FUN ALIVE.
A lady said to me not long since, knowing it from experience, "There
was a great deal of fun at Brook Farm." This was true, and I deem it
worthy of particular mention, as I can scarce believe that there ever
was in New England a body of men and women who for so long a time,
maintained such friendly and intimate relations, and yet kept up such
an interminable fire of small fun and joke, puns and _bon-mots,_
inoffensively shooting them off right and left at all times and places.
Being of an evanescent nature they have mostly vanished from my mind,
but the spirit of them remains.
There were "All-Fool's" day tricks played by the young people on such
smart, independent geniuses as Irish John; the sending of a letter to
him from a supposable lady friend, with a post-mark painted on it by
one of the young ladies; putting parsnip ends into his study lamp for
wicks, etc. But these are not to be classed with the fun that was
present of the genuine sort. There were a few live wits who were Tom
Hoods on a small scale, seeing everything with a double meaning, and
"double-enders" (_double entendres_) were for breakfast, dinner and
supper every day in the week.
Some little children were chasing one another one very warm day. "Why,"
queried one, "are those children like native Africans?" "Because they
belong to the 'hot' and 'tot' race!"
"Is Mr. ---- much of a carpenter?" "Not a bit of one, that's _plain_,"
was the reply.
"What sort of a man is that long-haired fellow opposite?" said one. "He
is good in the _main_," replied the other.
"These Grahamites will never make their ends _meet_," said one. "You
may _stake_ your reputation on that," said the other.
"Mrs. ---- is a regular steamboat," said A. "Yes, I know it; she goes
by steam----_self 'steam_," said B.----which was smart, but cutting!
If, for instance, Miss Kettell was to be married, one would ask if she
was a "_tin_" kettle, and another would "_go bail_" she was, and the
next would say that "the larger the kettle the more tin it would have."
"And the more _iron in (g)_, too!" some one would ejaculate. Then
another would say that "after she was married there would be none of
the _Kettle_ left," and the next wit would say, "And none of the
'_tin_' either," and so the badinage would pass about.
It made no difference what the subject was, it was always suggestive.
If it was a dog, they would ask, "What kind of a _bark_ he had on him?"
If it was a pump, "Is it _well_ with it?" If it was a shepherd, they
would like to inquire "if he was not a _baa_-keeper?" and the first
would reply that he would have to "ruminate" on it before he made his
answer; and the second would hope his reply would be "_spirited_; if
not he had better be _punched_ up."
"Have you seen my umbrella?" asked one. "What sort of an umbrella was
it?" was the inquiry. "It had a hooked end," said number one. "I have
not seen it," was the reply, "but _I_ had a nice one once, and the end
was _exactly_ like yours; it was _hooked!_"
Passing a rosy-cheeked, unkempt boy, Miss--remarked to her friend,
"Isn't he a little honey?" "Yes," she replied, struck by his traits,
"honey without a _comb!_"
"Do you not think Miss B. is beautiful? She bows to perfection." "Yes;
but she hasn't bowed to me. Has she to _you?_"
"Who are those girls out in the boat with the old man?" (The name of
the boat was "the Dart.") "Why, his _darters_, of course," was the
reply.
And how could any one do differently when the great Archon himself was
first and foremost in the fray, poking fun at all? "Don't do that," he
said one day to me when I put something unusual in the swine's mess,
"the hogs will all _die_ after it!" with a most serious look on his
pleasant face. In my seat at the table, looking down the hall to where
the Archon was, I saw him full of frolic, and oftentimes wondered what
he could joke so much about.
There was one occasion when he quoted Watts in a comical way to an
offending member which brought him to terms. It was at the Eyry. There
was a meeting of the Industrial Council. It was necessary to have a
quorum to pass certain important votes, and one of the members, being a
trifle weary of business, had stepped out to converse with a friend in
the vestibule. After a while, hearing some one coming, he slipped
behind the vestibule door. It was the "Archon," who came for the member
to make a quorum. Presently, discovering his retreat, he hailed him--as
he remembered it--thus:--
"'And are you there, you sinner d--d,
And do you fare so well!
Were it not for redeeming grace
You'd long since been in hell.'"
The unworthy member succumbed and returned to the meeting, wondering
whether the verse was an impromptu or whether it was part of one of the
inspiring Sunday hymns our grandfathers sang in their cheerless,
unwarmed meeting-houses. In a version of Watts' Hymns this verse is
found:--
"And are we wretches still alive,
And do we yet rebel?
