Of Araby the Blest!"
Our host endeavored to say something polite, and the animal, advancing
toward the celebrity, stationed himself, familiarly, at his master's
side, somewhat to the annoyance, probably, of the lady next him.
With the utmost _sang froid_, the "privileged character" held his
finger-bowl to his dog, and remarked, as he eagerly lapped the contents,
that he had eaten highly-seasoned venison at lunch!
* * * * *
"Foreigners," says Madame de Stael, "are a kind of contemporaneous
posterity." This truth apart, I had sufficient reason to blush for my
country, on more than one occasion, lately, while travelling at the
West, in company with a well-bred young European. His own manners were
so pleasing as to render more striking the peculiarities of others, and
his habits so refined, as, when united with his large observation and
intelligence, to make him an exceedingly agreeable person to associate
with.
One hot day, during a portion of our journey performed by steamer, I
looked up from my book, and saw him coming toward me.
"I have found a cool place, sir," said he, "and have come to beg you to
join me--we shall be undisturbed there."
I rose, and was about to take up my seat.
"Allow me, sir! I am the younger," said he; and he insisted upon
carrying my seat, as well as the one he had previously secured for
himself. And this was his habitual phrase, when there was any occasion
to allude to the difference in our years. He never said--"You are older
than I am," or insinuated that my lameness made me less active than he,
when he offered his arm, in our numerous promenades. The idea he seemed
ever studying to express was, that he had pleasure in the society of the
old soldier, and thought him entitled to respect and precedence on all
occasions. Aside from the personal gratification and comfort I derived
from these graceful and unremitting attentions, it was a source of
perpetual pleasure to me to observe his beautiful courtesy to all with
whom he came in contact. He had with him a land surveyor, or agent of
some sort; with this person he, apparently, found little in common, but,
when he had occasion to converse with him, I always remarked his
punctilious politeness. And so with his servant; he always _requested_,
never _ordered_, him to do what he wished. Reserved and laconic, when
giving him directions, there was yet a certain assuring kindliness in
his _voice_, that seemed to act like a talisman upon his man, who,
speaking our language very imperfectly, would have often suffered the
consequences of embarrassing mistakes, but for the clear, simple,
intelligible directions and explanations of his master. But to return.
Scarcely were we seated quietly in the retired spot so carefully
selected by my friend, when a couple of young fellows came swaggering
along, and stationing themselves near us, began smoking, spitting and
talking so loudly, as to disturb and annoy us, exceedingly.
"What a pity that this fine air should be so poisoned!" exclaimed my
companion, in French, glancing at the intruders. "For my part, _pure
air_ is good enough for me, without perfume!"
"Do you never smoke?" I asked, in the same tongue.
"Certainly! but I do not smoke _always_ and _everywhere_! Neither do I
think it decent to soil every place with tobacco-juice, as you do in
this country!"
"It is infamous!" returned I. "Now just look at those fellows! See how
near they are to that group of ladies, and then look at the condition of
the deck all around them." As I spoke, the lady nearest the nuisance,
apparently becoming suddenly aware of her dangerous proximity, hurriedly
gathered her dress closely about her, and moved as far away as she could
without separating herself from her party. Despite these indications,
the shower continued to fall plentifully around, and the smoke to blow
into the faces of those who were so unfortunate as to be seated in the
neighborhood.
"Have you not regulations to prevent such annoyances," inquired the
stranger.
"Every steamer professes to have them, I believe," returned I, "but if
such vulgar men as these choose to violate them, no one even thinks of
insisting upon their enforcement--every one submits, and every one is
annoyed--that is, all decent people are!"
"_Vive la Liberte et l'Egalite!_" exclaimed the European, laughing
good-humoredly.
As if echoing the mirth of my companion, a merry laugh from the group of
ladies near us, arrested my attention at this moment. Without appearing
to remark them, I soon ascertained that they were amusing themselves
with the ridiculous figure presented by one of the smokers. His
associate had left him "alone in his glory," and there he sat, fast
asleep, with his mouth wide open, his hat over one eye, and his feet
tucked across under the seat of his chair, which supported only on its
hind legs, was tilted back against the side of the cabin. My description
can give you but a poor idea of the ludicrousness of the thing. One of
those laughing girls would have done it better! I overheard more than
one of their droll comments.
