So the day passed, and the evening came on. Paul's appetite returned to him once more. He invested one-half of his money at an old woman's stall for cakes and apples, and then he ate leisurely4 while leaning against the iron railing which encircles the park.
He began to watch with interest the movements of those about him. Already the lamplighter had started on his accustomed round, and with ladder in hand was making his way from one lamp-post to another. Paul quite marvelled5 at the celerity with which the lamps were lighted, never before having witnessed the use of gas. He was so much interested in the process that he sauntered along behind the lamplighter for some time. At length his eye fell upon a group common enough in our cities, but new to him.
An Italian, short and dark-featured, with a velvet6 cap, was grinding out music from a hand-organ, while a woman with a complexion7 equally dark, and black sorrowful-looking eyes, accompanied her husband on the tambourine8. They were playing a lively tune9 as Paul came up, but quickly glided10 into “Home, Sweet Home.”
Paul listened with pleased, yet sad interest, for him “home” was only a sad remembrance.
He wandered on, pausing now and then to look into one of the brilliantly illuminated11 shop windows, or catching12 a glimpse through the open doors of the gay scene within, and as one after another of these lively scenes passed before him, he began to think that all the strange and wonderful things in the world must be collected in these rich stores.
Next, he came to a place of public amusement. Crowds were entering constantly, and Paul, from curiosity, entered too. He passed on to a little wicket, when a man stopped him.
“Where's your ticket?” he asked.
“I haven't got any,” said Paul.
“Then what business have you here?” said the man, roughly.
“Isn't this a meeting-house?” asked Paul.
This remark seemed to amuse two boys who were standing13 by. Looking up with some indignation, Paul recognized in one of them the boy who had cheated him out of the oysters.
“Look here,” said Paul, “what made you go off and leave me to pay for the oysters this morning?”
“Which of us do you mean?” inquired the 'governor's son,' carelessly.
“I mean you.”
“Really, I don't understand your meaning. Perhaps you mistake me for somebody else.”
“What?” said Paul, in great astonishment14. “Don't you remember me, and how you told me you were the Governor's son?”
Both boys laughed.
“You must be mistaken. I haven't the honor of being related to the distinguished15 gentleman you name.”
The speaker made a mocking bow to Paul.
“I know that,” said Paul, with spirit, “but you said you were, for all that.”
“It must have been some other good-looking boy, that you are mistaking me for. What are you going to do about it? I hope, by the way, that the oysters agreed with you.”
“Yes, they did,” said Paul, “for I came honestly by them.”
“He's got you there, Gerald,” said the other boy.
Paul made his way out of the theater. As his funds were reduced to twelve cents, he could not have purchased a ticket if he had desired it.
Still he moved on.
Soon he came to another building, which was in like manner lighted up, but not so brilliantly as the theater. This time, from the appearance of the building, and from the tall steeple,—so tall that his eye could scarcely reach the tapering16 spire,—he knew that it must be a church. There was not such a crowd gathered about the door as at the place he had just left, but he saw a few persons entering, and he joined them. The interior of the church was far more gorgeous than the plain village meeting-house which he had been accustomed to attend with his mother. He gazed about him with a feeling of awe17, and sank quietly into a back pew. As it was a week-day evening, and nothing of unusual interest was anticipated, there were but few present, here and there one, scattered18 through the capacious edifice19.
By-and-by the organist commenced playing, and a flood of music, grander and more solemn than he had ever heard, filled the whole edifice. He listened with rapt attention and suspended breath till the last note died away, and then sank back upon the richly cushioned seat with a feeling of enjoyment20.
In the services which followed he was not so much interested. The officiating clergyman delivered a long homily in a dull unimpassioned manner, which failed to awaken21 his interest. Already disposed to be drowsy22, it acted upon him like a gentle soporific. He tried to pay attention as he had always been used to do, but owing to his occupying a back seat, and the low voice of the preacher, but few words reached him, and those for the most part were above his comprehension.
Gradually the feeling of fatigue—for he had been walking the streets all day—became so powerful that his struggles to keep awake became harder and harder. In vain he sat erect23, resolved not to yield. The moment afterwards his head inclined to one side; the lights began to swim before his eyes; the voice of the preacher subsided24 into a low and undistinguishable hum. Paul's head sank upon the cushion, his bundle, which had been his constant companion during the day, fell softly to the floor, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile the sermon came to a close, and another hymn25 was sung, but even the music was insufficient26 to wake our hero now. So the benediction27 was pronounced, and the people opened the doors of their pews and left the church.
Last of all the sexton walked up and down the aisles28, closing such of the pew doors as were open. Then he shut off the gas, and after looking around to see that nothing was forgotten, went out, apparently29 satisfied, and locked the outer door behind him.
Paul, meanwhile, wholly unconscious of his situation, slept on as tranquilly31 as if there were nothing unusual in the circumstances in which he was placed. Through the stained windows the softened32 light fell upon his tranquil30 countenance33, on which a smile played, as if his dreams were pleasant. What would Aunt Lucy have thought if she could have seen her young friend at this moment?
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1
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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2
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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3
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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4
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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5
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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7
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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8
tambourine
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| n.铃鼓，手鼓 | |
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9
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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10
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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11
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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12
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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13
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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14
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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15
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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16
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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17
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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18
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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19
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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20
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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21
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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22
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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23
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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24
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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25
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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26
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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27
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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28
aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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29
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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30
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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31
tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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32
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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33
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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