Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs, starr'd the Sides of Outbuildings, as of Cousins, carried Hats away into the brisk Wind off Delaware,— the Sleds are brought in and their Runners carefully dried and greased, shoes deposited in the back Hall, a stocking'd-foot Descent made upon the great Kitchen, in a purposeful Dither since Morning, punctuated1 by the ringing Lids of various Boilers2 and Stewing-Pots, fragrant3 with Pie-Spices, peel'd Fruits, Suet, heated Sugar,— the Children, having all upon the Fly, among rhythmic4 slaps of Batter5 and Spoon, coax'd and stolen what they might, proceed, as upon each afternoon all this snowy Advent7, to a comfortable Room at the rear of the House, years since given over to their carefree Assaults. Here have come to rest a long scarr'd sawbuck table, with two mismatch'd side-benches, from the Lancaster County branch of the family,— some Second-Street Chippen?dale, including an interpretation9 of the fam'd Chinese Sofa, with a high canopy10 of yards of purple Stuff that might be drawn11 all 'round to make a snug12, dim tent,— a few odd Chairs sent from England before the War,— mostly Pine and Cherry about, nor much Mahogany, excepting a sinister13 and wonderful Card Table which exhibits the cheaper sinu?soidal Grain known in the Trade as Wand'ring Heart, causing an illu?sion of Depth into which for years children have gaz'd as into the illustrated14 Pages of Books...along with so many hinges, sliding Mor?tises, hidden catches, and secret compartments16 that neither the Twins nor their Sister can say they have been to the end of it. Upon the Wall, banish'd to this Den15 of Parlor17 Apes for its Remembrance of a Time bet?ter forgotten, reflecting most of the Room,— the Carpet and Drapes a little fray'd, Whiskers the Cat stalking beneath the furniture, looking out with eyes finely reflexive to anything suggesting Food,— hangs a Mirror in an inscrib'd Frame, commemorating18 the "Mischianza," that memorable19 farewell Ball stag'd in '77 by the British who'd been Occu?pying the City, just before their Withdrawal20 from Philadelphia.
This Christmastide of 1786, with the War settl'd and the Nation bick?ering itself into Fragments, wounds bodily and ghostly, great and small, go aching on, not ev'ry one commemorated,— nor, too often, even recounted. Snow lies upon all Philadelphia, from River to River, whose further shores have so vanish'd behind curtains of ice-fog that the City today might be an Isle21 upon an Ocean. Ponds and Creeks22 are frozen over, and the Trees a-glare to the last slightest Twig,— Nerve-Lines of con8?centrated Light. Hammers and Saws have fallen still, bricks lie in snow-cover'd Heaps, City-Sparrows, in speckl'd Outbursts, hop23 in and out of what Shelter there may be,— the nightward Sky, Clouds blown to Chalk-smears, stretches above the Northern Liberties, Spring Garden and Ger-mantown, its early moon pale as the Snow-Drifts,— smoke ascends24 from Chimney-Pots, Sledging-Parties adjourn25 indoors, Taverns26 bustle,— freshly infus'd Coffee flows ev'ryplace, borne about thro' Rooms front and back, whilst Madeira, which has ever fuel'd Association in these Parts, is deploy'd nowadays like an ancient Elixir27 upon the seething28 Pot of Politics,— for the Times are as impossible to calculate, this Advent, as the Distance to a Star.
It has become an afternoon habit for the Twins and their Sister, and what Friends old and young may find their way here, to gather for another Tale from their far-travel'd Uncle, the Revd Wicks Cherrycoke, who arriv'd here back in October for the funeral of a Friend of years ago,— too late for the Burial, as it prov'd,— and has linger'd as a Guest in the Home of his sister Elizabeth, the Wife, for many years, of Mr. J. Wade29 LeSpark, a respected Merchant, active in Town Affairs whilst in his home yet Sultan enough to convey to the Revd, tho' without ever so stipulating30, that, for as long as he can keep the children amus'd, he may remain,— too much evidence of Juvenile31 Rampage at the wrong moment, however, and Boppo! 'twill be Out the Door with him, where waits the Winter's Block and Blade.
Thus, they have heard the Escape from Hottentot-Land, the Accursed Ruby32 of Mogok, the Ship-wrecks in Indies East and West,— an Herodotic Web of Adventures and Curiosities selected, the Revd implies, for their moral usefulness, whilst avoiding others not as suitable in the Hearing of Youth. The Youth, as usual, not being consulted in this.
