our village-第21部分
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gling to ameliorate their hapless destiny。 They were visibly grumbling at the weather； scolding at the dust； and heating themselves like a furnace； by striving against the heat。 How well I remember the fat gentleman without his coat； who was wiping his forehead； heaving up his wig； and certainly uttering that English ejaculation； which； to our national reproach； is the phrase of our language best known on the continent。 And that poor boy； red…hot； all in a flame； whose mamma； having divested her own person of all superfluous apparel； was trying to relieve his sufferings by the removal of his neckerchiefan operation which he resisted with all his might。 How perfectly I remember him； as well as the pale girl who sat opposite； fanning herself with her bonnet into an absolute fever！ They vanished after a while into their own dust； but I have them all before my eyes at this moment； a companion picture to Hogarth's 'Afternoon；' a standing lesson to the grumblers at cold summers。
For my part； I really like this wet season。 It keeps us within； to be sure； rather more than is quite agreeable； but then we are at least awake and alive there； and the world out of doors is so much the pleasanter when we can get abroad。 Everything does well； except those fastidious bipeds； men and women； corn ripens； grass grows； fruit is plentiful； there is no lack of birds to eat it； and there has not been such a wasp…season these dozen years。 My garden wants no watering； and is more beautiful than ever； beating my old rival in that primitive art； the pretty wife of the little mason； out and out。 Measured with mine； her flowers are naught。 Look at those hollyhocks； like pyramids of roses； those garlands of the convolvulus major of all colours； hanging around that tall pole； like the wreathy hop…bine； those magnificent dusky cloves； breathing of the Spice Islands； those flaunting double dahlias； those splendid scarlet geraniums； and those fierce and warlike flowers the tiger…lilies。 Oh； how beautiful they are！ Besides； the weather clears sometimesit has cleared this evening； and here are we； after a merry walk up the hill； almost as quick as in the winter； bounding lightly along the bright green turf of the pleasant common； enticed by the gay shouts of a dozen clear young voices； to linger awhile； and see the boys play at cricket。
I plead guilty to a strong partiality towards that unpopular class of beings； country boys： I have a large acquaintance amongst them； and I can almost say； that I know good of many and harm of none。 In general they are an open； spirited； good…humoured race； with a proneness to embrace the pleasures and eschew the evils of their condition； a capacity for happiness； quite unmatched in man； or woman； or a girl。 They are patient； too； and bear their fate as scape…goats （for all sins whatsoever are laid as matters of course to their door）； whether at home or abroad； with amazing resignation and； considering the many lies of which they are the objects； they tell wonderfully few in return。 The worst that can be said of them is； that they seldom； when grown to man's estate； keep the promise of their boyhood； but that is a fault to comea fault that may not come； and ought not to be anticipated。 It is astonishing how sensible they are to notice from their betters； or those whom they think such。 I do not speak of money； or gifts； or praise； or the more coarse and common briberiesthey are more delicate courtiers； a word； a nod； a smile； or the mere calling of them by their names； is enough to ensure their hearts and their services。 Half a dozen of them； poor urchins； have run away now to bring us chairs from their several homes。 'Thank you； Joe Kirby！you are always first yes； that is just the placeI shall see everything there。 Have you been in yet； Joe？''No； ma'am！ I go in next。''Ah； I am glad of thatand now's the time。 Really that was a pretty ball of Jem Eusden's！I was sure it would go to the wicket。 Run； Joe！ They are waiting for you。' There was small need to bid Joe Kirby make haste； I think he is； next to a race…horse； or a greyhound； or a deer； the fastest creature that runsthe most completely alert and active。 Joe is mine especial friend； and leader of the 'tender juveniles；' as Joel Brent is of the adults。 In both instances this post of honour was gained by merit； even more remarkably so in Joe's case than in Joel's； for Joe is a less boy than many of his companions （some of whom are fifteeners and sixteeners； quite as tall and nearly as old as Tom Coper）； and a poorer than all； as may be conjectured from the lamentable state of that patched round frock； and the ragged condition of those unpatched shoes； which would encumber； if anything could； the light feet that wear them。 But why should I lament the poverty that never troubles him？ Joe is the merriest and happiest creature that ever lived twelve years in this wicked world。 Care cannot come near him。 He hath a perpetual smile on his round ruddy face； and a laugh in his hazel eye； that drives the witch away。 