登陆注册
5200800000051

第51章

Next appeared a dark-complexioned, black-eyed, black-haired young lady, who paused an impressive moment, assumed a tragic expression, and began to read in a measured, solemn tone:

"A VISION

"Dark and tempestuous was night.Around the throne on high not a single star quivered; but the deep intonations of the heavy thunder constantly vibrated upon the ear; whilst the terrific lightning revelled in angry mood through the cloudy chambers of heaven, seeming to scorn the power exerted over its terror by the illustrious Franklin! Even the boisterous winds unanimously came forth from their mystic homes, and blustered about as if to enhance by their aid the wildness of the scene.

"At such a time,so dark,so dreary, for human sympathy my very spirit sighed; but instead thereof,"'My dearest friend, my counsellor, my comforter and guideMy joy in grief, my second bliss in joy,' came to my side.

She moved like one of those bright beings pictured in the sunny walks of fancy's Eden by the romantic and young, a queen of beauty unadorned save by her own transcendent loveliness.So soft was her step, it failed to make even a sound, and but for the magical thrill imparted by her genial touch, as other unobtrusive beauties, she would have glided away un-perceived -- unsought.A strange sadness rested upon her features, like icy tears upon the robe of December, as she pointed to the contending elements without, and bade me contemplate the two beings presented."This nightmare occupied some ten pages of manuscript and wound up with a sermon so destructive of all hope to non-Presbyterians that it took the first prize.This composition was considered to be the very finest effort of the evening.The mayor of the village, in delivering the prize to the author of it, made a warm speech in which he said that it was by far the most "eloquent" thing he had ever listened to, and that Daniel Webster himself might well be proud of it.

It may be remarked, in passing, that the number of compositions in which the word "beauteous" was over-fondled, and human experience referred to as "life's page," was up to the usual average.

Now the master, mellow almost to the verge of geniality, put his chair aside, turned his back to the audience, and began to draw a map of America on the blackboard, to exercise the geography class upon.But he made a sad business of it with his unsteady hand, and a smothered titter rippled over the house.He knew what the matter was, and set himself to right it.He sponged out lines and remade them; but he only distorted them more than ever, and the tittering was more pronounced.He threw his entire attention upon his work, now, as if determined not to be put down by the mirth.He felt that all eyes were fastened upon him; he imagined he was succeeding, and yet the tittering continued; it even manifestly increased.And well it might.There was a garret above, pierced with a scuttle over his head; and down through this scuttle came a cat, suspended around the haunches by a string; she had a rag tied about her head and jaws to keep her from mewing; as she slowly descended she curved upward and clawed at the string, she swung downward and clawed at the intangible air.The tittering rose higher and higher -- the cat was within six inches of the absorbed teacher's head -- down, down, a little lower, and she grabbed his wig with her desperate claws, clung to it, and was snatched up into the garret in an instant with her trophy still in her possession! And how the light did blaze abroad from the master's bald pate -- for the sign-painter's boy had gilded it!

That broke up the meeting.The boys were avenged.Vacation had come.

[NOTE:-- The pretended "compositions" quoted in this chapter are taken without alteration from a volume entitled "Prose and Poetry, by a Western Lady" -- but they are exactly and precisely after the schoolgirl pattern, and hence are much happier than any mere imitations could be.]

同类推荐
  • The Game

    The Game

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 钝吟书要

    钝吟书要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 识鉴

    识鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse

    The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 治安疏

    治安疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 献给艾米丽的一朵玫瑰

    献给艾米丽的一朵玫瑰

    本书精选了福克纳最有代表性的7个短篇,讲述了美国内战爆发后,南方的传统文化与北方价值观经历的巨大冲击与转变,用奇特而扭曲的语言描述了在这种特殊环境下没落的贵族与平民之间的冲突。福克纳的绝大多数长篇和短篇的故事都发生在约克纳帕塔法郡中,称为“约克纳帕塔法世系”。其主要脉络是约克纳帕塔法郡中属于不同社会阶层的若干个家族的几代人的故事,时间从1800年起直到第二次世界大战后。世系中共600多个有名有姓的人物在各个长篇和短篇小说中穿插交替出现。
  • 畏宠潜逃:这个王妃有点刁

    畏宠潜逃:这个王妃有点刁

    他之与她,是幼年的微茫之光;她之于他,是那年的记忆浅淡。他是龙之九子,是南国最不受宠的皇子,离宫五年,一朝凯旋,他平定荒漠之乱,扳倒当权之人,登基称帝。她是荒漠里最小的公主,八岁丧母,十六岁成为南城中最富盛名的花魁,她是九王侧妃,却在九王称帝后,销声匿迹,无人寻得她的踪迹。*“世人都道你睿智无双,却不知你这记性竟不如那三岁孩童。”“世间万物,记一人足矣。”她一直以为来日方长可以解决世间万事,却不曾想人之一生,也许等不到来日,也错失了方长。
  • 明伦汇编交谊典请托部

    明伦汇编交谊典请托部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中国历史上的奸与诈

    中国历史上的奸与诈

    本书分别从不同的侧面,向大家展示了中国古代历史上的奸诈之人,及其所做的奸诈之事。希望它能帮大家认清奸诈之人的嘴脸,给大家带来做人方面的启迪。
  • 关庙与关公文化