"What if his chair should upset, when he 'catches fish!'" exclaimed a
pretty little girl, looking roguishly from under her shadowing round
straw hat.
"There is more danger that that wasp will fly down his throat," replied
another of the gay bevy. "What a yawning cavern it is! That wasp is
hovering over the 'crack of doom!'"
"He reminds me rather of Daniel in the lion's den," put in a third.
"Let's move our seats before he wakes up," cried one of the girls, as
the nondescript made a slight demonstration upon a fly that had invaded
his repose. "He is protected by the barricade he has surrounded himself
with--like a upas-tree in the centre of its own vile atmosphere--but
_we_, unwary travellers, are not equally safe!"
A day or two afterwards, these very young men were just opposite me at
table, in a hotel in one of our large Western cities.
They were well dressed (with the exception of _colored shirts_) and
well-looking enough, but, after what I had previously seen of them, I
was not surprised to observe their habits of eating. One would throw up
both arms, and clasp his hands over his head, while waiting for a
re-supply of food; the other stop, now and then, to _lay off_ his bushy
moustache, so as to make more room for the shovelling process he kept up
with his knife, for the more rapid disappearance of a large goblet of
water at one swallowing, or for the introduction of a mammoth ear of
corn, which he took both hands to hold, while he gobbled up row after
row, with inconceivable rapidity. Then one would manipulate an enormous
drum-stick, while he lolled comfortable back in his chair, grievously
belaboring his voluminous beard, the while, and leaving upon it an
all-sufficient substitute for maccassar, and the other, simultaneously
make a loud demonstration with his pocket-handkerchief, or upon his
head. Now one would stretch out his legs under the table, until he
essentially invaded my reserved rights, and then the other insert his
tongue first in one cheek, and then in the other, rolling it vigorously
round, as a cannoneer would swab out a great gun with his sponge, before
re-loading! Flushed, heated, steaming, the heaps of sweet-potato skins,
bones, and bits of food profusely scattered over the soiled cloth, fully
attested the might of their achievements!
Much of this, as I said, I was prepared for, but I was somewhat
surprised by what followed.
I had sent for a quail, I think, or some other small game, and was
preparing to discuss its merits, when one of these young men, reaching
over, stuck his fork into the bird, and transferred it to his own
plate!
I saw at a glance that no offense was intended to me--that the seeming
rudeness was simply the result of vulgarity and ignorance; so I very
quietly directed the servant to bring me another bird.
Scarcely was the second dish placed before me, when the other youth of
this delectable pair exactly repeated the action of his companion, and I
again found myself minus my game.
"_Mon Dieu!_" cried my young foreign friend, "if you can endure that,
you are a hero, sir!"
An hour or two subsequent to this agreeable incident, I was again seated
in the cars, and hearing a noise behind me, soon satisfied myself that
my neighbors at dinner that day were to be my neighbors still, and that
they were at present busily employed in disputing with the conductor
respecting a seat next their own, which they wished to monopolize for
the accommodation of their legs, and which, in consequence of the
crowded state of the cars, the man insisted upon filling with other
passengers. Presently there came in a pale, weary-looking woman, with a
wailing infant in her arms and another young child clinging to her
garments. She found a seat where she could, and sinking into it,
disposed of a large basket she had also carried, and commenced trying to
pacify the baby.
Here was a fit subject for the rude jests and jibes of the young fellows
I have described. And full use did they make of their vulgar license of
tongue. The poor mother grew more and more distressed as those unfeeling
comments reached her ears from time to time, and at each outbreak from
the infant strove more nervously to pacify it.
I observed that a good-humored looking, large, handsome man, who sat a
little before this woman, frequently glanced round at the child, and
sought to divert its attention by various little playful motions. At
length, when the cars stopped for a few minutes, out he sallied, in all
haste, and presently returned with his hands full of fruits and cakes.
