our village-第11部分

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　mind　above　all；　how　melancholy！　　There　is　a　thrilling　awfulness；　an　intense　feeling　of　simple　power　in　that　naked　and　colourless　beauty；　which　falls　on　the　earth　like　the　thoughts　of　deathdeath　pure；　and　glorious；　and　smiling；but　still　death。　　Sculpture　has　always　the　same　effect　on　my　imagination；　and　painting　never。　　Colour　is　life。…　…We　are　now　at　the　end　of　this　magnificent　avenue；　and　at　the　top　of　a　steep　eminence　commanding　a　wide　view　over　four　countiesa　landscape　of　snow。　　A　deep　lane　leads　abruptly　down　the　hill；　a　mere　narrow　cart…track；　sinking　between　high　banks　clothed　with　fern　and　furze　and　low　broom；　crowned　with　luxuriant　hedgerows；　and　famous　for　their　summer　smell　of　thyme。　　How　lovely　these　banks　are　now　the　tall　weeds　and　the　gorse　fixed　and　stiffened　in　the　hoar…frost；　which　fringes　round　the　bright　prickly　holly；　the　pendent　foliage　of　the　bramble；　and　the　deep　orange　leaves　of　the　pollard　oaks！　　Oh；　this　is　rime　in　its　loveliest　form！　　And　there　is　still　a　berry　here　and　there　on　the　holly；　'blushing　in　its　natural　coral'　through　the　delicate　tracery；　still　a　stray　hip　or　haw　for　the　birds；　who　abound　here　always。　　The　poor　birds；　how　tame　they　are；　how　sadly　tame！　There　is　the　beautiful　and　rare　crested　wren；　'that　shadow　of　a　bird；'　as　White　of　Selborne　calls　it；　perched　in　the　middle　of　the　hedge；　nestling　as　it　were　amongst　the　cold　bare　boughs；　seeking；　poor　pretty　thing；　for　the　warmth　it　will　not　find。　　And　there；　farther　on；　just　under　the　bank；　by　the　slender　runlet；　which　still　trickles　between　its　transparent　fantastic　margin　of　thin　ice；　as　if　it　were　a　thing　of　life；there；　with　a　swift；　scudding　motion；　flits；　in　short　low　flights；　the　gorgeous　kingfisher；　its　magnificent　plumage　of　scarlet　and　blue　flashing　in　the　sun；　like　the　glories　of　some　tropical　bird。　　He　is　come　for　water　to　this　little　spring　by　the　hillside；water　which　even　his　long　bill　and　slender　head　can　hardly　reach；　so　nearly　do　the　fantastic　forms　of　those　garland…like　icy　margins　meet　over　the　tiny　stream　beneath。　It　is　rarely　that　one　sees　the　shy　beauty　so　close　or　so　long；　and　it　is　pleasant　to　see　him　in　the　grace　and　beauty　of　his　natural　liberty；　the　only　way　to　look　at　a　bird。　　We　used；　before　we　lived　in　a　street；　to　fix　a　little　board　outside　the　parlour　window；　and　cover　it　with　bread　crumbs　in　the　hard　weather。　　It　was　quite　delightful　to　see　the　pretty　things　come　and　feed；　to　conquer　their　shyness；　and　do　away　their　mistrust。　　First　came　the　more　social　tribes；　'the　robin　red…breast　and　the　wren；'　cautiously；　suspiciously；　picking　up　a　crumb　on　the　wing；　with　the　little　keen　bright　eye　fixed　on　the　window；　then　they　would　stop　for　two　pecks；　then　stay　till　they　were　satisfied。　　The　shyer　birds；　tamed　by　their　example；　came　next；　and　at　last　one　saucy　fellow　of　a　blackbirda　sad　glutton；　he　would　clear　the　board　in　two　minutes；used　to　tap　his　yellow　bill　against　the　window　for　more。　　How　we　loved　the　fearless　confidence　of　that　fine；　frank…hearted　creature！　　And　surely　he　loved　us。　　I　wonder　the　practice　is　not　more　general。　'May！　　May！　naughty　May！'　　She　has　frightened　away　the　kingfisher；　and　now；　in　her　coaxing　penitence；　she　is　covering　me　with　snow。　'Come；　pretty　May！　it　is　time　to　go　home。'

