samantha at saratoga-第4部分

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　present　with　him。　　I　have　known　him　to　set　off　with　the　mean　of　a　lion　and　come　back　with　the　liniment　of　a　lamb。　　Curious；　haint　it？　And　jest　the　prospect　of　a　tower　ahead　is　a　great　help　to　a　woman　in　rulin'　and　keepin'　a　pardner　straight　and　right　in　his　liniments　and　his　acts。　　Somehow　jest　the　thought　of　a　tower　sort　a　lifts　him　up　in　mind；　and　happifys　him；　and　makes　him　easier　to　quell；　and　pardners　must　be　quelled　at　times；　else　there　would　be　no　livin'　with　'em。　　This　is　known　to　all　wimmen　companions　and　and　men　too。　　Great　great　is　the　mystery　of　pardners。


II。　ARDELLA　TUTT　AND　HER　MOTHER。

But　to　resoom　and　continue　on。　　I　was　a　settin'　one　day；　after　it　wuz　all　decided；　and　plans　laid　on；　I　wuz　a　settin'　by　the　fire　a　mendin'　one　of　Josiah's　socks。　　I　wuz　a　settin'　there；　as　soft　and　pliable　in　my　temper　as　the　woosted　I　wuz　a　darnin'　'em　with；　my　Josiah　at　the　same　time　a　peacefelly　sawin'　wood　in　the　wood…house；　when　I　heard　a　rap　at　the　door　and　I　riz　up　and　opened　it；　and　there　stood　two　perfect　strangers；　females。　　I；　with　a　perfect　dignity　and　grace　（and　with　the　sock　still　in　my　left　hand）　asked　'em　to　set　down；　and　consequently　they　sot。　　Then　ensued　a　slight　pause　durin'　which　my　two　gray　eyes　roamed　over　the　females　before　me。　The　oldest　one　wuz　very　sharp　in　her　face　and　had　a　pair　of　small　round　eyes　that　seemed　when　they　were　sot　onto　you　to　sort　a　bore　into　you　like　two　gimlets。　　Her　nose　was　very　sharp　and　defient；　as　if　it　wuz　constantly　sayin'　to　itself；　〃I　am　a　nose　to　be　looked　up　to；　I　am　a　nose　to　be　respected；　and　feared　if　necessary。〃　　Her　chin　said　the　same　thing；　and　her　lips　which　wuz　very　thin；　and　her　elbow；　which　wuz　very　sharp。　Her　dress　was　a　stiff　sort　of　a　shinin'　poplin；　made　tight　acrost　the　chest　and　elboes。　　And　her　hat　had　some　stiff　feathers　in　it　that　stood　up　straight　and　sort　a　sharp　lookin'。　　She　had　a　long　sharp　breast…pin　sort　a　stabbed　in　through　the　front　of　her　stiff　standin'　collar；　and　her　knuckles　sot　out　through　her　firm　lisle　thread　gloves；　her　umberell　wuz　long　and　wound　up　hard；　to　that　extent　I　have　never　seen　before　nor　sense。　　She　wuz；　take　it　all　in　all；　a　hard　sight；　and　skairful。　The　other　one　wuzn't　no　more　like　her　in　looks　than　a　soft　fat　young　cabbage　head　is　like　the　sharp　bean　pole　that　it　grows　up　by　the　side　on；　in　the　same　garden。　　She　wuz　soft　in　her　complexion；　her　lips；　her　cheeks；　her　hands；　and　as　I　mistrusted　at　that　first　minute；　and　found　out　afterwards；　soft　in　her　head　too。　　Her　dress　wuz　a　loose…wove　parmetty；　full　in　the　waist　and　sort　a　drabbly　round　the　bottom。　　Her　hat　wuz　drab…colored　felt　with　some　loose　ribbon　bows　a　hangin'　down　on　it；　and　some　soft　ostridge　tips。　She　had　silk　mits　on　and　her　hands　wuz　fat　and　kinder　moist…lookin'。　　Her　eyes　wuz　very　large　and　round；　and　blue；　and　looked　sort　o'　dreamy　and　wanderin'　and　there　wuz　a　kind　of　a　wrapped　smile　on　her　face　all　the　time。　　She　had　a　roll　of　paper　in　her　hand　and　I　didn't　dislike　her　looks　a　mite。　Finally　the　oldest　female　opened　her　lips；　some　as　a　steel　trap　would　open　sudden　and　kinder　sharp；　and　sez　she：　〃I　am　Miss　Deacon　Tutt；　of　Tuttville；　and　this　is　my　second　daughter　Ardelia。　Cordelia　is　my　oldest；　and　I　have　4　younger　than　Ardelia。〃　I　bowed　real　polite　and　said；　〃I　wuz　glad　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　the　hull　7　on　'em。〃　　I　can　be　very　genteel　when　I　set　out；　almost　stylish。　〃I　s'pose；〃　says　she；　〃I　am　talkin'　to　Josiah　Allen's　wife？