CONTENTS
AVENERABLEIMPOSTOR
FROMABALCONY
MELONS
SURPRISINGADVENTURESOFMASTERCHARLESSUMMERTON
SIDEWALKINGS
ABOY’SDOG
CHARITABLEREMINISCENCES
"SEEINGTHESTEAMEROFF"
NEIGHBORHOODSIHAVEMOVEDFROM
MYSUBURBANRESIDENCE
ONAVULGARLITTLEBOY
WAITINGFORTHESHIP
URBANSKETCHES
AVENERABLEIMPOSTOR。
AsIglanceacrossmytable，Iamsomewhatdistractedbythespectacleofavenerableheadwhosecrownoccasionallyappearsbeyond，ataboutitslevel。Theapparitionofaverysmallhand——
whosefingersarebunchyandhavetheappearanceofbeingslightlywebbed——whichisfrequentlyliftedabovethetableinavainandimpotentattempttoreachtheinkstand，alwaysaffectsmeasanoveltyateachrecurrenceofthephenomenon。YetboththevenerableheadandbunchyfingersbelongtoanindividualwithwhomIamfamiliar，andtowhom，forcertainreasonshereafterdescribed，Ichoosetoapplytheepithetwrittenabovethisarticle。
Hisadventinthefamilywasattendedwithpeculiarcircumstances。
Hewasreceivedwithsomeconcern——thenumberofretainershavingbeenincreasedbyoneinhonorofhisarrival。Heappearedtobeweary，——hispretencewasthathehadcomefromalongjourney，——sothatfordays，weeks，andevenmonths，hedidnotleavehisbedexceptwhenhewascarried。Butitwasremarkablethathisappetitewasinvariablyregularandhealthy，andthathismeals，whichherequiredshouldbebroughttohim，wereseldomrejected。
Duringthistimehehadlittleconversationwiththefamily，hisknowledgeofourvernacularbeinglimited，butoccasionallyspoketohimselfinhisownlanguage，——aforeigntongue。Thedifficultiesattendingthiseccentricitywereobviatedbytheyoungwomanwhohadfromthefirsttakenhimunderherprotection，——being，liketherestofhersex，peculiarlyopentoimpositions，——andwhoatoncedisorganizedherowntonguetosuithis。Thiswasaffectedbythecontractionofthesyllablesofsomewords，theadditionofsyllablestoothers，andaningeniousdisregardfortensesandthegoverningpowersoftheverb。ThesamesingularlawwhichimpelspeopleinconversationwithforeignerstoimitatetheirbrokenEnglishgovernedthefamilyintheircommunicationswithhim。Hereceivedtheseevidencesofhispowerwithanindifferencenotwhollyfreefromscorn。Theexpressionofhiseyewouldoccasionallydenotethathishighernaturerevoltedfromthem。I
havenodoubtmyselfthathiswantswerefrequentlymisinterpreted；
thatthestretchingforthofhishandstowardthemoonandstarsmighthavebeentheperformanceofsomereligiousritepeculiartohisowncountry，whichwasinoursmisconstruedintoadesireforphysicalnourishment。Hisrepetitionoftheword"goo-goo，"——whichwassubjecttoavarietyofoppositeinterpretations，——whentakeninconjunctionwithhissize，inmymindseemedtoindicatehisaboriginalorAztecorigin。
Iinclinetothisbelief，asitsustainstheimpressionIhavealreadyhintedat，thathisextremeyouthisasimulationanddeceit；thatheisreallyolderandhaslivedbeforeatsomeremoteperiod，andthathisconductfullyjustifieshistitleasA
VenerableImpostor。Avarietyofcircumstancescorroboratethisimpression：Histotteringwalk，whichisasenileaswellasajuvenilecondition；hisvenerablehead，thatchedwithsuchimperceptiblehairthat，atadistance，itlookslikeamildaureola，andhisimperfectdentalexhibition。Butbesidethesephysicalpeculiaritiesmaybeobservedcertainmoralsymptoms，whichgotodisprovehisassumedyouth。Heisinthehabitoffallingintoreveries，caused，Ihavenodoubt，bysomecircumstancewhichsuggestsacomparisonwithhisexperienceinhisremoterboyhood，orbysomeseriousretrospectionofthepastyears。Hehasbeendetectedlyingawake，attimeswhenheshouldhavebeenasleep，engagedincuriouslycomparingthebed-clothes，walls，andfurniturewithsomerecollectionofhisyouth。Atsuchmomentshehasbeenheardtosingsoftlytohimselffragmentsofsomeunintelligiblecomposition，whichprobablystilllingerinhismemoryastheechoesofamusichehaslongoutgrown。Hehasthehabitofreceivingstrangerswiththefamiliarityofonewhohadmetthembefore，andtowhomtheirantecedentsandpeculiaritiesweremattersofoldacquaintance，andsounerringishisjudgmentoftheirpreviouscharacterthatwhenhewithholdshisconfidenceIamapttowithholdmine。Itissomewhatremarkablethatwhilethematurityofhisyearsandtherespectduetothemisdeniedbyman，hissuperiorityandvenerableageisneverquestionedbythebrutecreation。Thedogtreatshimwitharespectandconsiderationaccordedtononeothers，andthecatpermitsafamiliaritywhichIshouldshuddertoattempt。ItmaybeconsideredanevidenceofsomePantheisticqualityinhispreviouseducation，thatheseemstorecognizeafellowshipevenininarticulateobjects；hehasbeenknowntoverballyaddressplants，flowers，andfruit，andtoextendhisconfidencetosuchinanimateobjectsaschairsandtables。Therecanbelittledoubtthat，intheremoteperiodofhisyouth，theseobjectswereendowedwithnotonlysentientnatures，butmoralcapabilities，andheisstillinthehabitofbeatingthemwhentheycollidewithhim，andofpardoningthemwithakiss。