Offering a liberal share of these to the woman and her little girl,
after distributing some to his party, he reserved a bright red apple,
and said cheerily to the mother: "Let me take your little boy, ma'am, I
think I can quiet him."
The little urchin set up a loud scream, as he found himself in the
strong grasp of the stranger; but, a few moments' perseverance effected
his benevolent purpose. Tossing the boy up, directing his attention to
the apple, and then carrying him through the empty car a turn or two,
sufficed to chase away the clouds and showers from what proved to be a
bright, pretty face, and very soon the amiable gentleman returned to his
seat, saying very quietly to the woman, as he passed her, "We will keep
your little child awhile, and take good care of him." The baby was
healthy-looking, and its clothes, though plain, were entirely clean--so
the poor thing was by no means a disagreeable plaything for the young
lady beside whom the gentleman was seated. For some little time they
amused themselves in this humane manner, and then the young man gently
snugged the weary creature down upon his broad chest, and there it lay
asleep, like a flower on a rock, nestled under a shawl, and firmly
supported by the enfolding arm that seemed unconscious of its light
burden.
Meantime the pale, tired mother regaled herself with the refreshments so
bountifully provided for her, watching the movements of the little group
before her with evident satisfaction; and at length settled herself for
a nap in the corner of her seat, with the other child asleep in her lap.
The noisy comments of the "fast" young men in the rear of the car became
less audible and offensive, I noticed, after the stranger came to the
rescue, and when I passed their seat, afterwards, I could not be
surprised at their comparative silence, upon beholding the enormous
quantity of pea-nut shells and fruit skins with which the floor was
strewn, and noticing the industry with which they were squirting tobacco
juice over the whole.
By-and-by the cars made another pause. The mother of the little boy
roused herself and looked hastily round for her treasures. Upon this the
young lady who occupied the seat with her new friend came to her and
seemed reassuring her. As soon as the thronging crowd had passed out, I
heard her saying, as I caught a peep at the sweetest face, bent
smilingly towards the woman--"I made a nice little bed for him, as soon
as the next seat was empty, and he is still fast asleep. Does he like
milk? Mr. Grant will get some when he wakes--it is so unpleasant for a
lady to get out of the cars." (Here the woman seemed to make some
explanation, and a shadow of sympathy passed over the smiling face I was
admiring, as one sees a passing cloud move above a sunny landscape.)
"Well, we will be glad to be of use to you, as far as we go on," pursued
the fair girl; "I will find out all about it, and tell you before we
leave the cars. Now, just rest all you can--let me put this shawl up a
little higher--there! It is such a relief to get off one's bonnet! I'll
put it up for you. The little girl had better come with me.--Oh, no, she
will not, I am sure! What's your name, dear? Mary! that's the prettiest
name in the world! everybody loves Mary! I have such a pretty book to
show you"--and having tucked up the object of her gentle care in quite a
cosy manner, while she was saying this, the good girl gave a pretty,
encouraging little nod to the woman, and went back, taking the other
juvenile with her, to her own place. When her companion joined her, she
looked up in his face with a beaming, triumphant sort of a smile, and,
receiving a response in the same expressive language, all seemed quite
understood between them.
"What an angel!" exclaimed the young European, in his favorite tongue,
as he re-entered the car, and caught part of this little by-scene. "Do
you know what she said to that poor woman?"
I gave him all the explanation in my power. His fine eyes kindled. "She
is as good as she is beautiful! Have you remarked the magnificent head
of the gentleman with her? What a superb profile he has--so classic!
And his broad chest--there's a model for a bust! I happened to be in the
studio of your celebrated countryman, Powers, at Florence, with my
father, who was sitting to him, when the great Thorwaldsen came to visit
him. Boy, as I was, at that time, I remember his words, as he stood
before the bust of your Webster: '_I cannot make such busts!_' But was
it not, sir, because he had no such _models_ as your country affords?"
These were courteous words; but I do them poor justice in the record; I
cannot express the voice and manner from which they received their
charm.
Well, at the risk of tiring you, I hasten to conclude my little sketch.
