eben holden-第43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！


any　o'　them　fellers　they're　goin'　t'　find　me　purty　middlin'　poor　comp'ny。'

We　were　up　and　on　deck　at　daylight；　viewing　the　Palisades。　The　lonely　feeling　of　an　alien　hushed　us　into　silence　as　we　came　to　the　noisy　and　thickening　river　craft　at　the　upper　end　of　the　city。　Countless　window　panes　were　shining　in　the　morning　sunlight。　This　thought　was　in　my　mind　that　somewhere　in　the　innumerable　host　on　either　side　was　the　one　dearer　to　me　than　any　other。　We　enquired　our　way　at　the　dock　and　walked　to　French's　Hotel；　on　Printing　House　Square。　After　breakfast　we　went　and　ordered　all　the　grand　new　things　we　had　planned　to　get。　They　would　not　be　ready　for　two　days；　and　after　talking　it　over　we　decided　to　go　and　make　a　short　call。　Hope；　who　had　been　up　and　looking　for　us　a　long　time；　gave　us　a　greeting　so　hearty　we　began　to　get　the　first　feeling　of　comfort　since　landing。　She　was　put　out　about　our　having　had　breakfast；　I　remember；　and　said　we　must　have　our　things　brought　there　at　once。

'I　shall　have　to　stay　at　the　hotel　awhile；'　I　said；　thinking　of　the　new　clothes。

'Why；'　said　Mrs　Fuller；　'this　girl　has　been　busy　a　week　fixing　your　rooms　and　planning　for　you。　We　could　not　hear　of　your　going　elsewhere。　It　would　be　downright　ingratitude　to　her。'

A　glow　of　red　came　into　the　cheeks　of　Hope　that　made　me　ashamed　of　my　remark。　I　thought　she　looked　lovelier　in　her　pretty　blue　morning　gown；　covering　a　broad　expanse　of　crinoline；　than　ever　before。

'And　you've　both　got　to　come　and　hear　me　sing　tonight　at　the　church；'　said　she。　'I　wouldn't　have　agreed　to　sing　if　I　had　not　thought　you　were　to　be　here。'

We　made　ourselves　at　home；　as　we　were　most　happy　to　do；　and　that　afternoon　I　went　down　town　to　present　to　Mr　Greeley　the　letter　that　David　Brower　had　given　me。

Chapter　29

I　came　down　Broadway　that　afternoon　aboard　a　big　white　omnibus；　that　drifted　slowly　in　a　tide　of　many　vehicles。　Those　days　there　were　a　goodly　show　of　trees　on　either　side　of　that　thoroughfare　…　elms；　with　here　and　there　a　willow；　a　sumach　or　a　mountain　ash。　The　walks　were　thronged　with　handsome　people　…　dandies　with　high　hats　and　flaunting　necknes　and　swinging　canes　…　beautiful　women；　each　covering　a　broad　circumference　of　the　pavement；　with　a　cone　of　crinoline　that　swayed　over　dainty　feet。　　From　Grace　Church　down　it　was　much　of　the　same　thing　we　see　now；　with　a　more　ragged　sky　line。　Many　of　the　great　buildings；　of　white　and　red　sandstone；　had　then　appeared；　but　the　street　was　largely　in　the　possession　of　small　shops　…　oyster　houses；　bookstores　and　the　like。　Not　until　I　neared　the　sacred　temple　of　the　Tribune　did　I　feel　a　proper　sense　of　my　own　littleness。　There　was　the　fountain　of　all　that　wisdom　which　had　been　read　aloud　and　heard　with　reverence　in　our　household　since　a　time　I　could　but　dimly　remember。　There　sat　the　prophet　who　had　given　us　so　much　…　his　genial　views　of　life　and　government；　his　hopes；　his　fears；　his　mighty　wrath　at　the　prospering　of　cruelty　and　injustice。

'I　would　like　to　see　Mr　Horace　Greeley；'　I　said；　rather　timidly；　at　the　counter。

'Walk　right　up　those　stairs　and　turn　to　the　left；'　said　a　clerk；　as　he　opened　a　gate　for　me。

Ascending；　I　met　a　big　man　coming　down；　hurriedly；　and　with　heavy　steps。　We　stood　dodging　each　other　a　moment　with　that　unfortunate　co…ordination　of　purpose　men　sometimes　encounter　when　passing　each　other。　Suddeniy　the　big　man　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　stairway　and　held　both　of　his　hands　above　his　head。

'In　God's　name！　young　man；'　said　he；　'take　your　choice。'

He　spoke　in　a　high；　squeaky　voice　that　cut　me　with　the　sharpness　of　its　irritation。　I　went　on　past　him　and　entered　an　open　door　near　the　top　of　the　stairway。

