章节正文
As we came into the yard one afternoon Polly came out. "Jerry!
I've had Mr. B---- here asking about your vote, and he wants to hire your cab
for the election; he will call for an answer."
"Well, Polly, you may say that my cab will be otherwise engaged.
I should not like to have it pasted over with their great bills,
and as to making Jack and Captain race about to the public-houses
to bring up half-drunken voters, why, I think 'twould be an insult
to the horses. No, I shan't do it."
"I suppose you'll vote for the gentleman? He said he was of your politics."
"So he is in some things, but I shall not vote for him, Polly;
you know what his trade is?"
"Yes."
"Well, a man who gets rich by that trade may be all very well in some ways,
but he is blind as to what workingmen want; I could not in my conscience
send him up to make the laws. I dare say they'll be angry,
but every man must do what he thinks to be the best for his country."
On the morning before the election, Jerry was putting me into the shafts,
when Dolly came into the yard sobbing and crying, with her little blue frock
and white pinafore spattered all over with mud.
"Why, Dolly, what is the matter?"
"Those naughty boys," she sobbed, "have thrown the dirt all over me,
and called me a little raga-- raga--"
"They called her a little `blue' ragamuffin, father," said Harry,
who ran in looking very angry; "but I have given it to them;
they won't insult my sister again. I have given them a thrashing
they will remember; a set of cowardly, rascally `orange' blackguards."
Jerry kissed the child and said, "Run in to mother, my pet,
and tell her I think you had better stay at home to-day and help her."
Then turning gravely to Harry:
"My boy, I hope you will always defend your sister, and give anybody
who insults her a good thrashing -- that is as it should be;
but mind, I won't have any election blackguarding on my premises.
There are as many `blue' blackguards as there are `orange',
and as many white as there are purple, or any other color,
and I won't have any of my family mixed up with it. Even women and children
are ready to quarrel for the sake of a color, and not one in ten of them
knows what it is about."
"Why, father, I thought blue was for Liberty."
"My boy, Liberty does not come from colors, they only show party,
and all the liberty you can get out of them is, liberty to get drunk
at other people's expense, liberty to ride to the poll in a dirty old cab,
liberty to abuse any one that does not wear your color,
and to shout yourself hoarse at what you only half-understand --
that's your liberty!"
"Oh, father, you are laughing."
"No, Harry, I am serious, and I am ashamed to see how men go on
who ought to know better. An election is a very serious thing;
at least it ought to be, and every man ought to vote according to
his conscience, and let his neighbor do the same."
43 A Friend in Need
The election day came at last; there was no lack of work for Jerry and me.
First came a stout puffy gentleman with a carpet bag; he wanted to go
to the Bishopsgate station; then we were called by a party
who wished to be taken to the Regent's Park; and next we were wanted
in a side street where a timid, anxious old lady was waiting to be taken
to the bank; there we had to stop to take her back again,
and just as we had set her down a red-faced gentleman,
with a handful of papers, came running up out of breath,
and before Jerry could get down he had opened the door, popped himself in,
and called out, "Bow Street Police Station, quick!" so off we went with him,
and when after another turn or two we came back, there was no other cab
on the stand. Jerry put on my nose-bag, for as he said,
"We must eat when we can on such days as these; so munch away, Jack,
and make the best of your time, old boy."
I found I had a good feed of crushed oats wetted up with a little bran;
this would be a treat any day, but very refreshing then.
Jerry was so thoughtful and kind -- what horse would not do his best
for such a master? Then he took out one of Polly's meat pies,
and standing near me, he began to eat it. The streets were very full,
and the cabs, with the candidates' colors on them, were dashing about
through the crowd as if life and limb were of no consequence;
we saw two people knocked down that day, and one was a woman.
The horses were having a bad time of it, poor things!
but the voters inside thought nothing of that; many of them were half-drunk,
hurrahing out of the cab windows if their own party came by.
It was the first election I had seen, and I don't want to be in another,
though I have heard things are better now.
