samantha at saratoga-第1节

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Samantha　at　Saratoga
by　Marietta　Holley



Dedication：
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TO　THE　GREAT　ARMY　OF
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SUMMER　TRAMPS
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THIS　BOOK　IS　DEDICATED
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BY　THEIR　COMRADE　AND　FELLOW　WANDERER
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　AUTHOR


CONTENTS。
CHAPTER　I。　SAMANTHA　AT　SARATOGA
CHAPTER　II。　ARDELIA　TUTT　AND　HER　MOTHER
CHAPTER　III。　THE　CHERITY　OF　THE　JONESVILLIANS
CHAPTER　IV。　ARDELIA　AND　ABRAM　GEE
CHAPTER　V。　WE　ARRIVE　AT　SARATOGA
CHAPTER　VI。　SARATOGA　BY　DAYLIGHT
CHAPTER　VII。　SEEING　THE　DIFFERENT　SPRINGS
CHAPTER　VIII。　JOSIAH　AND　SAMANTHA　TAKE　A　LONG　WALK
CHAPTER　IX。　JOSIAH'S　FLIRTATIONS
CHAPTER　X。　MISS　G。　WASHINGTON　FLAMM
CHAPTER　XI。　VISIT　TO　THE　INDIAN　ENCAMPMENT
CHAPTER　XII。　A　DRIVE　TO　SARATOGA　LAKE
CHAPTER　XIII。　VISITS　TO　NOTABLE　PLACES
CHAPTER　XIV。　LAKE　GEORGE　AND　MOUNT　McGREGOR
CHAPTER　XV。　ADVENTURES　AT　VARIOUS　SPRINGS
CHAPTER　XVI。　AT　A　LAWN　PARTY
CHAPTER　XVII。　A　TRIP　TO　SCHUYLERVILLE
CHAPTER　XVIII。　THE　SOCIAL　SCIENCE　MEETING
CHAPTER　XIX。　ST。　CHRISTINA'S　HOME
CHAPTER　XX。　AN　ACCIDENT　WITH　RESULTS



