°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Nothing£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡and¡¡crept¡¡back¡¡into¡¡bed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strain¡¡and¡¡excitement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡147¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡148¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡
two¡¡days¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡explain¡¡itI¡¡can¡¡only¡¡tell¡¡what¡¡happened¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡again¡¡I¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡start¡¡straight¡¡for¡¡home¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡morning£º¡¡and¡¡having¡¡decided£»¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡over£»¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡comfortable¡¡
breath¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡stir¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡think£»¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡sun¡¡
shone¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡148¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡149¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XII¡£¡¡THE¡¡RETURN¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Everything¡¡divine¡¡runs¡¡with¡¡light¡¡feet¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Surely¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡delight¡¡of¡¡going¡¡away¡¡from¡¡home¡¡is¡¡the¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡
back¡¡again¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡spring¡¡morning¡¡when¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡from¡¡
the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Kilburn¡¡into¡¡the¡¡open¡¡country£»¡¡my¡¡bag¡¡on¡¡my¡¡back£»¡¡a¡¡song¡¡in¡¡
my¡¡¡¡¡¡throat£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡gray¡¡¡¡¡¡road¡¡¡¡¡¡stretching¡¡¡¡¡¡straight¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡remember¡¡
how¡¡¡¡eagerly£»¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fields¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡meadows¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡rested¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡distant¡¡¡¡¡¡hills¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡roomy¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡was£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
clear¡¡blue¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sky¡£¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡space¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡breathe£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡distances¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
which¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡might¡¡spread¡¡its¡¡wings¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡old¡¡prophet¡¡says£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡
place¡¡where¡¡a¡¡man¡¡might¡¡be¡¡placed¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡strangely¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡every¡¡little¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡under¡¡
the¡¡bridges£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡I¡¡passed£»¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡every¡¡bird¡¡and¡¡squirrel¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡branches£»¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡grazing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fields£»¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jolly¡¡
boys¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡school¡¡with¡¡their¡¡dinner¡¡pails£»¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bluff£»¡¡
red¡faced¡¡teamster¡¡I¡¡met£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡snug¡¡farmer¡¡who¡¡waved¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡at¡¡
me¡¡and¡¡wished¡¡me¡¡a¡¡friendly¡¡good¡¡morning¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡liked¡¡
every¡¡one¡¡I¡¡saw£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡every¡¡one¡¡liked¡¡me¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡onward¡¡that¡¡morning£»¡¡nor¡¡ever¡¡have¡¡had¡¡such¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡
relief¡¡and¡¡escape£»¡¡nor¡¡ever¡¡such¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡gayety¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Here¡¡is¡¡where¡¡I¡¡belong£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡my¡¡own¡¡country¡£¡¡Those¡¡hills¡¡
are¡¡mine£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fields£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡the¡¡road¡¡here¡¡
belongs¡¡to¡¡me¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡it¡¡does¡¡to¡¡any¡¡one¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Coming¡¡presently¡¡to¡¡a¡¡small¡¡house¡¡near¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡
woman¡¡working¡¡with¡¡a¡¡trowel¡¡in¡¡her¡¡sunny¡¡garden¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡good¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡
turn¡¡over¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡brown¡¡soil£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡good¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡plump¡¡green¡¡rows¡¡of¡¡
lettuce¡¡and¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡green¡¡rows¡¡of¡¡onions£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡nasturtiums¡¡and¡¡sweet¡¡
peas£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡goodafter¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡days¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡desert¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cityto¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
whiff¡¡of¡¡blossoming¡¡things¡£¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡looking¡¡quietly¡¡over¡¡the¡¡
fence¡¡before¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡saw¡¡me¡£¡¡When¡¡at¡¡last¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up£»¡¡I¡¡
