dreams(梦)-第6章
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methods。
They criticised the babies。 When a fresh infant was published in a
house； the critics would call in a body to pass their judgment upon it； and
the young mother would bring it down for them to sample。
〃Did you ever see a child anything like that in this world before？〃 she
would say； holding it out to them。 〃Isn't it a wonderful baby？ _You_
never saw a child with legs like that； I know。 Nurse says he's the most
extraordinary baby she ever attended。 Bless him！〃
But the critics did not think anything of it。
〃Tut； tut；〃 they would reply； 〃there is nothing extraordinary about that
childno originality whatever。 Why； it's exactly like every other baby
bald head； red face； big mouth； and stumpy nose。 Why； that's only a
weak imitation of the baby next door。 It's a plagiarism； that's what that
child is。 You've been wasting your time； madam。 If you can't do
anything more original than that； we should advise you to give up the
business altogether。〃
That was the end of criticism in that strange land。
〃Oh！ look here； we've had enough of you and your originality；〃 said
the people to the critics； after that。 〃Why； _you_ are not original； when
one comes to think of it； and your criticisms are not original。 You've all of
you been saying exactly the same thing ever since the time of Solomon。
We are going to drown you and have a little peace。〃
〃What； drown a critic！〃 cried the critics； 〃never heard of such a
monstrous proceeding in our lives！〃
〃No； we flatter ourselves it is an original idea；〃 replied the public；
brutally。 〃You ought to be charmed with it。 Out you come！〃
So they took the critics out and drowned them； and then passed a short
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Dreams
act； making criticism a capital offense。
After that； the art and literature of the country followed； somewhat； the
methods of the quaint and curious school； but the land； notwithstanding；
was a much more cheerful place to live in； I dreamed。
But I never finished telling you about the dream in which I thought I
left my legs behind me when I went into a certain theater。
I dreamed that the ticket the man gave me for my legs was No。 19； and
I was worried all through the performance for fear No。 61 should get hold
of them； and leave me his instead。 Mine are rather a fine pair of legs； and
I am； I confess； a little proud of themat all events； I prefer them to
anybody else's。 Besides； number sixty…one's might be a skinny pair； and
not fit me。
It quite spoiled my evening； fretting about this。
Another extraordinary dream I had was one in which I dreamed that I
was engaged to be married to my Aunt Jane。 That was not； however； the
extraordinary part of it； I have often known people to dream things like
that。 I knew a man who once dreamed that he was actually married to his
own mother…in…law！ He told me that never in his life had he loved the
alarm clock with more deep and grateful tenderness than he did that
morning。 The dream almost reconciled him to being married to his real
wife。 They lived quite happily together for a few days； after that dream。
No； the extraordinary part of my dream was； that I knew it was a
dream。 〃What on earth will uncle say to this engagement？〃 I thought to
myself； in my dream。 〃There's bound to be a row about it。 We shall
have a deal of trouble with uncle； I feel sure。〃 And this thought quite
troubled me until the sweet reflection came： 〃Ah！ well； it's only a
dream。〃
And I made up my mind that I would wake up as soon as uncle found
out about the engagement； and leave him and Aunt Jane to fight the matter
out between themselves。
It is a very great comfort； when the dream grows troubled and
alarming； to feel that it is only a dream； and to know that we shall awake
soon and be none the worse for it。 We can dream out the foolish
perplexity with a smile then。
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Dreams
Sometimes the dream of life grows strangely troubled and perplexing；
and then he who meets dismay the bravest is he who feels that the fretful
play is but a dreama brief； uneasy dream of three score years and ten； or
thereabouts； from which； in a little while； he will awakeat least； he
dreams so。
How dull； how impossible life would be without dreamswaking
dreams； I meanthe dreams that we call 〃castles in the air；〃 built by the
kindly hands of Hope！ Were it not for the mirage of the oasis； drawing
his footsteps ever onward； the weary traveler would lie down in the desert
sand and die。 It is the mirage of distant success； of happiness that； like
the bunch of carrots fastened an inch beyond the donkey's nose； seems
always just within our reach； if only we will gallop fast enough； that
makes us run so eagerly along the road of Life。
Providence； like a father with a tired child； lures us ever along the way
with tales and promises； until； at the frowning gate that ends the road； we
shrink back； frightened。 Then； promises still more sweet he stoops and
whispers in our ear； and timid yet partly reassured； and trying to hide our
fears； we gather up all that is left of our little stock of hope and； trusting
yet half afraid； push out our groping feet into the darkness。
Notes on the editing of this text：
1。 Italicized phrases are delimited by the underline character （〃_〃）。 2。
Hyphens have been left in the text only where it was the clear intention of
the author。 For example； throughout the text； 〃tonight〃 and 〃tomorrow〃
appear as 〃to…night〃 and 〃to…morrow〃。 This is intentional； and is not
simply a legacy of words having been broken across lines in the printed
text。 3。 The pound （currency） symbol has been replaced by the word
〃pounds〃。
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