sketches of young couples(年轻夫妇素描)-第14节
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was so merry； and have the young couple indeed grown old so soon！
It seems but yesterday … and yet what a host of cares and griefs are
crowded into the intervening time which； reckoned by them； lengthens out
into a century！ How many new associations have wreathed themselves
about their hearts since then！ The old time is gone； and a new time has
come for others … not for them。 They are but the rusting link that feebly
joins the two； and is silently loosening its hold and dropping asunder。
It seems but yesterday … and yet three of their children have sunk into
the grave； and the tree that shades it has grown quite old。 One was an
infant … they wept for him； the next a girl； a slight young thing too delicate
for earth … her loss was hard indeed to bear。 The third； a man。 That was the
worst of all； but even that grief is softened now。
It seems but yesterday … and yet how the gay and laughing faces of that
bright morning have changed and vanished from above ground！ Faint
likenesses of some remain about them yet； but they are very faint and
scarcely to be traced。 The rest are only seen in dreams； and even they are
unlike what they were； in eyes so old and dim。
One or two dresses from the bridal wardrobe are yet preserved。 They
are of a quaint and antique fashion； and seldom seen except in pictures。
White has turned yellow； and brighter hues have faded。 Do you wonder；
child？ The wrinkled face was once as smooth as yours； the eyes as bright；
the shrivelled skin as fair and delicate。 It is the work of hands that have
been dust these many years。
Where are the fairy lovers of that happy day whose annual return
comes upon the old man and his wife； like the echo of some village bell
which has long been silent？ Let yonder peevish bachelor； racked by
rheumatic pains； and quarrelling with the world； let him answer to the
question。 He recollects something of a favourite playmate； her name was
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Lucy … so they tell him。 He is not sure whether she was married； or went
abroad； or died。 It is a long while ago； and he don't remember。
Is nothing as it used to be； does no one feel； or think； or act； as in days
of yore？ Yes。 There is an aged woman who once lived servant with the old
lady's father； and is sheltered in an alms… house not far off。 She is still
attached to the family； and loves them all； she nursed the children in her
lap； and tended in their sickness those who are no more。 Her old mistress
has still something of youth in her eyes； the young ladies are like what she
was but not quite so handsome； nor are the gentlemen as stately as Mr。
Harvey used to be。 She has seen a great deal of trouble； her husband and
her son died long ago； but she has got over that； and is happy now … quite
happy。
If ever her attachment to her old protectors were disturbed by fresher
cares and hopes； it has long since resumed its former current。 It has filled
the void in the poor creature's heart； and replaced the love of kindred。
Death has not left her alone； and this； with a roof above her head； and a
warm hearth to sit by； makes her cheerful and contented。 Does she
remember the marriage of great…grandmamma？ Ay； that she does； as well …
as if it was only yesterday。 You wouldn't think it to look at her now； and
perhaps she ought not to say so of herself； but she was as smart a young
girl then as you'd wish to see。 She recollects she took a friend of hers up…
stairs to see Miss Emma dressed for church； her name was … ah！ she
forgets the name； but she remembers that she was a very pretty girl； and
that she married not long afterwards； and lived … it has quite passed out of
her mind where she lived； but she knows she had a bad husband who used
her ill； and that she died in Lambeth work…house。 Dear； dear； in Lambeth
workhouse！
And the old couple … have they no comfort or enjoyment of existence？
See them among their grandchildren and great… grandchildren； how
garrulous they are； how they compare one with another； and insist on
likenesses which no one else can see； how gently the old lady lectures the
girls on points of breeding and decorum； and points the moral by
anecdotes of herself in her young days … how the old gentleman chuckles
over boyish feats and roguish tricks； and tells long stories of a 'barring…out'
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achieved at the school he went to： which was very wrong； he tells the boys；
and never to be imitated of course； but which he cannot help letting them
know was very pleasant too … especially when he kissed the master's niece。
This last； however； is a point on which the old lady is very tender； for she
considers it a shocking and indelicate thing to talk about； and always says
so whenever it is mentioned； never failing to observe that he ought to be
very penitent for having been so sinful。 So the old gentleman gets no
further； and what the schoolmaster's niece said afterwards （which he is
always going to tell） is lost to posterity。
The old gentleman is eighty years old； to…day … 'Eighty years old；
Crofts； and never had a headache；' he tells the barber who shaves him （the
barber being a young fellow； and very subject to that complaint）。 'That's a
great age； Crofts；' says the old gentleman。 'I don't think it's sich a wery
great age； Sir；' replied the barber。 'Crofts；' rejoins the old gentleman；
'you're talking nonsense to me。 Eighty not a great age？' 'It's a wery great
age； Sir； for a gentleman to be as healthy and active as you are；' returns the
barber； 'but my grandfather； Sir； he was ninety…four。' 'You don't mean that；
Crofts？' says the old gentleman。 'I do indeed； Sir；' retorts the barber； 'and as
wiggerous as Julius Caesar； my grandfather was。' The old gentleman
muses a little time； and then says； 'What did he die of； Crofts？' 'He died
accidentally； Sir；' returns the barber； 'he didn't mean to do it。 He always
would go a running about the streets … walking never satisfied HIS spirit …
and he run against a post and died of a hurt in his chest。' The old
gentleman says no more until the shaving is concluded； and then he gives
Crofts half…a…crown to drink his health。 He is a little doubtful of the
barber's veracity afterwards； and telling the anecdote to the old lady；
affects to make very light of it … though to be sure （he adds） there was old
Parr； and in some parts of England； ninety…five or so is a common age；
quite a common age。
This morning the old couple are cheerful but serious； recalling old
times as well as they can remember them； and dwelling upon many
passages in their past lives which the day brings to mind。 The old lady
reads aloud； in a tremulous voice； out of a great Bible； and the old
gentleman with his hand to his ear； listens with profound respect。 When
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the book is closed； they sit silent for a short space； and afterwards resume
their conversation； with a reference perhaps to their dead children； as a
subject not unsuited to that they have just left。 By degrees they are led to
consider which of those who survive are the most like those dearly…
remembered objects； and so they fall into a less solemn strain； and become
cheerful again。
How many people in all； grandchildren； great…grandchildren； and one
or two intimate friends of the family； dine together to…day at the eldest
son's to congratulate the old couple； and wish them many happy returns； is
a calculation beyond our powers； but this we know； that the old couple no
sooner present themselves； very sprucely and carefully attired； than there
is a violent shouting and rushing forward of the younger branches with all
manner of presents；