I amused myself by quietly watching the thing through, and noticed,
towards evening, that the amiable strangers went together to the woman
they had befriended, after the gentleman had been into the hotel, before
which we were standing, seemingly to make some inquiry for her. Both
talked for a few minutes, apparently very kindly, to her and to the
children, and seemed to encourage her by some assurance as they parted.
As they were turning away, the grateful mother rose, and, snatching the
hand first of one, and then of the other, burst out, with a "God bless
you both!" so fervent as to be audible where I sat.
"Don't speak of such a trifle!" returned the youth, in a clear, distinct
voice, raising his noble form to its full height, and flashing forth the
light of his falcon eye; "for my part, I am very glad to be able to do a
little good as I go along in the world!"
In a few moments the handsome stranger was seen carefully placing his
fair travelling companion in an elegant carriage, where a lady was
awaiting them, and upon which several trunks were already strapped.
While cordial greetings were still in progress between the trio, a
well-dressed servant gave the reins to a superb pair of dark bays, and
in another instant they were flying along in the direction of a
stately-looking mansion of which I caught sight in the distance.
"Who the d---- is that fellow?" shouted one of the pair in the rear. "I
say, porter," stretching his body far out of the car window, and
beckoning to a man on the steps of the neighboring building, "What's the
name of those folks in that carriage? dev'lish pretty girl, I swear!"
"Sir-r-r?" answered Paddy, coming to the side of the car, and pulling
his dirty cap on one side of his head with one hand, while he operated
upon his carroty hair with the fingers of the other; "what's yer honor's
plaizure?"
"I say, what's the name of that gentleman who has just gone off in that
carriage there?"
"Oh! sure that's young Gineral Grant; him that owns the fine house
beyant--I hear tell he's the new Congressman, sir!"
"_Bien!_" whispered my foreign friend, laughing heartily, "this _is_ a
great country! you do things upon so large a scale here, that one must
not wonder when _extremes meet_!"
* * * * *
"What, coz, still sitting with your things on, waiting? Haven't you been
impatient?"
"Oh, no, not at all, I've been reading."
"Well, but, do you know it's twelve o'clock? We were to start at
half-past ten. What did you think of me for delaying so long?"
"I was afraid some accident had happened; but I could see nothing from
the window, and I did not like to go out on the portico alone."
"Then you did not think me careless, and were not vexed?"
"Not I, indeed! I was sure you would come if you could, and was only
anxious about you, as you were to try that new horse. I did not take off
my bonnet, because I kept expecting you every moment."
"And I kept expecting to come every moment--that devilish animal! I
tried to send you word, but I could not get sight of a servant--confound
the fellows! they are always out of the way when one wants them."
"But, Charley, dear, what about the horse? Has he really troubled you? I
am sorry you bought him."
"Oh, I've conquered him! it wouldn't have taken me so long before I had
that devilish fever! But, come, cozzy dear, will you go now, or is your
patience all gone?"
"I would like the drive--but, Charley, had we not better put it off
until to-morrow morning? You must be tired out, and, perhaps, the horse
will continue to trouble you."
"No, no--come, come along, if you are willing to go."
Now, Charley and his cousin were together at a little rural
watering-place, in search of change of air and scene. Charley had been
recently ill, and, as he chanced to be separated from his family at the
time, was particularly fortunate in having had the gentle ministrations
of Belle, as he usually called her, at command, during his
convalescence.
Belle was an orphan, without brothers, and she clung to Charley with the
tenacity of a loving heart, deprived of its natural resources.
Temporarily relieved from her duties as a teacher, her cousin invited
her to accompany him in this little tour, in pity for the languor that
was betrayed by her drooping eyes, and lagging step; and his kindly
nurse, flattering herself that her "occupation" was not yet quite
"gone," was only too happy to escape from her city prison, under such
safe and agreeable protection. Yielding and quiet, as she ordinarily
was, Belle had very strict notions of propriety on some points. So, when
she and her cousin were making their final arrangements, before
commencing their journey, she laid upon the table before him, a
bank-note of considerable amount, with the request that he would
appropriate it to the payment of her travelling expenses.
"Time enough for that, by-and-by, coz."