Ashehasgrownolder——ratherletmesay，aswehaveapproximatedtohisyears——hehas，inspiteoftheapparentparadox，lostmuchofhissenilegravity。Itmustbeconfessedthatsomeofhisactionsoflateappeartoourimperfectcomprehensioninconsistentwithhisextremeage。Ahabitofmarchingupanddownwithastringtiedtoasoda-waterbottle，adispositiontorideanythingthatcouldbyanyexerciseoftheliveliestfancybemadetoassumeequineproportions，apropensitytoblackenhisvenerablewhitehairwithinkandcoaldust，andanomnivorousappetitewhichdidnotstopatchalk，clay，orcinders，werepeculiaritiesnotcalculatedtoexciterespect。Infact，hewouldseemtohavebecomedemoralized，andwhen，afteraprolongedabsencetheotherday，hewasfinallydiscoveredstandinguponthefrontstepsaddressingagroupofdelightedchildrenoutofhislimitedvocabulary，thecircumstancecouldonlybeaccountedforasthegarrulityofage。
ButIlayasidemypenamidstanominoussilenceandthedisappearanceofthevenerableheadfrommyplaneofvision。AsI
steptotheothersideofthetable，Ifindthatsleephasovertakenhiminanovertactofhoarywickedness。TheverypagesIhavedevotedtoanexpositionofhisdeceithehasquietlyabstracted，andIfindthemcoveredwithcabalisticfiguresandwild-lookinghieroglyphstracedwithhisforefingerdippedinink，whichdoubtlessinhisownlanguageconveysascathingcommentaryonmycomposition。Buthesleepspeacefully，andthereissomethinginhisfacewhichtellsmethathehasalreadywanderedawaytothatdimregionofhisyouthwhereIcannotfollowhim。
AndastherecomesastrangestirringatmyheartwhenI
contemplatetheimmeasurablegulfwhichliesbetweenus，andhowslightandfeebleasyetishisgrasponthisworldanditsstrangerealities，Ifind，toolate，thatIalsoamawillingvictimoftheVenerableImpostor。
FROMABALCONY
Thelittlestonebalcony，which，byapopularfallacy，issupposedtobeanecessaryappurtenanceofmywindow，haslongbeentomeasourceofcuriousinterest。Thefactthattheasperitiesofoursummerweatherwillnotpermitmetouseitbutonceortwiceinsixmonthsdoesnotaltermyconcernforthisincongruousornament。
ItaffectsmeasIsupposetheconsciouspossessionofalinencoatoranankeentrousersmightaffectasojournerherewhohasnotentirelyoutgrownhismemoryofEasternsummerheatanditsgloriouscompensations，——aluxuriousprovidenceagainstapossiblebutbynomeansprobablecontingency。IdonolongerwonderatthepersistencywithwhichSanFranciscansadheretothisarchitecturalsuperfluityinthefaceofclimaticalimpossibilities。Thebalconiesinwhichnoonesits，thepiazzasonwhichnoonelounges，aretimidadvancesmadetoaclimatewhosechurlishnesswearetryingtotemperbyanostentationofconfidence。Ridiculousasthisspectacleisatallseasons，itisnevermoresothaninthatbleakintervalbetweensunsetanddark，whentheshrillscreamofthefactorywhistleseemstohaveconcentratedallthehard，unsympatheticqualityoftheclimateintoonevocalexpression。
Addtothistheappearanceofoneortwopedestrians，manifestlytoolatefortheirdinners，andtastingintheshrewishairabitterpremonitionofthewelcomethatawaitsthemathome，andyouhaveoneofthoseordinaryviewsfrommybalconywhichmakesthebalconyitselfridiculous。
ButasIleanoveritsbalustradeto-night——anightrareinitskindnessandbeauty——andwatchthefieryashesofmycigardropintotheabysmaldarknessbelow，Iaminclinedtotakebackthewholeofthatprecedingparagraph，althoughitcostmesomelabortoelaborateitspolitemalevolence。IcanevenrecognizesomemelodyinthemusicwhichcomesirregularlyandfitfullyfromthebalconyoftheMuseumonMarketStreet，althoughitmaybebroadlystatedthat，asageneralthing，themusicofallmuseums，menageries，andcircusesbecomesgreatlydemoralized，——possiblythroughassociationswiththebeasts。SosoftandcourteousisthisatmospherethatIhavedetectedtheflutterofoneortwolightdressesontheadjacentbalconiesandpiazzas，andthefrontparlorwindowsofacertainaristocraticmansioninthevicinity，whichhavealwaysmaintainedastudiousreserveinregardtotheinterior，to-nightaresuddenlythrownintotheattitudeoffamiliardisclosure。