the friendly road(友好的路)-第4节
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it from one of the bags。 Both man and boy looked up at me questioningly。
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I enjoyed the situation immensely。
〃I heard you say to your son；〃 I said； 〃that you'd have to hurry in order
to get in your potatoes to…day。 I can see that for myself。 Let me take a hand
for a row or two。〃
The unmistakable shrewd look of the bargainer came suddenly into the
man's face； but when I went about my business without hesitation or
questioning； he said nothing at all。 As for the boy； the change in his
countenance was marvellous to see。 Something new and astonishing had
come into the world。 Oh； I know what a thing it is to be a boy and to work
in trouting time！
〃How near are you planting； Ben？〃 I asked。
〃About fourteen inches。〃
So we began in fine spirits。 I was delighted with the favourable
beginning of my enterprise； there is nothing which so draws men together
as their employment at a common task。
Ben was a lad some fifteen years old…very stout and stocky； with a fine
open countenance and a frank blue eyeall boy。 His nose was as freckled
as the belly of a trout。 The whole situation； including the prospect of help
in finishing a tiresome job； pleased him hugely。 He stole a glimpse from
time to time at me then at his father。 Finally he said：
〃Say； you'll have to step lively to keep up with dad。〃
〃I'll show you；〃 I said； 〃how we used to drop potatoes when I was a
boy。〃
And with that I began to step ahead more quickly and make the pieces
fairly fly。
〃We old fellows；〃 I said to the father； 〃must give these young sprouts a
lesson once in a while。〃
〃You will； will you？〃 responded the boy； and instantly began to drop
the potatoes at a prodigious speed。 The father followed with more dignity；
but with evident amusement； and so we all came with a rush to the end of
the row。
〃I guess that beats the record across THIS field！〃 remarked the lad；
puffing and wiping his forehead。 〃Say； but you're a good one！〃
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It gave me a peculiar thrill of pleasure； there is nothing more pleasing
than the frank admiration of a boy。
We paused a moment and I said to the man： 〃This looks like fine
potato land。〃
〃The' ain't any better in these parts；〃 he replied with some pride in his
voice。
And so we went at the planting again： and as we planted we had great
talk of seed potatoes and the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical
planters； of cultivating and spraying； and all the lore of prices and profits。
Once we stopped at the lower end of the field to get a drink from a jug of
water set in the shade of a fence corner； and once we set the horse in the
thills and moved the seed farther up the field。 And tired and hungry as I
felt I really enjoyed the work； I really enjoyed talking with this busy father
and son； and I wondered what their home life was like and what were their
real ambitions and hopes。 Thus the sun sank lower and lower； the long
shadows began to creep into the valleys； and we came finally toward the
end of the field。 Suddenly the boy Ben cried out：
〃There's Sis！〃
I glanced up and saw standing near the gateway a slim； bright girl of
about twelve in a fresh gingham dress。
〃We're coming！〃 roared Ben； exultantly。
While we were hitching up the horse； the man said to me：
〃You'll come down with us and have some supper。〃
〃Indeed I will；〃 I replied； trying not to make my response too eager。
〃Did mother make gingerbread to…day？〃 I heard the boy whisper
audibly。
〃Sh…h〃 replied the girl； 〃who is that man？〃
〃_I_ don't know〃 with a great accent of mystery〃and dad don't know。
Did mother make gingerbread？〃
〃Sh…hhe'll hear you。〃
〃Gee！ but he can plant potatoes。 He dropped down on us out of a clear
sky。〃
〃What is he？〃 she asked。 〃A tramp？〃
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〃Nope； not a tramp。 He works。 But； Sis； did mother make
gingerbread？〃
So we all got into the light wagon and drove briskly out along the
shady country road。 The evening was coming on； and the air was full of
the scent of blossoms。 We turned finally into a lane and thus came
promptly； for the horse was as eager as we； to the capacious farmyard。 A
motherly woman came out from the house； spoke to her son； and nodded
pleasantly to me。 There was no especial introduction。 I said merely； 〃My
name is Grayson；〃 and I was accepted without a word。
I waited to help the man； whose name I had now learnedit was
Stanleywith his horse and wagon； and then we came up to the house。
Near the back door there was a pump； with a bench and basin set just
within a little cleanly swept； open shed。 Rolling back my collar and baring
my arms I washed myself in the cool water； dashing it over my head until I
gasped； and then stepping back； breathless and refreshed； I found the slim
girl； Mary； at my elbow with a clean soft towel。 As I stood wiping quietly I
could smell the ambrosial odours from the kitchen。 In all my life I never
enjoyed a moment more than that； I think。
〃Come in now；〃 said the motherly Mrs。 Stanley。
So we filed into the roomy kitchen； where an older girl； called Kate；
was flying about placing steaming dishes upon the table。 There was also
an older son； who had been at the farm chores。 It was altogether a fine；
vigorous； independent American family。 So we all sat down and drew up
our chairs。 Then we paused a moment； and the father； bowing his head；
said in a low voice：
〃For all Thy good gifts； Lord； we thank Thee。 Preserve us and keep us
through another night。〃
I suppose it was a very ordinary farm meal； but it seems to me I never
tasted a better one。 The huge piles of new baked bread； the sweet farm
butter； already delicious with the flavour of new grass； the bacon and eggs；
the potatoes； the rhubarb sauce； the great plates of new； hot gingerbread
and； at the last； the custard piea great wedge of it； with fresh cheese。
After the first ravenous appetite of hardworking men was satisfied； there
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came to be a good deal of lively conversation。 The girls had some joke
between them which Ben was trying in vain to fathom。 The older son told
how much milk a certain Alderney cow had given； and Mr。 Stanley； quite
changed now as he sat at his own table from the rather grim farmer of the
afternoon； revealed a capacity for a husky sort of fun； joking Ben about his
potato…planting and telling in a lively way of his race with me。 As for Mrs。
Stanley； she sat smiling behind her tall coffee pot； radiating good cheer
and hospitality。 They asked me no questions at all； and I was so hungry
and tired that I volunteered no information。
After supper we went out for half or three quarters of an hour to do
some final chores； and Mr。 Stanley and I stopped in the cattle yard and
looked over the cows； and talked learnedly about the pigs； and I admired
his spring calves to his hearts content； for they really were a fine lot。 When
we came in again the lamps had been lighted in the sitting…room and the
older daughter was at the telephone exchanging the news of the day with
some neighbourand with great laughter and enjoyment。 Occasionally she
would turn and repeat some bit of gossip to the family； and Mrs。 Stanley
would claim：
〃Do tell！〃
〃Can't we have a bit of music to…night？〃 inquired Mr。 Stanley。
Instantly Ben and the slim girl； Mary； made a wild dive for the front
roomthe parlourand came out with a first…rate phonograph which they
placed on the table。
〃Something lively now；〃 said Mr。 Stanley。
So they put on a rollicking negro song called。 〃My Georgia Belle；〃
which； besides the tuneful voices； introduced a steamboat whistle and a
musical clangour of bells。 When it wound up with a bang； Mr。 Stanley
took his big comfortable pipe out of his mouth and c
