samantha at saratoga-第30节

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Allen；　〃Drive　on；　Josiah；　instantly　and　to　once。〃　He　too　had　heerd　the　fearful　word　and　his　princeples　too　wuz　rousted　up。　　He　driv　right　on　rapidly；　out　of　the　gate　and　into　the　highway。　　But　as　he　druv　on　fast　and　almost　furius　I　heerd　him　murmur　words　to　himself；　that　accounted　for　his　eager　looks　while　the　man　wuz　dickerin'　about　the　pool。　　He　sez；　〃It　is　dumb　hard　work　pumpin'　water　for　so　many　head　of　cattle。〃　　He　thought　a　pool　would　come　handy；　so　I　see。　　But　it　wuz　all　done　and　I　would　have　done　the　same　thing　if　it　was　to　do　over　agin；　so　I　didn't　say　nuthin'；　but　kep'　a　serene　silence；　and　let　him　drive　along　in　quiet；　and　anon；　I　see　the　turbelence　of　his　feelin's　subsided　in　a　measure。　It　wuz　a　gettin'　along　towards　sundown　and　the　air　wuz　a　growin'　cool　and　balmy；　as　if　it　wuz　a　blowin'　over　some　balm　flowers；　and　we　begun　to　feel　quite　well　in　our　minds；　though　the　crowd　in　the　road　wuz　too　big　for　comfert。　　The　crowd　of　carriages　and　horses；　and　vehicles　of　all　kinds；　seemed　to　go　in　two　big　full　rows　or　streams；　one　a　goin'　down　on　one　side　of　the　road；　and　the　other　a　goin'　up　on　the　other。　　So　the　2　tides　swept　past　each　other　constantly　　but　the　bubbles　on　the　tide　wuzn't　foam　but　feathers；　and　bows；　and　laces；　and　parasols；　and　buttons；　and　diamonds；　and　etcetry；　etcetry；　etcetry。　And　all　of　a　sudden　my　Josiah　jest　turned　into　a　big　gate　that　wuz　a　standin'　wide　open　and　we　drove　into　a　beautiful　quiet　road　that　went　a　windin'　in　under　the　shadows　of　the　tall　grand　old　trees。　　He　did　it　without　askin'　my　advice　or　sayin'　a　word　to　me。　　But　I　wuzn't　sorry。　　Fur　it　wuz　beautiful　in　there。　　It　seemed　as　if　we　had　left　small　cares　and　vexations　and　worryments　out　there　in　the　road　and　dust；　and　took　in　with　us　only　repose　and　calmness；　and　peace；　and　they　wuz　a　journeyin'　along　with　us　on　the　smooth　road　under　the　great　trees；　a　bendin'　down　on　each　side　on　us。　　And　pretty　soon　we　came　to　a　beautiful　piece　of　water　crossed　by　a　rustick　bridge；　and　all　surrounded　by　green　trees　on　every　side。　　Then　up　on　the　broad　road　agin；　sweepin'　round　a　curve　where　we　could　see　a　little　ways　off　a　great　mansion　with　a　wall　built　high　round　it　as　if　to　shet　in　the　repose　and　sweet　home…life　and　shet　out　intrusion；　sort　a　protect　it　from　the　too　curius　glances　of　a　curius　generation。　　Some　as　I　hold　my　hand　up　before　my　face　to　keep　off　the　too…scorchin'　rays　of　the　sun；　when　I　am　a　lookin'　down　the　western　road　for　my　Josiah。　It　wuz　a　good　lookin'　spot　as　I　ever　want　to　see；　sheltered；　quiet　and　lovely。　　But　we　left　it　behind　us　as　we　rode　onwards；　till　we　came　out　along　another　broad　piece　of　the　water；　and　we　rode　along　by　the　side　of　it　for　some　time。　Beautiful　water　with　the　trees　growin'　up　on　every　side　of　it；　and　their　shadows　reflected　so　clearly　in　the　shinin'　surface；　that　they　seemed　to　be　trees　a　growin'　downwards；　tall　grand　trees；　wavin'　branches；　goin'　down　into　the　water　and　livin'　agin　in　another　world；　　a　more　beautiful　one。　The　sun　wuz　a　gettin'　low　and　piles　of　clouds　wuz　in　the　west　and　all　their　light　wuz　reflected　in　the　calm　water。　　And　the　beautiful　soft　shadows　rested　there　on　that　rosy　and　golden　light；　some　like　the　shadow　of　a　beautiful　and　sorrowful　memory；　a　restin'　down　and　reposin'　on　a　divine　hope；　an　infinite　sweetness。


