ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡
¶ÁÊéÊÒ ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ© ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ¡ºÊղص½ÎÒµÄä¯ÀÀÆ÷¡»

the friendly road(ÓѺõÄ·)-µÚ25²¿·Ö

¿ì½Ý²Ù×÷: °´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³ °´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ °´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿! Èç¹û±¾ÊéûÓÐÔĶÁÍ꣬ÏëÏ´μÌÐø½Ó×ÅÔĶÁ£¬¿ÉʹÓÃÉÏ·½ "Êղص½ÎÒµÄä¯ÀÀÆ÷" ¹¦ÄÜ ºÍ "¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©" ¹¦ÄÜ£¡


making¡¡my¡¡best¡¡bow¡¡to¡¡each¡¡unfamiliar¡¡hill£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡everywhere¡¡that¡¡

toll¡¡of¡¡pleasure¡¡which¡¡comes¡¡of¡¡quiet¡¡discovery¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡evening£»¡¡having¡¡walked¡¡farther¡¡than¡¡usual£»¡¡I¡¡came¡¡quite¡¡suddenly¡¡

around¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡turn¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡road¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stretching¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡

extraordinary¡¡sight¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡conveying¡¡no¡¡adequate¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡what¡¡I¡¡beheld¡¡by¡¡

giving¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡prim¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡decorous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡name¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡asa¡¡¡¡¡¡Hedge¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

menagerie£»¡¡a¡¡living£»¡¡green¡¡menagerie£¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡than¡¡I¡¡began¡¡

puzzling¡¡my¡¡brain¡¡as¡¡to¡¡whether¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡curious¡¡ornaments¡¡into¡¡which¡¡

the¡¡upper¡¡¡¡¡¡part¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡hedge¡¡had¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡clipped¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡trimmed¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

represent¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡a¡¡horse£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡camel£»¡¡or¡¡an¡¡Egyptian¡¡sphinx¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡hedge¡¡was¡¡of¡¡arbor¡¡vite¡¡and¡¡as¡¡high¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡waist¡£¡¡At¡¡more¡¡or¡¡

less¡¡regular¡¡intervals¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡in¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡much¡¡taller¡¡

and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wonderfully¡¡pruned¡¡into¡¡the¡¡similitude¡¡of¡¡towers£»¡¡pinnacles£»¡¡

bells£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡other¡¡strange¡¡designs¡£¡¡Here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡the¡¡hedge¡¡held¡¡up¡¡a¡¡

spindling¡¡umbrella¡¡of¡¡greenery£»¡¡sometimes¡¡a¡¡double¡¡umbrellaa¡¡little¡¡one¡¡

above¡¡the¡¡big¡¡oneand¡¡over¡¡the¡¡gateway¡¡at¡¡the¡¡centre£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡final¡¡

triumph£»¡¡rose¡¡a¡¡grandiose¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡interlaced¡¡branches¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡the¡¡artist¡¡

had¡¡outdone¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡marvels¡¡of¡¡ornamentation¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡sensation¡¡of¡¡delight¡¡I¡¡had¡¡over¡¡this¡¡discovery£»¡¡

or¡¡of¡¡how¡¡I¡¡walked£»¡¡tiptoe£»¡¡along¡¡the¡¡road¡¡in¡¡front£»¡¡studying¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

marvellous¡¡¡¡¡¡adornments¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡eagerly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡too£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡

beyonda¡¡rather¡¡bare£»¡¡bleak¡¡house¡¡set¡¡on¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡knoll¡¡or¡¡elevation¡¡and¡¡

guarded¡¡at¡¡one¡¡corner¡¡by¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡spruce¡¡tree¡£¡¡At¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡behind¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡

a¡¡¡¡¡¡number¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡huge¡¡¡¡¡¡barns£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cattle¡¡¡¡¡¡yard¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡siloall¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡evidences¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

prosperitywith¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡­nurtured¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fields£»¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡yellowing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡summer¡¡

crops£»¡¡spreading¡¡pleasantly¡¡away¡¡on¡¡every¡¡hand¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡dark¡¡before¡¡I¡¡left¡¡that¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡roadside£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡

forget¡¡the¡¡eerie¡¡impression¡¡I¡¡had¡¡as¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡final¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡

hedge£»¡¡the¡¡strange£»¡¡grotesque¡¡aspect¡¡it¡¡presented¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡half¡¡light¡¡with¡¡

the¡¡bare£»¡¡lonely¡¡house¡¡rising¡¡from¡¡the¡¡knoll¡¡behind¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡weeks¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡later¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡met¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡owner¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡92¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡93¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



wonderful¡¡hedge¡£¡¡By¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡however£»¡¡having¡¡learned¡¡of¡¡my¡¡interest£»¡¡I¡¡

found¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡¡¡¡¡countryside¡¡¡¡¡¡alive¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡stories¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡Old¡¡

