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！
Evergreens
by Jerome K。 Jerome
They look so dull and dowdy in the spring weather； when the snow drops
and the crocuses are putting on their dainty frocks of white and mauve
and yellow； and the baby…buds from every branch are peeping with
bright eyes out on the world； and stretching forth soft little leaves
toward the coming gladness of their lives。 They stand apart； so cold
and hard amid the stirring hope and joy that are throbbing all around
them。
And in the deep full summer…time； when all the rest of nature dons its
richest garb of green； and the roses clamber round the porch； and the
grass waves waist…high in the meadow； and the fields are gay with
flowersthey seem duller and dowdier than ever then； wearing their
faded winter's dress； looking so dingy and old and worn。
In the mellow days of autumn； when the trees； like dames no longer
young； seek to forget their aged looks under gorgeous bright…toned
robes of gold and brown and purple； and the grain is yellow in the
fields； and the ruddy fruit hangs clustering from the drooping boughs；
and the wooded hills in their thousand hues stretched like leafy
rainbows above the valeah！ surely they look their dullest and
dowdiest then。 The gathered glory of the dying year is all around
them。 They seem so out of place among it； in their somber；
everlasting green； like poor relations at a rich man's feast。 It is
such a weather…beaten old green dress。 So many summers' suns have
blistered it； so many winters' rains have beat upon itsuch a shabby；
mean； old dress； it is the only one they have！
They do not look quite so bad when the weary winter weather is come；
when the flowers are dead； and the hedgerows are bare； and the trees
stand out leafless against the gray sky； and the birds are all silent；
and the fields are brown； and the vine clings round the cottages with
skinny； fleshless arms； and they alone of all things are unchanged；
they alone of all the forest are green； they alone of all the verdant
host stand firm to front the cruel winter。
They are not very beautiful； only strong and stanch and steadfastthe
same in all times； through all seasonsever the same； ever green。
The spring cannot brighten them； the summer cannot scorch them； the
autumn cannot wither them； the winter cannot kill them。
There are evergreen men and women in the world； praise be to God！ Not
many of them； but a few。 They are not the showy folk； they are not
the clever； attractive folk。 （Nature is an old…fashioned shopkeeper；
she never puts her best goods in the window。） They are only the
quiet； strong folk； they are stronger than the world； stronger than
life or death； stronger than Fate。 The storms of life sweep over
them； and the rains beat down upon them； and the biting frosts creep
round them； but the winds and the rains and the frosts pass away； and
they are still standing； green and straight。 They love the sunshine
of life in their undemonstrative wayits pleasures； its joys。 But
calamity cannot bow them； sorrow and affliction bring not despair to
their serene faces； only a little tightening of the lips； the sun of
our prosperity makes the green of their friendship no brighter； the
frost of our adversity kills not the leaves of their affection。
Let us lay hold of such men and women； let us grapple them to us with
hooks of steel； let us cling to them as we would to rocks in a tossing
sea。 We do not think very much of them in the summertime of life。
They do not flatter us or gush over us。 They do not always agree with
us。 They are not always the most delightful society； by any means。
They are not good talkers； norwhich would do just as well； perhaps
betterdo they make enraptured listeners。 They have awkward manners；
and very little tact。 They do not shine to advantage beside our
society friends。 They do not dress well； they look altogether
somewhat dowdy and commonplace。 We almost hope they will not see us
when we meet them just outside the club。 They are not the sort of
people we want to ostentatiously greet in crowded places。 It is not
till the days of our need that we learn to love and know them。 It is
not till the winter that the birds see the wisdom of building their
nests in the evergreen trees。
And we； in our spring…time folly of youth； pass them by with a sneer；
the uninteresting； colorless evergreens； and； like silly children with
nothing but eyes in their heads； stretch out our hands and cry for the
pretty flowers。 We will make our little garden of life such a
