back home-第29部分

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er　you　think：　〃They're　off　this　time；　sure；〃　that　you　get　sick　of　hearing　it。　　And　when　they　do　get　away；　why；　who　can　tell　which　horse　is　in　the　lead？　　On　the　far　side　of　the　track　they　don't　appear　to　do　anything　but　poke　along；　and　once　in　a　while　some　fool　horse　will　〃break〃　and　that's　annoying。　　And　then　when　they　come　into　the　stretch；　the　other　folks　that　see　you　with　the　field…glasses；　keep　nudging　you　and　asking：　〃Who　's　ahead；　mister？　　Hay？　　Who's　ahead？〃　　And　it's　ruinous　to　the　voice　to　yell：　〃Go　it！　　Go　it！　　Go　IT；　ye　devil；　you！〃　with　your　throat　all　clenched　that　way　and　your　face　as　red　as　a　turkey…gobbler's。　　And　that　second　when　they　are　going　under　the　wire；　and　the　horse　you　rather　like　is　about　a　nose　behind　the　other　one　that　you　despise　…　Oh；　tedious；　very　tedious。　　Ho　hum；　Harry！　If　I　wasn't　engaged；　I　wouldn't　marry。　　Did　you　think　to　put　a　saucer　of　milk　out　for　the　kitty　before　you　locked　up　the　house？

No。　　Horse…racing　bores　me　to　death；　and　as　I　am　one　of　the　charter　members　of　the　Anti…Other…Folks…Enjoyment　Society；　organized　to　stop　people　from　amusing　themselves　in　ways　that　we　don't　care　for；　you　can　readily　see　that　it　is　a　matter　of　principle　with　me　to　ignore　horseracing；　and　not　to　give　it　so　much　encouragement　as　would　come　from　mentioning　it。

If　you're　so　interested　in　improving　the　breed　of　horses　by　competitive　contests；　what　's　the　matter　with　that　one　where　the　prize　is　5　for　the　team　that　can　haul　the　heaviest　load　on　a　stoneboat；　straight　pulling？　　Pile　on　enough　stones　to　build　a　house；　pretty　near；　and　the　owner　of　the　team；　a　young　fellow　with　a　face　like　Keats；　goes　〃Ck！　Ck！　Ck！　　Geet　。　。　。　ep　。　。　。　thah　BILL！　　Geet　ep；　Doll…ay！〃　and　cracks　his　whip；　and　kisses　with　his　mouth；　and　the　horses　dance　and　tug；　and　jump　around　and　strain　till　the　stone…boat　slides　on　the　grass；　and　then　men　climb　on　until　the　load　gets　so　heavy　that　the　team　can't　budge　it。　　Then　another　team　tries；　and　so　on；　the　competitors　jawing　and　jowering　at　each　other　with：　〃Ah；　that　ain't　fair！　　That　ain't　fair！　　They　started　it　sideways。〃

〃That　don't　make　no　difference。〃

〃Yes；　it　does；　too；　make　a　difference。　　Straight　ahead　four　inches。　that's　the　rule。〃

〃Well；　didn't　they　go　straight　ahead　four　inches？　　What's　a　matter　with　ye？〃

〃I'll　darn　soon　show　ye　what's　the　matter　with　me；　you　come　any　o'　your　shenanigan　around　here。〃

〃　Mighty　ready　to　accuse　other　folks　o'　shenannigan；　ain't　ye？　　For　half　a　cent　I'd　paste　you　in　the　moot。〃

〃Now；　boys！　　Now　boys！　　None　o'　that。〃

Lots　more　excitement　than　a　horse…race。　　Lots　more　improving　to　the　mind；　and　beneficial　to　the　country。

