samantha at saratoga-第25节
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z this afternoon； it wuzn't very well in the mornin'。 The nurse had it out somewhere； she didn't really know just where。 And she said； no； she didn't take it out with her at all fur she didn't feel equal to the care of it； in this hot weather。 Miss Flamm haint very well I could see that。 The care of that dog is jest a killin' her； a carryin' it round with her all the time daytimes； and a bein' up with it so much nights。 She said it had a dretful chill the night before； and she had to get up to warm blankets to put round it； 〃its nerves wuz so weak；〃 she said； 〃and it wuz so sensative that she could not trust it to a nurse。〃 She has a hard time of it； there haint a doubt of it。 Wall； it wuz anon； or jest about anon； that Miss Flamm turned to me and sez； 〃Moon's is one of the pleasantest places on the lake。 I want you to see it； folks drive out there a sight from Saratoga。〃 And then I looked at Josiah； and Josiah looked at me； and peace and happiness settled down ag'in onto our hearts。 Wall； we got there considerably before anon and we found that Moon's insted of bein' up in another planet wuz a big； long sort a low buildin' settled right down onto this old earth； with a immense piazza stretchin' along the side on't。 And Miss Flamm and Josiah and me disembarked from the carriage right onto the end of it。 But the dog and her relatives stayed back in the buggy and Josiah spoke bitterly to me ag'in but low； 〃They think it would hurt 'em to associate with me a little； dumb 'm； but I am jest as good as they be any day of the week； if I haint dressed up so fancy。〃 〃That's so；〃 sez I； whisperin' back to him； 〃and don't let it worry you a mite。 Don't try to act like Haman；〃 sez I。 〃You are havin' lots of the good things of this world； and are goin' to have some fried potatoes。 Don't let them two Mordecais at the gate； poison all your happiness； or you may get come up with jest as Haman wuz。〃 〃I'd love to hang'em；〃 sez he； 〃as high as Haman's gallows would let 'em hang。〃 〃Why；〃 sez I； 〃they haint injured you in any way。 They seem to eat like perfect gentlemen。 A little too exclusive and aristocratic； mebby； but they haint done nothin' to you。〃 〃No；〃 sez he； 〃that is the stick on it； here we be； three men with a lot of wimmen。 And they can't associate with me as man with man； but set off by themselves too dumb proud to say a word to me； that is the dumb of it。〃 But at this very minute； before I could rebuke him for his feerful profanity； Miss Flamm motioned to us to come and take a seat round a little table； and consequently we sot。 It was a long broad piazza with sights and sights of folks on it a settin' round little tables like our'n； and all a lookin' happy； and a laughin'； and a talkin' and a drinkin' different drinks； sech as lemonade； etc。； and eatin' fried potatoes and sech。 And out in the road by which we had come； wuz sights and sights of vehicles and conveyances of all kinds from big Tally Ho coaches with four horses on 'em； down to a little two wheeled buggy。 The road wuz full on'em。 In front of us； down at the bottom of a steep though beautiful hill； lay stretched out the clear blue waters of the lake。 Smooth and tranquil it looked in the light of that pleasant afternoon； and fur off； over the shinin' waves； lay the island。 And white…sailed boats wuz a sailin' slowly by； and the shadow of their white sails lay down in the water a floatin' on by the side of the boats； lookin' some like the wings of that white dove that used to watch over Lake Saratoga。 And as I looked down on the peaceful seen； the feelin's I had down in the wild wood； back of the Gizer Spring come back to me。 The waves rolled in softly from fur off； fur off； bringin' a greetin' to me unbeknown to anybody； unbeknown to me。 It come into my heart unbidden； unsought； from afur； afur。 Where did it come from that news of lands more beautiful than any that lay round Mr。 Moons'es； beautiful as it wuz。 Echoes of music sweeter fur than wuz a soundin' from the band down by the shore； music heard by some finer sense than heard that； heavenly sweet； heavenly sad； throbbin' through the remoteness of that country； through the nearness of it； and fillin' my eyes with tears。 Not sad tears； not happy ones； but tears that come only to them that shet their eyes and behold the country； and love it。 The waves softly lappin' the shore brought a message to me； my soul hearn it。 Who sent it？ And where； and when； and why？ Not a trace of these emotions could be read on my countenance as I sot there calmly a eatin' fried potatoes。 