charming； fairy…like spot； the envy of every passer…by！ There shall
nothing grow in it but lilies and roses； and the cottage we will cover
all over with Virginia…creeper。 And； oh； how sweet it will look；
under the dancing summer sun…light； when the soft west breeze is
blowing！
And； oh； how we shall stand and shiver there when the rain and the
east wind come！
Oh； you foolish； foolish little maidens； with your dainty heads so
full of unwisdom！ how oftenoh！ how often； are you to be warned that
it is not always the sweetest thing in lovers that is the best
material to make a good…wearing husband out of？ 〃The lover sighing
like a furnace〃 will not go on sighing like a furnace forever。 That
furnace will go out。 He will become the husband； 〃full of strange
oathsjealous in honor； sudden and quick in quarrel；〃 and grow 〃into
the lean and slipper'd pantaloon。〃 How will he wear？ There will be
no changing him if he does not suit； no sending him back to be
altered； no having him let out a bit where he is too tight and hurts
you； no having him taken in where he is too loose； no laying him by
when the cold comes； to wrap yourself up in something warmer。 As he
is when you select him； so he will have to last you all your
lifethrough all changes； through all seasons。
Yes； he looks very pretty nowhandsome pattern； if the colors are
fast and it does not fadefeels soft and warm to the touch。 How will
he stand the world's rough weather？ How will he stand life's wear and
tear？
He looks so manly and brave。 His hair curls so divinely。 He dresses
so well （I wonder if the tailor's bill is paid？） He kisses your hand
so gracefully。 He calls you such pretty names。 His arm feels so
strong a round you。 His fine eyes are so full of tenderness as they
gaze down into yours。
Will he kiss your hand when it is wrinkled and old？ Will he call you
pretty names when the baby is crying in the night； and you cannot keep
it quietor； better still； will he sit up and take a turn with it？
Will his arm be strong around you in the days of trouble？ Will his
eyes shine above you full of tenderness when yours are growing dim？
And you boys； you silly boys！ what materials for a wife do you think
you will get out of the empty…headed coquettes you are raving and
tearing your hair about。 Oh！ yes； she is very handsome； and she
dresses with exquisite taste （the result of devoting the whole of her
heart； mind and soul to the subject； and never allowing her thoughts
to be distracted from it by any other mundane or celestial object
whatsoever）； and she is very agreeable and entertaining and
fascinating； and she will go on looking handsome； and dressing
exquisitely； and being agreeable and entertaining and fascinating just
as much after you have married her as beforemore so； if anything。
But _you_ will not get the benefit of it。 Husbands will be charmed
and fascinated by her in plenty； but _you_ will not be among them。
You will run the show； you will pay all the expenses； do all the work。
Your performing lady will be most affable and enchanting to the crowd。
They will stare at her； and admire her； and talk to her； and flirt
with her。 And you will be able to feel that you are quite a
benefactor to your fellow…men and womento your fellow…men
especiallyin providing such delightful amusement for them； free。
But _you_ will not get any of the fun yourself。
You will not get the handsome looks。 _You_ will get the jaded face；
and the dull； lusterless eyes； and the untidy hair with the dye
showing on it。 You will not get the exquisite dresses。 _You_ will
get dirty； shabby frocks and slommicking dressing…gowns； such as your
cook would be ashamed to wear。 _You_ will not get the charm and
fascination。 _You_ will get the after…headaches； the complainings and
grumblings； the silence and sulkiness； the weariness and lassitude and
ill…temper that comes as such a relief after working hard all day at
being pleasant！
It is not the people who shine in society； but the people who brighten
up the back parlor； not the people who are charming when they are out；
but the people who are charming when they are in； that are good to
_live_ with。 It is not the brilliant men and women； but the simple；
strong； restful men and women； that make the best traveling companions
for the road of life。 The men and women who will only laugh as they
put up the umbrella when the rain begins to fall； who will trudge
along cheerfully through the mud and over the stony placesthe
comrades who will lay their firm hand on ours and strengthen us when
the way is dark and we are growing weakthe evergreen men and women；