samantha at saratoga-第41部分

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nto　his　place；　and　is　a　goin'　to　fix　his　house　all　over　splendid　before　the　weddin'　day。　　And　Ardelia　is　to　go　right　from　the　altar　to　her　home　　it　is　her　own　wishes。　She　knows　enough　in　her　way；　Ardelia　duz。　　And　she　has　a　wisdom　of　the　heart　which　sometimes　I　think；　goes　fur　ahead　of　the　wisdom　of　the　head。　　And　then　agin；　I　think　they　go　well　together；　wisdom　of　the　head　and　the　heart　too。　　（The　times　I　think　this　is　after　readin'　her　poetry。）　But　any　way　she　will　make　Abram　a　good　soft　little　wife；　lovin'　and　affectionate　always。　　And　good　land！　he　loves　her　to　that　extent　that　it　wouldn't　make　no　difference　to　him　if　she　didn't　know　enough　to　come　in　when　it　rained。　　He　would　fetch　her　in；　drippin'　and　worship　her；　damp　or　dry。


XX。　AN　ACCIDENT　WITH　RESULTS。

Wall；　it　wuz　on　the　very　day　before　we　laid　out　to　leave　for　home。　　I　wuz　a　settin'　in　my　room　a　mendin'　up　a　rip　in　my　pardner's　best　coat；　previous　to　packin'　in　his　trunk；　when　all　of　a　sudden　Miss　Flamm's　hired　girl　came　in　a　cryin'；　and　sez　I；　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　And　sez　she；　〃Ah！　　Miss　Flamm　has　sent　for　you　and　Mr。　Allen　to　come　over　there　right　away。　　There　has　been　a　axident。〃　〃A　axident！〃　sez　I。　〃Yes；〃　sez　she。　　〃The　little　girl　has　got　hurt；　and　they　don't　think　she　will　live。　　Poor　little　pretty　thing；〃　sez　the　hired　girl；　and　busted　out　a　cryin'　agin。　〃How　did　she　get　hurt？〃　sez　I；　as　I　laid　down　the　coat；　and　went　to　tyin'　on　my　bunnet　mekanically。　〃Wall；　the　nurse　had　her　out　with　the　baby　and　the　little　boys。　And　we　s'pose　she　had　been　drinkin'　too　much。　　We　all　knew　she　drinked；　and　she　wuzn't　in　a　condition　to　go　out　with　the　children　this　mornin'；　and　Miss　Flamm　would　have　noticed　it　and　kep'　'em　in；　but　the　dog　wuz　sick　all　night；　and　Miss　Flamm　wuz　up　with　it　most　all　night；　and　she　felt　wore　out　this　mornin'　with　her　anxtety　for　the　dog；　and　her　want　of　sleep；　and　so　they　went　out；　and　it　wuzn'　more'n　half　an　hour　before　it　took　place。　She　left　the　baby　carriage　and　the　little　boys　and　girl　in　a　careless　place；　not　knowin'　what　she　wuz　about；　and　they　got　run　over。　　The　baby　and　the　little　boys　wuzn't　hurt　much；　but　they　think　the　little　girl　will　die。　　Miss　Flamm　went　right　into　a　caniption　fit；〃　sez　she；　〃when　she　wuz　brung　in。〃　〃It　is　a　pity　she　hadn't　went　into　one　before；〃　sez　I　very　dryly；　dry　as　a　chip　almost。　　My　axents　wuz　fairly　dusty　they　wuz　so　dry。　　But　my　feelin's　for　Miss　Flamm　moistened　up　and　melted　down　when　I　see　her；　when　we　went　into　the　room。　　It　didn't　take　us　long　for　they　are　still　to　the　tarven；　and　we　met　Josiah　Allen　at　the　door；　so　he　went　with　us。　Yes；　Miss　Flamm　felt　bad　enough；　bad　enough。　　She　has　got　a　mother's　heart　after　all；　down　under　all　the　strings　and　girtins；　and　laces；　and　dogs；　etc。；　etc。；　that　have　hid　it；　and　surrounded　it。　　Her　face　wuz　jest　as　white　and　deathly　as　the　little　girl's；　and　that　wuz　jest　the　picture　of　stillness　and　death。　　And　I　remembered　then　that　I　had　heard　that　the　little　girl　wuz　her　favorite　amongst　her　children；　whenever　she　had　any　time　to　notice　'em。　　She　wuz　a　only　daughter　and　a　beauty；　besides　bein'　smart。　The　doctor　had　been　there　and　done　what　he　could；　and　go　gone　away。　　He　said　there　wuz　nothin'　more　to　do　till　she　came　out　of　that　stuper；　if　she　ever　did。　But　it　looked　like　death；　and　there　Miss　Flamm　sot　alone　with　her　child；　and　her　conscience。　　