samantha at saratoga-第30部分

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haint　fun　or　fashion。'　　And　agin　I　sez；　〃Do　you　come　back；　Josiah　Allen。　　You'll　break　your　neck　and　rout　up　the　house；　and　be　called　a　fool。〃　〃Oh　no；　Samantha！　I　must　Toboggen。　　I　must　go　down　the　slide　once。〃　　And　he　fixed　the　bolster　more　firmly　on　the　top　stair。　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　feelin'　that　I　wuz　drove　to　my　last　ambush　by　him；　sez　I；　〃probably　five　dollars　won't　make　the　expenses　good；　besides　your　doctor's　bill；　and　my　mornin'。　　And　I　shall　put　on　the　deepest　of　crape；　Josiah　Allen；〃　sez　I。　I　see　he　wavered　and　I　pressed　the　charge　home。　　Sez　I；　〃That　bolster　is　thin　cloth；　Josiah　Allen；　and　you'll　probably　have　to　pay　now　for　draggin'　it　all　over　the　floor。　　If　anybody　should　see　you　with　it　there；　that　bolster　would　be　charged　in　your　bill。　　And　how　would　it　look　to　the　neighbors　to　have　a　bolster　charged　in　your　bill？　　And　I　should　treasure　it；　Josiah　Allen；　as　bein'　the　last　bill　you　made　before　you　broke　your　neck　！〃　〃Oh；　wall；〃　sez　he；　〃I　s'pose　I　can　put　the　bolster　back。〃　　But　he　wuz　snappish；　and　he　kep'　snappish　all　day。　He　wuzn't　quelled。　　Though　he　had　gin　in　for　the　time　bein'　I　see　he　wuzn't　quelled　down。　　He　acted　dissatisfied　and　highheaded；　and　I　felt　worried　in　my　mind；　not　knowin'　what　his　next　move　would　be。　Oh！　the　tribulations　it　makes　a　woman　to　take　care　of　a　man。　　But　then　it　pays。　　After　all；　in　the　deepest　of　my　tribulations　I　feel；　I　do　the　most　of　the　time　feel；　that　it　pays。　　When　he　is　good　he　is　dretful　good。　Wall；　I　went　over　to　see　Polly　Pixley　the　next　night；　and　when　I　got　back　to　my　room；　there　stood　Josiah　Allen　with　both　of　his　feet　sort　a　bandaged　and　tied　down　onto　sumthin'；　which　I　didn't　at　first　recognize。　　It　waz　big　and　sort　a　egg　shaped；　and　open　worked；　and　both　his　feet　wuz　strapped　down　tight　onto　it；　and　he　wuz　a　pushin'　himself　round　the　room　with　his　umberell。　And　I　sez；　〃What　is　the　matter　now；　Josiah　Allen；　what　are　you　a　doin'　now？〃　〃Oh　I　am　a　walkin'　on　snow…shoes；　Samantha！　　But　I　don't　see；〃　sez　he　a　stoppin'　to　rest；　for　he　seemed　tuckered　out；　〃I　don't　see　how　the　savages　got　round　as　they　did　and　performed　such　journeys。　　You　put　'em　on；　Samantha；〃　sez　he；　〃and　see　if　you　can　get　on　any　faster　in　'em。〃　Sez　I；　coldly；　〃The　savages　probable　did'nt　have　both　feet　on　one　shoe；　Josiah　Allen；　as　you　have。　　I　shall　put　on　no　snowshoes　in　the　middle　of　July；　but　if　I　did；　I　should　put　'em　on　accordin'　to　a　little　mite　of　sense。　　I　should　try　to　use　as　much　sense　as　a　savage　any　way。〃　〃Why；　how　it　would　look　to　have　one　foot　on　that　great　big　snow…shoe。　　I　always　did　like　a　good　close　fit　in　my　shoes。　　And　you　see　I　have　room　enough　and　to　spare　for　both　on　'em　on　this。　Why　it　wouldn't　look　dressy　at　all；　Samantha；　to　put　'em　on　as　you　say。〃　Sez　I　very　coldly；　〃I　don't　see　anything　over　and　above　dressy　in　your　looks　now；　Josiah　Allen；　with　both　of　your　feet　tied　down　onto　that　one　shoe；　and　you　a　tryin'　to　move　off　when　you　can't。　I　can't　see　anything　over　and　above　ornamental　in　it；　Josiah　Allen。〃　〃Oh！　you　are　never　willin'　to　give　in　that　I　look　dressy；　Samantha。　　But　I　s'pose　I　can　put　my　feet　where　you　say。　　You　are　so　sot；　but　they　are　too　big　for　me　　I　shall　look　like　a　fool。〃　I　looked　at　him　calmly　over　my　specks；　and　sez　I；　〃I　guess　I　sha'n't　notice　the　difference　or　realize　the　change。　　I　wonder；〃　sez　I；　in　middlin'　cold　axents；　〃how　you　think　you　are　a　lookin'　now；　Josiah　Allen。