the professor at the breakfast table-第54部分
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not just enough of one at least of these gifts to show them that the
good Mother； busy with her millions of children； has not quite
forgotten them！ But now he was thinking of that other state； where；
free from all mortal impediments； the memory of his sorrowful burden
should be only as that of the case he has shed to the insect whose
〃deep…damasked wings〃 beat off the golden dust of the lily…anthers；
as he flutters in the ecstasy of his new life over their full…blown
summer glories。
No human being can rest for any time in a state of equilibrium；
where the desire to live and that to depart just balance each other。
If one has a house； which he has lived and always means to live in；
he pleases himself with the thought of all the conveniences it
offers him； and thinks little of its wants and imperfections。 But
once having made up his mind to move to a better； every incommodity
starts out upon him； until the very ground…plan of it seems to have
changed in his mind； and his thoughts and affections； each one of
them packing up its little bundle of circumstances； have quitted
their several chambers and nooks and migrated to the new home； long
before its apartments are ready to receive their coming tenant。 It
is so with the body。 Most persons have died before they expire；
died to all earthly longings； so that the last breath is only； as it
were； the locking of the door of the already deserted mansion。 The
fact of the tranquillity with which the great majority of dying
persons await this locking of those gates of life through which its
airy angels have been going and coming； from the moment of the first
cry； is familiar to those who have been often called upon to witness
the last period of life。 Almost always there is a preparation made
by Nature for unearthing a soul； just as on the smaller scale there
is for the removal of a milktooth。 The roots which hold human life
to earth are absorbed before it is lifted from its place。 Some of
the dying are weary and want rest； the idea of which is almost
inseparable in the universal mind from death。 Some are in pain； and
want to be rid of it； even though the anodyne be dropped； as in the
legend； from the sword of the Death…Angel。 Some are stupid；
mercifully narcotized that they may go to sleep without long tossing
about。 And some are strong in faith and hope； so that； as they draw
near the next world； they would fair hurry toward it； as the caravan
moves faster over the sands when the foremost travellers send word
along the file that water is in sight。 Though each little party
that follows in a foot…track of its own will have it that the water
to which others think they are hastening is a mirage； not the less
has it been true in all ages and for human beings of every creed
which recognized a future； that those who have fallen worn out by
their march through the Desert have dreamed at least of a River of
Life； and thought they heard its murmurs as they lay dying。
The change from the clinging to the present to the welcoming of the
future comes very soon； for the most part； after all hope of life is
extinguished； provided this be left in good degree to Nature； and
not insolently and cruelly forced upon those who are attacked by
illness； on the strength of that odious foreknowledge often imparted
by science； before the white fruit whose core is ashes； and which we
call death； has set beneath the pallid and drooping flower of
sickness。 There is a singular sagacity very often shown in a
patient's estimate of his own vital force。 His physician knows the
state of his material frame well enough； perhaps；that this or that
organ is more or less impaired or disintegrated； but the patient has
a sense that he can hold out so much longer；sometimes that he must
and will live for a while； though by the logic of disease he ought
to die without any delay。
The Little Gentleman continued to fail； until it became plain that
his remaining days were few。 I told the household what to expect。
There was a good deal of kind feeling expressed among the boarders；
in various modes； according to their characters and style of
sympathy。 The landlady was urgent that he should try a certain
nostrum which had saved somebody's life in jest sech a case。 The
Poor Relation wanted me to carry； as from her； a copy of 〃Allein's
Alarm；〃 etc。 I objected to the title； reminding her that it
offended people of old； so that more than twice as many of the book
were sold when they changed the name to 〃A Sure Guide to Heaven。〃
The good old gentleman whom I have mentioned before has come to the
time of life when many old men cry easily； and forget their tears as
children do。 He was a worthy gentleman；he said；a very worthy
gentleman； but unfortunate；very unfortunate。 Sadly deformed about
the spine and the feet。 Had an impression that the late Lord Byron
had some malformation of this kind。 Had heerd there was something
the matter with the ankle…j'ints of that nobleman； but he was a man
of talents。 This gentleman seemed to be a man of talents。 Could
not always agree with his statements；thought he was a little over…
partial to this city； and had some free opinions； but was sorry to
lose him；and ifthere was anythinghecould。 In the midst of
these kind expressions； the gentleman with the diamond； the Koh…i…
noor； as we called him； asked； in a very unpleasant sort of way； how
the old boy was likely to cut up；meaning what money our friend was
going to leave behind。
The young fellow John spoke up； to the effect that this was a
diabolish snobby question； when a man was dying and not dead。 To
this the Koh…i…noor replied； by asking if the other meant to insult
him。 Whereto the young man John rejoined that he had no particul'r
intentions one way or t'other。 …The Kohi…noor then suggested the
young man's stepping out into the yard； that he； the speaker； might
〃slap his chops。〃 Let 'em alone； said young Maryland；it 'll soon
be over； and they won't hurt each other much。 So they went out。
The Koh…i…noor entertained the very common idea； that； when one
quarrels with another； the simple thing to do is to knock the man
down； and there is the end of it。 Now those who have watched such
encounters are aware of two things： first； that it is not so easy to
knock a man down as it is to talk about it； secondly； that； if you
do happen to knock a man down； there is a very good chance that he
will be angry； and get up and give you a thrashing。
So the Koh…i…noor thought he would begin； as soon as they got into
the yard； by knocking his man down； and with this intention swung
his arm round after the fashion of rustics and those unskilled in
the noble art； expecting the young fellow John to drop when his
fist； having completed a quarter of a circle； should come in contact
with the side of that young man's head。 Unfortunately for this
theory； it happens that a blow struck out straight is as much
shorter； and therefore as much quicker than the rustic's swinging
blow； as the radius is shorter than the quarter of a circle。 The
mathematical and mechanical corollary was； that the Koh…i…noor felt
something hard bring up suddenly against his right eye； which
something he could have sworn was a paving…stone； judging by his
sensations； and as this threw his person somewhat backwards； and the
young man John jerked his own head back a little； the swinging blow
had nothing to stop it； and as the Jewel staggered between the hit
he got and the blow he missed； he tripped and 〃went to grass；〃 so
far as the back…yard of our boardinghouse was provided with that
vegetable。 It was a signal illustration of that fatal mistake； so
frequent in young and ardent natures with inconspicuous calves and
negative pectorals； that they can settle most little quarrels on the
spot by 〃knocking the man down。〃
We are in the habit of handling our faces so carefully； that a heavy
blow； taking effect on that portion of the surface； produces a most
unpleasant surprise； which is accompanied with odd sensations； as of
seeing sparks； and a kind of electrical or ozone…like odor； half…
sulphurous in character； and which has given rise to a very vulgar
and profane threat sometimes heard from the lips of bullies。 A
person not used to pugilistic gestures does not instantly recover
from this surprise。 The Koh…i…noor exasperated by his failure； and
still a little confused by the smart hit he had received； but
furious； and confident of victory over a young fellow a good deal
lighter than himself； made a desperate rush to bear down all before
him and finish the contest at once。 That is the way all angry
greenhorns and incompetent persons attempt to settle matters。 It
does n't do； if the other fellow is only cool； moderately quick； and
has a very little science。 It didn't do this time； for； as the
assailant rushed in with his arms flying everywhere； like the vans
of a windmill； be ran
