sketches new and old-第8章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃Spare　this　noble　boythere　stands　the　cowering　culprit！　　I　was　passing
the　school　door　at　recess；　and；　unseen　myself；　I　saw　the　theft
committed！〃　　And　then　Jim　didn't　get　whaled；　and　the　venerable　justice
didn't　read　the　tearful　school　a　homily；　and　take　George　by　the　hand　and
say　such　boy　deserved　to　be　exalted；　and　then　tell　him　come　and　make　his
home　with　him；　and　sweep　out　the　office；　and　make　fires；　and　run　errands；
and　chop　wood；　and　study　law；　and　help　his　wife　do　household　labors；　and
have　all　the　balance　of　the　time　to　play　and　get　forty　cents　a　month；　and
be　happy。　　No　it　would　have　happened　that　way　in　the　books；　but　didn't
happen　that　way　to　Jim。　　No　meddling　old　clam　of　a　justice　dropped　in　to
make　trouble；　and　so　the　model　boy　George　got　thrashed；　and　Jim　was　glad
of　it　because；　you　know；　Jim　hated　moral　boys。　　Jim　said　he　was　〃down　on
them　milksops。〃　　Such　was　the　coarse　language　of　this　bad；　neglected　boy。

But　the　strangest　thing　that　ever　happened　to　Jim　was　the　time　he　went
boating　on　Sunday；　and　didn't　get　drowned；　and　that　other　time　that　he
got　caught　out　in　the　storm　when　he　was　fishing　on　Sunday　and　didn't　get
struck　by　lightning。　　Why；　you　might　look；　and　look；　all　through　the
Sunday…school　books　from　now　till　next　Christmas；　and　you　would　never
come　across　anything　like　this。　　Oh；　no；　you　would　find　that　all　the　bad
boys　who　go　boating　on　Sunday　invariably　get　drowned；　and　all　the　bad
boys　who　get　caught　out　in　storms　when　they　are　fishing　on　Sunday
infallibly　get　struck　by　lightning。　　Boats　with　bad　boys　in　them　always
upset　on　Sunday；　and　it　always　storms　when　bad　boys　go　fishing　on　the
Sabbath。　　How　this　Jim　ever　escaped　is　a　　mystery　to　me。

This　Jim　bore　a　charmed　lifethat　must　have　been　the　way　of　it。　　Nothing
could　hurt　him。　　He　even　gave　the　elephant　in　the　menagerie　a　plug　of
tobacco；　and　the　elephant　didn't　knock　the　top　of　his　head　off　with　his
trunk。　　He　browsed　around　the　cupboard　after　essence…of　peppermint；　and
didn't　make　a　mistake　and　drink　aqua　fortis。　　He　stole　his　father's　gun
and　went　hunting　on　the　Sabbath；　and　didn't　shoot　three　or　four　of　his
fingers　off。　　He　struck　his　little　sister　on　the　temple　with　his　fist
when　he　was　angry；　and　she　didn't　linger　in　pain　through　long　summer
days；　and　die　with　sweet　words　of　forgiveness　upon　her　lips　that
redoubled　the　anguish　of　his　breaking　heart。　　No；　she　got　over　it。　　He
ran　off　and　went　to　sea　at　last；　and　didn't　come　back　and　find　himself
sad　and　alone　in　the　world；　his　loved　ones　sleeping　in　the　quiet
churchyard；　and　the　vine…embowered　home　of　his　boyhood　tumbled　down　and
gone　to　decay。　　Ah；　no；　he　came　home　as　drunk　as　a　piper；　and　got　into
the　station…house　the　first　thing。

And　he　grew　up　and　married；　and　raised　a　large　family；　and　brained　them
all　with　an　ax　one　night；　and　got　wealthy　by　all　manner　of　cheating　and
rascality；　and　now　he　is　the　infernalest　wickedest　scoundrel　in　his
native　village；　and　is　universally　respected；　and　belongs　to　the
legislature。

So　you　see　there　never　was　a　bad　James　in　the　Sunday…school　books　that
had　such　a　streak　of　luck　as　this　sinful　Jim　with　the　charmed　life。






