the idle thoughts of an idle fellow[1].(一个浪子的随想)-第32章
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poetry I ever learned； for
〃Hey； diddle diddle； The cat and the fiddle；〃 I take no note of； it being
of a frivolous character and lacking in the qualities of true poetry。 I
collected fourpence by the recital of 〃I remember； I remember。〃 I knew it
was fourpence； because they told me that if I kept it until I got twopence
more I should have sixpence； which argument； albeit undeniable； moved
me not； and the money was squandered； to the best of my recollection； on
the very next morning； although upon what memory is a blank。
That is just the way with Memory； nothing that she brings to us is
complete。 She is a willful child； all her toys are broken。 I remember
tumbling into a huge dust…hole when a very small boy； but I have not the
faintest recollection of ever getting out again； and if memory were all we
had to trust to； I should be compelled to believe I was there still。
At another timesome years laterI was assisting at an exceedingly
interesting love scene； but the only thing about it I can call to mind
distinctly is that at the most critical moment somebody suddenly opened
the door and said； 〃Emily； you're wanted；〃 in a sepulchral tone that gave
one the idea the police had come for her。 All the tender words she said to
me and all the beautiful things I said to her are utterly forgotten。
Life altogether is but a crumbling ruin when we turn to look behind： a
shattered column here； where a massive portal stood； the broken shaft of a
window to mark my lady's bower； and a moldering heap of blackened
stones where the glowing flames once leaped； and over all the tinted
lichen and the ivy clinging green。
For everything looms pleasant through the softening haze of time。
Even the sadness that is past seems sweet。 Our boyish days look very
merry to us now； all nutting； hoop； and gingerbread。 The snubbings and
toothaches and the Latin verbs are all forgottenthe Latin verbs especially。
And we fancy we were very happy when we were hobbledehoys and loved；
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
and we wish that we could love again。 We never think of the heartaches； or
the sleepless nights； or the hot dryness of our throats； when she said she
could never be anything to us but a sisteras if any man wanted more
sisters！
Yes； it is the brightness； not the darkness； that we see when we look
back。 The sunshine casts no shadows on the past。 The road that we have
traversed stretches very fair behind us。 We see not the sharp stones。 We
dwell but on the roses by the wayside； and the strong briers that stung us
are； to our distant eyes； but gentle tendrils waving in the wind。 God be
thanked that it is sothat the ever…lengthening chain of memory has only
pleasant links； and that the bitterness and sorrow of to…day are smiled at on
the morrow。
It seems as though the brightest side of everything were also its
highest and best； so that as our little lives sink back behind us into the dark
sea of forgetfulness； all that which is the lightest and the most gladsome is
the last to sink； and stands above the waters； long in sight； when the angry
thoughts and smarting pain are buried deep below the waves and trouble
us no more。
It is this glamour of the past； I suppose； that makes old folk talk so
much nonsense about the days when they were young。 The world appears
to have been a very superior sort of place then； and things were more like
what they ought to be。 Boys were boys then； and girls were very different。
Also winters were something like winters； and summers not at all the
wretched…things we get put off with nowadays。 As for the wonderful deeds
people did in those times and the extraordinary events that happened； it
takes three strong men to believe half of them。
I like to hear one of the old boys telling all about it to a party of
youngsters who he knows cannot contradict him。 It is odd if； after awhile；
he doesn't swear that the moon shone every night when he was a boy； and
that tossing mad bulls in a blanket was the favorite sport at his school。
It always has been and always will be the same。 The old folk of our
grandfathers' young days sang a song bearing exactly the same burden；
and the young folk of to…day will drone out precisely similar nonsense for
the aggravation of the next generation。 〃Oh； give me back the good old
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
days of fifty years ago；〃 has been the cry ever since Adam's fifty…first
birthday。 Take up the literature of 1835； and you will find the poets and
novelists asking for the same impossible gift as did the German
Minnesingers long before them and the old Norse Saga writers long before
that。 And for the same thing sighed the early prophets and the philosophers
of ancient Greece。 From all accounts； the world has been getting worse
and worse ever since it was created。 All I can say is that it must have been
a remarkably delightful place when it was first opened to the public； for it
is very pleasant even now if you only keep as much as possible in the
sunshine and take the rain good…temperedly。
Yet there is no gainsaying but that it must have been somewhat
sweeter in that dewy morning of creation； when it was young and fresh；
when the feet of the tramping millions had not trodden its grass to dust；
nor the din of the myriad cities chased the silence forever away。 Life must
have been noble and solemn to those free…footed； loose…robed fathers of
the human race； walking hand in hand with God under the great sky。 They
lived in sunkissed tents amid the lowing herds。 They took their simple
wants from the loving hand of Nature。 They toiled and talked and thought；
and the great earth rolled around in stillness； not yet laden with trouble and
wrong。
Those days are past now。 The quiet childhood of Humanity； spent in
the far…off forest glades and by the murmuring rivers； is gone forever； and
human life is deepening down to manhood amid tumult； doubt； and hope。
Its age of restful peace is past。 It has its work to finish and must hasten on。
What that work may bewhat this world's share is in the great designwe
know not； though our unconscious hands are helping to accomplish it。
Like the tiny coral insect working deep under the dark waters； we strive
and struggle each for our own little ends； nor dream of the vast fabric we
are building up for God。
Let us have done with vain regrets and longings for the days that never
will be ours again。 Our work lies in front； not behind us； and 〃Forward！〃 is
our motto。 Let us not sit with folded hands； gazing upon the past as if it
were the building； it is but the foundation。 Let us not waste heart and life
thinking of what might have been and forgetting the may be that lies
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
before us。 Opportunities flit by while we sit regretting the chances we
have lost； and the happiness that comes to us we heed not； because of the
happine
