the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第24章
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balling at school； skating on the Mill Pond； coasting by moonlight； long
rides behind Gypsy in a brand…new little sleigh built expressly for her；
were sports no less exhilarating than those which belonged to the sunny
months。 And then Thanksgiving！ The nose of Memory…why shouldn't
Memory have a nose？…dilates with pleasure over the rich perfume of Miss
Abigail's forty mince…pies； each one more delightful than the other； like
the Sultan's forty wives。 Christmas was another red…letter day； though it
was not so generally observed in New England as it is now。
The great wood…fire in the tiled chimney…place made our sitting…room
very cheerful of winter nights。 When the north…wind howled about the
eaves； and the sharp fingers of the sleet tapped against the window…panes；
it was nice to be so warmly sheltered from the storm。 A dish of apples and
a pitcher of chilly cider were always served during the evening。 The
Captain had a funny way of leaning back in the chair； and eating his apple
with his eyes closed。 Sometimes I played dominos with him； and
sometimes Miss Abigail read aloud to us； pronouncing 〃to〃 toe； and
sounding all the eds。
In a former chapter I alluded to Miss Abigail's managing propensities。
She had affected many changes in the Nutter House before I came there to
live； but there was one thing against which she bad long contended
without being able to overcome。 This was the Captain's pipe。 On first
taking command of the household； she prohibited smoking in the sitting…
room； where it had been the old gentleman's custom to take a whiff or two
of the fragrant weed after meals。 The edict went forth…and so did the pipe。
An excellent move； no doubt； but then the house was his； and if he saw fit
to keep a tub of tobacco burning in the middle of the parlor floor； he had a
perfect right to do so。 However； be humored her in this as in other matters；
and smoked by stealth； like a guilty creature； in the barn； or about the
gardens。 That was practicable in summer； but in winter the Captain was
hard put to it。 When he couldn't stand it longer； he retreated to his
bedroom and barricaded the door。 Such was the position of affairs at the
time of which I write。
One morning； a few days after the great snow； as Miss Abigail was
dusting the chronometer in the ball； she beheld Captain Nutter slowly
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descending the staircase； with a long clay pipe in his mouth。 Miss Abigail
could hardly credit her own eyes。
〃Dan'el！〃 she gasped； retiring heavily on the hat…rack。
The tone of reproach with which this word was uttered failed to
produce the slightest effect on the Captain； who merely removed the pipe
from his lips for an instant； and blew a cloud into the chilly air。 The
thermometer stood at two degrees below zero in our hall。
〃Dan'el！〃 cried Miss Abigail； hysterically…〃Dan'el； don't come near
me！〃 Whereupon she fainted away； for the smell of tobacco…smoke always
made her deadly sick。
Kitty Collins rushed from the kitchen with a basin of water； and set to
work bathing Miss Abigail's temples and chafing her hands。 I thought my
grandfather rather cruel； as be stood there with a half…smile on his
countenance； complacently watching Miss Abigail's sufferings。 When she
was 〃brought to；〃 the Captain sat down beside her； and； with a lovely
twinkle in his eye； said softly：
〃Abigail； my dear； there wasn't any tobacco in that Pipe！ It was a new
pipe。 I fetched it down for Tom to blow soap…bubbles with。〃
At these words Kitty Collins hurried away； her features…working
strangely。 Several minutes later I came upon her in the scullery with the
greater portion of a crash towel stuffed into her mouth。 〃Miss Abygil smelt
the terbacca with her oi！〃 cried Kitty； partially removing the cloth； and
then immediately stopping herself up again。
The Captain's joke furnished us…that is； Kitty and me…with mirth for
many a day； as to Miss Abigail； I think she never wholly pardoned him。
After this； Captain Nutter gradually gave up smoking； which is an untidy；
injurious； disgraceful； and highly pleasant habit。
A boy's life in a secluded New England town in winter does not afford
many points for illustration。 Of course he gets his ears or toes frost…bitten；
of course he smashes his sled against another boy's； of course be bangs his
bead on the ice； and he's a lad of no enterprise whatever； if be doesn't
manage to skate into an eel…hole； and be brought home half drowned。 All
these things happened to me； but； as they lack novelty； I pass them over； to
tell you about the famous snow…fort which we built on Slatter's Hill。
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Thirteen
The Snow Fort on Slatter's Hill
The memory of man； even that of the Oldest Inhabitant； runneth not
back to the time when there did not exist a feud between the North End
and the South End boys of Rivermouth。
The origin of the feud is involved in mystery； it is impossible to say
which party was the first aggressor in the far…off anterevolutionary ages；
but the fact remains that the youngsters of those antipodal sections
entertained a mortal hatred for each other； and that this hatred had been
handed down from generation to generation； like Miles Standish's punch…
bowl。
I know not what laws； natural or unnatural； regulated the warmth of
the quarrel； but at some seasons it raged more violently than at others。
This winter both parties were unusually lively and antagonistic。 Great was
the wrath of the South…Enders； when they discovered that the North…
Enders bad thrown up a fort on the crown of Slatter's Hill。
Slatter's Hill； or No…man's…land； as it was generally called； was a rise
of ground covering； perhaps； an acre and a quarter； situated on an
imaginary line； marking the boundary between the two districts。 An
immense stratum of granite； which here and there thrust out a wrinkled
boulder； prevented the site from being used for building purposes。 The
street ran on either side of the hill； from one part of which a quantity of
rock had been removed to form the underpinning of the new jail。 This
excavation made the approach from that point all but impossible；
especially when the ragged ledges were a…glitter with ice。 You see what a
spot it was for a snow…fort。
One evening twenty or thirty of the North…Enders quietly took
possession of Slatter's Hill； and threw up a strong line of breastworks；
something after this shape：
Ft Slatter graphic
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The rear of the entrenchment
