Itdidnotenterthemindsoftheauthoritiesthatanyonesofortunateastobeadmittedintothathappyhavenwoulddeclinetostaythere。
Theunwillingguestdisappearedearlyonthemorrowofhisarrival,and,aftersomesearch,theyfollowedhimtotheoldspot。Hehadclimbedintohisbelovedretreat,and,havinglearnednothingfromexperience,hadmendedthewillowdoorasbesthecould,andlaidhimdowninpeace。
Theydraggedhimoutagain,andthistimemoreimpatiently;
foritwasexasperatingtoseeaman(evenifhewereafool)
fightagainstabedandthreemealsaday。
Thesecondattemptwaslittlemoresuccessfulthanthefirst。
Asaplaceofresidence,thepoor-farmdidnotseemanymoredesirableorattractiveonnearacquaintancethanitdidatlongrange。
Tomremainedaweek,becausehewaskeptincloseconfinement;
butwhentheyjudgedthathewasweanedfromhisoldhome,theyloosedhisbonds,and——backtotheplainshesped,likeanarrowshotfromthebow,orlikeabitofironleapingtothemagnet。
Whatshouldbedonewithhim?
Publicopinionwasdivided。Somepeopledeclaredthatthevillagehaddoneitsduty,andifthe\"dog-gonedlunk-head\"
wantedtostarveandfreeze,itwashisfuneral,nottheirs。
Othersthoughtthatthecommunityhadnoresourcebuttobeartheresponsibilityofitsirresponsiblechildren,howevertroublesometheymightbe。Therewasentireunanimityofviewsofarasthemainissueswereconcerned。
Itwasagreedthatnobodyatthepoor-farmhadleisuretostandguardoverTomnightandday,andthatthesheriffcouldnotbeexpectedtospendhistimeforcinghimoutofhishutontheblueberryplains。
Therewasbutonemoreexpedienttobetried,averysimpleandingeniousbutradicalandcomprehensiveone,which,inRubeHobson’sopinion,wouldstrikeattherootofthematter。
Tomhadfledfromcaptivityforthethirdtime。
Hehadstolenoutatdaybreak,and,byanunexpectedstrokeoffortune,themolassespailwashangingonanailbythesheddoor。
Theremainsofabatteredoldbushelbasketlayonthewood-pile:bottomithadnone,norhandles;rotundityofsidehadlongsincedisappeared,andnonebutitsmakerwouldhaveknownitforabasket。Tomcaughtitupinhisflight,and,seizingthefirstcrookedstickthatoffered,heslungthedearfamiliarburdenoverhisshoulderandstartedoffonajog-trot。
Heaven,howhappyhewas!ItwastherosydawnofanIndiansummerday,——
awarmjewelofaday,droppedintothebleakworldofyesterdaywithoutahintofbeneficentintention;oneofthoseenchantingweathersurpriseswithwhichDameNaturereconcilesustohersternNewEnglandrule。
Thejoythatcomesoffreedom,andthefreedomthatcomesofjoy,unbenttheoldman’sstiffenedjoints。
Herenewedhisyouthateverymile。Heranlikealapwing。
Whenhisfeetfirststruckthesandysoiloftheplains,hebrokeintooldsongofthe\"bloom-in’gy-ar-ding\"andthe\"jollyswain,\"
andinthemarvelousmentalandspiritualexhilarationbornofthesuprememomenthealmostgraspedthatimpossiblelastnote。Hisheardcouldhardlyholditsburdenofrapturewhenhecaughtthewell-knowngleamofthewhitebirches。
Heturnedintothefamiliarpath,boy’sbloodthumpinginoldman’sveins。Thepastweekhadbeenadreadfuldream。
Afewstepsmoreandhewouldbewithinsight,withintouchofhome,——homeatlast!No——whatwaswrong?
Hemusthavegonebeyondit,inhisrecklesshaste!
Strangethathecouldhaveforgottenthebelovedspot!
Canlovermistakethewaytosweetheart’swindow?
Canchildlosethepathtomother’sknee?
Heturned,——ranhitherandthither,likeonedistraught。
Anamelessdreadflittedthroughhisdullmind,chillinghiswarmblood,paralyzingtheactivityofthemomentbefore。
Atlast,withasoblikethatofafrightenedchildwhofliesfromsomeimaginedevillurkingindarkness,hedartedbacktothewhitebirchesandstartedanew。
Thistimehetrustedtoblindinstinct;hisfeetknewthepath,and,lefttothemselves,theytookhimthroughthetangleofdrybushesstraighttohis——
Ithadvanished!
Nothingbutashesremainedtomarkthespot,——nothingbutashes!
Andthese,eremanydays,theautumnwindswouldscatter,andtheleaflessbranchesonwhichtheyfellwouldshakethemofflightly,neverdreamingthattheyhidthesoulofahome。
Nothingbutashes!
PoorTomo’theblueb’ryplains!
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
THENOONINGTREE。
Thegiantelmstoodinthecentreofthesquire’sfairgreenmeadows,andwasknowntoallthecountryroundaboutasthe\"Beanellum。\"
Theothertreeshadseeminglyretiredtoarespectfuldistance,asiftheywerenotworthyofcloserintimacy;andsoitstoodalone,kingofthemeadow,monarchofthevillage。
Itshotfromthegroundforaspace,straight,strong,andsuperb,andthenbustintoninesplendidbranches,eachatreeinitself,allgrowingsymmetricallyfromtheparenttrunk,andcastingagratefulshadowunderwhichalltheinhabitantsofthetinyvillagemighthavegathered。
Itwasnotaloneitssize,itsbeauty,itssymmetry,itsdensityoffoliage,thatmadeitthegloryoftheneighborhood,butthelowgrownofitsbranchesandtheextra-ordinarybreadthofitsshade。
Passers-byfromtheadjacenttownswerewonttohitchtheirteamsbythewayside,crawlthroughthestumpfenceandwalkacrossthefields,foranearerviewofitsmagnificence。
Oneman,indeed,wasknowntodrivebythetreeeverydayduringthesummer,andlifthishattoit,respectfully,eachtimehepassed;
buthewasapoetandhisintellectwasnotgreatlyesteemedinthevillage。
Theelmwasalmostasbeautifulinoneseasonasinanother。
Inthespringitrosefrommoistfieldsandmellowploughedground,itstinybrownleafbudsburstingwithprideatthethoughtofthelovelinesscoiledupinside。Insummeritstoodinthemidstofawavinggardenofbuttercupsandwhiteweed,atoweringmassofverdantleafage,ashelterfromthesunandarefugefromthestorm;acool,splendid,hospitabledome,underwhichthewearyfarmermightflinghimself,andgazeupwardasintotheheightsanddepthsofanemeraldheaven。
Asforthebirds,theymadeitafashionablesummerresort,themostcommodiousandattractiveinthewholecountry;withnolimittotheaccommodationsforthoseofagregariousturnofmind,likingtheadvantagesofselectsocietycombinedwithcountryair。
Intheautumnithelditsown;forwhentheotherelmschangedtheirgreentodullertints,thenooningtreeputonagownofyellow,andstoodoutagainstthefarbackgroundofsombrepinewoodsabrilliantmassofgoldandbrown。
Inwinter,whentherewasnolongerdunofupturnedsod,norwavingdaisygardens,norruddyautumngrasses,itroseabovethedazzlingsnowcrust,liftingitsbare,shapelybranchesinsobereleganceanddignity,andseemingtosay,\"Donotpityme;Ihavebeen,and,pleaseGod,Ishallbe!\"
Whenevertheweatherwassufficientlymild,itwasusedasa\"nooning\"