Afewyoungpeoplearestrollingupthestreetwithaloungingstepwhichisquitearelieftothatusualbrisk，business-likepacewhichthechillynightsimposeuponeventhemostsentimentallovers。Thegenialinfluencesoftheairarenotrestrictedtotheopeningofshuttersandfrontdoors；otherandmoregentledisclosuresaremade，nodoubt，beneaththismoonlight。Thebonnetandhatwhichpassedbeneathmybalconyafewmomentsagoweresuspiciouslyclosetogether。Iarguedfromthisthatmyfriendtheeditorwillprobablyreceiveanyquantityofversesforhisnextissue，containingallusionsto"Luna，"inwhichtheoriginalepithetof"silver"willbeappliedtothisplanet，andthata"boon"willbeaskedfortheevidentpurposeofrhymingwith"moon，"andfornoother。Shouldneitherofthepartiesbeequaltothisexpression，thepent-upfeelingsoftheheartwillprobablyfindventlaterintheeveningoverthepiano，in"IWanderedbytheBrookside，"or"WhentheMoonontheLakeisBeaming。"Butithasbeenpermittedmetohearthefulfilmentofmyprophecyevenasitwasuttered。FromthewindowofnumberTwelveHundredandSevengushesupontheslumberousmistyairthemaddeningballad，"EverofThee，"whileatTwelveHundredandEleventhe"StaroftheEvening"riseswithachorus。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthereissomethingintheuttervacuityoftherefraininthissongwhichespeciallycommendsitselftotheyoung。Thesimplestatement，"Staroftheevening，"isagainandagainrepeatedwithanimbecilerelish；whiletheadjective"beautiful"recurswithasteadypersistency，tooexasperatingtodwelluponhere。Atoccasionalintervals，abasevoiceenunciates"Star-r！Star-r！"asasolitaryandindependenteffort。Sittinghereinmybalcony，Ipicturethepossessorofthatvoiceasasmall，stoutyoungman，standingalittleapartfromtheothersingers，withhishandsbehindhim，underhiscoat-tail，andasevereexpressionofcountenance。Hesometimesleansforward，withafutileattempttoreadthemusicoversomebodyelse’sshoulder，butalwaysresumeshisoldseverityofattitudebeforesinginghispart。Meanwhilethecelestialsubjectsofthischoraladorationlookdownuponthescenewithatranquillityandpatiencewhichcanonlyresultfromthesecuritywithwhichtheirimmeasurableremotenessinveststhem。Iwouldremarkthatthestarsarenottheonlytopicssubjecttothis"damnableiteration。"Acertainpopularsong，whichcontainsthestatement，"Iwillnotforgetyou，mother，"apparentlyreposesallitspopularityontheconstantanddrearyrepetitionofthisunimportantinformation，whichatleastproducesthedesiredresultamongtheaudience。Ifthebestoperaticchorusesarenotabovethisweakness，theunfamiliarlanguageinwhichtheyaresungofferslessviolationtocommonsense。
Itmaybeparentheticallystatedherethatthesongsalludedtoabovemaybefoundinsheetmusiconthetopofthepianoofanyyoungladywhohasjustcomefromboarding-school。"TheOldArm-
Chair，"or"Woodman，sparethatTree，"willbealsofoundineasyjuxtaposition。Thelattersongsareusuallybroughtintoserviceattheinstanceofanuncleorbachelorbrother，whoserequestisgenerallyprefacedbyaremarkdeprecatoryoftheopera，andthegratuitousobservationthat"weareretrograding，sir，——
retrograding，"andthat"thereisnomusicliketheoldsongs。"Hesometimescondescendstoaccompany"Marie"inatremulousbarytone，andisparticularlyforcibleinthosepassageswheretheword"repeat"iswritten，forreasonsstatedabove。Whenthesongisover，tothesuccessofwhichhefeelshehasmateriallycontributed，hewillinformyouthatyoumaytalkofyour"arias，"andyour"romanzas，""butformusic，sir，——music——"atwhichpointhebecomesincoherentandunintelligible。Itisthisgentlemanwhosuggests"China，"or"BrattleStreet，"asasuitableandcheerfulexerciseforthesocialcircle。Therearecertainamatorysongs，ofanarchandcoquettishcharacter，familiartotheselocalities，whichtheyounglady，beingcalledupontosing，declineswithabashfulandtantalizinghesitation。Prominentamongthesemaybementionedaneroticeffusionentitled"I’mtalkinginmySleep，"which，whensungbyayoungpersonvivaciouslyandwithappropriateglances，canbemadetodrivelanguishingswainstothevergeofmadness。Balladsofthisqualityaffordsplendidopportunitiesforboldyoungmen，who，byejaculating"Oh！"and"Ah！"attheaffectingpassages，frequentlygainafascinatingreputationforwildnessandscepticism。
Butthemusicwhichcalleduptheseparentheticalreflectionshasdiedaway，andwithittheslightanimositiesitinspired。Thelastsonghasbeensung，thepianoclosed，thelightsarewithdrawnfromthewindows，andthewhiteskirtsflutterawayfromstoopsandbalconies。Thesilenceisbrokenonlybytherattleandrumbleofcarriagescomingfromtheatreandopera。Ifancythatthissound——