Jerry and I had not eaten many mouthfuls before a poor young woman,
carrying a heavy child, came along the street. She was looking
this way and that way, and seemed quite bewildered. Presently she made
her way up to Jerry and asked if he could tell her the way
to St. Thomas' Hospital, and how far it was to get there.
She had come from the country that morning, she said, in a market cart;
she did not know about the election, and was quite a stranger in London.
She had got an order for the hospital for her little boy.
The child was crying with a feeble, pining cry.
"Poor little fellow!" she said, "he suffers a deal of pain;
he is four years old and can't walk any more than a baby;
but the doctor said if I could get him into the hospital
he might get well; pray, sir, how far is it; and which way is it?"
"Why, missis," said Jerry, "you can't get there walking through crowds
like this! why, it is three miles away, and that child is heavy."
"Yes, bless him, he is; but I am strong, thank God, and if I knew the way
I think I should get on somehow; please tell me the way."
"You can't do it," said Jerry, "you might be knocked down
and the child be run over. Now look here, just get into this cab,
and I'll drive you safe to the hospital. Don't you see
the rain is coming on?"
"No, sir, no; I can't do that, thank you, I have only just money enough
to get back with. Please tell me the way."
"Look you here, missis," said Jerry, "I've got a wife and dear children
at home, and I know a father's feelings; now get you into that cab,
and I'll take you there for nothing. I'd be ashamed of myself
to let a woman and a sick child run a risk like that."
"Heaven bless you!" said the woman, and burst into tears.
"There, there, cheer up, my dear, I'll soon take you there;
come, let me put you inside."
As Jerry went to open the door two men, with colors in their hats
and buttonholes, ran up calling out, "Cab!"
"Engaged," cried Jerry; but one of the men, pushing past the woman,
sprang into the cab, followed by the other. Jerry looked as stern
as a policeman. "This cab is already engaged, gentlemen, by that lady."
"Lady!" said one of them; "oh! she can wait; our business is very important,
besides we were in first, it is our right, and we shall stay in."
A droll smile came over Jerry's face as he shut the door upon them.
"All right, gentlemen, pray stay in as long as it suits you;
I can wait while you rest yourselves." And turning his back upon them
he walked up to the young woman, who was standing near me.
"They'll soon be gone," he said, laughing; "don't trouble yourself, my dear."
And they soon were gone, for when they understood Jerry's dodge they got out,
calling him all sorts of bad names and blustering about his number
and getting a summons. After this little stoppage we were soon on our way
to the hospital, going as much as possible through by-streets.
Jerry rung the great bell and helped the young woman out.
"Thank you a thousand times," she said; "I could never have got here alone."
"You're kindly welcome, and I hope the dear child will soon be better."
He watched her go in at the door, and gently he said to himself,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these."
Then he patted my neck, which was always his way when anything pleased him.
The rain was now coming down fast, and just as we were leaving the hospital
the door opened again, and the porter called out, "Cab!" We stopped,
and a lady came down the steps. Jerry seemed to know her at once;
she put back her veil and said, "Barker! Jeremiah Barker, is it you?
I am very glad to find you here; you are just the friend I want,
for it is very difficult to get a cab in this part of London to-day."
"I shall be proud to serve you, ma'am; I am right glad I happened to be here.
Where may I take you to, ma'am?"
"To the Paddington Station, and then if we are in good time,
as I think we shall be, you shall tell me all about Mary and the children."
We got to the station in good time, and being under shelter the lady stood
a good while talking to Jerry. I found she had been Polly's mistress,
and after many inquiries about her she said:
"How do you find the cab work suit you in winter? I know Mary
was rather anxious about you last year."
"Yes, ma'am, she was; I had a bad cough that followed me up quite into
the warm weather, and when I am kept out late she does worry herself
a good deal. You see, ma'am, it is all hours and all weathers,
and that does try a man's constitution; but I am getting on pretty well,
and I should feel quite lost if I had not horses to look after.
I was brought up to it, and I am afraid I should not do so well
at anything else."