He works at yonder farm on the top of the hill； where he is in such repute for intelligence and good…humour； that he has the honour of performing all the errands of the house； of helping the maid； the mistress； and the master； in addition to his own stated office of carter's boy。 There he works hard from five till seven； and then he comes here to work still harder； under the name of playbatting； bowling； and fielding； as if for life； filling the place of four boys； being； at a pinch； a whole eleven。 The late Mr。 Knyvett； the king's organist； who used in his own person to sing twenty parts at once of the Hallelujah Chorus； so that you would have thought he had a nest of nightingales in his throat； was but a type of Joe Kirby。 There is a sort of ubiquity about him； he thinks nothing of being in two places at once； and for pitching a ball； William Grey himself is nothing to him。 It goes straight to the mark like a bullet。 He is king of the cricketers from eight to sixteen； both inclusive； and an excellent ruler he makes。 Nevertheless； in the best…ordered states there will be grumblers； and we have an opposition here in the shape of Jem Eusden。
Jem Eusden is a stunted lad of thirteen； or thereabout； lean； small； and short； yet strong and active。 His face is of an extraordinary ugliness； colourless； withered； haggard； with a look of extreme age； much increased by hair so light that it might rather pass for white than flaxen。 He is constantly arrayed in the blue cap and old…fashioned coat； the costume of an endowed school to which he belongs； where he sits still all day； and rushes into the field at night； fresh； untired； and ripe for action； to scold and brawl； and storm； and bluster。 He hates Joe Kirby； whose immovable good…humour； broad smiles； and knowing nods； must certainly be very provoking to so fierce and turbulent a spirit； and he has himself （being； except by rare accident； no great player） the preposterous ambition of wishing to be manager of the sports。 In short； he is a demagogue in embryo； with every quality necessary to a splendid success in that vocation；a strong voice； a fluent utterance； an incessant iteration； and a frontless impudence。 He is a great 'scholar' too； to use the country phrase； his 'piece；' as our village schoolmaster terms a fine sheet of flourishing writing； something between a valentine and a sampler； enclosed within a border of little coloured printshis last； I remember； was encircled by an engraved history of Moses； beginning at the finding in the bulrushes； with Pharaoh's daughter dressed in a rose…coloured gown and blue feathershis piece is not only the admiration of the school； but of the parish； and is sent triumphantly round from house to house at Christmas； to extort halfpence and sixpences from all encouragers of learningMontem in miniature。 The Mosaic history was so successful； that the produce enabled Jem to purchase a bat and ball； which； besides adding to his natural arrogance （for the little pedant actually began to mutter against being eclipsed by a dunce； and went so far as to challenge Joe Kirby to a trial in Practice； or the Rule of Three）； gave him； when compared with the general poverty； a most unnatural preponderance in the cricket state。 He had the ways and means in his hands （for alas！ the hard winter had made sad havoc among the bats； and the best ball was a bad one）he had the ways and means； could withhold the supplies； and his party was beginning to wax strong； when Joe received a present of two bats and a ball for the youngsters in general and himself in particularand Jem's adherents left him on the spot they ratted； to a man； that very evening。 Notwithstanding this desertion； their forsaken leader has in nothing relaxed from his pretensions； or his ill…humour。 He stills quarrels and brawls as if he had a faction to back him； and thinks nothing of contending with both sides； the ins and the outs； secure of out…talking the whole field。 He has been squabbling these ten minutes； and is just marching off now with his own bat （he has never deigned to use one of Joe's） in his hand。 What an ill…conditioned hobgoblin it is！ And yet there is something bold and sturdy about him too。 I should miss Jem Eusden。
Ah； there is another deserter from the party！ my friend the little hussarI do not know his name； and call him after his cap and jacket。 He is a very remarkable person； about the age of eight years； the youngest piece of gravity and dignity I ever encountered； short； and square； and upright； and slow； with a fine bronzed flat visage； resembling those convertible signs the Broad…Face and the Saracen's…Head； which； happening to be next…door neighbours in the town of B。； I never knew apart； resembling； indeed； any face that is open…eyed and immovable； the very sign of a boy！ He stalks about with his hands in his breeches pockets； like a piece of machinery； sits leisurely down when he ought to field； and never gets farther in batting than to stop the ball。 His is the only voice never heard in the melee： I doubt； indeed； if he have one； which may be partly the reason of a circumstance that I record to his honour； his fidelity to Jem Eusden； to whom he has adhered through every change of
