stories of a western town-第8章

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ee　towell；　what　for？　Was　it　to　learn　them　anything　or　to　make　them　happy？　Oh；　no；　it　was　to　keep　down　the　spirit　of　liberty；　Son；　it　was　to　make　them　content　to　be　slaves！　　And　so　it　is　here。　These　merchants　and　capitalists　are　only　looking　out　for　themselves；　trying　to　keep　labor　down　and　not　let　it　know　how　oppressed　it　is；　trying　to　get　people　here　from　everywhere　to　show　what　a　fine　city　they　have　and　get　their　money。〃　〃Well；　'TIS　a　fine　town；〃　Tim　burst　in；　〃a　boss　town！　And　they　ain't　gouging　folks　a　little　bit。　　None　of　the　hotels　or　the　restaurants　have　put　up　their　prices　one　cent。　Look　what　a　dandy　supper　we　got　for　twenty…five　cents！　And　ain't　the　boy　at　Lumley's　grocery　given　me　two　tickets　to　set　on　the　steamboat？　　There's　nothing　mean　about　this　town！〃　Nelson　made　no　remark；　but　he　thought；　for　the　fiftieth　time；　that　his　farm　was　too　near　the　city。　　Tim　was　picking　up　all　the　city　boys'　false　pride　as　well　as　their　slang。　　Unconscious　Tim　resumed　his　tune。　He　knew　that　it　was　〃Annie　Rooney〃　if　no　one　else　did；　and　he　mangled　the　notes　with　appropriate　exhilaration。　Now；　the　river　was　as　busy　as　the　land；　lights　swimming　hither　and　thither；　steamboats　with　ropes　of　tiny　stars　bespangling　their　dark　bulk　and　a　white　electric　glare　in　the　bow；　low　boats　with　lights　that　sent　wavering　spear…heads　into　the　shadow　beneath。　The　bridge　was　a　blazing　barbed　fence　of　fire；　and　beyond　the　bridge；　at　the　point　of　the　island；　lay　a　glittering　multitude　of　lights；　a　fairy　fleet　with　miniature　sails　outlined　in　flame　as　if　by　jewels。　Nelson　followed　Tim。　　The　crowds；　the　ceaseless　clatter　of　tongues　and　jar　of　wheels；　depressed　the　man；　who　hardly　knew　which　way　to　dodge　the　multitudinous　perils　of　the　thoroughfare；　but　Tim　used　his　elbows　to　such　good　purpose　that　they　were　out　of　the　levee；　on　the　steamboat；　and　settling　themselves　in　two　comfortable　chairs　in　a　coign　of　vantage　on　deck；　that　commanded　the　best　obtainable　view　of　the　pageant；　before　Nelson　had　gathered　his　wits　together　enough　to　plan　a　path　out　of　the　crush。　〃I　sized　up　this　place　from　the　shore；〃　Tim　sighed　complacently；　drawing　a　long　breath　of　relief；　〃only　jest　two　chairs；　so　we　won't　be　crowded。〃　Obediently；　Nelson　took　his　chair。　　His　head　sank　on　his　thin　chest。　Richards　or　himself；　which　should　he　sacrifice？　　So　the　weary　old　question　droned　through　his　brain。　　He　felt　a　tap　on　his　shoulder。　The　man　who　roused　him　was　an　acquaintance；　and　he　stood　smiling　in　the　attitude　of　a　man　about　to　ask　a　favor；　while　the　expectant　half…smile　of　the　lady　on　his　arm　hinted　at　the　nature　of　the　favor。　Would　Mr。　Forrest　be　so　kind？there　seemed　to　be　no　more　seats。　Before　Mr。　Forrest　could　be　kind　Tim　had　yielded　his　own　chair　and　was　off；　wriggling　among　the　crowd　in　search　of　another　place。　〃Smart　boy；　that　youngster　of　yours；〃　said　the　man；　〃he'll　make　his　way　in　the　world；　he　can　push。　　Well；　Miss　Alma；　let　me　make　you　acquainted　with　Mr。　Forrest。　　I　know　you　will　be　well　entertained　by　him。　　So；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　I'll　get　back　and　help　my　wife　wrestle　with　the　kids。　They　have　been　trying　to　see　which　will　fall　overboard　first　ever　since　we　came　on　deck！〃　Under　the　leeway　of　this　pleasantry　he　bowed　and　retired。　Nelson　turned　with　determined　politeness　to　the　lady。　He　was　sorry　that　she　had　come；　she　looking　to　him　a　very　fine　lady　indeed；　with　her　black　silk　gown；　her　shining　black　ornaments；　and　her　bright　black　eyes。　　She　was　not　young；　but　handsome　in　Nelson's　judgment；　although　of　a　haughty　bearing。　〃Maybe　she　is　the　principal　of　the　High　School；〃　thought　he。　〃Martin　has　her　for　a　boarder；　and　he　said　she　was　very　particular　about　her　melons　being　cold！〃　But　however　formidable　a　personage；　the　lady　must　be　entertained。　〃I　expect　you　are　a　resident　of　the　city；　ma'am？〃　said　Nelson。　〃Yes；　I　was　born　here。〃　　She　smiled；　a　smile　that　revealed　a　little　break　in　the　curve　of　her　cheek；　not　exactly　a　dimple；　but　like　one。　〃I　don't　know　when　I　have　seen　such　a　fine　appearing　lady；〃　thought　Nelson。　　