'Tis boundless, 'tis amazing love
That bears us up from hell."
It might have been the one Mr. Ripley quoted.
I have heard it said that a prominent literary man "could not
understand the condition of mind it required to make a pun." It would
be out of place here to try to explain that condition to him or to any
one else. It is certainly not an unhappy frame of mind, and I am not
aware that it indicates any depraved condition. I don't know of any
very bad men who make puns, but I have known of many good men who make
bad puns. It is not an avaricious state of the mind, for who ever heard
of "puns for sale or manufactured to order," or of a man getting rich
in the wholesale or retail pun trade!
In fact, a pun is like an egg--the moment you crack it the meat is out.
Some men carry things to extremes; I wouldn't myself like to be a
punster _in toto_, but only now and then to have a finger in one. But
really, the condition of mind seems to be the same as that of some of
our criminals who profess they committed the deed because they
"couldn't help it," or the boy who was asked angrily "why he whistled?"
"He didn't," he replied, "it whistled itself." I imagine our literary
friend thinks that a punster draws the steel blade of his intellect,
discovers some close-mouthed, hard-fisted sort of a word or sentence
doubled up like an oyster and deliberately splits it apart, one shell
on one side, one on the other and the soft thing drops out between. I
could only despise the sort of brain that would do such a deed.
A pun is a part of the sunshine of words. It gives a sparkle and a glow
to language. It is a big pendulum that swings from torrid to frigid
zone quicker than a telegram goes. If you hold on to it, you will find
yourself in both places in a jiffy, and back again to the spot where
you start from without being hurt, and the jog to your intellect, if
you happen to have any, is only of an agreeable nature.
But it was not alone in puns and conundrums that the social life of
Brook Farm was rich. It was rich in cheerful buzz. The bumble-bees had
no more melodious hum than the Brook Farmers. They had thrown aside the
forms that bind outside humanity. They were sailing on a voyage of
discovery, seeking a modern El Dorado, but they did not carry with them
the lust for gold. They were seeking something which, had they found
the realization of, would have carried peace to troubled hearts,
contentment and joy to all conditions and classes. They were builders,
not destroyers. They proposed to begin again the social structure with
new foundations. They were at war with none personally; as high-toned,
large-souled men and women they were ready with their expressions of
hatred and contempt for the unchristian social life of our generation,
but they were never ranters.
In general little was said on the farm of these matters, except in
private discussions; all were too busy with the active work. We felt
that we had put our ears down to the earth and heard nature's
whisperings of harmony; that we had gone back from the uncertain and
flimsy foundations of present society, and placed our corner stone on
the eternal rock of science and justice; that the social laws God
ordained from the beginning had been discovered; there could be no
possibility of a mistake, and therefore, we felt that our feet were on
eternal foundations, and our souls growing more and more in harmony
with man and God.
Imagine, indifferent reader of my story, the state of mind you would be
in if you could feel that you were placed in a position of positive
harmony with all your race; that you carried with you a balm that could
heal every earthly wound; an earthly gospel, even as the church thinks
it has a heavenly gospel--a remedy for poverty, crime, outrage and
over-taxed hand, heart and brain. And every night as you laid your head
on your pillow, you could say: "I have this day wronged no man. I have
this day worked for my race, I have let all my little plans go and have
worked on the grand plan that the Eternal Father has intended shall
sometime be completed. I feel that I am in harmony with Him. Now I know
He _is_ truly our Father. With an unending list of crimes and social
wrongs staring me in the face I doubted, and my heart was cast down.
Now the light is given me by which I see the way through the labyrinth!
It is our Father's beautiful garden in which we are. I have learned
that all is intended for order and beauty, but as children we cannot
yet walk so as not to stumble. Natural science has explained a thousand
mysteries. Social science--understand the word; not schemes, plans or
guessing, but genuine science, as far from guess or scheme as astronomy
or chemistry is--will reveal to us as many truths and beauties as ever
any other science has done. I now see clearly! Blessed be God for the
light!"
And after sound sleep, waking in the rosy morning, with the fresh air
from balmy fields blowing into your window, penetrated still with the
afflatus of last night's thoughts and reveries, wouldn't you be
cheerful? Wouldn't the unity of all things come to you, and wouldn't
you chirrup like a bird, and buzz like a bee, and turn imaginary
somersaults and dance and sing, and feel like cutting up "didoes," and
talk a little high strung, and be chipper with the lowliest and level
with the highest? Wouldn't your heart flow over with ever so much love
and gratitude? Wouldn't it infuse so much spirit into your poor, weak
life that your words would sparkle with cheeriness, frolic and wit? I
believe so! I know so!
