the poet at the breakfast table-第48部分

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must　let　the　doctors　pound　in　their　great　mortar；　infuse　and　strain；
hoping　that　they　will　present　us　with　the　clear　solution　when　they
have　got　through　these　processes。　　One　of　our　chief　wants　is　a
complete　sanitary　map　of　every　State　in　the　Union。

The　balance　of　our　table；　as　the　reader　has　no　doubt　observed；　has
been　deranged　by　the　withdrawal　of　the　Man　of　Letters；　so　called；　and
only　the　side　of　the　deficiency　changed　by　the　removal　of　the　Young
Astronomer　into　our　neighborhood。　　The　fact　that　there　was　a　vacant
chair　on　the　side　opposite　us　had　by　no　means　escaped　the　notice　of
That　Boy。　　He　had　taken　advantage　of　his　opportunity　and　invited　in　a
schoolmate　whom　he　evidently　looked　upon　as　a　great　personage。　　This
boy　or　youth　was　a　good　deal　older　than　himself　and　stood　to　him
apparently　in　the　light　of　a　patron　and　instructor　in　the　ways　of
life。　　A　very　jaunty；　knowing　young　gentleman　he　was；　good…looking；
smartly　dressed；　smooth…checked　as　yet；　curly…haired；　with　a　roguish
eye；　a　sagacious　wink；　a　ready　tongue；　as　I　soon　found　out；　and　as　I
learned　could　catch　a　ball　on　the　fly　with　any　boy　of　his　age；　not
quarrelsome；　but；　if　he　had　to　strike；　hit　from　the　shoulder；　the
pride　of　his　father　（who　was　a　man　of　property　and　a　civic
dignitary）；　and　answering　to　the　name　of　Johnny。

I　was　a　little　surprised　at　the　liberty　That　Boy　had　taken　in
introducing　an　extra　peptic　element　at　our　table；　reflecting　as　I　did
that　a　certain　number　of　avoirdupois　ounces　of　nutriment　which　the
visitor　would　dispose　of　corresponded　to　a　very　appreciable　pecuniary
amount；　so　that　he　was　levying　a　contribution　upon　our　Landlady　which
she　might　be　inclined　to　complain　of。　　For　the　Caput　mortuum　（or
deadhead；　in　vulgar　phrase）　is　apt　to　be　furnished　with　a　Venter
vivus；　or；　as　we　may　say；　a　lively　appetite。　　But　the　Landlady
welcomed　the　new…comer　very　heartily。

Why！　　howdoyoudo　Johnny？！　with　the　notes　of　interrogation　and
of　admiration　both　together；　as　here　represented。

Johnny　signified　that　he　was　doing　about　as　well　as　could　be　expected
under　the　circumstances；　having　just　had　a　little　difference　with　a
young　person　whom　he　spoke　of　as　〃Pewter…jaw〃　（I　suppose　he　had　worn
a　dentist's　tooth…straightening　contrivance　during　his　second
dentition）；　which　youth　he　had　finished　off；　as　he　said；　in　good
shape；　but　at　the　expense　of　a　slight　epistaxis；　we　will　translate
his　vernacular　expression。

The　three　ladies　all　looked　sympathetic；　but　there　did　not　seem　to
be　any　great　occasion　for　it；　as　the　boy　had　come　out　all　right；　and
seemed　to　be　in　the　best　of　spirits。

…And　how　is　your　father　and　your　mother？　asked　the　Landlady。

…Oh；　the　Governor　and　the　Head　Centre？　　A　1；　both　of　'em。　　Prime
order　for　shipping；warranted　to　stand　any　climate。　　The　Governor
says　he　weighs　a　hunderd　and　seventy…five　pounds。　　Got　a　chin…tuft
just　like　Ed'in　Forrest。　　D'd　y'　ever　see　Ed'in　Forrest　play
Metamora？　　Bully；　I　tell　you！　　My　old　gentleman　means　to　be　Mayor　or
Governor　or　President　or　something　or　other　before　he　goes　off　the
handle；　you'd　better　b'lieve。　　He's　smart；and　I've　heard　folks　say
I　take　after　him。

Somehow　or　other　I　felt　as　if　I　had　seen　this　boy　before；　or　known
something　about　him。　　Where　did　he　get　those　expressions　〃A　1〃　and
〃prime〃　and　so　on？　　They　must　have　come　from　somebody　who　has　been　in
the　retail　dry…goods　business；　or　something　of　that　nature。　　I　have
certain　vague　reminiscences　that　carry　me　back　to　the　early　times　of
this　boardinghouse。…Johnny。…Landlady　knows　his　father　well。