And　if　you　hanker　after　the　human　element　of　skill；　what's　the　matter　with　the　contest　where　the　women　see　who　can　hitch　up　a　horse　the　quickest？　　Didn't　you　have　your　favorite　picked　out　from　the　start？　　I　did。　　She　was　about　thirteen　years　old；　dressed　in　an　organdie；　and　I　think　she　had　light　blue　ribbons　flying　from　her　hat；　light　blue　or　pink；　I　forget　which。　　Her　pa　helped　her　unharness；　and　you　could　tell　by　the　way　he　look…at　her　that　he　thought　she　was　about　the　smartest　young　one　for　her　age　in　her　neighborhood。　　（You　ought　to　hear　her　play　〃General　Grant's　Grand　March〃　on　the　organ　he　bought　for　her；　a　fine　organ　with　twenty…four　stops　and　two　full　sets　of　reeds；　and　a　mirror　in　the　top；　and　places　to　set　bouquets　and　all。）　　There　was　a　woman　in　the　contest　that　seemed；　by　her　actions；　to　think　that　the　others　were　just　wasting　their　time　competing　with　her；　but　when　they　got　the　word　〃Go！〃　　（Old　Nate　Wells　was　the　judge；　he　sold　out　the　livery…stable　business　to　Charley；　you　recollect）　her　horse　backed　in　wrong；　and　she　got　the　harness　all　twisty…ways；　and　everything　went　bewitched。　　And　wasn't　she　provoked；　though？　　Served　her　right；　I　say。　　A　little　woman　beside　her　was　the　first　to　jump　into　her　buggy；　and　drive　off　with　a　strong　inhalation　of　breath；　and　that　nipping　together　of　the　lips　that　says：　〃A…a…ah！　　I　tell　ye！〃　　The　little　girl　that　we　picked　out　was　hopping　around　like　a　scared　cockroach；　and　her　pa　seemed　to　be　saying：　〃Now；　keep　cool！　Keep　cool！　　Don't　get　flustered；〃　but　when　another　woman　drove　off；　I　know　she　almost　cried；　she　felt　so　bad。　　But　she　was　third；　and　when　she　and　her　pa　drove　around　the　ring；　the　people　clapped　her　lots　more　than　the　other　two。　　I　guess　they　must　have　picked　her　for　a　favorite　the　same　as　you　and　I　did。　　Bless　her　heart！　I　hope　she　got　a　good　man　when　she　grew　up。

Around　back　of　the　Old　Settlers'　Cabin；　where　they　have　the　relics；　the　spinning…wheel；　the　flax…hackle；　and　the　bunch　of　dusty　tow　that　nobody　knows　how　to　spin　in　these　degenerate　days；　the　old　flint…lock　rifle；　and　the　powder…horn；　the　tinder…box；　and　the　blue　plate；　〃more'n　a　hundred　years　old；〃　the　dog…irons；　tongs；　poker；　and　turkey…wing　of　an　ancient　fireplace　…　around　back　of　the　Old　Settlers'　Cabin　all　the　early　part　of　the　day　a　bunch　of　dirty　canvas　has　been　dangling　from　a　rope　stretched　between　two　trees。　It　was　fenced　off　from　the　curious；　but　after　dinner　a　stranger　in　fringy　trousers　and　a　black　singlet　went　around　picking　out　big；　strong；　adventurous　young　fellows　to　stand　about　the　wooden　ring　fastened　to　the　bottom　of　the　bunch　of　canvas；　which　went　over　the　smoke…pipe　of　a　sort　of　underground　furnace　in　which　a　roaring　fire　had　been　built。　　As　the　hot　air　filled　the　great　bag；　it　was　the　task　of　these　helpers　to　shake　out　the　wrinkles　and　to　hold　it　down。　Older　and　wiser　ones　forbade　their　young　ones　to　go　near　it。　Supposing　it　should　explode；　what　then？　　But　we　have　always　wanted　to　fly　away　up　into　the　air；　and　what　did　we　come　to　the　Fair　for；　if　not　for　excitement？　　The　balloon　swells　out　amazingly　fast；　and　when　the　guy…ropes　are　loosened　and　drop　to　the　ground；　the　elephantine　bag　clumsily　lunges　this　way　and　that；　causing　shrill　squeals　from　those　who　fear　to　be　whelmed　in　it。　　The　man　in　the　singlet　tosses　kerosene　into　the　furnace　from　a　tin　cup；　and　you　can　see　the　tall　flames　leap　upward　from　the　flue　into　the　balloon。　It　grows　tight　as　a　drum。

〃Watch　your　horses！〃　he　calls　out。　　There　is　a　pause　。　。　。　。　〃Let　go　all！〃　　The　mighty　shape　shoots　up　twenty　feet　or　so；　and　the　man　in　the　singlet　darts　to　the　corner　to　cut　a　lone　detaining　rope。　　As　he　runs　he　sheds　his　fringy　trousers。

〃Good…by；　everybody！〃　he　cries　out；　and　the　sinister　possibilities　in　that　phrase　are　overlooked　in　the　wonder　at　seeing　him　lurch　upward　through　the　air；　all　glorious　in　black　tights　and　yellow　breech…clout。　　Up　and　up　he　soars　above　the　tree…tops；　and　the　wind　gently　wafts　him　along；　a　pendant　to　a　dusky　globe　hanging　in　the　sky。　　He　is　just　a　speck　now　swaying　to　and　fro。　　The　globe　plunges　upward；　the　pendant　drops　like　a　shot。　　There　is　a　rustling　sound。　　It　is　the　intake　of　the　breath　of　horror　from　ten　thousand　pairs　of　lungs。　　Look！　　Look！　　The　edges　of　the　parachute　ruffle；　and　then　it　blossoms　out　like　an　opening　flower。　　It　bounces　on　the　air　a　little；　and　rocking　gently　sinks　like　thistle…down　behind　the　woods。