She　wuzn't　a　cryin'　but　there　wuz　a　look　in　her　eyes；　in　her　set　white　face　that　went　beyond　tears；　fur　beyond　'em。　　She　gripped　holt　of　my　hand　with　her　icy　cold　ones；　and　sez　she；　〃Pray　for　me！〃　　She　wuz　brung　up　a　Methodist；　and　knew　we　wuz　the　same。　　My　feelin's　overcame　me　as　I　looked　in　her　face　and　the　child's；　both　lookin'　like　dyin'　faces；　and　I　sez　with　the　tears　a　jest　runnin'　down　my　cleeks　and　a　layin'　my　hand　tender　on　her　shoulder；　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you；　you　poor　little　creeter？〃　〃Pray　for　me；〃　sez　she　agin；　with　her　white　lips　not　movin'　in　a　smile；　nor　a　groan。　Now　my　companion；　Josiah　Allen；　is　a　class…leader；　and　though　I　say　it　that　mebby　shouldn't　　That　man　is　able　in　prayer。　　He　prays　as　if　he　meant　what　he　said。　　He　don't　try　to　show　off　in　oritory　as　so　many　do；　or　give　the　Lord　information。　　He　never　sez；　〃Oh　Lord；　thou　knowest　by　the　mornin'　papers；　so　and　so。〃　No；　he　prays　in　simple　words　for　what　he　wants。　　And　he　always　seems　to　feel　that　somebody　is　nigh　to　him；　a　hearin'　him；　and　if　it　is　best　and　right；　his　requests　will　be　granted。　So　I　motioned　for　that　man　to　kneel　down　by　the　bed　and　pray；　which　he　did。　　He　wuz　to　the　fore　side　of　the　bed；　and　Miss　Flamm　and　I　on　the　other　side。　　Wall；　Josiah　commenced　his　prayer；　in　a　low　earnest　askin'　voice；　then　all　of　a　sudden　he　begun　to　hesitate；　waver；　and　act　dretful　agitated。　　And　his　actions　and　agitations　seemed　to　last　for　some　time。　　I　thought　it　wuz　his　feelin's　overcomin'　of　him；　and　of　course；　my　hand　bein'　over　my　eyes　in　a　respectful；　decent　way；　I　didin't　see　nothin'。　But　at　last；　after　what　wuz　seemingly　a　great　effort；　he　began　to　go　on　as　usual　agin。　　About　that　time　I　heard　sunthin'　hit　the　wall　hard　on　the　other　side　of　the　room；　and　I　heard　a　yelp。　　But　then　everything　wuz　still　and　Josiah　Allen　made　a　good　prayer。　And　before　it　wuz　through　Miss　Flamm　laid　her　head　down　onto　my　shoulder；　and　busted　into　tears。　And　what　wuz　rooted　up　and　washed　away　by　them　tears　I　don't　know；　and　I　don't　s'pose　anybody　duz。　　Whether　vanity；　and　a　mistaken　ambition；　and　the　poor　empty　successes　of　a　fashionable　life　wuz　uprooted　and　floated　away　on　the　awakened；　sweepin'　tide　of　a　mother's　love　and　remorse；　whether　the　dog　floated　down　that　stream；　and　low　necked　dresses；　and　high　hazardus　slippers；　and　strings　for　waists　and　corsets；　and　fashion；　and　folly；　and　rivalry；　and　waltzin'；　and　glitter；　and　buttons；　and　show；　whether　they　all　went　down　that　stream；　swept　along　like　bubbles　on　a　heavin'　tumultuous　tide；　I　don't　know；　nor　I　don't　s'pose　anybody　duz。　But　any　way；　from　that　day　on　Miss　Flamm　has　been　a　different　woman。　　I　stayed　with　her　all　that　night　and　the　next　day；　she　a　not　leavin'　the　child's　bed　for　a　minute；　and　we　a　not　gettin'　of　her　to；　much　as　we　tried　to；　eatin'　whatever　we　could　make　her　eat　right　there　by　the　bedside。　　And　on　the　2d　day　the　doctor　see　a　change　in　the　child　and　she　began　to　roust　a　little　out　of　that　stuper；　and　in　a　week's　time；　she　wuz　a　beginnin'　to　get　well。　We　stayed　on　till　she　wuz　out　of　danger　and　then　we　went　home。　But　I　see　that　she　wuz　to　be　trusted　with　her　children　after　that。　　She　dismissed　that　nurse；　got　a　good　motherly　one；　who　she　said　would　help　her　take　care　of　the　children　for　the　future；　only　help　her；　for　she　should　have　the　oversight　of　'em　herself；　always。　The　hired　girl　told　me　（Miss　Flamm　never　mentioned　it　to　me）；　and　she　wuz　glad　enough　of　it；　that　the　dog　wuz　dead。　　