the americanization of edward bok-第8章

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on　that　evening　at　the　Boston　Theatre。　Skilfully　the　old　poet　drew　out　from　Edward　that　sometimes　he　went　to　the　theatre　with　his　parents。　As　they　returned　to　the　gate　of　〃Craigie　House〃　Edward　said　he　thought　he　would　go　back　to　Boston。

〃And　what　have　you　on　hand　for　this　evening？〃　asked　Longfellow。

Edward　told　him　he　was　going　to　his　hotel　to　think　over　the　day's　events。

The　poet　laughed　and　said：

〃Now；　listen　to　my　plan。　Boston　is　strange　to　you。　Now　we're　going　to　the　theatre　this　evening；　and　my　plan　is　that　you　come　in　now；　have　a　little　supper　with　us；　and　then　go　with　us　to　see　the　play。　It　is　a　funny　play；　and　a　good　laugh　will　do　you　more　good　than　to　sit　in　a　hotel　all　by　yourself。　Now；　what　do　you　think？〃

Of　course　the　boy　thought　as　Longfellow　did；　and　it　was　a　very　happy　boy　that　evening　who；　in　full　view　of　the　large　audience　in　the　immense　theatre；　sat　in　that　box。　It　was；　as　Longfellow　had　said；　a　play　of　laughter；　and　just　who　laughed　louder；　the　poet　or　the　boy；　neither　ever　knew。

Between　the　acts　there　came　into　the　box　a　man　of　courtly　presence；　dignified　and　yet　gently　courteous。

〃Ah！　Phillips；〃　said　the　poet；　〃how　are　you？　You　must　know　my　young　friend　here。　This　is　Wendell　Phillips；　my　boy。　Here　is　a　young　man　who　told　me　to…day　that　he　was　going　to　call　on　you　and　on　Phillips　Brooks　to…morrow。　Now　you　know　him　before　he　comes　to　you。〃

〃I　shall　be　glad　to　see　you；　my　boy；〃　said　Mr。　Phillips。　〃And　so　you　are　going　to　see　Phillips　Brooks？　Let　me　tell　you　something　about　Brooks。　He　has　a　great　many　books　in　his　library　which　are　full　of　his　marks　and　comments。　Now；　when　you　go　to　see　him　you　ask　him　to　let　you　see　some　of　those　books；　and　then；　when　he　isn't　looking；　you　put　a　couple　of　them　in　your　pocket。　They　would　make　splendid　souvenirs；　and　he　has　so　many　he　would　never　miss　them。　You　do　it；　and　then　when　you　come　to　see　me　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

And　he　and　Longfellow　smiled　broadly。

An　hour　later；　when　Longfellow　dropped　Edward　at　his　hotel；　he　had　not　only　a　wonderful　day　to　think　over　but　another　wonderful　day　to　look　forward　to　as　well！

He　had　breakfasted　with　Oliver　Wendell　Holmes；　dined；　supped；　and　been　to　the　theatre　with　Longfellow；　and　to…morrow　he　was　to　spend　with　Phillips　Brooks。

Boston　was　a　great　place；　Edward　Bok　thought；　as　he　fell　asleep。



VI。　Phillips　Brooks's　Books　and　Emerson's　Mental　Mist

No　one　who　called　at　Phillips　Brooks's　house　was　ever　told　that　the　master　of　the　house　was　out　when　he　was　in。　That　was　a　rule　laid　down　by　Doctor　Brooks：　a　maid　was　not　to　perjure　herself　for　her　master's　comfort　or　convenience。　Therefore；　when　Edward　was　told　that　Doctor　Brooks　was　out；　he　knew　he　was　out。　The　boy　waited；　and　as　he　waited　he　had　a　chance　to　look　around　the　library　and　into　the　books。　The　rector's　faithful　housekeeper　said　he　might　when　he　repeated　what　Wendell　Phillips　had　told　him　of　the　interest　that　was　to　be　found　in　her　master's　books。　Edward　did　not　tell　her　of　Mr。　Phillips's　advice　to　〃borrow〃　a　couple　of　books。　He　reserved　that　bit　of　information　for　the　rector　of　Trinity　when　he　came　in；　an　hour　later。

〃Oh！　did　he？〃　laughingly　said　Doctor　Brooks。　〃That　is　nice　advice　for　a　man　to　give　a　boy。　I　am　surprised　at　Wendell　Phillips。　He　needs　a　little　talk：　a　ministerial　visit。　And　have　you　followed　his　shameless　advice？〃　smilingly　asked　the　huge　man　as　he　towered　above　the　boy。　〃No？　And　to　think　of　the　opportunity　you　had；　too。　Well；　I　am　glad　you　had　such　respect　for　my　dumb　friends。　For　they　are　my　friends；　each　one　of　them；〃　he　continued；　as　he　looked　fondly　at　the　filled　shelves。　〃Yes；　I　know　them　all；　and　love　each　for　its　own　sake。　Take　this　little　volume；〃　and　he　picked　up　a　little　volume　of　Shakespeare。　〃Why；　we　are　the　best　of　friends：　we　have　travelled　miles　togetherall　over　the　world；　as　a　matter　of　fact。　It　knows　me　in　all　my　moods；　and　responds　to　each；　no　matter　how　irritable　I　am。　Yes；　it　is　pretty　badly　marked　up　now；　for　a　fact；　isn't　it？　Black；　I　never　thought　of　that　before　that　it　doesn't　make　a　book　look　any　better　to　the　eye。　But　it　means　more　to　me　because　of　all　that　pencilling。