Tenebras has seated herself and taken up her Needlework, a piece whose size and difficulty are already subjects of Discussion in the House, the Embroidress herself keeping silence,— upon this Topick, at least. Announc'd by Nasal Telegraph, in come the Twins, bearing the old Pewter Coffee-Machine venting33 its Puffs34 of Vapor35, and a large Basket dedicated36 to Saccharomanic Appetites, piled to the Brim with fresh-fried Dough-Nuts roll'd in Sugar, glaz'd Chestnuts37, Buns, Fritters, Crullers, Tarts38. "What is this? Why, Lads, you read my mind."
"The Coffee's for you, Nunk,— " "— last Time, you were talking in your sleep," the Pair explain, placing the Sweets nearer themselves, all in this Room being left to seize and pour as they may. As none could agree which had been born first, the Twins were nam'd Pitt and Pliny, so that each might be term'd "the Elder" or "the Younger," as might day-to?day please one, or annoy his Brother.
"Why haven't we heard a Tale about America?" Pitt licking Gobbets of Philadelphia Pudding from his best Jabot.
"With Indians in it, and Frenchmen," adds Pliny, whose least gesture sends Cookie-crumbs everywhere.
"French Women, come to that," mutters Pitt.
"It's not easy being pious39 for both of us, you know," Pliny advises.
"It's twenty years," recalls the Revd, "since we all topped the Allegheny Ridge40 together, and stood looking out at the Ohio Country,— so fair, a Revelation, meadow'd to the Horizon— Mason and Dixon, and all the McCleans, Darby and Cope, no, Darby wouldn't've been there in 'sixty-six,— howbeit, old Mr. Barnes and young Tom Hynes, the rascal41.. .don't know where they all went,— some fought in the war, some chose peace come what might, some profited, some lost every?thing. Some are gone to Kentucky, and some,— as now poor Mason,— to Dust.
' 'Twas not too many years before the War,— what we were doing out in that Country together was brave, scientifick beyond my understanding, and ultimately meaningless,— we were putting a line straight through the heart of the Wilderness42, eight yards wide and due west, in order to sepa?rate two Proprietorships, granted when the World was yet feudal43 and but eight years later to be nullified by the War for Independence."
And now Mason's gone, and the Revd Cherrycoke, who came to town only to pay his Respects, has linger'd, thro' the first descent of cold, the first drawings-in to the Hearth-Side, the first Harvest-Season meals appearing upon the next-best Dishes. He had intended to be gone weeks ago, but finds he cannot detach. Each day among his Devoirs is a visit, however brief, to Mason's grave. The Verger has taken to nodding at him. In the middle of the night recently he awoke convinc'd that 'twas he who had been haunting Mason,— that like a shade with a grievance44, he expected Mason, but newly arriv'd at Death, to help him with something.
"After years wasted," the Revd commences, "at perfecting a parsoni-cal Disguise,— grown old in the service of an Impersonation that never took more than a Handful of actor's tricks,— past remembering those Yearnings for Danger, past all that ought to have been, but never had a Hope of becoming, have I beach'd upon these Republican Shores,— stoven, dismasted, imbecile with age,— an untrustworthy Remem?brancer for whom the few events yet rattling45 within a broken memory must provide the only comfort now remaining to him,—
"Uncle," Tenebrse pretends to gasp46, "— and but this Morning, you look'd so much younger,— why I'd no idea."
"Kindly47 Brae. That is from my Secret Relation, of course. Don't know that I'd phrase it quite like that in the present Company."
"Then...?" Tenebrae replying to her Uncle's Twinkling with the usual play of Eye-lashes.
"It begins with a Hanging."
"Excellent!" cry the Twins.
The Revd, producing a scarr'd old Note-book, cover'd in cheap Leather, begins to read. "Had I been the first churchman of modern times to be swung from Tyburn Tree,— had I been then taken for dead, whilst in fact but spending an Intermission among the eventless corri?dors of Syncope, due to the final Bowl of Ale,— had a riotous48 throng49 of medical students taken what they deem'd to be my Cadaver50 back beneath the somber51 groins of their College,— had I then been 'resur?rected' into an entirely52 new Knowledge of the terms of being, in which Our Savior,— strange to say in that era of Wesley and Whitefield,— though present, would not have figur'd as pre-eminently as with most Sectarians,— howbeit,— I should closely resemble the nomadic53 Parson you behold54 today...."
"Mother says you're the Family outcast," Pitt remarks.
"They pay you money to keep away," says Pliny.
"Your Grandsire Cherrycoke, Lads, has ever kept his promise to remit55 to me, by way of certain Charter'd Companies, a sum precise to the far?thing and punctual as the Moon,— to any address in the World, save one in Britain. Britain is his World, and he will persist, even now, in stand?ing sham'd before it for certain Crimes of my distant Youth."
"Crimes!" exclaim the Boys together.