said£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡149¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡150¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Good¡¡morning¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡paused£»¡¡trowel¡¡in¡¡hand¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Good¡¡morning£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡look¡¡happy¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡conscious¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡smiling¡¡outwardly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡going¡¡home¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡you¡¡OUGHT¡¡to¡¡be¡¡happy£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡she¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡I'm¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡THAT£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡I¡¡pointed¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡that¡¡old¡¡monster¡¡lying¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡valley¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡and¡¡even¡¡a¡¡little¡¡alarmed¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡began¡¡
intently¡¡to¡¡admire¡¡her¡¡young¡¡cabbages¡¡and¡¡comment¡¡on¡¡the¡¡perfection¡¡of¡¡
her¡¡geraniums¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡caught¡¡her¡¡eying¡¡me¡¡from¡¡time¡¡to¡¡time¡¡as¡¡I¡¡leaned¡¡
there¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fence£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡come¡¡back¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later¡¡to¡¡
my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remark¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡monster¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Having¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shocked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡friend¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨not¡¡¡¡too¡¡
unpleasantly£©£»¡¡abide¡¡your¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡will¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡shocked¡¡again¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡
was¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡her¡¡ask£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡travelled¡¡far£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡should¡¡say¡¡so£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡on¡¡a¡¡very¡¡long¡¡journey¡£¡¡I've¡¡seen¡¡
many¡¡strange¡¡sights¡¡and¡¡met¡¡many¡¡wonderful¡¡people¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡California£»¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡daughter¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
California¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡never¡¡in¡¡California¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You've¡¡been¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡from¡¡home£»¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡very¡¡long¡¡time¡¡from¡¡home¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡long£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Three¡¡weeks¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Three¡¡weeks£¡¡¡And¡¡how¡¡far¡¡did¡¡you¡¡say¡¡you¡¡had¡¡travelled£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨At¡¡the¡¡farthest¡¡point£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡say¡¡sixty¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡home¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡travelling¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡sixty¡¡¡¡¡¡miles¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡
gone¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡so¡¡many¡¡strange¡¡places¡¡and¡¡people£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨haven't¡¡you¡¡seen¡¡anything¡¡strange¡¡around¡¡here£¿'¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡no¡¨¡¡glancing¡¡quickly¡¡around¡¡her¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I'm¡¡strange£»¡¡am¡¡I¡¡not£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡150¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡151¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡you're¡¡strange¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡amazement¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡scarcely¡¡keep¡¡
from¡¡laughing¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡assure¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡if¡¡you¡¡travel¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find¡¡
no¡¡one¡¡stranger¡¡than¡¡I¡¡amor¡¡you¡¡arenor¡¡anything¡¡more¡¡wonderful¡¡than¡¡
all¡¡this¡¨¡¡and¡¡I¡¡waved¡¡my¡¡hand¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡¡¡alarmed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡glancing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡quickly¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
house£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡laugh¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Madam£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨good¡¡morning£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡I¡¡left¡¡her¡¡standing¡¡there¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡looking¡¡after¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡went¡¡
on¡¡down¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨she'll¡¡have¡¡something¡¡new¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡about¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡add¡¡a¡¡
month¡¡to¡¡her¡¡life¡£¡¡Was¡¡there¡¡ever¡¡such¡¡an¡¡amusing¡¡world£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡About¡¡noon¡¡that¡¡day¡¡I¡¡had¡¡an¡¡adventure¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡laugh¡¡over¡¡every¡¡
time¡¡I¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡unusual£»¡¡too£»¡¡as¡¡being¡¡almost¡¡the¡¡only¡¡incident¡¡of¡¡
my¡¡journey¡¡which¡¡was¡¡of¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡thrilling¡¡or¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡£¡¡
