samantha at saratoga-第32部分

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y　drawed　Josiah　to　a　seat　at　the　other　end　of　the　car；　and　voyalently；　but　firmly；　I　drawed　his　attention　off　onto　Religion。　I　sez；　〃Josiah；　do　you　believe　we　had　better　paint　the　steeple　of　the　meetin'…house；　white　or　dark　colered？〃　This　wuz　a　subject　that　had　rent　Jonesville　to　its　very　twain。　And　Josiah　had　been　fearfully　exercised　on　it。　　And　this　plan　of　mine　succeeded。　　He　got　eloquent　on　it；　and　I　kinder　held　off；　and　talked　offish；　and　let　him　convince　me。　I　did　it　from　principle。


XV。　ADVENTURES　AT　VARIOUS　SPRINGS。

A　few　days　after　this；　Josiah　Allen　came　in；　and　sez　he；　〃The　Everlastin'　spring　is　the　one　for　me；　Samantha！　　I　believe　it　will　keep　me　alive　for　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　years。〃　Sez　I；　〃I　don't　believe　that；　Josiah　Allen。〃　〃Wall；　it　is　so；　whether　you　believe　it　or　not。　　Why；　I　see　a　feller　just　now　who　sez　he　don't　believe　anybody　would　ever　die　at　all；　if　they　kep'　themselves'　kind　a　wet　through　all　the　time　with　this　water。〃　Sez　I；　〃Josiah　Allen；　you　are　not　talkin'　Bible。　　The　Bible　sez；　'all　flesh　is　as　grass。'〃　〃Wall；　that　is　what　he　meant；　if　the　grass　wuz　watered　with　that　water　all　the　time；　it　would　never　wilt。〃　〃Oh；　shaw！〃　sez　I。　　（I　seldom　say　shaw；　but　this　seemed　to　me　a　time　for　shawin'。）　But　Josiah　kep'　on；　for　he　wuz　fearfully　excited。　　Sez　he；　〃Why；　the　feller　said；　there　wuz　a　old　man　who　lived　right　by　the　side　of　this　spring；　and　felt　the　effects　of　it　inside　and　out　all　the　time；　it　wuz　so　healthy　there。　　Why　the　old　man　kep'　on　a　livin'；　and　a　livin'　till　he　got　to　be　a　hundred。　　And　he　wuz　kinder　lazy　naturally　and　he　got　tired　of　livin'。　　He　said　he　wuz　tired　of　gettin'　up　mornin's　and　dressin'　of　him；　tired　of　pullin'　on　his　boots　and　drawin'　on　his　trowsers；　and　he　told　his　grandson　Sam　to　take　him　up　to　Troy　and　let　him　die。　〃Wall；　Sam　took　him　up　to　Troy；　and　he　died　right　away；　almost。　And　Sam　bein'　a　good…hearted　chap；　thought　it　would　please　the　old　man　to　he　buried　down　by　the　spring；　that　healthy　spot。　　So　he　took　him　back　there　in　a　wagon　he　borrowed。　　And　when　he　got　clost　to　the　spring；　Sam　heard　a　sithe；　and　he　looked　back；　and　there　the　old　gentleman　wuz　a　settin'　up　a　leanin'　his　head　on　his　elbo　and　he　sez；　in　a　sort　of　a　sad　way；　not　mad；　but　melanecolly；　‘You　hadn't　ort　to　don　it；　Sam。　　You　hadn't　ort　to。　I'm　in　now　for　another　hundred　years。'〃　I　told　Josiah　I　didn't　believe　that。　　Sez　I；　〃I　believe　the　waters　are　good；　very　good；　and　the　air　is　healthy　here　in　the　extreme；　but　I　don't　believe　that。〃　But　he　said　it　wuz　a　fact；　and　the　feller　said　he　could　prove　it。　〃Why；〃　Josiah　sez；　〃with　the　minerals　there　is　in　that　spring；　if　you　only　take　enough　of　it；　I　don't　see　how　anybody　can　die。〃　And　sez　Josiah；　〃I　am　a　goin'　to　jest　live　on　that　water　while　I　am　here。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃you　must　do　as　you　are　a　mind　to；　with　fear　and　tremblin'。〃　I　thought　mebby　quotin'　Scripture　to　him　would　kinder　quell　him　down；　for　he　wuz　fearfully　agitated　and　wrought　up　about　the　Everlastin'　spring。　　And　he　begun　at　once　to　calculate　on　it；　on　how　much　he　could　drink　of　it；　if　he　begun　early　in　the　mornin'　and　drinked　late　at　night。　But　I　kep'　on　megum。　　I　drinked　the　waters　that　seemed　to　help　me　and　made　me　feel　better；　but　wuz　megum　in　it；　and　didn't　get　over　excited　about　any　on　'em。　　But　oh！　oh！　the　quantities　of　that　water　that　Josiah　Allen　took！　　