back home-第28部分

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I　don't　feel　so　downcast　when　I　examine　the　specimens　of　writing　done　by　the　children　of　District　No。　34。　　I　can　just　see　the　young　ones　working　at　home　on　these　things；　with　their　tongues　stuck　out　of　one　corner　of　their　mouths。

　　　　〃Rome　was　not　built　in　a　day　　　　　　Rome　was　not　built　in　a　day　　　　　　Rome　was　not　built　in　a　day〃

and　so　on；　bearing　down　hard　on　the　downstroke　of　the　curve　in　the　capital　〃R；〃　and　clubbing　the　end　of　the　little　〃t。〃　　And　in　the　higher　grades；　they　toil　over　〃An　Original　Social　Letter；〃　describing　to　an　imaginary　correspondent　a　visit　to　Crystal　Lake；　or　the　Magnetic　Springs。　　I　can　hear　them　mourn：　〃What　shall　I　say　next？〃　and　〃Ma；　make　Effie　play　some　place　else；　won't　you？　　She　jist　joggles　the　table　like　everything。　　Now；　see　what　you　done！　Now　I　got　to　write　it　all　over　again。　　No；　I　cain't　'scratch　it　out。　How'd　it　look　to　the　County　Fair　all　scratched　out？　　Plague　take　it　all！〃

The　same　hands　have　done　maps　of　North　and　South　America；　and　red…and…blue　ink　pictures　of　the　circulation　of　the　blood。　　It　does　beat　all　how　smart　the　young　ones　are　nowadays。　　I　could　no　more　draw　off　a　picture　of　the　circulation　of　the　blood　…　get　it　right；　I　mean　…　why；　I　wouldn't　attempt　it。

I　am　kind　of　mixed　up　in　my　recollection　of　the　hall　right　next　to　the　Fine　Arts。　　You　know　it　had　two　doors　in　each　end。　　Sometimes　I　can　see　the　central　space　between　the　doors；　roped　off　and　devoted　to　sewing…machines　with　persons　demonstrating　that　they　ran　as　light　as　a　feather；　and　how　it　was　no　trouble　at　all　to　tuck　and　gather；　and　fell；　to　organs；　which　struck　me　with　amaze；　because　by　some　witchcraft　（octave　coupler；　I　think　they　called　it）　the　man　could　play　on　keys　that　he　didn't　touch；　and　pianos；　whereon　young　ladies　were　prevailed　to　perform　〃Silvery　Waves〃　…　that's　a　lovely　piece；　I　think；　don't　you？　…　and

　　　　〃Listen　to　the　mocking…bird；　TEE…die…eedle…DONG　　　　　　Lisen　to　the　mocking…bird；　teedle…eedle…EE…dle　DONG　　　　　　The　mocking…bird　still　singing　oer　her　grave；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　toomatooral…oo…cal…LEE！〃

And　then　again　I　can　see　that　central；　roped…off　space　given　over　to　reckless　deviltry；　sheer　impudent；　brazen…faced；　bold；　discipline…defying　er　…　er　…　wickedness。　　I　had　heard　that　people　did　things　like　that；　but　this　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　caught　a　glimpse　of　such　carryings…on　in　the　broad　open　daylight；　right　before　everybody。　　I　stood　there　and　watched　them　for　hours；　expecting　every　minute　to　see　fire　fall　from　heaven　on　them　and　burn　up　every　son　and　daughter　of　Belial。　　But　it　didn't。

I　seem　to　recollect　that　it　was　a　hot　day；　and　that；　tucked　away　where　not　a　breath　of　air　could　get　to　them；　were　three　fellows　in　their　shirtsleeves；　one　playing　on　an　organ；　one　on　a　yellow　clarinet；　and　one　on　a　fiddle。　　Every　chance　he　could　get；　the　fiddler　would　say　to　the　organist：　〃Gimme　A；　please；〃　and　saw　away　trying　to　get　into　some　sort　of　tune；　but　the　catgut　was　never　twisted　that　would　hold　to　pitch　with　the　perspiration　dribbling　down　his　fingers　in　little　rills。　　The　clarinet　man　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　cry；　and　he　had　to　twitter　his　eyelids　all　the　time　to　keep　the　sweat　from　blinding　him；　and　every　once　in　a　while；　his　soggy　reed　would　let　go　of　a　squawk　that　sounded　like　a　scared　chicken。　　But　the　organ　groaned　on　unrelentingly；　and　the　tune　didn't　matter　so　much　as　the　rhythm　which　was　kept　up　as　regular　as　a　clock；　whack！　whack！　whack！　whack！　　And　there　were　two　or　three　other　fellows　with　badges　on　that　went　around　shouting：　〃Select　your　podners　for　the　next　quadrille！　　One　more　couple　wanted　right　over　here！〃

