tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第2章
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the entrance to the park； and sat long watching the fine carriages as they
dashed past him； he saw the handsome women in brilliant costumes
laughing and chatting gayly； the apathetic policemen promenading in stoic
dignity up and down upon the smooth pavements； the jauntily attired
nurses； whom in his Norse innocence he took for mothers or aunts of the
chil… dren； wheeling baby…carriages which to Norse eyes seemed miracles
of dainty ingenuity； under the shady crowns of the elm…trees。 He did not
know how long he had been sitting there； when a little bright…eyed girl
with light kid gloves； a small blue parasol and a blue polonaise； quite a
lady of fashion en miniature； stopped in front of him and stared at him in
shy wonder。 He had always been fond of children； and often rejoiced in
their affectionate ways and confidential prattle； and now it suddenly
touched him with a warm sense of human fellowship to have this little
daintily befrilled and crisply starched beauty single him out for notice
among the hundreds who reclined in the arbors； or sauntered to and fro
under the great trees。
＇1＇ 〃I am a Dane。 I speak Danish。〃
〃What is your name； my little girl？〃 he asked； in a tone of friendly
interest。
〃Clara；〃 answered the child； hesitatingly； then； having by another look
assured herself of his harmlessness； she added： 〃How very funny you
speak！〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； stooping down to take he tiny begloved hand。 〃I do
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
not speak as well as you do； yet； but I shall soon learn。〃
Clara looked puzzled。
〃How old are you？〃 she asked； raising her parasol； and throwing back
her head with an air of superiority。
〃I am twenty…four years old。〃
She began to count half aloud on her fingers： 〃One； two； three； four；〃
but； before she reached twenty； she lost her patience。
〃Twenty…four；〃 she exclaimed； 〃that is a great deal。 I am only seven；
and papa gave me a pony on my birthday。 Have you got a pony？〃
〃No； I have nothing but what is in this valise； and you know I could
not very well get a pony into it。〃
Clara glanced curiously at the valise and laughed； then suddenly she
grew serious again； put her hand into her pocket and seemed to be
searching eagerly for something。 Presently she hauled out a small
porcelain doll's head； then a red…painted block with letters on it； and at last
a penny。
〃Do you want them？〃 she said； reaching him her treasures in both
hands。 〃You may have them all。〃
Before he had time to answer； a shrill； penetrating voice cried out：
〃Why； gracious！ child； what are you doing ？ 〃
And the nurse； who had been deeply absorbed in 〃The New York
Ledger；〃 came rushing up； snatched the child away； and retreated as
hastily as she had come。
Halfdan rose and wandered for hours aimlessly along the intertwining
roads and footpaths。 He visited the menageries； admired the statues； took
a very light dinner； consisting of coffee； sandwiches； and ice； at the
Chinese Pavilion； and； toward evening； discovered an inviting leafy arbor；
where he could withdraw into the privacy of his own thoughts； and ponder
upon the still unsolved problem of his destiny。 The little incident with
the child had taken the edge off his unhappiness and turned him into a
more conciliatory mood toward himself and the great pitiless world； which
seemed to take so little notice of him。 And he； who had come here with
so warm a heart and so ardent a will to join in the great work of human
advancementto find himself thus harshly ignored and buffeted about； as
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
if he were a hostile intruder！ Before him lay the huge unknown city
where human life pulsated with large； full heart…throbs； where a breathless；
weird intensity； a cold； fierce passion seemed to be hurrying everything
onward in a maddening whirl； where a gentle； warm… blooded enthusiast
like himself had no place and could expect naught but a speedy destruction。
A strange； unconquerable dread took possession of him； as if he had been
caught in a swift； strong whirlpool； from which he vainly struggled to
escape。 He crouched down among the foliage and shuddered。 He could
not return to the city。 No； no： he never would return。 He would remain
here hidden and unseen until morning； and then he would seek a vessel
bound for his dear native land； where the great mountains loomed up in
serene majesty toward the blue sky； where the pine…forests whispered their
