robert louis stevenson-第11部分

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red　…　not　　business　correspondence；　for　this　was　left　till　later　…　but　replies　　to　the　long；　kindly　letters　of　distant　friends　received　but　two　　days　since；　and　still　bright　in　memory。　　At　sunset　he　came　　downstairs；　rallied　his　wife　about　the　forebodings　she　could　not　　shake　off；　talked　of　a　lecturing　tour　to　America　that　he　was　eager　　to　make；　'as　he　was　now　so　well'；　and　played　a　game　of　cards　with　　her　to　drive　away　her　melancholy。　　He　said　he　was　hungry；　begged　　her　assistance　to　help　him　make　a　salad　for　the　evening　meal；　and；　　to　enhance　the　little　feast　he　brought　up　a　bottle　of　old　Burgundy　　from　the　cellar。　　He　was　helping　his　wife　on　the　verandah；　and　　gaily　talking；　when　suddenly　he　put　both　hands　to　his　head　and　　cried　out；　'What's　that？'　　Then　he　asked　quickly；　'Do　I　look　　strange？'　　Even　as　he　did　so　he　fell　on　his　knees　beside　her。　　He　　was　helped　into　the　great　hall；　between　his　wife　and　his　body…　servant；　Sosimo；　losing　consciousness　instantly　as　he　lay　back　in　　the　armchair　that　had　once　been　his　grandfather's。　　Little　time　was　　lost　in　bringing　the　doctors　…　Anderson　of　the　man…of…war；　and　his　　friend；　Dr　Funk。　　They　looked　at　him　and　shook　their　heads；　they　　laboured　strenuously；　and　left　nothing　undone。　　But　he　had　passed　　the　bounds　of　human　skill。　　He　had　grown　so　well　and　strong；　that　　his　wasted　lungs　were　unable　to　bear　the　stress　of　returning　　health。〃


Then　'tis　told　how　the　Rev。　Mr　Clarke　came　and　prayed　by　him；　and　　how；　soon　after；　the　chiefs　were　summoned；　and　came；　bringing　their　　fine　mats；　which；　laid　on　the　body；　almost　hid　the　Union　jack　in　　which　it　had　been　wrapped。　　One　of　the　old　Mataafa　chiefs；　who　had　　been　in　prison；　and　who　had　been　one　of　those　who　worked　on　the　　making　of　the　〃Road　of　the　Loving　Heart〃　（the　road　of　gratitude　　which　the　chiefs　had　made　up　to　Mr　Stevenson's　house　as　a　mark　of　　their　appreciation　of　his　efforts　on　their　behalf）；　came　and　　crouched　beside　the　body　and　said：


〃I　am　only　a　poor　Samoan；　and　ignorant。　　Others　are　rich；　and　can　　give　Tusitala　（6）　the　parting　presents　of　rich；　fine　mats；　I　am　　poor；　and　can　give　nothing　this　last　day　he　receives　his　friends。　　　Yet　I　am　not　afraid　to　come　and　look　the　last　time　in　my　friend's　　face；　never　to　see　him　more　till　we　meet　with　God。　　Behold！　　　Tusitala　is　dead；　Mataafa　is　also　dead。　　These　two　great　friends　　have　been　taken　by　God。　　When　Mataafa　was　taken；　who　was　our　　support　but　Tusitala？　　We　were　in　prison；　and　he　cared　for　us。　　We　　were　sick；　and　he　made　us　well。　　We　were　hungry；　and　he　fed　us。　　　The　day　was　no　longer　than　his　kindness。　　You　are　great　people；　and　　full　of　love。　　Yet　who　among　you　is　so　great　as　Tusitala？　　What　is　　your　love　to　his　love？　　Our　clan　was　Mataafa's　clan；　for　whom　I　　speak　this　day；　therein　was　Tusitala　also。　　We　mourn　them　both。〃

A　select　company　of　Samoans　would　not　be　deterred；　and　watched　by　　the　body　all　night；　chanting　songs；　with　bits　of　Catholic　prayers；　　and　in　the　morning　the　work　began　of　clearing　a　path　through　the　　wood　on　the　hill　to　the　spot　on　the　crown　where　Mr　Stevenson　had　　expressed　a　wish　to　be　buried。　　The　following　prayer；　which　Mr　　Stevenson　had　written　and　read　aloud　to　his　family　only　the　night　　before；　was　read　by　Mr　Clarke　in　the　service：


