the americanization of edward bok-第7章

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oiceless；'　'My　Aviary；'　written　at　this　window；　'The　Battle　of　Bunker　Hill；'　and　'Dorothy　Q；'　written　to　the　portrait　of　my　great…grandmother　which　you　see　on　the　wall　there。　All　these　I　have　a　liking　for；　and　when　I　speak　of　the　poems　I　like　best　there　are　two　others　that　ought　to　be　included'The　Silent　Melody'　and　'The　Last　Leaf。'　I　think　these　are　among　my　best。〃

〃What　is　the　history　of　'The　Chambered　Nautilus'？〃　Edward　asked。

〃It　has　none；〃　came　the　reply；　〃it　wrote　itself。　So；　too；　did　'The　One…Hoss　Shay。'　That　was　one　of　those　random　conceptions　that　gallop　through　the　brain；　and　that　you　catch　by　the　bridle。　I　caught　it　and　reined　it。　That　is　all。〃

Just　then　a　maid　brought　in　a　parcel；　and　as　Doctor　Holmes　opened　it　on　his　desk　he　smiled　over　at　the　boy　and　said：

〃Well；　I　declare；　if　you　haven't　come　just　at　the　right　time。　See　those　little　books？　Aren't　they　wee？〃　and　he　handed　the　boy　a　set　of　three　little　books；　six　inches　by　four　in　size；　beautifully　bound　in　half　levant。　They　were　his　〃Autocrat〃　in　one　volume；　and　his　better…known　poems　in　two　volumes。

〃This　is　a　little　fancy　of　mine；〃　he　said。　〃My　publishers；　to　please　me；　have　gotten　out　this　tiny　wee　set。　And　here；〃　as　he　counted　the　little　sets；　〃they　have　sent　me　six　sets。　Are　they　not　exquisite　little　things？〃　and　he　fondled　them　with　loving　glee。　〃Lucky；　too；　for　me　that　they　should　happen　to　come　now；　for　I　have　been　wondering　what　I　could　give　you　as　a　souvenir　of　your　visit　to　me；　and　here　it　is；　sure　enough！　My　publishers　must　have　guessed　you　were　here　and　my　mind　at　the　same　time。　Now；　if　you　would　like　it；　you　shall　carry　home　one　of　these　little　sets；　and　I'll　just　write　a　piece　from　one　of　my　poems　and　your　name　on　the　fly…leaf　of　each　volume。　You　say　you　like　that　little　verse：

〃'A　few　can　touch　the　magic　string。'

Then　I'll　write　those　four　lines　in　this　volume。〃　And　he　did。

As　each　little　volume　went　under　the　poet's　pen　Edward　said；　as　his　heart　swelled　in　gratitude：

〃Doctor　Holmes；　you　are　a　man　of　the　rarest　sort　to　be　so　good　to　a　boy。〃

　　A　few　can　touch　the　magic　string。　　　And　noisy　fame　is　proud　to　win　them；　　　　Alas　for　those　who　never　sing。　　　But　die　with　all　their　music　in　them！　　　Oliver　Wendell　Holmes

The　pen　stopped；　the　poet　looked　out　on　the　Charles　a　moment；　and　then；　turning　to　the　boy　with　a　little　moisture　in　his　eye；　he　said：

〃No；　my　boy；　I　am　not；　but　it　does　an　old　man's　heart　good　to　hear　you　say　it。　It　means　much　to　those　on　the　down…hill　side　to　be　well　thought　of　by　the　young　who　are　coming　up。〃

As　he　wiped　his　gold　pen；　with　its　swan…quill　holder；　and　laid　it　down；　he　said：

〃That's　the　pen　with　which　I　wrote　'Elsie　Venner'　and　the　'Autocrat'　papers。　I　try　to　take　care　of　it。〃

〃You　say　you　are　going　from　me　over　to　see　Longfellow？〃　he　continued；　as　he　reached　out　once　more　for　the　pen。　〃Well；　then；　would　you　mind　if　I　gave　you　a　letter　for　him？　I　have　something　to　send　him。〃

Sly　but　kindly　old　gentleman！　The　〃something〃　he　had　to　send　Longfellow　was　Edward　himself；　although　the　boy　did　not　see　through　the　subterfuge　at　that　time。

〃And　now；　if　you　are　going；　I'll　walk　along　with　you　if　you　don't　mind；　for　I'm　going　down　to　Park　Street　to　thank　my　publishers　for　these　little　books；　and　that　lies　along　your　way　to　the　Cambridge　car。〃

As　the　two　walked　along　Beacon　Street；　Doctor　Holmes　pointed　out　the　residences　where　lived　people　of　interest；　and　when　they　reached　the　Public　Garden　he　said：

〃You　must　come　over　in　the　spring　some　time；　and　see　the　tulips　and　croci　and　hyacinths　here。　They　are　so　beautiful。

