the americanization of edward bok-第31部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

eported。　〃Nonsense；〃　said　Field。　〃It　can't　be。〃　All　went　down…stairs　to　find　out　the　truth。　〃Let's　get　supper　ourselves；〃　suggested　Russell。　Then　it　was　discovered　that　not　a　morsel　of　food　was　to　be　found　in　the　refrigerator；　closet；　or　cellar。　〃That's　a　joke　on　us；〃　said　Field。　〃Julia　has　left　us　without　a　crumb　to　eat。

It　was　then　nine　o'clock。　Riley　and　Bok　held　a　council　of　war　and　decided　to　slip　out　and　buy　some　food；　only　to　find　that　the　front；　basement；　and　back　doors　were　locked　and　the　keys　missing！　Field　was　very　sober。　〃Thorough　woman；　that　wife　of　mine；〃　he　commented。　But　his　friends　knew　better。

Finally；　the　Hoosier　poet　and　the　Philadelphia　editor　crawled　through　one　of　the　basement　windows　and　started　on　a　foraging　expedition。　Of　course；　Field　lived　in　a　residential　section　where　there　were　few　stores；　and　on　Sunday　these　were　closed。　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　to　board　a　down…town　car。　Finally　they　found　a　delicatessen　shop　open；　and　the　two　hungry　men　amazed　the　proprietor　by　nearly　buying　out　his　stock。

It　was　after　ten　o'clock　when　Riley　and　Bok　got　back　to　the　house　with　their　load　of　provisions　to　find　every　door　locked；　every　curtain　drawn；　and　the　bolt　sprung　on　every　window。　Only　the　cellar　grating　remained；　and　through　this　the　two　dropped　their　bundles　and　themselves；　and　appeared　in　the　dining…room；　dirty　and　dishevelled；　to　find　the　party　at　table　enjoying　a　supper　which　Field　had　carefully　hidden　and　brought　out　when　they　had　left　the　house。

Riley；　cold　and　hungry；　and　before　this　time　the　victim　of　Field's　practical　jokes；　was　not　in　a　merry　humor　and　began　to　recite　paraphrases　of　Field's　poems。　Field　retorted　by　paraphrasing　Riley's　poems；　and　mimicking　the　marked　characteristics　of　Riley's　speech。　This　started　Sol　Smith　Russell；　who　mimicked　both。　The　fun　grew　fast　and　furious；　the　entire　company　now　took　part；　Mrs。　Field's　dresses　were　laid　under　contribution；　and　Field；　Russell；　and　Riley　gave　an　impromptu　play。　And　it　was　upon　this　scene　that　Mrs。　Field；　after　a　continuous　ringing　of　the　door…bell　and　nearly　battering　down　the　door；　appeared　at　seven　o'clock　the　next　morning！

It　was　fortunate　that　Eugene　Field　had　a　patient　wife；　she　needed　every　ounce　of　patience　that　she　could　command。　And　no　one　realized　this　more　keenly　than　did　her　husband。　He　once　told　of　a　dream　he　had　which　illustrated　the　endurance　of　his　wife。

〃I　thought；〃　said　Field；　〃that　I　had　died　and　gone　to　heaven。　I　had　some　difficulty　in　getting　past　St。　Peter；　who　regarded　me　with　doubt　and　suspicion；　and　examined　my　records　closely；　but　finally　permitted　me　to　enter　the　pearly　gates。　As　I　walked　up　the　street　of　the　heavenly　city；　I　saw　a　venerable　old　man　with　long　gray　hair　and　flowing　beard。　His　benignant　face　encouraged　me　to　address　him。　'I　have　just　arrived　and　I　am　entirely　unacquainted；'　I　said。　'May　I　ask　your　name？'

〃'My　name；'　he　replied；　'is　Job。'

〃'Indeed；'　I　exclaimed；　'are　you　that　Job　whom　we　were　taught　to　revere　as　the　most　patient　being　in　the　world？'

