samantha at saratoga-第29部分

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ather　sad…lookin'　face；　that　I　ketched　sight　on't；　that　I　see　a　comin'　down　from　the　high　hills　to　the　left　on　us；　an　immense　sort　of　a　trough；　or　so　it　looked；　a　comin'　right　down　through　the　trees；　from　the　top　of　the　mountain　to　the；　bottom。　And　then　all　acrost　the　fields　as　fur；　as　fur　as　from　our　house　way　over　to　Miss　Pixley's　wuz　a　sort　of　a　road；　with　a　row　of　electric　lights　along　the　side　on't。　We　drove　up　to　a　buildin'　that　stood　at　the　foot　of　that　immense　slide；　or　so　they　called　it；　and　a　female　woman　who　wuz　there　told　us　all　about　it。　　And　we　went　out　her　back　door；　and　see　way　up　the　slide；　or　trough。　　There　wuz　a　railin'　on　each　side　on't；　and　a　place　in　the　middle　where　she　said　the　Toboggen　came　down。　And　sez　Josiah；　〃Who　is　the　Toboggen；　anyway？　　Is　he　a　native　of　the　place　or　a　Injun？　　Anyway；〃　sez　he；　〃I'd　give　a　dollar　bill　to　see　him　a　comin'　down　that　place。〃　And　the　woman　said；　〃A　Toboggen　wuz　a　sort　of　a　long　sled；　that　two　or　three　folks　could　ride　on；　and　they　come　down　that　slide　with　such　force　that　they　went　way　out　acrost　the　fields　as　far　as　the　row　of　lights；　before　it　stopped。〃　Sez　I；　〃Josiah　Allen；　did　you　ever　see　the　beat　on't？〃　　Sez　I；　〃Haint　that　as　far　as　from　our　house　to　Miss　Pixley's？〃　〃Yes；〃　says　he；　〃and　further　too。　　It　is　as　far　as　Uncle　Jim　Hozzleton's。〃　〃Wall；〃　says　I；　〃I　believe　you　are　in　the　right　on't。〃　And　sez　Josiah；　〃How　do　they　get　back　agin？　　Do　they　come　in　the　cars；　or　in　their　own　conveniences？〃　〃There　is　a　sleigh　to　bring　'em　back；　but　sometime　they　walk　back；〃　sez　the　woman。　〃Walk　back！〃　sez　I；　in　deep　amaze。　　〃Do　they　walk　from　way　out　there；　and　cleer　up　that　mountain　agin？〃　〃Yes；〃　sez　she。　　〃Don't　you　see　the　place　at　the　side　for　'em　to　draw　the　Toboggen　up；　and　the　little　flights　of　steps　for　'em　to　go　up　the　hill？〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　in　deep　amaze；　and　auxins　as　ever　to　get　information　on　deep　subjects；　〃where　duz　the　fun　come　in；　is　it　in　walkin'　way　over　the　plain　and　up　the　hills；　or　is　it　in　comin'　down？〃　And　she　said　she　didn't　know　exactly　where　the　fun　lay；　but　she　s'posed　it　wuz　comin'　down。　　Anyway；　they　seemed　to　enjoy　it　first　rate。　　And　she　said　it　wuz　a　pretty　sight　to　see　'em　all　on　a　bright　clear　night；　when　the　sky　wuz　blue　and　full　of　stars；　and　the　earth　white　and　glistenin'　underneath　to　see　7　or　800；　all　dressed　up　in　to　gayest　way；　suits　of　white　blankets；　gay　borders　and　bright　tasseled　caps　of　every　color；　and　suits　of　every　other　pretty　color　all　trimmed　with　fur　and　embroideries；　to　see　'em　all　a　laughin'　and　a　talkin'；　with　their　cheeks　and　eyes　bright　and　glowin'；　to　see　'em　a　comin'　down　the　slide　like　flashes　of　every　colored　light；　and　away　out　over　the　white　glistenin'　plains；　and　then　to　see　the　long　line　of　happy　laughin'　creeters　a　walkin'　back　agin'　drawin'　the　gay　Toboggens。　　She　said　it　wuz　a　sight　worth　seein'。　〃Do　they　come　down　alone？〃　sez　Josiah。　〃Oh　no！〃　sez　she。　　〃Boys　and　their　sweethearts；　men　and　wives；　fathers　and　mothers　and　children；　sometimes　4　on　a　Toboggan。〃　Sez　Josiah；　lookin'　anamated　and　clever；　〃I'd　love　to　take　you　on　one　on　'em；　Samantha。'　〃Oh　no！〃　sez　I；　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　be　took。〃　But　a　bystander　a　standin'　by　said　it　wuz　a　sight　to　behold　to　stand　up　on　top　and　start　off。　　