登陆注册
15679600000058

第58章 THE SONG AND THE SERGEANT(12)

And I must preserve my perspective, for I am studyinc, the Bowery.I have lived in it nearly thirty years, and I am just beginning to understand its heartbeats.It is like a great river fed by a hundred alien streams.Each influx brings strange seeds on its flood, strange silt and weeds, and now and then a flower of rare promise.To construe this river requires a man who can build dykes against the overflow, who is a naturalist, a geologist, a humanitarian, a diver and a strong swimmer.I love my Bowery.It was my cradle and is my inspiration.

I have published one book.The critics have been kind.

I put my heart in it.I am writing another, into which I hope to put both heart and brain.Consider me your guide, gentlemen.Is there arything I can take you to see, any place to which I can conduct you?"I was afraid to look at Rivington except with one eye.

"Thanks," said Rivington."We were looking up...that is...my friend...confound it; it's against all precedent, you know...awfully obliged...just the same.""In case," said our friend, "you would like to meet some of our Bowery young men I would be pleased to have you visit the quarters of our East Side Kappa Delta Phi Society, only two blocks east of here.""Awfully sorry," said Rivington, "but my friend's got me on the jump to-nioht.He's a terror when he's out after local colour.Now, there's nothing I would like better than to drop in at the Kappa Delta Phi, but --some other time!"

We said our farewells and boarded a home-bound car.

We had a rabbit on upper Broadway, and then I parted with Rivington on a street corner.

"Well, anyhow," said he, braced and recovered, "it couldn't have happened anywhere but in little old New York."Which to say the least, was typical of Rivington.

GEORGIA'S RULING

If you should chance to visit the General Land Office, step into the draughtsmen's room and ask to be shown the map of Salado County.A leisurely German -- pos-sibly old Kampfer himself -- will bring it to you.It will be four feet square, on heavy drawing-cloth.The lettering and the figures will be beautifully clear and distinct.

The title will be in splendid, undecipherable German text, ornamented with classic Teutonic designs -- very likely Ceres or Pomona leaning against the initial letters with cornucopias venting grapes and wieners.You must tell him that this is not the map you wish to see;that he will kindly bring you its official predecessor.

He will then say, "Ach, so!" and bring out a map half the size of the first, dim, old, tattered, and faded.

By looking carefully near its northwest corner you will presently come upon the worn contours of Chiquito River, and, maybe, if your eyes are good, discern the silent witness to this story.

The Commissioner of the Land Office was of the old style; his antique courtesy was too formal for his day.

He dressed in fine black, and there was a suggestion of Roman drapery in his long coat-skirts.His collars were "undetached" (blame haberdashery for the word); his tie was a narrow, funereal strip, tied in the same knot as were his shoe-strings.His gray hair was a trifle too long behind, but he kept it smooth and orderly.His face was clean-shaven, like the old statesmen's.Most people thought it a stern face, but when its official expression was off, a few had seen altogether a different countenance.

Especially tender and gentle it had appeared to those who were about him during the last illness of his only child.

The Commissioner had been a widower for years, and his life, outside his official duties, had been so devoted to little Georgia that people spoke of it as a touching and admirable thing.He was a reserved man, and dignified almost to austerity, but the child had come below it all and rested upon his very heart, so that she scarcely missed the mother's love that had been taken away.There was a wonderful companionship between them, for she had many of his own ways, being thoughtful and serious beyond her years.

One day, while she was lying with the fever burning brightly in her checks, she said suddenly:

"Papa, I wish I could do something good for a whole lot of children!""What would you like to do, dear?" asked the Com-Missioner."Give them a party?"

"Oh, I don't mean those kind.I mean poor children who haven't homes, and aren't loved and cared for as I am.I tell you what, papa!""What, my own child?"

"If I shouldn't get well, I'll leave them you -- not give you, but just lend you, for you must come to mamma and me when you die too.If you can find time, wouldn't you do something to help them, if I ask you, papa?""Hush, hush dear, dear child," said the Commissioner, holding her hot little hand against his cheek; "you'll get well real soon, and you and I will see what we can do for them together."But in whatsoever paths of benevolence, thus vaguely premeditated, the Commissioner might tread, he was not to have the company of his beloved.That night the little frail body grew suddenly too tired to struggle further, and Georgia's exit was made from the great stage when she had scarcely begun to speak her little piece before the footlights.But there must be a stage manager who understands.She had given the cue to the one who was to speak after her.

A week after she was laid away, the Commissioner reappeared at the office, a little more courteous, a little paler and sterner, with the black frock-coat hanging a little more loosely from his tall figure.

