the major-第1节

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The　Major


by　Ralph　Connor







CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I　　THE　COWARD

II　　A　FIGHT　FOR　FREEDOM

III　　THE　ESCUTCHEON　CLEARED

IV　　SALVAGE

V　　WESTWARD　HO！

VI　　JANE　BROWN

VII　　THE　GIRL　OF　THE　WOOD　LOT

VIII　　YOU　FORGOT　ME

IX　　EXCEPT　HE　STRIVE　LAWFULLY

X　　THE　SPIRIT　OF　CANADA

XI　　THE　SHADOW　OF　WAR

XII　　MEN　AND　A　MINE

XIII　　A　DAY　IN　SEPTEMBER

XIV　　AN　EXTRAORDINARY　NURSE

XV　　THE　COMING　OF　JANE

XVI　　HOSPITALITY　WITHOUT　GRUDGING

XVII　　THE　TRAGEDIES　OF　LOVE

XVIII　　THE　VOICE　IN　THE　WILDERNESS

XIX　　THE　CLOSING　OF　THE　DOOR

XX　　THE　GERMAN　TYPE　OF　CITIZENSHIP

XXI　　WAR

XXII　　THE　TUCK　OF　DRUM

XXIII　　A　NEUTRAL　NATION

XXIV　　THE　MAJOR　AND　THE　MAJOR'S　WIFE




THE　MAJOR



CHAPTER　I

THE　COWARD


Spring　had　come。　　Despite　the　many　wet　and　gusty　days　which　April　had　thrust　in　rude　challenge　upon　reluctant　May；　in　the　glory　of　the　triumphant　sun　which　flooded　the　concave　blue　of　heaven　and　the　myriad　shaded　green　of　earth；　the　whole　world　knew　to…day；　the　whole　world　proclaimed　that　spring　had　come。　　The　yearly　miracle　had　been　performed。　　The　leaves　of　the　maple　trees　lining　the　village　street　unbound　from　their　winter　casings；　the　violets　that　lifted　brave　blue　eyes　from　the　vivid　grass　carpeting　the　roadside　banks；　the　cherry　and　plum　blossoms　in　the　orchards　decking　the　still　leafless　trees　with　their　pink　and　white　favours；　the　timid　grain　tingeing　with　green　the　brown　fields　that　ran　up　to　the　village　street　on　every　sideall　shouted　in　chorus　that　spring　had　come。　　And　all　the　things　with　new　blood　running　wild　in　their　veins；　the　lambs　of　a　few　days　still　wobbly　on　ridiculous　legs　skipping　over　and　upon　the　huge　boulders　in　farmer　Martin's　meadow；　the　birds　thronging　the　orchard　trees；　the　humming　insects　rioting　in　the　genial　sun；　all　of　them　gave　token　of　strange　new　impulses　calling　for　something　more　than　mere　living　because　spring　had　come。

Upon　the　topmost　tip　of　the　taller　of　the　twin　poplars　that　flanked　the　picket　gate　opening　upon　the　Gwynnes'　little　garden　sat　a　robin；　his　head　thrown　back　to　give　full　throat　to　the　song　that　was　like　to　burst　his　heart；　monotonous；　unceasing；　rapturous。　　On　the　door　step　of　the　Gwynnes'　house；　arrested　on　the　threshold　by　the　robin's　song；　stood　the　Gwynne　boy　of　ten　years；　his　eager　face　uplifted；　himself　poised　like　a　bird　for　flight。

〃Law…r…ence；〃　clear　as　a　bird　call　came　the　voice　from　within。

〃Mo…th…er；〃　rang　the　boy's　voice　in　reply；　high；　joyous　and　shrill。

〃Ear…ly！　　Remember！〃

〃Ri…ght　a…way　af…ter　school。　　Good…bye；　mo…ther；　dear；〃　called　the　boy。

〃W…a…i…t；〃　came　the　clear；　birdlike　call　again；　and　in　a　moment　the　mother　came　running；　stood　beside　the　boy；　and　followed　his　eye　to　the　robin　on　the　poplar　tree。　　〃A　brave　little　bird；〃　she　said。　〃That　is　the　way　to　meet　the　day；　with　a　brave　heart　and　a　bright　song。　　Goodbye；　boy。〃　　She　kissed　him　as　she　spoke；　giving　him　a　slight　pat　on　the　shoulder。　　〃Away　you　go。〃

