好人难寻原文agoodmanishardtofind

1、AGoodManIsHardToFindbyFlanneryO'ConnorThegrandmotherdidn'twanttogotoFlorida.ShewantedtovisitsomeofherconnectionsineastTennes-seeandshewasseizingateverychancetochangeBailey'smind.Baileywasthesonshelivedwith,heronlyboy.Hewassittingontheedgeofhischairatthetable,bentovertheorangesportssectio

2、noftheJournal."Nowlookhere,Bailey,"shesaid,"seehere,readthis,"andshestoodwithonehandonherthinhipandtheotherrattlingthenewspaperathisbaldhead."HerethisfellowthatcallshimselfTheMisfitisaloosefromtheFederalPenandheadedtowardFloridaandyoureadherewhatitsayshedidtothesepeople.Just

3、youreadit.Iwouldn'ttakemychildreninanydirectionwithacriminallikethatalooseinit.Icouldn'tanswertomyconscienceifIdid."Baileydidn'tlookupfromhisreadingsoshewheeledaroundthenandfacedthechildren'smother,ayoungwomaninslacks,whosefacewasasbroadandinnocentasacabbageandwastiedaroundwitha

4、greenhead-kerchiefthathadtwopointsonthetoplikerabbit'sears.Shewassittingonthesofa,feedingthebabyhisapricotsoutofajar."ThechildrenhavebeentoFloridabefore,"theoldladysaid."Youalloughttotakethemsomewhereelseforachangesotheywouldseedifferentpartsoftheworldandbebroad.Theyneverhavebeent

5、oeastTennessee."Thechildren'smotherdidn'tseemtohearherbuttheeight-year-oldboy,JohnWesley,astockychildwithglasses,said,"Ifyoudon'twanttogotoFlorida,whydontchastayathome?"Heandthelittlegirl,JuneStar,werereadingthefunnypapersonthefloor."Shewouldn'tstayathometobequeen

6、foraday,"JuneStarsaidwithoutraisingheryellowhead."Yesandwhatwouldyoudoifthisfellow,TheMisfit,caughtyou?"thegrandmotherasked."I'dsmackhisface,"JohnWesleysaid."Shewouldn'tstayathomeforamillionbucks,"JuneStarsaid."Afraidshe'dmisssomething.Shehastogoev

7、erywherewego.""Allright,Miss,"thegrandmothersaid."Justre-memberthatthenexttimeyouwantmetocurlyourhair."JuneStarsaidherhairwasnaturallycurly.Thenextmorningthegrandmotherwasthefirstoneinthecar,readytogo.Shehadherbigblackvalisethatlookedliketheheadofahippopotamusinonecorner,and

8、underneathitshewashidingabasketwithPittySing,thecat,init.Shedidn'tintendforthecattobeleftaloneinthehouseforthreedaysbecausehewouldmisshertoomuchandshewasafraidhemightbrushagainstoneofhergasburnersandaccidentallyasphyxiatehimself.Herson,Bailey,didn'tliketoarriveatamotelwithacat.Shesatinthemid

9、dleofthebackseatwithJohnWesleyandJuneStaroneithersideofher.Baileyandthechildren'smotherandthebabysatinfrontandtheyleftAtlantaateightforty-fivewiththemileageonthecarat55890.Thegrandmotherwrotethisdownbecauseshethoughtitwouldbeinterestingtosayhowmanymilestheyhadbeenwhentheygotback.Ittookthemtwenty

10、minutestoreachtheoutskirtsofthecity.Theoldladysettledherselfcomfortably,removingherwhitecottonglovesandputtingthemupwithherpurseontheshelfinfrontofthebackwindow.Thechildren'smotherstillhadonslacksandstillhadherheadtiedupinagreenkerchief,butthegrandmotherhadonanavybluestrawsailorhatwithabunchofwh

11、itevioletsonthebrimandanavybluedresswithasmallwhitedotintheprint.Hercollarsandcuffswerewhiteorgandytrimmedwithlaceandathernecklineshehadpinnedapurplesprayofclothvioletscontainingasachet.Incaseofanaccident,anyoneseeingherdeadonthehighwaywouldknowatoncethatshewasalady.Shesaidshethoughtitwasgoingtobeag