And they did go beyond anything I ever see in the line of potatoes； and I thought I could fry potatoes with any one： Yes； such wuz my feelin's when I sot out for Mr。 Moons'es。 But I went back a thinkin' that potatoes had never been fried by me； sech is the power of a grand achievment over a inferior one； and so easy is the sails taken down out of the swellin' barge of egotism。 No； them potatoes you could carry in your pocket for weeks right by the side of the finest lace； and the lace would be improved by the purity of 'em。 Fried potatoes in that condition； you could eat 'em with the lightest silk gloves one and the tips of the fingers would be improved by 'em； fried potatoes； jest think on't！ Wall； we had some lemonade too； and if you'll believe it； I don't s'pose you will but it is the truth； there wuz straws in them glasses too。 But you may as well believe it for I tell the truth at all times； and if I wuz a goin' to lie； I wouldn't lie about lemons。 And then I've always noticed it； that if things git to happenin' to you； lots of things jest like it will happen。 That made twice in one week or so； that I had found straws in my tumbler。 But then I have had company three days a runnin'； rainy days too sometimes。 It haint nothin' to wonder at too much。 Any way it is the truth。 Wall； we drinked our lemonade； I a quietly takin' out the straws and droppin' 'em on the floor at my side in a quiet ladylike manner； and Josiah； a bein' wunk at by me； doin' the same thing。 And anon； our carriage drove up to the end of the piazza agin and we sot sail homewards。 And the dog barked at Josiah almost every step of the way back； and when we got to our boardin' place； Miss Flamm shook hands with us both； and her relatives never took a mite of notice of us； further than to jump down and open the carriage door for us as we got out。 （They are genteel in their manners； and Josiah had to admit that they wuz； much as his feelin's wuz hurt by their haughtiness towards him。） And then the dog； and Miss Flamm and Miss Flamm's relatives drove off。
XI。 VISIT TO THE INDIAN ENCAMPMENT。 It wuz a fair sunshiny mornin' （and it duz seem to me that the fairness of a Saratoga mornin' seems fairer； and the sunshine more sunshiny than it duz anywhere else）； that Josiah and Ardelia and me sot sail for the Indian Encampment； which wuz encamped on a little rise of ground to the eastward of where we wuz。 Ardelia wuz to come to our boardin' place at halfpast 9 A。 M。； forenoon； and we wuz to set out together from there。 And punctual to the very half minute I wuz down on the piazza； with my mantilly hung over my arm and my umberel in my left hand。 Josiah Allen was on the right side on me。 And as Ardelia hadn't come yet we sot down in a middlin' quiet part of the piazza； and waited for her。 And as we sot there； I sez to Josiah； as I looked out on the fair pleasant mornin' and the fair pleasant faces environin' of us round； sez I； 〃Saratoga is a good…natured place； haint it； Josiah？〃 And he said （I mistrust his corns ached worse than common； or sunthin'）； he said； he didn't see as it wuz any better…natured than Jonesville or Loontown。 And I sez； 〃Yes it is； Josiah Allen。〃 Sez I； folks are happier here and more generous； the rich ones seem inclined to help them that need help to a little comfort and happiness。 Jest as I have always said； Josiah Allen。 When folks are happy； they are more inclined to do good。〃 〃Oh shaw！〃 sez Josiah。 〃That never made no difference with me。〃 〃What didn't？〃 sez I。 〃I'm always good；〃 sez he； and he snapped out the words real snappish； and loud。 And I sez mildly； 〃Wall； you needn't bring the ruff down to prove your goodness。〃 And he went on： 〃I don't see as they are so pesky good here； I haint seen nothin' of it。〃 〃Wall；〃 sez I； 〃when I look over Yaddo； and Hilton Park； it makes me reconciled； Josiah； to have men get rich； it makes me willin'； Josiah。〃 And he sez （cross）； He guessed men would get rich whether I wuz willin' or not； he guessed they wouldn't ask me。 〃Wall； you needn't snap my head off； Josiah Allen；〃 sez I； 〃because I love to see folks use their wealth to make pleasant places for poor folks to wander round in； and forget their own narrow rocky roads for a spell。 It is a noble thing to do； Josiah Allen； they might have built high walls round 'em if they had been a mind to； and locked the gates and shet out all the poor and tired…out ones； But they didn't； and I am highly tickled at the thought on't； Josiah Allen。〃 〃Wall； I don't shet up our sugar lot； do I？ and I have never heerd you say one word a praisin' me up for that。〃 〃That is far different； Josiah Allen；〃 sez I； 〃there is nothin' there that can git hurt； only stumps。 And you have
