samantha at saratoga-第35部分

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pink　spring；　or　a　yeller　one；　as　the　case　may　be；　and　pump。　　And　I　would　be　willin'　to　pump　it　up　myself；　if　it　would　come　cheaper。〃　But　my　companion　soon　forgot　to　follow　up　the　theme　in　lookin'　about　him　onto　the　magnificent；　seen；　and　a　seein'　the　throngs　of　men　and　wimmen　growin'　more　and　more　denser；　and　every　crowd　on　'em　that　swept　by　us；　and　round　us；　and　before　us；　a　growin'　more　gorgus　in　dress；　or　so　it　seemed　to　us。　　Gemms　of　every　gorgus　coler　under　the　heavens　and　some　jest　the　coler　of　the　heavens　when　it　is　blue　and　shinin'　or　when　it　is　purplish　dark　in　the　night　time；　or　when　it　is　full　of　white　fleecy　clouds；　or　when　it　is　a　shinin'　with　stars。　Why；　one　woman　had　so　many　diamonds　on　that　she　had　a　detective　follerin'　her　all　round　wherever　she　went。　　She　wuz　a　blaze　of　splendor　and　so　wuz　lots　of　'em；　though　like　the　stars；　they　differed　from　each　other　in　glory。　But　whatever　coler　their　gowns　wuz；　in　one　thing　they　wuz　most　all　alike　　most　all　of　'em　had　waists　all　drawed　in　tight；　but　a　bulgin'　out　on　each　side；　more　or　less　as　the　case　might　be。　　Why　some　of　them　waists　wuzn't　much　bigger　than　pipe's　tails　and　so　I　told　Josiah。　And　he　whispered　back　to　me；　and　sez　he；　〃I　wonder　if　them　wimmen　with　wasp　waists；　think　that　we　men　like　the　looks　on　'em。　　They　make　a　dumb　mistake　if　they　do。　　Why；〃　sez　he；　〃we　men　know　what　they　be；　we　know　they　are　nothin'　but　crushed　bones　and　flesh。〃　Sez　he；　〃I　could　make　my　own　waist　look　jest　like　'em；　if　I　should　take　a　rope　and　strap　myself　down。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　in　agitated　axents；　〃don't　you　try　to　go　into　no　such　enterprise；　Josiah　Allen。〃　I　remembered　the　eppisode　of　the　afternoon；　and　I　sez　in　anxins　axents；　and　affectionate；　〃Besides　not　lookin'　well；　it　is　dangerous；　awful　dangerous。　　And　how　I　should　blush；〃　sez　I；　〃if　I　wuz　to　see　you　with　a　leather　strap　or　a　rope　round　your　waist　under　your　coat；　a　drawin'　you　in　；　a　changin'　your　good　honerable　shape。　　And　God　made　men's　and　wimmen's　waists　jest　alike　in　the　first　place；　and　it　is　jest　as　smart　for　men　to　deform　themselves　in　that　way　as　it　is　for　wimmen。　　But　oh；　the　agony　of　my　soul　if　I　should　see　you　a　tryin'　to　disfigure　yourself　in　that　way。〃　〃You　needn't　be　afraid；　Samantha；〃　sez　he；　〃I　am　dressy；　and　always　wuz；　but　I　haint　such　a　fool　as　that；　as　to　kill　myself　in　perfect　agony；　for　fashion。〃　I　didn't　say　nothin'　but　instinctively　I　looked　down　at　his　feet；　〃Oh；　you　needn't　look　at　my　feet；　Samantha；　feet　are　very　different　from　the　heart；　and　lungs；　and　such。　　You　can　squeeze　your　feet　down；　and　not　hurt　much　moren　the　flesh　and　bones。　　But　you　are　a　destroyin'　the　very　seat　of　life　when　you　draw　your　waist　in　as　them　wimmen　do。〃　〃I　know　it；〃　sez　I；　〃but　I　wouldn't　torture　myself　in　any　way　if　I　wuz　in　your　place。〃　〃I　don't　lay　out　to；〃　sez　he。　　〃I　haint　a　goin'　to　wear　corsets；　it　haint　at　all　probable　I　shall；　though　I　am　better　able　to　stand　it；　than　wimmen　be。〃　〃I　know　that；〃　sez　I。　　〃I　know　men　are　stronger　and　better　able　to　bear　the　strain　of　bein'　drawed　in　and　tapered。〃　　I　am　reesonable；　and　will　ever　speak　truthful　and　honest；　and　this　I　couldn't　deny　and　didn't　try　to。　〃Wall；　dumb　it；　what　makes　men　stronger？〃　sez　he。　〃Why；〃　sez　I；　〃I　s'pose　one　great　thing　is　their　dressin'　comfortable。〃　〃Wall；　I　am　glad　you　know　enough　to　know　it；〃　sez　he。　　