Thaw。

January　28th。We　have　had　rain；　and　snow；　and　frost；　and　rain　again　four　days　of　absolute　confinement。　　Now　it　is　a　thaw　and　a　flood；　but　our　light　gravelly　soil；　and　country　boots；　and　country　hardihood；　will　carry　us　through。　　What　a　dripping；　comfortless　day　it　is！　just　like　the　last　days　of　November：　　no　sun；　no　sky；　gray　or　blue；　one　low；　overhanging；　dark；　dismal　cloud；　like　London　smoke；　Mayflower　is　out　coursing　too；　and　Lizzy　gone　to　school。　　Never　mind。　　Up　the　hill　again！　　Walk　we　must。　　Oh　what　a　watery　world　to　look　back　upon！　　Thames；　Kennet；　Loddonall　overflowed；　our　famous　town；　inland　once；　turned　into　a　sort　of　Venice；　C。　park　converted　into　an　island；　and　the　long　range　of　meadows　from　B。　to　W。　one　huge　unnatural　lake；　with　trees　growing　out　of　it。　　Oh　what　a　watery　world！I　will　look　at　it　no　longer。　　I　will　walk　on。　　The　road　is　alive　again。　　Noise　is　reborn。　　Waggons　creak；　horses　splash；　carts　rattle；　and　pattens　paddle　through　the　dirt　with　more　than　their　usual　clink。　　The　common　has　its　old　fine　tints　of　green　and　brown；　and　its　old　variety　of　inhabitants；　horses；　cows；　sheep；　pigs；　and　donkeys。　　The　ponds　are　unfrozen；　except　where　some　melancholy　piece　of　melting　ice　floats　sullenly　on　the　water；　and　cackling　geese　and　gabbling　ducks　have　replaced　the　lieutenant　and　Jack　Rapley。　　The　avenue　is　chill　and　dark；　the　hedges　are　dripping；　the　lanes　knee…deep；　and　all　nature　is　in　a　state　of　'dissolution　and　thaw。'



THE　FIRST　PRIMROSE。

March　6th。Fine　March　weather：　　boisterous；　blustering；　much　wind　and　squalls　of　rain；　and　yet　the　sky；　where　the　clouds　are　swept　away；　deliciously　blue；　with　snatches　of　sunshine；　bright；　and　clear；　and　healthful；　and　the　roads；　in　spite　of　the　slight　glittering　showers；　crisply　dry。　　Altogether　the　day　is　tempting；　very　tempting。　　It　will　not　do　for　the　dear　common；　that　windmill　of　a　walk；　but　the　close　sheltered　lanes　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill；　which　keep　out　just　enough　of　the　stormy　air；　and　let　in　all　the　sun；　will　be　delightful。　　Past　our　old　house；　and　round　by　the　winding　lanes；　and　the　workhouse；　and　across　the　lea；　and　so　into　the　turnpike…road　again；that　is　our　route　for　to…day。　　Forth　we　set；　Mayflower　and　I；　rejoicing　in　the　sunshine；　and　still　more　in　the　wind；　which　gives　such　an　intense　feeling　of　existence；　and；　co…operating　with　brisk　motion；　sets　our　blood　and　our　spirits　in　a　glow。　　For　mere　physical　pleasure；　there　is　nothing　perhaps　equal　to　the　enjoyment　of　being　drawn；　in　a　light　carriage；　against　such　a　wind　as　this；　by　a　blood…horse　at　his　height　of　speed。　　Walking　comes　next　to　it；　but　walking　is　not　quite　so　luxurious　or　so　spiritual；　not　quite　so　much　what　one　fancies　of　flying；　or　being　carried　above　the　clouds　in　a　balloon。

