some short christmas stories(圣诞故事)-第6章
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never injure nor accuse him。
On this day we shut out Nothing！
〃Pause；〃 says a low voice。 〃Nothing？ Think！〃
〃On Christmas Day； we will shut out from our fireside； Nothing。〃
〃Not the shadow of a vast City where the withered leaves are lying
deep？〃 the voice replies。 〃Not the shadow that darkens the whole globe？
Not the shadow of the City of the Dead？〃
Not even that。 Of all days in the year； we will turn our faces towards
that City upon Christmas Day； and from its silent hosts bring those we
loved； among us。 City of the Dead； in the blessed name wherein we are
gathered together at this time； and in the Presence that is here among us
according to the promise； we will receive； and not dismiss； thy people who
are dear to us！
Yes。 We can look upon these children angels that alight； so solemnly；
so beautifully among the living children by the fire； and can bear to think
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how they departed from us。 Entertaining angels unawares； as the
Patriarchs did； the playful children are unconscious of their guests； but we
can see themcan see a radiant arm around one favourite neck； as if there
were a tempting of that child away。 Among the celestial figures there is
one； a poor misshapen boy on earth； of a glorious beauty now； of whom
his dying mother said it grieved her much to leave him here； alone； for so
many years as it was likely would elapse before he came to her being
such a little child。 But he went quickly； and was laid upon her breast； and
in her hand she leads him。
There was a gallant boy； who fell； far away； upon a burning sand
beneath a burning sun； and said； 〃Tell them at home； with my last love；
how much I could have wished to kiss them once； but that I died contented
and had done my duty！〃 Or there was another； over whom they read the
words； 〃Therefore we commit his body to the deep；〃 and so consigned him
to the lonely ocean and sailed on。 Or there was another； who lay down to
his rest in the dark shadow of great forests； and； on earth； awoke no more。
O shall they not； from sand and sea and forest； be brought home at such a
time！
There was a dear girlalmost a womannever to be onewho made a
mourning Christmas in a house of joy； and went her trackless way to the
silent City。 Do we recollect her； worn out； faintly whispering what could
not be heard； and falling into that last sleep for weariness？ O look upon
her now！ O look upon her beauty； her serenity； her changeless youth； her
happiness！ The daughter of Jairus was recalled to life； to die； but she；
more blest； has heard the same voice； saying unto her； 〃Arise for ever！〃
We had a friend who was our friend from early days； with whom we
often pictured the changes that were to come upon our lives； and merrily
imagined how we would speak； and walk； and think； and talk； when we
came to be old。 His destined habitation in the City of the Dead received
him in his prime。 Shall he be shut out from our Christmas remembrance？
Would his love have so excluded us？ Lost friend； lost child； lost parent；
sister； brother； husband； wife； we will not so discard you！ You shall hold
your cherished places in our Christmas hearts； and by our Christmas fires；
and in the season of immortal hope； and on the birthday of immortal
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mercy； we will shut out Nothing！
The winter sun goes down over town and village； on the sea it makes a
rosy path； as if the Sacred tread were fresh upon the water。 A few more
moments； and it sinks； and night comes on； and lights begin to sparkle in
the prospect。 On the hill…side beyond the shapelessly…diffused town； and
in the quiet keeping of the trees that gird the village…steeple；
remembrances are cut in stone； planted in common flowers； growing in
grass； entwined with lowly brambles around many a mound of earth。 In
town and village； there are doors and windows closed against the weather；
there are flaming logs heaped high； there are joyful faces； there is healthy
music of voices。 Be all ungentleness and harm excluded from the
temples of the Household Gods； but be those remembrances admitted with
tender encouragement！ They are of the time and all its comforting and
peaceful reassurances； and of the history that re…united even upon earth the
living and the dead； and of the broad beneficence and goodness that too
many men have tried to tear to narrow shreds。
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THE POOR RELATION'S STORY
He was very reluctant to take precedence of so many respected
members of the family； by beginning the round of stories they were to
relate as they sat in a goodly circle by the Christmas fire； and he modestly
suggested that it would be more correct if 〃John our esteemed host〃
（whose health he begged to drink） would have the kindness to begin。 For
as to himself； he said； he was so little used to lead the way that really But
as they all cried out here； that he must begin； and agreed with one voice
that he might； could； would； and should begin； he left off rubbing his
hands； and took his legs out from under his armchair； and did begin。
I have no doubt （said the poor relation） that I shall surprise the
assembled members of our family； and particularly John our esteemed host
to whom we are so much indebted for the great hospitality with which he
has this day entertained us； by the confession I am going to make。 But； if
you do me the honour to be surprised at anything that falls from a person
so unimportant in the family as I am； I can only say that I shall be
scrupulously accurate in all I relate。
I am not what I am supposed to be。 I am quite another thing。 Perhaps
before I go further； I had better glance at what I AM supposed to be。
It is supposed； unless I mistakethe assembled members of our family
will correct me if I do； which is very likely （here the poor relation looked
mildly about him for contradiction）； that I am nobody's enemy but my
own。 That I never met with any particular success in anything。 That I
failed in business because I was unbusiness…like and credulousin not
being prepared for the interested designs of my partner。 That I failed in
love； because I was ridiculously trustfulin thinking it impossible that
Christiana could deceive me。 That I failed in my expectations from my
uncle Chill； on account of not being as sharp as he could have wished in
worldly matters。 That； through life； I have been rather put upon and
disappointed in a general way。 That I am at present a bachelor of
between fifty…nine and sixty years of age； living on a limited income in the
form of a quarterly allowance； to which I see that John our esteemed host
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wishes me to make no further allusion。
The supposition as to my present pursuits and habits is to the
following effect。
I live in a lodging in the Clapham Roada very clean back room； in a
very respectable housewhere I am expected not to be at home in the day…
time； unless poorly； and which I usually leave in the morning at nine
o'clock； on pretence of going to business。 I take my breakfastmy roll
and butter； and my half…pint of coffeeat the old…established coffee…shop
near Westminster Bridge； and then I go into the CityI don't know why
and sit in Garraway's Coffee House； and on 'Change； and walk about； and
look into a few offices and counting…houses where some of my relations or
acquaintance are so good as to tolerate me； and where I stand by the fire if
the weather happens to be cold。 I get through the day in this way until
five o'clock； and then I dine： at a cost； on the average； of one and
threepence。 Having still a little money to spend on my evening's
entertainment； I look into the old…established coffee…shop as I go home；
and take my cup of tea； and perhaps my bit of toast。 So； as the large hand
of the clock makes its way round to the morning hour again； I make my
way round to the Clapham Road again； and go to bed when I get to my
lodgingfire being expensive； and being objected to by the family on
account of its giving trouble and making a dirt。
Sometimes； one of my relations or acquaintances is so obliging as to
ask me to dinner。 Those are holiday occasions； and then I generally walk
in the Park。 I am a solitary man； and seldom walk with anybody。 Not
that I am avoided because I am shabby； for I am not at all shabby； having
always a very good suit of black on （or rather Oxford mixture； which has
the appearance of black and wears much better）； but I have got into a habit
of speaking low； and being rather silent； and my spirits are not high； and I
am sensible that I am not an attractive companion。
The only exception to this general rule is the child of my first cousin；
Little Frank。 I have a particular affection for that child； and he takes very
kindly to me。 He is a diffident boy by nature； and in a crowd he is soon
run over； as I may say； and forgotten。 He and I； however； get on
exceedingly well。 I have a fancy that the poor child will in time succeed
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to my peculiar position in the family。 We talk but little； still； we
understand each other。 We walk about； hand in hand； and without much
speaking he knows w
