never¡¡talk¡¡like¡¡childrenand¡¡spoilt¡¡ones¡¡too¡£
¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Coleman¡¡is¡¡none¡¡so¡¡poor¡¡as¡¡all¡¡that¡¡yet¡£¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡thank¡¡Heaven£¡
she's¡¡not¡¡come¡¡to¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¨Is¡¡it¡¡a¡¡great¡¡disgrace¡¡to¡¡be¡¡poor£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Diamond£»¡¡because¡¡of
the¡¡tone¡¡in¡¡which¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡spoken¡£
But¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡whether¡¡conscience¡stricken¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡hurried
him¡¡away¡¡to¡¡bed£»¡¡where¡¡after¡¡various¡¡attempts¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡her£»
resumed¡¡and¡¡resumed¡¡again¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡invading¡¡sleep£»¡¡he¡¡was
conquered¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡in£»¡¡murmuring¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡to¡¡himself£»
¡¨Why¡¡is¡¡why£¿¡¨¡¡but¡¡getting¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡question¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XVIII
THE¡¡DRUNKEN¡¡CABMAN
A¡¡FEW¡¡nights¡¡after¡¡this£»¡¡Diamond¡¡woke¡¡up¡¡suddenly£»¡¡believing¡¡he¡¡heard
North¡¡Wind¡¡thundering¡¡along¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡something¡¡quite¡¡different¡£¡¡
South¡¡Wind¡¡was¡¡moaning¡¡round¡¡the¡¡chimneys£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sure£»¡¡for¡¡she
was¡¡not¡¡very¡¡happy¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡had
wakened¡¡Diamond¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡voice¡¡would¡¡only¡¡have¡¡lulled¡¡him¡¡the¡¡deeper¡¡asleep¡£¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡loud£»¡¡angry¡¡voice£»¡¡now¡¡growling¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡beast£»
now¡¡raving¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡madman£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡came¡¡a¡¡little
wider¡¡awake£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drunken¡¡cabman£»
the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡room¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡anything
but¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡hear£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡hearing¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡length
there¡¡came¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡from¡¡the¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡a¡¡scream¡¡from¡¡the¡¡baby¡£¡¡
Thereupon¡¡Diamond¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡time¡¡that¡¡somebody¡¡did¡¡something£»
and¡¡as¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡somebody¡¡at¡¡hand£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡go¡¡and¡¡see
whether¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡do¡¡something¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡got¡¡up¡¡and¡¡put¡¡on¡¡part
of¡¡his¡¡clothes£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stair£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cabman's¡¡room¡¡did
not¡¡open¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡stair£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡yard£»
and¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡next¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡This£»¡¡fortunately£»¡¡the¡¡cabman£»¡¡being¡¡drunk£»
had¡¡left¡¡open¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡their¡¡stair£»¡¡all¡¡was¡¡still¡¡except
the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crying¡¡baby£»¡¡which¡¡guided¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡door¡£¡¡
He¡¡opened¡¡it¡¡softly£»¡¡and¡¡peeped¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡leaning¡¡back¡¡in¡¡a¡¡chair£»
with¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡hanging¡¡down¡¡by¡¡his¡¡sides£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡stretched
out¡¡before¡¡him¡¡and¡¡supported¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heels£»¡¡sat¡¡the¡¡drunken¡¡cabman¡£¡¡
His¡¡wife¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡her¡¡clothes¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡sobbing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡was
wailing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cradle¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡miserable¡¡altogether¡£
Now¡¡the¡¡way¡¡most¡¡people¡¡do¡¡when¡¡they¡¡see¡¡anything¡¡very¡¡miserable
is¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sight£»¡¡and¡¡try¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Diamond
began¡¡as¡¡usual¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡misery¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡little¡¡boy¡¡was¡¡just
as¡¡much¡¡one¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡messengers¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡an¡¡angel¡¡with¡¡a
flaming¡¡sword£»¡¡going¡¡out¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡devil¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡devil¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡fight
just¡¡then¡¡was¡¡Misery¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡fought¡¡him¡¡was¡¡the¡¡very¡¡best¡£¡¡
Like¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡soldier£»¡¡he¡¡attacked¡¡him¡¡first¡¡in¡¡his¡¡weakest¡¡point
that¡¡was¡¡the£»¡¡baby£»¡¡for¡¡Misery¡¡can¡¡never¡¡get¡¡such¡¡a¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡a¡¡baby
as¡¡of¡¡a¡¡grown¡¡person¡£¡¡¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡knowing¡¡in¡¡babies£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡he
could¡¡do¡¡something¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡baby£»¡¡happy£»¡¡for¡¡although¡¡he¡¡had¡¡only
