第4部分(第3/7 頁)

n　jars　and　jerks；　so　that

I　know　when　one　kneels；　kicks；　shakes　something；　sits　down；　or　gets　up。

Thus　I　follow　to　some　extent　the　actions　of　people　about　me　and　the

changes　of　their　postures。　Just　now　a　thick；　soft　patter　of　bare；　padded

feet　and　a　slight　jolt　told　me　that　my　dog　had　jumped　on　the　chair　to

look　out　of　the　window。　I　do　not；　however；　allow　him　to　go

uninvestigated；　for　occasionally　I　feel　the　same　motion；　and　find　him；

not　on　the　chair；　but　trespassing　on　the　sofa。

When　a　carpenter　works　in　the　house　or　in　the　barn　near　by；　I　know　by

the　slanting；　up…and…down；　toothed　vibration；　and　the　ringing　concussion

of　blow　upon　blow；　that　he　is　sawing　or　hammering。　If　I　am　near　enough；

a　certain　vibration；　travelling　back　and　forth　along　a　wooden　surface；

brings　me　the　information　that　he　is　using　a　plane。

A　slight　flutter　on　the　rug　tells　me　that　a　breeze　has　blown　my　papers

off　the　table。　A　round　thump　is　a　signal　that　a　pencil　has　rolled　on　the

floor。　If　a　book　falls；　it　gives　a　flat　thud。　A　wooden　rap　on　the

balustrade　announces　that　dinner　is　ready。　Many　of　these　vibrations　are

obliterated　out　of　doors。　On　a　lawn　or　the　road；　I　can　feel　only

running；　stamping；　and　the　rumble　of　wheels。

By　placing　my　hand　on　a　person's　lips　and　throat；　I　gain　an　idea　of　many

specific　vibrations；　and　interpret　them：　a　boy's　chuckle；　a　man's

〃Whew！〃　of　surprise；　the　〃Hem！〃　of　annoyance　or　perplexity；　the　moan　of

pain；　a　scream；　a　whisper；　a　rasp；　a　sob；　a　choke；　and　a　gasp。　The

utterances　of　animals；　though　e……the　cat's

purr；　its　mew；　its　angry；　jerky；　scolding　spit；　the　dog's　bow…wow　of

warning　or　of　joyou