samantha at saratoga-第24部分

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over　her　cold。　　I　hadn't　heerd　from　'em　in　over　two　days。　Josiah　kinder　hung　'round　outside　though　he　wuz　willin'　to　have　me　go　in。　　He　jest　worships　the　children　and　the　baby。　　And　he　sees　the　texts　from　Job　on　it；　with　his　own　eyes。　So　I　bid　him　a　affectionate　farewell；　and　we　see　the　woman　a　lookin'　out　of　the　tent　and　witnessin'　on't。　　But　I　didn't　care。　If　a　pair　of　companions　and　a　pair　of　grandparents　can't　act　affectionate；　who　can？　　And　the　world　and　the　Social　Science　meetin'　might　try　in　vain　to　bring　up　any　reeson　why　they　shouldn't。　So　I　went　in；　with　my　mind　all　took　up　with　the　grandchildern。　But　the　first　words　she　sez　to　me　wuz；　as　she　looked　close　at　the　pamm　of　my　hand；　〃Keep　up　good　spirits；　Mom；　you　will　get　him　in　spite　of　all　opposition。〃　〃Get　who？〃　sez　I；　〃And　what？〃　〃A　man　you　want　to　marry。　　A　small　baldheaded　man；　a　amiable…lookin'；　slender　man。　　His　heart　is　sot　on　you。　　And　all　the　efferts　of　the　light…complected　woman　in　the　blue　hat　will　be　in　vain　to　break　it　up。　　Keep　up　good　courage；　you　will　marry　him　in　spite　of　all；〃　sez　she；　porin'　over　my　pamm　and　studyin'　it　as　if　it　wuz　a　jography。　〃For　the　land's　sake！〃　sez　I；　bein'　fairly　stunted　with　the　idees　she　promulgated。　〃Yes；　you　will　marry　him；　and　be　happy。　　But　you　have　had　a　sickness　in　the　past　and　your　line　of　happiness　has　been　broken　once　or　twice。〃　Sez　I；　〃I　should　think　as　much；　let　a　woman　live　with　a　man；　the　best　man　in　the　world　for　20　years；　and　if　her　line　of　happiness　haint　broke　more　than　once　or　twice；　why　it　speaks　well　for　the　line；　that　is　all。　　It　is　a　good；　strong　line。〃　〃Then　you　have　been　married？〃　says　she。　〃Yes；　Mom；〃　sez　I。　〃Oh；　I　see；　down　in　the　corner　of　your　hand　is　a　coffin；　you　are　a　widow；　you　have　seen　trouble。　　But　you　will　be　happy。　　The　mild；　bald　gentleman　will　make　you　happy。　　He　will　lead　you　to　the　altar　in　spite　of　the　light…complected　woman　with　the　blue　bat　on。〃　Ardelia　Tutt　had　on　a　blue　hat；　the　idee！　　But　I　let　her　go　on。　Thinkses　I；　〃I　have　paid　my　money　and　now　it　stands　me　in　hand　to　get　the　worth　on't。〃　　So　she　comferted　me　up　with　the　hope　of　gettin'　my　Josiah　for　quite　a　spell。　Gettin'　my　pardner！　　Gettin'　the　father　of　my　childern；　and　the　grandparent　of　my　grandchildren！　　Jest　think　on't；　will　you？　But　then　she　branched　off　and　told　me　things　that　wuz　truly　wonderful。　　Where　and　how　she　got　'em　wuz　and　is　a　mistery　to　me。　True　things；　and　strange。　Why　it　seemed　same　as　if　them　tall　pines；　that　wuz　a　whisperin'　together　over　the　Encampment　wuz　a　peerin'　over　into　my　past；　and　a　whisperin'　it　down　to　her。　　Or；　in　some　way　or　other；　the　truth　wuz　a　bein'　filtered　down　to　her　comprehension　through　some　avenue　beyond　our　sense　or　sight。　It　is　a　curious　thing；　so　I　think；　and　so　Josiah　thinks。　　We　talked　it　over　after　I　came　out；　and　we　wuz　a　wanderin'　on　about　the　Encampment。　　I　told　him　some　of　the　wonderful　things　she　had　told　me　and　he　didn't　believe　it。　　〃For；〃　sez　he；　〃I'll　be　hanged　if　I　can　understand　and　I　won't　believe　anything　that　I　can't　understand！〃　And　I　pointed　with　the　top　of　my　umberel　at　a　weed　growin'　by　the　side　of　the　road；　and　sez　I；　〃When　you　tell　me　jest　how　that　weed　draws　out　of　the　back　ground　jest　the　ingredients　she　needs　to　make　her　blue　foretop；　and　her　green　gown；　then　I'll　tell　you　all　about　this　secret　that　Nater　holds　back　from　us　a　spell；　but　will　reveel　to　us　when　the　time　comes。