dreamily sympathetic legends； in the long summer twilights； where human
existence flowed on in calm beauty with the modest aims； small virtues；
and small vices which were the happiness of modest； idyllic souls。 He
even saw himself in spirit recounting to his astonished countrymen the
wonderful things he had heard and seen during his foreign pilgrimage； and
smiled to himself as he imagined their wonder when he should tell them
about the beautiful little girl who had been the first and only one to offer
him a friendly greeting in the strange land。 During these reflections he
fell asleep； and slept soundly for two or three hours。 Once； he seemed to
hear footsteps and whispers among the trees； and made an effort to rouse
himself； but weariness again overmastered him and he slept on。 At last；
he felt himself seized violently by the shoulders； and a gruff voice shouted
in his ear：
〃Get up； you sleepy dog。〃
He rubbed his eyes； and； by the dim light of the moon； saw a
Herculean policeman lifting a stout stick over his head。 His former terror
came upon him with increased violence； and his heart stood for a moment
still； then； again； hammered away as if it would burst his sides。
〃Come along！〃 roared the policeman； shaking him vehemently by the
collar of his coat。
In his bewilderment he quite forgot where he was； and； in hurried
Norse sentences； assured his persecutor that he was a harmless； honest
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traveler； and implored him to release him。 But the official Hercules was
inexorable。
〃My valise； my valise；〃 cried Halfdan。 〃Pray let me get my valise。〃
They returned to the place where he had slept； but the valise was
nowhere to be found。 Then； with dumb despair he resigned himself to
his fate； and after a brief ride on a street…car； found himself standing in a
large； low…ceiled room； he covered his face with his hands and burst into
tears。
〃The grand…the happy republic；〃 he murmured； 〃spontaneous
blossoming of the soul。 Alas！ I have rooted up my life； I fear it will
never blossom。〃
All the high…flown adjectives he had employed in his parting speech in
the Students' Union； when he paid his enthusiastic tribute to the Grand
Republic； now kept recurring to him； and in this moment the paradox
seemed cruel。 The Grand Republic； what did it care for such as he？ A
pair of brawny arms fit to wield the pick…axe and to steer the plow it
received with an eager welcome； for a child…like； loving heart and a
generously fantastic brain； it had but the stern greeting of the law。
III。
The next morning； Halfdan was released from the Police Station；
having first been fined five dollars for vagrancy。 All his money； with the
exception of a few pounds which he had exchanged in Liverpool； he had
lost with his valise； and he had to his knowledge not a single acquaintance
in the city or on the whole continent。 In order to increase his capital he
bought some fifty 〃Tribunes；〃 but； as it was already late in the day； he
hardly succeeded in selling a single copy。 The next morning； he once
more stationed himself on the corner of Murray street and Broadway；
hoping in his innocence to dispose of the papers he had still on hand from
the previous day； and actually did find a few customers among the people
who were jumping in and out of the omnibuses that passed up and down
the great thoroughfare。 To his surprise； however； one of these gentlemen
returned to him with a very wrathful countenance； shook his fist at him；
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
and vociferated with excited gestures something which to Halfdan's ears
had a very unintelligible sound。 He made a vain effort to defend himself；
the situation appeared so utterly incomprehensible to him； and in his dumb
helplessness he looked pitiful enough to move the heart of a stone。 No
English phrase suggested itself to him； only a few Norse interjections rose
to his lips。 The man's anger suddenly abated； he picked up the paper
which he had thrown on the sidewalk； and stood for a while regarding
Halfdan curiously。
〃Are you a Norwegian？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； I came from Norway yesterday。〃
〃What's your name？〃
〃Halfdan Bjerk。〃
〃Halfdan Bjerk！ My stars！ Who would have thought of meeting
you here！ You do not recognize me； I suppose。〃
Halfdan declared with a timid tremor in his voice that he could not at
the moment recall his features。
〃No； I imagine I must have changed a good deal since you saw me；〃
said the man； suddenly dropping into Norwegian。 〃I am Gustav Olson； I
used to live