Such was to me the secret of the fun, wit and frolic of the Brook
Farmers. The jokes were, it is true, largely superficial, but they were
inseparable from the position. The bottom fact was, _the associates
there were leading a just life_, and could go to their labor, hard beds
and simple fare--down to plain bread and sometimes mythical
butter--with cheerfulness just in proportion as they were penetrated by
these great ideas. They could make merry with their friends over a cup
of coffee, and sought not the stimulants that college days and college
habits might have allowed.
It was with one of our little social groups of friends, that Mr. Dwight
gave the toast, "Here's to the coffeepot! If it is not _spiritual_,
it's not _material_!"
There was a gentleman who resided with us who had promised, on a
certain day, to assist a department of our industry with a loan of
cash, and had taken the light wagon to Boston for the purpose of
securing the funds and bringing them home for use. Somewhere about nine
o'clock in the evening the dwellers at the "Hive" were disturbed by the
approach of a team and the groans of a person. Going out, they
discovered that it was our team, and our member, who had apparently
fallen into the back part of the wagon in a helpless state. They
assisted him out and conveyed him to his chamber.
He did not seem to be much hurt; but he stated that in passing through
the little patch of woods on the "back road," some one came out and
knocked him off his seat and then robbed him. He had lain in the wagon,
unable to rise, and the horse had come home of his own accord. This is
the outline of the story. Parties went out on the road with lanterns,
but found no lost pocket-book. The news of the robbery spread. It was
the common talk the next day. There were suspicious circumstances. It
might have been a _ruse_ to cover a personal loss of the money, or to
deceive us in the pretended loan. Who could tell?
A few days later a stranger called at the Hive door. He had an
announcement to make; he had seen a mystery--doubtless it had something
to do with the robbery. He had been travelling that morning through
Muddy Pond woods, in a thick part of which he had seen--what? Why, a
shirt hanging on the bushes to dry; and had heard voices in the woods
near. He had no doubt marauders were encamped there. We might find
there the man who committed the assault and robbery. His manner was
excited, but he seemed to believe his own story.
It was Sunday. Work would not prevent us. We would hunt for the
robbers. We would go to Muddy Pond woods and investigate. We were not
over sanguine, but there was mystery in it, and we were bound to solve
it. I don't think anyone of us thought there was any danger in the
affair. A party of volunteers, consisting of some six or eight, was
formed, and the valuable Glover placed himself at our head. "By the
by," said he, as we were about to start, "I'll go and borrow Mr. Shaw's
pistols." What insane idea entered his head at that moment who can
tell. Did he have the thousandth part of an idea that he was going to
put a bullet into a man's body? I don't think he had! Returning soon
with the pistols, we started on our way.
It would be worth a thousand dollars now if we had a picture of that
party on their tramp. As I remember it, there were some four of us who
were of the "young group" and had not quite attained our legal majority.
"The Admiral" and "the Hero," with "Glover," made the older portion of
the party, and as we strayed along with our clear, sun-browned, young
faces, our classic locks and natural beards--those who had any--with
our unique tunics or blouses, with a certain regular quaintness running
through them, were picturesque enough. The idea of arming ourselves,
suggested by Glover's pistols, soon developed into the improvising of
canes and walking sticks from the wayside.
"Glover" paired off with the curly headed Hero, I with the curly headed
Admiral, for Glover loved the Hero, and I admired the Admiral's honest,
sincere, pleasant ways and heart. The city life we all had tasted, had
given new zest to country life. We straggled by the roadside; we sought
wild berries; we observed the varieties of foliage and flower, and
conversation never flagged. Glover and Hero were ever in earnest talk.
There was with them a never-ending story, and I am reminded of the
everlasting confidences of school girls when I recall their being
together, excepting only that they did not put their arms around each
other's waists.
The Admiral's heart was full of music. He could talk of music, poetry
and love, and there was a tender spot in him that I did not venture on,
although I knew it was there. He was also a deep admirer of nature.
Truly we could sing together, "A life in the woods for me!"
It was three miles to the robbers' rendezvous, but what cared we? We
dwelt in the bosom of nature, and three miles was but a pastime. We
only wanted an excuse of the most feeble kind to start on a tramp, day
or night. All along the way we breathed health and vitality; the air
was full of singing birds, and our hearts were crying out, "What is so
rare as a day in June?" In fact, our June days lasted longer than they
did elsewhere--they ran into September, October and November. It is the
harmony of our hearts that makes the force of poetry, and not the mere
words; and the June feeling may be present in December.
