samantha at saratoga-第5部分

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r　sot？　Sez　I；　considerin'；　〃I　can't　get　her　up　there　alone；　I　haint　strong　enough。〃　　Sez　I；　sort　a　mekanikly；　〃I　have　got　the　rheumatez。〃　〃So　you　scoff　me　do　you？　　I　came　to　you　to　get　bread；　am　I　to　get　worse　than　a　stun　　a　scoff？〃　〃I　haint　gin　you　no　scoff；〃　sez　I；　a　spunkin'　up　a　little；　〃I　haint　thought　on　it。　　I　like　Ardelia　and　wish　her　well；　but　I　can't　do　merikles；　I　can't　compel　the　public　to　like　things　if　they　don't。〃　Sez　Miss　Tutt；　〃You　are　jealous　of　her；　you　hate　her。〃　〃No；　I　don't；〃　sez　I；　〃I　haint　jealous　of　her；　and　I　like　her　looks　first…rate。　　I　love　a　pretty　young　girl；〃　sez　I　candidly；　〃jest　as　I　love　a　fresh　posy　with　the　dew　still　on　it；　a　dainty　rose…bud　with　the　sweet　fragrance　layin'　on　its　half…folded　heart。　I　love　'em；〃　sez　I；　a　beginnin'　to　eppisode　a　little　unbeknown　to　me；　〃I　love　'em　jest　as　I　love　the　soft　unbroken　silence　of　the　early　spring　mornin'；　the　sun　all　palely　tinted　with　rose　and　blue；　and　the　earth　alayin'　calm　and　unwoke…up；　fresh　and　fair。　　I　love　such　a　mornin'　and　such　a　life；　for　itself　and　for　the　unwritten　prophecis　in　it。　　And　when　I　see　genius　in　such　a　sweet；　young　life；　why　it　makes　me　feel　as　it　duz　to　see　through　all　the　tender　prophetic　beauty　of　the　mornin'　skies；　a　big　white　dove　a　soarin'　up　through　the　blue　heavens。〃　Sez　Miss　Tutt；　〃You　see　that　in　Ardelia；　but　you　wont　own　it；　you　know　you　do。〃　〃No！〃　sez　I；　〃I　would　love　to　tell　you　that　I　see　it　in　Ardelia；　I　would　honest；　but　I　can't　look　into　them　mornin'　skies　and　say　I　see　a　white　dove　there；　when　I　don't　see　nothin'　more　than　a　plump　pullet；　a　jumpin'　down　from　the　fence　or　a　pickin'　round　calmly　in　the　back　door…yard。　　Jest　as　likely　the　hen　is；　as　the　white　dove；　jest　as　honerable；　but　you　mustn't　confound　the　two　together。〃　〃A　hen；〃　sez　Miss　Tutt　bitterly。　　〃To　confound　my　Ardelia　with　a　hen！　　And　I　don't　think　there　wuz　ever　a　more　ironieler　‘hen'　than　that　wuz；　or　a　scornfuller　one。〃　〃Why；〃　sez　I　reasonably。　　〃Hens　are　necessary　and　useful　in　any　position；　both　walkin'　and　settin'；　and　layin'。　　You　can't　get'em　in　any　position　hardly；　but　what　they　are　useful　and　respectable；　only　jest　flyin'。　　Hens　can't　fly。　　Their　wings　haint　shaped　for　it。　　They　look　some　like　a　dove's　wings　on　the　outside；　the　same　feathers；　the　same　way　of　stretchin'　'em　out。　　But　there　is　sunthin　lackin'　in　'em；　some　heaven…given　capacity　for　soarin'　an　for　flight　that　the　hens　don't　have。　　And　it　makes　trouble；　sights　and　sights　of　trouble　when　hens　try　to　fly；　try　to；　and　can't！　〃At　the　same　time　it　is　hard　for　a　dove　to　settle　down　in　a　back　yard　and　stay　there；　hard　and　tegus。　　She　can　and　duz　sometimes；　but　never　till　after　her　wings　have　been　clipped　in　some　way。　Poor　little　dove！　　I　am　always　sorry　for　'em　to　see　'em　a　walkin'　round　there；　a　wantin'　to　fly　　a　not　forgettin'　how　it　seemed　to　have　their　wings　soarin'　up　through　the　clear　sky；　and　the　rush　of　the　pure　liquid　windwaves　a　sweepin'　aginst　'em；　as　they　riz　up；　up；　in　freedom；　and　happiness；　and　glory。　　Poor　little　creeters。　〃Yes；　but　doves　can；　if　you　clip　their　wings；　settle　down　and　walk；　but　hens　CAN'T　fly；　not　for　any　length　of　time　they　can't。　No　amount　of　stimulatin'　poultices　applied　to　the　ends　of　their　tail　feathers　and　wings　can　ever　make　'em　fly。　　They　can't；　it　haint　their　nater。　　