Nathan¡¡¡¡¡¡Toombs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡owner¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡struck¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rock¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

refreshment¡¡in¡¡a¡¡weary¡¡land¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡remember¡¡¡¡¡¡distinctly¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡puzzled¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stories¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡

neighbourhood¡¡portraitand¡¡ours¡¡is¡¡really¡¡a¡¡friendly¡¡neighbourhoodwas¡¡

by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡flattering¡£¡¡Old¡¡Toombs¡¡was¡¡apparently¡¡of¡¡that¡¡type¡¡of¡¡hard¡­¡¡

shelled£»¡¡grasping£»¡¡self¡­reliant£»¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡farmer¡¡not¡¡unfamiliar¡¡to¡¡many¡¡

country¡¡neighbourhoods¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡come¡¡of¡¡tough¡¡old¡¡American¡¡stock¡¡and¡¡

he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡worker£»¡¡a¡¡saver£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡he¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡rich£»¡¡the¡¡richest¡¡farmer¡¡in¡¡

the¡¡whole¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡individualistic¡¡American¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡dour¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Scotch¡¡Preacher£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡justyou¡¡must¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡

he¡¡is¡¡just¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡man¡¡living¡¡about¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡Scotch¡¡Preacher¡¡could¡¡not¡¡

find¡¡something¡¡good¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡just£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Horace£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡hardhard£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡mean¡¡as¡¡pusley¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡portrait¡¡was¡¡true¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡itself£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡just¡¡the¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡an¡¡

aggressive£»¡¡undoubtedly¡¡irritable¡¡old¡¡fellow¡¡it¡¡pictured£»¡¡but¡¡somehow£»¡¡try¡¡

as¡¡I¡¡would£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡any¡¡such¡¡old¡¡fellow¡¡wasting¡¡his¡¡moneyed¡¡hours¡¡

clipping¡¡bells£»¡¡umbrellas£»¡¡and¡¡camel's¡¡heads¡¡on¡¡his¡¡ornamental¡¡greenery¡£¡¡It¡¡

left¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡incongruity¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lure£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡humour£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

perplexity¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡human¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡satisfying¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡curiosity¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡

anxious¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Old¡¡Toombs¡¡with¡¡my¡¡own¡¡eyes¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡weeks¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡somehow¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡meet¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

lonely£»¡¡unneighbourly¡¡old¡¡fellow¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡apparently¡¡come¡¡to¡¡fit¡¡into¡¡the¡¡

community¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡¡¡¡¡becoming¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡part¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡neighbours¡¡

accepted¡¡him¡¡as¡¡they¡¡accepted¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡hill¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town¡¡road¡£¡¡From¡¡time¡¡to¡¡

time¡¡he¡¡would¡¡foreclose¡¡a¡¡mortgage¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡loaned¡¡money¡¡to¡¡some¡¡

less¡¡¡¡¡¡thrifty¡¡¡¡farmer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡extend¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡acres¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡purchase£»¡¡¡¡hard¡¡¡¡¡¡cash¡¡

down£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡build¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡bigger¡¡¡¡¡¡barn¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡things¡¡

happened¡¡the¡¡community¡¡would¡¡crowd¡¡over¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were£»¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡

more¡¡room¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡thing£»¡¡and¡¡tragic£»¡¡too£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡come¡¡to¡¡think¡¡

of¡¡it£»¡¡how¡¡the¡¡world¡¡lets¡¡alone¡¡those¡¡people¡¡who¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡let¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡93¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡94¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



alone¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡live¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡unneighbourly¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡¡¡live¡¡¡¡to¡¡

yourself£»¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡cheerfully¡¡responds¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡goes¡¡about¡¡its¡¡more¡¡

or¡¡less¡¡amusing¡¡affairs¡¡and¡¡lets¡¡the¡¡unneighbourly¡¡one¡¡cut¡¡himself¡¡off¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡our¡¡small¡¡community¡¡had¡¡let¡¡Old¡¡Toombs¡¡go¡¡his¡¡way¡¡with¡¡all¡¡his¡¡

money£»¡¡his¡¡acres£»¡¡his¡¡hedge£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡reputation¡¡for¡¡being¡¡a¡¡just¡¡man¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡¡¡¡¡meeting¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡therefore£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡familiar¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡friendly¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

neighbourhood£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡to¡¡walking¡¡out¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡farm£»¡¡looking¡¡freshly¡¡at¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wonderful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hedge¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡musing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fascinating¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡

subjectshow¡¡men¡¡come¡¡to¡¡be¡¡what¡¡they¡¡are¡£¡¡And¡¡at¡¡last¡¡I¡¡was¡¡rewarded¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡day¡¡I¡¡had¡¡scarcely¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hedge¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡Old¡¡