〃Now；　some　folks　dislike　my　use　of　my　books　in　this　way。　They　love　their　books　so　much　that　they　think　it　nothing　short　of　sacrilege　to　mark　up　a　book。　But　to　me　that's　like　having　a　child　so　prettily　dressed　that　you　can't　romp　and　play　with　it。　What　is　the　good　of　a　book；　I　say；　if　it　is　too　pretty　for　use？　I　like　to　have　my　books　speak　to　me；　and　then　I　like　to　talk　back　to　them。

〃Take　my　Bible；　here；〃　he　continued；　as　he　took　up　an　old　and　much…worn　copy　of　the　book。　〃I　have　a　number　of　copies　of　the　Great　Book：　one　copy　I　preach　from；　another　I　minister　from；　but　this　is　my　own　personal　copy；　and　into　it　I　talk　and　talk。　See　how　I　talk；〃　and　he　opened　the　Book　and　showed　interleaved　pages　full　of　comments　in　his　handwriting。　〃There's　where　St。　Paul　and　I　had　an　argument　one　day。　Yes；　it　was　a　long　argument；　and　I　don't　know　now　who　won；〃　he　added　smilingly。　〃But　then；　no　one　ever　wins　in　an　argument；　anyway；　do　you　think　so？

〃You　see；〃　went　on　the　preacher；　〃I　put　into　these　books　what　other　men　put　into　articles　and　essays　for　magazines　and　papers。　I　never　write　for　publications。　I　always　think　of　my　church　when　something　comes　to　me　to　say。　There　is　always　danger　of　a　man　spreading　himself　out　thin　if　he　attempts　too　much；　you　know。〃

Doctor　Brooks　must　have　caught　the　boy's　eye；　which；　as　he　said　this；　naturally　surveyed　his　great　frame；　for　he　regarded　him　in　an　amused　way；　and　putting　his　hands　on　his　girth；　he　said　laughingly：　〃You　are　thinking　I　would　have　to　do　a　great　deal　to　spread　myself　out　thin；　aren't　you？〃

The　boy　confessed　he　was；　and　the　preacher　laughed　one　of　those　deep　laughs　of　his　that　were　so　infectious。

〃But　here　I　am　talking　about　myself。　Tell　me　something　about　yourself？〃

And　when　the　boy　told　his　object　in　coming　to　Boston；　the　rector　of　Trinity　Church　was　immensely　amused。

〃Just　to　see　us　fellows！　Well；　and　how　do　you　like　us　so　far？〃

And　is　the　most　comfortable　way　this　true　gentleman　went　on　until　the　boy　mentioned　that　he　must　be　keeping　him　from　his　work。

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　was　the　quick　and　hearty　response。　〃Not　a　thing　to　do。　I　cleaned　up　all　my　mail　before　I　had　my　breakfast　this　morning。

〃These　letters；　you　mean？〃　he　said；　as　the　boy　pointed　to　some　letters　on　his　desk　unopened。　〃Oh；　yes！　Well；　they　must　have　come　in　a　later　mail。　Well；　if　it　will　make　you　feel　any　better　I'll　go　through　them；　and　you　can　go　through　my　books　if　you　like。　I'll　trust　you；〃　he　added　laughingly；　as　Wendell　Phillips's　advice　occurred　to　him。

〃You　like　books；　you　say？〃　he　went　on；　as　he　opened　his　letters。　〃Well；　then；　you　must　come　into　my　library　here　at　any　time　you　are　in　Boston；　and　spend　a　morning　reading　anything　I　have　that　you　like。　Young　men　do　that；　you　know；　and　I　like　to　have　them。　What's　the　use　of　good　friends　if　you　don't　share　them？　There's　where　the　pleasure　comes　in。〃

He　asked　the　boy　then　about　his　newspaper　work：　how　much　it　paid　him；　and　whether　he　felt　it　helped　him　in　an　educational　way。　The　boy　told　him　he　thought　it　did；　that　it　furnished　good　lessons　in　the　study　of　human　nature。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　can　believe　that；　so　long　as　it　is　good　journalism。〃

Edward　told　him　that　he　sometimes　wrote　for　the　Sunday　paper；　and　asked　the　preacher　what　he　thought　of　that。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃that　is　not　a　crime。〃

The　boy　asked　him　if　he；　then；　favored　the　Sunday　paper　more　than　did　some　other　clergymen。