"Why, so did wicked men declare 'em.. .before God, another Tale— "
"What'd they nail you on?" Uncle Ives wishes to know, "strictly56 pro6?fessional interest, of course." Green Brief-bag over one shoulder, but lately return'd from a Coffee-House Meeting, he is bound later this evening for a slightly more formal version of the same thing,— feeling, here with the children, much as might a Coaching Passenger let off at Nightfall among an unknown Populace, to wait for a connecting Coach, alone, pedestrian, desiring to pass the time to some Revenue, if not Profit.
"Along with some lesser57 Counts," the Revd is replying, " 'twas one of the least tolerable of Offenses58 in that era, the worst of Dick Turpin seem?ing but the Carelessness of Youth beside it,— the Crime they styl'd 'Anonymity59.' That is, I left messages posted publicly, but did not sign them. I knew some night-running lads in the district who let me use their Printing-Press,— somehow, what I got into pz'inting up, were Accounts of certain Crimes I had observ'd, committed by the Stronger against the Weaker,— enclosures, evictions, Assize verdicts, Activities of the Mili?tary,— giving the Names of as many of the Perpetrators as I was sure of, yet keeping back what I foolishly imagin'd my own, till the Night I was tipp'd and brought in to London, in Chains, and clapp'd in the Tower."
"The Tower!”
"Oh, do not tease them so," Tenebrse prays him.
"Ludgate, then? whichever, 'twas Gaol60. It took me till I was lying among the Rats and Vermin, upon the freezing edge of a Future invisi?ble, to understand that my name had never been my own,— rather belonging, all this time, to the Authorities, who forbade me to change it, or withhold61 it, as 'twere a Ring upon the Collar of a Beast, ever waiting
for the Lead to be fasten'd on One of those moments Hindoos and
Chinamen are ever said to be having, entire loss of Self, perfect union with All, sort of thing. Strange Lights, Fires, Voices indecipherable,— indeed, Children, this is the part of the Tale where your old Uncle gets to go insane,— or so, then, each in his Interest, did it please ev'ryone to style me. Sea voyages in those days being the standard Treatment for Insanity62, my Exile should commence for the best of Medical reasons."
Tho' my Inclination63 had been to go out aboard an East Indiaman (the Revd continues), as that route East travers'd notoriously a lively and youthful World of shipboard Dalliance, Gale-force Assemblies, and Duels64 ashore65, with the French Fleet a constant,— for some, Romantic,— danger, "Like Pirates, yet more polite," as the Ladies often assur'd me,— alas66, those who controll'd my Fate, getting wind of my preference at the last moment, swiftly arrang'd to have me transferr'd into a small British Frigate67 sailing alone, upon a long voyage, in a time of War,— the Sea?horse, twenty-four guns, Captain Smith. I hasten'd in to Leadenhall Street to inquire.
"Can this be Objection we hear?" I was greeted. "Are you saying that a sixth-rate is beneath you? Would you prefer to remain ashore, and take up quarters in Bedlam68? It has made a man of many in your Situation. Some have come to enjoy fairly meaningful lives there. Or if it's some need for the Exotic, we might arrange for a stay in one of the French Hospitals—"
"Would one of my Condition even know how to object, my Lord? I owe you everything."
"Madness has not impair'd your memory. Good. Keep away from harmful Substances, in particular Coffee, Tobacco and Indian Hemp69. If you must use the latter, do not inhale70. Keep your memory working, young man! Have a safe Voyage.”
So, with this no doubt well-meant advice finding its way into the mid-watch sounds of waves past my sleeping-place, I set sail upon an Engine of Destruction, in the hope that Eastward71 yet might dwell something of Peace and Godhead, which British Civilization, in venturing Westward72, had left behind,— and thus was consternation73 the least of my feelings when, instead of supernatural Guidance from Lamas old as time, here came Jean Crapaud a-looming,— thirty-four guns' worth of Disaster, and only one Lesson.
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1
punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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con
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| n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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compartments
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| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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commemorating
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| v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 ) | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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ascends
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 ) | |
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adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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elixir
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| n.长生不老药，万能药 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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stipulating
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| v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的现在分词 )；规定，明确要求 | |
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juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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tarts
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| n.果馅饼( tart的名词复数 )；轻佻的女人；妓女；小妞 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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44
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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45
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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46
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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47
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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cadaver
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| n.尸体 | |
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51
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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52
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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nomadic
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| adj.流浪的；游牧的 | |
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54
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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55
remit
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| v.汇款，汇寄；豁免（债务），免除（处罚等） | |
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56
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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offenses
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| n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势 | |
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anonymity
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| n.the condition of being anonymous | |
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gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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63
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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64
duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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67
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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bedlam
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| n.混乱，骚乱；疯人院 | |
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hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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inhale
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| v.吸入(气体等)，吸(烟) | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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72
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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73
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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