THE　STORY　OF　THE　GOOD　LITTLE　BOY＇Witten　about　1865＇

Once　there　was　a　good　little　boy　by　the　name　of　Jacob　Blivens。　　He　always
obeyed　his　parents；　no　matter　how　absurd　and　unreasonable　their　demands
were；　and　he　always　learned　his　book；　and　never　was　late　at　Sabbath…
school。　　He　would　not　play　hookey；　even　when　his　sober　judgment　told　him
it　was　the　most　profitable　thing　he　could　do。　　None　of　the　other　boys
could　ever　make　that　boy　out；　he　acted　so　strangely。　　He　wouldn't　lie；　no
matter　how　convenient　it　was。　　He　just　said　it　was　wrong　to　lie；　and　that
was　sufficient　for　him。　　And　he　was　so　honest　that　he　was　simply
ridiculous。　　The　curious　ways　that　that　Jacob　had；　surpassed　everything。
He　wouldn't　play　marbles　on　Sunday；　he　wouldn't　rob　birds'　nests；　he
wouldn't　give　hot　pennies　to　organ…grinders'　monkeys；　he　didn't　seem　to
take　any　interest　in　any　kind　of　rational　amusement。　　So　the　other　boys
used　to　try　to　reason　it　out　and　come　to　an　understanding　of　him；　but
they　couldn't　arrive　at　any　satisfactory　conclusion。　　As　I　said　before；
they　could　only　figure　out　a　sort　of　vague　idea　that　he　was　〃afflicted；〃
and　so　they　took　him　under　their　protection；　and　never　allowed　any　harm
to　come　to　him。

This　good　little　boy　read　all　the　Sunday…school　books；　they　were　his
greatest　delight。　　This　was　the　whole　secret　of　it。　　He　believed　in　the
gold　little　boys　they　put　in　the　Sunday…school　book；　he　had　every
confidence　in　them。　　He　longed　to　come　across　one　of　them　alive　once；
but　he　never　did。　　They　all　died　before　his　time；　maybe。　　Whenever　he
read　about　a　particularly　good　one　he　turned　over　quickly　to　the　end　to
see　what　became　of　him；　because　he　wanted　to　travel　thousands　of　miles
and　gaze　on　him；　but　it　wasn't　any　use；　that　good　little　boy　always　died
in　the　last　chapter；　and　there　was　a　picture　of　the　funeral；　with　all　his
relations　and　the　Sunday…school　children　standing　around　the　grave　in
pantaloons　that　were　too　short；　and　bonnets　that　were　too　large；　and
everybody　crying　into　handkerchiefs　that　had　as　much　as　a　yard　and　a　half
of　stuff　in　them。　　He　was　always　headed　off　in　this　way。　　He　never　could
see　one　of　those　good　little　boys　on　account　of　his　always　dying　in　the
last　chapter。

Jacob　had　a　noble　ambition　to　be　put　in　a　Sunday　school　book。　　He　wanted
to　be　put　in；　with　pictures　representing　him　gloriously　declining　to　lie
to　his　mother；　and　her　weeping　for　joy　about　it；　and　pictures
representing　him　standing　on　the　doorstep　giving　a　penny　to　a　poor
beggar…woman　with　six　children；　and　telling　her　to　spend　it　freely；　but
not　to　be　extravagant；　because　extravagance　is　a　sin；　and　pictures　of　him
magnanimously　refusing　to　tell　on　the　bad　boy　who　always　lay　in　wait　for
him　around　the　corner　as　he　came　from　school；　and　welted　him　so　over　the
head　with　a　lath；　and　then　chased　him　home；　saying；　〃Hi！　hi！〃　as　he
proceeded。　　That　was　the　ambition　of　young　Jacob　Blivens。　　He　wished　to
be　put　in　a　Sunday…school　book。　　It　made　him　feel　a　lithe　uncomfortable
sometimes　when　he　reflected　that　the　good　little　boys　always　died。　　He
loved　to　live；　you　know；　and　this　was　the　most　unpleasant　feature　about
being　a　Sunday…school…boo　boy。　　He　knew　it　was　not　healthy　to　be　good。
He　knew　it　was　more　fatal　than　consumption　to　be　so　supernaturally　good
as　the　boys　in　the　books　were　he　knew　that　none　of　them　had　ever　been
able　to　stand　it　long；　and　it　pained　him　to　think　that　if　they　put　him　in
a　book　he　wouldn't　ever　see　it；　or　even　if　they　did　get　the　book　out
before　he　died　it　wouldn't　be　popular　without　any　picture　of　his　funeral
in　the　back　part　of　it。　　It　couldn't　be　much　of　a　Sunday…school　book　that
couldn't　tell　about　the　advice　he　gave　to　the　community　when　he　was
dying。　　So　at　last；　of　course；　he　had　to　make　up　his　mind　to　do　the　best
he　could　under　the　circumstancesto　live　right；　and　hang　on　as　long　as
he　could　and　have　his　dying　speech　all　ready　when　his　time　came。

But　somehow　nothing　ever　went　right　with　the　good　little　boy；　nothing
ever　turned　out　with　him　the　way　it　turned　out　with　the　good　little　boys
in　the　books。　　They　always　had　a　good　time；　and　the　bad　boys　had　the
broken　legs；　but　in　his　case　there　was　a　screw　loose　somewhere；　and　it
all　happened　just　the　other　way。　　When　he　found　Jim　Blake　stealing
apples；　and　went　under　the　tree　to　read　to　him　about　the　bad　little　boy
who　fell　out　of　a　neighbor's　apple　tree　and　broke　his　arm；　Jim　fell　out
of　the　tree；　too；　but　he　fell　on　him　and　broke　his　arm；　and　Jim　wasn't
hurt　at　all。　　Jacob　couldn't　understand　that。　　There　wasn't　anything　in
the　books　like　it。