"No, if you please, Charley. It is enough that you will be burdened by
the care of me, without having your purse taxed, too. Just be so good as
to keep a little account of what you pay for me--remembering porterage,
carriage-hire, and such matters--ladies always have the most luggage."
And a little hand playfully smoothed the doubled paper upon the cuff of
Charley's coat-sleeve, and left it lying there.
Her cousin very well knew that this bank-note comprised a large portion
of Belle's quarterly salary, though she made no allusion to the matter;
and, though his own resources were moderate, men so much more easily
acquire money than women--well, never mind! people differ in their ideas
of _luxury_.
Charley had some new experiences in this little tour of his and Belle's.
He had an idea, previously, that "women are always a bother, in
travelling," and he found himself sorely puzzled to make out, exactly,
what trouble it was to have his cousin always ready to read to him, when
they sat together on the deck of a steamer, or while he lay on the sofa
at a hotel, to claim the comfortable seat at her side in a rail-car, to
have her keep his cane and book, while he went out to chat with an
acquaintance, watch when he grew drowsy, and softly gather his shawl
about his neck, and make a pillow of her own for him, or to see the tear
that sometimes gathered in her meek eyes, when she acknowledged any
little courtesy on his part. Then, when, after they were settled in
their snug quarters, at the watering-place, Belle, half-timidly, sat a
moment on his knee, and, looking proudly round upon the order she had
brought out of chaos, among his toilet articles, books, and clothes,
said--"Oh, what a happy week I have to thank you for, dear cousin
Charley! You have done so many, many kind things for me, all the way! I
have had to travel alone almost always since pa's--since"--he was really
quite at a loss to know what "kind things" she referred to, and said so.
"Why, Charley!" returned she, making a vigorous effort to get over the
choking feeling that had suddenly assailed her, upon alluding to her
deceased father, "don't you know--no, you don't know, what a happiness
it is to a poor, lonely thing, like me, to have some one to take care of
her luggage, and pay her fare, and all those things? I know, in this
country, women can travel alone, safely--quite so; but it isn't
pleasant, for all that, to go into crowds of rough men, without any one.
The other evening, at New Haven, for instance, it was quite dark, when
we landed, and those hackmen made such a noise, and crowded so--but I
felt just as safe, and comfortable, while sitting waiting for you in the
carriage, all the while you were gone back about our trunks! Oh, you
can't realize it, Charley, dear!" and the fair speaker shook her head,
with a mournful earnestness, that expressed almost as much sober
truthfulness, as appealing femininity.
But about this morning drive.
With the trusting confidence for which her sex have such an infinite
capacity, Belle yielded at once to the implied wish of her temporary
protector, and they were soon rolling along, in a light, open carriage,
through deeply-shadowing woods and across little brooklets which were
merrily disporting themselves under the trees.
The poor wild-wood bird, so long caged, yet ever longing to be free,
carolled and mused by turns, or permitted her joyous nature to gush out
in exclamations of delight.
"What delicious air!" she exclaimed. "Really it exhilarates one, like a
cordial. Oh, Charley, dear, look at those flowers! May I get out for
them? Do let me! I won't be gone a minute. Just you sit still, and hold
your war-steed. Don't be so ceremonious as to alight; I need no
assistance." And with a bound the happy creature was on her feet, and in
an instant dancing along, to the music of her own glad voice, over the
soft grass.
Too considerate to encroach upon his patience unduly, Belle soon
reseated herself beside Charley, with a lap full of floral treasures.
"Here are enough for bouquets for both our rooms," said she; "how fresh
and fragrant they are!
'They have tales of the joyous woods to tell,
Of the free blue streams and the glowing sky.'
Bless God for flowers--_and friends_!"
As the artless girl fervently uttered the last words, she turned a pair
of sweet blue eyes, into which tears of gratitude and pleasure had
suddenly started, upon the face of her companion. What a painful
revulsion of feeling was produced by that glance! She scarcely
recognized the face of her cousin, so completely had gloom and
discontent usurped the place of his usual hilarious expression. What
_could_ be the matter? Had she offended him!