treebyallthemenatworkinthesurroundingfields;butitwasinhayingtimethatitbecamethefavoritelunchingand\"bangeing\"placeforSquireBean’shandsandthoseofMissVildaCummins,whoownedtheadjoiningfarm。
Themencongregatedunderthespreadingbranchesattwelveo’theclock,andspentthenoonhourthere,eatingand\"swapping\"stories,astheyweredoingto-day。
Eachhadatinpail,andeachconsumedaquantityof\"flourfood\"
thatkeptthehousewivesbusyatthecookstovefrommorningtillnight。
AglanceatPittPackard’sluncheon,forinstance,mightsufficeasanillustration,for,asJabeSlocumsaid,\"Pitttookafterbothhisparents;oneetagooddeal,’n’theotheragoodwhile。\"
Hispailcontainedfourdoughnuts,aquartersectionofpie,sixbuttermilkbiscuits,sixgingercookies,abakedcupcustard,andaquartofcoldcoffee。Thisquantitywasatrifleunusual,buteverymaninthegroupwaslinedthroughoutwithpie,cementedwithbuttermilkbread,andrivetedwithdoughnuts。
JabeSlocumandBradGibsonlayextendedslouchingly,theircowhidebootsturneduptothesky;DaveMilliken,SteveWebster,andtheothersleanedbackagainstthetree-trunk,smokingclaypipes,orhuggingtheirkneesandchewingbladesofgrassreflectively。
Onemansatapartfromtherest,gloomilypuffingringsofsmokeintotheair。Afterawhilehelaydowninthegrasswithhisheadburiedinhishat,sleepingtoallappearances,whiletheotherstalkedandlaughed;forhehadnostories,thoughheputinanabsent-mindedwordortwowhenhewasdirectlyaddressed。ThiswasthemanfromTennessee,MattHenderson,dubbed\"Dixie\"forshort。Hewasagiantfellow,——
a\"greatgormin’critter,\"SamanthaAnnMillikencalledhim;
butifhehadhelduphisheadandstraightenedhisbroadshoulders,hewouldhavebeenthoughtamanofsplendidpresence。
Heseemedabeingfromanothersphereinsteadoffromanothersectionofthecountry。Itwasnotalonetheolivetintoftheskin,themassofwavydarkhairtossedbackfromahighforehead,thesombreeyes,andthesadmouth,——amouththathadnevergrownintolaughingcurvesthroughtellingYankeejokes,——itwasnotthesethatgavehimwhattheboyscalleda\"kindofadowncastedlook。\"
ThemanfromTennesseehadsomethingmorethanamelancholytemperament;
hehad,orphysiognomywasalie,asorrowtuggingathisheart。
\"I’mgoin’todozeaspell,\"drawledJabeSlocum,pullinghisstrawhatoverhiseyes。\"I’vegottorenewmystrengthliketheeagle’s,’fI’mgoin’towalktothecircusthisafternoon。
Wakemeup,boys,whenyouthinkI’doughttoslingthatscythesomemore,forifIhevitonmymindIcan’tgitawinko’sleep。\"
Thiswasapparentlyawitticism;atanyrate,itelicitedroarsoflaughter。
\"It’soneofJabe’suselessdays;hetakes’emfromhisgreat-auntLyddy,\"saidDavidMilliken。
\"Youjestdryup,Dave。Efittookmeaslongtogittoworkin’asitdidyoutogitawife,Ibatethishaywouldn’tgitmoweddowntocracko’doom。Gorry!ain’tthisatree!
Itellyou,thesun’n’theairth,thedew’n’theshowers,’n’theLordGodo’creationjesttookholt’n’workedtogetheronthistree,’n’nomistake!\"
\"You’reright,Jabe。\"(ThisfromSteveWebster,whowasabsentlycuttinga_D_inthebark。Hewasalwayscutting_D_’sthesedays。)
\"Thisellumcan’tbebeatintheStateo’Maine,nornootherstate。
MybrotherthatlivesinCaliforniasaysthatthebigredwoods,bigastheyair,don’tthrownosechshade,norain’tsohan’some,’speciallyinthefallo’theyear,asourStateo’Mainetrees;
’assiduoustrees,’hecalled’em。\"
\"_Assidyus_trees?Whydon’tyoutalkUnitedStateswhileyou’reaboutit,’n’notfireyerlong-rangewordsroundhere?
_Assidyus!_Whatdoesitmean,anyhow?\"
\"Can’tproveitbyme。That’swhathecalled’em,’n’
Ineverforgotit。\"
\"Assidyus——assidyus——itdon’tsoundasifitmeantnothing’,tome。\"
\"Assiduousmeans’busy,’\"saidthemanfromTennessee,whohadsuddenlywakedfromabrownstudy,anddroppedoffintoanotherassoonashehadgiventhedefinition。
\"Busy,doesit?Wall,Iguessweain’tnobetteroffnow’nweeverwas。Onetree’s’bout’sbusyasanother,asfur’sIcansee。\"
\"Wall,thereiskindofameanin’inittome,butit’sturriblefarfetched,\"remarkedJabeSlocum,rathersleepily。
\"Yousee,ourellumsandmaples’n’allthemtreesspendsparto’
theyearinbuddin’’n’gittin’outtheirleaves’n’hangin’
emalloverthebranches;’n’then,nosoonerairtheyfullgrownthantheyhevtobegincolorin’of’emredoryellerorbrown,’n’thenshakin’’emoff;’n’thisisallextry,youmightsay,totheirevery-daychoreso’growin’’n’cirkerlatin’sap,’n’spreadin’
’n’thickenin’’n’shovin’outlimbs,’n’onething’n’’nother;
’n’itstan’storeasonthatthefirst’n’hemlocks’n’themCaliforniaredwoods,thatkeepstheirclo’esonrightthroughtheyear,can’tbesobusyasthemthatkeepsa-dressin’’n’ondressin’
allthetime。\"
\"Iguessyou’re’boutright,\"allowedSteve,\"butIshouldn’tnever’a’thoughtofitintheworld。
Whatyertakin’outo’thatbottle,Jabe?Ithoughtyouwasatemperanceman。\"
\"Iguesshe’slikethefellerovertoShandageeschoolhouse,thatsaidhewasinfavoro’thelaw,butaginitsenforcement!\"
laughedPittPackard。
\"Iain’tbreakin’nolaw;thisisyarbbitters,\"Jabeanswered,withapullatthebottle。
\"It’stocirkerlatehisblood,\"saidObTarbox;
\"he’stoodog-gonedlazytocirkerlateithimself。\"
\"I’mtakin’itferwhatailsme,\"saidJabeoracularly;
\"theheartknowethitsownbitterness,’n’it’sawisechildthatknowsitsowncomplaints’thoutgoin’toadoctor。\"
\"Ain’tyerscaredferfearit’llstartyergrowth,Laigs?\"askedlittleBradGibson,lookingatJabe’stremendouslengthoflimbandfoot。
\"Say,howdoyergitthemfeeto’yournuphill?Doyerstartoneahead,’n’side-tracktheother?\"
Thetreerangwiththelaughterevokedbythissally,butthemanfromTennesseeneversmiled。
JabeSlocum’simperturbablegoodhumorwasnotshakenintheveryleastbythesepersonalremarks。\"IfIthought’twasagoodgrowin’
medicine,I’drecommendittoyourfolks,Brad,\"herepliedcheerfully。
\"Yourmothersaysyouboysairallsoshortthatwhenyou’rediggin’
potatoes,yercan’tseehershakethedinnerrag’thoutgittin’
up’n’standingonthepotatohills!IfIwasasinikitinfellerlikeyou,Iwouldn’thectorfolksthathadmadeouttogrowsome。\"
\"Speakin’o’growin’,\"saidSteveWebster,\"whodoyouguessIseeninBoston,whenIwasworkin’there?ThattallSwatkinsgirlfromtheDuckPond,theonethatmarriedDanRobinson。
ItwasoneSunday,intheCatholicmeetin’-house。I’dallerswantedtogotoaCatholicmeetin’,an’Ideclareit’saboutthesolemnestonethereis。ImistrustedIwasgoin’toeverlastin’lygiggle,butItellyerIwastheawedestcutteryereversee。
Butanyway,theSwatkinsgirl——orMis’Robinson,sheisnow——
wasthereaslargeaslifeinthenextpewtome,jabberin’
Latin,pawin’beads,gettin’up’n’kneelin’down,’n’crossin’
herselfnorth,south,east,’n’west,withthebestof’em。PoorDan!
