rudder grange-第32部分

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to　give　you　for　breakfast。〃

The　people　in　and　on　the　stage　grumbled　a　good　deal　at　this；　and
looked　as　if　they　were　both　disappointed　and　hungry；　while　the
driver　ripped　out　an　oath；　which；　had　he　thrown　it　across　a　creek；
would　soon　have　made　a　good…sized　millpond。

He　gathered　up　his　reins　and　turned　a　sinister　look　on　me。

〃I'll　be　even　with　you；　yit；〃　he　cried　as　he　dashed　off。

In　the　afternoon　Mrs。　Carson　came　up　and　told　us　that　the　stage　had
stopped　there；　and　that　she　had　managed　to　give　the　passengers　some
coffee；　bread　and　butter　and　ham　and　eggs；　though　they　had　had　to
wait　their　turns　for　cups　and　plates。　　It　appeared　that　the　driver
had　quarreled　with　the　Lowry　people　that　morning　because　the
breakfast　was　behindhand　and　he　was　kept　waiting。　　So　he　told　his
passengers　that　there　was　another　tavern；　a　few　miles　down　the
road；　and　that　he　would　take　them　there　to　breakfast。

〃He's　an　awful　ugly　man；　that　he　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Carson；　〃an'　he'd
better　'a'　stayed　at　Lowry's；　fur　he　had　to　wait　a　good　sight
longer；　after　all；　as　it　turned　out。　　But　he's　dreadful　mad　at　you；
an'　says　he'll　bring　ye　farmers；　an'　soldiers；　and　sailors；　an'
mechanics；　if　that's　what　ye　want。　　I　'spect　he'll　do　his　best　to
git　a　load　of　them　particular　people　an'　drop　'em　at　yer　door。　　I'd
take　down　that　sign；　ef　I　was　you。　　Not　that　me　an'　Danny　minds；
fur　we're　glad　to　git　a　stage　to　feed；　an'　ef　you've　any　single　man
that　wants　lodgin'　we've　fixed　up　a　room　and　kin　keep　him
overnight。〃

Notwithstanding　this　warning；　Euphemia　and　I　decided　not　to　take　in
our　sign。　　We　were　not　to　be　frightened　by　a　stage…driver。　　The
next　day　our　own　driver　passed　us　on　the　road　as　he　was　going　down。

〃So　ye're　pertickler　about　the　people　ye　take　in；　are　ye？〃　said　he；
smiling。　　〃That's　all　right；　but　ye　made　Bill　awful　mad。〃

It　was　quite　late　on　a　Monday　afternoon　that　Bill　stopped　at　our
house　again。　　He　did　not　call　out　this　time。　　He　simply　drew　up；
and　a　man　with　a　big　black　valise　clambered　down　from　the　top　of
the　stage。　　Then　Bill　shouted　to　me　as　I　walked　down　to　the　gate；
looking　rather　angry　I　suppose：

〃I　was　agoin'　to　git　ye　a　whole　stage…load；　to　stay　all　night；　but
that　one'll　do　ye；　I　reckon。　　Ha；　ha！〃　　And　off　he　went；　probably
fearing　that　I　would　throw　his　passenger　up　on　the　top　of　the　stage
again。

The　new…comer　entered　the　gate。　　He　was　a　dark　man；　with　black　hair
and　black　whiskers　and　mustache；　and　black　eyes。　　He　wore　clothes
that　had　been　black；　but　which　were　now　toned　down　by　a　good　deal
of　dust；　and；　as　I　have　said；　he　carried　a　black　valise。

〃Why　did　you　stop　here？〃　said　I；　rather　inhospitably。　　〃Don't　you
know　that　we　do　not　accommodate〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　he　said；　walking　up　on　the　piazza　and　setting　down
his　valise；　〃that　you　only　take　soldiers；　sailors；　farmers；　and
mechanics　at　this　house。　　I　have　been　told　all　about　it；　and　if　I
had　not　thoroughly　understood　the　matter　I　should　not　have　thought
of　such　a　thing　as　stopping　here。　　If　you　will　sit　down　for　a　few
moments　I　will　explain。〃　　Saying　this；　he　took　a　seat　on　a　bench　by
the　door；　but　Euphemia　and　I　continued　to　stand。

