登陆注册
5264300000091

第91章 CHAPTER XVIII THE LAST HOURS OF A CIVILIZATION(1)

Margaret's decision saddened Oliver's last days at home, and he returned to New York with none of his former buoyancy. Here other troubles began to multiply. Before the autumn was gone, Morton, Slade & Co., unable longer to make headway against the financial difficulties that beset them, went to the wall, involving many of their fellow-merchants. Oliver lost his situation, in consequence, and was forced to support himself during the long dreary winter by making lithographic drawings for Bianchi, at prices that barely paid his board. His loneliness in the garret room became more intense, Fred being much away and the occupants of the other rooms being either strangers to him or so uncongenial that he would not make their acquaintance.

To his own troubles were added other anxieties.

The political outlook had become even more gloomy than the financial. The roar of Sumter's guns had reverberated throughout the land, and men of all minds were holding their breath and listening, with ears to the ground, for the sound of the next shot. Even Margaret's letters were full of foreboding. "Father is more bitter against the South than ever," she wrote. "He says if he had ten sons each should shoulder a musket. We must wait, Ollie dear. I can only talk to mother about you. Father won't listen, and I never mention your name before him.

Not because it is you, Ollie, but because you represent a class whom he hates. Dear John would listen, but he is still in Boston. Even his fellow-classmen want to fight, he says. I fear all this will hurt my work, and keep me from painting."

These letters of Margaret's, sad as they were, were his greatest and sometimes his only comfort. She knew his ups and downs and they must have no secrets from each other. From his mother, however, he kept all records of his privations during these troublous months. Neither his father nor his dear mother must deprive themselves for his benefit.

During these dreary days he often longed for Kennedy Square and for those whom he loved, but it was not until one warm spring day, when the grass was struggling into life, and the twigs on the scraggy trees in Union Square were growing pink and green with impatient buds and leaves that he had his wish.

Then a startling telegram summoned him. It read as follows:

"Father ill. Come at once.

"Mother" Instinctively Oliver felt in his pockets for his purse. There was just money enough to take him to Kennedy Square and back.

His mother met him at the door.

"It was only a fainting turn, my son," were her first words. "I am sorry I sent for you. Your father is himself again, so Dr. Wallace says. He has been working too hard lately--sometimes far into the night. I could have stopped you from coming; but, somehow, I wanted you--" and she held him close in her arms, and laid her cheek against his. "I get so lonely, my boy, and feel so helpless sometimes."

The weak and strong were changing places. She felt the man in him now.

Nathan was in the library. He and Malachi had been taking turns at Richard's bedside. Malachi had not closed his eyes all night. Nathan came out into the hall when he heard Oliver's voice, and put his hand on his shoulder.

"We had a great scare, Ollie," he said, "but he's all right again, thank God! He's asleep now--better not wake him." Then he put on his coat and went home.

Malachi shook his head. "Sumpin's de matter wid him, an' dis ain't de las' ob it. Drapped jes' like a shote when he's hit, Marse Oliver," he said, in a low whisper, as if afraid of disturbing his master on the floor above. "I was a-layin' out his clo'es an' he called quick like, 'Malachi! Malachi!' an' when I got dar, he was lyin' on de flo' wid his head on de mat.

I ain't nebber seen Marse Richard do like dat befo'--" The old servant trembled as he spoke. He evidently did not share Nathan's hopeful views.

Neither did Dr. Wallace, although he did not say so to anyone.

Their fears, however, were not realized. Richard not only revived, but by the end of the week be was in the drawing-room again, Malachi, in accordance with the time-honored custom, wheeling out his chair, puffing up the cushions, and, with a wave of the hand and a sweeping bow, saying:

"Yo' ch'ar's all ready, Marse Richard. Hope you'se feelin' fine dis evenin', sah!"

The following day he was in his "li'l' room," Oliver helping him. It was the lifting of the heavy plate of the motor that had hurt Richard, so Nathan told him; not the same motor which Oliver remembered; another, much larger and built on different lines. The inventor now used twenty-four cells instead of ten, and the magnets had been wrapped with finer wire.

These days in the shop were delightful to Oliver.

His father no longer treated him as an inexperienced youth, but as his equal. "I hope you will agree with me, my son," he would say; or, "What do you think of the idea of using a 'cam' here instead of a lever?" or, "I wish you would find the last issue of the Review, and tell me what you think of that article of Latrobe's.

He puts the case very clearly, it seems to me," etc. And Oliver would bend his head in attention and try to follow his father's lead, wishing all the time that he could really be of use to the man he revered beyond all others, and so lighten some of the burdens that were weighing him down.

And none the less joyful were the hours spent with his mother. All the old-time affection, the devotion of a lover-son, were lavished upon her. And she was so supremely happy in it all. Now that Richard had recovered, there was no other cloud on her horizon, not even that of the dreaded mortgage which owing to some payments made Richard by a company using one of his patents had been extended and its interest paid for two years in advance in deference to her urgent request. All anxiety as to the Northern girl had happily passed out of her mind. If Oliver intended marrying Miss Grant he would have told her, she knew. Then again, he was so much stronger and wiser now--so much more thoughtful than he had been--so much more able to keep his head in matters of this kind.