It　died　the　day　the　little　girl　wuz　hurt。　　The　hired　girl　said　the　doctor　had　told　Miss　Flamm；　that　it　couldn't　live　long。　　But　it　wuzn't　till　we　wuz　on　our　way　home　that　I　found　out　one　of　the　last　eppisodes　in　that　dog's　life。　　You　see；　sick　as　that　dog　wuz；　it　wuz　bound　to　bark　at　my　pardner　as　long　as　it　had　a　breath　left　in　its　body。　And　Josiah　told　me　in　confidence　（and　it　must　be　kep'；　it　is　right　that　it　should　be）；　he　said　jest　after　he　had　knelt　down　and　began　to　pray　he　felt　that　dog　climb　up　onto　his　heels；　and　pull　at　his　coat　tails；　and　growl　a　low　mad　growl；　and　naw　at　'em。　He　tried　to　nestle　round　and　get　it　off　quietly　but　no；　there　it　stood　right　onto　Josiah　Allen's　heels；　and　hung　on；　and　tugged　at　them　coat…tails；　and　growled　at　'em　that　low　deep　growl；　and　shook　'em；　as　if　determined　to　worry　'em　off。　　And　there　my　companion　wuz。　　He　couldn't　show　his　feelin's　in　his　face；　he　had　got　to　keep　his　face　all　right　towards　Miss　Flamm。　　And　his　feelin's　was　rousted　up　about　her；　and　he　wuz　a　wantin'；　and　knew　he　wuz　expected；　to　have　his　words　and　manner　soothin'　and　comfortin'；　and　that　dog　a　standin'　on　his　heels　and　tearin'　off　his　coat…tails。　What　to　do　he　didn't　know。　　He　couldn't　stop　his　prayer　on　such　a　time　as　this　and　kill　a　dog；　though　he　owned　up　to　me　that　he　felt　like　it；　and　he　couldn't　keep　still　and　feel　his　coat…tails　tore　off　of　him；　and　be　growled　at；　and　shook；　and　pawed　at　all　day。　　So　he　said　after　the　dog　had　gin　a　most　powerful　tug；　almost　a　partin'　the　skirts　asunder　from　his　coat；　he　drew　up　one　foot　carefully　（still　a　keepin'　his　face　straight　and　the　prayer　agoin'）　and　brung　it　back　sudden　and　voyalent；　and　he　heard　the　dog　strike　aginst　the　opposite　side　of　the　room　with　one　short；　sharp　yelp；　and　then　silence　rained　down　and　he　finished　the　prayer。　But　he　said；　and　owned　it　up　to　me；　that　it　didn't　seem　to　him　so　much　like　a　religious　exercise；　as　he　could　wish。　　It　didn't　seem　to　help　his　spiritual　growth　much；　if　any。　And　I　sez；　〃I　should　think　as　much；〃　and　I　sez；　〃You　wuz　in　a　hard　place；　Josiah　Allen。〃　And　he　sez；　〃It　wuz　the　dumbest　hard　place　any　one　wuz　ever　in　on　earth。〃　And　I　sez；　〃I　don't　know　but　it　wuz。〃　　That　man　wuz　to　be　pitied；　and　I　told　him　so；　and　he　acted　real　cheerful　and　contented　at　hearin'　my　mind。　　He　owned　up　that　he　had　dreaded　tellin'　me　about　it；　for　fear　I　would　upbraid　him。　　But；　good　land！　　I　would　have　been　a　hard　hearted　creeter　if　I　could　upbraid　a　man　for　goin'　through　such　a　time　as　that。　　He　said　he　thought　mebby　I　would　think　it　wuz　irreverent　or　sunthin'；　the　dog's　actions；　at　such　a　time。　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃you　didn't　choose　the　actions；　did　you？　　It　wuzn't　nothin'　you　wanted。〃　〃No；〃　sez　he　feelin'ly。　　〃Heaven　knows　I　didn't。　　And　I　done　the　best　I　could；〃　sez　he　sort　a　pitiful。　Sez　I；　〃I　believe　you；　Josiah　Allen；〃　and　sez　I　warmly；　〃I　don't　believe　that　Alexander；　or　Cezar；　or　Grover　Cleveland；　could　have　done　any　better。〃　He　brightened　all　up　at　this；　he　felt　dretful　well　to　think　I　felt　with　him；　and　my　feelin's　wuz　all　rousted　up　to　think　of　the　sufferin's　he　had　went　through；　so　we　felt　real　well　towards　each　other。　　Such　is　some　of　the　comforts　and　consolations　of　pardners。　Howsumever；　the　dog　died；　and　I　wuz　kinder　sorry　for　the　dog。　　I　think　enough　of　dogs　（as　dogs）　and　always　did。　　Always　use　'em　dretful　well；　only　it　mads　me　to　have　'em　put　ahead　of　children；　and　sot　up　in　front　of　'em。　　I　always　did　and　always　shall