His desk was piled with work that had accumulated during the four heartbreaking weeks of his absence.His chief clerk had done what he could, but there were ques-tions of law, of fine judicial decisions to be made concern-ing the issue of patents, the marketing and leasing of school lands, the classification into grazing, agricultural, watered, and timbered, of new tracts to be opened to settlers.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 樱花树下遗失在外的幸福

    樱花树下遗失在外的幸福

    国王:要相信未来那样一来,春天一定会降临的小雪想在春天降临之后做什么呢风花雪绘小时候:小雪要成为公主殿下国王:什么样的公主殿下呢风花雪绘小时候:要做温柔的坚强的拥有正义的公主殿下那可是很难的啊长大后的风花雪绘:我曾经说过那样的话国王:但是如果将梦想作为信仰 不放弃地追求下去一定会梦想成真的看得见这个吧这里正站着一位美丽的公主殿下风花雪绘小时候:但是小雪还是为一件事而苦恼因为还有一个梦想国王:是什么 另一个梦想风花雪绘小时候:女演员从来没有人问过有关于我的梦想:在遇见他之间,我是个被‘世界’所遗弃的人。卡卡西,银白色头发的少年。因为你的出现,让我找到了生存下去的意义。为了你,我可以万劫不复。樱花洛6岁那年看见卡卡西的第一眼起,就深深的爱上了他。为了能与他在一起,从而展开一系列的故事……
  • 伏魔女天师

    伏魔女天师

    女主的爷爷和秦广王私下做了个小交易,让雨竹成为他子孙后代的贴身保镖。雇主有个做官的哥哥,如冰山一样让人难以靠近,冰山有也融化的那天,官大哥不知不觉爱上了女主,霸道的让女主做了他的女人。女主又要斩妖除魔又要满世界灭小三,这日子过的真糟心,一气之下留书走人。男主追悔莫及苦苦寻妻五年,终于找到妻子,那知女主身边蝴蝶甚多,就连自家弟弟也来插一脚,这些人都以为爷是病猫吗?来一个打一个,来一双打一双,就连亲弟弟也不例外。(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 恶魔殿下滚远点

    恶魔殿下滚远点

    第一次写,不知道怎么样,但是我一定会加油。本来只是些来玩玩的,可是看见没人看自己写的小说,好桑心。然后看到有人看了我的小说,哪怕一个人,都高兴的要跳起来了。
  • 我只爱你三天

    我只爱你三天

    作者将青春、爱情编写了故事,再结合当时的法律、已经经济政治局面的背景编写本书,让更多有梦想的人分清事实与梦幻,学会舍得。再者本故事只是纯粹虚构,并没有对此针对当时的背景。若什么不当之处,请多多赐教,以求日后分享更多丰富的文学。
  • tfboys之露水日常

    tfboys之露水日常

    我一个花季少女只是想做一个拾金不昧的雷锋小公举而已!或许是天时地利人和的原因我风平浪静的认真学习时光(?)突然乱入了一群,一群,一群啥?——路水时光如繁星,感谢遇到你。
  • 霸道校草恋上倔丫头

    霸道校草恋上倔丫头

    男主夜慕染夜家事业未来继承人非常霸道可就败给了一个倔丫头夏颜夕的故事-_-霸道校草怎样就败给了一个倔丫头呢——看文——,希望大家支持油!不好轻喷哈!
  • 蠢萌丫头太嚣张

    蠢萌丫头太嚣张

    一冷一热,一高一矮,一富一穷,就是这样的一对冤家,擦出了爱的火花。第一次见面,俩人就结下梁子。他故意让她进樱华高中,使劲各种方法整她,让她出丑。但她似乎从未在意过,越是这样,他越是变本加厉,终于有一天,她忍不住了,冲他大吼:“有钱怎样?有颜怎样?有权又怎样?这样就能把我当玩偶一样摆弄吗?!”他看着她气愤的小脸,悠悠说道:“既然你承认你是本少的玩偶,那就得被我带回家好好‘玩弄’。”
  • 木法

    木法

    木法,或凌厉如刺,或轻柔似水。少年,起于离河之畔,修木系之法。闯自己的一片天……
  • 那些年的六人帮

    那些年的六人帮

    怀念过去的我们,不管风吹日晒都要一起胡闹,写不完的作业看不完的书,还有永远也追不上的男孩,时光匆匆在也回不了过往,但时间和距离不会让真正的朋友生分。所以,余生请多多指教。
  • 异能高手:城靥心魔

    异能高手:城靥心魔

    凡尘之人,被女友背叛,意外得到修真界奇缘,从此踏入修真界;为了复仇,为了争口气,无意间得知冲凡尘界,进入那神秘的修真界的方法,因此,携美修炼,拳打凡尘界古武修仙者,脚踏修真界大佬、圣主;修真界的那些年,讲述一群手下和猪脚的热血沸腾修真故事。