Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           This,ofcourse,calledforaseverespanking,butMr.Buttonfoundthathecouldnotbringhimselftoadministerit.Hemerelywarnedhissonthathewould"stunthisgrowth."

           Neverthelesshepersistedinhisattitude.Hebroughthomeleadsoldiers,hebroughttoytrains,hebroughtlargepleasantanimalsmadeofcotton,and,toperfecttheillusionwhichhewascreating—forhimselfatleast—hepassionatelydemandedoftheclerkinthetoy-storewhether"thepaintwouldcomeoftthepinkduckifthebabyputitinhismouth."But,despiteallhisfather’sefforts,Benjaminrefusedtobeinterested.HewouldstealdownthebackstairsandreturntothenurserywithavolumeoftheEncyclopediaBritannica,overwhichhewouldporethroughanafternoon,whilehiscottoncowsandhisNoah’sarkwereleftneglectedonthefloor.AgainstsuchastubbornnessMr.Button’seffortswereoflittleavail.

           ThesensationcreatedinBaltimorewas,atfirst,prodigious.WhatthemishapwouldhavecosttheButtonsandtheirkinsfolksociallycannotbedetermined,fortheoutbreakoftheCivilWardrewthecity’sattentiontootherthings.Afewpeoplewhowereunfailinglypoliterackedtheirbrainsforcomplimentstogivetotheparents—andfinallyhitupontheingeniousdeviceofdeclaringthatthebabyresembledhisgrandfather,afactwhich,duetothestandardstateofdecaycommontoallmenofseventy,couldnotbedenied.Mr.andMrs.RogerButtonwerenotpleased,andBenjamin’sgrandfatherwasfuriouslyinsulted.

           Benjamin,onceheleftthehospital,tooklifeashefoundit.Severalsmallboyswerebroughttoseehim,andhespentastiff-jointedafternoontryingtoworkupaninterestintopsandmarbles—heevenmanaged,quiteaccidentally,tobreakakitchenwindowwithastonefromaslingshot,afeatwhichsecretlydelightedhisfather.