’Grinnin’Dan,’weusedtocallhim。Well,hedon’tgrinnowadays。
Heneverwasgoodformuch,buthe’shedmore’nhiscomeuppance!\"
\"Why,what’sthematterwithhim?Can’thegitworkinBoston?\"
\"Matter?Why,hiswife,thatIseemakin’believebesodreadfulpiousintheCatholicmeetin’,she’scarriedonwuss’ntheOldDriverfortwoyears,’n’nowshe’sup’n’lefthim,——
gonewithahan’somerman。\"
DownonSteveWebster’shandcameJabeSlocum’simmensepawwithagraspthatmadehimcringe。
\"Whatthe\"——beganSteve,whenthemanfromTennesseetookuphisscytheandslouchedawayfromthegroupbythetree。
\"Didn’tyerknownobetter’nthat,yerthunderin’fool?Can’tyerseeaholeinagrindstun’thoutit’shungonyernose?\"
\"WhathevIdone?\"askedSteve,asifdumfounded。
\"Done?Where’veyerben,thatyerdon’tknowDixie’swife’slefthim?\"
\"Where’veIben?Hain’tIbenworkin’inBostonferayear;’n’sinceIcomehomelastweek,hain’tIbentendin’
sickfolks,so’tIcouldn’tgitoutsidethedooryard?
Ineverseenthemaninmylifetillyesterday,inthefield,’n’Ithoughthewasoneo’themdark-skinnedFrenchiesfromGuildfordthathedcomeuphereferhayin’。\"
\"MebbeIspoketoosharp,\"saidJabeapologetically;
\"butwe’vebenscaredtotalkwives,orevenwomenfolks,feramontho’Sundays,ferfearDixie’dup’n’tumbleonhisscythe,ordosomethin’crazy。Youseeit’sthisway(I’druthertalkthanwork;’n’weain’tworkin’bytimeto-day,anyway,onaccountofthecircuscomin’):’Boutayear’n’ahalfago,thistall,han’somefellerturneduphereinPleasantRiver。
HeinhailedfromdownSouthsomewheres,buthedidn’tlikehisworkthere,’n’driftedtoNewYork,’n’thentoBoston;’n’thenherememberedhismotherwasaStateo’
Mainewoman,’n’hecomeheretoseehowheliked。
Wedidn’ttakenostockinhimatfirst,——weneverhedoneo’
thatnigger-tradin’secedin’lotinamongstus,——buthewaspleasantspoken’n’asquare,all-roundfeller,’n’didn’tgitoffanyseceshnonsense,’n’itendedinourlikin’
himfirst-rate。Wall,hegotworkinthecannin’fact’ryoverontheButterfieldroad,’n’thenhefellinwiththeMaddoxes。
You’vehearntellof’em;they’rerelationtoPitthere。\"
\"Iwouldn’town’emifImet’emonJudgementBench!\"
exclaimedPittPackardhotly。\"Mystepfather’ssecondwifemarriedMis’
Maddox’sfirsthusbandafterhegotdivorcedfromher,’n’that’sallthereistoit;theyain’tnobloody-kino’mine,’n’Idon’tcall’emrelation。\"
\"Wall,Pitt’srelationsornot,they’reallwuss’ntheOldDriver,asyersaid’boutDanRobinson’swife。Dixiewenttoboardthere。
MisMaddoxwasallouto’husbandsjestthen,——she’djestdisposedofherfourth,somehowor’nother;shealwayshedaplenty’n’tospare,thoughthere’slotso’likelywomenfolksroundherethatneverhedonechance,letalonefour。
HerdaughterFidelitywasachipo’theoldblock。HerfatherhednamedherFidelityafterhismother,whenshewa’n’tnothin’
butatwo-days-oldbaby,’n’hedidn’tknowhowshewasgoin’toturnout;
ifhe’d’a’waitedtwomonths,IbelieveIcould’a’toldhim。
_In_fidelitywould’a’benamightysightmore’propriate;buteitherof’emistoolongferaname,sotheygottocallin’herFiddy。
Wall,Fiddydidn’twastenotime;shewasnighontoeighteenyearsoldwhenDixiewenttheretoboard,’n’shebegunhuneyfuglin’
him’ssoonaseversheseteyesonhim。Folkswarnedhim,but’twa’n’tnouse;hewaskindo’bewitchedwithherfromthefirst。
Shewa’n’tsohan’some,neither。Blamed’fIknowhowtheydoit;
let’emalone,’fyerknowwhenyer’rewelloff,’smymotter。
Shewasred-headed,butherhairbecomehersomehowwhenshecurled’n’frizzeditoverakarosenelamp,’n’thenwounditround’n’
roundherheadlikeropeso’carnelian。Shehedn’tanyparticularkindofanosenormouthnoreyes,butgorry!whenshelookedatyer,yerfeltkindasifyerwasturnin’toputtyinside。\"
\"Iknowwhatyermean,\"saidSteveinterestedly。
\"Shehedafiggerjestlikethemfashion-paperpicturesyou’veseen,an’theverydayanynewstylescometoBostonFiddyMaddoxwouldhev’embeforesundown;thebiggestbustles’n’
thehighesthats’n’thetightestskirts’n’thelongesttailsto’em;she’dgit’emsomehow,anyhow!Dixiewa’n’touto’
moneywhenhecomehere,an’aspellafterwardstherewasmore’nathousanddollarsfelltohimfromhisfather’sfolksdownSouth。Well,Fiddymadethatfly,Itellyou!