〃Now；　here　is　your　car；〃　he　said　as　he　hailed　a　coming　horse…car。　〃Before　you　go　back　you　must　come　and　see　me　and　tell　me　all　the　people　you　have　seen；　will　you？　I　should　like　to　hear　about　them。　I　may　not　have　more　books　coming　in；　but　I　might　have　a　very　good…looking　photograph　of　a　very　old…looking　little　man；〃　he　said　as　his　eyes　twinkled。　〃Give　my　love　to　Longfellow　when　you　see　him；　and　don't　forget　to　give　him　my　letter；　you　know。　It　is　about　a　very　important　matter。〃

And　when　the　boy　had　ridden　a　mile　or　so　with　his　fare　in　his　hand　he　held　it　out　to　the　conductor；　who　grinned　and　said：

〃That's　all　right。　Doctor　Holmes　paid　me　your　fare；　and　I'm　going　to　keep　that　nickel　if　I　lose　my　job　for　it。〃



V。　Going　to　the　Theatre　with　Longfellow

When　Edward　Bok　stood　before　the　home　of　Longfellow；　he　realized　that　he　was　to　see　the　man　around　whose　head　the　boy's　youthful　reading　had　cast　a　sort　of　halo。　And　when　he　saw　the　head　itself　he　had　a　feeling　that　he　could　see　the　halo。　No　kindlier　pair　of　eyes　ever　looked　at　a　boy；　as；　with　a　smile；　〃the　white　Mr。　Longfellow；〃　as　Mr。　Howells　had　called　him；　held　out　his　hand。

〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；　my　boy；〃　were　his　first　words；　and　with　them　he　won　the　boy。　Edward　smiled　back　at　the　poet；　and　immediately　the　two　were　friends。

〃I　have　been　taking　a　walk　this　beautiful　morning；〃　he　said　next；　〃and　am　a　little　late　getting　at　my　mail。　Suppose　you　come　in　and　sit　at　my　desk　with　me；　and　we　will　see　what　the　postman　has　brought。　He　brings　me　so　many　good　things；　you　know。〃

〃Now；　here　is　a　little　girl；〃　he　said；　as　he　sat　down　at　the　desk　with　the　boy　beside　him；　〃who　wants　my　autograph　and　a　'sentiment。'　What　sentiment；　I　wonder；　shall　I　send　her？〃

〃Why　not　send　her　'Let　us；　then；　be　up　and　doing'？〃　suggested　the　boy。　〃That's　what　I　should　like　if　I　were　she。〃

〃Should　you；　indeed？〃　said　Longfellow。　〃That　is　a　good　suggestion。　Now；　suppose　you　recite　it　off　to　me；　so　that　I　shall　not　have　to　look　it　up　in　my　books；　and　I　will　write　as　you　recite。　But　slowly；　you　know　I　am　an　old　man；　and　write　slowly。〃

Edward　thought　it　strange　that　Longfellow　himself　should　not　know　his　own　great　words　without　looking　them　up。　But　he　recited　the　four　lines；　so　familiar　to　every　schoolboy；　and　when　the　poet　had　finished　writing　them；　he　said：

〃Good！　I　see　you　have　a　memory。　Now；　suppose　I　copy　these　lines　once　more　for　the　little　girl；　and　give　you　this　copy？　Then　you　can　say；　you　know；　that　you　dictated　my　own　poetry　to　me。〃

Of　course　Edward　was　delighted；　and　Longfellow　gave　him　the　sheet　as　it　is　here：

　　Let　us；　then；　be　up　and　doing；　　　with　a　heart　for　any　fate；　　　Still　achieving；　still　pursuing；　　　Learn　to　labor　and　to　wait。　　　Henry　W。　Longfellow

Then；　as　the　fine　head　bent　down　to　copy　the　lines　once　more；　Edward　ventured　to　say　to　him：

〃I　should　think　it　would　keep　you　busy　if　you　did　this　for　every　one　who　asked　you。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　poet；　〃you　see；　I　am　not　so　busy　a　man　as　I　was　some　years　ago；　and　I　shouldn't　like　to　disappoint　a　little　girl；　should　you？〃

As　he　took　up　his　letters　again；　he　discovered　five　more　requests　for　his　autograph。　At　each　one　he　reached　into　a　drawer　in　his　desk；　took　a　card；　and　wrote　his　name　on　it。

〃There　are　a　good　many　of　these　every　day；〃　said　Longfellow；　〃but　I　always　like　to　do　this　little　favor。　It　is　so　little　to　do；　to　write　your　name　on　a　card；　and　if　I　didn't　do　it　some　boy　or　girl　might　be　looking；　day　by　day；　for　the　postman　and　be　disappointed。　I　only　wish　I　could　write　my　name　better　for　them。　You　see　how　I　break　my　letters？　That's　because　I　never　took　pains　with　my　writing　when　I　was　a　boy。　I　don't　think　I　should　get　a　high　mark　for　penmanship　if　I　were　at　school；　do　you？〃

〃I　see　you　get　letters　from　Europe；〃　said　the　boy；　as　Longfellow　opened　an　envelope　with　a　foreign　stamp　on　it。

〃Yes；　from　all　over　the　world；〃　said　the　poet。　Then；　looking　at　the　boy　quickly；　he　said：　〃Do　you　collect　postage…stamps？〃

