sketches new and old-第51部分

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Caesar　and　struck　him　with　a　dirk；　Caesar　grabbing　him　by　the　arm　with
his　right　hand；　and　launching　a　blow　straight　from　the　shoulder　with　his
left；　that　sent　the　reptile　bleeding　to　the　earth。　　He　then　backed　up
against　Pompey's　statue；　and　squared　himself　to　receive　his　assailants。
Cassias　and　Cimber　and　Cinna　rushed；　upon　him　with　their　daggers　drawn；
and　the　former　succeeded　in　inflicting　a　wound　upon　his　body；　but　before
he　could　strike　again；　and　before　either　of　the　others　could　strike　at
all；　Caesar　stretched　the　three　miscreants　at　his　feet　with　as　many　blows
of　his　powerful　fist。　　By　this　time　the　Senate　was　in　an　indescribable
uproar；　the　throng　of　citizens　is　the　lobbies　had　blockaded　the　doors　in
their　frantic　efforts　to　escape　from　the　building；　the　sergeant…at…arms
and　his　assistants　were　struggling　with　the　assassins；　venerable　senators
had　cast　aside　their　encumbering　robes；　and　were　leaping　over　benches　and
flying　down　the　aisles　in　wild　confusion　toward　the　shelter　of　the
committee…rooms；　and　a　thousand　voices　were　shouting　〃Po…lice！　　Po…lice！〃
in　discordant　tones　that　rose　above　the　frightful　din　like　shrieking
winds　above　the　roaring　of　a　tempest。　　And　amid　it　all　great　Caesar　stood
with　his　back　against　the　statue；　like　a　lion　at　bay；　and　fought　his
assailants　weaponless　and　hand　to　hand；　with　the　defiant　bearing　and　the
unwavering　courage　which　he　had　shown　before　on　many　a　bloody　field。
Billy　Trebonius　and　Caius　Legarius　struck　him　with　their　daggers　and
fell；　as　their　brother…conspirators　before　them　had　fallen。　　But　at　last；
when　Caesar　saw　his　old　friend　Brutus　step　forward　armed　with　a　murderous
knife；　it　is　said　he　seemed　utterly　overpowered　with　grief　and　amazement；
and；　dropping　his　invincible　left　arm　by　his　side；　he　hid　his　face　in　the
folds　of　his　mantle　and　received　the　treacherous　blow　without　an　effort
to　stay　the　hand　that　gave　it。　　He　only　said；　〃Et　tu；　Brute？〃　and　fell
lifeless　on　the　marble　pavement。

We　learn　that　the　coat　deceased　had　on　when　he　was　killed　was　the　same
one　he　wore　in　his　tent　on　the　afternoon　of　the　day　he　overcame　the
Nervii；　and　that　when　it　was　removed　from　the　corpse　it　was　found　to　be
cut　and　gashed　in　no　less　than　seven　different　places。　　There　was　nothing
in　the　pockets。　　It　will　be　exhibited　at　the　coroner's　inquest；　and　will
be　damning　proof　of　the　fact　of　the　killing。　　These　latter　facts　may　be
relied　on；　as　we　get　them　from　Mark　Antony；　whose　position　enables　him　to
learn　every　item　of　news　connected　with　the　one　subject　of　absorbing
interest　of…to…day。

LATER：　While　the　coroner　was　summoning　a　jury；　Mark　Antony　and　other
friends　of　the　late　Caesar　got　hold　of　the　body；　and　lugged　it　off　to　the
Forum；　and　at　last　accounts　Antony　and　Brutus　were　making　speeches　over
it　and　raising　such　a　row　among　the　people　that；　as　we　go　to　press；　the
chief　of　police　is　satisfied　there　is　going　to　be　a　riot；　and　is　taking
measures　accordingly。






THE　WIDOW'S　PROTEST

One　of　the　saddest　things　that　ever　came　under　my　notice　（said　the
banker's　clerk）　was　there　in　Corning　during　the　war。　　Dan　Murphy　enlisted
as　a　private；　and　fought　very　bravely。　　The　boys　all　liked　him；　and　when
a　wound　by　and　by　weakened　him　down　till　carrying　a　musket　was　too　heavy
work　for　him；　they　clubbed　together　and　fixed　him　up　as　a　sutler。　　He
made　money　then；　and　sent　it　always　to　his　wife　to　bank　for　him。　　She　was
a　washer　and　ironer；　and　knew　enough　by　hard　experience　to　keep　money
when　she　got　it。　　She　didn't　waste　a　penny。

