must let the doctors pound in their great mortar； infuse and strain；
hoping that they will present us with the clear solution when they
have got through these processes。 One of our chief wants is a
complete sanitary map of every State in the Union。
The balance of our table； as the reader has no doubt observed； has
been deranged by the withdrawal of the Man of Letters； so called； and
only the side of the deficiency changed by the removal of the Young
Astronomer into our neighborhood。 The fact that there was a vacant
chair on the side opposite us had by no means escaped the notice of
That Boy。 He had taken advantage of his opportunity and invited in a
schoolmate whom he evidently looked upon as a great personage。 This
boy or youth was a good deal older than himself and stood to him
apparently in the light of a patron and instructor in the ways of
life。 A very jaunty； knowing young gentleman he was； good…looking；
smartly dressed； smooth…checked as yet； curly…haired； with a roguish
eye； a sagacious wink； a ready tongue； as I soon found out； and as I
learned could catch a ball on the fly with any boy of his age； not
quarrelsome； but； if he had to strike； hit from the shoulder； the
pride of his father （who was a man of property and a civic
dignitary）； and answering to the name of Johnny。
I was a little surprised at the liberty That Boy had taken in
introducing an extra peptic element at our table； reflecting as I did
that a certain number of avoirdupois ounces of nutriment which the
visitor would dispose of corresponded to a very appreciable pecuniary
amount； so that he was levying a contribution upon our Landlady which
she might be inclined to complain of。 For the Caput mortuum （or
deadhead； in vulgar phrase） is apt to be furnished with a Venter
vivus； or； as we may say； a lively appetite。 But the Landlady
welcomed the new…comer very heartily。
Why！ howdoyoudo Johnny？！ with the notes of interrogation and
of admiration both together； as here represented。
Johnny signified that he was doing about as well as could be expected
under the circumstances； having just had a little difference with a
young person whom he spoke of as 〃Pewter…jaw〃 （I suppose he had worn
a dentist's tooth…straightening contrivance during his second
dentition）； which youth he had finished off； as he said； in good
shape； but at the expense of a slight epistaxis； we will translate
his vernacular expression。
The three ladies all looked sympathetic； but there did not seem to
be any great occasion for it； as the boy had come out all right； and
seemed to be in the best of spirits。
…And how is your father and your mother？ asked the Landlady。
…Oh； the Governor and the Head Centre？ A 1； both of 'em。 Prime
order for shipping；warranted to stand any climate。 The Governor
says he weighs a hunderd and seventy…five pounds。 Got a chin…tuft
just like Ed'in Forrest。 D'd y' ever see Ed'in Forrest play
Metamora？ Bully； I tell you！ My old gentleman means to be Mayor or
Governor or President or something or other before he goes off the
handle； you'd better b'lieve。 He's smart；and I've heard folks say
I take after him。
Somehow or other I felt as if I had seen this boy before； or known
something about him。 Where did he get those expressions 〃A 1〃 and
〃prime〃 and so on？ They must have come from somebody who has been in
the retail dry…goods business； or something of that nature。 I have
certain vague reminiscences that carry me back to the early times of
this boardinghouse。…Johnny。…Landlady knows his father well。
…Boarded with her； no doubt。…There was somebody by the name of
John； I remember perfectly well； lived with her。 I remember both my
friends mentioned him； one of them very often。 I wonder if this boy
isn't a son of his！ I asked the Landlady after breakfast whether
this was not； as I had suspected； the son of that former boarder。
To be sure he is；she answered；and jest such a good…natur'd sort
of creatur' as his father was。 I always liked John； as we used to
call his father。 He did love fun； but he was a good soul； and stood
by me when I was in trouble； always。 He went into business on his
own account after a while； and got merried； and settled down into a
family man。 They tell me he is an amazing smart business man；grown
wealthy； and his wife's father left her money。 But I can't help
calling him John；law； we never thought of calling him anything
else； and he always laughs and says； 〃That's right。〃 This is his
oldest son； and everybody calls him Johnny。 That Boy of ours goes to
the same school with his boy； and thinks there never was anybody like
him；you see there was a boy undertook to impose on our boy； and
Johnny gave the other boy a good licking； and ever since that he is
always wanting to have Johnny round with him and bring him here with
him；and when those two boys get together； there never was boys that
was so chock full of fun and sometimes mischief； but not very bad
mischief； as those two boys be。 But I like to have him come once in
