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"It is not because I want to be better than I am," said the Bee-man, "that I started out on this search. I have simply an honest desire to become what I originally was." "Oh! that is it, is it?" said the other. "There is an idiotic moon-calf here with a clam head, which must be just like what you used to be." "Nonsense," said the Bee-man. "You have not the least idea what an honest purpose is.
"We needn't be idle. You can lend a hand with the powder or pass the water buckets to douse the fire if she gets ablaze. And there's the wounded to carry into the cockpit and the blood to mop up, and " "Enough o' that," cried Jack, getting pale about the gills. "You take it like a butcher!" "What else is it, you big moon-calf?
A rumour of the world's tragedy pierced to his remote soul; and the pity of it staggered him. Flinging back his head he thrust out a questioning finger. "Why?" he wailed. "That," said the Gentleman as he was carried by, "is the question which Life asks and Death answers. Good-night, Monsieur Moon-calf. Beautiful dreams."
"What I would say, gentle Goblin, is this, you call me Moon-calf, therefore there can be no objection to my calling you Goblin, I think?" "Not the least in the world!" declared Cicely "I rather like it!" "So good of you! so dear!" he said, softly "Well!
Like you, she might have married a title instead of a curate and beggary." "I am quite sure that my mother is not sorry, Aunt," replied Barbara, whose spirit was rising. "I know that she is a very happy woman." "Look here, Barbara, let's come to the point. Will you give up this moon-calf business of yours or not?" "It is not a moon-calf business, whatever that may be, and I will not give it up."
Don't stand there looking at me like a moon-calf, whatever that may be, but tell me what you mean, or I'll, I'll " and she stopped. Then he told her well, not quite everything, for he omitted his father's disparaging remarks about herself. She listened in her intent fashion, and filled in the gaps without difficulty. "I see," she said.
He paused for a moment only, then in altered voice he reminded them: "Ef I don't go back, my death'll be all the answer they'll need over thar but ther guilt fer bloodshed an' what follers hit will rest on ther Doanes henceforth. We've done our damnedest." "We're wastin' time an' breath. Kill ther damn moon-calf an' eend hit," clamoured the noisy agitator with the bloodshot eyes.
Every one hates or fears me. No one has a word for me. Every mischance is laid on me. When the kitchen wench broke a crock, it was because I looked at it. If the keeper misses a deer, he swears at Master Perry! Oliver and Robert will not let me touch a thing of theirs; they bait me for a moon-calf, and grin when I am beaten for their doings.
Moon-Calf, recounting the adventures of a young poet in certain river counties and towns and villages of Illinois, touches without heat upon the spiritual and intellectual limitations of those neighborhoods. It settles no old scores. It relates an unconventional career without conventional reproaches and also without conventional heroics.
From the first, though this moon-calf has steadily blundered toward detachment from the common order, some aching instinct has left him hungry for solid ground to stand on. The conflict troubles him. He can succeed in his immediate occupations but he cannot understand his powers or feel confident in his future. His world whirls round and round, menaces, eludes, threatens to vanish altogether.
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