eben holden-第62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！


　preach　the　sermon　without　charge。　

'On　what　text？'the　obituary　editor　enquired。

'〃There　remaineth　therefore；　a　rest　for　the　people　of　God；〃'quoth　McClingan　solemnly。　'Hebrews；　fourth　chapter　and　ninth　verse。　

'If　I　continue　to　live　with　you　I　shall　need　it；'said　Force。

'And　if　I　endure　to　the　end；'said　McClingan；　'I　shall　have　excellent　Christian　discipline；　I　shall　feel　like　opening　my　mouth　and　making　a　loud　noise。　

McGlingan　changed　his　garments　and　then　came　into　my　room　and　sat　with　us　awhile　after　dinner。

'One　needs　ear　lappers　and　a　rubber　coat　at　that　table；'said　he。

'And　a　chest　protector；'I　suggested；　remembering　the　finger　of　Force。

'I　shall　be　leaving　here　soon；　Brower；'said　McGlingan　as　he　lit　a　cigar。

'Where　shall　you　go？'I　asked。

'To　my　own　house。　

'Going　to　hire　a　housekeeper？　

'Going　to　marry　one；'said　he。

'That's　funny；'I　said。　We　re　all　to　be　married　…　every　man　of　us。　

'By　Jove！'said　McClingan；　'this　is　a　time　for　congratulation。　God　save　us　and　grant　for　us　all　the　best　woman　in　the　world。　

Chapter　42

For　every　man　he　knew　and　loved　Mr　Greeley　had　a　kindness　that　filled　him　to　the　fingertips。　When　I　returned　he　smote　me　on　the　breast　…　an　unfailing　mark　of　his　favour　…　and　doubled　my　salary。

'If　he　ever　smites　you　on　the　breast；'McClingan　had　once　said　to　me；

'turn　the　other　side；　for；　man；　your　fortune　is　made。　

And　there　was　some　truth　in　the　warning。

He　was　writing　when　I　came　in。　A　woman　sat　beside　him　talking。　An　immense　ham　lay　on　the　marble　top　of　the　steam　radiator；　a　basket　of　eggs　sat　on　the　floor　near　Mr　Greeley's　desk　All　sorts　of　merchandise　were　sent　to　the　Tribune　those　days；　for　notice；　and　sold　at　auction；　to　members　of　the　staff；　by　Mr　Dana。

'Yes；　yes；　Madame；　go　on；　I　hear　you；'said　the　great　editor；　as　his　pen　flew　across　the　white　page。

She　asked　him　then　for　a　loan　of　money。　He　continued　writing　but；　presently；　his　left　hand　dove　into　his　trousers　pocket　coming　up　full　of　bills。

'Take　what　you　want；'said　he；　holding　it　toward　her；　'and　please　go　for　I　am　very　busy。'Whereupon　she　helped　herself　liberally　and　went　away。

Seeing　me；　Mr　Greeley　came　and　shook　my　hand　warmly　and　praised　me　fer　a　good　soldier。

'Going　down　town；'he　said　in　a　moment；　drawing　on　his　big　white　overcoat；　'walk　along　with　me　…　won't　you？　

We　crossed　the　park；　he　leading　me　with　long　strides。　As　we　walked　he　told　how　he　had　been　suffering　from　brain　fever。　Passing　St　Paul's　churchyard　he　brushed　the　iron　pickets　with　his　hand　as　if　to　try　the　feel　of　them。　Many　turned　to　stare　at　him　curiously。　He　asked　me；　soon；　if　I　would　care　to　do　a　certain　thing　for　the　Tribune；　stopping；　to　look　in　at　a　shop　window；　as　I　answered　him。　I　waited　while　he　did　his　errand　at　a　Broadway　shop；　then　we　came　back　to　the　office。　The　publisher　was　in　Mr　Greeley's　room。

'Where's　my　ham；　Dave？'said　the　editor　as　he　looked　at　the　slab　of　marble　where　the　ham　had　lain。

'Don't　know　for　sure；'said　the　publisher；　'it's　probably　up　at　the　house　of　the　…　editor　by　this　time。　

'What　did　you　go　'n　give　it　to　him　for？'drawled　Mr　Greeley　in　a　tone　of　irreparable　injury。　'I　wanted　that　ham　for　myself。　

'I　didn　t　give　it　to　him；'said　the　publisher。　'He　came　and　helped　himself。　Said　he　supposed　it　was　sent　in　for　notice。　

'The　infernal　thief！'Mr　Greeley　piped　with　a　violent　gesture。　'I　ll　swear！　if　I　didn　t　keep　my　shirt　buttoned　tight　they　d　have　that；　too。　