〃I　am；〃　he　continued；　〃a　soldier；　a　sailor；　a　farmer；　and　a
mechanic。　　Do　not　doubt　my　word；　I　will　prove　it　to　you　in　two
minutes。　　When　but　seventeen　years　of　age；　circumstances　compelled
me　to　take　charge　of　a　farm　in　New　Hampshire；　and　I　kept　up　that
farm　until　I　was　twenty…five。　　During　this　time　I　built　several
barns；　wagon…houses；　and　edifices　of　the　sort　on　my　place；　and；
becoming　expert　in　this　branch　of　mechanical　art；　I　was　much　sought
after　by　the　neighboring　farmers；　who　employed　me　to　do　similar
work　for　them。　　In　time　I　found　this　new　business　so　profitable
that　I　gave　up　farming　altogether。　　But　certain　unfortunate
speculations　threw　me　on　my　back；　and　finally；　having　gone　from　bad
to　worse；　I　found　myself　in　Boston；　where；　in　sheer　desperation；　I
went　on　board　a　coasting　vessel　as　landsman。　　I　remained　on　this
vessel　for　nearly　a　year；　but　it　did　not　suit　me。　　I　was　often
sick；　and　did　not　like　the　work。　　I　left　the　vessel　at　one　of　the
Southern　ports；　and　it　was　not　long　after　she　sailed　that；　finding
myself　utterly　without　means；　I　enlisted　as　a　soldier。　　I　remained
in　the　army　for　some　years；　and　was　finally　honorably　discharged。
So　you　see　that　what　I　said　was　true。　　I　belong　to　each　and　all　of
these　businesses　and　professions。　　And　now　that　I　have　satisfied
you　on　this　point；　let　me　show　you　a　book　for　which　I　have　the
agency　in　this　country。〃　　He　stooped　down；　opened　his　valise；　and
took　out　a　good…sized　volume。　　〃This　book；〃　said　he；　〃is　the　'Flora
and　Fauna　of　Carthage　County；'　it　is　written　by　one　of　the　first
scientific　men　of　the　country；　and　gives　you　a　description；　with　an
authentic　wood…cut；　of　each　of　the　plants　and　animals　of　the
countyindigenous　or　naturalized。　　Owing　to　peculiar　advantages
enjoyed　by　our　firm；　we　are　enabled　to　put　this　book　at　the　very
low　price　of　three　dollars　and　seventy…five　cents。　　It　is　sold　by
subscription　only；　and　should　be　on　the　center…table　in　every
parlor　in　this　county。　　If　you　will　glance　over　this　book；　sir；　you
will　find　it　as　interesting　as　a　novel；　and　as　useful　as　an
encyclopaedia〃

〃I　don't　want　the　book；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　don't　care　to　look　at　it。〃

〃But　if　you　were　to　look　at　it　you　would　want　it；　I'm　sure。〃

〃That's　a　good　reason　for　not　looking　at　it；　then；〃　I　answered。
〃If　you　came　to　get　us　to　subscribe　for　that　book　we　need　not　take
up　any　more　of　your　time；　for　we　shall　not　subscribe。〃

〃Oh；　I　did　not　come　for　that　alone；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shall　stay　here
to…night　and　start　out　in　the　morning　to　work　up　the　neighborhood。
If　you　would　like　this　bookand　I'm　sure　you　have　only　to　look　at
it　to　do　thatyou　can　deduct　the　amount　of　my　bill　from　the
subscription　price；　and〃

〃What　did　you　say　you　charged　for　this　book？〃　asked　Euphemia；
stepping　forward　and　picking　up　the　volume。

〃Three　seventy…five　is　the　subscription　price；　ma'am；　but　that　book
is　not　for　sale。　　That　is　merely　a　sample。　　If　you　put　your　name
down　on　my　list　you　will　be　served　with　your　book　in　two　weeks。　　As
I　told　your　husband；　it　will　come　very　cheap　to　you；　because　you
can　deduct　what　you　charge　me　for　supper；　lodging；　and　breakfast。〃

〃Indeed！〃　said　my　wife；　and　then　she　remarked　that　she　must　go　in
the　house　and　get　supper。

〃When　will　supper　be　ready？〃　the　man　asked；　as　she　passed　him。

At　first　she　did　not　answer　him；　but　then　she　called　back：

〃In　about　half　an　hour。〃

〃Good；〃　said　the　man；　〃but　I　wish　it　was　ready　now。　　And　now；　sir；
if　you　would　just　glance　over　this　book；　while　we　are　waiting　for
supper〃