〃We　beseech　thee；　Lord；　to　behold　us　with　favour；　folk　of　many　　families　and　nations；　gathered　together　in　the　peace　of　this　roof；　　weak　men　and　women；　subsisting　under　the　covert　of　Thy　patience。　　　Be　patient　still；　suffer　us　yet　a　while　longer　…　with　our　broken　　purposes　of　good；　with　our　idle　endeavours　against　evil　…　suffer　us　　a　while　longer　to　endure；　and　（if　it　may　be）　help　us　to　do　better。　　　Bless　to　us　our　extraordinary　mercies；　if　the　day　come　when　these　　must　be　taken；　have　us　play　the　man　under　affliction。　　Be　with　our　　friends；　be　with　ourselves。　　Go　with　each　of　us　to　rest：　　if　any　　awake；　temper　to　them　the　dark　hours　of　watching；　and　when　the　day　　returns　to　us；　our　Sun　and　Comforter；　call　us　up　with　morning　faces　　and　with　morning　hearts　…　eager　to　labour　…　eager　to　be　happy；　if　　happiness　shall　be　our　portion；　and　if　the　day　be　marked　for　　sorrow；　strong　to　endure　it。

〃We　thank　Thee　and　praise　Thee；　and　in　the　words　of　Him　to　whom　　this　day　is　sacred；　close　our　oblations。〃


Mr　Bazzet　M。　Haggard；　H。B。M。；　Land…Commissioner；　tells；　by　way　of　　reminiscence；　the　story　of　〃The　Road　of　Good　Heart；〃　how　it　came　to　　be　built；　and　of　the　great　feast　Mr　Stevenson　gave　at　the　close　of　　the　work；　at　which；　in　the　course　of　his　speech；　he　said：


〃You　are　all　aware　in　some　degree　of　what　has　happened。　　You　know　　those　chiefs　to　have　been　prisoners；　you　perhaps　know　that　during　　the　term　of　their　confinement　I　had　it　in　my　power　to　do　them　　certain　favours。　　One　thing　some　of　you　cannot　know；　that　they　were　　immediately　repaid　by　answering　attentions。　　They　were　liberated　by　　the　new　Administration。　。　。　。　　As　soon　as　they　were　free　men　…　　owing　no　man　anything　…　instead　of　going　home　to　their　own　places　　and　families；　they　came　to　me。　　They　offered　to　do　this　work　（to　　make　this　road）　for　me　as　a　free　gift；　without　hire；　without　　supplies；　and　I　was　tempted　at　first　to　refuse　their　offer。　　I　knew　　the　country　to　be　poor；　I　knew　famine　threatening；　I　knew　their　　families　long　disorganised　for　want　of　supervision。　　Yet　I　　accepted；　because　I　thought　the　lesson　of　that　road　might　be　more　　useful　to　Samoa　than　a　thousand　bread…fruit　trees；　and　because　to　　myself　it　was　an　exquisite　pleasure　to　receive　that　which　was　so　　handsomely　offered。　　It　is　now　done；　you　have　trod　it　to…day　in　　coming　hither。　　It　has　been　made　for　me　by　chiefs；　some　of　them　　old；　some　sick；　all　newly　delivered　from　a　harassing　confinement；　　and　in　spite　of　weather　unusually　hot　and　insalubrious。　　I　have　　seen　these　chiefs　labour　valiantly　with　their　own　hands　upon　the　　work；　and　I　have　set　up　over　it；　now　that　it　is　finished　the　name　　of　'The　Road　of　Gratitude'　（the　road　of　loving　hearts）；　and　the　　names　of　those　that　built　it。　　'In　perpetuam　memoriam；'　we　say；　and　　speak　idly。　　At　least；　as　long　as　my　own　life　shall　be　spared　it　　shall　be　here　perpetuated；　partly　for　my　pleasure　and　in　my　　gratitude；　partly　for　others　continually　to　publish　the　lesson　of　　this　road。〃


And　turning　to　the　chiefs；　Mr　Stevenson　said：


〃I　will　tell　you；　chiefs；　that　when　I　saw　you　working　on　that　road；　　my　heart　grew　warm；　not　with　gratitude　only；　but　with　hope。　　It　　seemed　to　me　that　I　read　the　promise　of　something　good　for　Samoa；　　it　seemed　to　me　as　I　looked　at　you　that　you　were　a　company　of　　warriors　in　a　battle；　fighting　for　the　defence　of　our　common　　country　against　all　aggression。　　For　there　is　a　time　to　fight　and　a　　time　to　dig。　　You　Samoans　may　fight；　you　may　conquer　twenty　times；　　and　thirty　times；　and　all　will　be　in　vain。　　There　is　but　one　way　to　　defend　Samoa。　　Hear　it；　before　it　is　too　late。　　It　is　to　make　roads　　and　gardens；　and　care　for　your　trees；　and　sell　their　produce　　wisely；　and；　in　one　word；　to　occupy　and　use　your　country。　　If　you　　do　not；　others　will。　。　。　。