同类推荐
  • Cowley's Essays

    Cowley's Essays

    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。
  • 六十种曲鸣凤记

    六十种曲鸣凤记

    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。
  • 写像秘诀

    写像秘诀

    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。
  • 香宋词

    香宋词

    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。
  • 集沙门不应拜俗等事

    集沙门不应拜俗等事

    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
  • 乱魂祭

    乱魂祭

    王朝末年,兵荒四起,匪患横生。受战乱之祸,百姓流离失所,四散逃亡,一路上哀鸿遍野,叫苦连天。天地不仁,以万物为刍狗。正值多事之秋,一些身怀诡术的尸精鬼怪却偏偏在此当口上纷纷出世,为祸世人。自古以来,魔高一尺,道高一丈。乱世之下,虽有妖魔祸世,同样也出现了一些能人异士,他们身怀异术,在仙家的帮助下将那些尸精鬼怪重新驱逐,封印,甚至消灭。于是,乱世间便拉开了一场善与恶,正与邪的殊死较量。
  • 决战:毕其功于一役

    决战:毕其功于一役

    《决战——毕其功于一役》是一本军事图书,描写的是古今中外比较 具有代表性的战争案例。 《决战——毕其功于一役》向读者展示的是中外战争史上一次次著名 的战役,如赤壁之战、淝水之战、葛底斯堡战役、上甘岭战役等等。是一 本集战役、战略于一体,充满血与泪的战争典籍。通过翔实的历史史实、 史料的记载,将读者带入硝烟弥漫、战火纷纷的场景,同时也彰显了古今 中外的兵将充满智慧的计谋与策略。 《决战——毕其功于一役》旨通过将科学的体例、流畅的文字、精美 的图片、新颖的版式设计等多种要素有机结合,为读者打造了一个良好的 阅读空间,并向人们传达战争的弊端以及和平的重要。
  • 优秀是一种习惯

    优秀是一种习惯

    当我们在不知不觉中养成了良好的习惯之后,这些习惯就会在潜移默化中影响着我们的工作、生活和学习,就会在无形当中把我们塑造成为一个优秀的人,一个与众不同的人。优秀是一种气质、优秀是一种状态、优秀更是一种习惯,需要时间慢慢养成。
  • 洞真太上金篇虎符真文经

    洞真太上金篇虎符真文经

    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。
  • 异棺

    异棺

    巨棺之谜,少年走近被吸进了棺材,从此走上了另一条改变人生的道路,肉身九重转神灵破长生,逆造化,这一切都从这里开始。。。。
  • 田野上的风

    田野上的风

    七岁的山子跟爸爸和娘从昌城搬到东湾村,上了小学二年级。书读得多、歌唱得好、作文觉得好的山子很快成了学校里的小明星。善良胆怯的他有了许多新朋友:梯田边上的小野兔、家里养的小羊羔、学校里的小伙伴……父母的呵护、小伙伴的友谊,乡亲的赞扬都成了催化剂,帮助山子很快融入了东湾村有趣的新生活,他一天天成长起来。
  • 盖世战皇

    盖世战皇

    【巅峰玄幻——强力推荐】斩天灭世第一体、掌握星辰日月天。彪悍少年易云逆天崛起,得天地第一奇书《混元金册》、享永恒第一至宝。修武道、踏乾坤,傲视寰宇、名震九霄,掌日月乾坤。
  • 扬·安德烈亚·斯泰奈

    扬·安德烈亚·斯泰奈

    晚年的玛格丽特·杜拉斯生活在疾病的困扰之中,写作、孤独几乎成了她生活的全部。扬·安德里亚·斯泰纳的到来为她打开了一扇窗,去呼吸,去回忆。去挥洒最后的激情。痛苦的力量仍在,但已转向了对人类命运的关怀。以情人的名字为题,这本《扬·安德烈亚·斯泰奈》亦如对情人的喃喃私语,八〇年的夏天,也因此充盈起来。
  • 老乡

    老乡

    姚小帅的运气是从他35岁这年好起来的。之前他的日子不但过得捉襟见肘,而且有些凄惶:来京城工作七八年了,住的房子还是老婆单位提供的一间宿舍,刚开始那两年,宿舍还显得宽敞些,前年儿子姚郑又迫不及待地来到人间,一家三口挤在一起,屋子里简直连个下脚的地方都没有。
  • 亲密关系

    亲密关系

    所谓前任,就是一勾手指,二抛媚眼,三迷心智,四等上钩,五任散养,六傲娇状,七女王攻,八推倒之,九扒光之,十嫌弃之,最后挥挥衣袖走人。--情节虚构,请勿模仿