Why£»¡¡this¡¡might¡¡have¡¡made¡¡an¡¡item¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡¡paper£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡on¡¡my¡¡trip¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡man¡¡that¡¡I¡¡really¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡calling¡¡a¡¡
trampa¡¡¡¡¡¡tramp¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡generally¡¡¡¡accepted¡¡¡¡¡¡sense¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡term¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡
home¡¡I¡¡imagined¡¡I¡¡should¡¡meet¡¡many¡¡tramps£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡learn¡¡from¡¡them¡¡
odd¡¡and¡¡curious¡¡things¡¡about¡¡life£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡I¡¡actually¡¡came¡¡into¡¡contact¡¡
with¡¡the¡¡shabby¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡puzzled¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tramp£»¡¡
anyway£¿¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡strangely¡¡¡¡¡¡different£»¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡distinctive¡¡
history£»¡¡and¡¡each¡¡accounting¡¡for¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡logically¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡for¡¡myself¡£¡¡
And¡¡save¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡in¡¡none¡¡of¡¡them¡¡I¡¡met¡¡were¡¡the¡¡outward¡¡graces¡¡
and¡¡virtues¡¡too¡¡prominently¡¡displayed£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡come¡¡back¡¡quite¡¡uncertain¡¡as¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡scientist¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡type¡characteristics¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
following¡¡¡¡¡¡Emerson¡¡in¡¡his¡¡delightfully¡¡¡¡optimistic¡¡definition¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡weed¡£¡¡A¡¡
weed£»¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡plant¡¡whose¡¡virtues¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡discovered¡£¡¡A¡¡tramp£»¡¡
then£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡virtues¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡discovered¡£¡¡Or£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡follow¡¡
my¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡£¨who¡¡dearly¡¡loves¡¡all¡¡growing¡¡things£©¡¡in¡¡his¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡151¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡152¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡
even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡kindlier¡¡¡¡¡¡definition¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡weed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡merely¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡plant¡¡
misplaced¡£¡¡The¡¡virility¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡definition¡¡has¡¡often¡¡¡¡¡¡impressed¡¡me¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
have¡¡¡¡¡¡tried¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡grub¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡excellent¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡useful¡¡¡¡¡¡horseradish¡¡¡¡¡¡plants¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
asparagus¡¡bed£¡¡¡Let¡¡it¡¡be¡¡thena¡¡tramp¡¡is¡¡a¡¡misplaced¡¡man£»¡¡whose¡¡virtues¡¡
have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡discovered¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Whether¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡adequate¡¡¡¡¡¡definition¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡not£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡fitted¡¡¡¡¡¡admirably¡¡¡¡the¡¡
man¡¡I¡¡overtook¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡certainly¡¡misplaced£»¡¡and¡¡
during¡¡my¡¡brief¡¡but¡¡exciting¡¡experience¡¡with¡¡him¡¡I¡¡discovered¡¡no¡¡virtues¡¡
whatever¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡different¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡traditional¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tramp¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡
walked¡¡with¡¡far¡¡too¡¡lively¡¡a¡¡step£»¡¡too¡¡jauntily£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡with¡¡him¡¡a¡¡small£»¡¡
shaggy£»¡¡nondescript¡¡dog£»¡¡a¡¡dog¡¡as¡¡shabby¡¡as¡¡he£»¡¡trotting¡¡close¡¡at¡¡his¡¡heels¡£¡¡
He¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡light¡¡stick£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡occasionally¡¡twirled¡¡over¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡As¡¡
I¡¡¡¡¡¡drew¡¡¡¡¡¡nearer¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡hear¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡whistling¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡even£»¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡
breaking¡¡into¡¡a¡¡lively¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡song¡£¡¡What¡¡a¡¡devil¡may¡care¡¡chap¡¡he¡¡seemed£»¡¡
anyway£¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡interested¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡at¡¡length¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡alongside¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡surprised¡£¡¡
He¡¡turned£»¡¡¡¡¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡bold¡¡¡¡¡¡black¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡broke¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡
into¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡song¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡singing¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡words¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡songat¡¡
least£»¡¡all¡¡I¡¡can¡¡remember¡¡of¡¡them£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡I'm¡¡so¡¡fine¡¡and¡¡gay£»¡¡I'm¡¡so¡¡fine¡¡and¡¡gay£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡dog¡¡along£»¡¡
To¡¡kape¡¡the¡¡ga¡irls¡¡away¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡droll¡¡zest¡¡he¡¡put¡¡into¡¡it£¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡red¡¡nose£»¡¡a¡¡globular¡¡red¡¡nose