Dancing。　　M…hm。

The　fiddler　〃called　off〃　and　chanted　to　the　tune；　with　his　mouth　on　one　side：　〃Sullootch　podners！　　First　couple　forward　and　back。　Side　couples　the　same。　　Doe　see　do…o…o…o。　　Al…lee…man　LEFT！　Ballunce　ALL！　　Sa…weeny　the　corners！〃　　I　don't　know　whether　I　get　the　proper　order　of　these　commands　or　not；　or　whether　my　memory　serves　me　as　to　their　effect；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　at　〃Bal…lunce　ALL！〃　the　ladies　demurely　teetered；　first　on　one　foot　and　then　on　the　other；　like　a　frozen…toed　rooster；　while　the　gents　fairly　tore　themselves　apart　with　grape…vine　twists　and　fancy　steps；　and　slapped　the　dust　out　of　the　cracks　in　the　floor。　　When　it　came　to　〃SaWEENG　your　podners！〃　the　room　billowed　with　flying　skirts；　and　the　ladies　squealed　like　anything。　　It　made　you　a　little　dizzy　to　watch　them　do　〃Graaan'　right　and　left；〃　and　you　could　understand　how　those　folks　felt　…　there　were　always　one　or　two　in　each　set　…　who　had　to　be　hauled　this　way　and　that；　not　sure　whether　they　were　having　a　good　time　or　not；　but　hoping　they　were；　their　faces　set　in　a　sickly　grin；　while　their　foreheads　wrinkled　into　a　puzzled：　〃How's　that？　I　didn't　quite　catch　that　last　remark〃　expression。　　I　don't　know　if　it　affected　you　in　the　same　way　that　it　did　me；　but　after　I　had　stood　there　for　a　time　and　watched　those　young　men　and　women　thus　wasting　the　precious　moments　that　dropped　like　priceless　pearls　into　the　ocean　of　Eternity；　and　were　lost　irrevocably；　young；　men　and　women　giving　themselves　up　to　present　enjoyment　without　one　serious　thought　in　their　minds　as　to　who　was　going　to　wash　the　supper　dishes；　or　what　would　happen　if　the　house　took　fire　while　they　were　away　I　say　I　do　not　know　how　the　sight　of　such　reckless　frivolity　affected　you；　but　I　know　that　after　so　long　a　time　my　face　would　get　all　cramped　up　from　wearing　a　grin；　and　I'd　have　to　go　out　and　look　at　the　reapers　and　binders　to　rest　myself　so　I　could　come　back　and　look　some。　　There　are　two　things　that　you　simply　have　to　do　at　the　County　Fair；　or　you　aren't　right　sure　you've　been。　　One　is　to　drink　a　glass　of　sweet　cider　just　from　the　press；　（which；　I　may　say　in　passing；　is　an　over…rated　luxury。　Cider　has　to　be　just　the　least　bit　〃frisky〃　to　be　good。　　I　don't　mean　hard；　but〃　frisky。〃　　You　know）。　　And　the　other　is　to　buy　a　whip；　if　it　is　only　the；　little　toy；　fifteen…cent　kind。　　On　the　next　soap…box　to　the　old　fellow　that　comes　every　year　to　sell　pictorial　Bibles　and　red；　plush…covered　albums；　the　old　fellow　in　the　green　slippers　that　talks　as　if　he　were　just　ready　to　drop　off　to　sleep　…　on　the　next　soap…box　to　him　is　the　man　that　sells　the　whips。　　You　can　buy　one　for　a　dollar；　two　for　a　dollar；　or　four　for　a　dollar；　but　not　one　for　fifty　cents；　or　one　for　a　quarter。　　Don't　ask　me　why；　for　I　don't　know。　　I　am　just　stating　the　facts。　　It　can't　be　done；　for　I've　seen　it　tried；　and　if　you　keep　up　the　attempt　too　long；　the　whip…man　will　lose　all　patience　with　your　unreasonableness；　and　tell　you　to　go　'long　about　your　business　if　you've　got　any；　and　not　bother　the　life　and　soul　out　of　him；　because　he　won't　sell　anything　but　a　dollar's　worth　of　whips；　and　that's　all　there　is　about　it。