Why；　it　seemed　as　if　he　would　make　a　perfect　shipwreck　of　his　own　body；　and　wash　himself　away；　till　one　day　he　came　in　fearful　excited　agin；　and　sez　he；　in　agitated　axents；　〃I　made　a　mistake；　Samantha。　　The　Immortal　spring　is　the　one　for　me。〃　〃Why？〃　sez　I。　〃Oh；　I　have　jest　seen　a　feller　that　has　been　a　tellin'　me　about　it。〃　〃What　did　he　say？〃　sez　I；　in　calm　axents。　〃Wall；　I'll　tell　you。　　It　has　acted　on　my　feelin's　dretful。〃　　Says　he；　〃I　have　shed　some　tears。〃　　（I　see　Josiah　Allen　had　been　a　cryin'　when　he　came　in。）　And　I　sez　agin；　〃What　is　it？〃　〃Wall；〃　he　said；　〃this　man　had　a　dretful　sick　wife。　　And　he　wuz　a　carryin'　her　to　the　Immortal　spring　jest　as　fast　as　he　could；　for　he　felt　it　would　save　her；　if　he　could　get　her　to　it。　　But　she　died　a　mile　and　a　half　from　the　spring。　　It　wuz　night；　for　he　had　traveled　night　and　day　to　get　her　there；　and　the　tarvens　wuz　all　shut　up；　and　he　laid　her　on　the　spring…house　floor；　and　laid　down　himself　on　one　of　the　benches。　　He　took　a　drink　himself；　the　last　thing　before　he　laid　down；　for　he　felt　that　he　must　have　sunthin'　to　sustain　him　in　his　affliction。　〃Wall；　in　the　night　he　heard　a　splashin'；　and　he　rousted　up；　and　he　see　that　he　had　left　the　water　kinder　careless　the　night　before；　and　it　had　broke　loose　and　covered　the　floor　and　riz　up　round　the　body；　and　there　she　wuz；　all　bright　and　hearty；　a　splashin'　and　a　swimmin'　round　in　the　water。〃　　He　said　the　man　cried　like　a　child　when　he　told　him　of　it。　And　sez　Josiah；　〃It　wuz　dretful　affectin'。　　It　brought　tears　from　me；　to　hear　on't。　　I　thought　what　if　it　had　been　you；　Samantha！〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃I　don't　see　no　occasion　for　tears；　unless　you　would　have　been　sorry　to　had　me　brung　to。〃　〃Oh！〃　sez　Josiah；　〃I　didn't　think！　　I　guess　I　have　cried　in　the　wrong　place。〃　Sez　I　coldly；　〃I　should　think　as　much。〃　And　Josiah　put　on　his　hat　and　hurried　out。　　He　meant　well。　　But　it　is　quite　a　nack　for　pardners　to　know　jest　when　to　cry；　and　when　to　laff。　Wall；　he　follered　up　that　spring；　and　drinked　more；　fur　more　than　wuz　good　for　him　of　that　water。　　And　then　anon；　he　would　hear　of　another　one；　and　some　dretful　big　story　about　it；　and　he　would　foller　that　up；　and　so　it　went　on；　he　a　follerin'　on；　and　I　a　bein'　megum；　and　drinkin'　stiddy；　but　moderate。　　And　as　it　might　be　expected；　I　gained　in　health　every　day；　and　every　hour。　　For　the　waters　is　good；　there　haint　no　doubt　of　it。　But　Josiah　takin'　em　as　he　did；　bobbin'　round　from　one　to　the　other；　drinkin'　'em　at　all　hours　of　day　and　night；　and　floodin'　himself　out　with　'em；　every　one　on　'em　　why；　he　lost　strength　and　health　every　day；　till　I　felt　truly；　that　if　it　went　on　much　longer；　I　should　go　home　in　weeds。　　Not　mullein；　or　burdock；　or　anything　of　that　sort；　but　crape。　But　at　last　a　event　occurred　that　sort　a　sot　him　to　thinkin'　and　quelled　him　down　some。　　One　day　we　sot　out　for　a　walk；　Josiah　and　Ardelia　Tutt　and　me。　　And　in　spite　of　all　my　protestations；　my　pardner　had　drinked　11　glasses　full　of　the　spring　he　wuz　a　follerin'　then。　　And　he　looked　white　round　the　lips　as　anything。　And　Ardelia　and　I　wuz　a　sittin'　in　a　good　shady　place；　and　Josiah　a　little　distance　off；　when　a　man　ackosted　him；　a　man　with　black　eyes　and　black　whiskers；　and　sez；　〃You　look　pale；　Sir。　　What　water　are　you　a　drinkin'？〃　And　Josiah　told　him　that　at　that　time　he　wuz　a　drinkin'　the　water　from　the　Immortal　spring。　〃Drinkin'　that　water？〃　sez　the　man；　startin'　back　horrefied。　