They　can　make　nests；　and　fill　them　with　pretty　downy　chicks；　they　can　be　happy　and　beautiful　in　life　and　mean；　they　can　spend　their　lives　in　jest　as　honerable　and　worthy　a　way　as　if　they　wuz　a　flyin'　round；　and　make　a　good　honerable　appearance　from　day　to　day；　till　they　begin　to　flop　their　wings；　and　fly　　then　their　mean　is　not　beautiful　and　inspirin'；　no；　it　is　fur　from　it。　　It　is　tuff　to　see　'em；　tuff　to　see　the　floppin'；　tuff　to　see　their　vain　efforts　to　soar　through　the　air；　tuff　to　see　'em　fall　percepitously　down　onto　the　ground　agin。　　For　they　must　come　there　in　the　end；　they　are　morally　certain　to。　〃Now　Ardelia　is　a　sweet　pretty　lookin'　girl；　she　can　set　down　in　a　cushioned　arm…chair　by　a　happy　fireside；　with　pretty　baby　faces　a　clusterin'　around　her　and　some　man's　face　like　the　sun　a　reflectin'　back　the　light　of　her　happy　heart。　　But　she　can't　sit　up　on　the　pinnacle　of　fame's　pillow。　　I　don't　believe　she　can　ever　get　up　there；　I　don't。　　Honestly　speakin'；　I　don't。〃　〃Envy！〃　sez　Miss　Tutt；　〃glarin'；　shameless　envy！　　You　don't　want　Ardelia　to　rise！　　You　don't　want　her　to　mount　that　horse　I　spoke　of；　you　don't　want　to　own　that　you　see　genius　in　her。　　But　you　do；　Josiah　Allen's　wife；　you　know　you　do　　〃　〃No；〃　sez　I；　〃I　don't　see　it。　　I　see　the　sweetness　of　pretty　girlhood；　the　beauty　and　charm　of　openin'　life；　but　I　don't　see　nothin'　else；　I　don't；　honest。　　I　don't　believe　she　has　got　genius；〃　sez　I；　〃seein'　you　put　the　question　straight　to　me　and　depend　a　answer；　seein'　her　future　career　depends　on　her　choice　now；　I　must　tell　you　that　I　believe　she　would　succeed　better　in　the　millionary　trade　or　the　mantilly　maker's　than　she　will　in　tryin'　to　mount　the　horse　you　speak　on。　〃Why；〃　sez　I；　candidly；　〃some　folks　can't　get　up　on　that　horse；　their　legs　haint　strong　enough。　　And　if　they　do　manage　to　get　on；　it　throws　'em；　and　they　lay　under　the　heels　for　life。　　I　don't　want　to　see　Ardelia　there；　I　don't　want　to　see　her　maimed　and　lamed　and　stunted　so　early　in　the　mornin'　of　life；　by　a　kick　from　that　animal；　for　she　can't　ride　it；〃　sez　I；　〃honestly　she　can't。　〃There　is　nothin'　so　useless　in　life；　and　so　sort　a　wearin'　as　to　be　a　lookin'　for　sunthin'　that　haint　there。　　And　when　you　pretend　it　is　there　when　it　haint；　you　are　addin'　iniquity　to　uselessness；　so　if　you'll　take　my　advice；　the　advice　of　a　wellwisher；　you　will　stop　lookin'；　for　I　tell　you　plain　that　it　haint　there。〃　Sez　Miss　Tutt；　〃Josiah　Allen's　wife；　you　have　for　reasens　best　known　to　your　conscience　baulked　my　hopes　of　a　speedy　immortality。　You　have　willfully　tried　to　break　down　my　hopes　of　an　immense；　immediate　income　to　flow　out　of　them　poems　for　luxuries；　jewelry；　charity；　etc。　　But　I　can　at　least　claim　this　at　your　hands；　I　demand　honesty。　　Tell　me　honestly　what　you　yourself　think　of　them　poems。〃　Sez　I　（gettin'　up　sort　a　quick　and　goin'　into　the　buttery；　and　bringin'　out　a　little　basket）；　〃Here　are　some　beautiful　sweet　apples；　won't　you　have　one？〃　〃Apples；　at　such　a　time　as　this；〃　sez　Miss　Tutt　〃When　the　slumberin'　world　trembles　before　the　advancin'　tread　of　a　new　poet　　When　the　heavens　are　listenin'　intently　to　ketch　the　whispers　of　an　Ardelia's　fate　　Sweet　apples！　in　such　a　time　as　this！〃　sez　she。　　But　she　took　two。　〃I　demand　the　truth；〃　sez　she。　　〃And　you　are　a　base；　trucklin'　coward；　if　you　give　it　not。〃　Sez　I；　tryin'　to　carry　off　the　subject　and　the　apples　into　the　buttery；　〃Poetry　ort　to　have　pains　took　with　it。〃　〃Jealousy！〃　sez　Miss　Tutt。　　〃Jealousy　might　well　whisper　this。　