the path of the king-第41部分

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This　figure　climbed　down　from　its　perch；　as　they　entered；　with　a　sort　of　awkward　courtesy。　It　was　a　very　tall　man；　thin　almost　to　emaciation；　with　long　arms　and　big　hands　and　feet。　He　had　a　lean；　powerful…looking　head；　marred　by　ugly　projecting　ears　and　made　shapeless　by　a　mass　of　untidy　black　hair。　The　brow　was　broad　and　fine；　and　the　dark　eyes　set　deep　under　it；　the　nose；　too；　was　good；　but　the　chin　and　mouth　were　too　small　for　the　proportions　of　the　face。　The　mouth；　indeed；　was　so　curiously　puckered；　and　the　lower　lip　so　thick　and　prominent；　as　to　give　something　of　a　comic　effect。　The　skin　was　yellow；　but　stretched　so　firm　and　hard　on　the　cheek　bones　that　the　sallowness　did　not　look　unhealthy。　The　man　wore　an　old　suit　of　blue　jeans　and　his　pantaloons　did　not　meet　his　coarse　unblacked　shoes　by　six　inches。　His　scraggy　throat　was　adorned　with　a　black　neckerchief　like　a　boot…lace。

〃Abe；〃　said　Mr。　Curtin；　〃I　would　like　to　make　you　known　to　my　friend　Mr。　Stanton　of　Ohio。〃

The　queer　face　broke　into　a　pleasant　smile；　and　the　long　man　held　out　his　hand。

〃Glad　to　know　you；　Mr。　Stanton；〃　he　said；　and　then　seemed　to　be　stricken　with　shyness。　His　wandering　eye　caught　sight　of　a　new　patent　churn　which　had　just　been　added　to　Mr。　Speed's　stock。　He　took　two　steps　to　it　and　was　presently　deep　in　its　mechanism。　He　turned　it　all　ways；　knelt　beside　it　on　the　floor；　took　off　the　handle　and　examined　it；　while　the　rest　of　the　company　pressed　Mr。　Stanton　to　a　seat　by　the　fire。

〃I　heard　Abe　was　out　at　Rochester　helping　entertain　Ex…　President　Van　Buren；〃　said　Mr。　Curtin　to　the　store…keeper。

〃I　reckon　he　was；〃　said　Speed。　〃He　kept　them　roaring　till　morning。　Judge　Peck　told　me　he　allowed　Mr。　Van　Buren　would　be　stiff　for　a　month　with　laughing　at　Abe's　tales。　It's　curious　that　a　man　who　don't　use　tobacco　or　whisky　should　be　such　mighty　good　company。〃

〃I　wish　Abe'd　keep　it　up；〃　said　another。　〃Most　of　the　time　now　he　goes　about　like　a　sick　dog。　What's　come　to　him；　Joe？〃

Mr。　Speed　hushed　his　voice。　〃He's　got　his　own　troubles。　。　。　。　　He's　a　deep…feeling　man；　and　can't　forget　easily　like　you　and　me。　。　。　。　　But　things　is　better　with　him；　and　I　kind　of　hope　to　see　him　wed　by　Thanks。　giving　Day。　。　。　。　　Look　at　him　with　that　churn。　He's　that　inquisitive　he　can't　keep　his　hands　off　no　new　thing。〃

But　the　long　man　had　finished　his　inquiry　and　rejoined　the　group　by　the　stove。

〃I　thought　you　were　a　lawyer；　Mr。　Lincoln；〃　said　Stanton；　〃but　you　seem　to　have　the　tastes　of　a　mechanic。〃

The　other　grinned。　〃I've　a　fancy　for　any　kind　of　instrument；　for　I　was　a　surveyor　in　this　county　before　I　took　to　law。〃

〃George　Washington　also　was　a　surveyor。〃

〃Also；　but　not　LIKEWISE。　I　don't　consider　I　was　much　of　a　hand　with　the　compass　and　chains。〃

〃It　is　the　fashion　in　Illinois；　I　gather；　for　the　law　to　be　the　last　in　a　series　of　many　pursuitsthe　pool　where　the　driftwood　from　many　streams　comes　to　rest。〃　Mr。　Stanton　spoke　with　the　superior　air　of　one　who　took　his　profession　seriously　and　had　been　trained　for　it　in　the　orthodox　fashion。

〃It　was　so　in　my　case。　I've　kept　a　post…office；　and　I've　had　a　store；　and　I've　had　a　tavern；　and　I　kept　them　so　darned　bad　that　I'm　still　paying　off　the　debts　I　made　in　them。〃　The　long　man　made　the　confession　with　a　comic　simplicity。