But　the　boy　stood　fascinated　by　the　bird　so　gallantly　facing　his　day。　　His　mother's　words　awoke　in　him　a　strange　feeling。　　〃A　brave　heart　and　a　bright　song〃so　the　knights　in　the　brave　days　of　old；　according　to　his　Stories　of　the　Round　Table；　were　wont　to　go　forth。　In　imitation　of　the　bird；　the　boy　threw　back　his　head；　and　with　another　cheery　good…bye　to　his　mother；　sprang　clear　of　the　steps　and　ran　down　the　grass　edged　path；　through　the　gate　and　out　onto　the　village　street。　　There　he　stood　first　looking　up　the　country　road　which　in　the　village　became　a　street。　　There　was　nothing　to　be　seen　except　that　in　the　Martin　orchard　〃Ol'　Martin〃　was　working　with　his　team　under　the　trees　which　came　in　rows　down　to　the　road。　Finding　nothing　to　interest　him　there；　he　turned　toward　the　village　and　his　eyes　searched　the　street。　　Opposite　the　Gwynnes'　gate；　Dr。　Bush's　house　stood　back　among　the　trees；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　life　about　it。　　Further　down　on　the　same　side　of　the　street；　the　Widow　Martin's　cottage；　with　porch　vine　covered　and　windows　bright　with　flowers；　hid　itself　under　a　great　spreading　maple。　　In　front　of　the　cottage　the　Widow　Martin　herself　was　busy　in　the　garden。　　He　liked　the　Widow　Martin　but　found　her　not　sufficiently　exciting　to　hold　him　this　spring　morning。　　A　vacant　lot　or　two　and　still　on　the　same　side　came　the　blacksmith's　shop　just　at　the　crossroads；　and　across　the　street　from　it　his　father's　store。　　But　neither　at　the　blacksmith's　shop　nor　at　the　store　across　from　it　was　there　anything　to　awaken　even　a　passing　interest。　　Some　farmers'　teams　and　dogs；　Pat　Larkin's　milk　wagon　with　its　load　of　great　cans　on　its　way　to　the　cheese　factory　and　some　stray　villagers　here　and　there　upon　the　street　intent　upon　their　business。　　Up　the　street　his　eye　travelled　beyond　the　crossroads　where　stood　on　the　left　Cheatley's　butcher　shop　and　on　the　right　McKenny's　hotel　with　attached　sheds　and　outhouses。　　Over　the　bridge　and　up　the　hill　the　street　went　straight　away；　past　the　stone　built　Episcopal　Church　whose　spire　lifted　itself　above　the　maple　trees；　past　the　Rectory；　solid；　square　and　built　of　stone；　past　the　mill　standing　on　the　right　back　from　the　street　beside　the　dam；　over　the　hill；　and　so　disappeared。　　The　whole　village　seemed　asleep　and　dreaming　among　its　maple　trees　in　the　bright　sunlight。

Throwing　another　glance　at　the　robin　still　singing　on　the　treetop　overhead；　the　boy　took　from　his　pocket　a　mouth…organ；　threw　back　his　head；　squared　his　elbows　out　from　his　sides　to　give　him　the　lung　room　he　needed；　and　in　obedience　to　a　sharp　word　of　command　after　a　preliminary　tum；　tum；　tum；　struck　up　the　ancient　triumph　hymn　in　memory　of　that　hero　of　the　underground　railroad　by　which　so　many　slaves　of　the　South　in　bygone　days　made　their　escape　〃up　No'th〃　to　Canada　and　to　freedom。