He　said　the　swiftness　of　the　motion；　the　brightness　of　the　electric　lights　ahead；　the　gleam　of　the　snow　made　it　seem　like　plungin'　down　a　dazzlin'　Niagara　of　whiteness　and　glitterin'　light；　and　some；　like　bein'　shot　out　of　a　cannon。　　Why；　he　said　they　went　with　such　lightnin'　speed；　that　if　you　stood　clost　by　the　slide　a　waitin'　to　see　a　friend　go　by；　you　might　stand　so　near　as　to　touch　her；　but　you　couldn't　no　more　see　her　to　recognize　her；　than　you　could　recognize　one　spoke　from　another　in　the　wheel　of　a　runaway　carriage。　　You　would　jest　see　a　red　flash　go　by；　if　so　be　it　wuz　a　red　gown　she　had　on。　　A　red　flash　a　dartin'　through　the　air；　and　a　disappearin'　down　the　long　glitterin'　lane　of　light。　You　could　see　her　a　goin'　back；　so　they　said；　a　laughin'　and　a　jokin'　with　somebody；　if　so　be　she　walked　back；　but　there　wuz　long　sleighs　to　carry　'em　back；　them　and　their　Toboggens；　if　they　wanted　to　ride；　at　the　small　expenditure　of　10　cents　apiece。　They　go；　in　the　fastest　time　anybody　can　make　till　they　go　on　the　lightnin'；　a　way　in　which　they　will　go　before　long；　I　think；　and　Josiah　duz　too。　〃They　said　there　wuzn't　nothin'　like　it。　　And　I　said；　〃Like　as　not。〃　　I　believed　'em。　　And　then　the　woman　said；　〃This　long　room　we　wuz　a　standin'　in；〃　for　we　had　gone　back　into　the　house；　durin'　our　interview；　this　long　room　wuz　all　warm　and　light　for　'em　to　come　into　and　get　warm；　and　she　said　as　many　as　600　in　a　night　would　come　in　there　and　have　supper　there。　And　then　she　showed　us　the　model　of　a　Toboggen；　all　sculped　out；　with　a　man　and　a　woman　on　it。　　The　girl　wuz　ahead　sort　a　drawin'　the　Toboggen；　as　you　may　say；　and　her　lover。　　（I　know　he　wuz；　from　his　looks。）　　He　wuz　behind　her；　with　his　face　right　clost　to　her　shoulder。　And　I'll　bet　that　when　they　started　down　that　gleamin'　slide；　they　felt　as　if　they　2　wuz　alone　under　the　stars　and　the　heavens；　and　wuz　a　glidin'　down　into　a　dazzlin'　way　of　glory。　　You　could　see　it　in　their　faces。　　I　liked　their　faces　real　well。　But　the　sight　on　'em　made　Josiah　Allen　crazier'n　ever　to　go　too；　and　he　sez；　〃I　feel　as　if　I　must　Toboggen；　Samantha！〃　Sez　I；　〃Be　calm！　Josiah；　you　can't　slide　down　hill　in　July。〃　〃How　do　you　know？〃　sez　he；　〃I'm　bound　to　enquire。〃　　And　he　asked　the　woman　if　they　ever　Toboggened　in　the　summer。　〃No；　never！〃　sez　she。　And　I　sez；　〃You　see　it　can't　be　done。〃　〃She　never　see　it　tried；〃　sez　he。　　〃How　can　you　tell　what　you　can　do　without　tryin'？〃　sez　he　lookin'　shrewdly；　and　longingly；　up　the　slide。　　I　trembled；　for　I　knew　not　what　the　next　move　of　his　would　be。　　But　I　bethought　me　of　a　powerful　weepon　I　had　by　me。　And　I　sez；　〃The　driver　will　ask　pay　for　every　minute　we　are　here。〃　And　as　I　sez　this；　Josiah　turned　and　almost　flew　down　the　steps　and　into　the　buggy。　　I　had　skairt　him。　　Truly　I　felt　relieved；　and　sez　I　to　myself；　〃What　would　wimmen　do　if　it　wuzn't　for　these　little　weepons　they　hold　in　their　hands；　to　control　their　pardners　with。〃　　I　felt　happy。　But　the　next　words　of　Josiah　knocked　down　all　that　palace　of　Peace；　that　my　soul　had　betook　herself　to。　　Sez　he；　〃Samantha　Allen；　before　I　leave　Saratoga　I　shall　Toboggen。〃　Wall；　I　immegetly　turned　the　subject　round　and　talked　wildly　and　almost　incoherently　on　politicks。　　I　praised　the　tariff　amost　beyond　its　deserts。　　I　brung　up　our　foreign　relations；　and　spoke　well　on　'em。　　I　tackled　revenues　and　taxation；　and　hurried　him　from　one　to　the　other　on　'em；　almost　wildly；　to　get　the　idee　out　of　his　head。　　And　I　congratulated　myself　on　havin'　succeeded。　Alas！　how　futile　is　our　hopes；　sometimes　futiler　than　we　have　any　idee　on！　