XIII。　VISITS　TO　NOTABLE　PLACES。

It　is　a　perfect　sight　to　behold；　to　set　on　the　piazzas　at　Saratoga；　and　see　the　folks　a　goin'　past。　Now　in　Jonesville；　when　there　wuz　a　4th　of　July；　or　campmeetin'；　or　sunthin'　of　that　kind　a　goin'　on；　why；　I　thought　I　had　seen　the　streets　pretty　full。　　Why；　I　had　counted　as　many　as　seven　teams　in　the　road　at　one　time；　and　I　had　thought　that　wuz　pretty　lively　times。　　But　good　land？　　Good　land！　　You　would　have　gin　up　in　ten　minutes　time　here；　that　you　had　never　seen　a　team　（as　it　were）。　Why　I　call　my　head　a　pretty　sound　one；　but　I　declare；　it　did　fairly　make　my　head　swim　to　set　there　kinder　late　in　the　afternoon；　and　see　the　drivin'　a　goin'　on。　　See　the　carriages　a　goin'　this　way；　and　a　goin'　that　way；　horses　of　all　colers；　and　men　and　wimmen　of　all　colers；　and　parasols　of　all　colers；　and　hats；　and　bonnets　and　parasols；　and　satins；　and　laces；　and　ribbins；　and　buttons；　and　dogs；　and　flowers；　and　plumes；　and　parasols。　　And　horses　a　turnin'　out　to　go　by；　and　horses　havin'　gone　by；　and　horses　that　hadn't　gone　by。　　And　big　carriages　with　folks　inside　all　dressed　up　in　every　coler　of　the　rain　beaux。　And　elligent　gentlemen　dressed　perfectly　splendid；　a　settin'　up　straight　behind。　　With　thin　yellow　legs；　or　stripes　down　the　side　on　'em；　and　their　hats　all　trimmed　off　with　ornaments　and　buttons　up　and　down　their　backs。　Haughty　creeters　they　wuz；　I　make　no　doubt。　　They　showed　it　in　their　looks。　　But　I　never　loved　so　much　dress　in　a　man。　　And　I　would　jest　as　soon　have　told　them　so；　as　to　tell　you。　　I　hain't　one　to　say　things　to　a　man's　back　that　I　won't　say　to　his　face；　whether　it　be　a　plain　back　or　buttoned。　Wall；　as　I　say；　it　wuz　a　dizzy　sight　to　set　there　on　them　piazzas　and　see　the　seemin'ly　endless　crowd　a　goin'　by；　back　and　forth；　back　and　forth；　to　and　fro；　to　and　fro。　　I　didn't　enjoy　it　so　much　as　some　did；　though　for　a　few　　minutes　at　a　time　I　looked　upon　it　as　a　sort　of　a　recreation；　some　like　a　circus；　only　more　wilder。　But　some　folks　enjoyed　it　dretfully。　　Yes；　they　set　a　great　deal　on　piazzas　at　Saratoga。　　And　when　I　say　set　on　'em；　I　mean　they　set　a　great　store　on　'em；　and　they　set　on　'em　a　great　deal。　　Some　folks　set　on　'em　so　much；　that　I　called　them　setters。　　Real　likely　creeters　they　are　too；　some　on　'em；　and　handsome；　　some　pious；　sober　ones；　some　sort　a　gay。　　Some　not　married　at　all；　and　some　married　a　good　deal；　and　when　I　say　a　good　deal　I　meen；　they　have　had　various　companions　and　lost　'em。　Now　there　wuz　one　woman　that　I　liked　quite　well。　She　had　had　4　husbands　countin'　in　the　present　one。　　She　wuz　a　good　lookin'　woman　and　had　seen　trouble。　　It　stands　to　reeson　she　had　with　4　husbands。　　Good　land！　She　showed　me　one　day　a　ring　she　wore。　　She　had　took　the　weddin'　rings　of　her　4　pardners　and　had　'em　all　run　together；　and　the　initials　of　their　first　names　carved　inside　on　it。　　