〃Yes；〃　sez　Josiah；　turnin'　paler　than　ever；　for　the　man's　looks　wuz　skairful　in　the　extreme。　〃Oh！　oh！〃　groaned　the　man。　　〃And　you　are　a　married　man？〃　he　groaned　out　mournfully；　a　lookin'　pitifully　at　him。　　〃With　a　family？〃　〃Yes；〃　sez　Josiah；　faintly。　〃Oh　dear；〃　sez　the　man；　〃must　it　be　so；　to　die；　so　　so　lamented？〃　〃To　die！〃　sez　Josiah；　turnin'　white　jest　round　the　lip。　〃Yes；　to　die！　　Did　you　not　say　you　had　been　a　drinkin'　the　water　from　the　Immortal　spring？〃　〃Yes；〃　sez　Josiah。　〃Wall；　it　is　a　certain；　a　deadly　poison。〃　〃Haint　there　no　help　for　me？〃　sez　Josiah。　〃Yes；〃　sez　the　man；　〃You　must　drink　from　the　Live…forever　spring；　at　the　other　end　of　the　village。　　That　water　has　the　happy　effect　of　neutralizin'　the　poisons　of　the　Immortal　spring。　　If　anything　can　save　you　that　can。　　Why；〃　sez　he；　〃folks　that　have　been　entirely　broke　down；　and　made　helpless　and　hopeless　invalids；　them　that　have　been　brung　down　on　their　death…beds　by　the　use　of　that　vile　Immortal　water；　have　been　cured　by　a　few　glasses　of　the　pure　healin'　waters　of　the　Live…forever　spring。　　I'd　advise　you　for　your　own　sake；　and　the　sake　of　your　family；　who　would　mourn　your　ontimely　decese；　to　drink　from　that　spring　at　once。〃　〃But；〃　sez　Josiah；　with　a　agonized　and　hopeless　look；　〃I　can't　drink　no　more　now。〃　〃Why？〃　sez　the　man。　〃Because　I　don't　hold　any　more。　　I　don't　hold　but　two　quarts；　and　I　have　drinked　11　tumblers　full　now。〃　〃Eleven　glasses　of　that　poison？〃　sez　the　man。　〃Wall；　if　it　is　too　late　I　am　not　to　blame。　　I've　warned　you。　Farewell；〃　sez　he；　a　graspin'　holt　of　Josiah's　hand。　　〃Farewell；　forever。　　But　if　you　do　live；〃　sez　he；　〃if　by　a　miricle　you　are　saved；　remember　the　Live…forever　spring。　　If　there　is　any　help　for　you　it　is　in　them　waters。〃　And　he　dashed　away；　for　another　stranger　wuz　approachin'　the　seen。　I；　myself；　didn't　have　no　idee　that　Josiah　wuz　a　goin'　to　die。　But　Ardelia　whispered　to　me；　she　must　go　back　to　the　hotel；　so　she　went。　　I　see　she　looked　kinder　strange；　and　I　didn't　object　to　it。　　And　when　we　got　back　she　handed　me　some　verses　entitled：　〃Stanzas　on　the　death　of　Josiah　Allen。〃　She　handed　'em　to　me；　and　hastened　away；　quick。　　But　Josiah　Allen　didn't　die。　　And　this　incident　made　him　more　megum。　　More　as　I　wanted　him　to　be。　　Why；　you　have　to　be　megum　in　everything；　no　matter　how　good　it　is。　　Milk　porridge；　or　the　Bible；　or　anything。　You　can　kill　yourself　on　milk　porridge　if　you　drink　enough。　　And　you　can　set　down　and　read　the　Bible；　till　you　grow　to　your　chair；　and　lose　your　eyesight。　Now　these　waters　are　dretful　good；　but　you　have　got　to　use　some　megumness　with　'em；　it　stands　to　reason　you　have。　　Taint　megum　to　drink　from　10　to　12　glasses　at　a　time；　and　mix　your　drinks　goin'　round　from　spring　to　spring　like　a　luny。　　No；　get　a　good　doctor　to　tell　you　what　minerals　you　seem　to　stand　in　need　on　the　most；　and　then　try　to　get　'em　with　fear　and　tremblin'。　　You'll　get　help　I　haint　a　doubt　on't。　　For　they　are　dretful　good　for　varius　things　that　afflict　the　human　body。　　Dretful！


XVI。　AT　A　LAWN　PARTY。

Wall；　the　very　next　mornin'　Miss　Flamm　sent　word　for　Josiah　and　me　to　come　that　night　to　a　lawn　party。　　And　I　sez　at　once；　〃I　must　go　and　get　some　lawn。〃　Sez　Josiah；　〃What　will　you　do　with　it？〃　And　I　sez；　〃Oh；　I　s'pose　I　shall　wrap　it　round　me；　I'll　do　what　the　rest　do。〃　And　sez　Josiah；　〃Hadn't　I　ort　to　have　some　too？　　If　it　is　a　lawn　party　and　everybody　else　has　it；　I　shall　feel　like　a　fool　without　any　lawn。〃　And　I　looked　at　him　in　deep　thought；　and　through　him　into　the　causes　and　consequenc