〃Glory；　glory；　hallelujah；　his　soul　goes　marching　on。〃　　By　means　of　〃double…tongueing；〃　a　recently　acquired　accomplishment；　he　was　able　to　give　a　full　brass　band　effect　to　his　hymn　of　freedom。　　Many　villagers　from　door　or　window　cast　a　kindly　and　admiring　eye　upon　the　gallant　little　figure　stepping　to　his　own　music　down　the　street。　　He　was　brass　band；　conductor；　brigadier　general　all　in　one；　and　behind　him　marched　an　army　of　heroes　off　for　war　and　deathless　glory；　invisible　and　invincible。　　To　the　Widow　Martin　as　he　swung　past　the　leader　flung　a　wave　of　his　hand。　　With　a　tender　light　in　her　old　eyes　the　Widow　Martin　waved　back　at　him。　　〃God　bless　his　bright　face；〃　she　murmured；　pausing　in　her　work　to　watch　the　upright　little　figure　as　he　passed　along。　　At　the　blacksmith's　shop　the　band　paused。


　　　　　　　　Tink；　tink；　tink；　tink；　　　　　　　Tink；　tink…a…tink…tink…tink。　　　　　　　　　Tink　tink；　tink；　tink；　　　　　　　Tink；　tink…a…tink…tink…tink。


The　conductor　graduated　the　tempo　so　as　to　include　the　rhythmic　beat　of　the　hammer　with　the　other　instruments　in　his　band。　　The　blacksmith　looked；　smiled　and　let　his　hammer　fall　in　consonance　with　the　beat　of　the　boy's　hand；　and　for　some　moments　there　was　glorious　harmony　between　anvil　and　mouth　organ　and　the　band　invisible。　　At　the　store　door　across　the　street　the　band　paused　long　enough　simply　to　give　and　receive　an　answering　salute　from　the　storekeeper；　who　smiled　upon　his　boy　as　he　marched　past。　　At　the　crossroads　the　band　paused；　marking　time。　　There　was　evidently　a　momentary　uncertainty　in　the　leader's　mind　as　to　direction。　　The　road　to　the　right　led　straight；　direct；　but　treeless；　dusty；　uninviting；　to　the　school。　　It　held　no　lure　for　the　leader　and　his　knightly　following。　　Further　on　a　path　led　in　a　curve　under　shady　trees　and　away　from　the　street。　　It　made　the　way　to　school　longer；　but　the　lure　of　the　curving；　shady　path　was　irresistible。　　Still　stepping　bravely　to　the　old　abolitionist　hymn；　the　procession　moved　along；　swung　into　the　path　under　the　trees　and　suddenly　came　to　a　halt。　　With　a　magnificent　flourish　the　band　concluded　its　triumphant　hymn　and　with　the　conductor　and　brigadier　the　whole　brigade　stood　rigidly　at　attention。　　The　cause　of　this　sudden　halt　was　to　be　seen　at　the　foot　of　a　maple　tree　in　the　person　of　a　fat　lump　of　good　natured　boy　flesh　supine　upon　the　ground。

〃Hello；　Joe；　coming　to　school？〃

〃Ugh；〃　grunted　Joe；　from　the　repose　of　limitless　calm。

〃Come　on；　then；　quick；　march。〃　　Once　more　the　band　struck　up　its　hymn。

〃Hol'　on；　Larry；　it's　plenty　tam　again；〃　said　Joe。　　The　band　came　to　a　stop。　　〃I　don'　lak　dat　school　me；〃　he　continued；　still　immersed　in　calm。

Joe's　struggles　with　an　English　education　were　indeed　tragically　pathetic。　　His　attempts　with　aspirates　were　a　continual　humiliation　to　himself　and　a　joy　to　the　whole　school。　　No　wonder　he　〃no　lak　dat　school。〃　　Besides；　Joe　was　a　creature　of　the　open　fields。　　His　French　Canadian　father；　Joe　Gagneau；　〃Ol'　Joe；〃　was　a　survival　of　a　bygone　age；　the　glorious　golden　age　of　the　river　and　the　bush；　of　the　shanty　and　the　raft；　of　the　axe　and　the　gun；　the　age　of　Canadian　romance；　of　daring　deed；　of　wild　adventure。

〃An'　it　ees　half…hour　too　queek；〃　persisted　Joe。　　〃Come　on　hup　to　de　dam。〃　　A　little　worn　path　invited　their　feet　from　the　curving　road；　and　following　their　feet；　they　found　themselves　upon　a　steep　embankment　which　dammed　the　waters　into　a　pond　that　formed　the　driving　powe