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！
It's a great thing to wear shabby clothes and an old hat。 Some of the best things I have ever known； like these experiences of the streets； have resulted from coming up to life from underneath； of being taken for less than I am rather than for more than I am。
I did not always believe in this doctrine。 For many yearsthe years before I was rightly born into this alluring worldI tried quite the opposite course。 I was constantly attempting to come down to life from above。 Instead of being content to carry through life a sufficiently wonderful being named David Grayson I tried desperately to set up and support a sort of dummy creature which； so clad； so housed； so fed； should appear to be what I thought David Grayson ought to appear in the eyes of the world。 Oh； I spent quite a lifetime trying to satisfy other people！
Once I remember staying at home； in bed； reading 〃Huckleberry Finn；〃 while I sent my trousers out to be mended。
Well； that dummy Grayson perished in a cornfield。 His empty coat served well for a scarecrow。 A wisp of straw stuck out through a hole in his finest hat。
And Ithe man withinI escaped； and have been out freely upon the great adventure of life。
If a shabby coat （and I speak here also symbolically； not forgetful of spiritual significances） lets you into the adventurous world of those who are poor it does not on the other hand rob you of any true friendship among those who are rich or mighty。 I say true friendship； for unless a man who is rich and mighty is able to see through my shabby coat （as I see through his fine one）； I shall gain nothing by knowing him。
I've permitted myself all this digressionleft myself walking alone there in the streets of Kilburn while I philosophized upon the ways and means of lifenot without design； for I could have had no such experiences as I did have in Kilburn if I had worn a better coat or carried upon me the evidences of security in life。
I think I have already remarked upon the extraordinary enlivenment of wits which comes to the man who has been without a meal or so and does not know when or where he is again to break his fast。 Try it； friend and see！ It was already getting along in the evening； and I knew or supposed I knew no one in Kilburn save only Bill Hahn； Socialist who was little better off than I was。
In this emergency my mind began to work swiftly。 A score of fascinating plans for getting my supper and a bed to sleep in flashed through my mind。
〃Why；〃 said I； 〃when I come to think of it； I'm comparatively rich。 I'll warrant there are plenty of places in Kilburn； and good ones； too； where I could barter a chapter of Montaigne and a little good conversation for a first…rate supper； and I've no doubt that I could whistle up a bed almost anywhere！〃
I thought of a little motto I often repeat to myself：
TO KNOW LIFE； BEGIN ANYWHERE！
There were several people on the streets of Kilburn that night who don't know yet how very near they were to being boarded by a somewhat shabby looking farmer who would have offered them； let us say； a notable musical production called 〃Old Dan Tucker；〃 exquisitely performed on a tin whistle； in exchange for a good honest supper。
There was one man in particulara fine； pompous citizen who came down the street swinging his cane and looking as though the universe was a sort of Christmas turkey； lying all brown and sizzling before him ready to be carveda fine pompous citizen who never realized how nearly Fate with a battered volume of Montaigne in one hand and a tin whistle in the othercame to pouncing upon him that evening！ And I am firmly convinced that if I had attacked him with the Great Particular Word he would have carved me off a juicy slice of the white breast meat。
〃I'm getting hungry；〃 I said； 〃I must find Bill Hahn！〃
I had turned down a side street； and seeing there in front of a building a number of lounging men with two or three cabs or carriages standing nearby in the street I walked up to them。 It was a livery barn。
Now I like all sorts of out…of…door people： I seem to be related to them through horses and cattle and cold winds and sunshine。 I like them and understand them； and they seem to like me and understand me。 So I walked up to the group of jolly drivers and stablemen intending to ask my directions。 The talking died out and they all turned to look at me。 I suppose I was not altogether a familiar type there in the city streets。 My bag； especially； seemed to set me apart as a curious person。
〃Friends；〃 I said； 〃I am a farmer〃