…Boarded　with　her；　no　doubt。…There　was　somebody　by　the　name　of
John；　I　remember　perfectly　well；　lived　with　her。　　I　remember　both　my
friends　mentioned　him；　one　of　them　very　often。　　I　wonder　if　this　boy
isn't　a　son　of　his！　　I　asked　the　Landlady　after　breakfast　whether
this　was　not；　as　I　had　suspected；　the　son　of　that　former　boarder。

To　be　sure　he　is；she　answered；and　jest　such　a　good…natur'd　sort
of　creatur'　as　his　father　was。　　I　always　liked　John；　as　we　used　to
call　his　father。　　He　did　love　fun；　but　he　was　a　good　soul；　and　stood
by　me　when　I　was　in　trouble；　always。　　He　went　into　business　on　his
own　account　after　a　while；　and　got　merried；　and　settled　down　into　a
family　man。　　They　tell　me　he　is　an　amazing　smart　business　man；grown
wealthy；　and　his　wife's　father　left　her　money。　　But　I　can't　help
calling　him　John；law；　we　never　thought　of　calling　him　anything
else；　and　he　always　laughs　and　says；　〃That's　right。〃　　This　is　his
oldest　son；　and　everybody　calls　him　Johnny。　　That　Boy　of　ours　goes　to
the　same　school　with　his　boy；　and　thinks　there　never　was　anybody　like
him；you　see　there　was　a　boy　undertook　to　impose　on　our　boy；　and
Johnny　gave　the　other　boy　a　good　licking；　and　ever　since　that　he　is
always　wanting　to　have　Johnny　round　with　him　and　bring　him　here　with
him；and　when　those　two　boys　get　together；　there　never　was　boys　that
was　so　chock　full　of　fun　and　sometimes　mischief；　but　not　very　bad
mischief；　as　those　two　boys　be。　　But　I　like　to　have　him　come　once　in
a　while　when　there　is　room　at　the　table；　as　there　is　now；　for　it　puts
me　in　mind　of　the　old　times；　when　my　old　boarders　was　all　round　me；
that　I　used　to　think　so　much　of；not　that　my　boarders　that　I　have
now　a'nt　very　nice　people；　but　I　did　think　a　dreadful　sight　of　the
gentleman　that　made　that　first　book；　it　helped　me　on　in　the　world
more　than　ever　he　knew　of；for　it　was　as　good　as　one　of　them
Brandreth's　pills　advertisements；　and　did　n't　cost　me　a　cent；　and
that　young　lady　he　merried　too；　she　was　nothing　but　a　poor　young
schoolma'am　when　she　come　to　my　house；　and　nowand　she　deserved　it
all　too；　for　she　was　always　just　the　same；　rich　or　poor；　and　she　is
n't　a　bit　prouder　now　she　wears　a　camel's…hair　shawl；　than　she　was
when　I　used　to　lend　her　a　woollen　one　to　keep　her　poor　dear　little
shoulders　warm　when　she　had　to　go　out　and　it　was　storming；and　then
there　was　that　old　gentleman；I　can't　speak　about　him；　for　I　never
knew　how　good　he　was　till　his　will　was　opened；　and　then　it　was　too
late　to　thank　him。。。。

I　respected　the　feeling　which　caused　the　interval　of　silence；　and
found　my　own　eyes　moistened　as　I　remembered　how　long　it　was　since
that　friend　of　ours　was　sitting　in　the　chair　where　I　now　sit；　and
what　a　tidal　wave　of　change　has　swept　over　the　world　and　more
especially　over　this　great　land　of　ours；　since　he　opened　his　lips　and
found　so　many　kind　listeners。

The　Young　Astronomer　has　read　us　another　extract　from　his　manuscript。
I　ran　my　eye　over　it；　and　so　far　as　I　have　noticed　it　is　correct
enough　in　its　versification。　　I　suppose　we　are　getting　gradually　over
our　hemispherical　provincialism；　which　allowed　a　set　of　monks　to　pull
their　hoods　over　our　eyes　and　tell　us　there　was　no　meaning　in　any
religious　symbolism　but　our　own。　　If　I　am　mistaken　about　this　advance
I　am　very　glad　to　print　the　young　man's　somewhat　outspoken　lines　to
help　us　in　that　direction。


