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！
show their affection for the dog by pulling his tail。
They are a deal of trouble； and they make a place untidy and they cost
a lot of money to keep； but still you would not have the house without
them。 It would not be home without their noisy tongues and their
mischief…making hands。 Would not the rooms seem silent without their
pattering feet； and might not you stray apart if no prattling voices called
69
… Page 70…
THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
you together？
It should be so； and yet I have sometimes thought the tiny hand
seemed as a wedge； dividing。 It is a bearish task to quarrel with that purest
of all human affectionsthat perfecting touch to a woman's lifea
mother's love。 It is a holy love； that we coarser…fibered men can hardly
understand； and I would not be deemed to lack reverence for it when I say
that surely it need not swallow up all other affection。 The baby need not
take your whole heart； like the rich man who walled up the desert well。 Is
there not another thirsty traveler standing by？
In your desire to be a good mother； do not forget to be a good wife。 No
need for all the thought and care to be only for one。 Do not； whenever
poor Edwin wants you to come out； answer indignantly； 〃What； and leave
baby！〃 Do not spend all your evenings upstairs； and do not confine your
conversation exclusively to whooping…cough and measles。 My dear little
woman； the child is not going to die every time it sneezes； the house is not
bound to get burned down and the nurse run away with a soldier every
time you go outside the front door； nor the cat sure to come and sit on the
precious child's chest the moment you leave the bedside。 You worry
yourself a good deal too much about that solitary chick； and you worry
everybody else too。 Try and think of your other duties； and your pretty
face will not be always puckered into wrinkles； and there will be
cheerfulness in the parlor as well as in the nursery。 Think of your big baby
a little。 Dance him about a bit； call him pretty names； laugh at him now
and then。 It is only the first baby that takes up the whole of a woman's
time。 Five or six do not require nearly so much attention as one。 But
before then the mischief has been done。 A house where there seems no
room for him and a wife too busy to think of him have lost their hold on
that so unreasonable husband of yours； and he has learned to look
elsewhere for comfort and companionship。
But there； there； there！ I shall get myself the character of a baby…hater
if I talk any more in this strain。 And Heaven knows I am not one。 Who
could be； to look into the little innocent faces clustered in timid
helplessness round those great gates that open down into the world？
The worldthe small round world！ what a vast mysterious place it
70
… Page 71…
THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
must seem to baby eyes！ What a trackless continent the back garden
appears！ What marvelous explorations they make in the cellar under the
stairs！ With what awe they gaze down the long street； wondering； like us
bigger babies when we gaze up at the stars； where it all ends！
And down that longest street of allthat long； dim street of life that
stretches out before themwhat grave； old…fashioned looks they seem to
cast！ What pitiful； frightened looks sometimes！ I saw a little mite sitting
on a doorstep in a Soho slum one night； and I shall never forget the look
that the gas…lamp showed me on its wizen facea look of dull despair； as if
from the squalid court the vista of its own squalid life had risen； ghostlike；
and struck its heart dead with horror。
Poor little feet； just commencing the stony journey！ We old travelers；
far down the road； can only pause to wave a hand to you。 You come out of
the dark mist； and we； looking back； see you； so tiny in the distance；
standing on the brow of the hill； your arms stretched out toward us。 God
speed you！ We would stay and take your little hands in ours； but the
murmur of the great sea is in our ears and we may not linger。 We must
hasten down； for the shadowy ships are waiting to spread their sable sails。
71
… Page 72…
THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
ON EATING AND DRINKING。
I always was fond of eating and drinking； even as a childespecially
eating； in those early days。 I had an appetite then； also a digestion。 I
remember a dull…eyed； livid…complexioned gentleman coming to dine at
our house once。 He watched me eating for about five minutes； quite
fascinated seemingly； and then he turned to my father with
〃Does your boy ever suffer from dyspepsia？〃
〃I never heard him complain of anything of that kind；〃 replied my
father。 〃Do you ever suffer from dyspepsia； Colly wobbles？〃 （They called
me Colly wobbles； but it was not my real name。）
〃No； pa；〃 I answered。 After which I added：
〃What is dyspepsia； pa？〃
My livid…complexioned friend regarded me with a look of mingled
amazement and envy。 Then in a tone of infinite pity he slowly said：
〃You will knowsome day。〃
My poor； dear mother used to say she liked to see me eat； and it has
always been a pleasant reflection to me since that I must have given her
much gratification in that direction。 A growing； healthy lad； taking plenty
of exercise and careful to restrain himself from indulging in too much
study； can generally satisfy the most exacting expectations as regards his
feeding powers。
It is amusing to see boys eat when you have not got to pay for it。 Their
idea of a square meal is a pound and a half of roast beef with five or six
good…sized potatoes （soapy ones preferred as being more substantial）；
plenty of greens； and four thick slices of Yorkshire pudding； followed by a
couple of currant dumplings； a few green apples； a pen'orth of nuts； half a
dozen jumbles； and a bottle of ginger…beer。 After that they play at horses。
How they must despise us men； who require to sit quiet for a couple of
hours after dining off a spoonful of clear soup and the wing of a chicken！
But the boys have not all the advantages on their side。 A boy never
enjoys the luxury of being satisfied。 A boy never feels full。 He can never
stretch out his legs； put his hands behind his head； and； closing his eyes；
72
… Page 73…
THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
sink into the ethereal blissfulness that encompasses the well…dined man。 A
dinner makes no difference whatever to a boy。 To a man it is as a good
fairy's potion； and after it the world appears a brighter and a better place。
A man who has dined satisfactorily experiences a yearning love toward all
his fellow…creatures。 He strokes the cat quite gently and calls it 〃poor
pussy；〃 in tones full of the tenderest emotion。 He sympathizes with the
members of the German band outside and wonders if they are cold； and
for the moment he does not even hate his wife's relations。
A good dinner brings out all the softer side of a man。 Under its genial
influence the gloomy and morose become jovial and chatty。 Sour； starchy
individuals； who all the rest of the day go about looking as if they lived on
vinegar and Epsom salts； break out into wreathed smiles after dinner； and
exhibit a tendency to pat small children on the head and to talk to them
vaguelyabout sixpences。 Serious men thaw and become mildly cheerful；
and snobbish young men of the heavy…mustache type forget to make
themselves objectionable。
I always feel sentimental myself after dinner。 It is the only time when I
can properly appreciate love…stories。 Then； when the hero clasps 〃her〃 to
his heart in one last wild embrace and stifles a sob； I feel as sad as though
I had dealt at whist and turned up onl