Envy；　rank　envy　might　breathe　the　suspicion　that　Ardelia　haint　been　took　pains　with。　　But　I　can　see　through　it；〃　sez　she。　　〃I　can　see　through　it。〃　〃Well；〃　sez　I；　wore　out；　〃if　they　belonged　to　me；　and　if　she　wuz　my　girl；　I　would　throw　the　verses　into　the　fire；　and　set　her　to　a　trade。〃　She　stood　for　a　minute　and　bored　me　through　and　through　with　them　eyes。　　Why　it　seemed　as　if　there　wuz　two　holes　clear　through　my　very　spirit；　and　sole；　she　partly　lifted　that　fearful　lookin'　umberell　as　if　to　pierce　me　through　and　through；　it　wuz　a　fearful　seen。　At　last　she　turned；　and　flung　the　apple　she　wuz　a　holdin'　onto　the　floor　at　my　feet　　and　sez　she；　〃I　scorn　'em；　and　you　too。〃　　And　she　kinder　stomped　her　feet　and　sez；　〃I　fling　off　the　dust　I　have　gethered　here；　at　your　feet。〃　Now　my　floor　wuz　clean　and　looked　like　yeller　glass；　almost；　it　wuz　so　shinin'　and　spotless；　and　I　resented　the　idee　of　her　sayin'　that　she　collected　dust　off　from　it。　　But　I　didn't　say　nothin'　back。　　She　had　the　bag　of　poetry　on　her　arm；　and　I　didn't　feel　like　addin'　any　more　to　her　troubles。　But　Ardelia；　after　her　mother　had　swept　out　ahead；　turned　round　and　held　out　her　hand；　and　smiled　a　sweet　but　ruther　of　a　despondent　and　sorrowful　smile；　and　I　kissed　her　warmly。　　I　like　Ardelia。　　And　what　I　said；　I　said　for　her　good；　and　she　knew　it。　I　like　Ardelia。　Well；　Miss　Tutt　and　Ardelia　went　from　our　house　to　Eben　Pixley's。　They　are　distant　relatives　of　hern；　and　live　about　3　quarters　of　a　mile　from　us。　　The　Pixleys　think　everything　of　Ardelia　but　they　can't　bear　her　mother。　　There　has　been　difficulties　in　the　family。　But　Ardelia　stayed　there　mor'n　two　weeks　right　along。　　She　haint　very　happy　to　home　I　believe。　　And　before　she　went　back　home　it　wuz　arranged　that　she　should　teach　the　winter's　school　and　board　to　Miss　Pixley's。　　But　Miss　Pixley　wuz　took　sick　with　the　tyfus　before　she　had　been　there　two　weeks　　and；　for　all　the　world；　if　the　deestrict　didn't　want　us　to　board　her。　　Josiah　hadn't　much　to　do；　so　he　could　carry　her　back　and　forth　in　stormy　weather；　and　it　wuz　her　wish　to　come。　　And　it　wuz　Josiah's　wish　too；　for　the　pay　wuz　good；　and　the　work　light　　for　him。　　And　so　I　consented　after　a　parlay。　But　I　didn't　regret　it。　　She　is　a　good　little　creeter　and　no　more　like　her　mother　than　a　feather　bed　is　like　a　darnin'　needle。　　I　like　Ardelia：　so　does　Josiah。

III。　THE　CHERITY　OF　THE　JONESVILLIANS。

We　have　been　havin'　a　pound　party　here　in　Jonesville。　　There　wuz　a　lot　of　children　left　without　any　father　or　mother；　nobody　only　an　old　grandma　to　take　care　of　'em；　and　she　wuz　half　bent　with　the　rheumatiz；　and　had　a　swelled　neck；　and　lumbago　and　fits。　They　lived　in　an　old　tumble…down　house　jest　outside　of　Jonesville。　The　father　wuz；　I　couldn't　deny；　a　shiftless　sort　of　a　chap；　good…natured；　always　ready　to　obleege　a　neighbor；　but　he　hadn'nt　no　faculty。　　And　I　don't　know；　come　to　think　of　it；　as　anybody　is　any　more　to　blame　if　they　are　born　without　a　faculty；　than　if　they　are　born　with　only　one　eye。　　Faculty　is　one　of　the　things　that　you　can't　buy。　He　loved　to　hunt。　　That　is；　he　loved　to　hunt　some　kinds　of　things。　He　never　loved　to　hunt　stiddy；　hard　work；　and　foller　on　the　trail　of　it　till　he　evertook　success　and　captured　it。　　No；　he　druther　hunt　after　catamounts　and　painters；　in　woods　where　catamounts　haint　mounted；　and　painters　haint　painted　sence　he　wuz　born。　He　generally　killed　nothin'　bigger　than　red　squirrels　and　chipmunks。　The　biggest　game　he　ever　brought　down　wuz　himself。　　He　shot　himsel