drift from two shores(漂流)-第10节
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supposed was washed overboard。' There！ may be that's the child； Mr。
North。 Why； Dad！ Look； O my God！ He's falling。 Catch him； Dad！
Quick！〃
But her strong arm had anticipated her father's。 She caught him；
lifted him to the bed； on which he lay henceforth for many days
unconscious。 Then fever supervened； and delirium； and Dr。 Duchesne
telegraphed for his friends； but at the end of a week and the opening of a
summer day the storm passed； as the other storm had passed； and he
awoke； enfeebled； but at peace。 Bessy was at his sidehe was glad to
seealone。
〃Bessy； dear；〃 he said hesitatingly； 〃when I am stronger I have
something to tell you。〃
〃I know it all； Jem；〃 she said with a trembling lip； 〃I heard it allno；
not from THEM； but from your own lips in your delirium。 I'm glad it came
from YOUeven then。〃
〃Do you forgive me； Bessy？〃
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She pressed her lips to his forehead and said hastily； and then
falteringly； as if afraid of her impulse：
〃Yes。 Yes。〃
〃And you will still be mother to the child？〃
〃HER child？〃
〃No dear； not hers； but MINE！〃
She started； cried a little； and then putting her arms around him； said：
〃Yes。〃
And as there was but one way of fulfilling that sacred promise； they
were married in the autumn。
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DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
TWO SAINTS OF THE FOOT…
HILLS
It never was clearly ascertained how long they had been there。 The
first settler of Rough…and…Readyone Low； playfully known to his
familiars as 〃The Poor Indian〃declared that the Saints were afore his
time； and occupied a cabin in the brush when he 〃blazed〃 his way to the
North Fork。 It is certain that the two were present when the water was
first turned on the Union Ditch and then and there received the designation
of Daddy Downey and Mammy Downey； which they kept to the last。 As
they tottered toward the refreshment tent； they were welcomed with the
greatest enthusiasm by the boys； or； to borrow the more refined language
of the 〃Union Recorder；〃〃Their gray hairs and bent figures； recalling as
they did the happy paternal eastern homes of the spectators； and the
blessings that fell from venerable lips when they left those homes to
journey in quest of the Golden Fleece on Occidental Slopes； caused many
to burst into tears。〃 The nearer facts； that many of these spectators were
orphans； that a few were unable to establish any legal parentage whatever；
that others had enjoyed a State's guardianship and discipline； and that a
majority had left their paternal roofs without any embarrassing
preliminary formula； were mere passing clouds that did not dim the golden
imagery of the writer。 From that day the Saints were adopted as
historical lay figures； and entered at once into possession of uninterrupted
gratuities and endowment。
It was not strange that； in a country largely made up of ambitious and
reckless youth； these twotypes of conservative and settled formsshould
be thus celebrated。 Apart from any sentiment or veneration； they were
admirable foils to the community's youthful progress and energy。 They
were put forward at every social gathering； occupied prominent seats on
the platform at every public meeting； walked first in every procession；
were conspicuous at the frequent funeral and rarer wedding； and were
godfather and godmother to the first baby born in Rough…and…Ready。 At
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the first poll opened in that precinct； Daddy Downey cast the first vote；
and； as was his custom on all momentous occasions； became volubly
reminiscent。 〃The first vote I ever cast；〃 said Daddy； 〃was for Andrew
Jackson； the father o' some on your peart young chaps wasn't born then； he！
he！ that was 'way long in '33； wasn't it？ I disremember now； but if
Mammy was here； she bein' a school…gal at the time； she could say。 But
my memory's failin' me。 I'm an old man； boys； yet I likes to see the
young ones go ahead。 I recklect that thar vote from a suckumstance。
Squire Adams was present； and seein' it was my first vote； he put a goold
piece into my hand； and； sez he； sez Squire Adams； 'Let that always be a
reminder of the exercise of a glorious freeman's privilege！' He did； he！
he！ Lord； boys！ I feel so proud of ye； that I wish I had a hundred votes to
cast for ye all。〃
It was hardly necessary to say that the memorial tribute of Squire
Adams was increased tenfold by the judges； inspectors； and clerks； and
that the old man tottered back to Mammy； considerably heavier than he
came。 As both of the rival candidates were equally sure of his vote； and
each had called upon him and offered a conveyance； it is but fair to
presume they were equally beneficent。 But Daddy insisted upon walking
to the polls；a distance of two miles；as a moral example； and a text for
the California paragraphers； who hastened to record that such was the
influence of the foot…hill climate； that 〃a citizen of Rough…and…Ready； aged
eighty…four； rose at six o'clock； and； after milking two cows； walked a
distance of twelve miles to the polls； and returned in time to chop a cord of
wood before dinner。〃
Slightly exaggerated as this statement may have been； the fact that
Daddy was always found by the visitor to be engaged at his wood… pile；
which seemed neither to increase nor diminish under his axe； a fact；
doubtless； owing to the activity of Mammy； who was always at the same
time making pies； seemed to give some credence to the story。 Indeed； the
wood…pile of Daddy Downey was a standing reproof to the indolent and
sluggish miner。
〃Ole Daddy must use up a pow'ful sight of wood； every time I've
passed by his shanty he's been makin' the chips fly。 But what gets me is；
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that the pile don't seem to come down；〃 said Whisky Dick to his neighbor。
〃Well； you derned fool！〃 growled his neighbor； 〃spose some chap
happens to pass by thar； and sees the old man doin' a man's work at eighty；
and slouches like you and me lying round drunk； and that chap； feelin'
kinder humped； goes up some dark night and heaves a load of cut pine
over his fence； who's got anything to say about it？ Say？〃 Certainly not
the speaker； who had done the act suggested； nor the penitent and
remorseful hearer； who repeated it next day。
The pies and cakes made by the old woman were； I think； remarkable
rather for their inducing the same loyal and generous spirit than for their
intrinsic excellence； and it may be said appealed more strongly to the
nobler aspirations of humanity than its vulgar appetite。 Howbeit；
everybody ate Mammy Downey's pies； and thought of his childhood。
〃Take 'em； dear boys；〃 the old lady would say； 〃it does me good to see you
eat 'em； reminds me kinder of my poor Sammy； that； ef he'd lived； would
hev been ez strong and beg ez you be； but was taken down with lung fever；
at Sweetwater。 I kin see him yet； that's forty year ago； dear！ comin' out o'
the lot to the bake…house； and smilin' such a beautiful smile； like yours；
dear boy； as I handed him a mince or a lemming turnover。 Dear； dear；
how I do run on！ and those days is past！ but I seems to live in you again！〃
The wife of the hotel…keeper