The　ham　was　a　serious　obstacle　in　the　way　of　my　business　and　it　went　over　until　evening。　But　that　and　like　incidents　made　me　to　know　the　man　as　I　have　never　seen　him　pictured　…　a　boy　grown　old　and　grey；　pushing　the　power　of　manhood　with　the　ardours　of　youth。

I　resumed　work　on　the　Tribune　that　week。　My　first　assignment　was　a　mass　meeting　in　a　big　temporary　structure　…　then　called　a　wigwam　…　over　in　Brooklyn。　My　political　life　began　that　day　and　all　by　an　odd　chance。　The　wigwam　was　crowded　to　the　doors。　The　audience　bad　been　waiting　half　an　hour　for　the　speaker。　The　chairman　had　been　doing　his　best　to　kill　time　but　had　run　out　of　ammunition。　He　had　sat　down　to　wait；　an　awkward　silence　had　begun。　The　crowd　was　stamping　and　whistling　and　clapping　with　impatience。　As　I　walked　down　the　centre　aisle；　to　the　reporter　s　table；　they　seemed　to　mistake　me　for　the　speaker。　Instantly　a　great　uproar　began。　It　grew　louder　every　step　I　took。　I　began　to　wonder　and　then　to　fear　the　truth。　As　I　neared　the　stage　the　chairman　came　forward　beckoning　to　me。　I　went　to　the　ffight　of　steps　leading　up　to　that　higher　level　of　distinguished　citizens　and　halted；　not　knowing　just　what　to　do。　He　came　and　leaned　over　and　whispered　down　at　me。　I　remember　he　was　red　in　the　face　and　damp　with　perspiration。

'What　is　your　name？'he　enquired。

'Brower；'said　I　in　a　whisper。

A　look　of　relief　came　into　his　face　and　I　am　sure　a　look　of　anxiety　came　into　mine。　He　had　taken　the　centre　of　the　stage　before　I　could　stop　him。

'Lathes　and　gentlemen；'said　he；　'I　am　glad　to　inform　you　that　General　Brower　has　at　last　arrived。　

I　remembered　then　there　was　a　General　Brower　in　the　army　who　was　also　a　power　in　politics。

In　the　storm　of　applause　that　followed　this　announcement；　I　beckoned　him　to　the　edge　of　the　platform　again。　I　was　nearer　a　condition　of　mental　panic　than　I　have　ever　known　since　that　day。

'I　am　not　General　Brower；'I　whispered。

'What！'said　he　in　amazement。

'I　am　not　General　Brower；'I　said。

'Great　heavens！'he　whispered；　covering　his　mouth　with　his　band　and　looking　very　thoughtful。　'You　ll　have　to　make　a　speech；　anyway　…　there's　no　escape。　

I　could　see　no　way　out　of　it　and；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　ascended　the　platform　took　off　my　overcoat　and　made　a　speech。

Fortunately　the　issue　was　one　with　which　I　had　been　long　familiar。　I　told　them　how　I　had　been　trapped。　The　story　put　the　audience　in　good　humour　and　they　helped　me　along　with　very　generous　applause。　And　so　began　my　career　in　politics　which　has　brought　me　more　honour　than　I　deserved　although　I　know　it　has　not　been　wholly　without　value　to　my　country。　It　enabled　me　to　repay　in　part　the　kindness　of　my　former　chief　at　a　time　when　he　was　sadly　in　need　of　friends。　I　remember　meeting　him　in　Washington　a　day　of　that　exciting　campaign　of　72。　I　was　then　in　Congress。

'I　thank　you　for　what　you　have　done；　Brower；'said　he；　'but　I　tell　you　I　am　licked。　I　shall　not　carry　a　single　state。　I　am　going　to　be　slaughtered。　

He　had　read　his　fate　and　better　than　he　knew。　In　politics　he　was　a　great　prophet。

Chapter　43

The　north　country　lay　buried　in　the　snow　that　Christmastime。　Here　and　there　the　steam　plough　had　thrown　its　furrows；　on　either　side　of　the　railroad；　high　above　the　window　line。　The　fences　were　muffled　in　long　ridges　of　snow；　their　stakes　showing　like　pins　in　a　cushion　of　white　velvet。　Some　of　the　small　trees　on　the　edge　of　the　big　timber　stood　overdrifted　to　their　boughs。　I　have　never　seen　such　a　glory　of　the　morning　as　when　the　sun　came　up；　that　day　we　were　nearing　home；　and　lit　the　splendour　of　the　hills；　there　in　the　land　I　love。　The　frosty　nap　of　the　snow　glowed　far　and　near　with　pulsing　glints　of　pale　sapphire。

We　came　into　Hillsborough　at　noon　the