Nevertheless；　a　walk　is　a　good　thing；　especially　under　this　southern　hedgerow；　where　nature　is　just　beginning　to　live　again；　the　periwinkles；　with　their　starry　blue　flowers；　and　their　shining　myrtle…like　leaves；　garlanding　the　bushes；　woodbines　and　elder…trees　pushing　out　their　small　swelling　buds；　and　grasses　and　mosses　springing　forth　in　every　variety　of　brown　and　green。　　Here　we　are　at　the　corner　where　four　lanes　meet；　or　rather　where　a　passable　road　of　stones　and　gravel　crosses　an　impassable　one　of　beautiful　but　treacherous　turf；　and　where　the　small　white　farmhouse；　scarcely　larger　than　a　cottage；　and　the　well…stocked　rick…yard　behind；　tell　of　comfort　and　order；　but　leave　all　unguessed　the　great　riches　of　the　master。　　How　he　became　so　rich　is　almost　a　puzzle；　for；　though　the　farm　be　his　own；　it　is　not　large；　and　though　prudent　and　frugal　on　ordinary　occasions；　Farmer　Barnard　is　no　miser。　　His　horses；　dogs；　and　pigs　are　the　best　kept　in　the　parish；May　herself；　although　her　beauty　be　injured　by　her　fatness；　half　envies　the　plight　of　his　bitch　Fly：　　his　wife's　gowns　and　shawls　cost　as　much　again　as　any　shawls　or　gowns　in　the　village；　his　dinner　parties　（to　be　sure　they　are　not　frequent）　display　twice　the　ordinary　quantity　of　good　thingstwo　couples　of　ducks；　two　dishes　of　green　peas；　two　turkey　poults；　two　gammons　of　bacon；　two　plum…puddings；　moreover；　he　keeps　a　single…horse　chaise；　and　has　built　and　endowed　a　Methodist　chapel。　　Yet　is　he　the　richest　man　in　these　parts。　　Everything　prospers　with　him。　　Money　drifts　about　him　like　snow。　　He　looks　like　a　rich　man。　　There　is　a　sturdy　squareness　of　face　and　figure；　a　good…humoured　obstinacy；　a　civil　importance。　　He　never　boasts　of　his　wealth；　or　gives　himself　undue　airs；　but　nobody　can　meet　him　at　market　or　vestry　without　finding　out　immediately　that　he　is　the　richest　man　there。　　They　have　no　child　to　all　this　money；　but　there　is　an　adopted　nephew；　a　fine　spirited　lad；　who　may；　perhaps；　some　day　or　other；　play　the　part　of　a　fountain　to　the　reservoir。

Now　turn　up　the　wide　road　till　we　come　to　the　open　common；　with　its　park…like　trees；　its　beautiful　stream；　wandering　and　twisting　along；　and　its　rural　bridge。　　Here　we　turn　again；　past　that　other　white　farmhouse；　half　hidden　by　the　magnificent　elms　which　stand　before　it。　　Ah！　riches　dwell　not　there；　but　there　is　found　the　next　best　thingan　industrious　and　light…hearted　poverty。　　Twenty　years　ago　Rachel　Hilton　was　the　prettiest　and　merriest　lass　in　the　country。　Her　father；　an　old　gamekeeper；　had　retired　to　a　village　alehouse；　where　his　good　beer；　his　social　humour；　and　his　black…eyed　daughter；　brought　much　custom。　　She　had　lovers　by　the　score；　but　Joseph　White；　the　dashing　and　lively　son　of　an　opulent　farmer；　carried　off　the　fair　Rachel。　　They　married　and　settled　here；　and　here　they　live　still；　as　merrily　as　ever；　with　fourteen　children　of　all　ages　and　sizes；　from　nineteen　years　to　nineteen　months；　working　harder　than　any　people　in　the　parish；　and　enjoying　themselves　more。　　I　would　match　them　for　labour　and　laughter　against　any　family　in　England。　She　is　a　blithe；　jolly　dame；　whose　beauty　has　amplified　into　comeliness；　he　is　tall；　and　thin；　and　bony；　with　sinews　like　whipcord；　a　strong　lively　voice；　a　sharp　weather…beaten　face；　and　eyes　and　lips　that　smile　and　brighten　when　he　speaks　into　a　most　contagious　hilarity。　　They　are　very　poor；　and　I　often　wish　them　richer；　but　I　don't　knowperhaps　it　might　put　them　out。

Quite　close　to　Farmer　White's　is　a　little　ruinous　cottage；　white…washed　once；　and　now　in　a　sad　state　of　betweenity；　where　dangling　stockings　and　shirts；　swelled　by　the　wind；　drying　in　a　neglected　garden；　give　signal　of　a　washerwoman。　　There　dwells；　at　present　in　single　blessedness；　Betty　Adams；　the　wife　of　our　sometimes　gardener。　　I　never　saw　any　one　who　so　much　reminded　me　in　person　of　that　lady　whom　everybody　knows；　Mistress　Meg　Merrilies；　as　tall；　as　grizzled；　as　stately；　as　dark；　as　gipsy…looking；　bonneted　and　gowned　like　her　prototype；　and　almost　as　oracular。　Here　the　resemblance　ceases。　　Mrs。　Adams　is　a　perfectly　honest；　industrious；　painstaking　person；　who　earns　a　good　deal　of　money　by　washing　and　charing；　and　spends　it　in　other　luxuries　than　tidiness；…　…in　green　tea；　and　gin；　and　snuff。　　Her　hu