Her　first　husband's　name　wuz　Franklin；　her　next　two　wuz　Orville　and　Obed；　and　her　last　and　livin'　one　Lyman。　　Wall；　she　meant　well；　but　she　never　see　what　would　be　the　end　on't　and　how　it　would　read　till　she　had　got　their　initials　all　carved　out　on　it。　She　wuz　dretfully　worked　up　about　it；　but　I　see　that　it　wuz　right。　　For　nobody　but　a　fool　would　want　to　run　all　these　recollections　and　memories　together；　all　the　different　essociations　and　emotions；　that　must　cluster　round　each　of　them　rings。　　The　idee　of　runnin'　'em　all　together　with　the　livin'　one！　　It　wuz　ectin'　like　a　fool　and　it　seemed　fairly　providential　that　their　names　run　in　jest　that　way。　Why；　if　I　had　had　2　husbands；　or　even　4；　I　should　want　to　keep　'em　apart　…　settin'　up　in　high　chairs　on　different　sides　of　my　heart。　　Why；　if　I'd　had　4；　I'd　have　'em　to　the　different　pints　of　the　compass；　east；　west；　north；　south；　as　far　apart　from　each　other　as　my　heart　would　admit　of。　　Ketch　me　a　lumpin'　in　all　the　precious　memories　of　my　Josiah　with　them　of　any　other　man；　bond　or　free；　Jew　or　Genteel；　no；　and　I'd　refrain　from　tellin'　to　the　new　one　about　the　other　ones。　No；　when　a　pardner　dies　and　you　set　out　to　take　another　one；　bury　the　one　that　has　gone　right　under　his　own　high　chair　in　your　heart；　don't　keep　him　up　there　a　rattlin'　his　bones　before　the　eyes　of　the　2d；　and　angerin'　him；　and　agonizen'　your　own　heart。　　Bury　him　before　you　bring　a　new　one　into　the　same　room。　And　never！　never！　even　in　moments　of　the　greatest　anger；　dig　him　up　agin　or　even　weep　over　his　grave；　before　the　new　pardner。　　No；　under　the　moonlight；　and　the　stars；　before　God　only；　and　your　own　soul；　you　may　lay　there　in　spirit　on　that　grave；　weep　over　it；　keep　the　turf　green。　　But　not　before　any　one　else。　　And　I　wouldn't　advise　you　to　go　there　alone　any　too　often。　　I　would　advise　you　to　spend　your　spare　time　ornementin'　the　high　chair　where　the　new　one　sets；　wreathin'　it　round　with　whatever　blossoms　and　trailin'　vines　of　tenderness　and　romance　you　have　left　over　from　the　first　great　romance　of　life。　It　would　be　better　for　you　in　the　end。　I　said　some　few　of　these　little　thoughts　to　the　female　mentioned；　and　I　s'pose　I　impressed　her　dretfully；　I　s'pose　I　did。　　But　I　couldn't　stay　to　see　the　full　effects　on't；　for　another　female　setter　came　up　at　that　minute　to　talk　with　her；　and　my　companion　came　up　at　that　very　minute　to　ask　me　to　go　a　walkin'　with　him　up　to　the　cemetery。　That　is　a　very　favorite　place　for　Josiah　Allen。　　He　often　used　to　tell　the　children　when　they　wuz　little；　that　if　they　wuz　real　good　he　would　take　'em　out　on　a　walk　to　the　grave…yard。　And　when　I　first　married　to　him；　if　I　hadn't　broke　it　up；　that　would　have　been　the　only　place　of　resort　that　he　would　have　took　me　to　Summers。　　But　I　broke　it　up　after　a　while。　　Good　land！　there　is　times　to　go　any　where　and　times　to　stay　away。　　I　didn't　want　to　go　a　trailin'　up　there　every　day　or　two；　jest　married　too！　But　to…day　I　felt　willin'　to　go。　　I　had　been　a　lookin'　so　long　at　the　crowd　a　fillin'　the　streets　full；　and　every　one　on　'em　in　motion；　that　I　thought　it　would　be　sort　a　restful　to　go