〃'The　same；'　he　said；　with　a　shadow　of　hesitation；　'I　did　have　quite　a　reputation　for　patience　once；　but　I　hear　that　there　is　a　woman　now　on　earth；　in　Chicago；　who　has　suffered　more　than　I　ever　did；　and　she　has　endured　it　with　great　resignation。'

〃'Why；'　said　I；　'that　is　curious。　I　am　just　from　earth；　and　from　Chicago；　and　I　do　not　remember　to　have　heard　of　her　case。　What　is　her　name？'

〃'Mrs。　Eugene　Field；'　was　the　reply。

〃Just　then　I　awoke；〃　ended　Field。

The　success　of　Field's　paragraph　engaging　Bok　to　Miss　Pinkham　stimulated　the　poet　to　greater　effort。　Bok　had　gone　to　Europe；　Field；　having　found　out　the　date　of　his　probable　return；　just　about　when　the　steamer　was　due；　printed　an　interview　with　the　editor　〃at　quarantine〃　which　sounded　so　plausible　that　even　the　men　in　Bok's　office　in　Philadelphia　were　fooled　and　prepared　for　his　arrival。　The　interview　recounted；　in　detail；　the　changes　in　women's　fashions　in　Paris；　and　so　plausible　had　Field　made　it；　based　upon　information　obtained　at　Marshall　Field's；　that　even　the　fashion　papers　copied　it。

All　this　delighted　Field　beyond　measure。　Bok　begged　him　to　desist；　but　Field　answered　by　printing　an　item　to　the　effect　that　there　was　the　highest　authority　for　denying　〃the　reports　industriously　circulated　some　time　ago　to　the　effect　that　Mr。　Bok　was　engaged　to　be　married　to　a　New　England　young　lady；　whereas；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　it　is　no　violation　of　friendly　confidence　that　makes　it　possible　to　announce　that　the　Philadelphia　editor　is　engaged　to　Mrs。　Frank　Leslie；　of　New　York。〃

It　so　happened　that　Field　put　this　new　paragraph　on　the　wire　just　about　the　time　that　Bok's　actual　engagement　was　announced。　Field　was　now　deeply　contrite；　and　sincerely　promised　Bok　and　his　fiancee　to　reform。　〃I'm　through；　you　mooning；　spooning　calf；　you；〃　he　wrote　Bok；　and　his　friend　believed　him；　only　to　receive　a　telegram　the　next　day　from　Mrs。　Field　warning　him　that　〃Gene　is　planning　a　series　of　telephonic　conversations　with　you　and　Miss　Curtis　at　college　that　I　think　should　not　be　printed。〃　Bok　knew　it　was　of　no　use　trying　to　curb　Field's　industry；　and　so　he　wired　the　editor　of　the　Chicago　News　for　his　cooperation。　Field；　now　checked；　asked　Bok　and　his　fiancee　and　the　parents　of　both　to　come　to　Chicago；　be　his　guests　for　the　World's　Fair；　and　〃let　me　make　amends。〃

It　was　a　happy　visit。　Field　was　all　kindness；　and；　of　course；　the　entire　party　was　charmed　by　his　personality。　But　the　boy　in　him　could　not　be　repressed。　He　had　kept　it　down　all　through　the　visit。　〃No；　not　a　joke…cross　my　heart；〃　he　would　say；　and　then　he　invited　the　party　to　lunch　with　him　on　their　way　to　the　train　when　they　were　leaving　for　home。　〃But　we　shall　be　in　our　travelling　clothes；　not　dressed　for　a　luncheon；〃　protested　the　women。　It　was　an　unfortunate　protest；　for　it　gave　Field　an　idea！　〃Oh；〃　he　assured　them；　〃just　a　goodbye　luncheon　at　the　club；　just　you　folks　and　Julia　and　me。〃　They　believed　him；　only　to　find　upon　their　arrival　at　the　club　an　assembly　of　over　sixty　guests　at　one　of　the　most　elaborate　luncheons　ever　served　in　Chicago；　with　each　woman　guest　carefully　enjoined　by　Field；　in　his　invitation；　to　〃put　on　her　prettiest　and　most　elaborate　costume　in　order　to　dress　up　the　table！〃