12、ooddayfordriving,neithertoohotnortoocold,andshecautionedBaileythatthespeedlimitwasfifty-fivemilesanhourandthatthepatrolmenhidthemselvesbehindbillboardsandsmallclumpsoftreesandspedoutafteryoubeforeyouhadachancetoslowdown.Shepointedoutinterestingdetailsofthescenery:StoneMountain;thebluegranitethatinso

13、meplacescameuptobothsidesofthehighway;thebrilliantredclaybanksslightlystreakedwithpurple;andthevariouscropsthatmaderowsofgreenlace-workontheground.Thetreeswerefullofsilver-whitesunlightandthemeanestofthemsparkled.Thechildrenwerereadingcomicmagazinesandtheirmotherandgonebacktosleep."Let'sgot

14、hroughGeorgiafastsowewon'thavetolookatitmuch,"JohnWesleysaid."IfIwerealittleboy,"saidthegrandmother,"Iwouldn'ttalkaboutmynativestatethatway.TennesseehasthemountainsandGeorgiahasthehills.""Tennesseeisjustahillbillydumpingground,"JohnWesleysaid,"andGeorg

15、iaisalousystatetoo.""Yousaidit,"JuneStarsaid."Inmytime,"saidthegrandmother,foldingherthinveinedfingers,"childrenweremorerespectfuloftheirnativestatesandtheirparentsandeverythingelse.Peopledidrightthen.Ohlookatthecutelittlepickaninny!"shesaidandpointedtoaNegrochilds

16、tandinginthedoorofashack."Wouldn'tthatmakeapicture,now?sheaskedandtheyallturnedandlookedatthelittleNegrooutofthebackwindow.Hewaved"Hedidn'thaveanybritcheson,"JuneStarsaid."Heprobablydidn'thaveany,"thegrandmotherexplained."Littleriggersinthecountrydon'tha

17、vethingslikewedo.IfIcouldpaint,I'dpaintthatpicture,"shesaid.Thechildrenexchangedcomicbooks.Thegrandmotherofferedtoholdthebabyandthechildren'smotherpassedhimoverthefrontseattoher.Shesethimonherkneeandbouncedhimandtoldhimaboutthethingstheywerepassing.Sherolledhereyesandscreweduphermouthan

18、dstuckherleatherythinfaceintohissmoothblandone.Occasionallyhegaveherafarawaysmile.Theypassedalargecottonfieldwithfiveorfixgravesfencedinthemiddleofit,likeasmallisland."Lookatthegraveyard!"thegrandmothersaid,pointingitout."Thatwastheoldfamilyburyingground.Thatbelongedtotheplantation.&q

19、uot;"Where'stheplantation?"JohnWesleyasked."GoneWiththeWind"saidthegrandmother."Ha.Ha."Whenthechildrenfinishedallthecomicbookstheyhadbrought,theyopenedthelunchandateit.Thegrandmotherateapeanutbuttersandwichandanoliveandwouldnotletthechildrenthrowtheboxandthepapernap

20、kinsoutthewindow.Whentherewasnothingelsetodotheyplayedagamebychoosingacloudandmakingtheothertwoguesswhatshapeitsuggested.JohnWesleytookonetheshapeofacowandJuneStarguessedacowandJohnWesleysaid,no,anautomobile,andJuneStarsaidhedidn'tplayfair,andtheybegantoslapeachotheroverthegrandmother.Thegrandmo

21、thersaidshewouldtellthemastoryiftheywouldkeepquiet.Whenshetoldastory,sherolledhereyesandwavedherheadandwasverydramatic.ShesaidoncewhenshewasamaidenladyshehadbeencourtedbyaMr.EdgarAtkinsTeagardenfromJasper,Georgia.Shesaidhewasaverygood-lookingmanandagentlemanandthathebroughtherawatermeloneverySaturda