〃There's　a　deal　to　be　said　for　the　habit；'t　said　Speed。　〃Having　followed　other　trades　teaches　a　lawyer　something　about　human　nature。　I　reckon　Abe　wouldn't　be　the　man　he　is　if　he　had　studied　his　books　all　his　days。〃

〃There　is　another　side　to　that；〃　said　Mr。　Stanton　and　his　precise　accents　and　well…modulated　voice　seemed　foreign　in　that　homely　place。　〃You　are　also　a　politician；　Mr。　Lincoln？〃

The　other　nodded。　〃Of　a　kind。　I'm　a　strong　Henry　Clay　man。〃

〃Well；　there　I　oppose　you。　I'm　no　Whig　or　lover　of　Whigs。　But　I'm　a　lover　of　the　Constitution　and　the　law　of　the　country；　and　that　Constitution　and　that　country　are　approaching　perilous　times。　There's　explosive　stuff　about　which　is　going　to　endanger　the　stability　of　the　noble　heritage　we　have　received　from　our　fathers；　and　if　that　heritage　is　to　be　saved　it　can　only　be　by　those　who　hold　fast　to　its　eternal　principles。　This　land　can　only　be　saved　by　its　lawyers；　sir。　But　they　must　be　lawyers　profoundly　read　in　the　history　and　philosophy　of　their　profession；　and　no　catchpennny　advocates　with　a　glib　tongue　and　an　elastic　conscience。　The　true　lawyer　must　approach　his　task　with　reverence　and　high　preparation；　for　as　his　calling　is　the　noblest　of　human　activities；　so　it　is　the　most　exacting。〃

The　POINT…DEVICE　young　man　spoke　with　a　touch　of　the　schoolmaster；　but　his　audience；　who　had　an　inborn　passion　for　fine　words；　were　impressed。　Lincoln　sat　squatted　on　his　heels　on　a　bit　of　sacking；　staring　into　the　open　door　of　the　stove。

〃There's　truth　in　that；〃　he　said　slowly。　His　voice　had　not　the　mellow　tones　of　the　other's；　being　inclined　to　shrillness；　but　it　gave　the　impression　of　great　power　waiting　on　release　somewhere　in　his　massive　chest。　〃But　I　reckon　it's　only　half　the　truth；　for　truth's　like　a　dollar…piece；　it's　got　two　sides；　and　both　are　wanted　to　make　it　good　currency。　The　law　and　the　constitution　are　like　a　child's　pants。　They've　got　to　be　made　wider　and　longer　as　the　child　grows　so　as　to　fit　him。　If　they're　kept　too　tight；　he'll　burst　them；　and　if　you're　in　a　hurry　and　make　them　too　big　all　at　once；　they'll　trip　him　up。〃

〃Agreed；〃　said　Stanton；　〃but　the　fashion　and　the　fabric　should　be　kept　of　the　same　good　American　pattern。〃

The　long　man　ran　a　hand　through　his　thatch　of　hair。

〃There's　only　one　fashion　in　pantsto　make　them　comfortable。　And　some　day　that　boy　is　going　to　grow　so　big　you　won't　be　able　to　make　the　old　ones　do　and　he'll　have　to　get　a　new　pair。　If　he's　living　on　a　farm　he'll　want　the　same　kind　of　good　working　pants；　but　for　all　that　they'll　have　to　be　new　made。〃

Stanton　laughed　with　some　irritation

〃I　hate　arguing　in　parables；　for　in　the　nature　of　things　they　can't　be　exact。　That's　a　mistake　you　westerners　make。　The　law　must　change　in　detail　with　changing　conditions；　but　its　principles　cannot　alter；　and　the　respect　for　these　principles　is　our　only　safeguard　against　relapse　into　savagery。　Take　slavery。　There　are　fools　in　the　east　who　would　abolish　it　by　act　of　Congress。　For　myself　I　do　not　love　the　system；　but　I　love　anarchy　and　injustice　less；　and　if　you　abolish　slavery　you　abolish　also　every…right　of　legal　property；　and　that　means　chaos　and　barbarism。　A　free　people　such　as　ours　cannot　thus　put　the　knife　to　their　throat。　If　we　were　the　serfs　of　a　monarchy；　accustomed　to　bow　before　the　bidding　of　a　king；　it　might　be　different；　but　a　republic　cannot　do　injustice　to　one　section　of　its　citizens　without　destroying　itself。〃

Lincoln　had　not　taken　his　eyes　from　the　stove。　He　seemed　to　be　seeing　things　in　the　fire；　for　he　smiled　to　himself。

