the friendly road(友好的路)-第7节
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town road I could see the head of his horse and the top of his buggy。 I said
not a word； but continued with my practising。 Why shouldn't I？ But it gave
me quite a thrill for the moment； and at once I began to think of the
possibilities of the situation。 What a thing it was have so many unexpected
and interesting situations developing！ So I nodded my head and tapped my
foot； and blew into my whistle all the more energetically。 I knew my
visitor could not possibly keep away。 And he could not； presently he came
nearer and said：
〃What are you doing； neighbour？〃
I continued a moment with my playing； but commanded him with my
eye。
Oh； I assure you I assumed all the airs of a virtuoso。 When I had
finished my tune I removed my whistle deliberately and wiped my lips。
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〃Why； enjoying myself；〃 I replied with greatest good humour。 〃What
are you doing？〃
〃Why；〃 he said； 〃watching you enjoy yourself。 I heard you playing as I
passed in the road； and couldn't imagine what it could be。〃
I told him I thought it might still be difficult； having heard me near at
hand； to imagine what it could beand thus； tossing the ball of good…
humoured repartee back and forth； we walked down to the road together。
He had a quiet old horse and a curious top buggy with the unmistakable
box of an agent or peddler built on behind。
〃My name；〃 he said； 〃is Canfield。 I fight dust。〃
〃And mine；〃 I said； 〃is Grayson。 I whistle。〃
I discovered that he was an agent for brushes； and he opened his box
and showed me the greatest assortment of big and little brushes： bristle
brushes； broom brushes； yarn brushes； wire brushes； brushes for man and
brushes for beast； brushes of every conceivable size and shape that ever I
saw in all my life。 He had out one of his especial petshe called it his
〃leader〃and feeling it familiarly in his hand he instinctively began the
jargon of well…handled and voice…worn phrases which went with that
particular brush。 It was just as though some one had touched a button and
had started him going。 It was amazing to me that any one in the world
should be so much interested in mere brushesuntil he actually began to
make me feel that brushes were as interesting as anything else！
What a strange； little； dried…up old fellow he was； with his balls of
muttonchop sidewhiskers； his thick eyebrows； and his lively blue eyes！a
man evidently not readily turned aside by rebuffs。 He had already shown
that his wit as a talker had been sharpened by long and varied contact with
a world of reluctant purchasers。 I was really curious to know more of him；
so I said finally：
〃See here； Mr。 Canfield； it's just noon。 Why not sit down here with me
and have a bit of luncheon？〃
〃Why not？〃 he responded with alacrity。 〃As the fellow said； why not？〃
He unhitched his horse； gave him a drink from the brook； and then
tethered him where he could nip the roadside grass。 I opened my bag and
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explored the wonders of Mrs。 Stanley's luncheon。 I cannot describe the
absolutely carefree feeling I had。 Always at home； when I would have
liked to stop at the roadside with a stranger； I felt the nudge of a
conscience troubled with cows and corn； but here I could stop where I
liked； or go on when I liked； and talk with whom I pleased； as long as I
pleased。
So we sat there； the brush…peddler and I； under the trees； and ate Mrs。
Stanley's fine luncheon； drank the clear water from the brook； and talked
great talk。 Compared with Mr。 Canfield I was a babe at wanderingand
equally at talking。 Was there any business he had not been in； or any place
in the country he had not visited？ He had sold everything from fly…paper
to threshing…machines； he had picked up a large working knowledge of the
weaknesses of human nature； and had arrived at the age of sixty…six with
just enough available cash to pay the manufacturer for a new supply of
brushes。 In strict confidence； I drew certain conclusions from the colour of
his nose！ He had once had a family； but dropped them somewhere along
the road。 Most of our brisk neighbours would have put him down as a
failurean old man； and nothing laid by！ But I wonderI wonder。 One
thing I am coming to learn in this world； and that is to let people haggle
along with their lives as I haggle along with mine。
We both made tremendous inroads on the luncheon； and I presume we
might have sat there talking all the afternoon if I had not suddenly
bethought myself with a not unpleasant thrill that my resting…place for the
night was still gloriously undecided。
〃Friend；〃 I said； 〃I've got to be up and going。 I haven't so much as a
penny in my pocket； and I've got to find a place to sleep。〃
The effect of this remark upon Mr。 Canfield was magical。 He threw up
both his hands and cried out：
〃You're that way； are you？〃as though for the first time he really
understood。 We were at last on common ground。
〃Partner；〃 said he； 〃you needn't tell nothin' about it。 I've been right
there myself。〃
At once he began to bustle about with great enthusiasm。 He was for
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taking complete charge of me； and I think； if I had permitted it； would
instantly have made a brush…agent of me。 At least he would have carried
me along with him in his buggy； but when he suggested it I felt very much；
I think； as some old monk must have who had taken a vow to do some
particular thing in some particular way。 With great difficulty I convinced
him finally that my way was different from histhough he was regally
impartial as to what road he took nextand； finally； with some reluctance；
he started to climb into his buggy。
A thought； however； struck him suddenly； and he stepped down again；
ran around to the box at the back of his buggy； opened it with a mysterious
and smiling look at me； and took out a small broom…brush with which he
instantly began brushing off my coat and trousersin the liveliest and
most exuberant way。 When he had finished this occupation； he quickly
handed the brush to me。
〃A token of esteem；〃 he said； 〃from a fellow traveller。〃
I tried in vain to thank him； but he held up his hand； scrambled quickly
into his buggy； and was for driving off instantly； but paused and beckoned
me toward him。 When I approached the buggy； he took hold of one the
lapels of my coat； bent over； and said with the utmost seriousness：
〃No man ought to take the road without a brush。 A good broom…brush
is the world's greatest civilizer。 Are you looking seedy or dusty？why； this
here brush will instantly make you a respectable citizen。 Take my word for
it； friend； never go into any strange house without stoppin' and brushin' off。
It's money in your purse！ You can get along without dinner sometimes； or
even without a shirt； but without a brush never！ There's nothin' in the
world so necessary to rich AN' poor； old AN' young as a good brush！〃
And with a final burst of enthusiasm the brush…peddler drove off up
the hill。 I stood watching him and when he turned around I waved the
brush high over my head in token of a grateful farewell。
It was a good； serviceable； friendly brush。 I carried it throughout my
wanderings； and as I sit here writing in my study； at this moment； I can see
it hanging on a hook at the side of my fireplace。
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CHAPTER III。 THE HOUSE BY
THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
〃Everyone；〃 remarks Tristram Shandy； 〃will speak of the fair as his
own market has gone in it。〃
It came near being a sorry fair for me on the afternoon following my
parting with the amiable brush…peddler。 The p
