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第30章

over the teacups-第30章

小说: over the teacups 字数: 每页4000字

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came from a little island near Palos。  I am reading a very sad story

called 〃Little Jakey。〃  Jakey was the sweetest little fellow you can

imagine; but he was poor and blind。  I used to think; when I was

small and before I could read; that everybody was always happy; and

at first it made me very sad to know about pain and great sorrow; but

now I know that we could never learn to be brave and patient; if

there were only joy in the world。  I am studying about insects in

Zoology; and I have learned many things about butterflies。  They do

not make honey for us; like the bees; but many of them are as

beautiful as the flowers they light upon; and they always delight the

hearts of little children。  They live a gay life; flitting from

flower to flower; sipping the drops of honey…dew; without a thought

for the morrow。  They are just like little boys and girls when they

forget books and studies; and run away to the woods and the fields to

gather wild…flowers; or wade in the ponds for fragrant lilies; happy

in the bright sunshine。  If my little sister comes to Boston next

June; will you let me bring her to see you?  She is a lovely baby and

I am sure you will love 'her'。  Now I must tell my gentle poet good…

bye; for I have a letter to write home before I go to bed。  From your

loving little friend;



HELEN A。 KELLER。





The reading of this letter made many eyes glisten; and a dead silence

hushed the whole circle。  All at once Delilah; our pretty table…maid;

forgot her place;what business had she to be listening to our

conversation and reading? and began sobbing; just as if she had

been a lady。  She could n't help it; she explained afterwards;she

had a little blind sister at the asylum; who had told her about

Helen's reading to the children。



It was very awkward; this breaking…down of our pretty Delilah; for

one girl crying will sometimes set off a whole row of others;it is

as hazardous as lighting one cracker in a bunch。  The two Annexes

hurried out their pocket…handkerchiefs; and I almost expected a semi…

hysteric cataclysm。  At this critical moment Number Five called

Delilah to her; looked into her face with those calm eyes of hers;

and spoke a few soft words。  Was Number Five forgetful; too?  Did she

not remember the difference of their position?  I suppose so。  But

she quieted the poor handmaiden as simply and easily as a nursing

mother quiets her unweaned baby。  Why are we not all in love with

Number Five?  Perhaps we are。  At any rate; I suspect the Professor。

When we all get quiet; I will touch him up about that visit she

promised to make to his laboratory。



I got a chance at last to speak privately with him。



〃Did Number Five go to meet you in your laboratory; as she talked of

doing?〃



〃Oh; yes; of course she did;why; she said she would!〃



〃Oh; to be sure。  Do tell me what she wanted in your laboratory。〃



〃She wanted me to burn a diamond for her。〃



〃Burn a diamond!  What was that for?  Because Cleopatra swallowed a

pearl?〃



〃No; nothing of that kind。  It was a small stone; and had a flaw in

it。  Number Five said she did n't want a diamond with a flaw in it;

and that she did want to see how a diamond would burn。〃



〃Was that all that happened?〃



〃That was all。  She brought the two Annexes with her; and I gave my

three visitors a lecture on carbon; which they seemed to enjoy very

much。〃



I looked steadily in the Professor's face during the reading of the

following poem。  I saw no questionable look upon it;but he has a

remarkable command of his features。  Number Five read it with a

certain archness of expression; as if she saw all its meaning; which

I think some of the company did not quite take in。  They said they

must read it slowly and carefully。  Somehow; 〃I like you〃 and 〃I love

you〃 got a little mixed; as they heard it。  It was not Number Five's

fault; for she read it beautifully; as we all agreed; and as I knew

she would when I handed it to her。





          I LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOU。



     I LIKE YOU met I LOVE YOU; face to face;

     The path was narrow; and they could not pass。

     I LIKE YOU smiled; I LOVE YOU cried; Alas!

     And so they halted for a little space。



    〃Turn thou and go before;〃 I LOVE YOU said;

‘   〃Down the green pathway; bright with many a flower

     Deep in the valley; lo!  my bridal bower

     Awaits thee。〃 But I LIKE YOU shook his head。



     Then while they lingered on the span…wide shelf

     That shaped a pathway round the rocky ledge;

     I LIKE YOU bared his icy dagger's edge;

     And first he slew I LOVE YOU;then himself。









VII



There is no use in burdening my table with those letters of inquiry

as to where our meetings are held; and what are the names of the

persons designated by numbers; or spoken of under the titles of the

Professor; the Tutor; and so forth。  It is enough that you are aware

who I am; and that I am known at the tea…table as The Dictator。

Theatrical 〃asides〃 are apt to be whispered in a pretty loud voice;

and the persons who ought not to have any idea of what is said are

expected to be reasonably hard of bearing。  If I named all The

Teacups; some of them might be offended。  If any of my readers happen

to be able to identify any one Teacup by some accidental

circumstance;say; for instance; Number Five; by the incident of her

burning the diamond;I hope they will keep quiet about it。  Number

Five does n't want to be pointed out in the street as the extravagant

person who makes use of such expensive fuel; for the story would soon

grow to a statement that she always uses diamonds; instead of cheaper

forms of carbon; to heat her coffee with。  So with other members of

the circle。  The 〃Cracked Teacup;〃 Number Seven; would not; perhaps;

be pleased to recognize himself under that title。  I repeat it;

therefore; Do not try to identify the individual Teacups。  You will

not get them right; or; if you do; you may too probably make trouble。

How is it possible that I can keep up my freedom of intercourse with

you all if you insist on bellowing my 〃asides〃 through a speaking…

trumpet?  Besides; you cannot have failed to see that there are

strong symptoms of the springing up of delicate relations between

some of our number。  I told you how it would be。  It did not require

a prophet to foresee that the saucy intruder who; as Mr。 Willis

wrote; and the dear dead girls used to sing; in our young days;



               〃Taketh every form of air;

          And every shape of earth;

          And comes unbidden everywhere;

          Like thought's mysterious birth;〃



would pop his little curly head up between one or more pairs of

Teacups。  If you will stop these questions; then; I will go on with

my reports of what was said and done at our meetings over the

teacups。



Of all things beautiful in this fair world; there is nothing so

enchanting to look upon; to dream about; as the first opening of the

flower of young love。  How closely the calyx has hidden the glowing

leaves in its quiet green mantle!  Side by side; two buds have been

tossing jauntily in the breeze; often brought very near to each

other; sometimes touching for a moment; with a secret thrill in their

close…folded heart…leaves; it may be; but still the cool green sepals

shutting tight over the burning secret within。  All at once a morning

ray touches one of the two buds; and the point of a blushing petal

betrays the imprisoned and swelling blossom。





Oh; no; I did not promise a love…story。  There may be a little

sentiment now and then; but these papers are devoted chiefly to the

opinions; prejudices; fancies; whims; of myself; The Dictator; and

others of The Teacups who have talked or written for the general

benefit of the company。



Here are some of the remarks I made the other evening on the subject

of Intellectual Over…Feeding and its consequence; Mental Dyspepsia。

T

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