〃　〃Oh！　keep　a　naggin'　at　me！〃　sez　he。　　But　I　see　he　wuz　a　gittin'　kinder　sick　of　the　idee。　〃What　you　mean　by　puttin'　'em　on　at　all　is　more　than　I　can　say；〃　sez　I；　〃a　tryin　to　walk　on　snowshoes　right　in　dog…days。〃　〃I　put　'em　on；〃　Samantha；　sez　he；　a　beginnin'　to　unstrap　'em；　〃I　put　'em　on　because　I　wanted　to　feel　like　a　savage。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃I　have　seen　you　at　times　durin'　the　last　20　years；　when　I　thought　you　realized　how　they　felt　without　snow…shoes　on；　either。〃　（These　little　interchanges　of　confidence　will　take　place　in　every…day　life。）　　But　at　that　very　minute　Ardelia　Tutt　rapped　at　the　door；　and　Josiah　hustled　them　snow…shoes　into　the　closet；　and　that　wuz　the　last　trial　I　had　with　him　about　'em。　　He　had　borrowed　'em。　Wall；　Ardelia　wuz　dretful　pensive；　and　soft　actin'　that　night；　she　seemed　real　tickled　to　see　us；　and　to　get　where　we　wuz。　　She　haint　over　and　above　suited　with　the　boardin'　place　where　she　is；　I　think。　　I　don't　believe　they　have　very　good　food；　though　she　won't　complain；　bein'　as　they　are　relations　on　her　own　side。　　And　then　she　is　sech　a　good　little　creeter　anyway。　　But　I　had　my　suspicions。　　She　didn't　seem　very　happy。　　She　said　she　had　been　down　to　the　park　that　afternoon；　she　and　the　young　chap　that　has　been　a　payin'　her　so　much　attention　lately；　Bial　Flamburg。　　She　said　they　had　sot　down　there　by　the　deer　park　most　all　the　afternoon　a　watchin'　the　deer。　　She　spoke　dretful　well　of　the　deer。　　And　they　are　likely　deer　for　anything　I　know。　　But　she　seemed　sort　a　pensive　and　low　spirited。　　Mebby　she　is　a　beginnin'　to　find　Bial　Flamburg　out。　　Mebby　she　is　a　beginnin'　to　not　like　his　ways。　　He　drinks　and　smokes；　that　I　know；　and　I've　mistrusted　worse　things　on　him。


XIV。　LAKE　GEORGE　AND　MOUNT　McGREGOR。

It　wuz　on　a　nice　pleasant　day　that　Ardelia　Tuit；　Josiah　Allen；　and　me；　met　by　previous　agreement　quite　early　in　the　mornin'；　A。　M。；　and　sot　out　for　Lake　George。　　It　is　so　nigh；　that　you　can　step　onto　the　cars；　and　go　out　and　see　George　any　time　of　day。　It　seemed　to　me　jest　as　if　George　wuz　glad　we　had　come；　for　there　wuz　a　broad　happy　smile　all　over　his　face；　and　a　sort　of　a　dimplin'　look；　as　if　he　wanted　to　laugh　right　out。　　All　the　beckonin'　shores　and　islands；　with　their　beautiful　houses　on　'em；　and　the　distant　forests；　and　the　trees　a　bendin'　over　George；　all　seemed　to　sort　a　smile　out　a　welcome　to　us。　　We　had　a　most　beautiful　day；　and　got　back　quite　late　in　the　afternoon；　P。　M。　And　the　next　day；　a　day　heavenly　calm　and　fair；　Josiah　Allen　and　me　sot　sail　for　Mount　McGregor　　that　mountain　top　that　is　lifted　up　higher　in　the　hearts　of　Americans　than　any　other　peak　on　the　continent　　fur　higher。　　For　it　is　the　place　where　the　memory　of　a　Hero　lays　over　all　the　peaceful　landscape　like　a　inspiration　and　a　benediction；　and　will　rest　there　forever。　The　railroad　winds　round　and　round　the　mountain　sometimes　not　seemin'ly　goin'　up　at　all；　but　gradually　a　movin'　in'　on　towards　the　top；　jest　as　this　brave　Hero　did　in　his　career。　　If　some　of　the　time　he　didn't　seem　to　move　on；　or　if　some　of　the　time　he　seemed　to　go　back　for　a　little；　yet　there　wuz　a　deathless　fire　inside　on　him；　a　power；　a　strength　that　kep'　him　a　goin'　up；　up；　up；　and　drawin'　the　nation　up　with　him　onto　the　safe　level　ground　of　Victory。　We　got　pleasant　glimpses　of　beauty；　pretty　pictures　on't；　every　little　while　as　we　wended　our　way　on　up　the　mountains。　　Anon　we　would　go　round　a　curve；　a　ledge　of　rocks　mebby；　and　lo！　