"Well, Barker," she said, "it would be a great pity that you should
seriously risk your health in this work, not only for your own
but for Mary's and the children's sake; there are many places
where good drivers or good grooms are wanted, and if ever you think
you ought to give up this cab work let me know."
Then sending some kind messages to Mary she put something into his hand,
saying, "There is five shillings each for the two children;
Mary will know how to spend it."
Jerry thanked her and seemed much pleased, and turning out of the station
we at last reached home, and I, at least, was tired.
44 Old Captain and His Successor
Captain and I were great friends. He was a noble old fellow,
and he was very good company. I never thought that he would have to
leave his home and go down the hill; but his turn came,
and this was how it happened. I was not there, but I heard all about it.
He and Jerry had taken a party to the great railway station
over London Bridge, and were coming back, somewhere between the bridge
and the monument, when Jerry saw a brewer's empty dray coming along,
drawn by two powerful horses. The drayman was lashing his horses with
his heavy whip; the dray was light, and they started off at a furious rate;
the man had no control over them, and the street was full of traffic.
One young girl was knocked down and run over, and the next moment they
dashed up against our cab; both the wheels were torn off and the cab
was thrown over. Captain was dragged down, the shafts splintered,
and one of them ran into his side. Jerry, too, was thrown,
but was only bruised; nobody could tell how he escaped;
he always said 'twas a miracle. When poor Captain was got up he was found
to be very much cut and knocked about. Jerry led him home gently,
and a sad sight it was to see the blood soaking into his white coat
and dropping from his side and shoulder. The drayman was proved to be
very drunk, and was fined, and the brewer had to pay damages to our master;
but there was no one to pay damages to poor Captain.
The farrier and Jerry did the best they could to ease his pain
and make him comfortable. The fly had to be mended, and for several days
I did not go out, and Jerry earned nothing. The first time we went to
the stand after the accident the governor came up to hear how Captain was.
"He'll never get over it," said Jerry, "at least not for my work,
so the farrier said this morning. He says he may do for carting,
and that sort of work. It has put me out very much. Carting, indeed!
I've seen what horses come to at that work round London. I only wish
all the drunkards could be put in a lunaticasylum instead of being allowed
to run foul of sober people. If they would break their own bones,
and smash their own carts, and lame their own horses, that would be
their own affair, and we might let them alone, but it seems to me
that the innocent always suffer; and then they talk about compensation!
You can't make compensation; there's all the trouble, and vexation,
and loss of time, besides losing a good horse that's like an old friend --
it's nonsense talking of compensation! If there's one devil
that I should like to see in the bottomless pit more than another,
it's the drink devil."
I've had Mr. B---- here asking about your vote, and he wants to hire your cab
for the election; he will call for an answer."
"Well, Polly, you may say that my cab will be otherwise engaged.
I should not like to have it pasted over with their great bills,
and as to making Jack and Captain race about to the public-houses
to bring up half-drunken voters, why, I think 'twould be an insult
to the horses. No, I shan't do it."
"I suppose you'll vote for the gentleman? He said he was of your politics."
"So he is in some things, but I shall not vote for him, Polly;
you know what his trade is?"
"Yes."
"Well, a man who gets rich by that trade may be all very well in some ways,
but he is blind as to what workingmen want; I could not in my conscience
send him up to make the laws. I dare say they'll be angry,
but every man must do what he thinks to be the best for his country."
On the morning before the election, Jerry was putting me into the shafts,
when Dolly came into the yard sobbing and crying, with her little blue frock
and white pinafore spattered all over with mud.
"Why, Dolly, what is the matter?"
"Those naughty boys," she sobbed, "have thrown the dirt all over me,
and called me a little raga-- raga--"
"They called her a little `blue' ragamuffin, father," said Harry,
who ran in looking very angry; "but I have given it to them;
they won't insult my sister again. I have given them a thrashing
they will remember; a set of cowardly, rascally `orange' blackguards."
Jerry kissed the child and said, "Run in to mother, my pet,
and tell her I think you had better stay at home to-day and help her."