He　responded：　　〃Well；　I　wasn't　born　here；　but　I　come　when　I　was　a　little　shaver　of　ten　and　stayed　till　I　was　eighteen；　when　I　went　to　Kansas　to　help　fight　the　border　ruffians。　I　went　to　school　here　in　the　Warren　Street　school…house。〃　〃So　did　I；　as　long　as　I　went　anywhere　to　school。　I　had　to　go　to　work　when　I　was　twelve。〃　Nelson's　amazement　took　shape　before　his　courtesy　had　a　chance　to　control　it。　　〃I　didn't　suppose　you　ever　did　any　work　in　your　life！〃　cried　he。　〃I　guess　I　haven't　done　much　else。　　Father　died　when　I　was　twelve　and　the　oldest　of　five；　the　next　only　eightPolly；　that　came　between　Eb　and　me；　diednaturally　I　had　to　work。　　I　was　a　nurse…girl　by　the　day；　first；　and　I　never　shall　forget　how　kind　the　woman　was　to　me。　She　gave　me　so　much　dinner　I　never　needed　to　eat　any　breakfast；　which　was　a　help。〃　〃You　poor　little　thing！　　I'm　afraid　you　went　hungry　sometimes。〃　Immediately　he　marvelled　at　his　familiar　speech；　but　she　did　not　seem　to　resent　it。　〃No；　not　so　often；〃　she　said；　musingly；　〃but　I　used　often　and　often　to　wish　I　could　carry　some　of　the　nice　things　home　to　mother　and　the　babies。　　After　a　while　she　would　give　me　a　cookey　or　a　piece　of　bread　and　butter　for　lunch；　that　I　could　take　home。　I　don't　suppose　I'll　often　have　more　pleasure　than　I　used　to　have　then；　seeing　little　Eb　waiting　for　sister；　and　the　baby　and　mother　〃　She　stopped　abruptly；　to　continue；　in　an　instant；　with　a　kind　of　laugh；　〃I　am　never　likely　to　feel　so　important　again　as　I　did　then；　either。　It　was　great　to　have　mother　consulting　me；　as　if　I　had　been　grown　up。　I　felt　like　I　had　the　weight　of　the　nation　on　my　shoulders；　I　assure　you。〃　〃And　have　you　always　worked　since？　　You　are　not　working　out　now？〃　with　a　glance　at　her　shining　gown。　〃Oh；　no；　not　for　a　long　time。　　I　learned　to　be　a　cook。　I　was　a　good　cook；　too；　if　I　say　it　myself。　　I　worked　for　the　Lossings　for　four　years。　　I　am　not　a　bit　ashamed　of　being　a　hired　girl；　for　I　was　as　good　a　one　as　I　knew　how。　It　was　Mrs。　Lossing　that　first　lent　me　books；　and　Harry　Lossing；　who　is　head　of　the　firm　now；　got　Ebenezer　into　the　works。　Ebenezer　is　shipping…clerk　with　a　good　salary　and　stock　in　the　concern；　and　Ralph　is　there；　learning　the　trade。　I　went　to　the　business…college　and　learned　book…keeping；　and　afterward　I　learned　typewriting　and　shorthand。　I　have　been　working　for　the　firm　for　fourteen　years。　We　have　educated　the　girls。　　Milly　is　married；　and　Kitty　goes　to　the　boarding…school；　here。〃　〃Then　you　haven't　been　married　yourself？〃　〃What　time　did　I　have　to　think　of　being　married？　I　had　the　family　on　my　mind；　and　looking　after　them。〃　〃That　was　more　fortunate　for　your　family　than　it　was　for　my　sex；〃　said　Nelson；　gallantly。　　He　accompanied　the　compliment　by　a　glance　of　admiration；　extinguished　in　an　eye…flash；　for　the　white　radiance　that　had　bathed　the　deck　suddenly　vanished。　〃Now　you　will　see　a　lovely　sight；〃　said　the　woman；　deigning　no　reply　to　his　tribute；　〃listen！　　That　is　the　signal。〃　The　air　was　shaken　with　the　boom　of　cannon。　　Once；　twice；　thrice。　Directly　the　boat…whistles　took　up　the　roar；　making　a　hideous　din。　The　fleet　had　moved。　　Spouting　rockets　and　Roman　candles；　which　painted　above　it　a　kaleidoscopic　archway　of　fire；　welcomed　by　answering　javelins　of　light　and　red　and　orange　and　blue　and　green　flares　from　the　shore；　the　fleet　bombarded　the　bridge；　escorted　Neptune　in　his　car；　manoeuvred　and　massed　and　charged　on　the　blazing　city　with　a　many…hued　shower　of　flame。　After　the　boats；　silently；　softly；　floated　the　battalions　of　lanterns；　so　close　to　the　water　that　they　seemed　flaming　water…lilies；　while　the　dusky　mirror　repeated　and　inverted　their　splendor。　〃They're　shingles；　you　know；〃　explained　Nelson's　companion；　〃with　lanterns　on　them；　but　aren't　they　pretty？〃　〃Yes；　they　are！　　I　wish　you　had　not　told　me。　　It　is　like　a　fairy　story！〃　〃Ain't　it？　　But　we　aren't　through；　there's　more　to　come。　Beautiful　fireworks！〃　The　fireworks；　however；　were　slow　of　coming。　　They　could　see　the　barge　from　which　they　were　to　be　sent；　they　could　watch　the　movements　of　the　men　in　white　oil…cloth　who　moved　in　a　ghostly　fashion　about　the　barge；　they　could　hear　the　tap　of　hammers；　but　nothing　came　of　it　all。　They　sat　in　the　darkness；　waiting；　and　there　came　to　Nelson