Dixieboughtatopbuggy’n’asorrelhoss,’n’theywasontheroadmosto’thetimewhenhewa’n’ttowork;’n’whenhewas,she’dgowithLemSimmons,’n’Dixienonethewiser。
MisMaddoxwaslookin’upanewhusbandjestthen,so’tshedidn’tinterfere\"——
\"Shewasthesamekindo’goods,anyhow,\"interpolatedObTarbox。
\"Yes,shewasoneofthemwomenfolksthatairsolight-mindedyoucan’tanchor’emdownwithasewin’-machine,noradishpan,norahusband’n’youngones,nornonamablekindofathing;
theleastwindblows’emhere’n’blows’emthere,likedandelionpuffs。
Astimewenton,thewiddergotherselfabeaunow’n’then;
butasfastasshehooked’em,Fiddyup’n’took’emawayfromher。
Youseeshe’dgetheredinmostofherhusbandsaforeFiddywasoldenoughtohevherfingerinthepie;butshecuthereye-teethearly,Fiddydid,’n’therewa’n’tnokindofafellercometosetupwiththewidderbutshe’deverlastin’lygrabhim,ifshehedanyuseferhim,’n’thenthere’dbeHailColumby,Itellyer。
ButDixie,hewas’sblind’sabat’n’deef’sapost。Hecouldn’tseenothin’butFiddy,’n’hecouldn’tseeherveryplain。\"
\"Hehedwarnin’senough,\"putinPittPackard,thoughJabeSlocumneverneededanyassistanceinspinningayarn。
\"Warnin’s!Ishouldthinkhehed。TheSeventhDayBaptistministerwentsofurastopreachathim。’TheApostlePaulginheed,’
wasthetext。’Whydidheginheed?’sayshe。’Becauseheheerd。
Ifhehadn’t’a’heerd,hecouldn’t’a’ginheed,’n’’twouldn’t’a’donehimnogoodto’a’heerd’thoutheginheed!’Wall,ithelpedconsid’blemanyinthecongregation,’speciallythemthatwasinthehabitofhearin’
’n’heedin’,butitrolledrightoffDixielikewateroffaduck’sback。
He’n’Fiddywasseenovertotheballin’alleytoWarehamnextday,’n’theydidn’tcomebackforaweek。\"
\"’Heginherhishand,Andhemadeherhisown,’\"
sanglittleBradGibson。
\"Hehedginherhishand,butnoministernortrial-jesticenoreighteen-caratringnorstificatecould’a’
madeFiddyMaddoxanybody’sown’ceptin’thedevil’s,an’
hewouldn’t’a’marriedher;she’d’a’bentoonearkin。
We’dnever’spicionedshe’dgit’sfur’smarryin’anybody,’n’sheonlymarriedDixie’causehetoldherhe’dtakehertotheWarehamHousetodinner,’n’totheCountyFairafterwards;
ifanyotherfellerhedofferedtotakehertosupper,’n’thetheatreontopo’that,she’d’a’marriedhiminstid。\"
\"How’dtheoldwomantakeit?\"askedSteve。
\"Shedisownedherdaughter_punctilio:_inthefirstplace,ferrunnin’away’stido’hevin’achurchweddin’;’n’secondplace,fermarryin’apauper(thatwaswhatshecalledhim;’n’itwastrue,forthey’dspenteverycenthehed);’n’thirdplace,feralienatin’
the’fectionsofatravelin’baker-manshehedhereyeonferherself。
Hewasakindofaflour-foodpeddler,thatusedtodriveacartroundbyHardScrabble,Moderation,’n’ScratchCornerway。Mis’Maddoxusedtobuyallherbakedvictualsofhim,’speciallyaftershefoundouthewasawidowerbeginnin’totakenotice。Hiscartusedtostandatherdoorsolongeverybodyontheroutwouldcomplaino’
stalebread。ButbimebyeFiddybeguntosetatherwinderwhenhedruvup,’n’bimebyeshepinnedablueribboninhercollar。
Whenshedonethat,Mis’Maddoxalleshedtotakeabackseat。
Theboysusedtocallitadangersignal。Itkindo’drawedyer’tentiontop’ints’boutherchin’n’mouth’n’neck,’n’onething’n’’nother,inawaythatwascal’latedtosnarlupthethoughtso’
perfessorso’religion’n’turn’emearthways。TherewasaspellIhedtosay,’_Remember__Rhapseny!__Remember__Rhapseny!_’
overtomyselfwheneverFiddyputonherblueribbons。Wall,asIsay,Fiddysetatthewinder,thebaker-manseentheblueribbons,’n’Mis’Maddox’scakewasdough。Sheputonaredribbon;
butland!hernecklooked’sifsomebody’dgoneoveritwithaharrer!
Thenshestompedround’n’slatthedish-rag,but’twa’n’tnouse。
’Gracious,mother,’saysFiddy,’Idon’tdonothin’butsetatthewinder。Thesunshinesforall。’’You’rerightitdoes,’
saysMis’Maddox,’’n’that’sjestwhatIcomplainof。
I’dliketogetachangetoshineonsomethingmyself。’
\"Butthebaker-mankep’oncomin’,thoughwhenhegottotheMaddoxes’doorstepshecouldn’tmakechangeforaquarternortellpiefrombread;an’sure’syou’reborn,theverydayFiddywentawaytobemarriedtoDixie,thatmornin’
shedrawedthateverlastin’numheadofaflour-foodpeddleroutintotheorchard,’n’cutoffalocko’herhair,’n’tieditupwithapieceo’herblueribbon,’n’giveittohim;an’oldMis’Bascomsays,whenhewentpastherhousehewasgazin’atit’n’kissin’ofit,’n’hishorsemeanderin’
ononesidetheroad’n’theother,’n’thedooro’thecartopen’n’slammin’to’n’fro,’n’gingercookiesspillin’
outalloverthelot。HecomebacktotheMaddoxesnextmorning’
(’twa’n’thisday,buthishosscouldn’tpullonewaywhenFiddy’sribbonwaspullin’t’other);an’whenhefoundoutshe’dgonewithDixie,hecussed’n’stomped’n’tookonlikealoontic;an’whenMis’MaddoxhintedshewasreadytohealthewowndsFiddy’dinflicted,hestomped’n’cussedwuss’n’ever,’n’theneighborssayhecalledherahomblyoldtrollop,an’firedthebreadloavesalloverthedooryard,hewassocrazyatbein’cheated。
\"Wall,togobacktoDixie——I’llbecomin’rightalong,boys。\"
(ThistoBradGibson,whowastakinghisfarewelldrinkofgingerteapreparatorytobeginningwork。)
\"Ipityyou,Steve!\"exclaimedBrad,betweendeepswallows。
\"Ifyou’dknownwhenyouwaswelloff,you’d’a’stayedinBoston。
IfJabehedastorystarted,he’dtalkthreedaysafterhewasdead。\"
\"Go’long;leavemebe!Wall,asIwassayin’,DixiebroughtFiddyhome(’Dell,’hecalledher),an’they’pearedbride’n’groomatmeetin’
nextSunday。Thelasthundreddollarshehedintheworldhedgoneintotheweddin’tower’n’ontoFiddy’sback。Hehedanewsuit,’n’helookedlikeamajor。Youain’tgotnoideawhathewas,’causehiseyesisdullnow,’n’he’sbowedallover,’n’ain’tshavednorcombed,hardly;buttheywasthehan’somestcouplethateverwalkedupthebroadaisle。Shehedonagreensilkdress,an’alacecapethatwaslikeaskeeternettin’overherneckan’