On　the　contrary；　she　began　to　get　miserly　as　her　bank…account　grew。　　She
grieved　to　part　with　a　cent；　poor　creature；　for　twice　in　her　hard…working
life　she　had　known　what　it　was　to　be　hungry；　cold；　friendless；　sick；　and
without　a　dollar　in　the　world；　and　she　had　a　haunting　dread　of　suffering
so　again。　　Well；　at　last　Dan　died；　and　the　boys；　in　testimony　of　their
esteem　and　respect　for　him；　telegraphed　to　Mrs。　Murphy　to　know　if　she
would　like　to　have　him　embalmed　and　sent　home；　when　you　know　the　usual
custom　was　to　dump　a　poor　devil　like　him　into　a　shallow　hole；　and　then
inform　his　friends　what　had　become　of　him。　　Mrs。　　Murphy　jumped　to　the
conclusion　that　it　would　only　cost　two　or　three　dollars　to　embalm　her
dead　husband；　and　so　she　telegraphed　〃Yes。〃　　It　was　at　the　〃wake〃　that
the　bill　for　embalming　arrived　and　was　presented　to　the　widow。

She　uttered　a　wild；　sad　wail　that　pierced　every　heart；　and　said；
〃Sivinty…foive　dollars　for　stooffin'　Dan；　blister　their　sowls！　　Did　thim
divils　suppose　I　was　goin'　to　stairt　a　Museim；　that　I'd　be　dalin'　in　such
expinsive　curiassities　！〃

The　banker's　clerk　said　there　was　not　a　dry　eye　in　the　house。






THE　SCRIPTURAL　PANORAMIST　＇Written　about　1866。＇

There　was　a　fellow　traveling　around　in　that　country；〃　said　Mr。
Nickerson；　〃with　a　moral…religious　showa　sort　of　scriptural　panorama
and　he　hired　a　wooden…headed　old　slab　to　play　the　piano　for　him。　　After
the　first　night's　performance　the　showman　says：

〃'My　friend；　you　seem　to　know　pretty　much　all　the　tunes　there　are；　and
you　worry　along　first　rate。　　But　then；　didn't　you　notice　that　sometimes
last　night　the　piece　you　happened　to　be　playing　was　a　little　rough　on　the
proprieties；　so　to　speakdidn't　seem　to　jibe　with　the　general　gait　of
the　picture　that　was　passing　at　the　time；　as　it　werewas　a　little
foreign　to　the　subject；　you　knowas　if　you　didn't　either　trump　or　follow
suit；　you　understand？'

〃'Well；　no；'　the　fellow　said；　'he　hadn't　noticed；　but　it　might　be；　he　had
played　along　just　as　it　came　handy。'

〃So　they　put　it　up　that　the　simple　old　dummy　was　to　keep　his　eye　on　the
panorama　after　that；　and　as　soon　as　a　stunning　picture　was　reeled　out　he
was　to　fit　it　to　a　dot　with　a　piece　of　music　that　would　help　the　audience
to　get　the　idea　of　the　subject；　and　warm　them　up　like　a　camp…meeting
revival。　　That　sort　of　thing　would　corral　their　sympathies；　the　showman
said。

〃There　was　a　big　audience　that　night…mostly　middle…aged　and　old　people
who　belong　to　the　church；　and　took　a　strong　interest　in　Bible　matters；
and　the　balance　were　pretty　much　young　bucks　and　heifersthey　always
come　out　strong　on　panoramas；　you　know；　because　it　gives　them　a　chance　to
taste　one　another's　complexions　in　the　dark。

〃Well；　the　showman　began　to　swell　himself　up　for　his　lecture；　and　the　old
mud…Jobber　tackled　the　piano　and　ran　his　fingers　up　and　down　once　or
twice　to　see　that　she　was　all　right；　and　the　fellows　behind　the　curtain
commenced　to　grind　out　the　panorama。　　The　showman　balanced　his　weight　on
his　right　foot；　and　propped　his　hands　over　his　hips；　and　flung　his　eyes
over　his　shoulder　at　the　scenery；　and　said：