a while when there is room at the table； as there is now； for it puts
me in mind of the old times； when my old boarders was all round me；
that I used to think so much of；not that my boarders that I have
now a'nt very nice people； but I did think a dreadful sight of the
gentleman that made that first book； it helped me on in the world
more than ever he knew of；for it was as good as one of them
Brandreth's pills advertisements； and did n't cost me a cent； and
that young lady he merried too； she was nothing but a poor young
schoolma'am when she come to my house； and nowand she deserved it
all too； for she was always just the same； rich or poor； and she is
n't a bit prouder now she wears a camel's…hair shawl； than she was
when I used to lend her a woollen one to keep her poor dear little
shoulders warm when she had to go out and it was storming；and then
there was that old gentleman；I can't speak about him； for I never
knew how good he was till his will was opened； and then it was too
late to thank him。。。。
I respected the feeling which caused the interval of silence； and
found my own eyes moistened as I remembered how long it was since
that friend of ours was sitting in the chair where I now sit； and
what a tidal wave of change has swept over the world and more
especially over this great land of ours； since he opened his lips and
found so many kind listeners。
The Young Astronomer has read us another extract from his manuscript。
I ran my eye over it； and so far as I have noticed it is correct
enough in its versification。 I suppose we are getting gradually over
our hemispherical provincialism； which allowed a set of monks to pull
their hoods over our eyes and tell us there was no meaning in any
religious symbolism but our own。 If I am mistaken about this advance
I am very glad to print the young man's somewhat outspoken lines to
help us in that direction。
WIND…CLOUDS AND STAR…DRIFTS。
VI
The time is racked with birth…pangs； every hour
Brings forth some gasping truth； and truth new…born
Looks a misshapen and untimely growth；
The terror of the household and its shame；
A monster coiling in its nurse's lap
That some would strangle； some would only starve；
But still it breathes； and passed from hand to hand；
And suckled at a hundred half…clad breasts；
Comes slowly to its stature and its form；
Calms the rough ridges of its dragon…scales；
Changes to shining locks its snaky hair；
And moves transfigured into angel guise；
Welcomed by all that cursed its hour of birth；
And folded in the same encircling arms
That cast it like a serpent from their hold！
If thou wouldst live in honor； die in peace；
Have the fine words the marble…workers learn
To carve so well； upon thy funeral…stone；
And earn a fair obituary； dressed
In all the many…colored robes of praise；
Be deafer than the adder to the cry
Of that same foundling truth； until it grows
To seemly favor； and at length has won
The smiles of hard…mouthed men and light…upped dames；
Then snatch it from its meagre nurse's breast；
Fold it in silk and give it food from gold；
So shalt thou share its glory when at last
It drops its mortal vesture； and revealed
In all the splendor of its heavenly form；
Spreads on the startled air its mighty wings！
Alas！ how much that seemed immortal truth
That heroes fought for； martyrs died to save；
Reveals its earth…born lineage； growing old
And limping in its march； its wings unplumed；
Its heavenly semblance faded like a dream！
Here in this painted casket； just unsealed；
Lies what was once a breathing shape like thine；
Once loved as thou art loved； there beamed the eyes
That looked on Memphis in its hour of pride；
That saw the walls of hundred…gated Thebes；
And all the mirrored glories of the Nile。
See how they toiled that all…consuming time
Might leave the frame immortal in its tomb；
Filled it with fragrant balms and odorous gums
That still diffuse their sweetness through the air；
And wound and wound with patient fold on fold
The flaxen bands thy hand has rudely torn！
Perchance thou yet canst see the faded stain
Of the sad mourner's tear。
But what is this？
The sacred beetle； bound upon the breast
Of the blind heathen！ Snatch the curious prize；
Give it a place among thy treasured spoils
Fossil and relic；corals； encrinites；
The fly in amber and the fish in stone；
The twisted circlet of Etruscan gold；
Medal； intaglio； poniard； poison…ring；
Place for the Memphian beetle with thine hoard！
Ah！ longer than thy creed has blest the world
This toy； thus ravished from thy brother's breast；
Was to the heart of Mizraim as divine；
As holy； as the symbol that we lay
On the still bosom of our white…robed dead；
And raise above their dust that all may know
Here sleeps an heir of glory。 Loving friends；
With tears of trembling faith and choking sobs；
And prayers to those who judge of mortal deeds；
Wrapped this poor image in the cerement's fold
That Isis and Osiris； friends of man；
Might know their own and claim the ransomed soul》
An idol？ Man was born to worship such！
An idol is an image of his thought；
Sometimes h