showedherbareskinthrough,an’ahatlikeanappleorchardinfullbloom,hummin’-birdan’all。DixiekerriedhimselfasproudasLucifer。
Hedidn’tlookattheminister’n’hedidn’tlookatthecongregation;
hisgreateyeswasgluedonFiddy,asifhecouldn’thardlykeepfromeatin’
ofherup。An’shebehavedconsid’ablewellforafewmonths,aslong’sthenoveltylastedan’thesilkdresseswasnew。BeforeChristmas,though,shebegantopeterout’n’gitslack-twisted。Sheallershatedhouseworkasbadasapigwouldapenwiper,an’Dixiehedtogithisownbreakfastaforehewenttowork,orgooffonanemptystomach。
Many’sthetimehe’sgothermealsforher’n’took’emtoheronawaiter。
Themseceshfellers’llwaitonwomenfolkslongastheycanstan’up。
\"Thenbimebyethebabycomealong;butthatmadethingswuss’stido’better。Shedidn’tpaynomore’tentiontoitthanifithedbelongedtothetown。
She’dgoofftodances,an’leaveDixietohometendin’
cradle;butthatwa’n’tnohardshiptohimforhewas’boutasmuchwroppedupinthechildashewasinFiddy。
Wall,sir,’boutamonthagosheup’n’disappearedoffthefaceo’
theairth’thoutsayin’awordorleavin’aletter。
Shetookherclo’es,butsheneverthoughto’takin’thebaby;
onebabymoreorlessdidn’tmakenooddstohers’long’sshehedthatskeeter-nettin’cape。Dixiesarchedferherhighan’
lowferafortnight,butafterthathegiveitupasabadjob。
Hefoundoutenough,Iguess,tokeephimprettybusythinkin’
whathe’ddonext。Butdaybeforeyesterdaythesamecircusthatplaysherethisafternoonwasplayin’toWareham。
Alotofuswentoverontheevenin’train,an’wecoaxedDixieintogoin’,so’stotakehismindoffhistrouble。
Butland!hedidn’tseenothin’。He’dwalkrightupthelions’n’tigersinthemenagerieasiftheywascats’n’chickens,an’allthetimetheclownwassingin’
helookedlikeadumbanimilethat’shedabulletputinhim。
Therewaslotso’sideshows,mermaids’n’six-leggedcalves’n’
spottedgirls,’n’onething’n’’nother,an’therewasoneo’
themwhirligigmachineswithamesso’rocking’-hossesgoin’
round’n’round,’n’anorganinthemiddleplayin’likesixty。
Iwishwe’d’a’keptclearo’thething,butasbadluckwouldhevit,westoppedtolook,an’thereontopo’twohigh-steppin’
whitewoodenhosses,setMis’Fiddyan’thatdod-gastedlight-complectedbaker-man!Ifevershewassuitedtoadot,itwasjestthen’n’there。Shecould’a’goneprancin’
roundthatthereringforever’n’forever,withthewhoopin’
’n’hollerin’’n’whizzin’’n’whirlin’soundin’inherears,’n’themusicplayin’likemad,’n’shewithnothin’
todobutstickon’n’letsomefellerfootthebills。
Somebodymust’a’benthinkin’o’FiddyMaddoxwhentheinventedthemwhirl-a-go-rounds。Shewaslaughin’’n’carryin’
onliketheoldScratch;herapple-blossomhatdomeoff,’n’thebaker-manputiton,’n’tookconsid’abletimeoverit,’n’pulledherear’n’pinchedhercheekwhenhegotthrough;
an’thatwasjesttheblamedminuteweketchedsightof’em。
IpulledDixieoff,butIwastoolate。HegiveagroanIshallremembertomydyin’day,’n’thenheplungedouto’thecrowd’n’throughthegatelikeastreako’lightnin’。Wefollered,butland!wecouldn’tfindhim,an’trueasIsethere,Ineverexpectedtoseehimaliveagin。ButIdid;
Iforgotallaboutonething,yousee,’n’thatwasthebaby。
Ifitwa’n’tnoattractiontoitsmother,Iguesshecal’lateditneededafatherallthemore。Anyhow,heturnedupinthefieldyesterdaymornin’,readyforwork,butlookin’
asifhe’dhedhisheartcutout’n’apieceo’leadputintheplaceofit。\"
\"Idon’tseemasifshe’d’a’benbrazenenoughtocomebacksonearhim,\"saidSteve。
\"Wall,Idon’ts’poseshehedanyideao’Dixie’sbein’
atacircusoverWarehamjestthen;an’tentooneshedidn’tcareifthewholetownseenher。Shewantedtogetridofhim,’n’shedidn’tmindhowshedidit。
Dixieain’toneoftheshootin’kinds,an’anyhow,FiddyMaddoxwa’n’tonetolookahead;whatevershewantedtodo,thatshedone,fromthetimeshewaskneehightoagrasshopper。
I’veseenhersetdownbyapeckbasketofapples,’n’takeacoupleo’bitesouto’one,’n’thenheaveitfur’sshecouldheaveit’n’startinonanother,’n’thenanother;
’n’’twa’n’tagoodappleyear,neither。She’deverlastin’lyspile’boutadozenof’em’n’smaller’bouttwomouthfuls。
DoxyMorton,now,wouldeatanapplecleandowntothecore,’n’thencounttheseeds’n’put’emonthewindow-silltodry,’n’getup’n’putthecoreinthestove,’n’wipeherhandsontherollertowel,’n’takeuphersewin’agin;’n’ifyou’vegottobecuttin’’nitialsintreebarkan’writin’
of’eminthegrasswithasticklikeyou’vebendoin’
forthelasthalf-hour,you’reblamedluckytobedoin’
_D_’snot_F_’s,likeDixiethere!\"
***
Itwasthreeo’clockintheafternoon。Themenhaddroppedworkandgonetothecircus。Thehaywaspronouncedtobeinaconditionwhereitcouldbeleftwithoutmuchdanger;but,forthatmatter,nomanwouldhavestayedinthefieldtoattendtoanotherman’shaywhentherewasacircusintheneighborhood。
Dixiewasmowingonalone,listeningasinadreamtothatsubtlesomethingintheswishofthescythethatmakesoneseektoknowthesongitissingingtothegrasses。
\"Hush,ah,hush,thescythesaresaying,Hush,andheednot,andfallasleep;
Hush,theysaytothegrassesswaying,Hush,theysingtothecloverdeep;
Hush,——’tisthelullabyTimeissinging,——
Hush,andheednot,forallthingspass。
Hush,ah,hush!andthescythesareswingingOvertheclover,overthegrass。\"
Andnow,spentwithfatigueandwatchingandcareandgrief,——
heartsick,mindsick,bodysick,sickwithpastsuspenseandpresentcertaintyandfuturedread,——hesatunderthecoolshadeofthenooningtree,andburiedhisfaceinhishands。
Hewasgladtobeleftalonewithhismiseries,——
gladthattheothermen,friendlyashefeltthemtobe,hadgonetothecircus,wherehewouldnotseeorhearthemforhourstocome。
Howclearlyhecouldconjureupthescenethattheywereenjoyingwithsuchkeenrelish!
