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some short christmas stories(圣诞故事)-第4章

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curtain rolls itself up majestically; and The Play begins!                 The devoted dog 

of   Montargis   avenges   the   death   of   his   master;   foully   murdered   in   the 

Forest of Bondy; and a humorous Peasant with a red nose and a very little 

hat; whom I take from this hour forth to my bosom as a friend (I think he 

was a Waiter or an Hostler at a village Inn; but many years have passed 

since   he   and   I   have   met);   remarks   that   the   sassigassity   of   that   dog   is 

indeed      surprising;    and    evermore      this  jocular    conceit    will   live  in   my 

remembrance fresh and unfading; overtopping all possible jokes; unto the 

end   of   time。    Or   now;   I   learn   with   bitter   tears   how   poor   Jane   Shore; 

dressed all in white; and with her brown hair hanging down; went starving 

through the streets; or how George Barnwell killed the worthiest uncle that 

ever   man   had;   and   was   afterwards   so   sorry   for   it   that   he   ought   to   have 

been   let   off。   Comes   swift   to   comfort   me;   the   Pantomimestupendous 

Phenomenon!when   clowns   are   shot   from  loaded   mortars   into the   great 

chandelier;   bright   constellation   that   it   is;   when   Harlequins;   covered   all 

over with scales of pure gold; twist and sparkle; like amazing fish; when 

Pantaloon (whom I deem it no irreverence to compare in my own mind to 

my     grandfather)      puts   red…hot    pokers    in  his   pocket;    and    cries  〃Here's 

somebody   coming!〃   or   taxes   the   Clown   with   petty   larceny;   by   saying; 

〃Now; I sawed you do it!〃 when Everything is capable; with the greatest 

ease; of being changed into Anything; and 〃Nothing is; but thinking makes 

it so。〃 Now; too; I perceive my first experience of the dreary sensation 

often to return in after…lifeof being unable; next day; to get back to the 

dull; settled world; of wanting to live for ever in the bright atmosphere I 

have   quitted; of   doting on   the  little  Fairy;   with the  wand   like   a celestial 

Barber's Pole; and pining for a Fairy immortality along with her。                      Ah; she 

comes back; in many shapes; as my eye wanders down the branches of my 

Christmas Tree; and goes as often; and has never yet stayed by me! 

     Out of this delight springs the toy…theatre;there it is; with its familiar 

proscenium;   and   ladies   in   feathers;   in   the   boxes!and   all   its   attendant 

occupation       with    paste   and   glue;   and    gum;    and    water    colours;    in  the 

getting…up   of   The   Miller   and   his   Men;   and   Elizabeth;   or   the   Exile   of 

Siberia。     In spite of a few besetting accidents and failures (particularly an 



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                                  Some Short Christmas Stories 



unreasonable   disposition   in   the   respectable   Kelmar;   and   some   others;   to 

become faint in the legs; and double up; at exciting points of the drama); a 

teeming world of fancies so suggestive and all…embracing; that; far below 

it on my Christmas Tree; I see dark; dirty; real Theatres in the day…time; 

adorned with these associations as with the freshest garlands of the rarest 

flowers; and charming me yet。 

     But hark!       The Waits are playing; and they break my childish sleep! 

What   images   do   I   associate   with   the   Christmas   music   as   I   see   them   set 

forth on   the   Christmas Tree?          Known   before   all   the   others;   keeping   far 

apart   from   all   the   others;   they   gather   round   my   little   bed。     An   angel; 

speaking   to   a   group   of   shepherds   in   a   field;   some   travellers;   with   eyes 

uplifted; following a star; a baby in a manger; a child in a spacious temple; 

talking with grave men; a solemn figure; with a mild and beautiful face; 

raising a dead girl by the hand; again; near a city gate; calling back the son 

of   a   widow;   on   his   bier;   to   life;   a   crowd   of   people   looking   through   the 

opened roof of a chamber where he sits; and letting down a sick person on 

a bed; with ropes; the same; in a tempest; walking on the water to a ship; 

again; on a sea…shore; teaching a great multitude; again; with a child upon 

his   knee;   and   other   children   round;   again;   restoring   sight   to   the   blind; 

speech to the dumb; hearing to the deaf; health to the sick; strength to the 

lame; knowledge to the ignorant; again; dying upon a Cross; watched by 

armed soldiers; a thick darkness coming on; the earth beginning to shake; 

and   only   one   voice   heard;   〃Forgive   them;   for   they   know   not   what   they 

do。〃 

     Still;   on   the   lower    and    maturer     branches     of   the  Tree;    Christmas 

associations       cluster    thick。    School…books         shut    up;   Ovid     and   Virgil 

silenced;     the   Rule    of  Three;    with    its  cool   impertinent     inquiries;    long 

disposed of; Terence and   Plautus acted   no   more; in   an arena   of huddled 

desks and forms; all chipped; and notched; and inked; cricket…bats; stumps; 

and balls; left higher up; with the smell of trodden grass and the softened 

noise of shouts in the evening air; the tree is still fresh; still gay。                 If I no 

more   come   home   at   Christmas…time;   there   will   be   boys   and   girls   (thank 

Heaven!   )   while   the   World   lasts;   and   they  do!      Yonder   they   dance   and 

play upon the branches of my Tree; God bless them; merrily; and my heart 



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                                  Some Short Christmas Stories 



dances and plays too! 

     And I do come home at Christmas。                We all do; or we all should。           We 

all come home; or ought to come home; for a short holidaythe longer; the 

betterfrom the great boarding…school; where we are for ever working at 

our   arithmetical   slates;   to   take;   and   give   a   rest。  As   to   going   a   visiting; 

where can we not go; if we will; where have we not been; when we would; 

starting our fancy from our Christmas Tree! 

     Away into the winter prospect。              There are many such upon the tree! 

On;   by   low…lying;   misty   grounds;   through   fens   and   fogs;   up   long   hills; 

winding dark as caverns between thick plantations; almost shutting out the 

sparkling stars; so; out on broad heights; until we stop at last; with sudden 

silence; at an avenue。          The gate…bell has a deep; half…awful sound in the 

frosty  air;   the   gate   swings   open   on   its   hinges;   and;   as   we   drive   up   to   a 

great   house;     the  glancing     lights   grow    larger   in  the   windows;      and   the 

opposing rows of trees seem to fall solemnly back on either side; to give 

us   place。     A
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