〃'Ladies　and　gentlemen；　the　painting　now　before　you　illustrates　the
beautiful　and　touching　parable　of　the　Prodigal　Son。　　Observe　the　happy
expression　just　breaking　over　the　features　of　the　poor；　suffering　youth
so　worn　and　weary　with　his　long　march；　note　also　the　ecstasy　beaming　from
the　uplifted　countenance　of　the　aged　father；　and　the　joy　that　sparkles　in
the　eyes　of　the　excited　group　of　youths　and　maidens；　and　seems　ready　to
burst　into　the　welcoming　chorus　from　their　lips。　　The　lesson；　my　friends；
is　as　solemn　and　instructive　as　the　story　is　tender　and　beautiful。'

〃The　mud…Jobber　was　all　ready；　and　when　the　second　speech　was　finished；
struck　up：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Oh；　we'll　all　get　blind　drunk
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　When　Johnny　comes　marching　home！

〃Some　of　the　people　giggled；　and　some　groaned　a　little。　　The　showman
couldn't　say　a　word；　he　looked　at　the　pianist　sharp；　but　he　was　all
lovely　and　serenehe　didn't　know　there　was　anything　out　of　gear。

〃The　panorama　moved　on；　and　the　showman　drummed　up　his　grit　and　started
in　fresh。

〃'Ladies　and　gentlemen；　the　fine　picture　now　unfolding　itself　to　your
gaze　exhibits　one　of　the　most　notable　events　in　Bible　historyour
Saviour　and　His　disciples　upon　the　Sea　of　Galilee。　　How　grand；　how　awe…
inspiring　are　the　reflections　which　the　subject　invokes！　　What　sublimity
of　faith　is　revealed　to　us　in　this　lesson　from　the　sacred　writings！　　The
Saviour　rebukes　the　angry　waves；　and　walks　securely　upon　the　bosom　of　the
deep！'

〃All　around　the　house　they　were　whispering；　'Oh；　how　lovely；　how
beautiful！'　and　the　orchestra　let　himself　out　again：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃A　life　on　the　ocean　wave；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　a　home　on　the　rolling　deep！

〃There　was　a　good　deal　of　honest　snickering　turned　on　this　time；　and
considerable　groaning；　and　one　or　two　old　deacons　got　up　and　went　out。
The　showman　grated　his　teeth；　and　cursed　the　piano　man　to　himself；　but
the　fellow　sat　there　like　a　knot　on　a　log；　and　seemed　to　think　he　was
doing　first…rate。

〃After　things　got　quiet　the　showman　thought　he　would　make　one　more
stagger　at　it；　anyway；　though　his　confidence　was　beginning　to　get　mighty
shaky。　　The　supes　started　the　panorama　grinding　along　again；　and　he　says：

〃'Ladies　and　gentlemen；　this　exquisite　painting　represents　the　raising　of
Lazarus　from　the　dead　by　our　Saviour。　　The　subject　has　been　handled　with
marvelous　skill　by　the　artist；　and　such　touching　sweetness　and　tenderness
of　expression　has　he　thrown　into　it　that　I　have　known　peculiarly
sensitive　persons　to　be　even　affected　to　tears　by　looking　at　it。　　Observe
the　half…confused；　half…inquiring　look　upon　the　countenance　of　the
awakened　Lazarus。　　Observe；　also；　the　attitude　and　expression　of　the
Saviour；　who　takes　him　gently　by　the　sleeve　of　his　shroud　with　one　hand；
while　He　points　with　the　other　toward　the　distant　city。'

〃Before　anybody　could　get　off　an　opinion　in　the　case　the　innocent　old　ass
at　the　piano　struck　up：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Come　rise　up；　William　Ri…i…ley；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　go　along　with　me！

〃Whe…ew！　　All　the　solemn　old　flats　got　up　in　a　huff　to　go；　and　everybody
else　laughed　till　the　windows　rattled。

〃The　showman　went　down　and　grabbed　the　orchestra　and　shook　him　up　and
says：

〃'That　lets　you　out；　you　know；　you　chowder…headed　old　clam。　　Go　to　the
doorkeeper　and　get　your　money；　and　cut　your　stickvamose　the　ranch！
Ladies　and　gentlemen；　circumstances　over　which　I　have　no　control　compel
me　prematurely　to　dismiss　the　house。'〃






CURING