III. JIMMIEBOY'S DREAM POETRY.

If there is anything in the world that Jimmieboy likes better than custard and choo-choo cars, it is to snuggle down in his papa's lap about bedtime and pretend to keep awake. It doesn't matter at all how tired he is, or how late bedtime may on special occasions be delayed, he is never ready to be undressed and "filed away for the night," as his Uncle Periwinkle puts it.

 

It was just this way the other night. He was as sleepy as he possibly could be. The sandman had left enough sand in his eyes, or so it seemed to Jimmieboy, to start a respectable sea-beach, and he really felt as if all he needed to make a summer resort of himself was a big hotel, a band of music, and an ocean. But in spite of all this he didn't want to go to bed, and he had[Pg 36] apparently² made up his mind that he wasn't going to want to go to bed for some time to come; and as his papa was in an unusually indulgent mood, the little fellow was permitted to nestle up close under his left arm and sit there on his lap in the library after dinner, while his mamma read aloud an article in one of the magazines on the subject of dream poetry.

 

It was a very interesting article, Jimmieboy thought. The idea of anybody's writing poetry while asleep struck him as being very comical, and he laughed several times in a sleepy sort of way, and then all of a sudden he thought, "Why, if other people can do it, why can't I?"

 

"Why?" he answered—he was quite fond of asking himself questions and then answering them—"why? Because you can't write at all. You don't know an H from a D, unless there's a Horse in the picture with the H, and a Donkey with the D. That's why."

 

"True; but that's only when I'm awake."

 

"Try it and see," whispered the Pencil in his papa's vest pocket. "I'll help, and maybe our old friend the Scratch Pad will help too."

 

"That's a good idea," said Jimmieboy, taking the Pencil out of his papa's pocket, and assisting it to climb down to the floor, so that it could run[Pg 37] over to the desk and tell the Scratch Pad it was wanted.

 

"Don't you lose my pencil," said papa.

 

"No, I won't," replied Jimmieboy, his eyes following the Pencil in its rather winding³ course about the room to where the desk stood.

 

"I have to keep out of sight, you know, Jimmieboy," the Pencil said, in a low tone of voice. "Because if I didn't, and your papa saw me walking off, he'd grab hold of me and put me back in his pocket again."

 

Suddenly the Pencil disappeared over by the waste-basket, and then Jimmieboy heard him calling, in a loud whisper: "Hi! Pad! Paddy! Pad-dee!"

 

"What's wanted?" answered the Pad, crawling over the edge of the desk and peering down at the Pencil, who was by this time hallooing himself hoarse⁴.

 

"Jimmieboy and I are going to write some dream poetry, and we want you to help," said the Pencil.

 

"Oh, I'm not sleepy," said the Pad.

 

"Neither am I," returned the Pencil. "But that needn't make any difference. Jimmieboy, does the sleeping and dreaming, and you and I do the rest."

 

[Pg 38]

 

"Oh, that's it, eh? Well, then, I don't mind; but—er—how am I ever going to get down there?" asked the Pad. "It's a pretty big jump."

 

"That's so," answered the Pencil. "I wouldn't try jumping. Can't the Twine⁵ help you?"

 

"No. He's all used up."

 

"Then I have it," said the Pencil. "Put a little mucilage on your back and slide down. The mucilage will keep you from going too fast."

 

"Good scheme," said the Pad, putting the Pencil's suggestion into practice, and finding that it worked beautifully, even if it did make him feel uncomfortably sticky.

 

And then, arm in arm, they tip-toed softly across the room and climbed up into Jimmieboy's lap. So quietly did they go that neither Jimmieboy's mamma, nor his papa noticed them at all, as they might have had the conspirators⁶ been noisy, although mamma was reading and papa's head was thrown back, so that his eyes rested on the picture moulding.

 

"Here we are, Jimmieboy," said the Pad. "Pen here tells me you're going to try a little dream poetry."

 

"Yes," said Jimmieboy. "I am, if you two will help."

 

"Count on us," said the Pencil. "What do you do first?"

 

"I don't exactly know," said Jimmieboy. "But I rather think I take Pencil in my hand, Pad in my lap, and fall asleep."

 

"All right," said the Pad, lying flat on his back. "I'm ready."

 

"So am I," put in the Pencil, settling down between two of Jimmieboy's fingers.