The entrance to Muddy Pond woods was on high ground, and as we
approached it we were a little cautious, for near by was the appointed
place to find the haunt of the robbers. Filing along singly, we peered
into the underbush. Lo, and behold, I see it! It is a white thing
hanging on a bush! Yes! And listen, I hear voices! It is the robbers!
Why, no, these are only children's voices! They are picking berries,
the dear things. Poor children! Don't you know that you may be robbed
and murdered by some of these infernal rascals who beat innocent men,
take their money and come out here into this wilderness and wash the
blood off their garments and hang them on these berry bushes to dry?
Slowly we approached the white garment. Why, this is only an old white
rag that has hung here for months, all mildewed and half rotten. Come,
boys, we are sold! What an old goose that fellow was to get us out here
for such a thing as this! I am going home! I am hungry! Feelings of
disgust and mirth took possession of us. Were these the robbers, and
was this the bloody raiment? Ha! ha!
There was no use of going further. The exciting problem was solved, and
we turned our feet homeward over the hills, across the fields and by
stone walls; shying a stone now and then into some gnarled apple tree,
just to knock down a wild apple or two, to try if they contained, as
Emerson has said of one of them, "a pint of cider and a barrel of
wind"; whipping off the heads of the wild daisies with our canes and
switches; pulling sprigs of sweet fern and bayberry; mocking the crows
and the cat-birds; finding choice flowers, and trying to fill the
aching void within us with blackberries and whortleberries, and
reaching the farm after the dinner was over.
All but one corner of the dining-room was deserted, and there a
solitary waiter was placing plates for the "Waiting Group," who had not
been served with dinner. The "Waiting Group" was one of the most
cheerful, lively, witty and jolly groups on the place. In fact it
contained some of the most eminent persons in our midst, and at dinner
the waiters were of the masculine gender solely.
We found there would be room for us to join their table, and that our
company was welcome. Alas! alas! How can I describe the dinner? I do
not mean the things we had to eat--fine eating was of little
consequence if we could satisfy hunger; but the merry cheer was
indescribable. It was the Professor (Dana) who sat at the head of the
board. It was the brilliant and witty "Timekeeper" (Cabot) who was at
one side, and when our party was added to them--"the Hero"
(Butterfield), with his full, hearty and musical laugh; Glover (Drew)
with his funny and apt quotations, and with the other four to six
clear-headed fellows, not a dull one among them--the gamut of merriment
ran to its highest notes.
Of course the Professor couldn't help making a few remarks about the
"object of our journey" and inquiries about the "success of the
enterprise," and of course our party didn't answer in parliamentary
language, but parried wit with wit, fun with fun, joke with joke. The
story had to be told and embellished. The shirt, it was nothing but a
rag, and the children were probably ragamuffins, and hot muffins at
that! The robber, where could he be! Probably dead, for there was
_berrying_ going on, and the children were continually _turning pail_.
But the borrowing of the pistols was the occasion of the most
absurdities. Was Glover _half cocked_ when he borrowed them? Did he
_bear-ill_ against any man? Was he going to _brace_ up his courage? He
wanted a little more _stock_ in hand, eh? It was the only way he had of
getting a little "_pop_"! And if he had "popped" the robber would there
have been any _pop-bier_ (beer) there? "If I had killed him," he said,
"there wouldn't have been any _sham pain_." Pooh, pooh, you could only
have _hocked_ him! "I would have made him _whine_ anyhow." You might
have made him whine but--"_Wine butt_," did you say? (Interrupting).
"Glover didn't intend to make any excitement, for where he took the
pistols he left the _wholestir_ behind." "But when he took them,"
another said, "he thought he was going to _Needham_ (need 'um)." "Ah,
no," said another, "when he took them he felt sure he was going to
_Dedham_" (dead 'um).
You will appreciate the difficulty I have in making any one realize the
snap, the vivacity and the quickness of the repartees. Things that seem
frivolous when written down----separate from all their connections,
with the personality dropped out of them----with the connection
unbroken; with youth, friendship and love to join them together, and
all the surroundings in keeping, were lively and bright, and added a
glow to the toil that made all the difficult surroundings easier to
bear. The affair acted over to-day in sober earnest would hardly
provoke a smile, but there most trivial incidents were worked up and
the result was an increase of happiness for all.