some short christmas stories(圣诞故事)-第13章
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knew much ill of。
〃Humph！〃 said he。 〃I don't quite understand it。〃
So； he went home； and sat down by his fireside to get it out of his
mind。
Now； his fireside was a bare one； all hemmed in by blackened streets；
but it was a precious place to him。 The hands of his wife were hardened
with toil； and she was old before her time； but she was dear to him。 His
children； stunted in their growth； bore traces of unwholesome nurture； but
they had beauty in his sight。 Above all other things； it was an earnest
desire of this man's soul that his children should be taught。 〃If I am
sometimes misled；〃 said he； 〃for want of knowledge； at least let them
know better； and avoid my mistakes。 If it is hard to me to reap the
harvest of pleasure and instruction that is stored in books； let it be easier to
them。〃
But； the Bigwig family broke out into violent family quarrels
concerning what it was lawful to teach to this man's children。 Some of
the family insisted on such a thing being primary and indispensable above
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all other things； and others of the family insisted on such another thing
being primary and indispensable above all other things； and the Bigwig
family； rent into factions； wrote pamphlets； held convocations； delivered
charges； orations； and all varieties of discourses； impounded one another
in courts Lay and courts Ecclesiastical； threw dirt； exchanged pummelings；
and fell together by the ears in unintelligible animosity。 Meanwhile； this
man； in his short evening snatches at his fireside； saw the demon
Ignorance arise there； and take his children to itself。 He saw his daughter
perverted into a heavy； slatternly drudge； he saw his son go moping down
the ways of low sensuality； to brutality and crime； he saw the dawning
light of intelligence in the eyes of his babies so changing into cunning and
suspicion； that he could have rather wished them idiots。
〃I don't understand this any the better；〃 said he； 〃but I think it cannot
be right。 Nay； by the clouded Heaven above me； I protest against this as
my wrong！〃
Becoming peaceable again （for his passion was usually short…lived；
and his nature kind）； he looked about him on his Sundays and holidays；
and he saw how much monotony and weariness there was； and thence how
drunkenness arose with all its train of ruin。 Then he appealed to the
Bigwig family； and said； 〃We are a labouring people； and I have a
glimmering suspicion in me that labouring people of whatever condition
were madeby a higher intelligence than yours； as I poorly understand it
to be in need of mental refreshment and recreation。 See what we fall into；
when we rest without it。 Come！ Amuse me harmlessly； show me
something； give me an escape！〃
But； here the Bigwig family fell into a state of uproar absolutely
deafening。 When some few voices were faintly heard； proposing to show
him the wonders of the world； the greatness of creation； the mighty
changes of time； the workings of nature and the beauties of artto show
him these things； that is to say； at any period of his life when he could look
upon themthere arose among the Bigwigs such roaring and raving； such
pulpiting and petitioning； such maundering and memorialising； such
name…calling and dirt…throwing； such a shrill wind of parliamentary
questioning and feeble replying… …where 〃I dare not〃 waited on 〃I would〃
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that the poor fellow stood aghast； staring wildly around。
〃Have I provoked all this；〃 said he； with his hands to his affrighted
ears； 〃by what was meant to be an innocent request； plainly arising out of
my familiar experience； and the common knowledge of all men who
choose to open their eyes？ I don't understand； and I am not understood。
What is to come of such a state of things！〃
He was bending over his work； often asking himself the question；
when the news began to spread that a pestilence had appeared among the
labourers； and was slaying them by thousands。 Going forth to look about
him； he soon found this to be true。 The dying and the dead were mingled
in the close and tainted houses among which his life was passed。 New
poison was distilled into the always murky； always sickening air。 The
robust and the weak； old age and infancy； the father and the mother； all
were stricken down alike。
What means of flight had he？ He remained there； where he was； and
saw those who were dearest to him die。 A kind preacher came to him；
and would have said some prayers to soften his heart in his gloom； but he
replied：
〃O what avails it； missionary； to come to me； a man condemned to
residence in this foetid place； where every sense bestowed upon me for my
delight becomes a torment； and where every minute of my numbered days
is new mire added to the heap under which I lie oppressed！ But； give me
my first glimpse of Heaven； through a little of its light and air； give me
pure water； help me to be clean； lighten this heavy atmosphere and heavy
life； in which our spirits sink； and we become the indifferent and callous
creatures you too often see us； gently and kindly take the bodies of those
who die among us； out of the small room where we grow to be so familiar
with the awful change that even its sanctity is lost to us； and； Teacher； then
I will hearnone know better than you； how willingly… …of Him whose
thoughts were so much with the poor； and who had compassion for all
human sorrow！〃
He was at work again； solitary and sad； when his Master came and
stood near to him dressed in black。 He； also； had suffered heavily。 His
young wife； his beautiful and good young wife； was dead； so； too； his only
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child。
〃Master； 'tis hard to bearI know itbut be comforted。 I would give
you comfort； if I could。〃
The Master thanked him from his heart； but； said he； 〃O you labouring
men！ The calamity began among you。 If you had but lived more
healthily and decently； I should not be the widowed and bereft mourner
that I am this day。〃
〃Master；〃 returned the other； shaking his head； 〃I have begun to
understand a little that most calamities will come from us； as this one did；
and that none will stop at our poor doors； until we are united with that
great squabbling family yonder； to do the things that are right。 We cannot
live healthily and decently； unless they who undertook to manage us
provide the means。 We cannot be instructed unless they will teach us； we
cannot be rationally amused； unless they will amuse us； we cannot but
have some false gods of our own； while they set up so many of theirs in all
the public places。 The evil consequences of imperfect instruction； the
evil consequences of pernicious neglect； the evil consequences of
unnatural restraint and the denial of humanising enjoyments； will all come
from us； and none of them will stop with us。 They will spread far and
wide。 They always do； they always have donejust like the pestilence。
I understand so much； I think； at last。〃
But the Master said again； 〃O you labouring men！ How seldom do
we ever hear of you； except in connection with some trouble！〃
〃Master；〃 he replied； 〃I am Nobody； and little likely to be heard of （nor
yet much wanted to be heard of； perhaps）； except when there is some
trouble。 But it never begins with me； and it never can end with me。 As
sure as Death； it comes down to me； and it goes up from me。〃
There was so much reason in what he said； that the Bigwig family；
getting wind of it； and being horribly frightened by the late desolation；
resolved to unite with him to do the things that were rightat all events； so
far as the said things were associated with the direct prevention； humanly
speaking； of another pestilence。 But； as their fear wore off； which it soon
began to do； they resumed their falling out among themselves； and did
nothing。 Consequently the scourge appeared againlow down as before…
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…and spread avengingly upward as before； and carried off vast numbers of
the brawlers。 But not a man among them ever admitted； if in the least
degree he ever perceived； that he had anything to do with it。
So Nobody lived and died in the old； old； old way； and this； in the
main； is the whole of Nobody's story。
Had he no name； you ask？ Perhaps it was Legion。 It matters little
what his name was。 Let us call him Legion。
If you were ever in the Belgian villages near the field of Waterloo； you
will have seen； in some quiet little church； a monument erected by faithful
companions in arms to the memory of Colonel A； Major B； Captains C； D
and E； Lieutenants F and G； Ensigns H； I and J； seven non…commissioned
officers； and one hundred and thirty rank and file； who fell in the discharge
of their duty on the memorable day。 The story of Nobody is the story of
the rank and file of the earth。 They bear their share of the battle； they have
their part in the victory； they fall； they leave no name but in