I　cut　him　very　short　and　went　out　into　the　road。　　I　walked　up　and
down　in　front　of　the　house；　in　a　bad　humor。　　I　could　not　bear　to
think　of　my　wife　getting　supper　for　this　fellow；　who　was　striding
about　on　the　piazza；　as　if　he　was　very　hungry　and　very　impatient。
Just　as　I　returned　to　the　house；　the　bell　rang　from　within。

〃Joyful　sound！〃　said　the　man；　and　in　he　marched。　　I　followed　close
behind　him。　　On　one　end　of　the　table；　in　the　kitchen；　supper　was
set　for　one　person；　and；　as　the　man　entered；　Euphemia　motioned　him
to　the　table。　　The　supper　looked　like　a　remarkably　good　one。　　A　cup
of　coffee　smoked　by　the　side　of　the　plate；　there　was　ham　and　eggs
and　a　small　omelette；　there　were　fried　potatoes；　some　fresh
radishes；　a　plate　of　hot　biscuit；　and　some　preserves。　　The　man's
eyes　sparkled。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　am　to　eat　alone；　for　I　hoped　to　have
your　good　company；　but；　if　this　plan　suits　you；　it　suits　me；〃　and
he　drew　up　a　chair。

〃Stop！〃　said　Euphemia；　advancing　between　him　and　the　table。　　〃You
are　not　to　eat　that。　　This　is　a　sample　supper。　　If　you　order　a
supper　like　it；　one　will　be　served　to　you　in　two　weeks。〃

At　this　I　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter；　my　wife　stood　pale　and
determined；　and　the　man　drew　back；　looking　first　at　one　of　us；　and
then　at　the　other。

〃Am　I　to　understand？〃　he　said。

〃Yes；〃　I　interrupted；　〃you　are。　　There　is　nothing　more　to　be　said
on　this　subject。　　You　may　go　now。　　You　came　here　to　annoy　us；
knowing　that　we　did　not　entertain　travelers；　and　now　you　see　what
you　have　made　by　it；〃　and　I　opened　the　door。

The　man　evidently　thought　that　a　reply　was　not　necessary；　and　he
walked　out　without　a　word。　　Taking　up　his　valise；　which　he　had　put
in　the　hall；　he　asked　if　there　was　any　public…house　near　by。

〃No；〃　I　said；　〃but　there　is　a　farm…house　a　short　distance　down　the
road；　where　they　will　be　glad　to　have　you。〃　　And　down　the　road　he
went　to　Mrs。　Carson's。　　I　am　sorry　to　say　that　he　sold　her　a　〃Flora
and　Fauna〃　before　he　went　to　bed　that　night。

We　were　much　amused　at　the　termination　of　this　affair；　and　I
became；　if　possible；　a　still　greater　admirer　of　Euphemia's　talents
for　management。　　But　we　both　agreed　that　it　would　not　do　to　keep　up
the　sign　any　longer。　　We　could　not　tell　when　the　irate　driver　might
not　pounce　down　upon　us　with　a　customer。

〃But　I　hate　to　take　it　down；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃it　looks　so　much　like
a　surrender。〃

〃Do　not　trouble　yourself；〃　said　I。　　〃I　have　an　idea。〃

The　next　morning　I　went　down　to　Danny　Carson's　little　shop；he　was
a　wheelwright　as　well　as　a　farmer；and　I　got　from　him　two　pots　of
paintone　black　and　one　whiteand　some　brushes。　　I　took　down　our
sign；　and　painted　out　the　old　lettering；　and；　instead　of　it；　I
painted；　in　bold　and　somewhat　regular　characters；　new　names　for　our
tavern。

On　one　side　of　the　sign　I　painted：


　　　　　〃SOAP…MAKER'S
　　　　　　　　　AND
　　　　　BOOK…BINDER'S
　　　　　　　　HOTEL。〃


And　on　the　other　side：


　　　　　〃UPHOLSTERERS'
　　　　　　　　　　AND
　　　　　　　DENTISTS'
　　　　　　　　HOUSE。〃


〃Now　then；〃　I　said；　〃I　don't　believe　any　of　those　people　will　be
traveling　along　the　road　while　we　are　here；　or；　at　any　rate；　they
won't　want　to　stop。〃

We　admired　this　sign　very　much；　and　sat　on　the　piazza；　that
afternoon；　to　see　how　it　would　strike　Bill；　as　he　passed　by。　　It
seemed　to　strike　him　pretty　hard；　for　he　gazed　with　all　his　eyes　at
one　side　of　it；　as　he　approached；　and　then；　as　he　passed　it；　he
actually　pulled　up　to　read　the　other　side。

〃All　right！〃　he　called　out；