〃There　is　always　good　in　everything；　I　think；〃　replied　Phillips　Brooks。　〃A　thing　must　be　pretty　bad　that　hasn't　some　good　in　it。〃　Then　he　stopped；　and　after　a　moment　went　on：　〃My　idea　is　that　the　fate　of　Sunday　newspapers　rests　very　much　with　Sunday　editors。　There　is　a　Sunday　newspaper　conceivable　in　which　we　should　all　rejoiceall；　that　is；　who　do　not　hold　that　a　Sunday　newspaper　is　always　and　per　se　wrong。　But　some　cause　has；　in　many　instances；　brought　it　about　that　the　Sunday　paper　is　below；　and　not　above；　the　standard　of　its　weekday　brethren。　I　mean　it　is　apt　to　be　more　gossipy；　more　personal；　more　sensational；　more　frivolous；　less　serious　and　thoughtful　and　suggestive。　Taking　for　granted　the　fact　of　special　leisure　on　the　part　of　its　readers；　it　is　apt　to　appeal　to　the　lower　and　not　to　the　higher　part　of　them；　which　the　Sunday　leisure　has　set　free。　Let　the　Sunday　newspaper　be　worthy　of　the　day；　and　the　day　will　not　reject　it。　So　I　say　its　fate　is　in　the　hands　of　its　editor。　He　can　give　it　such　a　character　as　will　make　all　good　men　its　champions　and　friends；　or　he　can　preserve　for　it　the　suspicion　and　dislike　in　which　it　stands　at　present。〃

Edward's　journalistic　instinct　here　got　into　full　play；　and　although；　as　he　assured　his　host；　he　had　had　no　such　thought　in　coming；　he　asked　whether　Doctor　Brooks　would　object　if　he　tried　his　reportorial　wings　by　experimenting　as　to　whether　he　could　report　the　talk。

〃I　do　not　like　the　papers　to　talk　about　me；〃　was　the　answer；　〃but　if　it　will　help　you；　go　ahead　and　practise　on　me。　You　haven't　stolen　my　books　when　you　were　told　to　do　so；　and　I　don't　think　you'll　steal　my　name。〃

The　boy　went　back　to　his　hotel；　and　wrote　an　article　much　as　this　account　is　here　written；　which　he　sent　to　Doctor　Brooks。　〃Let　me　keep　it　by　me；〃　the　doctor　wrote；　〃and　I　will　return　it　to　you　presently。〃

And　he　did；　with　his　comment　on　the　Sunday　newspaper；　just　as　it　is　given　here；　and　with　this　note：

　　If　I　must　go　into　the　　　newspapers　at　allwhich　　　I　should　always　vastly　　　prefer　to　avoidno　words　could　　　have　been　more　kind　than　　　those　of　your　article。　You　　　were　very　good　to　send　it　　　to　me。　I　am　ever　　　Sincerely；　Your　friend；　　　Phillips　Brooks

As　he　let　the　boy　out　of　his　house；　at　the　end　of　that　first　meeting；　he　said　to　him：

〃And　you're　going　from　me　now　to　see　Emerson？　I　don't　know；〃　he　added　reflectively；　〃whether　you　will　see　him　at　his　best。　Still；　you　may。　And　even　if　you　do　not；　to　have　seen　him；　even　as　you　may　see　him；　is　better；　in　a　way；　than　not　to　have　seen　him　at　all。〃

Edward　did　not　know　what　Phillips　Brooks　meant。　But　he　was；　sadly；　to　find　out　the　next　day。

A　boy　of　sixteen　was　pretty　sure　of　a　welcome　from　Louisa　Alcott；　and　his　greeting　from　her　was　spontaneous　and　sincere。

〃Why；　you　good　boy；〃　she　said；　〃to　come　all　the　way　to　Concord　to　see　us；〃　quite　for　all　the　world　as　if　she　were　the　one　favored。　〃Now　take　your　coat　off；　and　come　right　in　by　the　fire。〃

〃Do　tell　me　all　about　your　visit；〃　she　continued。

Before　that　cozey　fire　they　chatted。　It　was　pleasant　to　the　boy　to　sit　there　with　that　sweet…faced　woman　with　those　kindly　eyes！　After　a　while　she　said：　〃Now　I　shall　put　on　my　coat　and　hat；　and　we　shall　walk　over　to　Emerson's　house。　I　am　almost　afraid　to　promise　that　you　will　see　him。　He　sees　scarcely　any　one　now。　He　is　feeble；　and〃　She　did　not　finish　the　sentence。　〃But　we'll　walk　over　there；　at　any　rate。〃

She　spoke　mostly　of　her　father　as　the　two　walked　along；　and　it　was　easy　to　see　that　his　condition　was　now　the　one　thought　of　her　life。　Presently　they　reached　Emerson's　house；　and　Miss　Emerson　welcomed　them　at　the　door。　After　a　brief　chat　Miss　Alcott　told　of　the　boy's　hope。　Mis