far　off　a　openin'　through　the　woods　would　show　us　a　lovely　picture　of　hill　and　dell；　blue　water　and　blue　mountains　in　the　distance。　　And　then　a　green　wood　picture；　shut　in　and　lonely；　with　tall　ferns；　and　wild　flowers；　and　thick　green　grasses　under　the　bendin'　trees。　　Then　fur　down　agin'　a　picture　of　a　farmhouse；　sheltered　and　quiet；　with　fields　layin'　about　it　green　and　golden。　But　anon；　we　reached　the　pretty　little　lonesome　station；　and　there　we　wuz　on　top　of　Mount　McGregor。　　We　disembarked　from　the　cars　and　wended　our　way　up　the　hill　up　the　windin'　foot　path；　wore　down　by　the　feet　of　pilgrims　from　every　land；　quite　a　tegus　walk　though　beautiful；　up　to　the　good…lookin'；　and　good　appearin'　tarven。　I　would　fain　have　stopped　at　that　minute　at　the　abode　the　Hero　had　sanctified　by　his　last　looks。　　But　my　companion　said　to　me　that　he　wuz　in　nearly　a　starvin'　state。　　Now　it　wuzn't　much　after　11　A。　M。　forenoon；　and　I　felt　that　he　would　not　die　of　starvation　so　soon。　　But　his　looks　wuz　pitiful　in　the　extreme　and　he　reminded　me　in　a　sort　of　a　weak　voice　that　he　didn't　eat　no　breakfast　hardly。　I　sez　truthfully；　〃I　didn't　notice　it；　Josiah。〃　　But　sez　I；　〃I　will　accompany　you　where　your　hunger　can　be　slaked。〃　　So　we　went　straight　up　to　the　tarven。　But　I　would　stop　a　minute　in　front　of　it；　to　see　the　lovely；　lovely　seen　that　wuz　spread　out　before　our　eyes。　　For　fur　off　could　we　see　milds　and　milds　of　the　beautiful　country　a　layin'　fur　below　us。　　Beautiful　landscape；　dotted　with　crystal　lakes；　laved　by　the　blue　Hudson　and　bordered　by　the　fur…away　mountains。　It　wuz　a　fair　seen；　a　fair　seen。　　Even　Josiah　wuz　rousted　up　by　it；　and　forgot　his　hunger。　　I　myself　wuz　lost　in　the　contemplation　on　it；　and　entirely　by　the　side　of　myself。　　So　much　so；　that　I　forgot　where　I　wuz；　and　whether　I　wuz　a　wife　or　a　widow；　or　what　I　wuz。　But　anon；　as　my　senses　came　back　from　the　realm　of　pure　beauty　they　had　been　a　traversin'；　I　recollected　that　I　wuz　a　wife；　that　Providence　and　Elder　Minkley　had　placed　a　man　in　my　hands　to　take　care　on；　and　I　see　he　wuz　gone　from　me；　and　I　must　look　him　up。　And　I　found　that　man　in　one　of　the　high　tallish　lookin'　swing　chairs　that　wuz　a　swingin'　from　high　poles　all　along　the　brow　of　the　hill。　　They　looked　some　like　a　stanchol　for　a　horse；　and　some　like　a　pair　of　galluses　that　criminals　are　hung　on。　Josiah　wuzn't　able　to　work　it　right　and　it　did　require　a　deep　mind　to　get　into　one　without　peril。　　And　he　wuz　on　the　brink　of　a　catastrophe。　　I　got　him　out　by　siezin'　the　chair　and　holdin'　it　tight；　till　he　dismounted　from　it　　which　he　did　with　words　unadapted　to　the　serenity　of　the　atmosphere。　　And　then　we　went　out　the　broad　pleasant　door…yard　up　into　the　tarven；　and　my　companion　got　some　coffee；　and　some　refreshments；　to　refresh　ourselves　with。　　And　then　he；　feelin'　clever　and　real　affectionate　to　me　（owin'　partly　I　s'pose　to　the　good　dinner）；　we　wended　our　way　down　to　the　cottage　where　the　Hero　met　his　last　foe　and　fell　victorious。　We　went　up　the　broad　steps　onto　the　piazza；　and　I　looked　off　from　it；　and　over　all　the　landscape　under　the　soft　summer　sky；　lay　that　same　beautiful　tender　inspired　memory。　　It　lay　like　the　hush　that　follows　a　prayer　at　a　dyin'　bed。　　Like　the　glow　that　rests　on　the　world　when　the　sun　has　gone　down　in　glory。　　Like　the　silence　full　of　voices　that　follows　a　oriter's　inspired　words。　The　air；　the　whole　place；　thrilled　with　that　memory；　that　presence　that　wuz　with　us；　though　unseen　to　the