'Is　Mr　Horace　Greeley　in？'　I　enquired　of　a　young　man　who　sat　reading　papers。

'Back　soon；'　said　he；　without　looking　up。　'Take　a　chair。'

In　a　little　while　I　heard　the　same　heavy　feet　ascending　the　stairway　two　steps　at　a　time。　Then　the　man　I　had　met　came　hurriedly　into　the　room。

'This　is　Mr　Greeley；'　said　the　yo'mg　man　who　was　reading。

The　great　editor　turned　and　looked　at　me　through　gold…rimmed　spectacles。　I　gave　him　my　letter　out　of　a　trembling　hand。　He　removed　it　from　the　envelope　and　held　it　close　to　his　big；　kindly；　smooth…shaven　face。　There　was　a　fringe　of　silky；　silver　hair；　streaked　with　yellow；　about　the　lower　part　of　his　head　from　temple　to　temple。　It　also　encircled　his　throat　from　under　his　collar。　His　cheeks　were　fall　and　fair　as　a　lady's；　with　rosy　spots　in　them　and　a　few　freckles　about　his　nose。　He　laughed　as　he　finished　reading　the　letter。

'Are　you　Dave　Brower's　boy？'　he　asked　in　a　drawling　falsetto；　looking　at　me　out　of　grey　eyes　and　smiling　with　good　humour。

'By　adoption；'　I　answered。'

'He　was　an　almighty　good　rassler；'　he　said；　deliberately；　as　he　looked　again　at　the　letter。'

'What　do　you　want　to　do？'　he　asked　abruptly。'

'Want　to　work　on　the　Tribune；'　I　answered。'

'Good　Lord！　　he　said。　'I　can't　hire　everybody。'

I　tried　to　think　of　some　argument；　but　what　with　looking　at　the　great　man　before　me；　and　answering　his　questions　and　maintaining　a　decent　show　of　dignity；　I　had　enough　to　do。

'Do　you　read　the　Tribune？　　he　asked。'

'Read　it　ever　since　I　can　remember。'

'What　do　you　think　of　the　administration？　

'Lot　of　dough　faces！　　I　answered；　smiling；　as　I　saw　he　recognised　his　own　phrase。　He　sat　a　moment　tapping　the　desk　with　his　penholder。'

'There's　so　many　liars　here　in　New　York；'　　he　said；　'there　ought　to　be　room　for　an　honest　man。　How　are　the　crops？'

'Fair；　　I　answered。　'Big　crop　of　boys　every　year。'　

'And　now　you　re　trying　to　find　a　market；　　he　remarked。'

'Want　to　have　you　try　them；'　I　answered。

'Well；'　said　he；　very　seriously；　turning　to　his　desk　that　came　up　to　his　chin　as　he　sat　beside　it；　'go　and　write　me　an　article　about　rats。'

'Would　you　advise…；'　I　started　to　say；　when　he　interrupted　me。

'The　man　that　gives　advice　is　a　bigger　fool　than　the　man　that　takes　it；'　he　fleered　impatiently。　'Go　and　do　your　best！'　

Before　he　had　given　me　this　injunction　he　had　dipped　his　pen　and　begun　to　write　hurriedly。　If　I　had　known　him　longer　I　should　have　known　that；　while　he　had　been　talking　to　me；　that　tireless　mind　of　his　had　summoned　him　to　its　service。　I　went　out；　in　high　spirits；　and　sat　down　a　moment　on　one　of　the　benches　in　the　little　park　near　by；　to　think　it　all　over。　He　was　going　to　measure　my　judgement；　my　skill　as　a　writer…　my　resources。　'Rats；'　I　said　to　myself　thoughtfully。　1　had　read　much　about　them。　They　infested　the　ships；　they　overran　the　wharves；　they　traversed　the　sewers。　An　inspiration　came　to　me。　I　started　for　the　waterfront；　asking　my　way　every　block　or　two。　Near　the　East　River　I　met　a　policeman　…　a　big；　husky；　good…hearted　Irishman。

'Can　you　tell　me；'　I　said；　'who　can　give　me　information　about　rats？'　

'Rats？'　he　repeated。　'What　d'　ye　wan't'　know　about　thim？'

'Everything；'I　said。　'They　ve　just　given　me　a　job　on　the　New　York　Tribune；'I　added　proudly。

He　smiled　good…naturedly。　He　had　looked　through　me　at　a　glance。

'Just　say　〃Tribune〃；'　　he　said。　'Ye　don't　have　t　　say　〃New　York　Tribune〃　here。　Come　along　wi　　me。'　

He　took　me　to　a　dozen　or　more　of　the　dock　masters。

'Give　'im　a　lift；　my　heart