〃　〃Oh　shave！〃　sez　Josiah；　〃I　guess　I　know　all　about　a　jimson　weed。　Why　they　groin；　that　is　all　there　is　about　them。　　They　grow；　dumb　'em。　　I　guess　if　you'd　broke　your　back　as　many　times　as　I　have　a　pullin'　'em　up；　yon　would　know　all　about'　em。　　Dumb　their　dumb　picters；〃　sez　he；　a　scowlin'　at　'em。　It　wuz　the　same　kind　of　weed　that　growed　in　our　onion　beds。　　I　recognized　it。　　Them　and　white　daisies；　our　garden　wuz　overrun　by　'em　both。　But　I　sez；　〃Can　you　tell　how　the　little　seed　of　this　weed　goes　down　into　the　earth　and　selects　jest　what　she　wants　out　of　the　great　storehouse　below？　　She　never　comes　out　in　a　pink　head…dress　or　a　yellow　gown。　　No；　she　always　selects　what　will　make　the　blue。　It　shows　that　it　has　life；　intelligence；　or　else　it　couldn't　think；　way　down　under　the　ground；　and　grope　in　the　dark；　but　always　gropin'　jest　right；　always　a　thinkin'　the　right　thing；　never；　never　in　the　hundreds　and　thousands　of　years　makin'　a　mistake。　　Why；　you　couldn't　do　it；　Josiah　Allen；　nor　I　couldn't。　〃And　we　set　and　see　these　silent　mysteries　a　goin'　on　right　at　our　door…step　day　by　day；　and　year　by　year；　and　think　nothin'　of　it；　because　it　is　so　common。　　But　if　anything　else；　some　new　law；　some　new　wonder　we　don't　understand　comes　in　our　way；　we　are　ready　to　reject　it　and　say　it　is　a　lie。　　But　you　know；　Josiah　Allen；〃　sez　I；　jest　ready　to　go　on　eloquent　…　But　I　wuz　interrupted　jest　here　by　my　companion　hollerin'　up　in　a　loud　voice　to　a　boy；　〃Here！　you　stop　that；　you　young　scamp！　　Don't　you　let　me　see　you　a　doin'　that　agin！〃　Sez　I；　〃What　is　it；　Josiah　Allen？〃　〃Why　look　at　them　young　imps；　a　throwin'　sticks　at　that　feeble　old　woman；　over　there。〃　I　looked；　and　my　own　heart　wuz　rousted　up　with　indignation。　　I　stood　where　I　couldn't　see　her　face；　but　I　see　she　wuz　old；　feeble；　and　bent；　a　withered　poor　old　creeter；　and　they　had　marked　up　over　her；　her　name；　Aunt　Sally。　I　too　wuz　burnin'　indignant　to　see　a　lot　of　young　creeters　a　throwin'　sticks　at　her；　and　I　cried　out　loud；　〃Do　you　let　Sarah　be。〃　They　turned　round　and　laughed　in　our　faces；　and　I　went　on：　〃I'd　be　ashamed　of　myself　if　I　wuz　in　your　places　to　be　a　throwin'　sticks　at　that　feeble　old　woman。　　Why　don't　you　spend　your　strengths　a　tryin'　to　do　sunthin'　for　her？　　Git　her　a　home；　and　sunthin'　to　eat；　and　a　better　dress。　　Before　I'd　do　what　you　are　a　doin'　now；　I'd　growvel　in　the　dust。　　Why；　if　you　wuz　my　boys　I'd　give　you　as　good　a　spankin'　as　you　ever　had。〃　But　they　jest　laughed　at　us；　the　impudent　Greeters。　　And　one　of　the　boys　at　that　minute　took　up　a　stick　and　threw　it；　and　hit　Sarah　right　on　her　poor　old　head。　Sez　Josiah；　〃Don't　you　hit　Sarah　agin。〃　Sez　the　boys；　〃We　will；〃　and　two　of　'em　hit　her　at　one　time。　　And　one　of　'em　knocked　the　pipe　right　out　of　her　mouth。　　She　wuz　a　smokin'；　poor　old　creeter。　　I　s'pose　that　wuz　all　the　comfort　she　took。　　But　did　them　little　imps　care？　　They　knocked　her　as　if　they　hated　the　sight　of　her。　　And　my　Josiah　（I　wuz　proud　of　that　man）　jest　advanced　onto　'em；　and　took　'em　one　in　each　hand；　and　gin　'em　sech　a　shakin'；　that　I　most　expected　to　see　their　bones　drop　out；　and　sez　he　between　each　shake；　〃Will　you　let　Sarah　alone　now？〃　I　wuz　proud　of　my　Josiah；　but　fearful　of　the　effect　of　so　much　voyalence　onto　his　constitution；　and　also　onto　the　boys'　frames。　And　I　advanced　onto　the　seen　of　carnage　and　besought　him　to　be　calm。　　Sez　he；　〃I　won't　be　calm！〃　sez　he；　〃I　haint　the　man；　Samantha；　to　stand　by　and　see　one　of　your　sect　throwed　at；　as　I　have　seen　Sarah　throwed　at；　without　avengin'　of　it。