which，seemingtobemoredistinctatthishourthanatanyothertime，mightbecalledoneofthecivicvoicesofthenight——hascertainurbanesuggestions，notunpleasanttothosebornandbredinlargecities。Themoon，roundandfull，graduallyusurpsthetwinklinglightsofthecity，thatonebyoneseemtofadeawayandbeabsorbedinhersuperiorlustre。ThedistantMissionhillsareoutlinedagainstthesky，butthroughonegaptheoutlyingfogwhichhasstealthilyinvestedusseemstohaveeffectedabreach，andonlywaitstheco-operationofthelaggardsea-breezestosweepdownandtakethebeleagueredcitybyassault。Anineffablecalmsinksoverthelandscape。Inthemagicalmoonlighttheshot-towerlosesitsangularoutlineandpracticalrelations，andbecomesaminaretfromwhosebalconyaninvisiblemuezzincallstheFaithfultoprayer。"Prayerisbetterthansleep。"Butwhatisthis？A
shuffleoffeetonthepavement，alowhumofvoices，atwangofsomediabolicalinstrument，apreliminaryhemandcough。Heavens！
itcannotbe！Ah，yes——itis——itis——SERENADERS！
AnathemaMaranatha！Maypurgatorialpainsseizeyou，William，CountofPoitou，GirarddeBoreuil，ArnauddeMarveil，BertranddeBorn，mischievousprogenitorsofjongleurs，troubadours，provencals，minnesingers，minstrels，andsingersofcansosandlovechants！
Confusionovertakeandconfoundyourmoderndescendants，the"metreballad-mongers，"whocarrytheshamelessnessoftheMiddleAgesintothenineteenthcentury，andawakeasleepingneighborhoodtothebrazenknowledgeoftheirlovesandwantonfancies！Destructionanddemoralizationpursuethesepitiableimitatorsofabarbarousage，whenladies’namesandcharmswereshoutedthroughtheland，andmodestmaidenneverlentpresencetotiltortourneywithouthearingachronicleofhervirtuesgoroundthelists，shoutedbywheezyheraldsandtakenupbyroaringswashbucklers！Perditionoverpowersuchostentatiouswooers！Marry！shallIshoottheamorousfelinewhonightlyiterateshislovesongsonmyroof，andyetwithholdmytriggerfingerfromyonderpranksomegallant？Goto！Hereisanorangeleftoflastweek’srepast。Decayhathovertakenit，——itpossessethneithersavornorcleanliness。Ha！cleverlythrown！A
hit——apalpablehit！PeradventureIhavestillabootthathathdonemeservice，and，barringaloosenessoftheheel，anominousyawningattheside，’tisingoodcase！Na’theless，’twillserve。
So！so！What！dispersed！Nay，then，Itoowillretire。
MELONS
AsIdonotsupposethemostgentleofreaderswillbelievethatanybody’ssponsorsinbaptismeverwilfullyassumedtheresponsibilityofsuchaname，ImayaswellstatethatIhavereasontoinferthatMelonswassimplythenicknameofasmallboyIonceknew。Ifhehadanyother，Ineverknewit。
Varioustheorieswereoftenprojectedbymetoaccountforthisstrangecognomen。Hishead，whichwascoveredwithatransparentdown，likethatwhichclothesverysmallchickens，plainlypermittingthescalptoshowthrough，toanimaginativemindmighthavesuggestedthatsucculentvegetable。Thathisparents，recognizingsomepoeticalsignificanceinthefruitsoftheseason，mighthavegiventhisnametoanAugustchild，wasanOrientalexplanation。Thatfromhisinfancy，hewasfondofindulginginmelons，seemedonthewholethemostlikely，particularlyasFancywasnotbredinMcGinnis’sCourt。HedawneduponmeasMelons。
Hisproximitywasindicatedbyshrill，youthfulvoices，as"Ah，Melons！"orplayfully，"Hi，Melons！"orauthoritatively，"You，Melons！"
McGinnis’sCourtwasademocraticexpressionofsomeobstinateandradicalproperty-holder。Occupyingalimitedspacebetweentwofashionablethoroughfares，itrefusedtoconformtocircumstances，butsturdilyparadeditsunkemptglories，andfrequentlyasserteditselfinungrammaticallanguage。Mywindow——arearroomonthegroundfloor——inthiswayderivedblendedlightandshadowfromthecourt。Solowwasthewindow-sill，thathadIbeentheleastpredisposedtosomnambulism，itwouldhavebrokenoutundersuchfavorableauspices，andIshouldhavehauntedMcGinnis’sCourt。Myspeculationsastotheoriginofthecourtwerenotaltogethergratuitous，forbymeansofthiswindowIoncesawthePast，asthroughaglassdarkly。ItwasaCelticshadowthatearlyonemorningobstructedmyancientlights。Itseemedtobelongtoanindividualwithapea-coat，astubbypipe，andbristlingbeard。Hewasgazingintentlyatthecourt，restingonaheavycane，somewhatinthewaythatheroesdramaticallyvisitthescenesoftheirboyhood。Astherewaslittleofarchitecturalbeautyinthecourt，IcametotheconclusionthatitwasMcGinnislookingafterhisproperty。Thefactthathecarefullykickedabrokenbottleoutoftheroadsomewhatstrengthenedmeintheopinion。Buthepresentlywalkedaway，andthecourtknewhimnomore。Heprobablycollectedhisrentsbyproxy——ifhecollectedthematall。
