the peterkin papers-第17章

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The　little　boys　were　charmed　at　the　idea　of　learning　pottery　from　the　cream…jug；　　and　they　were　promised　a　potter's　wheel　directly。

〃You　see；　my　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin　to　his　wife；　〃before　many　weeks；　we　shall　　be　drinking　our　milk　from　jugs　made　by　our　children。〃

　Elizabeth　Eliza　hoped　for　a　thorough　study。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　〃we　might　begin　with　botany。　That　would　be　near　to　　Agamemnon　alphabetically。　We　ought　to　find　out　the　botany　of　butter。　On　what　　does　the　cow　feed？〃

The　little　boys　were　eager　to　go　out　and　see。

〃If　she　eats　clover；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　〃we　shall　expect　the　botany　of　clover。〃

　The　little　boys　insisted　that　they　were　to　begin　the　next　day；　that　very　evening　　they　should　go　out　and　study　the　cow。

Mrs。　Peterkin　sighed；　and　decided　she　would　order　a　simple　breakfast。　The　little　　boys　took　their　note…books　and　pencils；　and　clambered　upon　the　fence；　where　they　　seated　themselves　in　a　row。

For　there　were　three　little　boys。　So　it　was　now　supposed。　They　were　always　　coming　in　or　going　out；　and　it　had　been　difficult　to　count　them；　and　nobody　was　　very　sure　how　many　there　were。

There　they　sat；　however；　on　the　fence；　looking　at　the　cow。　She　looked　at　them　　with　large　eyes。

〃She　won't　eat；〃　they　cried；　〃while　we　are　looking　at　her！〃

So　they　turned　about；　and　pretended　to　look　into　the　street；　and　seated　　themselves　that　way；　turning　their　heads　back；　from　time　to　time；　to　see　the　　cow。

〃Now　she　is　nibbling　a　clover。〃

〃No；　that　is　a　bit　of　sorrel。〃

〃It's　a　whole　handful　of　grass。〃

〃What　kind　of　grass？〃　they　exclaimed。

It　was　very　hard；　sitting　with　their　backs　to　the　cow；　and　pretending　to　the　cow　　that　they　were　looking　into　the　street；　and　yet　to　be　looking　at　the　cow　all　the　　time；　and　finding　out　what　she　was　eating；　and　the　upper　rail　of　the　fence　was　　narrow　and　a　little　sharp。　It　was　very　high；　too；　for　some　additional　rails　had　　been　put　on　to　prevent　the　cow　from　jumping　into　the　garden　or　street。

　Suddenly；　looking　out　into　the　hazy　twilight；　Elizabeth　Eliza　saw　six　legs　and　　six　india…rubber　boots　in　the　air；　and　the　little　boys　disappeared！

〃They　are　tossed　by　the　cow！　The　little　boys　are　tossed　by　the　cow！〃

Mrs。　Peterkin　rushed　for　the　window；　but　fainted　on　the　way。　Solomon　John　and　　Elizabeth　Eliza　were　hurrying　to　the　door；　but　stopped；　not　knowing　what　to　do　　next。　Mrs。　Peterkin　recovered　herself　with　a　supreme　effort；　and　sent　them　out　　to　the　rescue。

But　what　could　they　do？　The　fence　had　been　made　so　high；　to　keep　the　cow　out；　　that　nobody　could　get　in。　The　boy　that　did　the　milking　had　gone　off　with　the　key　　of　the　outer　gate；　and　perhaps　with　the　key　of　the　shed　door。　Even　if　that　were　　not　locked；　before　Agamemnon　could　get　round　by　the　wood…shed　and　cow…shed；　the　　little　boys　might　be　gored　through　and　through！

Elizabeth　Eliza　ran　to　the　neighbors；　Solomon　John　to　the　druggist's　for　　plasters；　while　Agamemnon　made　his　way　through　the　dining…room　to　the　wood…shed　　and　outer…shed　door。　Mr。　Peterkin　mounted　the　outside　of　the　fence；　while　Mrs。

Peterkin　begged　him　not　to　put　himself　in　danger。　He　climbed　high　enough　to　view　　the　scene。　He　held　to　the　corner　post　and　reported　what　he　saw。

They　were　not　gored。　The　cow　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　lot。　One　of　the　little　　boys　were　lying　in　a　bunch　of　dark　leaves。　He　was　moving。

The　cow　glared；　but　did　not　stir。　Another　little　boy　was　pulling　his　　india…rubber　boots　out　of　the　mud。　The　cow　still　looked　at　him。

Another　was　feeling　the　top　of　his　head。　The　cow　began　to　crop　the　grass；　still　　looking　at　him。

Agamemnon　had　reached　and　opened　the　shed…door。　The　little　boys　were　next　seen　　running　toward　it。

