第12章

Sometimes all three abandon the theory of the secret closet and return to the genuine ground of attack--the unsightliness of so cumbrous a pile,with comments upon the great addition of room to be gained by its demolition,and the fine effect of the projected grand hall,and the convenience resulting from the collateral running in one direction and another of their various partitions.

Not more ruthlessly did the Three Powers partition away poor Poland,than my wife and daughters would fain partition away my chimney.

But seeing that,despite all,I and my chimney still smoke our pipes,my wife reoccupies the ground of the secret closet,enlarging upon what wonders are there,and what a shame it is,not to seek it out and explore it.

"Wife,"said I,upon one of these occasions,"why speak more of that secret closet,when there before you hangs contrary testimony of a master mason,elected by yourself to decide.

Besides,even if there were a secret closet,secret it should remain,and secret it shall.Yes,wife,here for once I must say my say.Infinite sad mischief has resulted from the profane bursting open of secret recesses.Though standing in the heart of this house,though hitherto we have all nestled about it,unsuspicious of aught hidden within,this chimney may or may not have a secret closet.But if it have,it is my kinsman's.To break into that wall,would be to break into his breast.And that wall-breaking wish of Momus I account the wish of a churchrobbing gossip and knave.Yes,wife,a vile eavesdropping varlet was Momus.""Moses?Mumps?Stuff with your mumps and Moses?"The truth is,my wife,like all the rest of the world,cares not a fig for philosophical jabber.In dearth of other philosophical companionship,I and my chimney have to smoke and philosophize together.And sitting up so late as we do at it,a mighty smoke it is that we two smoky old philosophers make.

But my spouse,who likes the smoke of my tobacco as little as she does that of the soot,carries on her war against both.I live in continual dread lest,like the golden bowl,the pipes of me and my chimney shall yet be broken.To stay that mad project of my wife's,naught answers.Or,rather,she herself is incessantly answering,incessantly besetting me with her terrible alacrity for improvement,which is a softer name for destruction.Scarce a day I do not find her with her tape-measure,measuring for her grand hall,while Anna holds a yardstick on one side,and Julia looks approvingly on from the other.Mysterious intimations appear in the nearest village paper,signed "Claude,"to the effect that a certain structure,standing on a certain hill,is a sad blemish to an otherwise lovely landscape.Anonymous letters arrive,threatening me with I know not what,unless I remove my chimney.Is it my wife,too,or who,that sets up the neighbors to badgering me on the same subject,and hinting to me that my chimney,like a huge elm,absorbs all moisture from my garden?At night,also,my wife will start as from sleep,professing to hear ghostly noises from the secret closet.Assailed on all sides,and in all ways,small peace have I and my chimney.

Were it not for the baggage,we would together pack up and remove from the country.

What narrow escapes have been ours!Once I found in a drawer a whole portfolio of plans and estimates.Another time,upon returning after a day's absence,I discovered my wife standing before the chimney in earnest conversation with a person whom Iat once recognized as a meddlesome architectural reformer,who,because he had no gift for putting up anything was ever intent upon pulling them down;in various parts of the country having prevailed upon half-witted old folks to destroy their old-fashioned houses,particularly the chimneys.

But worst of all was,that time I unexpectedly returned at early morning from a visit to the city,and upon approaching the house,narrowly escaped three brickbats which fell,from high aloft,at my feet.Glancing up,what was my horror to see three savages,in blue jean overalls in the very act of commencing the long-threatened attack.Aye,indeed,thinking of those three brickbats,I and my chimney have had narrow escapes.

It is now some seven years since I have stirred from my home.My city friends all wonder why I don't come to see them,as in former times.They think I am getting sour and unsocial.Some say that I have become a sort of mossy old misanthrope,while all the time the fact is,I am simply standing guard over my mossy old chimney;for it is resolved between me and my chimney,that I and my chimney will never surrender.