'and　when　we　get　to　the　city　we'll　have　these　fixed。'

'Leetle　sorry；　though；'　said　he；　'cuz　that　other　suit　don'　look　reel　grand。　This　here　one　has　been　purty　…　purty　scrumptious　in　its　day　…　if　I　do　say　it。'

'You　look　good　enough　in　anything　that's　respectable；'　I　said。

'Kind　o'　wanted　to　look　a　leetle　extry　good；　as　ye　might　say；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　groping　in　his　big　carpet…bag。　'Hope；　she's　terrible　proud；　an'　if　they　should　hev　a　leetle　fiddlin'　an'　dancin'　some　night　we'd　want　t'　be　as　stylish　as　any　on　em。　B'lieve　I'll　go'n　git　me　a　spang；　bran'　new　suit；　anyway；　'fore　we　go　up　t'　Fuller's。'

As　we　neared　the　city　we　both　began　feeling　a　bit　doubtful　as　to　whether　we　were　quite　ready　for　the　ordeal。

'I　ought　to；'　I　said。　'Those　I'm　wearing　aren't　quite　stylish　enough；　I'm　afraid。'

'They're　han'some；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　looking　up　over　his　spectacles；　'but　mebbe　they　ain't　just　as　splendid　as　they'd　orter　be。　How　much　money　did　David　give　ye？'

'One　hundred　and　fifty　dollars；'　I　said；　thinking　it　a　very　grand　sum　indeed。

''Tain't　enough；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　bolting　up　at　me　again。　'Leastways　not　if　ye're　goin'　t'　hev　a　new　suit。　I　want　ye　t'　be　spick　an'　span。'

He　picked　up　his　trousers　then；　and　took　out　his　fat　leather　wallet。

'Lock　the　door；'　he　whispered。

'Pop　goes　the　weasel！'　he　exclaimed；　good…naturedly；　and　then　he　began　counting　the　bills。

'I'm　not　going　to　take　any　more　of　your　money；　Uncle　Eb；'　I　said。

'Tut；　tut！'　said　he；　'don't　ye　try　t'　interfere。　what　d'　ye　think　they'll　charge　in　the　city　fer　a　reel；　splendid　suit？'

He　stopped　and　looked　up　at　me。

'Probably　as　much　as　fifty　dollars；'　I　answered。

'Whew…w…w！'　he　whistled。　'Patty　steep！　It　is　sartin。'

'Let　me　go　as　I　am〃　said　I。　'Time　enough　to　have　a　new　suit　when　I've　earned　it。'

'Wall；'　he　said；　as　he　continued　counting；　'I　guess　you've　earnt　it　already。　Ye've　studied　hard　an'　tuk　first　honours　an'　yer　goin'　where　folks　are　purty　middlin'　proud'n　haughty。　I　want　ye　t'　be　a　reg'lar　high　stepper；　with　a　nice；　slick　coat。　There；'　he　whispered；　as　he　handed　me　the　money；　'take　thet！　An'　don't　ye　never　tell　'at　I　g'in　it　t'　ye。'

I　could　not　speak　for　a　little　while；　as　I　took　the　money；　for　thinking　of　the　many；　many　things　this　grand　old　man　had　done　for　me。

'Do　ye　think　these　boots'll　do？'　he　asked；　as　he　held　up　to　the　light　the　pair　he　had　taken　off　in　the　evening。

'They　look　all　right；'　I　said。

'Ain't　got　no　decent　squeak　to　'em　now；　an'　they　seem　t'　look　kind　o'　clumsy。　How're　your'n？'　he　asked。

I　got　them　out　from　under　the　berth　and　we　inspected　them　carefully　deciding　in　the　end　they　would　pass　muster。

The　steward　had　made　up　our　berths；　when　he　came；　and　lit　our　room　for　us。　Our　feverish　discussion　of　attire　had　carried　us　far　past　midnight；　when　we　decided　to　go　to　bed。

'S'pose　we　musm't　talk　t'　no　strangers　there　'n　New　York；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　lay　down。　'I've　read　'n　the　Triburne　how　they'll　purtend　t'　be　friends　an'　then　grab　yer　money　an'　run　like　Sam　Hill。　If　I　meet　any　o'　them　fellers　they're　goin'　t'