Edward　said　he　did。

〃Well；　I　have　some　right　here；　then；〃　and　going　to　a　drawer　in　a　desk　he　took　out　a　bundle　of　letters；　and　cut　out　the　postage…stamps　and　gave　them　to　the　boy。

〃There's　one　from　the　Netherlands。　There's　where　I　was　born；〃　Edward　ventured　to　say。

〃In　the　Netherlands？　Then　you　are　a　real　Dutchman。　Well！　Well！〃　he　said；　laying　down　his　pen。　〃Can　you　read　Dutch？〃

The　boy　said　he　could。

〃Then；〃　said　the　poet；　〃you　are　just　the　boy　I　am　looking　for。〃　And　going　to　a　bookcase　behind　him　he　brought　out　a　book；　and　handing　it　to　the　boy；　he　said；　his　eyes　laughing：　〃Can　you　read　that？〃

It　was　an　edition　of　Longfellow's　poems　in　Dutch。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　Edward。　〃These　are　your　poems　in　Dutch。〃

〃That's　right；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　this　is　delightful。　I　am　so　glad　you　came。　I　received　this　book　last　week；　and　although　I　have　been　in　the　Netherlands；　I　cannot　speak　or　read　Dutch。　I　wonder　whether　you　would　read　a　poem　to　me　and　let　me　hear　how　it　sounds。〃

So　Edward　took　〃The　Old　Clock　on　the　Stairs；〃　and　read　it　to　him。

The　poet's　face　beamed　with　delight。　〃That's　beautiful；〃　he　said；　and　then　quickly　added：　〃I　mean　the　language；　not　the　poem。〃

〃Now；〃　he　went　on；　〃I'll　tell　you　what　we'll　do：　we'll　strike　a　bargain。　We　Yankees　are　great　for　bargains；　you　know。　If　you　will　read　me　'The　Village　Blacksmith'　you　can　sit　in　that　chair　there　made　out　of　the　wood　of　the　old　spreading　chestnut…tree；　and　I'll　take　you　out　and　show　you　where　the　old　shop　stood。　Is　that　a　bargain？〃

Edward　assured　him　it　was。　He　sat　in　the　chair　of　wood　and　leather；　and　read　to　the　poet　several　of　his　own　poems　in　a　language　in　which；　when　he　wrote　them；　he　never　dreamed　they　would　ever　be　printed。　He　was　very　quiet。　Finally　he　said：　〃It　seems　so　odd；　so　very　odd；　to　hear　something　you　know　so　well　sound　so　strange。〃

〃It's　a　great　compliment；　though；　isn't　it；　sir？〃　asked　the　boy。

〃Ye…es；〃　said　the　poet　slowly。　〃Yes；　yes；〃　he　added　quickly。　〃It　is；　my　boy；　a　very　great　compliment。〃

〃Ah；〃　he　said；　rousing　himself；　as　a　maid　appeared；　〃that　means　luncheon；　or　rather；〃　he　added；　〃it　means　dinner；　for　we　have　dinner　in　the　old　New　England　fashion；　in　the　middle　of　the　day。　I　am　all　alone　today；　and　you　must　keep　me　company；　will　you？　Then　afterward　we'll　go　and　take　a　walk；　and　I'll　show　you　Cambridge。　It　is　such　a　beautiful　old　town；　even　more　beautiful；　I　sometimes　think；　when　the　leaves　are　off　the　trees。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　take　you　up…stairs；　and　you　can　wash　your　hands　in　the　room　where　George　Washington　slept。　And　comb　your　hair；　too；　if　you　want　to；〃　he　added；　〃only　it　isn't　the　same　comb　that　he　used。〃

To　the　boyish　mind　it　was　an　historic　breaking　of　bread；　that　midday　meal　with　Longfellow。

〃Can　you　say　grace　in　Dutch？〃　he　asked；　as　they　sat　down；　and　the　boy　did。

〃Well；〃　the　poet　declared；　〃I　never　expected　to　hear　that　at　my　table。　I　like　the　sound　of　it。〃

Then　while　the　boy　told　all　that　he　knew　about　the　Netherlands；　the　poet　told　the　boy　all　about　his　poems。　Edward　said　he　liked　〃Hiawatha。〃

〃So　do　I；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　think　I　like　'Evangeline'　better。　Still；〃　he　added；　〃neither　one　is　as　good　as　it　should　be。　But　those　are　the　things　you　see　afterward　so　much　better　than　you　do　at　the　time。〃

It　was　a　great　event　for　Edward　when；　with　the　poet　nodding　and　smiling　to　every　boy　and　man　he　met；　and　lifting　his　hat　to　every　woman　and　little　girl；　he　walked　through　the　fine　old　streets　of　Cambridge　with　Longfellow。　At　one　point　of　the　walk　they　came　to　a　theatrical　bill…board　announcing　an　attraction　that　evening　at　the　Boston　Theatre。　Skilfully　the　old　poet　drew　out　from　Edward　that　sometimes　he