Читать книгу: «Rubáiyát of Doc Sifers», страница 4

XLI

 
"No, Ike," says Doc, "this world hain't saw no brains like yourn and mine
With sense enough to grasp a law 'at takes a brain divine. —
I've bared the thoughts of brains in doubt, and felt their finest pulse, —
And mortal brains jes won't turn out omnipotent results!"
 

XLII

 
And Doc he's got respects to spare the rich as well as pore—
Says he, "I'd turn no millionaire onsheltered from my door." —
Says he, "What's wealth to him in quest o' honest friends to back
And love him fer hisse'f? – not jes because he's made his jack!"
 

XLIII

 
And childern. —Childern? Lawzy-day! Doc worships 'em! – You call
Round at his house and ast 'em! – they're a-swarmin' there – that's all! —
They're in his Lib'ry – in best room – in kitchen – fur and near, —
In office too, and, I p'sume, his operatin'-cheer!
 

XLIV

 
You know they's men 'at bees won't sting? – They's plaguey few, – but Doc
He's one o' them. – And same, i jing! with childern; – they jes flock
Round Sifers natchurl! – in his lap, and in his pockets, too,
And in his old fur mitts and cap, and heart as warm and true!
 

XLV

 
It's cur'ous, too, – 'cause Doc hain't got no childern of his own —
'Ceptin' the ones he's tuk and brought up, 'at's bin left alone.
And orphans when their father died, er mother, – and Doc he
Has he'pped their dyin' satisfied. – "The child shall live with me
 

XLVI

 
"And Winniferd, my wife," he'd say, and stop right there, and cle'r
His th'oat, and go on thinkin' way some mother-hearts down here
Can't never feel their own babe's face a-pressin' 'em, ner make
Their naked breasts a restin'-place fer any baby's sake.
 

XLVII

 
Doc's Lib'ry – as he calls it, – well, they's ha'f-a-dozen she'ves
Jam-full o' books – I couldn't tell how many – count yourse'ves!
One whole she'f's Works on Medicine! and most the rest's about
First Settlement, and Indians in here, – 'fore we driv 'em out. —
 

XLVIII

 
And Plutarch's Lives – and life also o' Dan'el Boone, and this-
Here Mungo Park, and Adam Poe – jes all the lives they is!
And Doc's got all the novels out, – by Scott and Dickison
And Cooper. – And, I make no doubt, he's read 'em ever' one!
 

XLIX

 
Onc't, in his office, settin' there, with crowd o' eight er nine
Old neighbers with the time to spare, and Doc a-feelin' fine,
A man rid up from Rollins, jes fer Doc to write him out
Some blame p'scription – done, I guess, in minute, nigh about. —
 

L

 
And I says, "Doc, you 'pear so spry, jes write me that recei't
You have fer bein' happy by, – fer that 'u'd shorely beat
Your medicine!" says I. – And quick as s'cat! Doc turned and writ
And handed me: "Go he'p the sick, and putt your heart in it."
 

LI

 
And then, "A-talkin' furder 'bout that line o' thought," says he,
"Ef we'll jes do the work cut out and give' to you and me,
We'll lack no joy, ner appetite, ner all we'd ort to eat,
And sleep like childern ever' night – as puore and ca'm and sweet."
 

LII

 
Doc has bin 'cused o' offishness and lack o' talkin' free
And extry friendly; but he says, "I'm 'feard o' talk," says he, —
"I've got," he says, "a natchurl turn fer talkin' fit to kill. —
The best and hardest thing to learn is trick o' keepin' still."
 

LIII

 
Doc kin smoke, and I s'pose he might drink licker – jes fer fun.
He says, "You smoke, you drink all right; but I don't – neether one" —
Says, "I like whiskey – 'good old rye' – but like it in its place,
Like that-air warter in your eye, er nose there on your face."
 

LIV

 
Doc's bound to have his joke! The day he got that off on me
I jes had sold a load o' hay at "Scofield's Livery,"
And tolled Doc in the shed they kep' the hears't in, where I'd hid
The stuff 'at got me "out o' step," as Sifers said it did.
 

LV

 
Doc hain't, to say, no "rollin' stone," and yit he hain't no hand
Fer 'cumulatin'. —Home's his own, and scrap o' farmin'-land —
Enough to keep him out the way when folks is tuk down sick
The suddentest – 'most any day they want him 'special quick.