按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
locality seems to assume a special significance and to claim a particular notice； in which every person we meet is either an old acquaintance or a character； days in which the strangest coincidences are continually happening； so that they get to be the rule； and not the exception。 Some might naturally think that anxiety and the weariness of a prolonged search after a near relative would have prevented my taking any interest in or paying any regard to the little matters around me。 Perhaps it had just the contrary effect； and acted like a diffused stimulus upon the attention。 When all the faculties are wide…awake in pursuit of a single object； or fixed in the spasm of an absorbing emotion； they are oftentimes clairvoyant in a marvellous degree in respect to many collateral things； as Wordsworth has so forcibly illustrated in his sonnet on the Boy of Windermere； and as Hawthorne has developed with such metaphysical accuracy in that chapter of his wondrous story where Hester walks forth to meet her punishment。
Be that as it may；though I set out with a full and heavy heart； though many times my blood chilled with what were perhaps needless and unwise fears； though I broke through all my habits without thinking about them； which is almost as hard in certain circumstances as for one of our young fellows to leave his sweetheart and go into a Peninsular campaign； though I did not always know when I was hungry nor discover that I was thirsting； though I had a worrying ache and inward tremor underlying all the outward play of the senses and the mind； yet it is the simple truth that I did look out of the car… windows with an eye for all that passed； that I did take cognizance of strange sights and singular people； that I did act much as persons act from the ordinary promptings of curiosity； and from time to time even laugh very much as others do who are attacked with a convulsive sense of the ridiculous； the epilepsy of the diaphragm。
By a mutual compact； we talked little in the cars。 A communicative friend is the greatest nuisance to have at one's side during a railroad journey； especially if his conversation is stimulating and in itself agreeable。 〃A fast train and a 'slow' neighbor；〃 is my motto。 Many times； when I have got upon the cars； expecting to be magnetized into an hour or two of blissful reverie； my thoughts shaken up by the vibrations into all sorts of new and pleasing patterns； arranging themselves in curves and nodal points； like the grains of sand in Chladni's famous experiment；fresh ideas coming up to the surface； as the kernels do when a measure of corn is jolted in a farmer's wagon；all this without volition； the mechanical impulse alone keeping the thoughts in motion； as the mere act of carrying certain watches in the pocket keeps them wound up；many times； I say； just as my brain was beginning to creep and hum with this delicious locomotive intoxication； some dear detestable friend； cordial； intelligent； social； radiant； has come up and sat down by me and opened a conversation which has broken my day…dream； unharnessed the flying horses that were whirling along my fancies and hitched on the old weary omnibus…team of every…day associations； fatigued my hearing and attention； exhausted my voice； and milked the breasts of my thought dry during the hour when they should have been filling themselves full of fresh juices。 My friends spared me this trial。
So； then； I sat by the window and enjoyed the slight tipsiness produced by short； limited； rapid oscillations； which I take to be the exhilarating stage of that condition which reaches hopeless inebriety in what we know as sea…sickness。 Where the horizon opened widely； it pleased me to watch the curious effect of the rapid movement of near objects contrasted with the slow motion of distant ones。 Looking from a right…hand window； for instance； the fences close by glide swiftly backward； or to the right； while the distant hills not only do not appear to move backward； but look by contrast with the fences near at hand as if they were moving forward； or to the left； and thus the whole landscape becomes a mighty wheel revolving about an imaginary axis somewhere in the middle…distance。
My companions proposed to stay at one of the best…known and longest… established of the New…York caravansaries； and I accompanied them。 We were particularly well lodged； and not uncivilly treated。 The traveller who supposes that he is to repeat the melancholy experience of Shenstone； and have to sigh over the reflection that he has found 〃his warmest welcome at an inn；〃 has something to learn at the offices of the great city hotels。 The unheralded guest who is honored by mere indifference may think himself blessed with singular good…fortune。 If the despot of the Patent…Annunciator is only mildly contemptuous in his manner； let the victim look upon it as a personal favor。 The coldest welcome that a threadbare curate ever got at the door of a bishop's palace； the most icy reception that a country cousin ever received at the city mansion of a mushroom millionaire； is agreeably tepid； compared to that which the Rhadamanthus who dooms you to the more or less elevated circle of his inverted Inferno vouchsafes； as you step up to enter your name on his dog's…eared register。 I have less hesitation in unburdening myself of this uncomfortable statement； as on this particular trip I met with more than one exception to the rule。 Officials become brutalized； I suppose； as a matter of course。 One cannot expect an office clerk to embrace tenderly every stranger who comes in with a carpet…bag； or a telegraph operator to burst into tears over every unpleasant message he receives for transmission。 Still； humanity is not always totally extinguished in these persons。 I discovered a youth in a telegraph office of the Continental Hotel； in Philadelphia； who was as pleasant in conversation； and as graciously responsive to inoffensive questions； as if I had been his childless opulent uncle and my will not made。
On the road again the next morning； over the ferry； into the cars with sliding panels and fixed windows； so that in summer the whole side of the car maybe made transparent。 New Jersey is； to the apprehension of a traveller； a double…headed suburb rather than a State。 Its dull red dust looks like the dried and powdered mud of a battle…field。 Peach…trees are common； and champagne…orchards。 Canal…boats； drawn by mules； swim by； feeling their way along like blind men led by dogs。 I had a mighty passion come over me to be the captain of one；to glide back and forward upon a sea never roughened by storms；to float where I could not sink；to navigate where there is no shipwreck；to lie languidly on the deck and govern the huge craft by a word or the movement of a finger： there was something of railroad intoxication in the fancy： but who has not often envied a cobbler in his stall？
The boys cry the 〃N'…York Heddle；〃 instead of 〃Herald 〃； I remember that years ago in Philadelphia； we must be getting near the farther end of the dumb…bell suburb。 A bridge has been swept away by a rise of the waters； so we must approach Philadelphia by the river。 Her physiognomy is not distinguished； nez camus； as a Frenchman would say； no illustrious steeple； no imposing tower； the water…edge of the town looking bedraggled； like the flounce of a vulgar rich woman's dress that trails on the sidewalk。 The New Ironsides lies at one of the wharves； elephantine in bulk and color； her sides narrowing as they rise； like the walls of a hock…glass。
I went straight to the house in Walnut Street where the Captain would be heard of； if anywhere in this region。 His lieutenant…colonel was there； gravely wounded； his college…friend and comrade in arms； a son of the house； was there； injured in a similar way； another soldier； brother of the last； was there； prostrate with fever。 A fourth bed was waiting ready for the Captain； but not one word had been heard of him； though inquiries had been made in the towns from and through which the father had brought his two sons and the lieutenant…colonel。 And so my search is； like a 〃Ledger〃 story； to be continued。
I rejoined my companions in time to take the noon…train for Baltimore。 Our company was gaining in number as it moved onwards。 We had found upon the train from New York a lovely； lonely lady； the wife of one of our most spirited Massachusetts officers； the brave Colonel of the __th Regiment； going to seek her wounded husband at Middletown； a place lying directly in our track。 She was the light of our party while we were together on our pilgrimage； a fair； gracious woman； gentle； but courageous；
…〃ful plesant and amiable of port； …estatelich of manere； And to ben holden digne of reverence。〃
On the road from Philadelphia； I found in the same car with our party Dr。 William Hunt of Philadelphia； who had most kindly and faithfully attended the Captain； then the Lieutenant； after a wound received at Ball's Bluff； which came very near being mortal。 He was going upon an errand of mercy to the wounded； and found he had in his memorandum…book the name of our lady's husband； the Colonel； who had been commended to his particular attention。
N