BeyondMelons，ofwhomallthisispurelyintroductory，therewaslittletointerestthemostsanguineandhopefulnature。Incommonwithallsuchlocalities，agreatdealofwashingwasdone，incomparisonwiththevisibleresults。Therewasalwayssomethingwhiskingontheline，andalwayssomethingwhiskingthroughthecourt，thatlookedasifitoughttobethere。Afish-geranium——ofallplantskeptfortherecreationofmankind，certainlythegreatestillusion——straggledunderthewindow。ThroughitsdustyleavesIcaughtthefirstglanceofMelons。
Hisagewasaboutseven。Helookedolder，fromthevenerablewhitenessofhishead，anditwasimpossibletoconjecturehissize，ashealwaysworeclothesapparentlybelongingtosomeshapelyyouthofnineteen。Apairofpantaloons，that，whensustainedbyasinglesuspender，completelyequippedhim，formedhisevery-daysuit。How，withthislavishsuperfluityofclothing，hemanagedtoperformthesurprisinggymnasticfeatsithasbeenmyprivilegetowitness，Ihaveneverbeenabletotell。His"turningthecrab，"andotherminordislocations，werealwaysattendedwithsuccess。ItwasnotanunusualsightatanyhourofthedaytofindMelonssuspendedonaline，ortoseehisvenerableheadappearingabovetheroofsoftheouthouses。Melonsknewtheexactheightofeveryfenceinthevicinity，itsfacilitiesforscaling，andthepossibilityofseizureontheotherside。Hismorepeacefulandquieteramusementsconsistedindraggingadisusedboilerbyalargestring，withhideousoutcries，toimaginaryfires。
Melonswasnotgregariousinhishabits。Afewyouthofhisownagesometimescalleduponhim，buttheyeventuallybecameabusive，andtheirvisitsweremorestrictlypredatoryincursionsforoldbottlesandjunkwhichformedthestapleofMcGinnis’sCourt。
Overcomebylonelinessoneday，Melonsinveigledablindharperintothecourt。Fortwohoursdidthatwretchedmanprosecutehisunhallowedcalling，unrecompensed，andgoingroundandroundthecourt，apparentlyundertheimpressionthatitwassomeotherplace，whileMelonssurveyedhimfromanadjoiningfencewithcalmsatisfaction。ItwasthisabsenceofconscientiousmotivesthatbroughtMelonsintodisreputewithhisaristocraticneighbors。
Orderswereissuedthatnochildofwealthyandpiousparentageshouldplaywithhim。Thismandate，asamatterofcourse，investedMelonswithafascinatinginteresttothem。AdmiringglanceswerecastatMelonsfromnurserywindows。Babyfingersbeckonedtohim。Invitationstotea（onwoodandpewter）werelispedtohimfromaristocraticback-yards。Itwasevidenthewaslookeduponasapureandnoblebeing，untrammelledbytheconventionalitiesofparentage，andphysicallyaswellasmentallyexaltedabovethem。OneafternoonanunusualcommotionprevailedinthevicinityofMcGinnis’sCourt。LookingfrommywindowIsawMelonsperchedontheroofofastable，pullinguparopebywhichone"Tommy，"aninfantscionofanadjacentandwealthyhouse，wassuspendedinmid-air。InvainthefemalerelativesofTommycongregatedintheback-yard，expostulatedwithMelons；invaintheunhappyfathershookhisfistathim。Secureinhisposition，MelonsredoubledhisexertionsandatlastlandedTommyontheroof。ThenitwasthatthehumiliatingfactwasdisclosedthatTommyhadbeenactingincollusionwithMelons。Hegrinneddelightedlybackathisparents，asif"bymeritraisedtothatbademinence。"Longbeforetheladderarrivedthatwastosuccorhim，hebecametheswornallyofMelons，and，Iregrettosay，incitedbythesameaudaciousboy，"chaffed"hisownfleshandbloodbelowhim。Hewaseventuallytaken，though，ofcourse，Melonsescaped。
ButTommywasrestrictedtothewindowafterthat，andthecompanionshipwaslimitedto"Hi，Melons！"and"You，Tommy！"andMelons，toallpracticalpurposes，losthimforever。IlookedafterwardtoseesomesignsofsorrowonMelons’spart，butinvain；heburiedhisgrief，ifhehadany，somewhereinhisonevoluminousgarment。
AtaboutthistimemyopportunitiesofknowingMelonsbecamemoreextended。IwasengagedinfillingavoidintheLiteratureofthePacificCoast。Asthisvoidwasaprettylargeone，andasIwasinformedthatthePacificCoastlanguishedunderit，Isetaparttwohourseachdaytothisworkoffillingin。ItwasnecessarythatIshouldadoptamethodicalsystem，soIretiredfromtheworldandlockedmyselfinmyroomatacertainhoureachday，aftercomingfrommyoffice。IthencarefullydrewoutmyportfolioandreadwhatIhadwrittenthedaybefore。Thiswouldsuggestsomealteration，andIwouldcarefullyrewriteit。DuringthisoperationIwouldturntoconsultabookofreference，whichinvariablyprovedextremelyinterestingandattractive。Itwouldgenerallysuggestanotherandbettermethodof"fillingin。"