　　　　　　　　　　WIND…CLOUDS　AND　STAR…DRIFTS。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VI

The　time　is　racked　with　birth…pangs；　every　hour
Brings　forth　some　gasping　truth；　and　truth　new…born
Looks　a　misshapen　and　untimely　growth；
The　terror　of　the　household　and　its　shame；
A　monster　coiling　in　its　nurse's　lap
That　some　would　strangle；　some　would　only　starve；
But　still　it　breathes；　and　passed　from　hand　to　hand；
And　suckled　at　a　hundred　half…clad　breasts；
Comes　slowly　to　its　stature　and　its　form；
Calms　the　rough　ridges　of　its　dragon…scales；
Changes　to　shining　locks　its　snaky　hair；
And　moves　transfigured　into　angel　guise；
Welcomed　by　all　that　cursed　its　hour　of　birth；
And　folded　in　the　same　encircling　arms
That　cast　it　like　a　serpent　from　their　hold！

If　thou　wouldst　live　in　honor；　die　in　peace；
Have　the　fine　words　the　marble…workers　learn
To　carve　so　well；　upon　thy　funeral…stone；
And　earn　a　fair　obituary；　dressed
In　all　the　many…colored　robes　of　praise；
Be　deafer　than　the　adder　to　the　cry
Of　that　same　foundling　truth；　until　it　grows
To　seemly　favor；　and　at　length　has　won
The　smiles　of　hard…mouthed　men　and　light…upped　dames；
Then　snatch　it　from　its　meagre　nurse's　breast；
Fold　it　in　silk　and　give　it　food　from　gold；
So　shalt　thou　share　its　glory　when　at　last
It　drops　its　mortal　vesture；　and　revealed
In　all　the　splendor　of　its　heavenly　form；
Spreads　on　the　startled　air　its　mighty　wings！

Alas！　　how　much　that　seemed　immortal　truth
That　heroes　fought　for；　martyrs　died　to　save；
Reveals　its　earth…born　lineage；　growing　old
And　limping　in　its　march；　its　wings　unplumed；
Its　heavenly　semblance　faded　like　a　dream！

Here　in　this　painted　casket；　just　unsealed；
Lies　what　was　once　a　breathing　shape　like　thine；
Once　loved　as　thou　art　loved；　there　beamed　the　eyes
That　looked　on　Memphis　in　its　hour　of　pride；
That　saw　the　walls　of　hundred…gated　Thebes；
And　all　the　mirrored　glories　of　the　Nile。
See　how　they　toiled　that　all…consuming　time
Might　leave　the　frame　immortal　in　its　tomb；
Filled　it　with　fragrant　balms　and　odorous　gums
That　still　diffuse　their　sweetness　through　the　air；
And　wound　and　wound　with　patient　fold　on　fold
The　flaxen　bands　thy　hand　has　rudely　torn！
Perchance　thou　yet　canst　see　the　faded　stain
Of　the　sad　mourner's　tear。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　But　what　is　this？
The　sacred　beetle；　bound　upon　the　breast
Of　the　blind　heathen！　　Snatch　the　curious　prize；
Give　it　a　place　among　thy　treasured　spoils
Fossil　and　relic；corals；　encrinites；
The　fly　in　amber　and　the　fish　in　stone；
The　twisted　circlet　of　Etruscan　gold；
Medal；　intaglio；　poniard；　poison…ring；
Place　for　the　Memphian　beetle　with　thine　hoard！

Ah！　　longer　than　thy　creed　has　blest　the　world
This　toy；　thus　ravished　from　thy　brother's　breast；
Was　to　the　heart　of　Mizraim　as　divine；
As　holy；　as　the　symbol　that　we　lay
On　the　still　bosom　of　our　white…robed　dead；
And　raise　above　their　dust　that　all　may　know
Here　sleeps　an　heir　of　glory。　　Loving　friends；
With　tears　of　trembling　faith　and　choking　sobs；
And　prayers　to　those　who　judge　of　mortal　deeds；
Wrapped　this　poor　image　in　the　cerement's　fold
That　Isis　and　Osiris；　friends　of　man；
Might　know　their　own　and　claim　the　ransomed　soul》

An　idol？　　Man　was　born　to　worship　such！
An　idol　is　an　image　of　his　thought；
Sometimes　h