按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of bitterness。 The old institutions were obsolete； rotten to the core； he
said； and needed a radical renovation。 He could sit for hours of an
3
… Page 4…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
evening in the Students' Union； and discourse over a glass of mild toddy；
on the benefits of universal suffrage and trial by jury； while the
picturesqueness of his language； his genial sarcasms； or occasional witty
allusions would call forth uproarious applause from throngs of admiring
freshmen。 These were the sunny days in Halfdan's career； days long to
be remembered。 They came to an abrupt end when old Mrs。 Bjerk died；
leaving nothing behind her but her furniture and some trifling debts。 The
son； who was not an eminently practical man； underwent long hours of
misery in trying to settle up her affairs； and finally in a moment of extreme
dejection sold his entire inheritance in a lump to a pawnbroker （reserving
for himself a few rings and trinkets） for the modest sum of 250 dollars
specie。 He then took formal leave of the Students' Union in a brilliant
speech； in which he traced the parallelisms between the lives of Pericles
and Washington； in his opinion the two greatest men the world had ever
seen；expounded his theory of democratic government； and explained the
causes of the rapid rise of the American Republic。 The next morning he
exchanged half of his worldly possessions for a ticket to New York； and
within a few days set sail for the land of promise； in the far West。
II。
From Castle Garden； Halfdan made his way up through Greenwich
street； pursued by a clamorous troop of confidence men and hotel runners。
〃Kommen Sie mit mir。 Ich bin auch Deutsch；〃 cried one。 〃Voila；
voila； je parle Francais；〃 shouted another； seizing hold of his valise。 〃Jeg
er Dansk。 Tale Dansk；〃＇1＇ roared a third； with an accent which seriously
impeached his truthfulness。 In order to escape from these importunate
rascals； who were every moment getting bolder； he threw himself into the
first street…car which happened to pass； he sat down； gazed out of the
windows and soon became so thoroughly absorbed in the animated scenes
which moved as in a panorama before his eyes； that he quite forgot where
he was going。 The conductor called for fares； and received an English
shilling； which； after some ineffectual expostulation； he pocketed； but
gave no change。 At last after about an hour's journey； the car stopped； the
4
… Page 5…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
conductor called out 〃Central Park；〃 and Halfdan woke up with a start。
He dismounted with a timid； deliberate step； stared in dim bewilderment at
the long rows of palatial residences； and a chill sense of loneliness crept
over him。 The hopeless strangeness of everything he saw； instead of
filling him with rapture as he had once anticipated； Sent a cold shiver to
his heart。 It is a very large affair； this world of oursa good deal larger
than it appeared to him gazing out upon it from his snug little corner up
under the Pole； and it was as unsympathetic as it was large； he suddenly
felt what he had never been aware of before that he was a very small part
of it and of very little account after all。 He staggered over to a bench at
the entrance to the park； and sat long watching the fine carriages as they
dashed past him； he saw the handsome women in brilliant costumes
laughing and chatting gayly； the apathetic policemen promenading in stoic
dignity up and down upon the smooth pavements； the jauntily attired
nurses； whom in his Norse innocence he took for mothers or aunts of the
chil… dren； wheeling baby…carriages which to Norse eyes seemed miracles
of dainty ingenuity； under the shady crowns of the elm…trees。 He did not
know how long he had been sitting there； when a little bright…eyed girl
with light kid gloves； a small blue parasol and a blue polonaise； quite a
lady of fashion en miniature； stopped in front of him and stared at him in
shy wonder。 He had always been fond of children； and often rejoiced in
their affectionate ways and confidential prattle； and now it suddenly
touched him with a warm sense of human fellowship to have this little
daintily befrilled and crisply starched beauty single him out for notice
among the hundreds who reclined in the arbors； or sauntered to and fro
under the great trees。
＇1＇ 〃I am a Dane。 I speak Danish。〃
〃What is your name； my little girl？〃 he asked； in a tone of friendly
interest。
〃Clara；〃 answered the child； hesitatingly； then； having by another look
assured herself of his harmlessness； she added： 〃How very funny you
speak！〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； stooping down to take he tiny begloved hand。 〃I do
5
… Page 6…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
not speak as well as you do； yet； but I shall soon learn。〃
Clara looked puzzled。
〃How old are you？〃 she asked； raising her parasol； and throwing back
her head with an air of superiority。
〃I am twenty…four years old。〃
She began to count half aloud on her fingers： 〃One； two； three； four；〃
but； before she reached twenty； she lost her patience。
〃Twenty…four；〃 she exclaimed； 〃that is a great deal。 I am only seven；
and papa gave me a pony on my birthday。 Have you got a pony？〃
〃No； I have nothing but what is in this valise； and you know I could
not very well get a pony into it。〃
Clara glanced curiously at the valise and laughed； then suddenly she
grew serious again； put her hand into her pocket and seemed to be
searching eagerly for something。 Presently she hauled out a small
porcelain doll's head； then a red…painted block with letters on it； and at last
a penny。
〃Do you want them？〃 she said； reaching him her treasures in both
hands。 〃You may have them all。〃
Before he had time to answer； a shrill； penetrating voice cried out：
〃Why； gracious