Onlytwodaysbefore,hehadwalkedamongthesametents,staringathorsesandgaytrappingsandpaintedAmazonsasonewhonotednothing;yettheagonyofthethinghenowsawatlastlitupalltherestaswithalightningflash,andburnedthesceneforeveronhisbrainandheart。
ItwasatWareham,too,——Wareham,whereshehadpromisedtobehiswife,whereshehadmarriedhimonlyayearbefore。
Howwellherememberedthenight!Theylefttheparsonage;
theyhadtenmilestodriveinthemoonlightbeforereachingtheirstopping-place,——tenmilesofsuchjoyasonlyamancouldknow,hethought,whohadhadthewarmfruitoflifehangingwithinfullvision,butjustoutofreach,——justabovehislonginglips;
andthen,inanunlooked-for,graciousmoment,his!
Hecouldswearshehadlovedhimthatnight,ifneveragain。
Butthispicturepassedaway,andhesawthatmaddeningcirclewiththecaracolingsteeds。Heheadthediscordantmusic,themonotonouscreakofthemachinery,thestridentlaughteroftheexcitedriders。
Asfirstthethingwasablur,akaleidoscopeofwhirlingcolors,intowhichtherepresentlycreptformandorder……Aboywhohadcriedtogeton,andwasnowcryingtogetoff……OldRubeHobsonandhisyoungwife;Rubelookingwhiteandscared,partlybythewhizzingmotion,andpartlybytheprospectofpayingouttencentsforthedoubtfulpleasure……PrettyHettyDunnellwiththatyoungfellowfromPortland;
shetootimidtomountoneofthemettle-somechargers,andsnugglingclosetohiminoneofthecirclingseats。The,goodGot!——
Dell!sittingonaprancingwhitehorse,withthemanheknew,themanhefeared,ridingbesideher;amanwhokeptholdingonherhatwithfingersthattrembled,——theveryhatshe\"’pearedbridein\"
amanwhobrushedagrasshopperfromhershoulderwithanairofownership,and,whensheslappedhishandcoquettishly,evendaredtopinchherpinkcheek,——hiswife’scheek,——
beforethatcrowdofon-lookers!Merry-go-round,indeed!
Thehorriblethingwaswellnamed;andlifewasjustlikeit,——
awhirlofhappinessandmisery,inwhichthemusiccannotplayloudenoughtodrownthecreakofthemachinery,inwhichonesoulcriesoutinpain,anotherinterror,andtherestlaugh;
buttheprancingsteedsgallopon,gallopon,andoncemounted,thereisnogettingoff,unless……
Thereweresomethingsitwasnotpossibleforameantobear!
Theriver!Theriver!Hecouldhearitripplingoverthesunnysands,swirlingamongthelogs,dashingandroaringunderthebridge,rushingtothesea’sembrace。Couldittellwhitheritwashurrying?NO;butitwasescapingfromitspresentbonds;
itwouldneverhavetopassoverthesesamejaggedrocksagain。
\"On,ontotheunknown!\"calledtheriver。\"Icome!Icome!\"
herousedhimselftorespond,whenafaint,faint,helplessvoicebrokeinuponthemadclatterinhisbrain,cleavinghistornheartintwain;
notarealvoice,——thehalf-forgottenmemoryofone;atenderwailthathadaddedfreshmiserytohisnight’svigil,——thebaby!
Butthefeeblepipewasbornedownbytheswirlofthewaterasitdashedbetweentherockybanks,stillcallingtohim。
Ifhecouldonlyclosehisearstoit!Butitstillcalled——
calledstill——theriver!Andstillthechild’svoicepiercedtherushofsoundwithitspitifulflutenote,untilthetworesolvedthemselvesintocontestingstrains,answeringeachotherantiphonally。Theriver——thebaby——
theriver——thebaby;andinandthrough,andbetwixtandbetween,therespunthewhirlingmerry-go-round,withitscurvetingwoodenhorses,itsdiscordantorgan,anditscreakingmachinery。
Butgraduallythechild’svoicegainedinstrength,andashehearditmoreplainlytheothersoundsgrewfainter,tillatlast,thankGod!theywerehushed。Thedin,thewhirlwind,andthetempestinhisbrainwerelulledintosilence,asundera\"Peace,bestill!\"and,wornoutwiththecontest,themanfromTennesseefellasleepunderthegratefulshadeofthenooningtree。Sodeepwastheslumberthatsettledoverexhaustedbodyandtroubledspiritthatthegatheringclouds,thesuddendarkness,thedistantmutteringofthunder,thefrightenedtwitterofthebirds,passedunnoticed。
Aheavydropofrainpiercedthethickfoliageandfellonhisface,butthestormwithinhadbeentoofierceforhimtoheedthestormwithout。Heslepton。
***
Almosteveryman,woman,andchildinthevicinityofPleasantRiverwasonthewaytothecircus,——Boomer’sGrandSix-in-OneUniversalConsolidatedShow;BrilliantConstellationsofFixedStarsshininginthesameVastFirmament;GlitteringGalaxiesofWorld-FamousEquestrianArtists;thebiggestelephants,thefunniestclowns,thepluckiestriders,thestubbornestmules,themostamazingacrobats,thetallestmanandtheshortestman,thethinnestwomanandthethickestwoman,onthehabitableglobe;
andnoconnectionwithanyothershowonearth,especiallySypher’sTwo-in-OneShownowdevastatingthesameState。
Iftheadvertisementssettingforththeseattractionswerecouchedinlanguagesomewhatrosierthanthefactswouldwarrant,therewerefewpersonscalmenoughtoperceiveit,whenoncetheglamourofthevillageparadeandthesmellofthemenageriehadintoxicatedthesenses。
Thecircushadbeenthesoletopicofconversationforafortnight。
JotBascomcouldalwaysbereliedonforthelatestandmostauthenticnewsofitstriumphantprogressfromonetowntoanother。Jotwasasortoftowncrier;andwhenevertheapproachofacaravanwasannounced,hewouldgooverontheLibertyroadtofindoutjustwhereitwasandwhatwereitsimmediateplans,forthethrillingpleasureofcallingateveryoneoftheneighbors’onhiswayhome,anddeliveringhisbudgetofnews。
Hewasanattendantateveryfuneral,andasfaraspossibleateverywedding,inthevillage;ateveryflag-raisingandhusking,andtownandcountyfair。
Whenmorepressingdutiesdidnothinder,heendeavoredtomeetthetwodailytrainsthatpassedthroughMilliken’sMills,amileortwofromPleasantRiver。Heaccompaniedthesheriffonalljourneysentailingservingofpapersandotherembarrassingdutiescommontothelaw。
Ononeoccasion,whenthetwolawyersofthevillageheldaninvestigationbeforeTrialJusticeSimeonPorter,theywaitedanhourbecauseJotBascomdidnotcome。Theyknewthatsomethingwasamiss,butitwasonlyonreflectionthattheyrememberedthatJotwasnotindispensable。
HewentwithallpauperstothePoorFarm,andnevermissedatownmeeting。
Heknewalltheconditionsattendinganyswappingofhorsesthatoccurredwithinaradiusoftwentymiles,——thetermsofthetradeandtheamountpaidtoboot。Heknewwhoowedthefish-manandwhoowedthemeat-man,andwhocouldnotgettrustedbyeitherofthem。
Infact,sofarasthedivineattributesofomniscienceandomnipresencecouldbevestedinafaultyhumancreature,theywerepresentinJotBascom。
Thathewasquiteunabletoattendconscientiouslytohomeduties,whenoverbornebypressofpublicservice,wastrue。WhenDiademaBascomwantedkindlingsplit,woodbroughtin,thecowsmilked,orthepigsfed,shecommonlyfoundherspouseservinghumanityinbulk。
AllthedetailsoftheapproachoftheGrandSix-in-OneShowhad,therefore,beenheraldedtothosework-soddenandunambitiouspersonswhotiedthemselvestotheirownwood-pilesorhaying-fields。
Thesewerethebulletinsissues:——
ThemenweremakingacircleintheWidowBuzzell’sfield,inthesameplacewheretheoldonehadbeen,——theoldone,viewedwithaweforfiveyearsbyallthevillagesmallboys。
Theforerunners,outriders,proprietors,whatevertheymightbe,hadarrivedandgonetothetavern。
Anelephantwasquarteredinthetavernshed!