By　night　all　thoughts　of　danger　had　left　me；　and　I　slept　sweetly　and　peacefully。　　But　early　in　the　mornin'　I　had　a　strange　dream。　I　dreamed　I　wuz　in　the　woods　with　my　head　a　layin'　on　a　log；　and　the　ground　felt　cold　that　I　wuz　a　layin'　on。　　And　then　the　log　gin　way　with　me；　and　my　head　came　down　onto　the　ground。　　And　then　I　slept　peaceful　agin；　but　chilly；　till　anon；　or　about　that　time；　I　beard　a　strange　sound　and　I　waked　up　with　a　start。　　It　wuz　in　the　first　faint　glow　of　mornin'　twilight。　　But　as　faint　as　the　light　wuz；　for　the　eye　of　love　is　keen；　I　missed　my　beloved　pardner's　head　from　the　opposite　pillow；　and　I　riz　up　in　wild　agitation　and　thinkses　I；　〃Has　rapine　took　place　here；　has　Josiah　Allen　been　abducted　away　from　me？　　Is　he　a　kidnapped　Josiah？〃　At　that　fearful　thought　my　heart　begun　to　beat　so　voyalently　as　to　almost　stop　my　breath；　and　I　felt　I　wuz　growin'　pale　and　wan；　wanner；　fur　wanner　than　I　had　been　sense　I　came　to　Saratoga。　　I　love　Josiah　Allen；　he　is　dear　to　me。　And　I　riz　up　feelin'　that　I　would　find　that　dear　man　and　rescue　him　or　perish　in　the　attempt。　　Yes；　I　felt　that　I　must　perish　if　I　did　not　find　him。　　What　would　life　be　to　me　without　him？　　And　as　I　thought　that　thought　the　light　of　the　day　that　wuz　a　breakin'；　looked　sort　of　a　faint　to　me；　and　sickish。　　And　like　a　flash　it　came　to　me；　the　thought　that　that　light　seemed　like　the　miserable　dawns　of　wretched　days　without　him；　a　pale　light　with　no　warmth　or　brightness　in　it。　But　at　that　very　minute　I　heard　a　noise　outside　the　door；　and　I　heard　that　beloved　voice　a　sayin'　in　low　axents　the　words　I　had　so　often　heard　him　speak；　words　I　had　oft　rebuked　him　for；　but　now；　so　weak　will　human　love　make　one；　now；　I　welcome　them　gladly　　they　sounded　exquisitely　sweet　to　me。　　The　words　wuz；　〃Dumb　'em！〃　And　I　joyfully　opened　the　door。　　But　oh！　what　a　sight　met　my　eye。　There　stood　Josiah　Allen；　arrayed　in　a　blanket　he　had　took　from　our　bed　（that　accounted　for　my　cold　feelin'　in　my　dream）。　　The　blanket　wuz　white；　with　a　gay　border　of　red　and　yellow。　　He　had　fixed　it　onto　him　in　a　sort　of　a　dressy　way；　and　strapped　it　round　the　waist　with　my　shawl　strap。　　And　he　had　took　a　bright　yeller　silk　handkerchief　of　hisen；　and　had　wrapped　it　round　his　head　so's　it　hung　down　some　like　a　cap；　and　he　wuz　a　tryin'　to　fasten　it　round　his　forward　with　one　of　my　stockin'　supporters。　He　couldn't　buckle　it；　and　that　is　what　called　forth　his　exclamations。　　At　his　feet；　partly　upon　the　stairs；　wuz　the　bolster　from　our　bed　（that　accounted　for　the　log　that　had　gin　way）。　　And　he　had　spread　a　little　red　shawl　of　mine　over　the　top　on't；　and　as　I　opened　the　door　he　wuz　jest　ready　to　embark　on　the　bolster；　he　waz　jest　a　steppin'　onto　it。　　But　as　he　see　me　he　paused；　and　I　sez　in　low　axents；　〃What　are　you　a　goin'　to　do；　Josiah　Allen？〃　〃I'm　a　goin'　to　Toboggen；〃　sez　he。　Sez　I；　〃Do　you　stop　at　once；　and　come　back　into　your　room。〃　〃No；　no！〃　sez　he　firmly；　and　preparin'　to　embark　on　the　bolster；　〃I　am　a　goin'　to　Toboggen。　　And　you　come　and　go　to。　　It　is　so　fashionable；〃　sez　he；　〃such　a　genteel　diversion。〃　Sez　I；　〃Do　you　stop　it　at　once；　and　come　back　to　your　room。　Why；〃　sez　I；　〃the　hull　house　will　be　routed　up；　and　be　up　here　in　a　minute。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　he；　〃they'll　see　fun　if　they　do　and　fashion。　　I　am　a　goin'；　Samantha！〃　and　be　stepped　forward。　Sez　I；　〃They'll　see　sunthin'　else　that　begins　with　a　f；　but　it　haint　fun　or　fashion。'　　And　agin　I　sez；　〃Do　you　come　back；　Josiah　Allen。　　You'll　break　your　neck　and