 

"All aboard for sleep," said Jimmieboy, with a smile, and then he fell into a doze⁷. In about two minutes he opened his eyes again, and found both Pad and Pencil in a great state of excitement.

 

[Pg 40]

 

"Did I write anything?" asked Jimmieboy, in an excited whisper.

 

"Yes," said the Pad. "You just covered me up with a senseless mass of words. This isn't any fun."

 

"No," said the Pencil. "It's all nonsense. Just see here what you've got."

 

Jimmieboy looked anxiously at the Pad, and this is what he saw:

 

I        seen      since,

memory's      wrong,

They both    dressed

couple walked

 

And straightway change

upstairs with me,

"I think it's

"If that's the case,"

 

catch the early    in."

to leave the shop,

for it's pla

Polypop.

 

two weeks yesterday."

haven't uttered

Oh, Polypop, I

ersnee, "See here,

 

He didn't pay

moon was shining bright.

To see the

Polypop came down

[Pg 41]

 

"Dear me!" he said. "Why, that doesn't mean anything, does it?"

 

"No. There isn't much in dream poetry, I guess," said the Pad. "I'm going back home. Good-by."

 

[Pg 42]

 

"Oh, don't go," said the Pencil. "Let's try it again—just once more. Eh?"

 

"Very well," returned the Pad, good-naturedly, tearing off one of his leaves. "Go ahead, Jimmieboy."

 

And Jimmieboy dozed⁸ off again.

 

"Wake up, wake up!" cried the Pencil in about three minutes. "We've got something this time."

 

But they were all disappointed, for, when they looked, all that they could see was this:

 

have not    them

And if my      not

were    in chintz;

With that the        along;

 

your vest."

For you to go

Replied        best,

the Snickersnee,

 

And            tra

I hadn't time

"My reason        in;

"I know it," said the

 

Since

You                one small cheer,

say,

[Pg 43]Then quoth the Snick

 

his fee.

And as the

Snickersnee,

The                    one night,

"Rubbish!" said the Pad, indignantly. "There's two leaves of myself wasted now on your old dream poetry. I think that's enough. I'm off. Good-by."

 

"Don't be hasty, Pad," retorted the Pencil. "That's a great deal better than the other. Why, there's one part there with all the lines beginning with capitals, and when that happens it's generally a sign that there's poetry around."

 

"There isn't much there, though," said Jimmieboy, a little disappointed by the result. "I guess Pad's right. We'd better give it up."

 

"Not yet," pleaded the Pencil. "There's luck in odd numbers, you know. Let's try it just once more."

 

"Shall we, Jimmieboy?" asked the Pad.

 

"Yes. Let's," assented⁹ Jimmieboy, as he dropped off to sleep for the third time.

 

This time he must have slept five minutes. When he opened his eyes he saw the Pencil staring blankly at the Pad, on which was written nothing more than this curious looking formula:

 

[Pg 44]

 

2

2

—

4

"How aggravating¹⁰!" said Jimmieboy.

 

"Abominable¹¹!" ejaculated the Pad.

 

"I believe it's a key to what has gone before," said the Pencil, shaking his rubber wisely. "Two and two make four—two and two make four. Ah! I know. You've got to put two and two together to make four. If we put those two leaves of nonsensical words together, maybe we'll have a poem. Let's try."

 

"It'll use me up, I'm afraid," sighed the Pad.

 

"Oh, no. It won't take more than a half of you," said the Pencil, putting the two leaves on which Jimmieboy had first written together.

 

"It looks like a poem," he said, when he had fitted the two together. "Let's see how it reads.

 

"I have not seen them since.

And if my memory's not wrong,

They both were dressed in chintz,

With that the couple walked along;"

"That doesn't mean a blessed thing," said the Pad.

 

"It's nonsense," said Jimmieboy.

 

"Just wait!" said the Pencil, beginning to read again:

 

[Pg 45]

 

And straightway change your vest."

For you to go upstairs with me,

Replied, "I think it's best

"If that's the case," the Snickersnee

 

And catch the early train."

I hadn't time to leave the shop

"My reason for it's plain;

"I know it," said the Polypop;

 

"Since two weeks yesterday."

You haven't uttered one small cheer

Oh, Polypop, I say,

Then quoth the Snickersnee, "See here,

 

He didn't pay his fee.

And as the moon was shining bright,

To see the Snickersnee,

The Polypop came down one night

"Ho!" jeered¹² the Pad. "That's elegant poetry, that is. You might get paid five cents a mile for stuff like that, if you wanted to sell it and had luck."

