第 45 节
作者:片片      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9322
  The exile remains at his post。  The New York tea merchants who need
  picturesque signs are not likely to run out of Chinamen。
  HOW I EDITED AN AGRICULTURAL PAPER 'Written abort 1870。'
  I did not take temporary editorship of an agricultural paper without
  misgivings。  Neither would a landsman take command of a ship without
  misgivings。  But I was in circumstances that made the salary an object。
  The regular editor of the paper was going off for a holiday; and I
  accepted the terms he offered; and took his place。
  The sensation of being at work again was luxurious; and I wrought all the
  week with unflagging pleasure。  We went to press; and I waited a day with
  some solicitude to see whether my effort was going to attract any notice。
  As I left the office; toward sundown; a group of men and boys at the foot
  of the stairs dispersed with one impulse; and gave me passageway; and I
  heard one or two of them say: 〃That's him!〃  I was naturally pleased by
  this incident。  The next morning I found a similar group at the foot of
  the stairs; and scattering couples and individuals standing here and
  there in the street and over the way; watching me with interest。  The
  group separated and fell back as I approached; and I heard a man say;
  〃Look at his eye!〃  I pretended not to observe the notice I was
  attracting; but secretly I was pleased with it; and was purposing to
  write an account of it to my aunt。  I went up the short flight of stairs;
  and heard cheery voices and a ringing laugh as I drew near the door;
  which I opened; and caught a glimpse of two young rural…looking men;
  whose faces blanched and lengthened when they saw me; and then they both
  plunged through the window with a great crash。  I was surprised。
  In about half an hour an old gentleman; with a flowing beard and a fine
  but rather austere face; entered; and sat down at my invitation。  He
  seemed to have something on his mind。  He took off his hat and set it on
  the floor; and got out of it a red silk handkerchief and a copy of our
  paper。
  He put the paper on his lap; and while he polished his spectacles with
  his handkerchief he said; 〃Are you the new editor?〃
  I said I was。
  〃Have you ever edited an agricultural paper before?〃
  〃No;〃 I said; 〃this is my first attempt。〃
  〃Very likely。  Have you had any experience in agriculture practically?〃
  〃No; I believe I have not。〃
  〃Some instinct told me so;〃 said the old gentleman; putting on his
  spectacles; and looking over them at me with asperity; while he folded
  his paper into a convenient shape。  〃I wish to read you what must have
  made me have that instinct。  It was this editorial。  Listen; and see if
  it was you that wrote it:
  〃'Turnips should never be pulled; it injures them。  It is much
  better to send a boy up and let him shake the tree。'
  〃Now; what do you think of that?  for I really suppose you wrote it?〃
  〃Think of it?  Why; I think it is good。  I think it is sense。  I have no
  doubt that every year millions and millions of bushels of turnips are
  spoiled in this township alone by being pulled in a half…ripe condition;
  when; if they had sent a boy up to shake the tree〃
  〃Shake your grandmother!  Turnips don't grow on trees!〃
  〃Oh; they don't; don't they?  Well; who said they did?  The language was
  intended to be figurative; wholly figurative。  Anybody that knows
  anything will know that I meant that the boy should shake the vine。〃
  Then this old person got up and tore his paper all into small shreds; and
  stamped on them; and broke several things with his cane; and said I did
  not know as much as a cow; and then wentout and banged the door after
  him; and; in short; acted in such a way that I fancied he was displeased
  about something。  But not knowing what the trouble was; I could not be
  any help to him。
  Pretty soon after this a long; cadaverous creature; with lanky locks
  hanging down to his shoulders; and a week's stubble bristling from the
  hills and valleys of his face; darted within the door; and halted;
  motionless; with finger on lip; and head and body bent in listening
  attitude。  No sound was heard。
  Still he listened。  No sound。  Then he turned the key in the door; and
  came elaborately tiptoeing toward me till he was within long reaching
  distance of me; when he stopped and; after scanning my face with intense
  interest for a while; drew a folded copy of our paper from his bosom; and
  said:
  〃There; you wrote that。  Read it to mequick!  Relieve me。  I suffer。〃
  I read as follows; and as the sentences fell from my lips I could see the