Toombs¡¡himself£»¡¡moving¡¡toward¡¡me¡¡down¡¡the¡¡country¡¡road¡£¡¡Though¡¡I¡¡had¡¡

never¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡before£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡at¡¡no¡¡loss¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡and¡¡vital¡¡

impression¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡gave¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡compress¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡single¡¡¡¡¡¡word£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

think£»forceforce¡£¡¡He¡¡came¡¡stubbing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡country¡¡road¡¡with¡¡a¡¡brown¡¡

hickory¡¡stick¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡which¡¡at¡¡every¡¡step¡¡he¡¡set¡¡vigorously¡¡into¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡

earth¡£¡¡Though¡¡not¡¡tall£»¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡being¡¡enormously¡¡strong¡£¡¡

He¡¡was¡¡thick£»¡¡solid£»¡¡firmthick¡¡through¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¡thick¡¡through¡¡the¡¡thighs£»¡¡

and¡¡his¡¡shoulderswhat¡¡shoulders¡¡they¡¡were£¡round¡¡like¡¡a¡¡maple¡¡log£»¡¡and¡¡

his¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡head¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡thatching¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡coarse¡¡¡¡¡¡iron¡­gray¡¡¡¡¡¡hair£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡thrust¡¡

slightly¡¡forward£»¡¡seemed¡¡set¡¡immovably¡¡upon¡¡them£»¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡presented¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡forbidding¡¡¡¡¡¡appearance¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡minds¡¡

about¡¡addressing¡¡him¡£¡¡Dour¡¡he¡¡was¡¡indeed£¡¡¡Nor¡¡shall¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡forget¡¡how¡¡he¡¡

looked¡¡when¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡short¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡On¡¡his¡¡big¡¡

square¡¡¡¡¡¡nose¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡wore¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡pair¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡curious¡¡¡¡¡¡spring¡­bowed¡¡¡¡¡¡glasses¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡black¡¡

rims¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡through¡¡these¡¡glasses£»¡¡raising¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡

a¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡deliberately¡¡wrinkling¡¡his¡¡nose£»¡¡they¡¡fell¡¡off¡¡and¡¡dangled¡¡

at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡length¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡faded¡¡¡¡¡¡cord¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡hung¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

something¡¡almost¡¡uncanny¡¡about¡¡this¡¡peculiar¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡his¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡

in¡¡¡¡¡¡which£»¡¡¡¡afterward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡bushy¡¡¡¡gray¡¡¡¡brows¡£¡¡

This¡¡was¡¡in¡¡truth¡¡the¡¡very¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡portrait¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡new¡¡settler¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡

your¡¡wonderful¡¡hedge¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡eyes¡¡rested¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mingled¡¡look¡¡of¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡94¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡95¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FRIENDLY¡¡ROAD¡¡



suspicion¡¡and¡¡hostility¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡you've¡¡heard¡¡o'¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡high¡­pitched¡¡voice£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡you've¡¡

heard¡¡o'¡¡my¡¡hedge¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Again¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡paused¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said£»¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡

indescribably¡¡harsh£»¡¡cackling¡¡laugh£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡warrant¡¡you've¡¡heard¡¡nothing¡¡good¡¡

o'¡¡me¡¡down¡¡there¡£¡¡I'm¡¡a¡¡skinflint£»¡¡ain't¡¡I¡¡£¿¡¡I'm¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡citizen£»¡¡ain't¡¡I£¿¡¡I¡¡grind¡¡

the¡¡faces¡¡o'¡¡the¡¡poor£»¡¡don't¡¡I£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡his¡¡words¡¡were¡¡marked¡¡by¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡bitter¡¡humour£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡he¡¡

continued¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡rose¡¡higher¡¡and¡¡higher¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡positively¡¡

menacing¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡just¡¡two¡¡things¡¡I¡¡could¡¡dohaul¡¡down¡¡the¡¡flag¡¡and¡¡retreat¡¡

ingloriously£»¡¡or¡¡face¡¡the¡¡music¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡rising¡¡spiritsfor¡¡

such¡¡things¡¡do¡¡not¡¡often¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡country¡¡roadI¡¡paused¡¡

a¡¡moment£»¡¡looking¡¡him¡¡square¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eye¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡great¡¡deliberation£»¡¡¡¨you've¡¡given¡¡me¡¡just¡¡about¡¡the¡¡

neighborhood¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡yourself¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡had¡¡it¡£¡¡They¡¡do¡¡say¡¡you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡

skinflint£»¡¡yes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡man¡£¡¡They¡¡say¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡friendless£»¡¡

they¡¡say¡¡that¡¡while¡¡you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡just¡¡man£»¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡mercy¡£¡¡These¡¡are¡¡

terrible¡¡things¡¡to¡¡say¡¡of¡¡any¡¡man¡¡if¡¡they¡¡are¡¡true¡£¡¨
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©
¿ì½Ý²Ù×÷: °´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³ °´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ °´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿!
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