And　once；　when　some　bad　boys　pushed　a　blind　man　over　in　the　mud；　and
Jacob　ran　to　help　him　up　and　receive　his　blessing；　the　blind　man　did　not
give　him　any　blessing　at　all；　but　whacked　him　over　the　head　with　his
stick　and　said　he　would　like　to　catch　him　shoving　him　again；　and　then
pretending　to　help　him　up。　　This　was　not　in　accordance　with　any　of　the
books。　　Jacob　looked　them　all　over　to　see。

One　thing　that　Jacob　wanted　to　do　was　to　find　a　lame　dog　that　hadn't　any
place　to　stay；　and　was　hungry　and　persecuted；　and　bring　him　home　and　pet
him　and　have　that　dog's　imperishable　gratitude。　　And　at　last　he　found　one
and　was　happy；　and　he　brought　him　home　and　fed　him；　but　when　he　was　going
to　pet　him　the　dog　flew　at　him　and　tore　all　the　clothes　off　him　except
those　that　were　in　front；　and　made　a　spectacle　of　him　that　was
astonishing。　　He　examined　authorities；　but　he　could　not　understand　the
matter。　　It　was　of　the　same　breed　of　dogs　that　was　in　the　books；　but　it
acted　very　differently。　　Whatever　this　boy　did　he　got　into　trouble。　　The
very　things　the　boys　in　the　books　got　rewarded　for　turned　out　to　be　about
the　most　unprofitable　things　he　could　invest　in。

Once；　when　he　was　on　his　way　to　Sunday…school；　he　saw　some　bad　boys
starting　off　pleasuring　in　a　sailboat。　　He　was　filled　with　consternation；
because　he　knew　from　his　reading　that　boys　who　went　sailing　on　Sunday
invariably　got　drowned。　　So　he　ran　out　on　a　raft　to　warn　them；　but　a　log
turned　with　him　and　slid　him　into　the　river。　　A　man　got　him　out　pretty
soon；　and　the　doctor　pumped　the　water　out　of　him；　and　gave　him　a　fresh
start　with　his　bellows；　but　he　caught　cold　and　lay　sick　abed　nine　weeks。
But　the　most　unaccountable　thing　about　it　was　that　the　bad　boys　in　the
boat　had　a　good　time　all　day；　and　then　reached　home　alive　and　well　in　the
most　surprising　manner。　　Jacob　Blivens　said　there　was　nothing　like　these
things　in　the　books。　　He　was　perfectly　dumfounded。

When　he　got　well　he　was　a　little　discouraged；　but　he　resolved　to　keep　on
trying　anyhow。　　He　knew　that　so　far　his　experiences　wouldn't　do　to　go　in
a　book；　but　he　hadn't　yet　reached　the　allotted　term　of　life　for　good
little　boys；　and　he　hoped　to　be　able　to　make　a　record　yet　if　he　could
hold　on　till　his　time　was　fully　up。　　If　everything　else　failed　he　had　his
dying　speech　to　fall　back　on。

He　examined　his　authorities；　and　found　that　it　was　now　time　for　him　to　go
to　sea　as　a　cabin…boy。　　He　called　on　a　ship…captain　and　made　his
application；　and　when　the　captain　asked　for　his　recommendations　he
proudly　drew　out　a　tract　and　pointed　to　the　word；　〃To　Jacob　Blivens；　from
his　affectionate　teacher。〃　　But　the　captain　was　a　coarse；　vulgar　man；　and
he　said；　〃Oh；　that　be　blowed！　that　wasn't　any　proof　that　he　knew　how　to
wash　dishes　or　handle　a　slush…bucket；　and　he　guessed　he　didn't　want　him。〃
This　was　altogether　the　most　extraordinary　thing　that　ever　happened　to
Jacob　in　all　his　life。　　A　compliment　from　a　teacher；　on　a　tract；　had
never　failed　to　move　the　tenderest　emotions　of　ship…captains；　and　open
the　way　to　all　offices　of　honor　and　profit　in　their　gift　it　never　had　in
any　book　that　ever　he　had　read。　　He　could　hardly　believe　his　senses。

This　boy　always　had　a　hard　time　of　it。　　Nothing　ever　came　out　according
to　the　authorities　with　him。　　At　last；　one　day；　when　he　was　around
hunting　up　bad　little　boys　to　admonish；　he　found　a　lot　of　them　in　the　old
iron…foundry　fixing　up　a　little　joke　on　fourteen　or　f