    关庙与关公文化

    将近10年前,笔者又和王峻峰、郭汾阳合写过一本同名的30余万字的专著。本书是对这本专著的浓缩和深化,又加上了一些新的思考。
  • 软萌娇妻不听话

    软萌娇妻不听话

    这是一头外表古板内心奔放的萝莉耽美狼,企图掰弯精明腹黑禁欲系美教授,结果反而被吃干抹净的故事?大一新生安馨,刚进校就盯上了副教授简宁——年方二十八,身材长相学历俱佳,气质可刚可柔,容貌可男可女,简直是天生的攻受兼备典范!唯一的缺点是,教授大人是直男!性别不同怎能相爱?必须得可了劲儿地掰弯啊!配个妖孽病美人顾泠澜?——外甥女夏辰手持金针冷冷:小姨,这是我男人。配个腹黑伪天真许逸?——大师姐温柔转着手术刀笑眯眯:馨肝宝贝,给姐姐留点念想。配个嚣张贵公子宋浅?还是萌萌哒师生恋?好嘛,终于没有女人来抢了,小外甥夏励一脸哀怨:小姨,你快把他拎走!我不要!那我家教授大人怎么办?简宁轻笑:“你不好歹也是个爷?”馨爷V5。PS:《竹马》、《娇妻》系列文,CP对对萌。泠澜卖美色,许医生卖萌,简教授……被迫着卖腐?【安简CP】“异性只为传宗接代,同性之间才是真爱!”萌腐馨爷义正言辞如是教导。简教授轻勾嘴角,握住醉酒小猫咪胡乱挥舞的爪子:“如果又能传宗接代又是真爱,不是更好?”“啊?”安馨迷糊脸,傻呆呆:“男人可以生孩子了?”医学居然如此发达?“能。”简宁正直脸,蛊惑道:“要不要试试看?”没问题的男人不都有生育能力?【宋夏CP】“浅哥,”夏励仰脸,深呼吸,鼓足勇气:“我为什么这么小,是不是有病?”浅哥的伤他自尊。什么?宋浅一头雾水,然后,他的视线就顺着夏励的视线往下。夏励拉下了自己宽松的运动裤。浅爷瞬间阵亡。墓志铭:你TM小不小其实都不重要!因为以后我根本不会给你机会用到!【温逸CP】温柔忙得满头大汗:“许老师,要不你把我划到保健科那边去实习吧……”虽然我不敢对着活体下刀是硬伤,可实习也不能就帮你捶腿揉肩啊。“我不正牺牲自己做实验对象,让你保健着么?”许医生一脸无辜:“难不成,你不满足于这几个部位?”老实巴交的实习生望天,表示无言以对。【泠辰CP】“你和夏辰……进行到哪一步了?”简宁搅了搅冷掉的咖啡,打破沉默。“啊?”病美人顾泠澜差点一口茶呛死,愣了一下,可疑的红色飞上耳根:“……夏辰,还没到十八……”简宁叹,目光遥遥落在窗外两个倩影身上:“安馨比夏辰还小三个月……”二十八九两大叔,同病相怜,默默哀怨。
  • 金闺春浓

    金闺春浓

    重生之前毓秀兢兢业业的做了一辈子皇后,谁知道最后狡兔死走狗烹,落得个惨淡收场。这辈子她不当劳什子贤德皇后,有恩报恩,有仇报仇。本以为这辈子就这样过下去了,谁知道家里竟然养出一匹狼——硬生生还是把她拖上了皇后的宝座!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 天妃妖娆:腹黑帝尊,强势宠

    天妃妖娆:腹黑帝尊,强势宠

    她;来自地球,因为任务,来到一个神奇的世界,让她走向一条不一样的道路。他;是拂界最尊贵的圣僧。两个人的相遇成就一段不可能的爱恋。他无情无爱无欲无求无悲无喜无痴无嗔,却对她有着不一样的心思。她;对他一见钟情,撒娇卖萌死皮赖脸缠着她,终于修成正果,可一场阴谋让她陷入万丈深渊和他隔离。(作者纯属虚构,请勿喷)
  • 中华家训1

    中华家训1

    “家训”是中国古文化的重要组成部分,它以其深厚的内涵、独特的艺术形式真实地反映了各个时代的风貌和社会生活。它怡悦着人们的情志、陶冶着人们的情操、感化着人们的心灵。正是这些优秀的文化因子,潜移默化地影响着现代人的人格理想、心理结构、风尚习俗与精神素质。这都将是陪伴我们一生的精神财富。所谓“家训”就是中国古人进行家教的各种文字记录,包括诗歌、散文、格言、书信等。家训是古人留给我们的一大笔宝贵的文化遗产。学习研究并利用这些知识,对提高我们每个人的文化素质,品德修养,一定会起到不可磨灭的作用。
  • 包村干部

    包村干部

    刘国锋的摩托车刚滑进镇政府大院,无数目光立即呼啦啦落了上去。刘国锋感到了这些目光的分量,不自觉地弯下背,抖了抖又窄又薄的肩膀。他知道人们好奇的不是他,是他的摩托车。他的摩托车如同一辆破拖拉机,轰隆隆的声音震天憾地,大老远就向人们多情地打着招呼。摩托车没有反光镜,没有挡风板,一片装苹果的旧纸箱替代了挡风板,随着摩托车的快乐抖动,旧纸箱也快乐地抖动着,像一只春天里忽闪着翅膀的老鹳鸟,带一路风尘威风凛凛降落在照壁前的松树下。刘国锋撑好摩托车,摘下眼镜在衣襟上抹了抹,重新戴上后,蓦然发现镇政府一夜之间换了新颜。