Turningthismethodoverreflectivelyinmymind，IwouldfinallycommencethenewmethodwhichIeventuallyabandonedfortheoriginalplan。AtthistimeIwouldbecomeconvincedthatmyexhaustedfacultiesdemandedacigar。Theoperationoflightingacigarusuallysuggestedthatalittlequietreflectionandmeditationwouldbeofservicetome，andIalwaysallowedmyselftobeguidedbyprudentialinstincts。Eventually，seatedbymywindow，asbeforestated，Melonsassertedhimself，thoughourconversationrarelywentfurtherthan"Hello，Mister！"and"Ah，Melons！"avagabondinstinctwefeltincommonimpliedacommuniondeeperthanwords。Inthisspiritualcomminglingthetimepassed，oftenbeguiledbygymnasticsonthefenceorline（alwayswithaneyetomywindow）untildinnerwasannouncedandIfoundamorepracticalvoidrequiredmyattention。Anunlookedforincidentdrewusincloserrelation。
Asea-faringfriendjustfromatropicalvoyagehadpresentedmewithabunchofbananas。Theywerenotquiteripe，andIhungthembeforemywindowtomatureinthesunofMcGinnis’sCourt，whoseforcingqualitieswereremarkable。Inthemysteriouslymingledodorsofshipandshorewhichtheydiffusedthroughoutmyroom，therewasalingeringreminiscenceoflowlatitudes。Buteventhatjoywasfleetingandevanescent：theyneverreachedmaturity。
Cominghomeoneday，asIturnedthecornerofthatfashionablethoroughfarebeforealludedto，Imetasmallboyeatingabanana。
Therewasnothingremarkableinthat，butasInearedMcGinnis’sCourtIpresentlymetanothersmallboy，alsoeatingabanana。A
thirdsmallboyengagedinalikeoccupationobtrudedapainfulcoincidenceuponmymind。Ileavethepsychologicalreadertodeterminetheexactco-relationbetweenthiscircumstanceandthesickeningsenseoflossthatovercamemeonwitnessingit。I
reachedmyroom——andfoundthebunchofbananaswasgone。
Therewasbutonewhoknewoftheirexistence，butonewhofrequentedmywindow，butonecapableofthegymnasticefforttoprocurethem，andthatwas——Iblushtosayit——Melons。Melonsthedepredator——Melons，despoiledbylargerboysofhisill-gottenbooty，orrecklessandindiscreetlyliberal；Melons——nowafugitiveonsomeneighboringhouse-top。Ilitacigar，and，drawingmychairtothewindow，soughtsurceaseofsorrowinthecontemplationofthefish-geranium。Inafewmomentssomethingwhitepassedmywindowatabouttheleveloftheedge。Therewasnomistakingthathoaryhead，whichnowrepresentedtomeonlyagediniquity。ItwasMelons，thatvenerable，juvenilehypocrite。
Heaffectednottoobserveme，andwouldhavewithdrawnquietly，butthathorriblefascinationwhichcausesthemurderertorevisitthesceneofhiscrime，impelledhimtowardmywindow。Ismokedcalmlyandgazedathimwithoutspeaking。Hewalkedseveraltimesupanddownthecourtwithahalf-rigid，half-belligerentexpressionofeyeandshoulder，intendedtorepresentthecarelessnessofinnocence。
Onceortwicehestopped，andputtinghisarmstheirwholelengthintohiscapacioustrousers，gazedwithsomeinterestattheadditionalwidththeythusacquired。Thenhewhistled。ThesingularconflictingconditionsofJohnBrown’sbodyandsoulwe’reatthattimebeginningtoattracttheattentionofyouth，andMelons’sperformanceofthatmelodywasalwaysremarkable。Butto-
dayhewhistledfalselyandshrillybetweenhisteeth。Atlasthemetmyeye。Hewincedslightly，butrecoveredhimself，andgoingtothefence，stoodforafewmomentsonhishands，withhisbarefeetquiveringintheair。Thenheturnedtowardmeandthrewoutaconversationalpreliminary。
"Theyisacirkis"——saidMelonsgravely，hangingwithhisbacktothefenceandhisarmstwistedaroundthepalings——"acirkisoveryonder！"——indicatingthelocalitywithhisfoot——"withhosses，andhossbackriders。Theyisamanwotridessixhossestoonct——sixhossestoonct——andnarysaddle"——andhepausedinexpectation。
Eventhisequestriannoveltydidnotaffectme。IstillkeptafixedgazeonMelons’seye，andhebegantotrembleandvisiblyshrinkinhiscapaciousgarment。Someotherdesperatemeans——
conversationwithMelonswasalwaysadesperatemeans——mustberesortedto。Herecommencedmoreartfully。
"DoyouknowCarrots？"
Ihadafaintremembranceofaboyofthateuphoniousname，withscarlethair，whowasaplaymateandpersecutorofMelons。ButI
saidnothing。
"Carrotsisabadboy。Killedapolicemanonct。Wearsadirkknifeinhisboots，sawhimto-daylookinginyourwindy。"