 

"I don't care," said the Pencil. "It rhymes well."

 

"Oh, I know what's the matter," said Jimmieboy, gleefully. "Why, of course it's poetry. Read it upside down, and it's all right. It's dream poetry, and dreams always go the other way. Why, it's fine. Just listen:

 

[Pg 46]

 

"The Polypop came down one night

To see the Snickersnee,

And, as the moon was shining bright,

He didn't pay his fee."

"That is good," said the Pad. "Let me say the next:

 

"Then, quoth the Snickersnee, 'See here,

Oh, Polypop, I say,

You have not uttered one small cheer

Since two weeks yesterday.'"

"I thought it would come out right," said the Pencil. "The next two verses are particularly good, too:

 

"'I know it,' said the Polypop;

'My reason for it's plain;

I hadn't time to leave the shop

And catch the early train.'

 

"'If that's the case,' the Snickersnee

Replied, 'I think it's best

For you to go upstairs with me,

And straightway change your vest.'"

"Now altogether," cried the Pad, enthusiastically. "One, two, three!" And then they all recited:

 

"With that the couple walked along;

They both were dressed in chintz;

And if my memory's not wrong,

I have not seen them since."

[Pg 47]

 

"Hooray!" cried Jimmieboy, as they finished—so loudly that it nearly deafened¹³ the Pad, which jumped from his lap and scurried¹⁴ back to the table as fast as it could go.

 

"What's that cheer for?" asked papa, looking down into Jimmieboy's face, and grabbing the Pencil, which was on the point of falling to the floor.

 

"It's for Dream Poetry," murmured Jimmieboy, getting drowsy¹⁵ again. "I've just dreamed a lot. It's on the Pad."

 

"Indeed!" said papa, with a sly wink¹ at mamma. "Let's get the Pad and read it."

 

The little fellow straightened up and ran across to the desk, and, grasping the Pad firmly in his hands, handed it to his father to read.

 

"H'm!" said papa, staring at the leaf before him. "Blank verse."

 

"Read it," said Jimmieboy.

 

"I can't to-night, my boy," he answered. "My eyes are too weak for me to see dream writing."

 

For between you and me that was the only kind of writing there was on that Pad.

 

1 wink   

n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁

参考例句：

• He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
• The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间，那颗卫星就消失了。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

4 hoarse   

adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的

参考例句：

• He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
• He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。

5 twine   

v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕

参考例句：

• He tied the parcel with twine.他用细绳捆包裹。
• Their cardboard boxes were wrapped and tied neatly with waxed twine.他们的纸板盒用蜡线扎得整整齐齐。

6 conspirators   

n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The French conspirators were forced to escape very hurriedly. 法国同谋者被迫匆促逃亡。 来自辞典例句

7 doze   

v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐

参考例句：

• He likes to have a doze after lunch.他喜欢午饭后打个盹。
• While the adults doze,the young play.大人们在打瞌睡，而孩子们在玩耍。

8 dozed   

v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He boozed till daylight and dozed into the afternoon. 他喝了个通霄，昏沉沉地一直睡到下午。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I dozed off during the soporific music. 我听到这催人入睡的音乐，便不知不觉打起盹儿来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

10 aggravating   

adj.恼人的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• How aggravating to be interrupted! 被打扰，多令人生气呀！
• Diesel exhaust is particularly aggravating to many susceptible individuals. 许多体质敏感的人尤其反感柴油废气。

11 abominable   

adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的

参考例句：

• Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
• The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。

12 jeered   

v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police were jeered at by the waiting crowd. 警察受到在等待的人群的嘲弄。
• The crowd jeered when the boxer was knocked down. 当那个拳击手被打倒时，人们开始嘲笑他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 deafened   

使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音

参考例句：

• A hard blow on the ear deafened him for life. 耳朵上挨的一记猛击使他耳聋了一辈子。
• The noise deafened us. 嘈杂声把我们吵聋了。

14 scurried   

v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She said goodbye and scurried back to work. 她说声再见，然后扭头跑回去干活了。
• It began to rain and we scurried for shelter. 下起雨来，我们急忙找地方躲避。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 drowsy   

adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的

参考例句：

• Exhaust fumes made him drowsy and brought on a headache.废气把他熏得昏昏沉沉，还引起了头疼。
• I feel drowsy after lunch every day.每天午饭后我就想睡觉。