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the uncommercial traveller-第76章

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suits well for raising indigo。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  I am told that these people now on board are

principally from the South of England?



MORMON AGENT。  And from Wales。  That's true。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  Do you get many Scotch?



MORMON AGENT。  Not many。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  Highlanders; for instance?



MORMON AGENT。  No; not Highlanders。  They ain't interested enough

in universal brotherhood and peace and good will。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  The old fighting blood is strong in them?



MORMON AGENT。  Well; yes。  And besides; they've no faith。



UNCOMMERCIAL (who has been burning to get at the Prophet Joe Smith;

and seems to discover an opening)。  Faith in … !



MORMON AGENT (far too many for Uncommercial)。  Well。 … In anything!



Similarly on this same head; the Uncommercial underwent

discomfiture from a Wiltshire labourer:  a simple; fresh…coloured

farm…labourer; of eight…and…thirty; who at one time stood beside

him looking on at new arrivals; and with whom he held this

dialogue:



UNCOMMERCIAL。  Would you mind my asking you what part of the

country you come from?



WILTSHIRE。  Not a bit。  Theer! (exultingly) I've worked all my life

o' Salisbury Plain; right under the shadder o' Stonehenge。  You

mightn't think it; but I haive。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  And a pleasant country too。



WILTSHIRE。  Ah!  'Tis a pleasant country。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  Have you any family on board?



WILTSHIRE。  Two children; boy and gal。  I am a widderer; I am; and

I'm going out alonger my boy and gal。  That's my gal; and she's a

fine gal o' sixteen (pointing out the girl who is writing by the

boat)。  I'll go and fetch my boy。  I'd like to show you my boy。

(Here Wiltshire disappears; and presently comes back with a big;

shy boy of twelve; in a superabundance of boots; who is not at all

glad to be presented。)  He is a fine boy too; and a boy fur to

work!  (Boy having undutifully bolted; Wiltshire drops him。)



UNCOMMERCIAL。  It must cost you a great deal of money to go so far;

three strong。



WILTSHIRE。  A power of money。  Theer!  Eight shillen a week; eight

shillen a week; eight shillen a week; put by out of the week's

wages for ever so long。



UNCOMMERCIAL。  I wonder how you did it。



WILTSHIRE (recognising in this a kindred spirit)。  See theer now!

I wonder how I done it!  But what with a bit o' subscription heer;

and what with a bit o' help theer; it were done at last; though I

don't hardly know how。  Then it were unfort'net for us; you see; as

we got kep' in Bristol so long … nigh a fortnight; it were … on

accounts of a mistake wi' Brother Halliday。  Swaller'd up money; it

did; when we might have come straight on。



UNCOMMERCIAL (delicately approaching Joe Smith)。  You are of the

Mormon religion; of course?



WILTSHIRE (confidently)。  O yes; I'm a Mormon。  (Then

reflectively。)  I'm a Mormon。  (Then; looking round the ship;

feigns to descry a particular friend in an empty spot; and evades

the Uncommercial for evermore。)



After a noontide pause for dinner; during which my Emigrants were

nearly all between…decks; and the Amazon looked deserted; a general

muster took place。  The muster was for the ceremony of passing the

Government Inspector and the Doctor。  Those authorities held their

temporary state amidships; by a cask or two; and; knowing that the

whole Eight hundred emigrants must come face to face with them; I

took my station behind the two。  They knew nothing whatever of me;

I believe; and my testimony to the unpretending gentleness and good

nature with which they discharged their duty; may be of the greater

worth。  There was not the slightest flavour of the Circumlocution

Office about their proceedings。



The emigrants were now all on deck。  They were densely crowded aft;

and swarmed upon the poop…deck like bees。  Two or three Mormon

agents stood ready to hand them on to the Inspector; and to hand

them forward when they had passed。  By what successful means; a

special aptitude for organisation had been infused into these

people; I am; of course; unable to report。  But I know that; even

now; there was no disorder; hurry; or difficulty。



All being ready; the first group are handed on。  That member of the

party who is entrusted with the passenger…ticket for the whole; has

been warned by one of the agents to have it ready; and here it is

in his hand。  In every instance through the whole eight hundred;

without an exception; this paper is always ready。



INSPECTOR (reading the ticket)。  Jessie Jobson; Sophronia Jobson;

Jessie Jobson again; Matilda Jobson; William Jobson; Jane Jobson;

Matilda Jobson again; Brigham Jobson; Leonardo Jobson; and Orson

Jobson。  Are you all here? (glancing at the party; over his

spectacles)。



JESSIE JOBSON NUMBER TWO。  All here; sir。



This group is composed of an old grandfather and grandmother; their

married son and his wife; and THEIR family of children。  Orson

Jobson is a little child asleep in his mother's arms。  The Doctor;

with a kind word or so; lifts up the corner of the mother's shawl;

looks at the child's face; and touches the little clenched hand。

If we were all as well as Orson Jobson; doctoring would be a poor

profession。



INSPECTOR。  Quite right; Jessie Jobson。  Take your ticket; Jessie;

and pass on。



And away they go。  Mormon agent; skilful and quiet; hands them on。

Mormon agent; skilful and quiet; hands next party up。



INSPECTOR (reading ticket again)。  Susannah Cleverly and William

Cleverly。  Brother and sister; eh?



SISTER (young woman of business; hustling slow brother)。  Yes; sir。



INSPECTOR。  Very good; Susannah Cleverly。  Take your ticket;

Susannah; and take care of it。



And away they go。



INSPECTOR (taking ticket again)。  Sampson Dibble and Dorothy Dibble

(surveying a very old couple over his spectacles; with some

surprise)。  Your husband quite blind; Mrs。 Dibble?



MRS。 DIBBLE。  Yes; sir; he be stone…blind。



MR。 DIBBLE (addressing the mast)。  Yes; sir; I be stone…blind。



INSPECTOR。  That's a bad job。  Take your ticket; Mrs。 Dibble; and

don't lose it; and pass on。



Doctor taps Mr。 Dibble on the eyebrow with his forefinger; and away

they go。



INSPECTOR (taking ticket again)。  Anastatia Weedle。



ANASTATIA (a pretty girl; in a bright Garibaldi; this morning

elected by universal suffrage the Beauty of the Ship)。  That is me;

sir。



INSPECTOR。  Going alone; Anastatia?



ANASTATIA (shaking her curls)。  I am with Mrs。 Jobson; sir; but

I've got separated for the moment。



INSPECTOR。  Oh!  You are with the Jobsons?  Quite right。  That'll

do; Miss Weedle。  Don't lose your ticket。



Away she goes; and joins the Jobsons who are waiting for her; and

stoops and kisses Brigham Jobson … who appears to be considered too

young for the purpose; by several Mormons rising twenty; who are

looking on。  Before her extensive skirts have departed from the

casks; a decent widow stands there wit
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