the friendly road(友好的路)-第15章
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new spectacles）； I remained steadfastly on the Great Road or near it。 It was
a prime spring day； just a little hazy； as though promising rain； but soft and
warm。
〃They will be working in the garden at home；〃 I thought； 〃and there
will be worlds of rhubarb and asparagus。〃 Then I remembered how the
morning sunshine would look on the little vine…clad back porch （reaching
halfway up the weathered door） of my own house among the hills。
It was the first time since my pilgrimage began that I had thought with
any emotion of my farmor of Harriet。
And then the road claimed me again； and I began to look out for some
further explanation of the curious sign； the single word 〃Rest；〃 which had
interested me so keenly on the preceding day。 It may seem absurd to some
who read these linessome practical people！but I cannot convey the
pleasure I had in the very elusiveness and mystery of the sign； nor how I
wished I might at the next turn come upon the poet himself。 I decided that
no one but a poet could have contented himself with a lyric in one word；
unless it might have been a humourist； to whom sometimes a single small
word。 is more blessed than all the verbal riches of Webster himself。 For it
is nothing short of genius that uses one word when twenty will say the
same thing！
Or； would he； after all； turn out to be only a more than ordinarily
alluring advertiser？ I confess my heart went into my throat that morning；
when I first saw the sign； lest it read：
＇ RESTaurant 2 miles east ＇
nor should I have been surprised if it had。
I caught a vicarious glimpse of the sign…man to…day； through the eyes
of a young farmer。 Yes； he s'posed he'd seen him； he said； wore a slouch
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hat； couldn't tell whether he was young or old。 Drove into the bushes （just
down there beyond the brook） and； standin' on the seat of his buggy； nailed
something to a tree。 A day or two laterthe dull wonder of mankind！the
young farmer； passing that way to town； had seen the odd sign 〃Rest〃 on
the tree： he s'posed the fellow put it there。
〃What does it mean？〃
〃Well； naow； I hadn't thought；〃 said the young farmer。
〃Did the fellow by any chance have long hair？〃
〃Well； naow； I didn't notice；〃 said he。
〃Are you sure he wore a slouch hat？〃
〃Ye…esor it may a…been straw；〃 replied the observant young farmer。
So I tramped that morning； and as I tramped I let my mind go out
warmly to the people living all about on the farms or in the hills。 It is
pleasant at times to feel life； as it were； in general terms： no specific Mr。
Smith or concrete Mr。 Jones； but just human life。 I love to think of people
all around going out busily in the morning to their work and returning at
night； weary； to rest。 I like to think of them growing up； growing old；
loving； achieving； sinning； failingin short； living。
In such a live…minded mood as this it often happens that the most
ordinary things appear charged with new significance。 I suppose I had
seen a thousand rural…mail boxes along country roads before that day； but I
had seen them as the young farmer saw the sign…man。 They were mere
inert objects of iron and wood。
But as I tramped； thinking of the people in the hills； I came quite
unexpectedly upon a sandy by…road that came out through a thicket of
scrub oaks and hazel…brush； like some shy countryman； to join the turn…
pike。 As I stood looking into itfor it seemed peculiarly invitingI saw at
the entrance a familiar group of rural…mail boxes。 And I saw them not as
dead things； but for the momentthe illusion was over…poweringthey
were living； eager hands outstretched to the passing throng I could feel；
hear； see the farmers up there in the hills reaching out to me； to all the
world； for a thousand inexpressible things； for more life； more
companionship； more comforts； more money。
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It occurred to me at that moment； whimsically and yet somehow
seriously； that I might respond to the appeal of the shy country road and
the outstretched hands。 At first I did not think of anything I could dosave
to go up and eat dinner with one of the hill farmers； which might not be an
unmixed blessing！and then it came to me。
〃I will write a letter！〃
Straightway and with the liveliest amusement I began to formulate in
my mind what I should say：
Dear Friend： You do not know me。 I am a passerby in the road。 My
name is David Grayson。 You do not know me； and it may seem odd to you
to receive a letter from an entire stranger。 But I am something of a farmer
myself； and as I went by I could not help thinking of you and your family
