Мхи старой усадьбы
The Celestial Railroad
Havingbeenonspeakingtermswithoneofthesepersons,—anindolent,good-for-nothingfellow,whowentbythenameofTake-it-easy,—Icalledhim,andinquiredwhatwashisbusinessthere.
"Didyounotstart,"saidI,"fortheCelestialCity?"
"That’safact,"saidMr.Take-it-easy,carelesslypuffingsomesmokeintomyeyes."ButIheardsuchbadaccountsthatInevertookpainstoclimbthehillonwhichthecitystands.Nobusinessdoing,nofungoingon,nothingtodrink,andnosmokingallowed,andathrummingofchurchmusicfrommorningtillnight.Iwouldnotstayinsuchaplaceiftheyofferedmehouseroomandlivingfree."
"But,mygoodMr.Take-it-easy,"criedI,"whytakeupyourresidencehere,ofallplacesintheworld?"
"Oh,"saidtheloafer,withagrin,"itisverywarmhereabouts,andImeetwithplentyofoldacquaintances,andaltogethertheplacesuitsme.Ihopetoseeyoubackagainsomedaysoon.Apleasantjourneytoyou."
Whilehewasspeakingthebelloftheenginerang,andwedashedawayafterdroppingafewpassengers,butreceivingnonewones.RattlingonwardthroughtheValley,weweredazzledwiththefiercelygleaminggaslamps,asbefore.Butsometimes,inthedarkofintensebrightness,grimfaces,thatboretheaspectandexpressionofindividualsins,orevilpassions,seemedtothrustthemselvesthroughtheveiloflight,glaringuponus,andstretchingforthagreat,duskyhand,asiftoimpedeourprogress.Ialmostthoughtthattheyweremyownsinsthatappalledmethere.