22、yafternoonwithhisinitialscutinit,E.A.T.Well,oneSaturday,shesaid,Mr.TeagardenbroughtthewatermelonandtherewasnobodyathomeandheleftitonthefrontporchandreturnedinhisbuggytoJasper,butshenevergotthewatermelon,shesaid,becauseaniggerboyateitwhenhesawtheinitials,E.A.T.!ThisstorytickledJohnWesley'sfunnybo

23、neandhegiggledandgiggledbutJuneStardidn'tthinkitwasanygood.Shesaidshewouldn'tmarryamanthatjustbroughtherawatermelononSaturday.ThegrandmothersaidshewouldhavedonewelltomarryMr.TeagardenbecausehewasagentlemanandhadboughtCoca-Colastockwhenitfirstcameoutandthathehaddiedonlyafewyearsago,averywealt

24、hyman.TheystoppedatTheTowerforbarbecuedsand-wiches.TheTowerwasapartstuccoandpartwoodfillingstationanddancehallsetinaclearingoutsideofTimothy.AfatmannamedRedSammyButtsranitandthereweresignsstuckhereandthereonthebuildingandformilesupanddownthehighwaysaying,TRYREDSAMMY'SFAMOUSBARBECUE.NONELIKEFAMOU

25、SREDSAMMY'S!REDSAM!THEFATBOYWITHTHEHAPPYLAUGH.AVETERAN!REDSAMMY'SYOURMAN!RedSammywaslyingonthebaregroundoutsideTheTowerwithhisheadunderatruckwhileagraymonkeyaboutafoothigh,chainedtoasmallchinaberrytree,chatterednearby.Themonkeysprangbackintothetreeandgotonthehighestlimbassoonashesawthechildr

26、enjumpoutofthecarandruntowardhim.Inside,TheTowerwasalongdarkroomwithacounteratoneendandtablesattheotheranddancingspaceinthemiddle.TheyallsatdownataboardtablenexttothenickelodeonandRedSam'swife,atallburnt-brownwomanwithhairandeyeslighterthanherskin,cameandtooktheirorder.Thechildren'smotherput

27、adimeinthemachineandplayed"TheTennesseeWaltz,"andthegrandmothersaidthattunealwaysmadeherwanttodance.SheaskedBaileyifhewouldliketodancebutheonlyglaredather.Hedidn'thaveanaturallysunnydispositionlikeshedidandtripsmadehimnervous.Thegrandmother'sbrowneyeswereverybright.Sheswayedherhead

28、fromsidetosideandpretendedshewasdancinginherchair.JuneStarsaidplaysomethingshecouldtaptosothechildren'smotherputinanotherdimeandplayedafastnumberandJuneStarsteppedoutontothedanceflooranddidhertaproutine."Ain'tshecute?"RedSam'swifesaid,leaningoverthecounter."Wouldyouliketoc

29、omebemylittlegirl?""NoIcertainlywouldn't,"JuneStarsaid."Iwouldn'tliveinabroken-downplacelikethisforamillionbucks!"andsheranbacktothetable."Ain'tshecute?"thewomanrepeated,stretchinghermouthpolitely."Arn'tyouashamed?"hissedthegrandmother.Red

30、Samcameinandtoldhiswifetoquitloungingonthecounterandhurryupwiththesepeople'sorder.Hiskhakitrousersreachedjusttohishipbonesandhisstomachhungoverthemlikeasackofmealswayingunderhisshirt.Hecameoverandsatdownatatablenearbyandletoutacombinationsighandyodel."Youcan'twin,"hesaid."Youc

31、an'twin,"andhewipedhissweatingredfaceoffwithagrayhandkerchief."Thesedaysyoudon'tknowwhototrust,"hesaid."Ain'tthatthetruth?""Peoplearecertainlynotniceliketheyusedtobe,"saidthegrandmother."Twofellerscomeinherelastweek,"RedSammysaid,"driving

32、aChrysler.Itwasaoldbeat-upcarbutitwasagoodoneandtheseboyslookedallrighttome.SaidtheyworkedatthemillandyouknowIletthemfellerschargethegastheybought?NowwhydidIdothat?""Becauseyou'reagoodman!"thegrandmothersaidatonce."Yes'm,Isupposeso,"RedSamsaidasifhewerestruckwiththis