Then turning gravely to Harry:
"My boy, I hope you will always defend your sister, and give anybody
who insults her a good thrashing -- that is as it should be;
but mind, I won't have any election blackguarding on my premises.
There are as many `blue' blackguards as there are `orange',
and as many white as there are purple, or any other color,
and I won't have any of my family mixed up with it. Even women and children
are ready to quarrel for the sake of a color, and not one in ten of them
knows what it is about."
"Why, father, I thought blue was for Liberty."
"My boy, Liberty does not come from colors, they only show party,
and all the liberty you can get out of them is, liberty to get drunk
at other people's expense, liberty to ride to the poll in a dirty old cab,
liberty to abuse any one that does not wear your color,
and to shout yourself hoarse at what you only half-understand --
that's your liberty!"
"Oh, father, you are laughing."
"No, Harry, I am serious, and I am ashamed to see how men go on
who ought to know better. An election is a very serious thing;
at least it ought to be, and every man ought to vote according to
his conscience, and let his neighbor do the same."
43 A Friend in Need
The election day came at last; there was no lack of work for Jerry and me.
First came a stout puffy gentleman with a carpet bag; he wanted to go
to the Bishopsgate station; then we were called by a party
who wished to be taken to the Regent's Park; and next we were wanted
in a side street where a timid, anxious old lady was waiting to be taken
to the bank; there we had to stop to take her back again,
and just as we had set her down a red-faced gentleman,
with a handful of papers, came running up out of breath,
and before Jerry could get down he had opened the door, popped himself in,
and called out, "Bow Street Police Station, quick!" so off we went with him,
and when after another turn or two we came back, there was no other cab
on the stand. Jerry put on my nose-bag, for as he said,
"We must eat when we can on such days as these; so munch away, Jack,
and make the best of your time, old boy."
I found I had a good feed of crushed oats wetted up with a little bran;
this would be a treat any day, but very refreshing then.
Jerry was so thoughtful and kind -- what horse would not do his best
for such a master? Then he took out one of Polly's meat pies,
and standing near me, he began to eat it. The streets were very full,
and the cabs, with the candidates' colors on them, were dashing about
through the crowd as if life and limb were of no consequence;
we saw two people knocked down that day, and one was a woman.
The horses were having a bad time of it, poor things!
but the voters inside thought nothing of that; many of them were half-drunk,
hurrahing out of the cab windows if their own party came by.
It was the first election I had seen, and I don't want to be in another,
though I have heard things are better now.
Jerry and I had not eaten many mouthfuls before a poor young woman,
carrying a heavy child, came along the street. She was looking
this way and that way, and seemed quite bewildered. Presently she made
her way up to Jerry and asked if he could tell her the way
to St. Thomas' Hospital, and how far it was to get there.
She had come from the country that morning, she said, in a market cart;
she did not know about the election, and was quite a stranger in London.
She had got an order for the hospital for her little boy.
The child was crying with a feeble, pining cry.
"Poor little fellow!" she said, "he suffers a deal of pain;
he is four years old and can't walk any more than a baby;
but the doctor said if I could get him into the hospital
he might get well; pray, sir, how far is it; and which way is it?"
"Why, missis," said Jerry, "you can't get there walking through crowds
like this! why, it is three miles away, and that child is heavy."
"Yes, bless him, he is; but I am strong, thank God, and if I knew the way
I think I should get on somehow; please tell me the way."
"You can't do it," said Jerry, "you might be knocked down
and the child be run over. Now look here, just get into this cab,
and I'll drive you safe to the hospital. Don't you see
the rain is coming on?"
"No, sir, no; I can't do that, thank you, I have only just money enough
to get back with. Please tell me the way."
"Look you here, missis," said Jerry, "I've got a wife and dear children
at home, and I know a father's feelings; now get you into that cab,
and I'll take you there for nothing. I'd be ashamed of myself
to let a woman and a sick child run a risk like that."
"Heaven bless you!" said the woman, and burst into tears.