Ifeltthatthismustendhere。IrosesternlyandaddressedMelons。
"Melons，thisisallirrelevantandimpertinenttothecase。YOU
tookthosebananas。YourpropositionregardingCarrots，evenifI
wereinclinedtoacceptitascredibleinformation，doesnotalterthematerialissue。Youtookthosebananas。TheoffenceunderthestatutesofCaliforniaisfelony。HowfarCarrotsmayhavebeenaccessorytothefacteitherbeforeorafter，isnotmyintentionatpresenttodiscuss。Theactiscomplete。Yourpresentconductshowstheanimofuranditohavebeenequallyclear。"
BythetimeIhadfinishedthisexordium，Melonshaddisappeared，asIfullyexpected。
Heneverreappeared。TheremorsethatIhaveexperiencedforthepartIhadtakeninwhatIfearmayhaveresultedinhisutterandcompleteextermination，alas，hemaynotknow，exceptthroughthesepages。ForIhaveneverseenhimsince。Whetherheranawayandwenttoseatoreappearatsomefuturedayasthemostancientofmariners，orwhetherheburiedhimselfcompletelyinhistrousers，Inevershallknow。Ihavereadthepapersanxiouslyforaccountsofhim。IhavegonetothePoliceOfficeinthevainattemptofidentifyinghimasalostchild。ButIneversawhimorheardofhimsince。Strangefearshavesometimescrossedmymindthathisvenerableappearancemayhavebeenactuallytheresultofsenility，andthathemayhavebeengatheredpeacefullytohisfathersinagreenoldage。Ihaveevenhaddoubtsofhisexistence，andhavesometimesthoughtthathewasprovidentiallyandmysteriouslyofferedtofillthevoidIhavebeforealludedto。InthathopeI
havewrittenthesepages。
SURPRISINGADVENTURESOFMASTERCHARLESSUMMERTON。
Atexactlyhalfpastnineo’clockonthemorningofSaturday，August26，1865，MasterCharlesSummerton，agedfiveyears，disappearedmysteriouslyfromhispaternalresidenceonFolsomStreet，SanFrancisco。Attwenty-fiveminutespastninehehadbeenobserved，bythebutcher，amusinghimselfbygoingthroughthatpopularyouthfulexerciseknownas"turningthecrab，"afeatinwhichhewassingularlyproficient。Atacourtofinquirysummarilyheldinthebackparlorat10。15，Bridget，cook，deposedtohavedetectedhimattwentyminutespastnine，inthefeloniousabstractionofsugarfromthepantry，which，bythesametoken，hadsheknownwhatwasa-comin’，she’dhaveneverprevinted。Patsey，ashrill-voicedyouthfromaneighboringalley，testifiedtohaveseen"Chowley"athalfpastnine，infrontofthebutcher’sshoproundthecorner，butasthisyounggentlemanchosetothrowoutthegratuitousbeliefthatthemissingchildhadbeenconvertedintosausagesbythebutcher，histestimonywasreceivedwithsomecautionbythefemaleportionofthecourt，andwithdownrightscornandcontumelybyitsmasculinemembers。Butwhatevermighthavebeenthehourofhisdeparture，itwascertainthatfromhalfpasttenA。M。untilnineP。M。，whenhewasbroughthomebyapoliceman，CharlesSummertonwasmissing。Beingnaturallyofareticentdisposition，hehassinceresisted，withbutoneexception，anyattempttowrestfromhimastatementofhiswhereaboutsduringthatperiod。Thatexceptionhasbeenmyself。
Hehasrelatedtomethefollowinginthestrictestconfidence。
Hisintentiononleavingthedoor-stepsofhisdwellingwastoproceedwithoutdelaytoVanDieman’sLand，bywayofSecondandMarketstreets。ThisprojectwassubsequentlymodifiedsofarastopermitavisittoOtaheite，whereCaptainCookwaskilled。Theoutfitforhisvoyageconsistedoftwocar-tickets，fivecentsinsilver，afishing-line，thebrasscappingofaspoolofcotton，which，inhiseyes，boresomeresemblancetometalliccurrency，andaSunday-schoollibraryticket。Hisgarments，admirablyadaptedtotheexigenciesofanyclimate，wereseverallyastrawhatwithapinkribbon，astripedshirt，overwhichapairoftrousers，uncommonlywideincomparisontotheirlength，werebuttoned，stripedbalmoralstockings，whichgavehisyouthfullegssomethingoftheappearanceofwintergreencandy，andcopper-toedshoeswithironheels，capableofstrikingfirefromanyflagstone。Thislatterquality，MasterCharleycouldnothelpfeeling，wouldbeofinfiniteservicetohiminthewildsofVanDieman’sLand，which，aspictoriallyrepresentedinhisgeography，seemedtobedeficientincornergroceriesandmatches。
Exactlyastheclockstruckthehalf-hour，theshortlegsandstrawhatofMasterCharlesSummertondisappearedaroundthecorner。Heranrapidly，partlybywayofinuringhimselftothefatiguesofthejourneybeforehim，andpartlybywayoftestinghisspeedwiththatofaNorthBeachcarwhichwasproceedinginhisdirection。
