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第28章 一个古怪的梦 2（第1页）

第28章一个古怪的梦（2）

"Yes，sir，thirtyyearsagoIlaidmedownthere，andy。Foritwasoutirythen—outinthebreezy，flrandoldwoods，andthelazywindsgossipedwiththeleaves，andthesquirrelscaperedoverusandaroundus，ahingsvisitedus，andthebirdsfilledthetranquilsolitudewithmusic。Ah，itwasworthtenyearsofaman'slifetobedeadthehi。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—anditisasignifitfactthatheleftwhenhesaresentlyanoldwomanfromheremissedher—shegeookitentanywhere，becauseshewasliabletotakedbringonthespasmodicrheumatismthatinallykilledherifsheexposedherselftothenightairmuch。ShewasaMatildaHotightknowher?Shehastwoupperfroall，butagooddealioop，oheleftsidegone，hasoyhairhangingfromtheleftsideofherhead，auftjustaboveandalittleforwardhtear，hasherunderjawwiredohadworkedloose，smallbofoinafighthasakindaitanda'gallus'wayofgoingwith:herarmsakimboarilsintheairhasbeeyfreeandeasy，andisalldamagedaillshelookslikeaqueeeinruins—maybeyouhavemether?"

"Godforbid!"Iinvolued，forsomehowIwasnotlookingforthatformofquestion，anditcaughtmealittleoffmyguard。ButIhasteomakeamendsformyrudeness，andsay，"IsimplymeantIhadnothadthehonor—forIwouldelyspeakdiscourteouslyofafriendofyours。Ythatyouwererobbed—anditwasashame，too—butitappearsbywhatisleftoftheshroudyouhaveonthatitwasaeinitsday。Howdid。。。"