登陆注册
15328300000054

第54章 THE HOTEL(2)

After several such visits to the window, I found myself getting pretty well acquainted with that little portion of the backside of the universe which it presented to my view.Over against the hotel and its adjacent houses, at the distance of forty or fifty yards, was the rear of a range of buildings which appeared to be spacious, modern, and calculated for fashionable residences.The interval between was apportioned into grass-plots, and here and there an apology for a garden, pertaining severally to these dwellings.There were apple-trees, and pear and peach trees, too, the fruit on which looked singularly large, luxuriant, and abundant, as well it might, in a situation so warm and sheltered, and where the soil had doubtless been enriched to a more than natural fertility.In two or three places grapevines clambered upon trellises, and bore clusters already purple, and promising the richness of Malta or Madeira in their ripened juice.The blighting winds of our rigid climate could not molest these trees and vines; the sunshine, though descending late into this area, and too early intercepted by the height of the surrounding houses, yet lay tropically there, even when less than temperate in every other region.Dreary as was the day, the scene was illuminated by not a few sparrows and other birds, which spread their wings, and flitted and fluttered, and alighted now here, now there, and busily scratched their food out of the wormy earth.Most of these winged people seemed to have their domicile in a robust and healthy buttonwood-tree.It aspired upward, high above the roofs of the houses, and spread a dense head of foliage half across the area.

There was a cat--as there invariably is in such places--who evidently thought herself entitled to the privileges of forest life in this close heart of city conventionalisms.I watched her creeping along the low, flat roofs of the offices, descending a flight of wooden steps, gliding among the grass, and besieging the buttonwood-tree, with murderous purpose against its feathered citizens.But, after all, they were birds of city breeding, and doubtless knew how to guard themselves against the peculiar perils of their position.

Bewitching to my fancy are all those nooks and crannies where Nature, like a stray partridge, hides her head among the long-established haunts of men! It is likewise to be remarked, as a general rule, that there is far more of the picturesque, more truth to native and characteristic tendencies, and vastly greater suggestiveness in the back view of a residence, whether in town or country, than in its front.The latter is always artificial; it is meant for the world's eye, and is therefore a veil and a concealment.Realities keep in the rear, and put forward an advance guard of show and humbug.The posterior aspect of any old farmhouse, behind which a railroad has unexpectedly been opened, is so different from that looking upon the immemorial highway, that the spectator gets new ideas of rural life and individuality in the puff or two of steam-breath which shoots him past the premises.In a city, the distinction between what is offered to the public and what is kept for the family is certainly not less striking.

But, to return to my window at the back of the hotel.Together with a due contemplation of the fruit-trees, the grapevines, the buttonwood-tree, the cat, the birds, and many other particulars, I failed not to study the row of fashionable dwellings to which all these appertained.Here, it must be confessed, there was a general sameness.From the upper story to the first floor, they were so much alike, that I could only conceive of the inhabitants as cut out on one identical pattern, like little wooden toy-people of German manufacture.One long, united roof, with its thousands of slates glittering in the rain, extended over the whole.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 那年的蓝色星空

    那年的蓝色星空

    一段可歌可泣的爱情,使我走向人生的巅峰。一段不堪回首的往事,让我深入谷底。一段感人肺腑的故事,使我痛哭流涕。你变成鬼我也爱。时间模糊了记忆,过往却依旧清晰。回想起匆匆那年的他,你是红着脸还是红着眼?
  • 柒岳王途

    柒岳王途

    万世轮回,谁也不会想到穿越这种事会发生。他是一个刚刚大学毕业,热爱古文的考古学家助理。总是几本古诗词拿在手边,然而这次一边走一边看书出了事,一个不小心掉到了阴井盖里,竟莫名的穿越了。偏偏还是穿越到了恰逢改朝换代的古代。主人公方凌从此开始了他新的生活。
  • 九龙天子

    九龙天子

    亲人离去,一场自杀唤醒了他心中的那个他。
  • 蕊传

    蕊传

    乱世,百姓活得,平世中,百姓却活不得了。江湖混迹,原非初想,而今只好望着小儿女,空嗟叹。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 归墟之主

    归墟之主

    道生一,一生二,三生万物,从而演化寰宇!寰宇之中,四方宇宙环绕归墟。归墟之界,上古战场也!今言辰一人携一兽踏入归墟,欲解归墟之秘……上古英灵,破碎大陆,时间逆流……真相悄然揭发,神族竟欲归来。于是,新的时代来临,一颗彗星已然绽放万丈光芒!
  • 孟子全书

    孟子全书

    孟子被誉为亚圣是有一定道理的,他将孔子的思想发扬光大,构建了完整的体系,并有许多重要的思想创见。其著作《孟子》是儒家最重要的经典之一,也是现代人不可缺少的精神食粮。许多激励人心、流传千古的至理名言亦源于《孟子》。古代学问大家韩愈有言:“求观圣人之道,必自孟子始。”当代诺贝尔奖获得者杨振宁也说:“三十岁后,我做人处世全靠孟子。”可见,不学习《孟子》将会蒙受无以弥补的损失。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 神裔世界

    神裔世界

    一幅千年前的画卷、五个英雄辈出的种族、一场精彩纷呈的史诗。这个故事由三个人共同写作,力求打造一个细致的神裔世界。
  • 荏苒青春有谁伴

    荏苒青春有谁伴

    在那个单纯轻松,可以躺在草地上晒太阳,听风随意泡妞的年华里,是否有我们一生难以忘却的回忆