It　is　all　over。　　The　Fair　is　over。　　Let's　go　home。　　Isn't　it　wonderful　though；　what　men　can　do？　　You'll　see；　they'll　be　flying　like　birds；　one　of　these　days。　　That's　what　we　little　boys　think；　but　we　overhear　old　Nate　Wells　say　to　Tom　Slaymaker；　as　we　pass　them：　〃Well；　I　d'　know。　　I　d'　know　's　these　here　b'loon　ascensions　is　worth　the　money　they　cost　the　'Sociation。　　I　seen　so　many　of　'em；　they　don't　interest　me　nummore。　　'Less；　o'　course；　sumpun　should　happen　to　the　feller。〃




CHRISTMAS　BACK　HOME


It　was　the　time　of　year　when　the　store　windows　are　mighty　interesting。　　Plotner's　bakery；　that　away；　'way　back　in　the　summer…time；　was　an　ice…cream　saloon；　showed　a　plaster　man　in　the　window；　with　long；　white　whiskers；　in　top　boots　and　a　brown　coat　and　peaked　hat；　all　trimmed　with　fur；　and　carrying　a　little　pinetree　with　arsenical　foliage。　　Over　his　head　dangled　a　thicket　of　canes　hanging　by　their　crooks　from　a　twine　string　stretched　across。　　They　were　made　of　candy　striped　spirally　in　red　and　white。　There　were　candy　men　and　women　in　the　window；　and　chocolate　mice　with　red　eyes；　and　a　big　cake；　all　over　frosting；　with　a　candy　preacher　on　it　marrying　a　candy　man　and　lady。　　The　little　children　stood　outside；　with　their　joggerfies；　and　arithmetics；　and　spellers；　and　slates　bound　in　red　flannel　under　their　arms；　and　swallowed　hard　as　they　looked。　　Whenever　anybody　went　in　for　a　penny's　worth　of　yeast　and　opened　the　door；　that　had　a　bell　fastened　to　it　so　that　Mrs。　Plotner　could　hear　in　the　back　room；　and　come　to　wait　on　the　customer；　the　smell　of　wintergreen　and　peppermint　and　lemonsticks　and　hot　taffy　gushed　out　so　strong　that　they　couldn't　swallow　fast　enough；　but　stood　there　choking　and　dribbling　at　the　mouth。

Brown's　shoe　store　exhibited　green　velvet　slippers　with　deers'　heads　on　them；　and　Galbraith's　windows　were　hung　with　fancy　dressgoods；　and　handkerchiefs　with　dogs'　heads　in　the　corners；　but；　next　to　Plotner's；　Case's　drug…and…book　store　was　the　nicest。　When　you　first　went　in；　it　smelled　of　cough　candy　and　orris　root；　but　pretty　soon　you　could　notice　the　smell　of　drums　and　new　sleds；　and　about　the　last　smell；　（sort　of　down　at　the　bottom　of　things）　was　the　smell　of　new　books；　the　fish…glue　on　the　binding；　and　the　muslin　covers；　and　the　printer's　ink；　and　that　is　a　smell　that　if　it　ever　gets　a　good　hold　of　you；　never　lets　go。　　There　were　the　〃Rollo〃　books；　and　the　〃Little　Prudy〃　books；　and　〃Minnie　and　Her　Pets；〃　and　the　〃Elm　Island〃　series；　and　the　〃Arabian　Nights；〃　with　colored　pictures；　and　There　were　skates　all　curled　up　at　the　toes；　and　balls　of　red　and　black　leather　in　alternate　quarters；　and　China　mugs；　with　〃Love　the　Giver；〃　and　〃For　a　Good　Boy〃　in　gilt　letters　on　them。　　Kind　of　Dutch　letters　they　were。　　And　there　were　dolls　with　black；　shiny　hair；　and　red　cheeks；　and　blue　eyes；　with　perfectly　arched　eyebrows。　　They　had　on　black　shoes　and　white　stockings；　with　pink　garters；　and　they　almost　always　toed　in　a　little。　　They　looked　so　cold　in　the　window　with　nothing　but　a　〃shimmy〃　on；；　and　fairly　ached　to　be　dressed；　and　nursed；　and　sung　to。　　The　little　girls　outside　the　window　felt　an　emptiness　in　the　hollow　of　their　left　arms　as　they　gazed。　　There　was　o