known¡¡one¡¡baby¡¡as¡¡yet£»¡¡and¡¡although¡¡not¡¡one¡¡baby¡¡is¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡another£»
yet¡¡they¡¡are¡¡so¡¡very¡¡much¡¡alike¡¡in¡¡some¡¡things£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡one
baby¡¡so¡¡thoroughly£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡good¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do
something¡¡for¡¡any¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡known¡¡people¡¡who¡¡would¡¡have¡¡begun
to¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡different¡¡and¡¡a¡¡very¡¡stupid¡¡way¡£¡¡
They¡¡would¡¡have¡¡begun¡¡by¡¡scolding¡¡the¡¡idiotic¡¡cabman£»¡¡and¡¡next¡¡they
would¡¡make¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡angry¡¡by¡¡saying¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡her¡¡fault¡¡as¡¡well
as¡¡his£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡leaving¡¡ill¡bred¡¡though¡¡well¡meant¡¡shabby¡¡little
books¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡read£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡hate¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of£»
while¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡put¡¡out¡¡a¡¡finger¡¡to¡¡touch
the¡¡wailing¡¡baby¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Diamond¡¡had¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cradle¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment£»
set¡¡him¡¡up¡¡on¡¡his¡¡knee£»¡¡and¡¡told¡¡him¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡
Now¡¡all¡¡the¡¡light¡¡there¡¡was¡¡came¡¡only¡¡from¡¡a¡¡lamp¡¡in¡¡the¡¡yard£»
and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡dingy¡¡and¡¡yellow¡¡light£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lamp
was¡¡dirty£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gas¡¡was¡¡bad£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡light¡¡that¡¡came¡¡from
it¡¡was£»¡¡notwithstanding£»¡¡as¡¡certainly¡¡light¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡come
from¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡itself£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡knew¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡to¡¡it£»
and¡¡although¡¡it¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡a¡¡wretched¡¡room¡¡which¡¡that¡¡lamp¡¡lighted
so¡¡dreary£»¡¡and¡¡dirty£»¡¡and¡¡empty£»¡¡and¡¡hopeless£¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle
of¡¡it¡¡sat¡¡Diamond¡¡on¡¡a¡¡stool£»¡¡smiling¡¡to¡¡the¡¡baby£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡on¡¡his
knees¡¡smiling¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lamp¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡father¡¡of¡¡him¡¡sat¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡nothing£»
neither¡¡asleep¡¡nor¡¡awake£»¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡stupidity¡¡either£»
for¡¡through¡¡it¡¡all¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dimly¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not
know¡¡why¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡his¡¡wife¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡¡it£»
but¡¡was¡¡miserable¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡notwithstanding¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡this¡¡misery¡¡was¡¡the
voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Love¡¡that¡¡had¡¡made¡¡him¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baby
and¡¡Diamond£»¡¡speaking¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡good¡£¡¡
For¡¡that¡¡great¡¡Love¡¡speaks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡wretched¡¡and¡¡dirty¡¡hearts£»
only¡¡the¡¡tone¡¡of¡¡its¡¡voice¡¡depends¡¡on¡¡the¡¡echoes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡in¡¡which
it¡¡sounds¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡Mount¡¡Sinai£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡thunder£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cabman's¡¡heart
it¡¡was¡¡misery£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡John¡¡it¡¡was¡¡perfect¡¡blessedness¡£
By¡¡and¡¡by¡¡he¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡singing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡
This£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡Diamond¡¡singing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡baby
song¡¡after¡¡song£»¡¡every¡¡one¡¡as¡¡foolish¡¡as¡¡another¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cabman£»
for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡too¡¡tipsy¡¡to¡¡part¡¡one¡¡word¡¡from¡¡another£º¡¡¡¡all¡¡the¡¡words
mixed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ear¡¡in¡¡a¡¡gurgle¡¡without¡¡division¡¡or¡¡stop£»¡¡for¡¡such
was¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡himself£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡this¡¡horrid¡¡condition¡£¡¡
But¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡was¡¡more¡¡than¡¡content¡¡with¡¡Diamond's¡¡songs£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond
himself¡¡was¡¡so¡¡contented¡¡with¡¡what¡¡the¡¡songs¡¡were¡¡all¡¡about£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did
not¡¡care¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡about¡¡the¡¡songs¡¡themselves£»¡¡if¡¡only¡¡baby¡¡liked¡¡them¡£¡¡
But¡¡they¡¡did¡¡the¡¡cabman¡¡good¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡and¡¡Diamond£»
for¡¡they¡¡put¡¡him¡¡to¡¡sleep£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sleep¡¡was¡¡busy¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time
it¡¡lasted£»¡¡smoothing¡¡the¡¡wrinkles¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡temper¡£
At¡¡length¡¡Diamond¡¡grew¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡singing£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡talk
to¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡instead¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡singing£»
the¡¡cabman¡¡began¡¡to¡¡wake¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡brain¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡clearer¡¡now£»
his¡¡temper¡¡a¡¡little¡¡smoother£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡so¡¡dirty¡£¡¡
He¡¡began¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡and¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on¡¡listening£»¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡Diamond
saying¡¡to¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡something¡¡like¡¡this£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡cabman
was¡¡asleep£º
¡¨Poor¡¡daddy£¡¡¡¡¡Baby's¡¡daddy¡¡takes¡¡too¡¡much¡¡beer¡¡and¡¡gin£»¡¡and¡¡that
makes¡¡him¡¡somebody¡¡else£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡his¡¡own¡¡self¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡Baby's¡¡daddy
would¡¡never¡¡hit¡¡baby's¡¡mammy¡¡if¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡take¡¡too¡¡much¡¡beer¡£¡¡
He's¡¡very¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡baby's¡¡mammy£»¡¡and¡¡works¡¡from¡¡morning¡¡to¡¡night
to¡¡get¡¡her¡¡breakfast¡¡and¡¡dinner¡¡and¡¡supper£»¡¡only¡¡at¡¡night¡¡he¡¡forgets£»
and¡¡pays¡¡the¡¡money¡¡away¡¡for¡¡beer¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡they¡¡put¡¡nasty¡¡stuff¡¡in¡¡beer£»
I've¡¡heard¡¡my¡¡daddy¡¡say£»¡¡that¡¡drives¡¡all¡¡the¡¡good¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡lets¡¡all
the¡¡bad¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡Daddy¡¡says¡¡when¡¡a¡¡man¡¡takes¡¡a¡¡drink£»¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡thirsty
devil¡¡creeps¡¡into¡¡his¡¡inside£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡knows¡¡he¡¡will¡¡always¡¡get
enough¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡is¡¡always¡¡crying¡¡out¡¡for¡¡more¡¡drink£»
and¡¡that¡¡makes¡¡the¡¡man¡¡thirsty£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡he¡¡drinks¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more£»
till¡¡he¡¡kills¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡the¡¡ugly¡¡devil¡¡creeps
out¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡crawls¡¡about¡¡on¡¡his¡¡belly£»¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡some¡¡other
cabman¡¡to¡¡get¡¡into£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡drink£»¡¡drink£»¡¡drink¡£¡¡¡¡That's¡¡what¡¡my
daddy¡¡says£»¡¡baby¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡too£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡devil
come¡¡out¡¡is¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡cold¡¡water¡¡and¡¡tea¡¡and¡¡coffee£»
and¡¡nothing¡¡at¡¡all¡¡that¡¡comes¡¡from¡¡the¡¡public¡house£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡devil
can't¡¡abide¡¡that¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡stuff£»¡¡and¡¡creeps¡¡out¡¡pretty¡¡soon£»¡¡for¡¡fear
of¡¡being¡¡drowned¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡your¡¡daddy¡¡will¡¡drink¡¡the¡¡nasty¡¡stuff£»
poor¡¡man£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡he¡¡wouldn't£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡makes¡¡mammy¡¡cross¡¡with¡¡him£»
and¡¡no¡¡wonder£¡¡¡and¡¡then¡¡when¡¡mammy's¡¡cross£»¡¡he's¡¡crosser£»
and¡¡there's¡¡nobody¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡them¡¡but¡¡baby£»
and¡¡you¡¡do¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡babydon't¡¡you£»¡¡baby£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡do¡£¡¡
Babies¡¡always¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡their¡¡fathers¡¡and¡¡mothersdon't¡¡they£»¡¡baby£¿¡¡
That's¡¡what¡¡they¡¡come¡¡forisn't¡¡it£»¡¡baby£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡when¡¡daddy¡¡stops
drinking¡¡beer¡¡and¡¡nasty¡¡gin¡¡with¡¡turpentine¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡father¡¡says£»
then¡¡mammy¡¡will¡¡be¡¡so¡¡happy£»¡¡and¡¡look¡¡so¡¡pretty£¡¡¡and¡¡daddy¡¡will
be¡¡so¡¡good¡¡to¡¡baby£¡¡¡and¡¡baby¡¡will¡¡be¡¡as¡¡happy¡¡as¡¡a¡¡swallow£»
which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡merriest¡¡fellow£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡Diamond¡¡will¡¡be¡¡so¡¡happy¡¡too£¡¡¡
And¡¡when¡¡Diamond's¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡he'll¡¡take¡¡baby¡¡out¡¡with¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡box£»
and¡¡teach¡¡him¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡a¡¡cab¡£¡¨
He¡¡went¡¡on¡¡with¡¡chatter¡¡like¡¡this¡¡till¡¡baby¡¡was¡¡asleep£»¡¡by¡¡which
time¡¡he¡¡was¡¡tired£»¡¡and¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother¡¡were¡¡both¡¡wide¡¡awake
only¡¡rather¡¡confusedthe¡¡one¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beer£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡from¡¡the¡¡blow
and¡¡staring£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡from¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡from¡¡her¡¡bed£»
at¡¡Diamond¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡unaware¡¡of¡¡their¡¡notice£»¡¡for¡¡he
sat¡¡half¡asleep£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡wide¡¡open£»¡¡staring¡¡in¡¡his¡¡turn£»
though¡¡without¡¡knowing¡¡it£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cabman£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡cabman¡¡could
not¡¡withdraw¡¡his¡¡gaze¡¡from¡¡Diamond's¡¡white¡¡face¡¡and¡¡big¡¡eyes¡£¡¡
For¡¡Diamond's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡always¡¡rather¡¡pale£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡it¡¡was¡¡paler¡¡than
usual¡¡with¡¡sleeplessness£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡lamp¡¡upon¡¡it¡£¡¡
At¡¡length¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡nodding£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡time
to¡¡put¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡down£»¡¡lest¡¡h
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