〃I　love　Samoa　and　her　people。　　I　love　the　land。　　I　have　chosen　it　　to　be　my　home　while　I　live；　and　my　grave　after　I　am　dead；　and　I　　love　the　people；　and　have　chosen　them　to　be　my　people；　to　live　and　　die　with。　　And　I　see　that　the　day　is　come　now　of　the　great　battle；　　of　the　great　and　the　last　opportunity　by　which　it　shall　be　decided　　whether　you　are　to　pass　away　like　those　other　races　of　which　I　have　　been　speaking；　or　to　stand　fast　and　have　your　children　living　on　　and　honouring　your　memory　in　the　land　you　received　of　your　　fathers。〃


Mr　James　H。　Mulligan；　U。S。　Consul；　told　of　the　feast　of　　Thanksgiving　Day　on　the　29th　November　prior　to　Mr　Stevenson's　　death；　and　how　at　great　pains　he　had　procured　for　it　the　necessary　　turkey；　and　how　Mrs　Stevenson　had　found　a　fair　substitute　for　the　　pudding。　　In　the　course　of　his　speech　in　reply　to　an　unexpected　　proposal　of　〃The　Host；〃　Mr　Stevenson　said：


〃There　on　my　right　sits　she　who　has　but　lately　from　our　own　loved　　native　land　come　back　to　me　…　she　to　whom；　with　no　lessening　of　　affection　to　those　others　to　whom　I　cling；　I　love　better　than　all　　the　world　besides　…　my　mother。　　From　the　opposite　end　of　the　table；　　my　wife；　who　has　been　all　in　all　to　me；　when　the　days　were　very　　dark；　looks　to…night　into　my　eyes　…　while　we　have　both　grown　a　bit　　older　…　with　undiminished　and　undiminishing　affection。

〃Childless；　yet　on　either　side　of　me　sits　that　good　woman；　my　　daughter；　and　the　stalwart　man；　my　son；　and　both　have　been　and　are　　more　than　son　and　daughter　to　me；　and　have　brought　into　my　life　　mirth　and　beauty。　　Nor　is　this　all。　　There　sits　the　bright　boy　dear　　to　my　heart；　full　of　the　flow　and　the　spirits　of　boyhood；　so　that　I　　can　even　know　that　for　a　time　at　least　we　have　still　the　voice　of　a　　child　in　the　house。〃


Mr　A。　W。　Mackay　gives　an　account　of　the　funeral　and　a　description　　of　the　burial…place；　ending：


〃Tofa　Tusitala！　　Sleep　peacefully！　on　thy　mountain…top；　alone　in　　Nature's　sanctity；　where　the　wooddove's　note；　the　moaning　of　the　　waves　as　they　break　unceasingly　on　the　distant　reef；　and　the　　sighing　of　the　winds　in　the　distant　tavai　trees　chant　their　　requiem。〃


The　Rev。　Mr　Clarke　tells　of　the　constant　and　active　interest　Mr　　Stevenson　took　in　the　missionaries　and　their　work；　often　aiding　　them　by　his　advice　and　fine　insight　into　the　character　of　the　　natives；　and　a　translation　follows　of　a　dirge　by　one　of　the　chiefs；　　so　fine　that　we　must　give　it：


I。

〃Listen；　O　this　world；　as　I　tell　of　the　disaster　That　befell　in　the　late　afternoon；　That　broke　like　a　wave　of　the　sea　Suddenly　and　swiftly；　blinding　our　eyes。　Alas　for　Loia　who　speaks　tears　in　his　voice！

REFRAIN　…　Groan　and　weep；　O　my　heart；　in　its　sorrow。　Alas　for　Tusitala；　who　rests　in　the　forest！　Aimlessly　we　wait；　and　sorrowing。　　Will　he　again　return？　Lament；　O　Vailima；　waiting　and　ever　waiting！　Let　us　search　and　inquire　of　the　captain　of　ships；　'Be　not　angry；　but　has　not　Tusitala　come？'

II。

〃Teuila；　sorrowing　one；　come　thou　hither！　Prepare　me　a　letter；　and　I　will　carry　it。　Let　her　Majesty　Victoria　be　told　That　Tusitala；　the　loving　one；　has　been　taken　hence。

REFRAIN　…　Groan　and　weep；　O　my　heart；　etc。；　etc。

III。

〃Alas！　my　hear