33、answer.Hiswifebroughttheorders,carryingthefiveplatesallatoncewithoutatray,twoineachhandandonebalancedonherarm."Itisn'tasoulinthisgreenworldofGod'sthatyoucantrust,"shesaid."AndIdon'tcountnobodyoutofthat,notnobody,"sherepeated,lookingatRedSammy."Didyoureadaboutthat

34、criminal,TheMisfit,that'sescaped?"askedthegrandmother."Iwouldn'tbeabitsurprisedifhedidn'tattackthisplacerighthere,"saidthewoman."Ifhehearsaboutitbeinghere,Iwouldn'tbenonesurprisedtoseehim.Ifhehearsit'stwocentinthecashregister,Iwouldn'tbeatallsurprisedifhe.

35、""That'lldo,"RedSamsaid."GobringthesepeopletheirCo'-Colas,"andthewomanwentofftogettherestoftheorder."Agoodmanishardtofind,"RedSammysaid."Everythingisgettingterrible.Irememberthedayyoucouldgooffandleaveyourscreendoorunlatched.Notnomore."Heandthegra

36、ndmotherdiscussedbettertimes.TheoldladysaidthatinheropinionEuropewasentirelytoblameforthewaythingswerenow.ShesaidthewayEuropeactedyouwouldthinkweweremadeofmoneyandRedSamsaiditwasnousetalkingaboutit,shewasexactlyright.Thechildrenranoutsideintothewhitesunlightandlookedatthemonkeyinthelacychinaberrytre

37、e.Hewasbusycatchingfleasonhimselfandbitingeachonecarefullybetweenhisteethasifitwereadelicacy.Theydroveoffagainintothehotafternoon.Thegrandmothertookcatnapsandwokeupeveryfewminuteswithherownsnoring.OutsideofToombsboroshewokeupandrecalledanoldplantationthatshehadvisitedinthisneighborhoodoncewhenshewas

38、ayounglady.Shesaidthehousehadsixwhitecolumnsacrossthefrontandthattherewasanavenueofoaksleadinguptoitandtwolittlewoodentrellisarborsoneithersideinfrontwhereyousatdownwithyoursuitorafterastrollinthegarden.Sherecalledexactlywhichroadtoturnofftogettoit.SheknewthatBaileywouldnotbewillingtoloseanytimelook

39、ingatanoldhouse,butthemoreshetalkedaboutit,themoreshewantedtoseeitonceagainandfindoutifthelittletwinarborswerestillstanding."Therewasasecret:-panelinthishouse,"shesaidcraftily,nottellingthetruthbutwishingthatshewere,"andthestorywentthatallthefamilysilverwashiddeninitwhenShermancamethr

40、oughbutitwasneverfound."Hey!"JohnWesleysaid."Let'sgoseeit!We'llfindit!We'llpokeallthewoodworkandfindit!Wholivesthere?Wheredoyouturnoffat?HeyPop,can'tweturnoffthere?""Weneverhaveseenahousewithasecretpanel!"JuneStarshrieked."Let'sgotothehousewitht

41、hesecretpanel!HeyPop,can'twegoseethehousewiththesecretpanel!""It'snotfarfromhere,Iknow,"thegrandmothersaid."Itwouldn'ttakeovertwentyminutes."Baileywaslookingstraightahead.Hisjawwasasrigidasahorseshoe."No,"hesaid.Thechildrenbegantoyellandscreamthattheywa

42、ntedtoseethehousewiththesecretpanel.JohnWesleykickedthebackofthefrontseatandJuneStarhungoverhermother'sshoulderandwhineddesperatelyintoherearthattheyneverhadanyfunevenontheirvacation,thattheycouldneverdowhatTHEYwantedtodo.ThebabybegantoscreamandJohnWesleykickedthebackoftheseatsohardthathisfather

43、couldfeeltheblowsinhiskidney."Allright!"heshoutedanddrewthecartoastopatthesideoftheroad."W川youallshutup?Willyoualljustshutupforonesecond?Ifyoudon'tshutup,wewon'tgoanywhere.""Itwouldbeveryeducationalforthem,"thegrandmothermurmured."Allright,"Baileysaid,