　A　SORT　OF　PREFACE　WHICH　IT　IS　NOT　NECESSARY　TO　READ

When　Josiah　read　my　dedication　he　said　〃it　wuz　a　shame　to　dedicate　a　book　that　it　had　took　most　a　hull　bottle　of　ink　to　write；　to　a　lot　of　creeters　that　he　wouldn't　have　in　the　back　door　yard。〃　But　I　explained　it　to　him；　that　I　didn't　mean　tramps　with　broken　hats；　variegated　pantaloons；　ventilated　shirt…sleeves；　and　barefooted。　　But　I　meant　tramps　with　diamond　ear…rings；　and　cuff…buttons；　and　Saratoga　trunks；　and　big　accounts　at　their　bankers。　And　he　said；　〃Oh；　shaw！〃　But　I　went　on　nobly；　onmindful　of　that　shaw；　as　female　pardners　have　to　be；　if　they　accomplish　all　the　talkin'　they　want　to。　And　sez　I；　〃It　duz　seem　sort　o'　pitiful；　don't　it；　to　think　how　sort　o'　homeless　the　Americans　are　a　gettin'？　　How　the　posys　that　blow　under　the　winders　of　Home　are　left　to　waste　their　sweet　breaths　amongst　the　weeds；　while　them　that　used　to　love　'em　are　a　climbin'　mountain　tops　after　strange　nosegays。〃　The　smoke　that　curled　up　from　the　chimbleys；　a　wreathin'　its　way　up　to　the　heavens　　all　dead　and　gone。　　The　bright　light　that　shone　out　of　the　winder　through　the　dark　a　tellin'　everybody　that　there　wuz　a　Home；　and　some　one　a　waitin'　for　somebody　　all　dark　and　lonesome。　Yes；　the　waiter　and　the　waited　for　are　all　a　rushin'　round　somewhere；　on　the　cars；　mebby；　or　a　yot；　a　chasin'　Pleasure；　that　like　as　not　settled　right　down　on　the　eves　of　the　old　house　they　left；　and　stayed　there。　I　wonder　if　they　will　find　her　there　when　they　go　back　again。　Mebby　they　will；　and　then　agin；　mebby　they　won't。　　For　Happiness　haint　one　to　set　round　and　lame　herself　a　waitin'　for　folks　to　make　up　their　minds。　Sometimes　she　looks　folks　full　in　the　face；　sort　o'　solemn　like　and　heart…searchin'；　and　gives　'em　a　fair　chance　what　they　will　chuse。　　And　then　if　they　chuse　wrong；　shee'll　turn　her　back　to　'em；　for　always。　　I've　hearn　of　jest　such　cases。　But　it　duz　seem　sort　o'　solemn　to　think　　how　the　sweet　restful　felin's　that　clings　like　ivy　round　the　old　familier　door　steps　　where　old　4　fathers　feet　stopped；　and　stayed　there；　and　baby　feet　touched　and　then　went　away　　I　declare　for't；　it　almost　brings　tears；　to　think　how　that　sweet　clingin'　vine　of　affection；　and　domestic　repose；　and　content　　how　soon　that　vine　gets　tore　up　nowadays。　It　is　a　sort　of　a　runnin'　vine　anyway；　and　folks　use　it　as　sech；　they　run　with　it。　　Jest　as　it　puts　its　tendrils　out　to　cling　round　some　fence　post；　or　lilock　bush；　they　pull　it　up；　and　start　off　with　it。　　And　then　its　roots　get　dry；　and　it　is　some　time　before　it　will　begin　to　put　out　little　shoots　and　clingin'　leaves　agin　round　some　petickular　mountain　top；　or　bureau　or　human　bein'。　　And　then　it　is　yanked　up　agin；　poor　little　runnin'　vine；　and　run　with　　and　so　on　　and　so　on　　and　so　on。　Why　sometimes　it　makes　me　fairly　heart…sick　to　think　on't。　　And　I　fairly　envy　our　old　4　fathers；　who　used　to　set　down　for　several　hundred　years　in　one　spot。　　They　used　to　get　real　rested；　it　must　be　they　did。　Jacob　now；　settin'　right　by　that　well　of　his'n　for　pretty　nigh　two　hundred　years。　　How　much　store　he　must　have　set　by　it　during　the　last　hundred　years　of　'em！　　How　attached　he　must　have　been　to　it！　Good　land！　　Where　is　there　a　well　that　one　of　our　rich　old　American　patriarks　will　set　down　by　for　two　years；　leavin'　off　the　orts。　　There　haint　none；　there　haint　no　such　a　well。　　Our　patriarks　haint　fond　of　well　water；　anyway。　And　old　Miss　Abraham　now；　and　Miss　Isaac　　what　stay　to　home　wimmen　they　wuz；　and　equinomical！　What　a　good　contented　creeter　Sarah　Abraham　wuz。　　How　settled　down；　and　stiddy；　stayin'　right　to　home　for　hundreds　of　years。　Not　gettin'　rampent　for　a　wider　spear；　not　a　coaxin'　old　Mr。　Abraham　nights　to　take　her　to　summer　resorts；　and　winter　hants　of　fashion。　No；　old　Mr。　Abraham　went　to　bed；　and　went　to　sleep　for　all　of　her。　And　when　they　did　once　in　a　hundred　years；　or　so；　make　up　their　minds　to　move　on　a　mile　or　so；　how　easy　they　traveled。　　Mr。　Abraham　didn't　have　to　lug　off　ten　or　twelve　wagon　loads　of　furniture　to　the　Safe　Deposit　Company；　and　spend　weeks　and　weeks　a　settlin'　his　bisness；　in　Western　lands；　and　Northern　mines；　Southern　railroads；　and　Eastern　wildcat　stocks；　to　get　ready　to　go。　　