samantha at saratoga-第17节
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ion wuz dubersome。 For Ardelia I knew wuz one of the soft little wimmen that has got to have men a trailin' round after 'em； and her bein' so uncommon tender hearted； and Mr。 Flamburg so deep in love； I feared the result。 Wall； I wuz jest a thinkin' of this that day after dinner when Josiah proposed a walk； so we sot out。 He proposed we should walk through the park； so we did。 The air wuz heavenly sweet and that park is one of the most restful and beautiful places this side of Heaven； or so it seemed to us that pleasant afternoon。 The music was very soft and sweet that day； sweet with a undertone of sadness； some like a great sorrowful soul in a beautiful body。 The balmy south wind whispered through the branches of the bendin' trees on the hill where we sot。 The light was a shinin' and a siftin' down through the green leaves； in a soft golden haze； and the music seemed to go right up into them shadowy； shinin' pathways of golden misty light； a climbin' up on them shadowy steps of mist and gold； and amber； up； up into the soft depths of the blue overhead … up to the abode of melody and love。 Down the hill in the beautiful little valley； all amongst the fountains and windin' walks and white statutes； and green； green； grass； little children wuz a playin'。 Sweet little toddlers； jest able to walk about； and bolder spirits； though small； a trudgin' about with little canes； and jumpin' round； and havin' a good time。 Little boys and little girls （beautiful creeters； the hull on 'em）； for if their faces； every one on 'em； wuzn't jest perfect！ They all had the beauty of childhood and happiness。 And crowds of older folks wuz there。 And some happy young couples； youths and maidens； wuz a settin' round； and a wanderin' off by themselves； and amongst them we see the form of Ardelia； and a young man by her side。 She wuz a leanin' on the stun railin' that fences in the trout pond。 She wuz evidently a lookin' down pensively at the shinin' dartin' figures of the trout； a movin' round down in the cool waters。 I wuzn't nigh enough to 'em to see really how her companion looked； but even at that distance I recognized a certain air and atmosphere a surroundin' Ardelia that I knew meant poetry。 And Josiah recognized it too； and he sez to me； 〃We may as well go round the hill and out to the road that way；〃 sez he； （a pointin' to the way furthest from Ardelia） 〃and we may as well be a goin'。〃 That man abhors poetry。 Wall； we wandered down into the high way and havin' most the hull afternoon before us； we kinder sauntered round amongst the stores that wuz pretty nigh to where we wuz。 There is some likely good lookin' stores kep' by the natives； as they call the stiddy dwellers in Saratoga。 Good lookin' respectable stores full of comfort and consolation； for the outer or inner man or woman。 （I speak it in a mortal sense）。 But with the hundred thousand summer dwellers； who flock here with the summer birds； and go out before the swallers go south； there comes lots of summer stores； and summer shops； and picture studios； etc。； etc。 Like big summer bird's…nests； all full and a runnin' over with summer wealth； to be blowed down by the autumn winds。 These shops are full of everything elegant and beautiful and useful。 The most gorgeous vases and plaks and chiner ware of every description and color； and books； and jewelry； and rugs； and fans； and parasols； and embroideries； and laces； and etc。； etc。； etc。 And one shop seemed to be jest full of drops of light； light and sunshine； crystalized in golden； clear； tinted amber。 There wuz a young female statute a standin' up in the winder of that store with her hands outstretched and jest a drippin' with the great glowin' amber drops。 Some wuz a hangin' over her wings for she was a young flyin' female。 And I thought to myself it must be she would fly better with all that golden light a drippin' about her。 Josiah liked her looks first rate。 And he liked the looks of some of the pictures extremely。 There wuz lots of places all full of pictures。 A big collection of water colors； though as Josiah said and well said； How they could get so many colors out of water wuz a mystery to him。 But my choice out of all the pictures I see； wuz a little one called 〃The Sands of Dee。〃 It wuz 〃Mary a callin' the cattle home。〃 The cruel treacherus water wuz a risin' about her round bare ankles as she stood there amongst the rushes with her little milk…bucket on her arm。 Her pretty innocent face wuz a lookin' off into the shadows； and the last ray of sunset was a fallin' on her。 