Theelephanthadsteppedthroughthefloor!!
Theadvanceguardofperformersandpartoftheshowitselfhadcome!
Andthe\"Cheriot\"!!
Thisfar-famedvehiclehadpausedontopofDeaconChute’shill,toprepareforthestreetparade。LittleJimChutehadbeengloatingoverthefactthatitmustpassbyhishouse,andwhenitstoppedshortundertheelmsinthedooryardhisheartalmostbrokeforjoy。
Hepinchedthetwenty-five-centpieceinhispockettoassurehimselfthathewasaliveandinhisrightmind。Thepreciouscoinhadbeentheresultofcarefulsaving,andhishot,excitedhandshadalmostwornitthin。Butalasforthevanityofhumanhopes!
Whenthemagnificentred-and-gold\"Cheriot\"wasuncovered,thatitsgloriesmightshineuponthewaitingworld,thedooropened,andahuddleofpaintedIndianstumbledout,readytoleadtheprocession,or,ifsodisposed,toscalptheneighborhood。
LittleJimgaveonepanic-strickenlookastheyleapedoverthechariotsteps,andthenfledtothebarnchamber,whencehehadtobedraggedbyhismother,andcuffedintowillingnesstoattendthespectaclethathadoncesodazzledhisimagination。
Ontheeventfulafternoonoftheperformancetheroadwasgaywithteams。DavidandSamanthaMillikendrovebyinMissCummin’sneatcarryall,twochildrenonthebackseat,awill-o’-the-wispbabygirlhelddownbyaseriousboy。
SteveWebsterwasdrivingDoxyMortoninhismother’sbuggy。
JabeSlocum,PittPackard,BradGibson,CyseHiggins,andscoresofotherswereriding\"shank’smare,\"astheywouldhavesaid。
Ithadbeenaclose,warmday,andastheafternoonworeawayitgrewhotterandcloser。Therewasadeadcalmintheair,athreateningblacknessinthewestthatmadethefarmersthinkanxiouslyoftheirhay。Presentlythethunderheadsrantogetherintobigblackclouds,whichmeltedinturnintomoltenmassesofsmokyorange,sothattheheavenswerelikeburnishedbrass。
Driverswhippeduptheirhorses,andpedestrianshastenedtheirsteps。
SteveWebsterdecidednottoruneventhesmallestriskofinjuringsopreciousacommodityasDoxyMortonbyashowerofrain,sohedroveintoafriend’syard,putuphishorse,andwaitedtillthestormshouldpassby。
BradGibsonstoopedtodrinkatawaysidebrook,andashebentoverthewaterheheardalow,murmuring,mutteringsoundthatseemedtomaketheearthtremble。
Thenfromhilltohill\"leaptthelivethunder。\"
Eventhedistantmountainsseemedtohave\"foundatongue。\"
Azigzagchainoflightningflashedintheluridsky,andafteranappreciableintervalanotherpeal,louderthanthefirst,andnearer。
Therainbegantofall,theforkedflashesofflamedartedhitherandthitherintheclouds,andtheboomofheaven’sartillerygrewheavierandheavier。Theblindingsheetsoflightandthetumultuousroarofsoundnowfollowedeachothersoquicklythattheyseemedalmostsimultaneous。
Flash——crash——flash——crash——flash——crash;blindinganddeafeningeyeandearatonce。Everybodywhocouldfindashelterofanysorthastenedtoit。
Thewomenathomesettheirchildreninthemidstoffeatherbeds,andsomeofthemevenhuddledtherethemselves,theirbabiesclingingtotheminsympatheticfear,asthelividshaftsoflightilluminatedthedarkroomswithmorethannoondayglare。
Theairwasfullofgloom;anamelessterrorlurkedwithinit;theelementsseemedatwarwitheachother。
Horseswhinniedinthestables,andcoltsdashedaboutthepastures。
Thecattlesoughtshelteredplaces;thecowsamblingclumsilytowardssomerefuge,theirfullbagsdrippingmilkastheyswungheavilytoandfro。Thebirdsflewtowardstheorchardsandthedeepwoods;
theswallowsswoopedrestlesslyroundthebarns,andhidthemselvesundertheeavesorintheshadowofdesertednests。
Therainnowfellinsheets。
\"Hurryup’n’gitundercover,Jabe,\"saidBradGibson;
\"you’rejestthekindofapoletodrawlightnin’!\"
\"Youhain’t,then!\"retortedJabe。\"Thereain’tenougho’
youferlightnin’toketchholtof!\"
Suddenlyaghastlystreakoflightleapedoutofacloud,andthenanother,tilltheskyseemedlitupbycataractsofflame。Abreathofwindsprangintothestillair。
Thenadeafeningcrash,clap,crack,roar,peal!andasJabeSlocumlookedoutofaprotectingsheddoor,hesawafieryballburstfromtheclouds,shootingbrazenarrowsasitfell。
Withintheinstantthemeeting-housesteeplebrokeintoatongueofflame,andthen,lookingtowardshome,hefanciedthatthefireballdroppedtoearthinSquireBean’smeadow。
Thewindblewmorefiercelynow。Therewasasuddencracklingofwood,fallingofoldtimers,andbreakingofglass。
Thedeadlyfluidraninawindingcoursedownagreatmaplebytheshed,leavinganarrowcharredchannelthroughthebarktotellhowitpassedtoearth。Asombrepinestoodup,blackandburned,itsheartgapingthroughaghastlywoundinthesplittrunk。
Therainnowsubsided;therewasonlyanoccasionalfaintrumblingofthunder,asifitweremurmuringoverthedistantsea;
thecloudsbrokeawayinthewest;thesunpeepedout,asiftoseewhathadbeengoingonintheworldsincehehidhimselfanhourbefore。
Adelicaterainbowbridgestretchedfromtheblackenedchurchsteepletotheglitteringweathercockonthesquire’sbarn;
andthere,inthecentreofthefairgreenmeadowsfromwhichithadriseningloriousstrengthandbeautyforacenturyormore,laythenooningtree。
Thefireball,ifballoffireindeedtherewere,hadstruckintheverycentreofitssplendiddome,andplougheditswayfromfeathertiptosturdyroot,rivingthetreeintwain,cleavingitsgreatboughsleftandright,layingonemajestichalflevelwiththeearth,andbendingtheothertilltheproudheadalmosttouchedthegrass。
Therainbowwasreflectedinthemilliondropsglitteringuponthebowedbranches,turningeachintoatearofliquidopal。
Thebirdshoppedonthepronemagnificence,andeyedtimorouslyastrangeobjectunderneath。
Therehadbeenoneswift,pitiless,mercifulstroke!