And　Miss　Abraham　didn't　have　to　have　a　dozen　dress…makers　in　the　house　for　a　month　or　two；　and　messenger　boys；　and　dry　goods　clerks；　and　have　to　stand　and　be　fitted　for　basks　and　polenays；　and　back　drapery；　and　front　drapery；　and　tea　gowns；　and　dinner　gowns；　and　drivin'　gowns；　and　mornin'　gowns；　and　evenin'　gowns；　and　etectery；　etcetery；　etcetery。　No；　all　the　preperations　she　had　to　make　wuz　to　wrop　her　mantilly　a　little　closter　round　her；　and　all　Mr。　Abraham　had　to　do　wuz　to　gird　up　his　lions。　　That　is　what　it　sez。　　And　I　don't　believe　it　would　take　much　time　to　gird　up　a　few　lions；　it　don't　seem　to　me　as　if　it　would。　And　when　these　few　simple　preperations　had　been　made；　they　jest　histed　up　their　tent　and　laid　it　acrost　a　camel；　and　moved　on　a　mild　or　two；　walkin'　afoot。　Why　jest　imagine　if　Miss　Abraham　had　to　travel　with　eight　or　ten　big　Saratoga　trunks；　how　could　they　have　been　got　up　onto　that　camel？　　It　couldn't　lave　been　done。　　The　camel　would　have　died；　and　old　Mr。　Abraham　would　also　have　expired　a　tryin'　to　lift　'em　up。　　No；　it　was　all　for　the　best。　And　jest　think　on't；　for　all　of　these　simple；　stay　to　home　ways；　they　called　themselves　Pilgrims　and　Sojourners。　　Good　land！　　What　would　they　have　thought　nowadays　to　see　folks　make　nothin'　of　settin'　off　for　China；　or　Japan　or　Jerusalem　before　breakfast。　And　what　did　they　know　of　the　hardships　of　civilization？　　Now　to　sposen　the　case；　sposen　Miss　Abraham　had　to　live　in　New　York　winters；　and　go　to　two　or　three　big　receptions　every　day；　and　to　dinner　parties；　and　theatre　parties；　and　operas　and　such　like；　evenin's；　and　receive　and　return　about　three　thousand　calls；　and　be　on　more　'n　a　dozen　charitable　boards　（hard　boards　they　be　too；　some　on　'em）　and　lots　of　other　projects　and　enterprizes　　be　on　the　go　the　hull　winter；　with　a　dress　so　tight　she　couldn't　breathe　instead　of　her　good　loose　robes；　and　instead　of　her　good　comfortable　sandals　have　her　feet　upon　high…heeled　shoes　pinchin'　her　corns　almost　unto　distraction。　　And　then　to　Washington　to　go　all　through　it　agin；　and　more　too；　and　Florida；　and　Cuba；　and　then　to　the　sea…shore　and　have　it　all　over　agin　with　sea　bathin'　added。　And　then　to　the　mountains；　and　all　over　agin　with　climbin'　round　added。　　Then　to　Europe；　with　seas　sickness；　picture　galleries；　etc。；　added。　　And　so　on　home　agin　in　the　fall　to　begin　it　all　over　agin。　Why　Miss　Abraham　would　be　so　tuckered　out　before　she　went　half　through　with　one　season；　that　she　would　be　a　dead　4　mother。　And　Mr。　Abraham　　why　one　half　hour　down　at　the　stock　exchange　would　have　been　too　much　for　that　good　old　creeter。　　The　yells　and　cries；　and　distracted　movements　of　the　crowd　of　Luker　Gatherers　there；　would　have　skairt　him　to　death。　　He　never　would　have　lived　to　follow　Miss　Abraham　round　from　pillow　to　post　through　summer　and　winter　seasons　　he　wouldn't　have　lived　to　waltz；　or　toboggen；　or　suffer　other　civilized　agonies。　　No；　he　would　have　been　a　dead　patriark。　　And　better　off　so；　I　almost　think。　Not　but　what　I　realize　that　civilization　has　its　advantages。　　Not　but　what　I　know　that　if　Mr。　Abraham　wanted　Miss　Abraham　to　part　his　hair　straight；　or　clean　off　his　phylackrity　when　she　happened　to　be　out　a　pickin'　up　manny；　he　couldn't　stand　on　one　side　of　his　tent　and　telephone　to　bring　her　back；　but　had　to　yell　at　her。　And　I　realize　fully　that　if　one　of　his　herd　got　strayed　off　into　another　county；　they　hadn't　no　telegraf　to　head　it　off；　but　the　old　man　had　to　poke　off　through　rain　or　sun；　and　hunt　it　up　himself。　　And　he　couldn't　set　down　cross…legged　in　front　of　his　tent　in　the　mornin'；　and　read　what　happened　on　the　other　side　of　the　world；　the　evenin'　before。　And　I　know　that　if　he　wanted　to　set　down　some　news；　they　had　to　kill　a　sheep；　and　spend　several　years　a　dressin'　off　the　hide　into　parchment　　and　kill　a　goose；　or　chase　it　up　till　they　wuz　beat　out；　for　a　goose…quill。　And　then　after　about　20　years　or　so；　they　could　put　it　down　that　Miss　Isaac　had　got　a　boy　　the　boy；　probably　bein'　a　married