They all broke out laughing； they seemed to know it already！ I was just a little taken aback； but I laughed； too； knowing that there was a way of getting at them if only I could find it。
〃It may surprise you；〃 I said； but this is the first time in some dozen years that I've been in a big city like this。〃
〃You hadn't 'ave told us； partner！〃 said one of them； evidently the wit of the group； in a rich Irish brogue。
〃Well；〃 I responded； laughing with the best of them； 〃you've been living right here all the time； and don't realize how amusing and curious the city looks to me。 Why； I feel as though I had been away sleeping for twenty years； like Rip Van Winkle。 When I left the city there was scarcely an automobile to be seen anywhereand now look at them snorting through the streets。 I counted twenty…two passing that corner up there in five minutes by the clock。〃
This was a fortunate remark； for I found instantly that the invasion of the automobile was a matter of tremendous import to such Knights of Bucephalus as these。
At first the wit interrupted me with amusing remarks； as wits will； but I soon had him as quiet as the others。 For I have found the things that chiefly interest people are the things they already know aboutprovided you show them that these common things are still mysterious； still miraculous； as indeed they are。
After a time some one pushed me a stable stool and I sat down among them； and we had quite a conversation； which finally developed into an amusing comparison （I wish I had room to repeat it here） between the city and the country。 I told them something about my farm； how much I enjoyed it； and what a wonderful free life one had in the country。 In this I was really taking an unfair advantage of them； for I was trading on the fact that every man； down deep in his heart； has more or less of an instinct to get back to the soilat least all outdoor men have。 And when I described the simplest things about my barn； and the cattle and pigs； and the beesand the good things we have to eatI had every one of them leaning forward and hanging on my words。
Harriet sometimes laughs at me for the way I celebrate farm life。 She says all my apples are the size of Hubbard squashes； my eggs all double…yolked； and my cornfields tropical jungles。 Practical Harriet！ My apples may not ALL be the size of Hubbard squashes； but they are good； sizable apples； and as for flavourall the spices of Arcady！ And I believe； I KNOW； from my own experience that these fields and hills are capable of healing men's souls。 And when I see people wandering around a lonesome city like Kilburn； with never a soft bit of soil to put their heels into； nor a green thing to cultivate； nor any corn or apples or honey to harvest； I feelwell； that they are wasting their time。
（It's a fact； Harriet！）
Indeed I had the most curious experience with my friend the withis name I soon learned was Healya jolly； round； red…nosed； outdoor chap with fists that looked like small…sized hams； and a rich； warm Irish voice。 At first he was inclined to use me as the ready butt of his lively mind； but presently he became so much interested in what I was saying that he sat squarely in front of me with both his jolly eyes and his smiling mouth wide open。
〃If ever you pass my way；〃 I said to him； 〃just drop in and I'll give you a dinner of baked beans〃and I smacked〃and home made bread〃 and I smacked again 〃and pumpkin pie〃and I smacked a third time〃that will make your mouth water。〃
All this smacking and the description of baked beans and pumpkin pie had an odd counter effect upon ME； for I suddenly recalled my own tragic state。 So I jumped up quickly and asked directions for getting down to the mill neighbourhood； where I hoped to find Bill Hahn。 My friend Healy instantly volunteered the information。
〃And now；〃 I said； 〃I want to ask a small favour of you。 I'm looking for a friend； and I'd like to leave my bag here for the night。〃
〃Sure； sure；〃 said the Irishman heartily。 〃Put it there in the officeon top o' the desk。 It'll be all right。〃
So I put it in the office and was about to say good…bye； when my friend said to me：
〃Come in； partner； and have a drink before you go〃and he pointed to a nearby saloon。
〃Thank you；〃 I answered heartily； for I knew it was as fine a bit of hospitality as he could offer me； 〃thank you； but I must find my friend before it gets too late。〃
〃Aw； come on now；〃 he cried； taking my arm。 〃Sure you'll be better off for a bit o' warmth inside。〃
I had hard work to get away from them； and I am as sure as can be that they would have found supper and a bed for me if they had known I needed either。
〃Come agin；〃 Healy shouted after me； 〃we're glad