44、"butgetthis:thisistheonlytimewe'regoingtostopforanythinglikethis.Thisistheoneandonlytime.""Thedirtroadthatyouhavetoturndownisaboutamileback,"thegrandmotherdirected."Imarkeditwhenwepassed.""Adirtroad,"Baileygroaned.Aftertheyhadturnedaroundandwereheadedtowar

45、dthedirtroad,thegrandmotherrecalledotherpointsaboutthehouse,thebeautifulglassoverthefrontdoorwayandthecandle-lampinthehall.JohnWesleysaidthatthesecretpanelwasprobablyinthefireplace."Youcan'tgoinsidethishouse,"Baileysaid."Youdon'tknowwholivesthere.""Whileyoualltalktot

46、hepeopleinfront,I'llrunaroundbehindandgetinawindow,JohnWesleysuggested.We'llallstayinthecar,"hismothersaid.Theyturnedontothedirtroadandthecarracedroughlyalonginaswirlofpinkdust.Thegrandmotherrecalledthetimeswhentherewerenopavedroadsandthirtymileswasaday'sjourney.Thedirtroadwashillya

47、ndthereweresuddenwashesinitandsharpcurvesondangerousembankments.Allatoncetheywouldbeonahill,lookingdownoverthebluetopsoftreesformilesaround,thenthenextminute,theywouldbeinareddepressionwiththedust-coatedtreeslookingdownonthem."Thisplacehadbetterturnupinaminute,"Baileysaid,"orI'mgo

48、ingtoturnaround."Theroadlookedasifnoonehadtraveledonitinmonths."It'snotmuchfarther,"thegrandmothersaidandjustasshesaidit,ahorriblethoughtcametoher.Thethoughtwassoembarrassingthatsheturnedredinthefaceandhereyesdilatedandherfeetjumpedup,upsettinghervaliseinthecorner.Theinstanttheval

49、isemoved,thenewspapertopshehadoverthebasketunderitrosewithasnarlandPittySing,thecat,sprangontoBailey'sshoulder.Thechildrenwerethrowntothefloorandtheirmother,clutchingthebaby,wasthrownoutthedoorontotheground;theoldladywasthrownintothefrontseat.Thecarturnedoveronceandlandedright-side-upinagulchoff

50、thesideoftheroad.Baileyremainedinthedriver'sseatwiththecatgray-stripedwithabroadwhitefaceandanorangenoseclingingtohisnecklikeacaterpillar.Assoonasthechildrensawtheycouldmovetheirarmsandlegs,theyscrambledoutofthecar,shouting,"We'vehadanACCIDENT!"Thegrandmotherwascurledupunderthedash

51、board,hopingshewasinjuredsothatBailey'swrathwouldnotcomedownonherallatonce.ThehorriblethoughtshehadhadbeforetheaccidentwasthatthehouseshehadrememberedsovividlywasnotinGeorgiabutinTennessee.Baileyremovedthecatfromhisneckwithbothhandsandflungitoutthewindowagainstthesideofapinetree.Thenhegotoutofth

52、ecarandstartedlookingforthechildren'smother.Shewassittingagainstthesideoftheredguttedditch,holdingthescreamingbaby,butsheonlyhadacutdownherfaceandabrokenshoulder."We'vehadanACCIDENT!"thechildrenscreamedinafrenzyofdelight."Butnobody'skilled,"JuneStarsaidwithdisappointm

53、entasthegrandmotherlimpedoutofthecar,herhatstillpinnedtoherheadbutthebrokenfrontbrimstandingupatajauntyangleandthevioletsprayhangingofftheside.Theyallsatdownintheditch,exceptthechildren,torecoverfromtheshock.Theywereallshaking."Maybeacarwillcomealong,"saidthechildren'smotherhoarsely.&q

54、uot;IbelieveIhaveinjuredanorgan,"saidthegrandmother,pressingherside,butnooneansweredher.Bailey'steethwereclattering.Hehadonayellowsportshirtwithbrightblueparrotsdesignedinitandhisfacewasasyellowastheshirt.ThegrandmotherdecidedthatshewouldnotmentionthatthehousewasinTennessee.Theroadwasaboutt

