按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
time； that this was a faithful； honorable witness； giving evidence in the
sacred interest of justice； and under oath。 He said：
〃Mrs。 BeazeleyMrs。 Jackson Beazeley； widow； of the village of
Campbellton； Kansas；wrote me about a matter which was near her heart
a matter which many might think trivial； but to her it was a thing of
deep concern。 I was living in Michigan； thenserving in the ministry。
She was； and is； an estimable womana woman to whom poverty and hardship
have proven incentives to industry； in place of discouragements。
Her only treasure was her son William； a youth just verging upon manhood；
religious； amiable； and sincerely attached to agriculture。 He was the
widow's comfort and her pride。 And so； moved by her love for him； she
wrote me about a matter； as I have said before； which lay near her heart
because it lay near her boy's。 She desired me to confer with
Mr。 Greeley about turnips。 Turnips were the dream of her child's young
ambition。 While other youths were frittering away in frivolous
amusements the precious years of budding vigor which God had given them
for useful preparation； this boy was patiently enriching his mind with
information concerning turnips。 The sentiment which he felt toward the
turnip was akin to adoration。 He could not think of the turnip without
emotion； he could not speak of it calmly； he could not contemplate it
without exaltation。 He could not eat it without shedding tears。 All the
poetry in his sensitive nature was in sympathy with the gracious
vegetable。 With the earliest pipe of dawn he sought his patch； and when
the curtaining night drove him from it he shut himself up with his books
and garnered statistics till sleep overcame him。 On rainy days he sat
and talked hours together with his mother about turnips。 When company
came； he made it his loving duty to put aside everything else and
converse with them all the day long of his great joy in the turnip。
And yet； was this joy rounded and complete？ Was there no secret alloy of
unhappiness in it？ Alas； there was。 There was a canker gnawing at his
heart； the noblest inspiration of his soul eluded his endeavorviz： he
could not make of the turnip a climbing vine。 Months went by； the bloom
forsook his cheek； the fire faded out of his eye； sighings and
abstraction usurped the place of smiles and cheerful converse。 But a
watchful eye noted these things and in time a motherly sympathy unsealed
the secret。 Hence the letter to me。 She pleaded for attentionshe said
her boy was dying by inches。
〃I was a stranger to Mr。 Greeley； but what of that？ The matter was
urgent。 I wrote and begged him to solve the difficult problem if
possible and save the student's life。 My interest grew； until it partook
of the anxiety of the mother。 I waited in much suspense。At last the
answer came。
〃I found that I could not read it readily； the handwriting being
unfamiliar and my emotions somewhat wrought up。 It seemed to refer in
part to the boy's case； but chiefly to other and irrelevant matterssuch
as paving…stones； electricity； oysters； and something which I took to be
'absolution' or 'agrarianism；' I could not be certain which； still； these
appeared to be simply casual mentions； nothing more； friendly in spirit；
without doubt； but lacking the connection or coherence necessary to make
them useful。I judged that my understanding was affected by my feelings；
and so laid the letter away till morning。
〃In the morning I read it again； but with difficulty and uncertainty
still； for I had lost some little rest and my mental vision seemed
clouded。 The note was more connected； now； but did not meet the
emergency it was expected to meet。 It was too discursive。 It appeared
to read as follows； though I was not certain of some of the words：
〃Polygamy dissembles majesty； extracts redeem polarity； causes
hitherto exist。 Ovations pursue wisdom； or warts inherit and
condemn。 Boston； botany； cakes； folony undertakes； but who shall
allay？ We fear not。 Yrxwly；
HEVACE EVEELOJ。'
〃But there did not seem to be a word about turnips。 There seemed to be
no suggestion as to how they might be made to grow like vines。 There was
not even a reference to the Beazeleys。 I slept upon the matter； I ate no
supper； neither any breakfast next morning。 So I resumed my work with a
brain refreshed； and was very hopeful。 Now the letter took a different
aspect…all save the signature； which latter I judged to be only a
harmless affectation of Hebrew。 The epistle was necessarily from Mr。
Greeley； for it bore the printed heading of The Tribune； and I had
written to no one else there。 The letter； I say； had taken a different
aspect； but still its language was eccentric and avoided the issue。 It
now appeared to say：
〃Bolivia extemporizes mackerel； borax esteems polygamy； sausages
wither in the east。 Creation perdu； is done； for woes inherent one
can damn。 Buttons； buttons； corks； geology underrates but we shall
allay。 My beer's out。 Yrxwly；
HEVACE EVEELOJ。'
〃I was evidently overworked。 My comprehension was impaired。 Therefore I
gave two days to recreation； and then returned to my task greatly
refreshed。 The letter now took this form：
〃Poultices do sometimes choke swine； tulips reduce posterity； causes
leather to resist。 Our notions empower wisdom； her let's afford
while we can。 Butter but any cakes； fill any undertaker； we'll wean
him from his filly。 We feel hot。
Yrxwly； HEVACE EVEELOJ。'
〃I was still not satisfied。 These generalities did not meet the
question。 They were crisp； and vigorous； and delivered with a confidence
that almost compelled conviction； but at such a time as this； with a
human life at stake； they seemed inappropriate； worldly； and in bad
taste。 At any other time I would have been not only glad； but proud； to
receive from a man like Mr。 Greeley a letter of this kind； and would have
studied it earnestly and tried to improve myself all I could； but now；
with that poor boy in his far home languishing for relief； I had no heart
for learning。
〃Three days passed by； and I read the note again。 Again its tenor had
changed。 It now appeared to say：
〃Potations do sometimes wake wines； turnips restrain passion； causes
necessary to state。 Infest the poor widow； her lord's effects will
be void。 But dirt； bathing； etc。； etc。； followed unfairly； will
worm him from his follyso swear not。
Yrxwly； HEVACE EVEELOJ。'
〃This was more like it。 But I was unable to proceed。 I was too much
worn。 The word 'turnips' brought temporary joy and encouragement； but my
strength was so much impaired； and the delay might be so perilous for the
boy； that I relinquished the idea of pursuing the translation further；
and resolved to do what I ought to have done at first。 I sat down and
wrote Mr。 Greeley as follows：
〃DEAR SIR： I fear I do not entirely comprehend your kind note。 It
cannot be po