〃Why；〃　sez　he；　〃jest　imagine　a　man　tyin'　a　rope　round　his　waist；　round　and　round；　or　worse　yet；　take　strong　steel；　and　whalebones；　and　bind　and　choke　himself　down　with　'em；　and　tottlin'　himself　up　on　high　heel　slippers；　the　high　heels　comin'　right　up　in　the　ball　of　his　foot　　and　then　havin'　heavy　skirts　a　holdin'　him　down；　tied　back　tight　round　his　knees　and　draggin'　along　on　the　ground　at　his　feet　　imagine　me　in　that　perdickerment；　Samantha。〃　I　shuddered；　and　sez　I；　〃Don't　bring　up　no　such　seen　to　harrow　up　my　nerve。〃　　Sez　I；　〃You　know　I　couldn't　stand　it；　to　see　you　a　facin'　life　and　its　solemn　responsibilities　in　that　condition。　　It　would　kill　me　to　witness　your　sufferin'；〃　sez　I。　　And　agin'　I　shuddered；　and　agin　I　sithed。　And　he　sez；　〃Wall；　it　is　jest　as　reasonable　for　a　man　to　do　it　as　for　a　woman；　it　is　far　worse　and　more　dangerous　for　a　woman　than　a　man。〃　〃I　know　it；〃　sez　I；　between　my　sithes。　　〃I　know　it；　but　I　can't；　I　can't　stand　it；　to　have　you　go　into　it。〃　〃Wall；　you　needn't　worry；　Samantha；　I　haint　a　fool。　　You　won't　ketch　men　a　goin'　into　any　such　performances　as　this；　they　know　too　much。〃　　And　then　he　resumed　on　in　a　lighter　agent；　to　get　my　mind　still　further　off　from　his　danger；　for　I　wuz　still　a　sithin'；　frequent　and　deep。　Sez　he；　as　he　looked　down　and　see　some　wimmen　a　passin'　below；　sez　hey　〃I　never　see　such　a　sight　in　my　life；　a　man　can　see　more　here　in　one　evenin'　than　he　can　in　a　life　time　at　Jonesville。〃　〃That　is　so；　Josiah；〃　sez　I；　〃you　can。〃　　And　I　felt　every　word　I　said；　for　at　that　very　minute　a　lady；　or　rather　a　female　woman；　passed　with　a　dress　on　so　low　in　the　neck　that　I　instinctively　turned　away　my　head；　and　when　I　looked　round　agin；　a　deep　blush　wuz　mantlin'　the　cheeks　of　Josiah　Allen；　a　flushin'　up　his　face；　clear　up　into　his　bald　head。　I　don't　believe　I　had　ever　been　prouder　of　Josiah　Allen；　than　I　wuz　at　that　minute。　　That　blush　spoke　plainer　than　words　could；　of　the　purity　and　soundness　of　my　pardner's　morals。　　If　the　whole　nation　had　stood　up　in　front　of　me　at　that　time；　and　told　me　his　morals　wuz　a　tottlin'　I　would　have　scorned　the　suggestion。　　No；　that　blush　telegraphed　to　me　right　from　his　soul；　the　sweet　tidin's　of　his　modesty　and　worth。　And　I　couldn't　refrain　from　sayin'　in　encouragin'；　happy　axents；　〃Haint　you　glad　now；　Josiah　Allen；　that　you　listened　to　your　pardner；　haint　you　glad　that　you　haint　a　goin'　round　in　a　low　necked　coat　and　vest；　a　callin'　up　the　blush　of　skern　and　outraged　modesty　to　the　cheeks　'of　noble　and　modest　men？〃　〃Yes；〃　sez　he；　graspin'　holt　of　my　hand　in　the　warmth　of　his　gratitude；　for　he　see　what　I　had　kep'　him　from。　　〃Yes；　you　wuz　in　the　right　on't；　Samantha。　　I　see　the　awfulness　of　the　peril　from　which　you　rescued　of　me。　　But　never；〃　sez　he；　a　lookin'　down　agin　over　the　railin'；　onto　some　more　wimmen　a　passin'　beneath；　〃never　did　I　see　what　I　have　seen　here　to…night。　　Not；〃　sez　he　dreemily；　〃sense　I　wuz　a　baby。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃don't　try　to　look；　Josiah；　turn　your　eyes　away。〃　And　I　believe　he　did　try　to　　though　such　is　the　fascination　of　a　known　danger　in　front　of　you；　that　it　is　hard　to　keep　yourself　from　contemplatin'　of　it。　　But　he　tried　to。　　And　he　tried　to　not　look　at　the　waltzin'　no　more　than　he　could　help；　and　I　did　too。　But　in　spite　of　himself　he　had　to　see　how　clost　the　young　girls　wuz　held；　how　warmly　the　young　men　embraced　'em。　　And　as　he　looked　on；　agin　I　see　the　hot　blush　of　shame　mantillied　Josiah's　cheeks；　and　again　he　sez　to　me　in　almost　warm　axents；　〃I　realize　what　you　have　rescued　me　from；　Samantha。