Maybe it wuz the pity on't that struck so hard as I looked at it； to know that the 〃cruel； crawli'n foam〃 wuz so soon to creep over the sweet young face and round limbs。 And there seemed to be a shadow of the comin' fate； a sweepin' in on the gray mist behind her。 I stood for some time； and I don't know but longer； a lookin' at it； my Josiah a standin' placidly behind me； a lookin' over my shoulder and enjoyin' of it too； till the price wuz mentioned。 But at that fearful moment； my pardner seized me by the arm； and walked me so voyalently out of that store and down the walk that I did not find and recover myself till we stood at the entrance to Philey street。 And I wuz so out of breath； by his powerful speed； that she didn't look nateral to me； I hardly recognized Philey。 But Josiah hurried me down Philey and wanted to get my mind offen Mary Dee I knew； for he says as we come under a sign hangin' down over the road； 〃Horse Exchange；〃 sez he； 〃What do you say； Samantha； do you spose I could change off the old mair； for a camel or sunthin'？ How would you like a camel to ride？〃 I looked at him in speechless witherin' silence； and he went on hurridly； 〃It would make a great show in Jonesville； wouldn't it； to see us comin' to meetin' on a camel； or to see us ridin' in a cutter drawed by one。 I guess I'll see about it； some other time。〃 And he went on hurridly； and almost incoherently as we see another sign； over the road … oh！ how vollubly he did talk … 〃Quick； Livery。〃 〃I hate to see folks so dumb conceeted！ Now I don't spose that man has got any hosses much faster than the old mair。〃 〃'Wing's！' Shaw！ I don't believe no such thing … a livery on wings。 I don't believe a word on't。 And you wouldn't ketch me on one on 'em； if they had！〃 〃'Yet Sing！〃' sez he； a lookin' accost the street into a laundry house。 〃What do I care if you do sing？ 'Taint of much account if you do any way。 I sing sometimes； I yet sing；〃 says he。 〃Sing；〃 sez I in neerly witherin' tone。 〃I'd love to hear you sing； I haint yet and I've lived with you agoin' on 30 years。〃 〃Wall； if you haint heerd me； it is because you are deef；〃 sez he。 But that is jest the way he kep' on； a hurryin' me along； and a talkin' fast to try to get the price of that picture out of my head。 Anon； and sometimes oftener； we would come to the word in big letters on signs； or on the fence； or the sides of barns； 〃Pray。〃 And sometimes it would read； 〃Pray for my wife！〃 And Josiah every time he came to the words would stop and reflect on 'em。 〃‘Pray！' What business is it of yourn； whether I pray or not？ ‘Pray for my wife！' That haint none of your business。〃 Sez he； a shakin' his fist at the fence； 〃'Taint likely I should have a wife without prayin' for her。 She needs it bad enough；〃 sez he once； as he stood lookin' at it。 I gin him a strange look； and he sez； 〃You wouldn't like it； would you； if I didn't pray for you？〃 〃No；〃 sez I； 〃and truly as you say； the woman who is your wife needs prayer； she needs help； morn half the time she duz。〃 He looked kinder dissatisfied at the way I turned it； but he sez； 〃'Plumbin' done here！'〃 〃I'd love to know where they are goin' to plum。 I don't see no sign of plum trees； nor no stick to knock 'em off with。〃 And agin he sez； 〃You would make a great 'fuss； Samantha； if I should say what is painted up right there on that cross piece。 You would say I wuz a swearin'。〃 Sez I coldly； （or as cold as I could with my blood heated by the voyalence and rapidity of the walk he had been a leadin' me；） 〃There is a Van in front of it。 Van Dam haint swearin'。〃 〃You would say it wuz if I used it；〃 sez he reproachfully。 〃If I should fall down on the ice； or stub my toe； and trip up on the meetin' house steps； and I should happen to mention the name of that street about the same time； you would say I wuz a swearin'。〃 I did not reply to him； I wouldn't。 And ag'in he hurried me on'ards by some good lookin' bildin's； and trees； and tavrens； and cottages； and etc。； etc。； and we come to Caroline street； and Jane； and Matilda； and lots of wimmen's names。 And Josiah sez； 〃I'll bet the man that named them streets wuz love sick！〃 But he wuzn't no such thing。 It was a father that owned the land； and laid out the streets； and named 'em for his daughters。 Good old creeter！ I wuzn't goin' to have him run at this late day； and run down his own streets too。 But ag'in Josiah hurried me on'ards。 And bimeby we found ourselves a standin' in front of a kind of a lonesome lookin' house； big and square； with tall pillows in front。 It wuz a standin' back as if it wuz a kinder a drawin' back from company； in a square yard all dark and shady with tall trees。 And it all looked kinder dusky； and
