Liverpool, Decr. 13th, 1858
Dearest,
I wrote thee a brief note by a steamer from this port on the 11th, with O'Sullivan's despatches. Nothing noteworthy has happened since; and nothing can happen in this dawdling[A] life of ours. The best thing about our Liverpool days is, that they are very short; it is hardly morning, before night comes again. Una says that the weather in Lisbon is very cold. So it is here—that searching, spiteful cold that creeps all through one's miserable1 flesh; and if I had to cross the river, as last winter, I do believe I should drown myself in despair. Nevertheless, Julian and I are in excellent condition, though the old boy often grumbles—"It is very cold, papa!"—as he takes his morning bath.
The other day, speaking of his first advent2 into this world, Julian said, "I don't remember how I 264 came down from Heaven; but I'm very glad I happened to tumble into so good a family!" He was serious in this; and it is certainly very queer, that, at nearly ten years old, he should still accept literally3 our first explanation of how he came to be among us.
Thy friend John O'Hara still vagabondises about the street; at least, I met him, some time since, with a basket of apples on his arm, very comfortably clad and looking taller than of yore. I gave him an eleemosynary sixpence, as he told me he was getting on pretty well. Yesterday, his abominable4 mother laid siege to my office during the greater part of the day, pretending to have business with me. I refused to see her; and she then told Mr. Wilding that her husband was gone to Ireland, and that John was staying at Rock Ferry with Mrs. Woodward, or whatever the lady's name may be, and that she herself had no means of support. But I remained as obdurate5 as a paving-stone, knowing that, if I yielded this once, she would expect me to supply her with the means of keeping drunk as long as I stay in Liverpool. She hung about the office till dusk, but finally raised the siege.
Julian looks like a real boy now; for Mrs. Blodgett has his hair cut at intervals6 of a month or so, 265 and though I thought his aspect very absurd, at first, yet I have come to approve it rather than otherwise. The good lady does what she can to keep his hands clean, and his nails in proper condition—for which he is not as grateful as he should be. There is to be a ball at his dancing-school, next week, at which the boys are to wear jackets and white pantaloons; and I have commissioned Miss Maria to get our old gentleman equipped in a proper manner. It is funny how he gives his mighty7 mind to this business of dancing, and even dreams, as he assured me, about quadrilles. His master has praised him a good deal, and advanced him to a place among his elder scholars. When the time comes for Julian to study in good earnest, I perceive that this feeling of emulation8 will raise his steam to a prodigious9 height. In drawing (having no competitors) he does not apply himself so earnestly as to the Terpsichorean10 science; yet he succeeds so well that, last night, I mistook a sketch11 of his for one of his master's. Mrs. Blodgett and the ladies think his progress quite wonderful; the master says, rather coolly, that he has a very tolerable eye for form.
Una seems to be taking rapid strides towards womanhood. I shall not see her a child again; 266 that stage has passed like a dream—a dream merging12 into another dream. If Providence13 had not done it, as thou sayest, I should deeply regret her having been present at this recent grief-time of the O'Sullivans. It did not seem to me that she needed experiences of that kind; for life has never been light and joyous14 to her. Her letters make me smile, and sigh, too; they are such letters as a girl of fifteen would write, with a vein15 of sentiment continually cropping up, as the geologists16 say, through the surface. Then the religious tone startles me a little. Would it be well—(perhaps it would, I really don't know)—for religion to be intimately connected, in her mind, with forms and ceremonials, and sanctified places of worship? Shall the whole sky be the dome17 of her cathedral?—or must she compress the Deity18 into a narrow space, for the purpose of getting at him more readily? Wouldst thou like to have her follow Aunt Lou and Miss Rodgers into that musty old Church of England? This looks very probable to me; but thou wilt19 know best how it is, and likewise whether it had better be so, or not. If it is natural for Una to remain within those tenets, she will be happiest there; but if her moral and intellectual development should compel her hereafter 267 to break from them, it would be with the more painful wrench20 for having once accepted them.
December 14th.—Friday.—O'Sullivan desires me to send American newspapers. I shall send some with the parcel by the Liverpool steamer of the 21st; and likewise through John Miller21, whenever I have any late ones; but the English Post Office does not recognize American newspapers as being newspapers at all, and will not forward them except for letter postage. This would be ruinous, considering that the rate for single letters, between here and Lisbon, is a shilling and sixpence; and a bundle of newspapers, at a similar rate, would cost several pounds. I won't do it.
Miss Williams has not yet left her chamber22. Her illness was very serious, and Mrs. Blodgett was greatly alarmed about her; but I believe she is now hopefully convalescent.
Julian is outgrowing23 all the clothes he has, and is tightening24 terribly in best sack, and absolutely bursting through his trousers. No doubt thou wouldst blaspheme at his appearance; but all boys are the awkwardest and unbeautifullest creatures whom God has made. I don't know that he looks any worse than the rest. I have given Mrs. Blodgett the fullest liberty to get him whatever 268 she thinks best. He ought to look like a gentleman's son, for the ladies of our family like to have him with them as their cavalier and protector, when they go a-shopping. It amazes me to see the unabashed front with which he goes into society.
I have done my best, in the foregoing scribble25, to put thee in possession of the outward circumstances of our position. It is a very dull life; but I live it hopefully, because thou (my true life) will be restored to me by-and-by. If I had known what thou wouldst have to suffer, through thy sympathies, I would not for the world have sent thee to Lisbon; but we were in a strait, and I knew no other way. Take care of thyself for my sake. Remember me affectionately to the O'Sullivans.
Thinest.
[A] On reading over my letter, I cannot make out this word.
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1
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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2
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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3
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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4
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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5
obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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6
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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7
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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8
emulation
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| n.竞争；仿效 | |
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9
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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10
terpsichorean
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| adj.舞蹈的；n.舞蹈家 | |
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11
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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12
merging
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| 合并（分类） | |
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13
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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14
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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15
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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16
geologists
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| 地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 ) | |
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17
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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18
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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19
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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20
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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21
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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22
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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23
outgrowing
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的现在分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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24
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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25
scribble
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| v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文 | |
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