55、enfeetaboveandtheycouldseeonlythetopsofthetreesontheothersideofit.Behindtheditchtheyweresittinginthereweremorewoods,tallanddarkanddeep.Inafewminutestheysawacarsomedistanceawayontopofahill,comingslowlyasiftheoccupantswerewatchingthem.Thegrandmotherstoodupandwavedbotharmsdramaticallytoattracttheiratte

56、ntion.Thecarcontinuedtocomeonslowly,disappearedaroundabendandappearedagain,movingevenslower,ontopofthehilltheyhadgoneover.Itwasabigblackbatteredhearselikeautomobile.Therewerethreemeninit.Itcametoastopjustoverthemandforsomeminutes,thedriverlookeddownwithasteadyexpressionlessgazetowheretheyweresitting

57、,anddidn'tspeak.Thenheturnedhisheadandmutteredsomethingtotheothertwoandtheygotout.Onewasafatboyinblacktrousersandaredsweatshirtwithasilverstallionembossedonthefrontofit.Hemovedaroundontherightsideofthemandstoodstaring,hismouthpartlyopeninakindofloosegrin.Theotherhadonkhakipantsandabluestripedcoa

58、tandagrayhatpulleddownverylow,hidingmostofhisface.Hecamearoundslowlyontheleftside.Neitherspoke.Thedrivergotoutofthecarandstoodbythesideofit,lookingdownatthem.Hewasanoldermanthantheothertwo.Hishairwasjustbeginningtograyandheworesilver-rimmedspectaclesthatgavehimascholarlylook.Hehadalongcreasedfaceand

59、didn'thaveonanyshirtorundershirt.Hehadonbluejeansthatweretootightforhimandwasholdingablackhatandagun.Thetwoboysalsohadguns."We'vehadanACCIDENT!"thechildrenscreamed.Thegrandmotherhadthepeculiarfeelingthatthebespectacledmanwassomeonesheknew.Hisfacewasasfamiliartoherasifshehadknownhim

60、allherlifebutshecouldnotrecallwhohewas.Hemovedawayfromthecarandbegantocomedowntheembankment,placinghisfeetcarefullysothathewouldn'tslip.Hehadontanandwhiteshoesandnosocks,andhisankleswereredandthin."Goodafternoon,"hesaid."Iseeyouallhadyoualittlespill.""Weturnedovertwice!&

61、quot;saidthegrandmother."Once",hecorrected."Weseenithappen.Trytheircarandseewillitrun,Hiram,"hesaidquietlytotheboywiththegrayhat."Whatyougotthatgunfor?"JohnWesleyasked."Whatchagonnadowiththatgun?""Lady,"themansaidtothechildren'smother,"would

62、youmindcallingthemchildrentositdownbyyou?Childrenmakemenervous.Iwantallyoualltositdownrighttogethertherewhereyou'reat.""WhatareyoutellingUSwhattodofor?"JuneStarasked.Behindthemthelineofwoodsgapedlikeadarkopenmouth."Comehere,"saidtheirmother."Lookherenow,"Bailey

63、begansuddenly,"we'reinapredicament!We'rein."Thegrandmothershrieked.Shescrambledtoherfeetandstoodstaring."You'reTheMisfit!"shesaid."Irecognizedyouatonce!""Yes'm,"themansaid,smilingslightlyasifhewerepleasedinspiteofhimselftobeknown,"butitwou

64、ldhavebeenbetterforallofyou,lady,ifyouhadn'tofreckernizedme."Baileyturnedhisheadsharplyandsaidsomethingtohismotherthatshockedeventhechildren.TheoldladybegantocryandTheMisfitreddened."Lady,"hesaid,"don'tyougetupset.Sometimesamansaysthingshedon'tmean.Idon'treckonhemeanttotalktoyouthataway.""Youwouldn'tshootalady,wouldyou?"thegrandmothersaidandremovedacleanhandkerchieffromhercuffandbegantoslapathereyeswithit.TheMisfitpointedthe