Theconductor，notbeingawareofthisgenerousandloftyemulation，andbeingsomewhatconcernedatthespectacleofapairofveryshort，twinklinglegssofarintherear，stoppedhiscarandgenerouslyassistedtheyouthfulSummertonupontheplatform。Fromthispointahiatusofseveralhours’durationoccursinCharles’snarrative。Heisundertheimpressionthathe"rodeout"notonlyhistwotickets，butthathebecamesubsequentlyindebtedtothecompanyforseveraltripstoandfromtheoppositetermini，andthatatlast，resolutelyrefusingtogiveanyexplanationofhisconduct，hewasfinallyejected，muchtohisrelief，onastreetcorner。
Although，asheinformsus，hefeltperfectlysatisfiedwiththisarrangement，hewasimpelledunderthecircumstancestohurlaftertheconductoranopprobriousappellationwhichhehadascertainedfromPatseywasthecorrectthinginsuchemergencies，andpossessedpeculiarlyexasperatingproperties。
Wenowapproachathrillingpartofthenarrative，beforewhichmostoftheadventuresofthe"Boys’OwnBook"paleintoinsignificance。TherearetimeswhentherecollectionofthisadventurecausesMasterCharlestobreakoutinacoldsweat，andhehasseveraltimessinceitsoccurrencebeenawakenedbylamentationsandoutcriesinthenightseasonbymerelydreamingofit。Onthecornerofthestreetlayseverallargeemptysugarhogsheads。Afewyounggentlemendisportedthemselvestherein，armedwithsticks，withwhichtheyremovedthesugarwhichstilladheredtothejointsofthestaves，andconveyedittotheirmouths。Findingacasknotyetpreempted，MasterCharlessettowork，andforafewmomentsrevelledinawildsaccharinedream，whencehewasfinallyrousedbyanangryvoiceandtherapidlyretreatingfootstepsofhiscomrades。Anominoussoundsmotehisear，andthenextmomenthefeltthecaskwhereinhelayupliftedandsetuprightagainstthewall。Hewasaprisoner，butasyetundiscovered。Beingsatisfiedinhismindthathangingwasthesystematicandlegalizedpenaltyfortheoutragehehadcommitted，hekeptdownmanfullythecrythatrosetohislips。
Inafewmomentshefeltthecaskagainliftedbyapowerfulhand，whichappearedabovehimattheedgeofhisprison，andwhichheconcludedbelongedtotheferociousgiantBlunderbore，whosefeaturesandlimbshehadfrequentlymetincoloredpictures。
Beforehecouldrecoverfromhisastonishment，hiscaskwasplacedwithseveralothersonacart，andrapidlydrivenaway。Theridewhichensuedhedescribesasbeingfearfulintheextreme。Rolledaroundlikeapillinabox，theagonieswhichhesufferedmaybehintedat，notspoken。Evidencesofthatprotractedstrugglewerevisibleinhisgarments，whichwereoftheconsistencyofsyrup，andhishair，whichforseveralhours，underthetreatmentofhotwater，yieldedathintreacle。Atlengththecartstoppedononeofthewharves，andthecartmanbegantounload。AshetiltedoverthecaskinwhichCharleslay，anexclamationbrokefromhislips，andtheedgeofthecaskfellfromhishands，slidingitslateoccupantuponthewharf。Toregainhisshortlegs，andtoputthegreatestpossibledistancebetweenhimselfandthecartman，werehisfirstmovementsonregaininghisliberty。HedidnotstopuntilhereachedthecornerofFrontStreet。
Anotherblanksucceedsinthisveracioushistory。Hecannotrememberhoworwhenhefoundhimselfinfrontofthecircustent。
Hehasanindistinctrecollectionofhavingpassedthroughalongstreetofstoreswhichwereallclosed，andwhichmadehimfearthatitwasSunday，andthathehadspentamiserablenightinthesugarcask。Butheremembershearingthesoundofmusicwithinthetent，andofcreepingonhishandsandknees，whennoonewaslooking，untilhepassedunderthecanvas。Hisdescriptionofthewonderscontainedwithinthatcircle；oftheterrificfeatswhichwereperformedbyamanonapole，sincepractisedbyhiminthebackyard；ofthehorses，oneofwhichwasspottedandresembledananimalinhisNoah’sArk，hithertounrecognizedandundefined；ofthefemaleequestrians，whosedressescouldonlybeequalledinmagnificencebythefrocksofhissister’sdoll；ofthepaintedclown，whosejokesexcitedamerriment，somewhattingedbyanundefinedfear，wasaneffortoflanguagewhichthispencouldbutweaklytranscribe，andwhichnoquantityofexclamationpointscouldsufficientlyillustrate。Heisnotquitecertainwhatfollowed。Heremembersthatalmostimmediatelyonleavingthecircusitbecamedark，andthathefellasleep，wakingupatintervalsonthecornersofthestreets，onfrontsteps，insomebody’sarms，andfinallyinhisownbed。Hewasnotawareofexperiencinganyregretforhisconduct；hedoesnotrecallfeelingatanytimeadispositiontogohome；heremembersdistinctlythathefelthungry。
Hehasmadethisdisclosureinconfidence。Hewishesittoberespected。Hewantstoknowifyouhavefivecentsaboutyou。