The Idle Thoughts of an Idle FellowJerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)
General
The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)
English essays; English wit and humor
And, after all, that warming glow is more suited to our cold little back
parlor of a world than is the burning spirit love. Love should be the
vestal fire of some mighty temple--some vast dim fane whose organ music
is the rolling of the spheres. Affection will burn cheerily when the
white flame of love is flickered out. Affection is a fire that can be
fed from day to day and be piled up ever higher as the wintry years draw
nigh. Old men and women can sit by it with their thin hands clasped, the
little children can nestle down in front, the friend and neighbor has
his welcome corner by its side, and even shaggy Fido and sleek Titty can
toast their noses at the bars.
Let us heap the coals of kindness upon that fire. Throw on your pleasant
words, your gentle pressures of the hand, your thoughtful and unselfish
deeds. Fan it with good-humor, patience, and forbearance. You can let
the wind blow and the rain fall unheeded then, for your hearth will be
warm and bright, and the faces round it will make sunshine in spite of
the clouds without.
I am afraid, dear Edwin and Angelina, you expect too much from love.
You think there is enough of your little hearts to feed this fierce,
devouring passion for all your long lives. Ah, young folk! don't rely
too much upon that unsteady flicker. It will dwindle and dwindle as the
months roll on, and there is no replenishing the fuel. You will watch it
die out in anger and disappointment. To each it will seem that it is the
other who is growing colder. Edwin sees with bitterness that Angelina no
longer runs to the gate to meet him, all smiles and blushes; and when he
has a cough now she doesn't begin to cry and, putting her arms round his
neck, say that she cannot live without him. The most she will probably
do is to suggest a lozenge, and even that in a tone implying that it is
the noise more than anything else she is anxious to get rid of.
Poor little Angelina, too, sheds silent tears, for Edwin has given up
carrying her old handkerchief in the inside pocket of his waistcoat.
Both are astonished at the falling off in the other one, but neither
sees their own change. If they did they would not suffer as they do.
They would look for the cause in the right quarter--in the littleness
of poor human nature--join hands over their common failing, and start
building their house anew on a more earthly and enduring foundation.
But we are so blind to our own shortcomings, so wide awake to those
of others. Everything that happens to us is always the other person's
fault. Angelina would have gone on loving Edwin forever and ever and
ever if only Edwin had not grown so strange and different. Edwin would
have adored Angelina through eternity if Angelina had only remained the
same as when he first adored her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account