"There, there, cheer up, my dear, I'll soon take you there;
come, let me put you inside."
As Jerry went to open the door two men, with colors in their hats
and buttonholes, ran up calling out, "Cab!"
"Engaged," cried Jerry; but one of the men, pushing past the woman,
sprang into the cab, followed by the other. Jerry looked as stern
as a policeman. "This cab is already engaged, gentlemen, by that lady."
"Lady!" said one of them; "oh! she can wait; our business is very important,
besides we were in first, it is our right, and we shall stay in."
A droll smile came over Jerry's face as he shut the door upon them.
"All right, gentlemen, pray stay in as long as it suits you;
I can wait while you rest yourselves." And turning his back upon them
he walked up to the young woman, who was standing near me.
"They'll soon be gone," he said, laughing; "don't trouble yourself, my dear."
And they soon were gone, for when they understood Jerry's dodge they got out,
calling him all sorts of bad names and blustering about his number
and getting a summons. After this little stoppage we were soon on our way
to the hospital, going as much as possible through by-streets.
Jerry rung the great bell and helped the young woman out.
"Thank you a thousand times," she said; "I could never have got here alone."
"You're kindly welcome, and I hope the dear child will soon be better."
He watched her go in at the door, and gently he said to himself,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these."
Then he patted my neck, which was always his way when anything pleased him.
The rain was now coming down fast, and just as we were leaving the hospital
the door opened again, and the porter called out, "Cab!" We stopped,
and a lady came down the steps. Jerry seemed to know her at once;
she put back her veil and said, "Barker! Jeremiah Barker, is it you?
I am very glad to find you here; you are just the friend I want,
for it is very difficult to get a cab in this part of London to-day."
"I shall be proud to serve you, ma'am; I am right glad I happened to be here.
Where may I take you to, ma'am?"
"To the Paddington Station, and then if we are in good time,
as I think we shall be, you shall tell me all about Mary and the children."
We got to the station in good time, and being under shelter the lady stood
a good while talking to Jerry. I found she had been Polly's mistress,
and after many inquiries about her she said:
"How do you find the cab work suit you in winter? I know Mary
was rather anxious about you last year."
"Yes, ma'am, she was; I had a bad cough that followed me up quite into
the warm weather, and when I am kept out late she does worry herself
a good deal. You see, ma'am, it is all hours and all weathers,
and that does try a man's constitution; but I am getting on pretty well,
and I should feel quite lost if I had not horses to look after.
I was brought up to it, and I am afraid I should not do so well
at anything else."
"Well, Barker," she said, "it would be a great pity that you should
seriously risk your health in this work, not only for your own
but for Mary's and the children's sake; there are many places
where good drivers or good grooms are wanted, and if ever you think
you ought to give up this cab work let me know."
Then sending some kind messages to Mary she put something into his hand,
saying, "There is five shillings each for the two children;
Mary will know how to spend it."
Jerry thanked her and seemed much pleased, and turning out of the station
we at last reached home, and I, at least, was tired.
44 Old Captain and His Successor
Captain and I were great friends. He was a noble old fellow,
and he was very good company. I never thought that he would have to
leave his home and go down the hill; but his turn came,
and this was how it happened. I was not there, but I heard all about it.
He and Jerry had taken a party to the great railway station
over London Bridge, and were coming back, somewhere between the bridge
and the monument, when Jerry saw a brewer's empty dray coming along,
drawn by two powerful horses. The drayman was lashing his horses with
his heavy whip; the dray was light, and they started off at a furious rate;
the man had no control over them, and the street was full of traffic.
One young girl was knocked down and run over, and the next moment they
dashed up against our cab; both the wheels were torn off and the cab
was thrown over. Captain was dragged down, the shafts splintered,
and one of them ran into his side. Jerry, too, was thrown,
but was only bruised; nobody could tell how he escaped;
he always said 'twas a miracle. When poor Captain was got up he was found
to be very much cut and knocked about. Jerry led him home gently,
and a sad sight it was to see the blood soaking into his white coat
and dropping from his side and shoulder. The drayman was proved to be
very drunk, and was fined, and the brewer had to pay damages to our master;
but there was no one to pay damages to poor Captain.