A　crowd　of　neighbors；　with　pitchforks；　had　returned　meanwhile　with　Elizabeth　　Eliza。　Solomon　John　had　brought　four　druggists。　But；　by　the　time　they　had　　reached　the　house；　the　three　little　boys　were　safe　in　the　arms　of　their　mother！

〃This　is　too　dangerous　a　form　of　education；〃　she　cried；　〃I　had　rather　they　went　　to　school。〃

〃No！〃　they　bravely　cried。　They　were　still　willing　to　try　the　other　way。

　THE　EDUCATIONAL　BREAKFAST。　　MRS。　PETERKIN'S　nerves　were　so　shaken　by　the　excitement　of　the　fall　of　the　　three　little　boys　into　the　enclosure　where　the　cow　was　kept　that　the　educational　　breakfast　was　long　postponed。　The　little　boys　continued　at　school；　as　before；　　and　the　conversation　dwelt　as　little　as　possible　upon　the　subject　of　education。

Mrs。　Peterkin's　spirits；　however；　gradually　recovered。　The　little　boys　were　　allowed　to　watch　the　cow　at　her　feed。　A　series　of　strings　were　arranged　by　　Agamemnon　and　Solomon　John；　by　which　the　little　boys　could　be　pulled　up；　if　they　　should　again　fall　down　into　the　enclosure。　These　were　planned　something　like　　curtain…cords；　and　Solomon　John　frequently　amused　himself　by　pulling　one　of　the　　little　boys　up　or　letting　him　down。

Some　conversation　did　again　fall　upon　the　old　difficulty　of　questions。　Elizabeth　　Eliza　declared　that　it　was　not　always　necessary　to　answer；　that　many　who　could　　did　not　answer　questions；…the　conductors　of　the　railroads；　for　instance；　who　　probably　knew　the　names　of　all　the　stations　on　a　road；　but　were　seldom　able　to　　tell　them。

〃Yes；〃　said　Agamemnon；　〃one　might　be　a　conductor　without　even　knowing　the　names　　of　the　stations；　because　you　can't　understand　them　when　they　do　tell　them！〃

〃I　never　know；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃whether　it　is　ignorance　in　them；　or　　unwillingness；　that　prevents　them　from　telling　you　how　soon　one　station　is　　coming；　or　how　long　you　are　to　stop；　even　if　one　asks　ever　so　many　times。　It　　would　be　useful　if　they　would　tell。〃

　Mrs。　Peterkin　thought　this　was　carried　too　far　in　the　horse…cars　in　Boston。　The　　conductors　had　always　left　you　as　far　as　possible　from　the　place　where　you　　wanted　to　stop；　but　it　seemed　a　little　too　much　to　have　the　aldermen　take　it　up；　　and　put　a　notice　in　the　cars；　ordering　the　conductors　〃to　stop　at　the　farthest　　crossing。〃

Mrs。　Peterkin　was；　indeed；　recovering　her　spirits。　She　had　been　carrying　on　a　　brisk　correspondence　with　Philadelphia；　that　she　had　imparted　to　no　one；　and　at　　last　she　announced；　as　its　result；　that　she　was　ready　for　a　breakfast　on　　educational　principles。

A　breakfast　indeed；　when　it　appeared！　Mrs。　Peterkin　had　mistaken　the　　alphabetical　suggestion；　and　had　grasped　the　idea　that　the　whole　alphabet　must　　be　represented　in　one　breakfast。

This；　therefore；　was　the　bill　of　fare：　Apple…sauce；　Bread；　Butter；　Coffee；　　Cream；　Doughnuts；　Eggs；　Fish…balls；　Griddles；　Ham；　Ice　（on　butter）；　Jam；　Krout　　（sour）；　Lamb…chops；　Morning　Newspapers；　Oatmeal；　Pepper；　Quince…marmalade；　　Rolls；　Salt；　Tea　Urn；　Veal…pie；　Waffles；　Yeast…biscuit。

Mr。　Peterkin　was　proud　and　astonished。　〃Excellent！〃　he　cried。　〃Every　letter　　represented　except　Z。〃　Mrs。　Peterkin　drew　from　her　pocket　a　letter　from　the　lady　　from　Philadelphia。　〃She　thought　you　would　call　it　X…cellent　for　X；　and　she　tells　　us；〃　she　read；　〃that　if　you　come　with　a　zest；　you　will　bring　the　Z。〃

Mr。　Peterkin　was　enchanted。　He　only　felt　that　he　ought　to　invite　the　children　in　　the　primary　schools　to　such　a　breakfast；　what　a　zest；　indeed；　it　would　give　to　　the　study　of　their　letters！

It　was　decided　to　begin　with　Apple…sauce。

〃How　happy；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Peterkin；　〃that　this　should　come　first　of　all！　A　　child　might　be　brought　up　on　apple…sauce　till　he　had　mastered　the　first　letter　　of　the　alphabet；　and　could　go　on　to　the　more　involved　subjects　hidden　in　bread；　　butter；　baked　beans；　etc。〃