He　sells　other　things；　handsaws；　and　pencils；　and　mouth…harps；　and　two　knives　for　a　quarter；　of　such　pure　steel　that　he　whittles　shavings　off　a　wire　nail　with　'em；　and　is　particular　to　hand　you　the　very　identical　knife　he　did　it　with。　　He　has　jewelry；　though　I　don't　suppose　you　could　cut　a　wire　nail　with　it。　　You　might；　at　that。

To　him　approaches　a　boy。

〃Got　'ny　collar…buttons？〃

〃Well；　now；　I'll　just　look　and　see。　　Here's　a　beautiful　rolled…plate　gold　watch…chain；　with　an　elegant　jewel　charm。　　Lovely　blue　jewel。〃　He　dangles　the　chain　and　its　rich　glass　pendant；　and　it　certainly　does　look　fine。　　〃That'd　cost　you　2。50　at　the　store。　　How'd　that　strike　you　？〃

〃Hpm。　　I　want　a　collar…button。〃

〃Well；　now；　you　hold　on　a　minute。　　Lemme　look　again。　　Ah；　here's　a　package　'at　orta　have　some　in　it。　　Yes；　sir；　here's　four　of　'em；　enough　to　last　you　a　lifetime；　front；　back；　and　both　sleeves；　the　kind　that　flips　and　don't　tear　the　buttonholes。　　Well；　by　ginger！　　Now；　how'd　that　git　in　here；　I　want　to　know？　　That　gold　ring？　　Well；　I　don't　care。　　It'll　have　to　go　with　the　collar…buttons。　Tell　you　what　I'll　do　with　you：　I'll　let　you　have　this　elegant　solid　gold　rolled…plate　watch…chain　and　jewel；　this　elegant；　solid　gold　ring　to　git　married　with　…　Hay？　　How　about　it？　…　and　these　four　collar…buttons　for　…　for　…　twenty…five　cents；　or　a　quarter　of　a　dollar。〃

That　boy　never　took　that　quarter　out　of　his　breeches　pocket。　　It　just　jumped　out　of　itself。　　But　I　see　that　you　are　getting　the　fidgets。　　You're　hoping　that　I'll　come　to　the　horse…racing　pretty　soon。　　You　want　to　have　it　all　brought　back　to　you；　the　big；　big　race…track　which；　as　you　remember　it　now；　must　have　been　about　the　next　size　smaller　than　the　earth's　orbit　around　the　sun。　　You　want　me　to　tell　about　the　old　farmer　with　the　bunch　of　timothy　whiskers　under　his　chin　that　gets　his　old　jingling　wagon　on　the　track　just　before　a　heat　is　to　be　trotted；　and　all　the　people　yell　at　him：　〃Take　him　out！〃　　You　want　me　to　tell　how　the　trotters　looked　walking　around　in　their　dusters；　with　the　eye…holes　bound　with　red　braid；　and　how　the　drivers　of　the　sulkies　sat　with　the　tails　of　their　horses　tucked　under　one　leg。　　Well；　I'm　not　going　to　do　anything　of　the　kind；　and　if　you　don't　like　it；　you　can　go　to　the　box…office　and　demand　your　money　back。　　I　hope　you'll　get　it。　　　First　place；　I　don't　know　anything　about　racing；　and　consequently　I　don't　believe　it's　a　good　thing　for　the　country。　　All　I　know　is；　that　some　horses　can　go　faster　than　others；　but　which　are　the　fastest　ones　I　can't　tell　by　the　looks；　though　I　have　tried　several　times　。　。　。　。　I　did　not　walk　back。　　I　bought　a　round…trip　ticket。　　They　will　tell　you　that　these　events　at　the　County　Fair　tend　to　improve　the　breed　of　horses。　　So　they　do　…　of　fast　horses。　　But　the　fast　horses　are　no　good。　　They　can't　any　of　them　go　as　fast　as　a　nickel　trolley…car　when　it　gets　out　where　there　aren't　any　houses。　　And　they　not　only　are　no　good；　they're　a　positive　harm。　　You　know　and　I　know　that　just　as　soon　as　a　man　gets　cracked　after　fast　horses；　it's　good…by　John　with　him。

In　the　next　place；　I　wouldn't　mind　it　if　it　was　only　interesting　to　me。　　But　it　isn't。　　It　bores　me　to　death。　　You　sit　there　and　sit　there　trying　to　keep　awake　while　the　drivers　jockey　and　jockey；　scheming　to　get　the　advantage　of　the　other　fellow；　and　the　bell　rings　so　many　times　for　them　to　come　back　after　you　think：　〃They're　off　this　time；　sure；〃　that　you　get　sick　of　hearing　it。　　And　when