One　day　Field　came　to　Philadelphia　to　give　a　reading　in　Camden　in　conjunction　with　George　W。　Cable。　It　chanced　that　his　friend；　Francis　Wilson；　was　opening　that　same　evening　in　Philadelphia　in　a　new　comic　opera　which　Field　had　not　seen。　He　immediately　refused　to　give　his　reading；　and　insisted　upon　going　to　the　theatre。　The　combined　efforts　of　his　manager；　Wilson；　Mr。　Cable；　and　his　friends　finally　persuaded　him　to　keep　his　engagement　and　join　in　a　double…box　party　later　at　the　theatre。　To　make　sure　that　he　would　keep　his　lecture　appointment；　Bok　decided　to　go　to　Camden　with　him。　Field　and　Cable　were　to　appear　alternately。

Field　went　on　for　his　first　number；　and　when　he　came　off；　he　turned　to　Bok　and　said：　〃No　use；　Bok；　I'm　a　sick　man。　I　must　go　home。　Cable　can　see　this　through；〃　and　despite　every　protestation　Field　bundled　himself　into　his　overcoat　and　made　for　his　carriage。　〃Sick；　Bok；　really　sick；〃　he　muttered　as　they　rode　along。　Then　seeing　a　fruit…stand　he　said：　〃Buy　me　a　bag　of　oranges；　like　a　good　fellow。　They'll　do　me　good。

When　Philadelphia　was　reached；　he　suggested：　〃Do　you　know　I　think　it　would　do　me　good　to　go　and　see　Frank　in　the　new　play？　Tell　the　driver　to　go　to　the　theatre　like　a　good　boy。〃　Of　course；　that　had　been　his　intent　all　along！　When　the　theatre　was　reached　he　insisted　upon　taking　the　oranges　with　him。　〃They'll　steal　'em　if　you　leave　'em　there；〃　he　said。

Field　lost　all　traces　of　his　supposed　illness　the　moment　he　reached　the　box。　Francis　Wilson　was　on　the　stage　with　Marie　Jansen。　〃Isn't　it　beautiful？〃　said　Field；　and　directing　the　attention　of　the　party　to　the　players；　he　reached　under　his　chair　for　the　bag　of　oranges；　took　one　out；　and　was　about　to　throw　it　at　Wilson　when　Bok　caught　his　arm；　took　the　orange　away　from　him；　and　grabbed　the　bag。　Field　never　forgave　Bok　for　this　act　of　watchfulness。　〃Treason；〃　he　hissed〃going　back　on　a　friend。〃

The　one　object　of　Field's　ambition　was　to　achieve　the　distinction　of　so　〃fussing〃　Francis　Wilson　that　he　would　be　compelled　to　ring　down　the　curtain。　He　had　tried　every　conceivable　trick：　had　walked　on　the　stage　in　one　of　Wilson's　scenes；　had　started　a　quarrel　with　an　usher　in　the　audienceeverything　that　ingenuity　could　conceive　he　had　practised　on　his　friend。　Bok　had　known　this　penchant　of　Field's；　and　when　he　insisted　on　taking　the　bag　of　oranges　into　the　theatre；　Field's　purpose　was　evident！

One　day　Bok　received　a　wire　from　Field：　〃City　of　New　Orleans　purposing　give　me　largest　public　reception　on　sixth　ever　given　an　author。　Event　of　unusual　quality。　Mayor　and　city　officials　peculiarly　desirous　of　having　you　introduce　me　to　vast　audience　they　propose　to　have。　Hate　to　ask　you　to　travel　so　far；　but　would　be　great　favor　to　me。　Wire　answer。〃　Bok　wired　back　his　willingness　to　travel　to　New　Orleans　and　oblige　his　friend。　It　occurred　to　Bok；　however；　to　write　to　a　friend　in　New　Orleans　and　ask　the　particulars。　Of　course；　there　was　never　any　thought　of　Field　going　to　New