〃　And　agin　he　shook　them　boys　with　a　vehemence。　　The　pennies　and　marbles　in　their　pockets　rattled　and　their　bones　seemed　ready　to　part　asunder。　　I　wuz　proud　of　that　noble　man；　my　pardner。　　But　still　I　knew　that　if　their　bones　was　shattered　my　pardner　would　be　avenged　upon　by　incensed　parents。　　And　I　sez；　〃I'd　let　'em　go　now；　Josiah。　　I　don't　believe　they'll　ever　harm　Sarah　agin。〃　　Sez　I；　〃Boys；　you　won't；　will　you　ever　strike　a　poor　feeble　old　woman　agin？。〃　　Sez　I；　〃promise　me；　boys；　not　to　hurt　Sarah。〃　I　don't　know　what　the　effect　of　my　words　would　have　been；　but　a　man　came　up　just　then　and　explained　to　me；　that　Aunt　Sally　wuz　a　image　that　they　throwed　at　for　one　cent　apiece　to　see　if　they　could　break　her　pipe。　I　see　how　it　wuz；　and　cooled　right　down；　and　so　did　Josiah。　　And　he　gin　the　boys　five　cents　apiece；　and　quiet　rained　down　on　the　Encampment。　But　I　sez　to　the　man；　〃I　don't　like　the　idee　of　havin'　my　sect　throwed　at　from　day　to　day；　and　week　to　week。〃　　Sez　I；　〃Why　didn't　you　have　a　man　fixed　up　to　throw　at；　why　didn't　you　have　a　Uncle　Sam？〃　　Sez　I；　〃I　don't　over　and　above　like　it；　it　seems　to　be　a　sort　of　a　slight　onto　my　sect。〃　Sez　the　man　winkin'　kind　a　sly　at　Josiah；　〃It　won't　do　to　make　fun　of　men；　men　have　the　power　in　their　hands　and　would　resent　it　mebby。　　Uncle　Sam　can't　be　used　jest　like　Aunt　Sally。〃　Sez　I；　〃That　haint　the　right　spirit。　　There　haint　nothin'　over　and　above　noble　in　that；　and　manly。〃　I　wuz　kinder　rousted　up　about　it；　and　so　wuz　Josiah。　　And　that　is　I　s'pose　the　reasun　of　his　bein'　so　voyalent；　at　the　next　place　of　recreation　we　halted　at　Josiah　see　the　picture　of　the　mermaid；　that　beautiful　female；　a；　settin'　on　the　rock　and　combin'　her　long　golden　hair。　　And　he　proposed　that　we　should　go　in　and　see　it。　Sez　I；　〃It　costs　ten　cents　apiece；　Josiah　Allen。　　Think　of　the　cost　before　it　is　too　late。〃　　Sez　I；　〃Your　expenditure　of　money　today　has　been　unusial。〃　　Sez　I；　〃The　sum　of　ten　cents　has　jest　been　raised　by　you　for　noble　principles；　and　I　honer　you　for　it。　But　still　the　money　has　gone。〃　　Sez　I；　〃Do　you　feel　able　to　incur　the　entire　expense？〃　Sez　he；　〃All　my　life；　Samantha；　I　have　jest　hankered　after　seein'　a　mermaid。　　Them　beautiful　creeters；　a　settin'　and　combin'　their　long　golden　tresses。　　I　feel　that　I　must　see　it。　　I　fairly　long　to　see　one　of　them　beautiful；　lovely　bein's　before　I　die。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃if　you　feel　like　that；　Josiah　Allen；　it　is　not　fur　from　me　to　balk　you　in　your　search　for　beauty。　　I　too　admire　loveliness；　Josiah　Allen；　and　seek　after　it。〃　　And　sez　I；　〃I　will　faithfully　follow　at　your　side；　and　together　we　will　bask　in　the　rays　of　beauty；　together　will　we　be　lifted　up　and　inspired　by　the　immortal　spirit　of　loveliness。〃　So　payin'　our　30　cents　we　advanced　up　the　steps；　I　expectin'　soon　to　be　made　happy；　and　Josiah　held　up　by　the　expectation　of　soon　havin'　his　eyes　blest　by　that　vision　of　enchantin'　beauty；　he　had　so　long　dremp　of。　He　advanced　onto　the　pen　first　and　before　I　even　glanced　down　into　the　deep　where　as　I　s'posed　she　set　on　a　rock　a　combin'　out　her　long　golden　hair；　a　singin'　her　lurin'　and　enchanted　song；　to　distant　mariners　she　had　known；　and　to　the　one　who　wuz　a　showin'　of　her　off；　before　I　had　time　to　even　glance　at　her；　the　maid；　I　was　dumbfounded　and　stood　aghast；　at　the　mighty　change　that　came　over　my　pardner's　linement。　He　towered　up　in　grandeur　and　in　wrath　before