〃　I　gin　her　to　understand　that　that　wuz　my　name　and　my　station；　and　she　went　on；　and　sez　she：　〃I　have　hearn　on　you　through　my　husband's　2d　cousin；　Cephas　Tutt。〃　〃Cephas；〃　sez　she；　〃bein'　wrote　to　by　me　on　the　subject　of　Ardelia；　the　same　letter　containin'　seven　poems　of　hern；　and　on　bein'　asked　to　point　out　the　quickest　way　to　make　her　name　and　fame　known　to　the　world　at　large；　wrote　back　that　he　havin'　always　dealt　in　butter　and　lard；　wuzn't　up　to　the　market　price　in　poetry；　and　that　you　would　be　a　good　one　to　go　to　for　advice。　　And　so；〃　sez　she　a　pointin'　to　a　bag　she　carried　on　her　arm　（a　hard　lookin'　bag　made　of　crash　with　little　bullets　and　knobs　of　embroidery　on　it）；　〃and　so　we　took　this　bag　full　of　Ardelia's　poetry　and　come　on　the　mornin'　train；　Cephas'es　letter　havin'　reached　us　at　nine　o'clock　last　night。　　I　am　a　woman　of　business。〃　The　bag　would　hold　about　4　quarts　and　it　wuz　full。　　I　looked　at　it　and　sithed。　〃I　see；〃　sez　she；　〃that　you　are　sorry　that　we　didn't　bring　more　poetry　with　us。　　But　we　thought　that　this　little　batch　would　give　you　a　idee　of　what　a　mind　she　has；　what　a　glorious；　soarin'　genus　wuz　in　front　of　you；　and　we　could　bring　more　the　next　time　we　come。〃　I　sithed　agin；　three　times；　but　Miss　Tutt　didn't　notice　'em　a　mite　no　more'n　they'd　been　giggles　or　titters。　　She　wouldn't　have　took　no　notice　of　them。　　She　wuz　firm　and　decided　doin'　her　own　errent；　and　not　payin'　no　attention　to　anything；　nor　anybody　else。　〃Ardelia；　read　the　poem　you　have　got　under　your　arm　to　Miss　Allen！　The　bag　wuz　full　of　her　longer　ones；〃　sez　she；　〃but　I　felt　that　I　must　let　you　hear　her　poem　on　spring。　　It　is　a　gem。　　I　felt　it　would　be　wrongin'　you；　not　to　give　you　that　treat。　　Read　it　Ardelia。〃　I　see　Ardelia　wuz　used　to　obeyin'　her　ma。　　She　opened　the　sheet　to　once；　and　begun。　Jest　the　minute　Ardelia　stopped　readin'　Miss　Tatt　says　proudly：　〃There！　haint　that　a　remarkable　poem；？〃　Sez　I；　calmly；　〃Yes　it　is　a　remarkable　one。〃　〃Did　you　ever　hear　anything　like　it？〃　says　she；　triumphly。　〃No；〃　sez　I　honestly；　〃I　never　did。〃　〃Ardelia；　read　the　poem　on　Little　Ardelia　Cordelia；　give　Miss　Allen　the　treat　of　hearin'　that　beautiful　thing。〃　I　sort　a　sithed　low　to　myself；　it　wuz　more　of　a　groan　than　a　common　sithe；　but　Miss　Tutt　didn't　heed　it；　she　kep'　right　on　　〃I　have　always　brought　up　my　children　to　make　other　folks　happy；　all　they　can；　and　in　rehearsin'　this　lovely　and　remarkable　poem；　Ardelia　will　be　not　only　makin'　you　perfectly　happy；　givin'　you　a　rich　intellectual　feast；　that　you　can't　often　have；　way　out　here　in　the　country；　fur　from　Tuttville；　but　she　will　also　be　attendin'　to　the　business　that　brought　us　here。　　I　have　always　fetched　my　children　up　to　combine　joy　and　business；　weld　'em　together　like　brass　and　steel。　　Ardelia；　begin！〃　So　Ardelia　commenced　agin'。　　It　wuz　wrote　on　a　big　sheet　of　paper　and　a　runnin'　vine　wuz　a　runnin'　all　'round　the　edge　of　the　paper；　made　with　a　pen。　Jest　as　soon　as　Ardelia　stopped　rehearsin'　the　verses；　Miss　Tutt　sez　agin　to　me：　〃Haint　that　a　most　remarkable　poem？〃　And　agin　I　sez　calmly；　and　trutbfully；　〃Yes；　it　is　a　very　remarkable　one！〃　〃And　now；〃　sez　Miss　Tutt；　plungin'　her　hand　in　the　bag；　and　drawin'　out　a　sheet　of　paper；　〃to　convince　you　that　Ardelia　has　always　had　this　divine　gift　of　poesy　　that　it　is　not；　all　the　effect　of　culture　and　high　education　　let　me　read　to　you　a　poem　she　wrote　when　she　wuz　only　a　mere　child；〃　and　Miss　Tutt　read：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃LINES　ON　A　CAT　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃WRITTEN　BY　ARDELIA　TUTT；　　　　　〃At　the　age　of　fourteen　years；　two　months　and　eight　days。