Agamemnon　thought　his　father　hardly　knew　how　much　was　hidden　in　the　apple。　There　　was　all　the　story　of　William　Tell　and　the　Swiss　independence。　The　little　boys　　were　wild　to　act　William　Tell；　but　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　afraid　of　the　arrows。　Mrs。

Peterkin　proposed　they　should　begin　by　eating　the　apple…sauce；　then　discussing　　it；　first　botanically；　next　historically；　or　perhaps　first　historically；　　beginning　with　Adam　and　Eve；　and　the　first　apple。

　Mrs。　Peterkin　feared　the　coffee　would　be　getting　cold；　and　the　griddles　were　　waiting。　For　herself；　she　declared　she　felt　more　at　home　on　the　marmalade；　　because　the　quinces　came　from　grandfather's；　and　she　had　seen　them　planted；　she　　remembered　all　about　it；　and　now　the　bush　came　up　to　the　sitting…room　window。

She　seemed　to　have　heard　him　tell　that　the　town　of　Quincy；　where　the　granite　　came　from；　was　named　from　them；　and　she　never　quite　recollected　why；　except　they　　were　so　hard；　as　hard　as　stone；　and　it　took　you　almost　the　whole　day　to　stew　　them；　and　then　you　might　as　well　set　them　on　again。

Mr。　Peterkin　was　glad　to　be　reminded　of　the　old　place　at　grandfather's。　In　order　　to　know　thoroughly　about　apples；　they　ought　to　understand　the　making　of　cider。

Now；　they　might　some　time　drive　up　to　grandfather's；　scarcely　twelve　miles　away；　　and　see　the　cider　made。　Why；　indeed；　should　not　the　family　go　this　very　day　up　　to　grandfather's；　and　continue　the　education　of　the　breakfast？

〃Why　not　indeed？〃　exclaimed　the　little　boys。　A　day　at　grandfather's　would　give　　them　the　whole　process　of　the　apple；　from　the　orchard　to　the　cider…mill。　In　this　　way　they　could　widen　the　field　of　study；　even　to　follow　in　time　the　cup　of　　coffee　to　Java。

It　was　suggested；　too；　that　at　grandfather's　they　might　study　the　processes　of　　maple…syrup　as　involved　in　the　griddle…cakes。

　Agamemnon　pointed　out　the　connection　between　the　two　subjects：　they　were　both　　the　products　of　trees…the　apple…tree　and　the　maple。　Mr。　Peterkin　proposed　that　　the　lesson　for　the　day　should　be　considered　the　study　of　trees；　and　on　the　way　　they　could　look　at　other　trees。

Why　not；　indeed；　go　this　very　day？　There　was　no　time　like　the　present。　Their　　breakfast　had　been　so　copious；　they　would　scarcely　be　in　a　hurry　for　dinner；　and　　would；　therefore；　have　the　whole　day　before　them。

Mrs。　Peterkin　could　put　up　the　remains　of　the　breakfast　for　luncheon。

But　how　should　they　go？　The　carryall；　in　spite　of　its　name；　could　hardly　take　　the　whole　family；　though　they　might　squeeze　in　six；　as　the　little　boys　did　not　　take　up　much　room。

Elizabeth　Eliza　suggested　that　she　could　spend　the　night　at　grandfather's。

Indeed；　she　had　been　planning　a　visit　there；　and　would　not　object　to　staying　　some　days。　This　would　make　it　easier　about　coming　home；　but　it　did　not　settle　　the　difficulty　in　getting　there。

Why　not　〃Ride　and　Tie〃？

The　little　boys　were　fond　of　walking；　so　was　Mr。　Peterkin；　and　Agamemnon　and　　Solomon　John　did　not　object　to　their　turn。　Mrs。　Peterkin　could　sit　in　the　　carriage；　when　it　was　waiting　for　the　pedestrians　to　come　up；　or；　she　said；　she　　did　not　object　to　a　little　turn　of　walking。　Mr。　Peterkin　would　start；　with　　Solomon　John　and　the　little　boys；　before　the　rest；　and　Agamemnon　should　drive　　his　mother　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　to　the　first　stopping…place。

　Then　came　up　another　question；…of　Elizabeth　Eliza's　trunk。　If　she　stayed　a　few　　days；　she　would　need　to　carry　something。　It　might　be　hot；　and　it　might　be　cold。

Just　as　soon　as　she　carried　her　thin　things；　she　would　need　her　heaviest　wraps。

You　never　could　depend　upon　the　weather。　Even　〃Probabilities〃　got　you　no　farther　　than　to…day。

In　an　inspired　moment；　Elizabeth　Eliza　bethought　herself　of　the　expressman。　She　　would　send　her　trunk　by　the　ex