The Egg by Sherwood Anderson 中英对照

TheEgg[1876-1941]MYFATHERwas,Iamsure,intendedbynaturetobeacheerful,kindlyman.Untilhewasthirty-fouryearsoldheworkedasafarmhandforamannamedThomasButterworthwhoseplacelaynearthetownofBidwell,Ohio.HehadthenahorseofhisownandonSaturdayeveningsdroveintotowntospendafewhoursinsocialintercoursewithotherfarmhands.IntownhedrankseveralglassesofbeerandstoodaboutinBenHead'ssaloon--crowdedonSaturdayeveningswithvisitingfarmhands.Songsweresungandglassesthumpedonthebar.Atteno'clockfatherdrovehomealongalonelycountryroad,madehishorsecomfortableforthenightandhimselfwenttobed,quitehappyinhispositioninlife.Hehadatthattimenonotionoftryingtoriseintheworld.Itwasinthespringofhisthirty-fifthyearthatfathermarriedmymother,thenacountryschoolteacher,andinthefollowingspringIcamewrigglingandcryingintotheworld.Somethinghappenedtothetwopeople.Theybecameambitious.TheAmericanpassionforgettingupintheworldtookpossessionofthem.Itmayhavebeenthatmotherwasresponsible.Beingaschoolteachershehadnodoubtreadbooksandmagazines.Shehad,Ipresume,readofhowGarfield,Lincoln,andotherAmericansrosefrompovertytofameandgreatnessandasIlaybesideher--inthedaysofherlying-in--shemayhavedreamedthatIwouldsomedayrulemenandcities.Atanyratesheinducedfathertogiveuphisplaceasafarmhand,sellhishorseandembarkonanindependententerpriseofhisown.Shewasatallsilentwomanwithalongnoseandtroubledgreyeyes.Forherselfshewantednothing.Forfatherandmyselfshewasincurablyambitious.Thefirstventureintowhichthetwopeoplewentturnedoutbadly.TheyrentedtenacresofpoorstonylandonGriggs'sRoad,eightmilesfromBidwell,andlaunchedintochickenraising.Igrewintoboyhoodontheplaceandgotmyfirstimpressionsoflifethere.Fromthebeginningtheywereimpressionsofdisasterandif,inmyturn,Iamagloomymaninclinedtoseethedarkersideoflife,Iattributeittothefactthatwhatshouldhavebeenformethehappyjoyousdaysofchildhoodwerespentonachickenfarm.Oneunversedinsuchmatterscanhavenonotionofthemanyandtragicthingsthatcanhappentoachicken.Itisbornoutofanegg,livesforafewweeksasatinyfluffythingsuchasyouwillseepicturedonEastercards,thenbecomeshideouslynaked,eatsquantitiesofcornandmealboughtbythesweatofyourfather'sbrow,getsdiseasescalledpip,cholera,andothernames,standslookingwithstupideyesatthesun,becomessickanddies.Afewhensandnowandthenarooster,intendedtoserveGod'smysteriousends,strugglethroughtomaturity.Thehenslayeggsoutofwhichcomeotherchickensandthedreadfulcycleisthusmadecomplete.Itisallunbelievablycomplex.Mostphilosophersmusthavebeenraisedonchickenfarms.Onehopesforsomuchfromachickenandissodreadfullydisillusioned.Smallchickens,justsettingoutonthejourneyoflife,looksobrightandalertandtheyareinfactsodreadfullystupid.Theyaresomuchlikepeopletheymixoneupinone'sjudgmentsoflife.Ifdiseasedoesnotkillthemtheywaituntilyourexpectationsarethoroughlyarousedandthenwalkunderthewheelsofawagon--togosquashedanddeadbacktotheirmaker.Vermininfesttheiryouth,andfortunesmustbespentforcurativepowders.InlaterlifeIhaveseenhowaliteraturehasbeenbuiltuponthesubjectoffortunestobemadeoutoftheraisingofchickens.Itisintendedtobereadbythegodswhohavejusteatenofthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil.Itisahopefulliteratureanddeclaresthatmuchmaybedonebysimpleambitiouspeoplewhoownafewhens.Donotbeledastraybyit.Itwasnotwrittenforyou.GohuntforgoldonthefrozenhillsofAlaska,putyourfaithinthehonestyofapolitician,believeifyouwillthattheworldisdailygrowingbetterandthatgoodwilltriumphoverevil,butdonotreadandbelievetheliteraturethatiswrittenconcerningthehen.Itwasnotwrittenforyou.I,however,digress.Mytaledoesnotprimarilyconcernitselfwiththehen.Ifcorrectlytolditwillcenterontheegg.Fortenyearsmyfatherandmotherstruggledtomakeourchickenfarmpayandthentheygaveupthatstruggleandbegananother.TheymovedintothetownofBidwell,Ohioandembarkedintherestaurantbusiness.Aftertenyearsofworrywithincubatorsthatdidnothatch,andwithtiny--andintheirownwaylovely--ballsoffluffthatpassedonintosemi-nakedpullerhoodandfromthatintodeadhenhood,wethrewallasideandpackingourbelongingsonawagondrovedownGriggs'sRoadtowardBidwell,atinycaravanofhopelookingforanewplacefromwhichtostartonourupwardjourneythroughlife.Wemusthavebeenasadlookinglot,not,Ifancy,unlikerefugeesfleeingfromabattlefield.MotherandIwalkedintheroad.ThewagonthatcontainedourgoodshadbeenborrowedforthedayfromMr.AlbertGriggs,aneighbor.Outofitssidesstuckthelegsofcheapchairsandatthebackofthepileofbeds,tables,andboxesfilledwithkitchenutensilswasacrateoflivechickens,andontopofthatthebabycarriageinwhichIhadbeenwheeledaboutinmyinfancy.WhywestucktothebabycarriageIdon'tknow.Itwasunlikelyotherchildrenwouldbebornandthewheelswerebroken.Peoplewhohavefewpossessionsclingtightlytothosetheyhave.Thatisoneofthefactsthatmakelifesodiscouraging.Fatherrodeontopofthewagon.Hewasthenabald-headedmanofforty-five,alittlefatandfromlongassociationwithmotherandthechickenshehadbecomehabituallysilentanddiscouraged.Allduringourtenyearsonthechickenfarmhehadworkedasalaboreronneighboringfarmsandmostofthemoneyhehadearnedhadbeenspentforremediestocurechickendiseases,onWilmer'sWhiteWonderCholeraCureorProfessorBidlow'sEggProducerorsomeotherpreparationsthatmotherfoundadvertisedinthepoultrypapers.Thereweretwolittlepatchesofhaironfather'sheadjustabovehisears.IrememberthatasachildIusedtositlookingathimwhenhehadgonetosleepinachairbeforethestoveonSundayafternoonsinthewinter.Ihadatthatrimealreadybeguntoreadbooksandhavenotionsofmyownandthebaldpaththatledoverthetopofhisheadwas,Ifancied,somethinglikeabroadroad,sucharoadasCaesarmighthavemadeonwhichtoleadhislegionsoutofRomeandintothewondersofanunknownworld.Thetuftsofhairthatgrewabovefather'searswere,Ithought,likeforests.Ifellintoahalf-sleeping,half-wakingstateanddreamedIwasatinythinggoingalongtheroadintoafarbeautifulplacewheretherewerenochickenfarmsandwherelifewasahappyegglessaffair.Onemightwriteabookconcerningourflightfromthechickenfarmintotown.MotherandIwalkedtheentireeightmiles--shetobesurethatnothingfellfromthewagonandItoseethewondersoftheworld.Ontheseatofthewagonbesidefatherwashisgreatesttreasure.Iwilltellyouofthat.Onachickenfarmwherehundredsandeventhousandsofchickenscomeoutofeggs,surprisingthingssometimeshappen.Grotesquesarebornoutofeggsasoutofpeople.Theaccidentdoesnotoftenoccur--perhapsonceinathousandbirths.Achickenis,yousee,bornthathasfourlegs,twopairsofwings,twoheadsorwhatnot.Thethingsdonotlive.Theygoquickiybacktothehandoftheirmakerthathasforamomenttrembled.Thefactthatthepoorlittlethingscouldnotlivewasoneofthetragediesoflifetofather.Hehadsomesortofnotionthatifhecouldbutbringintohenhoodorroosterhoodafive-leggedhenoratwo-headedroosterhisfortunewouldbemade.Hedreamedoftakingthewonderabouttocountyfairsandofgrowingrichbyexhibitingittootherfarmhands.Atanyratehesavedallthelittlemonstrousthingsthathadbeenbornonourchickenfarm.Theywerepreservedinalcoholandputeachinitsownglassbottle.Thesehehadcarefullyputintoaboxandonourjourneyintotownitwascarriedonthewagonseatbesidehim.Hedrovethehorseswithonehandandwiththeotherclungtothebox.Whenwegottoourdestinationtheboxwastakendownatonceandthebottlesremoved.AllduringourdaysaskeepersofarestaurantinthetownofBidwell,Ohio,thegrotesquesintheirlittleglassbottlessatonashelfbackofthecounter.Mothersometimesprotestedbutfatherwasarockonthesubjectofhistreasure.Thegrotesqueswere,hedeclared,valuable.People,hesaid,likedtolookatstrangeandwonderfulthings.DidIsaythatweembarkedintherestaurantbusinessinthetownofBidwell,Ohio?Iexaggeratedalittle.Thetownitselflayatthefootofalowhillandontheshoreofasmallriver.TherailroaddidnotrunthroughthetownandthestationwasamileawaytothenorthataplacecalledPickleville.Therehadbeenacidermillandpicklefactoryatthestation,butbeforethetimeofourcomingtheyhadbothgoneoutofbusiness.InthemorningandintheeveningbussescamedowntothestationalongaroadcalledTurner'sPikefromthehotelonthemainstreetofBidwell.Ourgoingtotheout-of-the-wayplacetoembarkintherestaurantbusinesswasmother'sidea.Shetalkedofitforayearandthenonedaywentoffandrentedanemptystorebuildingoppositetherailroadstation.Itwasherideathattherestaurantwouldbeprofitable.Travellingmen,shesaid,wouldbealwayswaitingaroundtotaketrainsoutoftownandtownpeoplewouldcometothestationtoawaitincomingtrains.Theywouldcometotherestauranttobuypiecesofpieanddrinkcoffee.NowthatIamolderIknowthatshehadanothermotiveingoing.Shewasambitiousforme.Shewantedmetoriseintheworld,togetintoatownschoolandbecomeamanofthetowns.AtPicklevillefatherandmotherworkedhardastheyalwayshaddone.Atfirsttherewasthenecessityofputtingourplaceintoshapetobearestaurant.Thattookamonth.Fatherbuiltashelfonwhichheputtinsofvegetables.Hepaintedasignonwhichheputhisnameinlargeredletters.Belowhisnamewasthesharpcommand--"EATHERE"--thatwassoseldomobeyed.Ashowcasewasboughtandfilledwithcigarsandtobacco.Motherscrubbedthefloorandthewallsoftheroom.Iwenttoschoolinthetownandwasgladtobeawayfromthefarmandfromthepresenceofthediscouraged,sad-lookingchickens.StillIwasnotveryjoyous.IntheeveningIwalkedhomefromschoolalongTurner'sPikeandrememberedthechildrenIhadseenplayinginthetownschoolyard.Atroopoflittlegirlshadgonehoppingaboutandsinging.Itriedthat.DownalongthefrozenroadIwenthoppingsolemnlyononeleg."Hippityhoptothebarbershop,"Isangshrilly.ThenIstoppedandlookeddoubtfullyabout.Iwasafraidofbeingseeninmygaymood.ItmusthaveseemedtomethatIwasdoingathingthatshouldnotbedonebyonewho,likemyself,hadbeenraisedonachickenfarmwheredeathwasadailyvisitor.Motherdecidedthatourrestaurantshouldremainopenatnight.Attenintheeveningapassengertrainwentnorthpastourdoorfollowedbyalocalfreight.ThefreightcrewhadswitchingtodoinPicklevilleandwhentheworkwasdonetheycametoourrestaurantforhotcoffeeandfood.Sometimesoneofthemorderedafriedegg.Inthemorningatfourtheyreturnednorthboundandagainvisitedus.Alittletradebegantogrowup.Mothersleptatnightandduringthedaytendedtherestaurantandfedourboarderswhilefatherslept.HesleptinthesamebedmotherhadoccupiedduringthenightandIwentofftothetownofBidwellandtoschool.Duringthelongnights,whilemotherandIslept,fathercookedmeatsthatweretogointosandwichesforthelunchbasketsofourboarders.Thenanideainregardtogettingupintheworldcameintohishead.TheAmericanspirittookholdofhim.Healsobecameambitious.Inthelongnightswhentherewaslittletodofatherhadtimetothink.Thatwashisundoing.Hedecidedthathehadinthepastbeenanunsuccessfulmanbecausehehadnotbeencheerfulenoughandthatinthefuturehewouldadoptacheerfuloutlookonlife.Intheearlymorninghecameupstairsandgotintobedwithmother.Shewokeandthetwotalked.FrommybedinthecornerIlistened.Itwasfather'sideathatbothheandmothershouldtrytoentertainthepeoplewhocametoeatatourrestaurant.Icannotnowrememberhiswords,buthegavetheimpressionofoneabouttobecomeinsomeobscurewayakindofpublicentertainer.Whenpeople,particularlyyoungpeoplefromthetownofBidwell,cameintoourplace,asonveryrareoccasionstheydid,brightentertainingconversationwastobemade.Fromfather'swordsIgatheredthatsomethingofthejollyinnkeepereffectwastobesought.Mothermusthavebeendoubtfulfromthefirst,butshesaidnothingdiscouraging.Itwasfather'snotionthatapassionforthecompanyofhimselfandmotherwouldspringupinthebreastsoftheyoungerpeopleofthetownofBidwell.IntheeveningbrighthappygroupswouldcomesingingdownTurner'sPike.Theywouldtroopshoutingwithjoyandlaughterintoourplace.Therewouldbesongandfestivity.Idonotmeantogivetheimpressionthatfatherspokesoelaboratelyofthematter.HewasasIhavesaidanuncommunicativeman."Theywantsomeplacetogo.Itellyoutheywantsomeplacetogo,"hesaidoverandover.Thatwasasfarashegot.Myownimaginationhasfilledintheblanks.Fortwoorthreeweeksthisnotionoffather'sinvadedourhouse.Wedidnottalkmuchbutinourdailylivestriedearnestlytomakesmilestaketheplaceofglumlooks.MothersmiledattheboardersandI,catchingtheinfection,smiledatourcat.Fatherbecamealittlefeverishinhisanxietytoplease.Therewasnodoubtlurkingsomewhereinhimatouchofthespiritoftheshowman.HedidnotwastemuchofhisammunitionontherailroadmenheservedatnightbutseemedtobewaitingforayoungmanorwomanfromBidwelltocomeintoshowwhathecoulddo.Onthecounterintherestauranttherewasawirebasketkeptalwaysfilledwitheggs,anditmusthavebeenbeforehiseyeswhentheideaofbeingentertainingwasborninhisbrain.Therewassomethingpre-natalaboutthewayeggskeptthemselvesconnectedwiththedevelopmentofhisidea.Atanyrateaneggruinedhisnewimpulseinlife.LateonenightIwasawakenedbyaroarofangercomingfromfather'sthroat.BothmotherandIsatuprightinourbeds.Withtremblinghandsshelightedalampthatstoodonatablebyherhead.Downstairsthefrontdoorofourrestaurantwentshutwithabangandinafewminutesfathertrampedupthestairs.Heheldanegginhishandandhishandtrembledasthoughhewerehavingachill.Therewasahalfinsanelightinhiseyes.AshestoodglaringatusIwassureheintendedthrowingtheeggateithermotherorme.Thenhelaiditgentlyonthetablebesidethelampanddroppedonhiskneesbesidemother'sbed.HebegantocrylikeaboyandI,carriedawaybyhisgrief,criedwithhim.Thetwoofusfilledthelittleupstairsroomwithourwailingvoices.Itisridiculous,butofthepicturewemadeIcanrememberonlythefactthatmother'shandcontinuallystrokedthebaldpaththatranacrossthetopofhishead.Ihaveforgottenwhatmothersaidtohimandhowsheinducedhimtotellherofwhathadhappeneddownstairs.Hisexplanationalsohasgoneoutofmymind.Irememberonlymyowngriefandfrightandtheshinypathoverfather'sheadglowinginthelamplightashekneltbythebed.Astowhathappeneddownstairs.ForsomeunexplainablereasonIknowthestoryaswellasthoughIhadbeenawitnesstomyfather'sdiscomfiture.Oneintimegetstoknowmanyunexplainablethings.OnthateveningyoungJoeKane,sonofamerchantofBidwell,cametoPicklevilletomeethisfather,whowasexpectedontheteno'clockeveningtrainfromthesouth.ThetrainwasthreehourslateandJoecameintoourplacetoloafaboutandtowaitforitsarrival.Thelocalfreighttraincameinandthefreightcrewwerefed.Joewasleftaloneintherestaurantwithfather.FromthemomenthecameintoourplacetheBidwellyoungmanmusthavebeenpuzzledbymyfather'sactions.Itwashisnotionthatfatherwasangryathimforhangingaround.Henoticedthattherestaurantkeeperwasapparentlydisturbedbyhispresenceandhethoughtofgoingout.However,itbegantorainandhedidnotfancythelongwalktotownandback.Heboughtafive-centcigarandorderedacupofcoffee.Hehadanewspaperinhispocketandtookitoutandbegantoread."I'mwaitingfortheeveningtrain.It'slate,"hesaidapologetically.Foralongtimefather,whomJoeKanehadneverseenbefore,remainedsilentlygazingathisvisitor.Hewasnodoubtsufferingfromanattackofstagefright.Assooftenhappensinlifehehadthoughtsomuchandsooftenofthesituationthatnowconfrontedhimthathewassomewhatnervousinitspresence.Foronething,hedidnotknowwhattodowithhishands.HethrustoneofthemnervouslyoverthecounterandshookhandswithJoeKane."How-de-do,"hesaid.JoeKaneputhisnewspaperdownandstaredathim.Father'seyelightedonthebasketofeggsthatsatonthecounterandhebegantotalk."Well,"hebeganhesitatingly,"well,youhaveheardofChristopherColumbus,eh?"Heseemedtobeangry."ThatChristopherColumbuswasacheat,"hedeclaredemphatically."Hetalkedofmakinganeggstandonitsend.Hetalked,hedid,andthenhewentandbroketheendoftheegg."MyfatherseemedtohisvisitortobebesidehimselfattheduplicityofChristopherColumbus.Hemutteredandswore.HedeclareditwaswrongtoteachchildrenthatChristopherColumbuswasagreatmanwhen,afterall,hecheatedatthecriticalmoment.Hehaddeclaredhewouldmakeaneggstandonendandthenwhenhisbluffhadbeencalledhehaddoneatrick.StillgrumblingatColumbus,fathertookaneggfromthebasketonthecounterandbegantowalkupanddown.Herolledtheeggbetweenthepalmsofhishands.Hesmiledgenially.Hebegantomumblewordsregardingtheeffecttobeproducedonaneggbytheelectricitythatcomesoutofthehumanbody.Hedeclaredthatwithoutbreakingitsshellandbyvirtueofrollingitbackandforthinhishandshecouldstandtheeggonitsend.Heexplainedthatthewarmthofhishandsandthegentlerollingmovementhegavetheeggcreatedanewcenterofgravity,andJoeKanewasmildlyinterested."Ihavehandledthousandsofeggs,"fathersaid."NooneknowsmoreabouteggsthanIdo."Hestoodtheeggonthecounteranditfellonitsside.Hetriedthetrickagainandagain,eachtimerollingtheeggbetweenthepalmsofhishandsandsayingthewordsregardingthewondersofelectricityandthelawsofgravity.Whenafterahalfhour'sefforthedidsucceedinmakingtheeggstandforamoment,helookeduptofindthathisvisitorwasnolongerwatching.BythetimehehadsucceededincallingJoeKane'sattentiontothesuccessofhiseffort,theegghadagainrolledoverandlayonitsside.Afirewiththeshowman'spassionandatthesametimeagooddealdisconcertedbythefailureofhisfirsteffort,fathernowtookthebottlescontainingthepoultrymonstrositiesdownfromtheirplaceontheshelfandbegantoshowthemtohisvisitor."Howwouldyouliketohavesevenlegsandtwoheadslikethisfellow?"heasked,exhibitingthemostremarkableofhistreasures.Acheerfulsmileplayedoverhisface.HereachedoverthecounterandtriedtoslapJoeKaneontheshoulderashehadseenmendoinBenHead'ssaloonwhenhewasayoungfarmhandanddrovetotownonSaturdayevenings.Hisvisitorwasmadealittleillbythesightofthebodyoftheterriblydeformedbirdfloatinginthealcoholinthebottleandgotuptogo.Comingfrombehindthecounter,fathertookholdoftheyoungman'sarmandledhimbacktohisseat.Hegrewalittleangryandforamomenthadtoturnhisfaceawayandforcehimselftosmile.Thenheputthebottlesbackontheshelf.InanoutburstofgenerosityhefairlycompelledJoeKanetohaveafreshcupofcoffeeandanothercigarathisexpense.Thenhetookapanandfillingitwithvinegar,takenfromajugthatsatbeneaththecounter,hedeclaredhimselfabouttodoanewtrick."Iwillheatthisegginthispanofvinegar,"hesaid."ThenIwillputitthroughtheneckofabottlewithoutbreakingtheshell.Whentheeggisinsidethebottleitwillresumeitsnormalshapeandtheshellwillbecomehardagain.ThenIwillgivethebottlewiththeegginittoyou.Youcantakeitaboutwithyouwhereveryougo.Peoplewillwanttoknowhowyougottheegginthebottle.Don'ttellthem.Keepthemguessing.Thatisthewaytohavefunwiththistrick."Fathergrinnedandwinkedathisvisitor.JoeKanedecidedthatthemanwhoconfrontedhimwasmildlyinsanebutharmless.Hedrankthecupofcoffeethathadbeengivenhimandbegantoreadhispaperagain.Whentheegghadbeenheatedinvinegar,fathercarrieditonaspoontothecounterandgoingintoabackroomgotanemptybottle.Hewasangrybecausehisvisitordidnotwatchhimashebegantodohistrick,butneverthelesswentcheerfullytowork.Foralongtimehestruggled,tryingtogettheeggtogothroughtheneckofthebottle.Heputthepanofvinegarbackonthestove,intendingtoreheattheegg,thenpickeditupandburnedhisfingers.Afterasecondbathinthehotvinegar,theshelloftheegghadbeensoftenedalittlebutnotenoughforhispurpose.Heworkedandworkedandaspiritofdesperatedeterminationtookpossessionofhim.Whenhethoughtthatatlastthetrickwasabouttobeconsummated,thedelayedtraincameinatthestationandJoeKanestartedtogononchalantlyoutatthedoor.Fathermadealastdesperateefforttoconquertheeggandmakeitdothethingthatwouldestablishhisreputationasonewhoknewhowtoentertainguestswhocameintohisrestaurant.Heworriedtheegg.Heattemptedtobesomewhatroughwithit.Hesworeandthesweatstoodoutonhisforehead.Theeggbrokeunderhishand.Whenthecontentsspurtedoverhisclothes,JoeKane,whohadstoppedatthedoor,turnedandlaughed.Aroarofangerrosefrommyfather'sthroat.Hedancedandshoutedastringofinarticulatewords.Grabbinganothereggfromthebasketonthecounter,hethrewit,justmissingtheheadoftheyoungmanashedodgedthroughthedoorandescaped.Fathercameupstairstomotherandmewithanegginhishand.Idonotknowwhatheintendedtodo.Iimaginehehadsomeideaofdestroyingit,ofdestroyingalleggs,andthatheintendedtoletmotherandmeseehimbegin.When,however,hegotintothepresenceofmothersomethinghappenedtohim.HelaidtheegggentlyonthetableanddroppedonhiskneesbythebedasIhavealreadyexplained.Helaterdecidedtoclosetherestaurantforthenightandtocomeupstairsandgetintobed.Whenhedidsoheblewoutthelightandaftermuchmutteredconversationbothheandmotherwenttosleep.IsupposeIwenttosleepalso,butmysleepwastroubled.Iawokeatdawnandforalongtimelookedattheeggthatlayonthetable.Iwonderedwhyeggshadtobeandwhyfromtheeggcamethehenwhoagainlaidtheegg.Thequestiongotintomyblood.Ithasstayedthere,Iimagine,becauseIamthesonofmyfather.Atanyrate,theproblemremainsunsolvedinmymind.Andthat,Iconclude,isbutanotherevidenceofthecompleteandfinaltriumphoftheegg--atleastasfarasmyfamilyisconcerned.相信,爸爸是生来是一个活泼开朗的人.三十四岁之前,他一直在俄亥俄州毕兑奥镇的汤巴托农场打短工.他自己有匹马,每周六晚上都骑马到镇上和一帮雇农混上个几个钟头.本海德酒吧那时整晚觥筹交错欢歌笑语,人满为患得没地落脚,他只能站着喝两杯啤酒.一过十点,他沿一条孤僻乡间小路策马回家,将坐骑安顿停当,上床就寝,对人生心满意足.当时,他并没有任何出人头地的念想.三十五岁的春天,他娶了当时还是学校教员的妈妈,第二年春,我便呱呱坠地.打那儿起,他俩起了变化.他们变得雄心勃勃,满脑子都是美国式飞黄腾达的远大理想.对此我妈可能也要付一定责任.她识文断字,一定经常读看报.我估计她在坐月子的时候,就读了伽菲和林肯等人怎么从一介草民变成一代伟人--当时我就躺在她边上--兴许她指望我哪天也能呼风唤雨.她不由分说,怂恿爸爸辞掉了雇农的工作,卖了马匹自己做买卖.她身高体