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Oh　Cat！　Sweet　Tabby　cat　of　mine；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　6　months　of　age　has　passed　o'er　thee；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　I　would　not　resign；　resign　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　pleasure　that　I　find　in　you。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Dear　old　cat！〃　〃Don't　you　think；〃　sez　Miss　Tutt；　〃that　this　poem　shows　a　fund　of　passion；　a　reserve　power　of　passion　and　constancy；　remarkable　in　one　so　young？〃　〃Yes；〃　sez　I　reasonably；　〃no　doubt　she　liked　the　cat。　　And；〃　sez　I；　wantin'　to　say　somethin'　pleasant　and　agreeable　to　her；　〃no　doubt　it　was　a　likely　cat。〃　〃Oh　the　cat　itself　is　of　miner　importance；〃　sez　Miss　Tutt。　　〃We　will　fling　the　cat　to　the　winds。　　It's　of　my　daughter　I　would　speak。　　I　simply　handled　the　cat　to　show　the　rare　precocious　intellect。　　Oh！　how　it　gushed　out　in　the　last　line　in　the　unconquerable　burst　of　repressed　passion　　‘Dear　old　cat！'　Shakespeare　might　have　wrote　that　line；　do　you　not　think　so？〃　〃No　doubt　he　might；〃　sez　I；　calmly；　〃but　he　didn't。〃　I　see　she　looked　mad　and　I　hastened　to　say：　〃He　wuzn't　aquainted　with　the　cat。〃　She　looked　kinder　mollyfied　and　continued：　〃Ardelia　dashes　off　things　with　a　speed　that　would　astonish　a　mere　common　writer。　　Why　she　dashed　off　thirty…nine　verses　once　while　she　wuz　waitin'　for　the　dish　water　to　bile；　and　sent　'em　right　off　to　the　printer；　without　glancin'　at　'em　agin。'　〃I　dare　say　so；〃　sez　I；　〃I　should　judge　so　by　the　sound　on　'em。〃　〃Out　of　envy　and　jealousy；　the　rankest　envy；　and　the　shearest　jealousy；　them　verses　wuz　sent　back　with　the　infamous　request　that　she　should　use　'em　for　curl　papers。　　But　she　sot　right　down　and　wrote　forty…eight　verses　on　a　‘Cruel　Request；'　wrote　'em　inside　of　eighteen　minutes。　　She　throws　off　things；　Ardelia　does；　in　half　an　hour；　that　it　would　take　other　poets；　weeks　and　weeks　to　write。〃　〃I　persume　so；〃　sez　I；　〃I　dare　persume　to　say；　they　never　could　write　'em。〃　〃And　now；〃　sez　Miss　Tutt；　〃the　question　is；　will　you　put　Ardelia　on　the　back　of　that　horse　that　poets　ride　to　glory　on？　　Will　you　lift　her　onto　the　back　of　that　horse；　and　do　it　at　once？　　I　require　nothin'　hard　of　you；〃　sez　she；　a　borin'　me　through　and　through　with　her　eyes。　　〃It　must　be　a　joy　to　you；　Josiah　Allen's　wife；　a　rare　joy；　to　be　the　means　of　bringin'　this　rare　genius　before　the　public。　　I　ask　nothin'　hard　of　you；　I　only　ask　that　you　demand；　demand　is　the　right　word；　not　ask；　that　would　be　grovelin'　trucklin'　folly；　but　demand　that　the　public　that　has　long　ignored　my　daugther　Ardelia's　claim　to　a　seat　amongst　the　immortal　poets；　demand　them；　compel　them　to　pause；　to　listen；　and　then　seat　her　there；　up；　up　on　the　highest；　most　perpendiciler　pinnacle　of　fame's　pillow。　　Will　you　do　this？〃　I　sat　in　deep　dejection　and　my　rockin'　chair；　and　knew　not　what　to　say　　and　Miss　Tutt　went　on：　〃We　demand　more　than　fame；　deathless；　immortal　fame　for　'em。　　We　want　money；　wealth　for　'em；　and　want　it　at　once！　　We　want　it　for　extra　household　expenses；　luxuries；　clothing；　jewelry；　charity；　etc。　　If　we　enrich　the　world　with　this　rare　genius；　the　world　must　enrich　us　with　its　richest　emmolients。　　Will　you　see　that　we　have　it！　　Will　you　at　once　do　as　I　asked　you　to？　　Will　you　seat　her　immegately　where　I　want　her　sot？　Sez　I；　considerin'；　〃I　can't　get　her　up　there　alone；　I　haint　strong　enough。〃　　Sez　I；　sort　a　m