〃Well；〃　he　drawled；　〃I　reckon　that　some　day　we　may　have　to　find　some　sort　of　a　king。　The　new　pants　have　got　to　be　made。〃

Mr。　Stanton　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　the　other；　quick　to　detect　annoyance；　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　stood　looking　down　from　his　great　height　at　his　dapper　antagonist。　A　kindly　quizzical　smile　lit　his　homely　face。　〃We'll　quit　arguing；　Mr。　Stanton；　for　I　admit　I'm　afraid　of　you。　You're　some　years　younger　than　me；　but　I　expect　you　would　have　me　convinced　on　your　side　if　we　went　on。　And　maybe　I'd　convince　you　too；　and　then　we'd　be　like　old　Jim　Fletcher　at　New　Salem。　You'll　have　heard　about　Jim。　He　had　a　mighty　quarrel　with　his　neighbour　about　a　hog；　Jim　alleging　it　was　one　of　his　lot　and　the　neighbour　claiming　it　for　his。　Well；　they　argued　and　argued；　and　the　upshot　was　that　Jim　convinced　the　neighbour　that　the　hog　was　Jim's；　and　the　neighbour　convinced　Jim　that　the　hog　was　the　neighbour's；　and　neither　of　them　would　touch　that　hog；　and　they　were　worse　friends　than　ever。〃

Mr。　Curtin　rose　and　apologised　to　his　companion。　He　had　to　see　a　man　about　a　buggy　and　must　leave　Mr。　Stanton　to　find　his　way　back　alone。

〃Don't　worry；　George；〃　said　the　long　man。　〃I'm　going　round　your　way　and　I'll　see　your　friend　home。〃　As　Mr。　Stanton　professed　himself　ready　for　bed；　the　little　party　by　the　stove　broke　up。　Lincoln　fetched　from　a　corner　a　dilapidated　carpet…bag　full　of　papers；　and　an　old　green　umbrella；　handle…less；　tied　with　string　about　the　middle；　and　having　his　name　sewn　inside　in　straggling　letters　cut　out　of　white　muslin。　He　and　Stanton　went　out…of…doors　into　the　raw　autumn　night。

The　town　lay　very　quiet　in　a　thin　fog　made　luminous　by　a　full　moon。　The　long　man　walked　with　his　feet　turned　a　little　inwards；　accommodating　his　gait　to　the　shorter　stride　of　his　companion。　Mr。　Stanton；　having　recovered　from　his　momentary　annoyance；　was　curious　about　this　odd　member　of　his　own　profession。　Was　it　possible　that　in　the　whirligig　of　time　a　future　could　lie　before　one　so　uncouth　and　rustical？　A　democracy　was　an　unaccountable　thing；　and　these　rude　westerners　might　have　to　be　reckoned　with。

〃You　are　ambitious　of　a　political　career；　Mr。　Lincoln？〃　he　asked。

The　other　looked　down　with　his　shy　crooked　smile；　and　the　Ohio　lawyer　suddenly　realised　that　the　man　had　his　own　attractiveness。

〃Why；　no；　sir。　I　shouldn't　like　to　say　I　was　ambitious。　I've　no　call　to　be；　for　the　Almighty　hasn't　blessed　me　with　any　special　gifts。　You're　different。　It　would　be　a　shame　to　you　if　you　didn't　look　high；　for　you're　a　young　man　with　all　the　world　before　you。　I'm　getting　middle…aged　and　I　haven't　done　anything　to　be　proud　of　yet；　and　I　reckon　I　won't　get　the　chance；　and　if　I　did　I　couldn't　take　advantage　of　it。　I'm　pretty　fond　of　the　old　country；　and　if　she　wants　me；　why；　she's　only　got　to　say　so　and　I'll　do　what　she　tells　me。　But　I　don't　see　any　clear　road　I　want　to　travel。　。　。　。〃

He　broke　off　suddenly；　and　Stanton；　looking　up　at　him；　saw　that　his　face　had　changed　utterly。　The　patient　humorous　look　had　gone　and　it　was　like　a　tragic　mask；　drawn　and　strained　with　suffering。　They　were　passing　by　a　little　town　cemetery　and；　as　if　by　some　instinct；　had　halted。

The　place　looked　strange　and　pitiful　in　the　hazy　moonlight。　It　was　badly　tended；　and　most　of　the　headstones　were　only　of　painted　wood；　warped　and　buckled　by　the　weather。　But　in　the　dimness　the　rows　of　crosses　and　slabs　seem