The farrier and Jerry did the best they could to ease his pain
and make him comfortable. The fly had to be mended, and for several days
I did not go out, and Jerry earned nothing. The first time we went to
the stand after the accident the governor came up to hear how Captain was.
"He'll never get over it," said Jerry, "at least not for my work,
so the farrier said this morning. He says he may do for carting,
and that sort of work. It has put me out very much. Carting, indeed!
I've seen what horses come to at that work round London. I only wish
all the drunkards could be put in a lunaticasylum instead of being allowed
to run foul of sober people. If they would break their own bones,
and smash their own carts, and lame their own horses, that would be
their own affair, and we might let them alone, but it seems to me
that the innocent always suffer; and then they talk about compensation!
You can't make compensation; there's all the trouble, and vexation,
and loss of time, besides losing a good horse that's like an old friend --
it's nonsense talking of compensation! If there's one devil
that I should like to see in the bottomless pit more than another,
it's the drink devil."
- election [i´lekʃən]
n.选举；选择 (初中英语单词) - otherwise [´ʌðəwaiz] ad.另外 conj.否则 (初中英语单词)
- insult [in´sʌlt, ´insʌlt] n.&vt.侮辱；损害 (初中英语单词)
- gravely [´greivli] ad.庄重地，严肃地 (初中英语单词)
- purple [´pə:pl] n.紫色 a.紫(红)的 (初中英语单词)
- ashamed [ə´ʃeimd] a.惭愧；不好意思 (初中英语单词)
- conscience [´kɔnʃəns] n.良心；道德心 (初中英语单词)
- carpet [´kɑ:pit] n.地毯 vt.铺地毯 (初中英语单词)
- anxious [´æŋkʃəs] a.担忧的；渴望的 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)
- standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)
- presently [´prezəntli] ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词)
- feeble [´fi:bəl] a.虚弱的，无力的 (初中英语单词)
- policeman [pə´li:smən] n.警察 (初中英语单词)
- welcome [´welkəm] a.受欢迎的；可喜的 (初中英语单词)
- gently [´dʒentli] ad.温和地；静静地 (初中英语单词)
- constitution [,kɔnsti´tju:ʃən] n.宪法；体格；体质 (初中英语单词)
- monument [´mɔnjumənt] n.纪念碑；古迹 (初中英语单词)
- furious [´fjuəriəs] a.狂怒的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
- miracle [´mirəkl] n.奇迹；令人惊奇的 (初中英语单词)
- governor [´gʌvənə] n.总督；州长 (初中英语单词)
- innocent [´inəsənt] a.无罪的；单纯的 (初中英语单词)
- naughty [´nɔ:ti] a.顽皮的；下流的 (高中英语单词)
- handful [hændful] n.一把，少数，一小撮 (高中英语单词)
- thoughtful [´θɔ:tfəl] a.深思的；体贴的 (高中英语单词)
- porter [´pɔ:tə] n.守门人；勤杂工人 (高中英语单词)
- compensation [,kɔmpen´seiʃən] n.补偿，赔偿 (高中英语单词)
- nonsense [´nɔnsəns] n.胡说 int.胡说!废话 (高中英语单词)
- cowardly [´kauədli] a.&ad.胆小的(地) (英语四级单词)
- hoarse [hɔ:s] a.嘶哑的；嗓门粗哑的 (英语四级单词)
- bridge [bridʒ] n.桥(梁)；鼻梁；桥牌 (英语四级单词)
- refreshing [ri´freʃiŋ] a.使心神爽快的 (英语六级单词)
- dashing [´dæʃiŋ] a.勇猛的；生气勃勃的 (英语六级单词)
- calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)
- lunatic [´lu:nətik] a.精神错乱的 n.疯子 (英语六级单词)
- asylum [ə´sailəm] n.避难所，收容所 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
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