〃　And　I　sez；　〃You　couldn't　have　looked　Elder　Minkley　in　the　face；　could　you？　if　you　had　gone　into　that　shameful　diversion。〃　〃No；　I　couldn't；　nor　into　yourn　nuther。　　I　couldn't　have　looked　nobody　in　the　face；　if　I　had　gone　on　and　imposed　on　any　young　girl　as　they　are　a　doin'；　and　insulted　of　her。　　Why；〃　sez　he；　〃if　it　wuz　my　Tirzah　Ann　that　them；　men　wuz　a　embracin'；　and　huggin'；　and　switchin'　her　round；　as　if　they　didn't　have　no　respect　for　her　at　all；　　why；　if　it　wuz　Tirzah　Ann；　I　would　tear　'em　'em　from　lim。〃　And　he　looked　capable　on't。　　He　looked　almost　sublime　（though　small）。　　And　I　hurried　him　away　from　the　seen；　for　I　didn't　know　what　would　ensue　and　foller　on；　if　I　let　him　linger　there　longer。　He　looked　as　firm　and　warlike　as　one　of　our　bantam　fowls；　a　male　one；　when　hawks　are　a　hoverin'　over　the　females　of　the　flock。　　And　when　I　say　Bantam　I　say　it　with　no　disrespect　to　Josiah　Allen。　Bantams　are　noble；　and　warlike　fowls；　though　small　boneded。　I　got　one　more　glimps　of　Miss　Flamm　jest　as　we　left　the　tarven。　She　wuz　a　standin'　up　in　the　parlor；　with　a　tall　man　a　standin'　up　in　front　of　her　a　talkin'。　　He　seemed　to　be　biddin'　of　her　good…bye；　for　he　had　holt　of　her　hand；　and　be　wuz　a　sayin'　as　we　went　by　'em；　sez　he；　〃I　am　sorry　not　to　see　more　of　you。〃　〃Good　land！〃　thinkses　I；　〃what　can　the　man　be　a　thinkin'　on？　the　mean；　miserable　creeter！　　If　there　wuz　ever　a　deadly　insult　gin　to　a　woman；　then　wuz　the　time　it　wuz　gin。　　Good　land！　good　land！〃　I　don't　know　whether　Miss　Flamm　resented　it；　or　not；　for　I　hurried　Josiah　along。　　I　didn't　want　to　expose　him　to　no　sich　sights；　good；　innocent　old　creeter。　　So　I　kep'　him　up　on　a　pretty　good　jog　till　I　got　him　home。


XVII。　A　TRIP　TO　SCHUYLERVILLE。

It　wuz　a　lovely　mornin'　when　my　companion　and　me　sot　out　to　visit　Schuylerville　to　see　the　monument　that　is　stood　up　there　in　honor　of　the　Battle　of　Saratoga；　one　of　7　great　decisive　battles　of　the　world。　Wall；　the　cars　rolled　on　peacefully；　though　screechin'　occasionally；　for；　as　the　poet　says；　〃It　is　their　nater　to；〃　and　rolled　us　away　from　Saratoga。　　And　at　first　there　wuzn't　nothin'　particularly　insperin'　in　the　looks　of　the　landscape；　or　ruther　woodscape。　　It　wuz　mostly　woods　and　rather　hombly　woods　too；　kinder　flat　lookin'。　But　pretty　soon　the　scenery　became　beautiful　and　impressive。　　The　rollin'　hills　rolled　down　and　up　in　great　billowy　masses　of　green　and　pale　blue；　accordin'　as　they　wuz　fur　or　near；　and　we　went　by　shinin'　water；　and　a　glowin'　landscape；　and　pretty　houses；　and　fields　of　grain　and　corn；　etc。；　etc。　　And　anon　we　reached　a　place　where　〃Victory　Mills〃　wuz　printed　up　high；　in　big　letters。　　When　Josiah　see　this；　he　sez；　〃Haint　that　neighborly　and　friendly　in　Victory　to　come　over　here　and　put　up　a　mill？　　That　shows；　Samantha；〃　sez　he；　〃that　the　old　hardness　of　the　Revolution　is　entirely　done　away　with。〃　He　wuz　jest　full　of　Revolutionary　thoughts　that　mornin'；　Josiah　Allen　wuz。　　And　so　wuz　I　too；　but　my　strength　of　mind　is　such；　that　I　reined　'em　in　and　didn't　let　'em　run　away　with　me。　　And　I　told　him　that　it　didn't　mean　that。　　Sez　I；　〃The　Widder　Albert　wouldn't　come　over　here　and　go　to　millin'；　she　nor　none　of　her　family。〃　〃But；〃　sez　he；　〃the　name　must　mean　sunthin'。　　Do　you　s'pose　it　is　where　folks　get　the　victory　over　things？　　If　it　is；　I'd　give　a　dollar　bill　to　get　a　grist　ground　out　here；　and；〃　sez　he；　in　a　sort　of　a　coaxin'　tone；　〃le's　stop　and　get　some　victory；　Sama