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第8章 一个古怪的梦3（第1页）

第8章一个古怪的梦（3）

—andthepratedhisteethinawaythatgavemeawrendashiver—fortheeffectismightilyiheabsenufflingflesha;Iresideinthatoldgraveyard，ahesethirtyyears;ahingsaregedsilaidthisoldtiredframethere，andturretchedsleep，withadeliseuponmeofbeiher，andgrief，ay，anddoubt，andfear，foreverandever，ahfortableaisfatothesexton'swork，fromthestartlingclatterofhisfirstspadefulonmytillitdulledawaytothefaintpattingthatshapedtheroofofmynewhome-deliy!Iwishyoucouldtryittonight!"Andoutofmyreveriedeceasedfetchedmearattlingslapwithabonyhand。

"Yes，sir，thirtyyearsagoIlaidmedownthere，andy。Foritwasoutirythen—outinthebreezy，flrandoldwoods，andthelazywindsgossipedwiththeleaves，andthesquirrelscaperedoverusandaroundus，ahingsvisitedus，andthebirdsfilledthetranquilsolitudewithmusic。Ah，itwasworthtenyearsofaman'slifetobedeadthen!"

&quleasant。Iwasinagoodneighborhood，forallthedeadpeoplethatlivedothebestfamiliesiy。Ourposterityappearedtothinktheworldofus。Theykeptravesi;thefenceswerealwaysinfaultlessrepair，head-boardswerekeptpaiewashed，andwerereplaewonesassooolookrustyordeeupright，railingsintadbright，therose-bushesarimmed，trained，andfreefromblemish，thewalksdsmoothahatdayisgoneby。Ourdestshavefottenus。Mygraatelyhousebuiltwithmoheseoldhandsofmine，andIsleepiedgravewithignawmyshroudtobuildthemhal!Ialiewithmefoundedaheprosperityofthisfiy，aelybantlingofourlovesleavesustorotinadilapidatedcemeterywhieighborsdstrangersscoffat。"

"Seethediffereheoldtimeandthis—forinstance:ravesareallow;ourhead-boardshaverottedawayandtumbleddsreelthiswayandthat，withoierafashioy;ourmosleanwearily，andravestoheirheadsdisced;therebesanymore—noroses，norshrubs，nraveledwalks，nthatisaforttotheeye;ahepaintlessoldboardfedidmakeashowofholdingussapanionshipwithbeastsaofheedlessfeet，hastotteredtillitsthestreet，andohepresenalresting-plavitesyetmorederisiontoit。"

Ahideourpovertyahefriendlywoods，forthecityhasstretcheditswitheringarmsabroadandtakenusin，andallthatremainsofthecheerofouroldhomeistheclusteroflugubriousforesttreesthatstand，boredandwearyofacitylife，withtheirfeetinours，lookingintothehazydistandwishihere。Itellyouitisdisgraceful!

"Youbegintopreheoseehowitis。Whileourdestsarelivingsumptuouslyoaroundusiy，wehavetofighthardtokeepskullaher。Blessyou，thereisn'tagraveidoesn'tleakimeitraiwehavetoclimboutandroostireesaimeswearewakehechillywatertrigdownthebackofourellyeneralheavingupofoldgravesandkigoverofoldmos，andsgofoldskeletorees!Blessme，ifyouhadgoheresomesuightsaftertwelveyoumighthaveseenasmanyasfifteenononelimb，withourjdrearilyandthewihroughourribs!Manyatimeerchedthereforthreeorfourdrearyhours，andtheiffahroughanddrowsy，aher'sskullstobailraveswith—ifyouinmymouthnowasItiltmyheadback，youseethatmyhead-pieceishalffullofolddrysedimenthowtop-heavyandstupiditmakesmesometimes!"

"Yes，sir，manyatimeifyouhadhappeoealohedawnyou'dhavecaughtusbailingoutthegravesandhangingourshroudsoodry。Why，Ihadashroudstolenfromthere—thinkapartybythehtookit，thatresidesinaplebeiangraveyardoveryohihefirsttimeIeversawhimhehadn'tanythingonbutacheckshirt，aimeIsaasatasocialgatheringiery，hewasthebest-dressedthepany—anditisasignifitfactthatheleftwhenhesawme。"

"Alyanoldwomanfromheremissedher—shegeookitentanywhere，becauseshewasliabletotakedbringonthespasmodicrheumatismthatinallykilledherifsheexposedherselftothenightairmuch。ShewasaMatildaHotightknowher?Shehastwoupperfroall，butagooddealioop，oheleftsidegone，hasoyhairhangingfromtheleftsideofherhead，auftjustaboveandalittleforwardhtear，hasherunderjawwiredohadworkedloose，smallbofoinafighthasakindaitanda'gallus'wayofgoingwith:herarmsakimboarilsintheairhasbeeyfreeandeasy，andisalldamagedaillshelookslikeaqueeeinruins—maybeyouhavemether?"