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。。。"