  relief come; I could see the drawn muscles relax; and the anxiety go out
  of the face; and rest and peace steal over the features like the merciful
  moonlight over a desolate landscape:
  The guano is a fine bird; but great care is necessary in rearing it。
  It should not be imported earlier than June or later than September。
  In the winter it should be kept in a warm place; where it can hatch
  out its young。
  It is evident that we are to have a backward season for grain。
  Therefore it will be well for the farmer to begin setting out his
  corn…stalks and planting his buckwheat cakes in July instead of
  August。
  Concerning the pumpkin。  This berry is a favorite with the natives
  of the interior of New England; who prefer it to the gooseberry for
  the making of fruit…cake; and who likewise give it the preference
  over the raspberry for feeding cows; as being more filling and fully
  as satisfying。  The pumpkin is the only esculent of the orange
  family that will thrive in the North; except the gourd and one or
  two varieties of the squash。  But the custom of planting it in the
  front yard with the shrubbery is fast going out of vogue; for it is
  now generally conceded that; the pumpkin as a shade tree is a
  failure。
  Now; as the warm weather approaches; and the ganders begin to
  spawn
  The excited listener sprang toward me to shake hands; and said:
  〃There; therethat will do。  I know I am all right now; because you have
  read it just as I did; word; for word。  But; stranger; when I first read
  it this morning; I said to myself; I never; never believed it before;
  notwithstanding my friends kept me under watch so strict; but now I
  believe I am crazy; and with that I fetched a howl that you might have
  heard two miles; and started out to kill somebodybecause; you know;
  I knew it would come to that sooner or later; and so I might as well
  begin。  I read one of them paragraphs over again; so as to be certain;
  and then I burned my house down and started。  I have crippled several
  people; and have got one fellow up a tree; where I can get him if I want
  him。  But I thought I would call in here as I passed along and make the
  thing perfectly certain; and now it is certain; and I tell you it is
  lucky for the chap that is in the tree。  I should have killed him sure;
  as I went back。  Good…by; sir; good…by; you have taken a great load off
  my mind。  My reason has stood the strain of one of your agricultural
  articles; and I know that nothing can ever unseat it now。  Good…by; sir。〃
  I felt a little uncomfortable about the cripplings and arsons this person
  had been entertaining himself with; for I could not help feeling remotely
  accessory to them。  But these thoughts were quickly banished; for the
  regular editor walked in!  'I thought to myself; Now if you had gone to
  Egypt as I recommended you to; I might have had a chance to get my hand
  in; but you wouldn't do it; and here you are。  I sort of expected you。'
  The editor was looking sad and perplexed and dejected。
  He surveyed the wreck which that old rioter and those two young farmers
  had made; and then said 〃This is a sad businessa very sad business。
  There is the mucilage…bottle broken; and six panes of glass; and a
  spittoon; and two candlesticks。  But that is not the worst。  The
  reputation of the paper is injuredand permanently; I fear。  True; there
  never was such a call for the paper before; and it never sold such a
  large edition or soared to such celebrity; but does one want to be famous
  for lunacy; and prosper upon the infirmities of his mind?  My friend; as
  I am an honest man; the street out here is full of people; and others are
  roosting on the fences; waiting to get a glimpse of you; because they
  think you are crazy。  And well they might after reading your editorials。
  They are a disgrace to journalism。  Why; what put it into your head that
  you could edit a paper of this nature?  You do not seem to know the first
  rudiments of agriculture。  You speak of a furrow and a harrow as being
  the same thing; you talk of the moulting season for cows; and you
  recommend the domestication of the pole…cat on account of its playfulness
  and its excellence as a ratter!  Your remark that clams will lie quiet if
  music be played to them was superfluousentirely superfluous。  Nothing
  disturbs clams。  Clams always lie quiet。  Clams care nothing whatever
  about music。  Ah; heavens and earth; friend! if you had made the
  acquiring of ignorance the study of your life; you could not have
  graduated with higher honor than you could to…day。  I never saw a