Themonarchofthemeadowwouldneveragainfeelthemagicthrillofthesapinitsveins,northeburstingofbrownbudintogreenleaf。
Thebirdswouldbuildtheirnestsandsingtheiridylsinotherboughs。
The\"timeofpleasureandlove\"wasoverwiththenooningtree;overtoo,withhimwhosleptbeneath;forunderitsfallenbranches,withthelightofagreatpeaceinhisupturnedface,laythemanfromTennessee。
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
THEFORE-ROOMRUG。
Diadema,wifeofJotBascom,wassittingatthewindowofthevillagewatch-tower,socalledbecauseitcommandedaviewofnearlyeverythingthathappenedinPleasantRiver;
thosedetailsescapingthephysicaleyebeingsuppliedbyfaithandimaginationworkinginthelightofpastexperience。
Shesatinthechairofhonor,thechairofchoice,thehigh-backedrockerbythesouthernwindow,inwhichherhusband’smother,oldMrs。Bascom,hadsatforthirtyyears,applyingastillmorepowerfulintellectualtelescopetothedoingsofherneighbors。
Diadema’sseathadformerlybeenonthelessdesirablesideofthelittlelight-stand,wherePriscillaHolliswasnowinstalled。
Mrs。Bascomwasatworkonanewfore-roomrug,theformeronehavingbeentransferredtoMissHollis’schamber;for,astheteacheratthebrickschoolhouse,agraduateofaMassachusettsnormalschool,andthedaughterofadeceasedjudge,shewasaboarderofconsiderableconsequence。
ItwasarainySaturdayafternoon,andthetwowomenwerealone。
Itwasapleasant,peacefulsitting-room,asneataswaxineverypart。
Thefloorwascoveredbyacheerfulpatrioticragcarpetwovenentirelyofred,white,andbluerags,andprotectedinvariousexposedlocalitiesbybuttonrugs,——red,white,andbluediskssuperimposedoneontheother。
DiademaBascomwasapersonofsomesentiment。Whenheroldfather,CaptainDennett,wasdying,hedrewawalletfromunderhispillow,andhandedheratwenty-dollarbilltogetsomethingtorememberhimby。
Thisunwontedoccurrenceburneditselfintothedaughter’simagination,andwhenshecameasabridetotheBascomhousesherefurnishedthesitting-roomasakindofmonumenttothedepartedsoldier,whoseswordandmusketwerenowtiedtothewallwithneatlyhemmedbowsofbrightredcotton。
Thechaircushionswereofred-and-whiteglazedpatch,theturkeywingsthatservedashearthbrusheswerehungagainstthewhite-paintedchimney-piecewithblueskirtbraid,andthewhiteshadeswerefinishedwithhome-madescarlet\"tossels。\"
Alittlewhatnotinonecornerwasladenwiththetrophiesofbattle。
Thewarrior’sbrassbuttonswerestrungonaredpicturecordandhungoverhisdaguerreotypeontheuppershelf;therewasatarnishedshoulderstrap,andaflattenedbulletthatthecaptain’sjealouscontemporariesswore_he_neverstopped,unlesshegotitintherearwhenhewasflyingfromthefoe。Therewasalsoalittletincanisterinwhichachargeofpowderhadbeensacredlypreserved。
Thescoffers,again,saidthat\"thecap’nputitinhismusketwhenhewentintothewar,andkep’ittheretillhecomeout。\"
Theseobjectsweretastefullydecoratedwiththenationalcolors。
Infact,nomodernaesthetecouldhavearrangedasymbolicsymphonyofgriefandglorywithanymorefidelitytoanidealthanDiademaBascom,inworkingoutherschemeofred,white,andblue。
Rowsofripeningtomatoeslayalongtheledgesofthewindows,andatortoise-shellcatsnoozedononeofthebroadsills。
Thetallclockinthecornertickedpeacefully。PriscillaHollisnevertiredoflookingatthejollyred-cheekedmoon,thegroupofstarsonablueground,thetriglittleship,theoldhouse,andthejollymoonagain,creepingoneafteranotheracrosstheopenspaceatthetop。
JotBascomwasout,asusual,gatheringstatisticsofthelasthorsetrade;littleJotwasbuilding\"stickin’\"housesinthebarn;Priscillawassewinglongstripsforbraiding;
whileDiademasatatthedrawing-inframe,hookinhand,andalargebasketofcutragsbyherside。
Notmanyweeksbeforeshehadpaidoneofherperiodicalvisitstotheattic。NohousekeeperinPleasantRiversaveMrs。JonathanBascomwouldhavethoughtofdustingagarret,washingthewindowandsweepingdownthecobwebsonceamonth,andrenewingthecamphorbagsinthecheststwiceayear;
butnotwithstandingthiszealouscarethemothshadmadetheirwayintooneofhertreasure-houses,themostpreciousofall,——
theoldhairtrunkthathadbelongedtohersisterLovice。
Onceensconcedthere,theyhadeatenthroughitshoardedrelics,andreducedthefadedfinerytoastatebestdescribedbyDiademaas\"reg’larriddlin’sieves。\"Shehadbroughtthetatteredpiledownintothekitchen,andhadspentatearfulafternoonincuttingthegoodpiecesfromtheperforatedgarments。
Threeheaped-upbasketsandafulldish-panweretheresult;
andasshehadsnippedandcutandsorted,oneofhersentimentalprojectshadenteredhermindandtakencompletepossessionthere。
\"Ideclare,\"shesaid,asshedrewherhooking-needleinandout,\"Iwouldn’tsetintheroomwithsomefolksandworkonthesepieces;foreverytimeIdrawinascrapofclothLovicecomesuptomeforalltheworldasifshewassettin’
onthesofythere。Iain’ttoldyoumyplan,MissHollis,andthereain’tmanyIshalltell;butthisrugisgoingtobeakindofahist’ryofmylifeandLovey’swroughtintogether,justaswewasboundupinoneanotherwhenshewasalive。
Herthingsandminewaslaidinonetrunk,andthemothssha’n’tcheatmeoutof’emaltogether。IfIcan’tlookat’emwetSundays,andshake’emout,andhaveagoodcryover’em,I’llmake’emupintoakindofdumbshowthatwillmeansomethingtome,ifitdon’ttoanybodyelse。
\"Wewastheyoungestofthirteen,LoveyandI,andwewastwins。There’sneverbeenmore’nhalfo’
meleftsenceshedied。Wewasborntogether,playedandwenttoschooltogether,gotengagedandmarriedtogether,andweallbutdiedtogether,yetwewa’n’tamitealike。
Therewasanoldladycometoourhouseoncethatusedtosay,’There’ssisterNabby,now:she’n’Iain’tnomorealike’nifwewa’n’ttwo;she’sjestasdiff’rentasIamt’
otherway。’Well,IknowwhatIwanttoputintomyragstory,MissHollis,butIdon’thardlyknowhowtobegin。\"
Priscilladroppedherneedle,andbentovertheframewithinterest。
\"Asprayoftworosesinthecentre,——there’sthebeginning;
why,don’tyousee,dearMrs。Bascom?\"
\"CourseIdo,\"saidDiadema,divingtothebottomofthedish-pan。\"I’vegotmystartnow,anddon’tyousayawordforaminute。Thetworosesgrowoutofonestalk;they’llbeLoveyandme,thoughI’mconsid’ablemorelikeapotatoblossom。