and your farm。 The fact is； I should like to look you up； and talk with you
about many things。 I myself cultivate a number of curious fields； and raise
many kinds of crops
At this interesting point my inspiration suddenly collapsed； for I had a
vision； at once amusing and disconcerting； of my hill farmer （and his
practical wife！） receiving such a letter （along with the country paper； a
circular advertising a cure for catarrh； and the most recent catalogue of the
largest mail…order house in creation）。 I could see them standing there in
their doorway； the man with his coat off； doubtfully scratching his head as
he read my letter； the woman wiping her hands on her apron and looking
over his shoulder； and a youngster squeezing between the two and
demanding； 〃What is it； Paw？〃
I found myself wondering how they would receive such an unusual
letter； what they would take it to mean。 And in spite of all I could do； I
could imagine no expression on their faces save one of incredulity and
suspicion。 I could fairly see the shrewd worldly wise look come into the
farmer's face； I could hear him say：
〃Ha； guess he thinks we ain't cut our eye…teeth！〃 And he would
instantly begin speculating as to whether this was a new scheme for selling
him second…rate nursery stock； or the smooth introduction of another
sewing…machine agent。
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Strange world； strange world！ Sometimes it seems to me that the
hardest thing of all to believe in is simple friendship。 Is it not a comment
upon our civilization that it is so often easier to believe that a man is a
friend…for…profit； or even a cheat； than that he is frankly a well…wisher of
his neighbours？
These reflections put such a damper upon my enthusiasm that I was
on the point of taking again to the road； when it came to me powerfully：
Why not try the experiment？ Why not？
〃Friendship；〃 I said aloud； 〃is the greatest thing in the world。 There is
no door it will not unlock； no problem it will not solve。 It is； after all； the
only real thing in this world。〃
The sound of my own voice brought me suddenly to myself； and I
found that I was standing there in the middle of the public road； one
clenched fist absurdly raised in air； delivering an oration to a congregation
of rural…mail boxes！
And yet； in spite of the humorous aspects of the idea； it still appeared
to me that such an experiment would not only fit in with the true object of
my journeying； but that it might be full of amusing and interesting
adventures。 Straightway I got my notebook out of my bag and； sitting
down near the roadside； wrote my letter。 I wrote it as though my life
depended upon it； with the intent of making some one household there in
the hills feel at least a little wave of warmth and sympathy from the great
world that was passing in the road below。 I tried to prove the validity of a
kindly thought with no selling device attached to it； I tried to make it such
a word of frank companionship as I myself； working in my own fields；
would like to receive。
Among the letter…boxes in the group； was one that stood a little
detached and behind the others； as though shrinking from such prosperous
company。 It was made of unpainted wood； with leather hinges； and looked
shabby in comparison with the jaunty red； green； and gray paint of some
of the other boxes （with their cocky little metallic flags upraised）。 It bore
the good American name of ClarkT。 N。 Clarkand it seemed to me that I
could tell something of the Clarks by the box at the crossing。
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〃I think they need a friendly word；〃 I said to myself。
So I wrote the name T。 N。 Clark on my envelope and put the letter in
his box。
It was with a sense of joyous adventure that I now turned aside into the
sandy road and climbed the hill。 My mind busied itself with thinking how
I should carry out my experiment； how I should approach these Clarks；
and how and what they were。 A thousand ways I pictured to myself the
receipt of the letter： it would at least be something new for them；
something just a little disturbing； and I was curious to see whether it might
open the rift of wonder wide enough to let me slip into their lives。
I have often wondered why it is that men should be so fearful of new
ventures in social relationships； when I have found them so fertile； so
enjoyable。 Most of us fear （actually fear） people who differ from ourselves；
either up or down the scale。 Your Edison pries fearlessly into the intimate
secrets of matter； your Marconi employs the mysterious properties of the
〃jellied ether；〃 but let a man seek to experiment with the laws of that
singular electricity which connects you and me （though you be a
milli
