the red acorn-第25章

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Ah；　Rachel！what　of　her？

He　had　not　thought　of　her　since　a　swift　recollection　of　her　words　at　the　parting　scene　on　the　piazza　had　come　to　spur　up　his　faltering　resolution；　as　the　regiment　advanced　up　the　side　of　Wildcat。　　Now　one　bitter　thought　of　how　useless　all　that　he　had　gone　through　with　the　day　before　was　to　rehabilitate　himself　in　her　good　opinion　was　speedily　chased　from　his　mind　by　the　still　bitterer　one　of　the　contempt　she　must　feel　for　him；　did　she　but　know　of　his　present　abject　prostration。

After　all；　might　not　the　occurrences　of　yesterday　be　but　the　memories　of　a　nightmare？　　They　seemed　too　unreal　for　probability。　　Perhaps　he　was　just　recovering　consciousness　after　the　delirium　of　a　fever。

The　walnut　sticks　in　the　fireplace　popped　as　sharply　as　pistols；　and　he　trembled　from　head　to　foot。

〃Heavens；　I'm　a　bigger　coward　than　ever；〃　he　said　bitterly；　and　turning　himself　painfully　in　bed；　he　fixed　his　eyes　upon　the　wall。　〃I　was　led　to　believe；〃　he　continued；　〃that　after　I　had　once　been　under　fire；　I　would　cease　to　dread　it。　　Now；　it　seems　to　me　more　dreadful　than　I　ever　imagined　it　to　be。〃

Aunt　Debby's　wheel　hummed　and　droned　still　louder；　but　her　pleasant　tones　rode　on　the　cadences　like　an　Aeolian　harp　in　a　rising　wind：


〃Man　may　trouble　and　distress　me；　　　　'T　will　but　drive　me　to　Thy　breast；　Life　with　trials　hard　may　press　me；　　　　Heaven　will　bring　me　sweeter　rest。　O；　'tis　not　in　grief　to　harm　me；　　　　While　Thy　love　is　left　to　me。　O；　'twere　not　in　joy　to　charm　me；　　　　Were　that　joy　unmixed　with　Thee。〃


He　wondered　weakly　why　ther　were　no　monasteries　in　this　land　and　age；　to　serve　as　harbors　or　refuge　for　those　who　shrank　from　the　fearfulness　of　war。

He　turned　over　again　wearily；　and　Aunt　Debby；　looking　toward　him；　encountered　his　wide…open　eyes。

〃Yer　awake；　air　ye？〃　she　said　kindly。　　〃Hope　I　didn't　disturb　you。　I　wuz　tryin'　ter　make　ez　little　noise　ez　possible。〃

〃No；　you　didn't　rouse　me。　　It's　hard　for　me　to　sleep　in　daylight；　even　when　fatigued；　as　I　am。〃

〃Ef　ye　want　ter　git　up　now；〃　she　said；　stopping　the　whell　by　pressing　the　stick　against　a　spoke；　and　laying　the　〃roll〃　in　her　hand　upon　the　wheel…head；　〃I'll　hev　some　breakfast　fur　ye　in　a　jiffy。　　Ye　kin　rise　an'　dress　while　I　run　down　ter　the　spring　arter　a　fresh　bucket　o'　water。〃

She　covered　her　head　with　a　〃slat　sun…bonnet；〃　which　she　took　from　a　peg　in　the　wall；　lifted　a　cedar　waterpail　from　a　shelf　supported　by　other　long　pegs；　poured　its　contents　into　a　large　cast…iron　teakettle　swinging　over　the　fire；　and　whisked　out　of　the　door。　Presently　the　notes　of　her　hymn　mingled　in　plaintive　harmony　with　the　sparkling　but　no　sweeter　song　of　a　robin　redbreast；　twittering　his　delight　in　the　warm　sunshine　amid　the　crimson　apples　of　the　tree　that　overhung　the　spring。

〃Will　ye　hev　a　fresh　drink？〃　she　asked　Harry；　on　her　return。

He　took　the　gourdful　of　clear；　cool　water；　which　she　offered　him；　and　drank　heartily。

〃Thet　hez　the　name　o'　bein'　the　best　spring　in　these　parts；〃　she　said；　pleased　with　his　appreciation。

〃An'　hit's　a　never…failin'　spring；　too。　　We've　plenty　o'　water　the　dryest　times；　when　everybody　else's　goes　dry。〃

〃That　IS　delicious　water；〃　said　Harry。

〃An'　now　I'll　git　ye　yor　breakfast　in　a　minnit。　　The　teakittle's　a…bilin'；　the　coffee's　ground；　the　pone's　done；　an'　when　I　fry　a　little　ham；　everything　will　be　ready。〃

As　her　culinary　methods　and　utensils　differed　wholly　from　anything　Harry　had　ever　seen；　he　studied　them　with　great　interest　sharpened　not　a　little　by　a　growing　appetite　for　breakfast。

The　clumsy　iron　teakettle　swung　on　a　hook　at　the　end　of　a　chain　fastened　somewhere　in　the　throat　of　the　chimney。　　On　the　rough　stones　forming　the　hearth　were　a　half…dozen　〃ovens〃　and　〃skillets〃circular；　cast…iron　vessels　standing　on　legs；　high　enough　to　allow　a　layer　of　live　coals　to　be　placed　beneath　them。　　They　were　covered　by　a　lid　with　a　ledge　around　it；　to　retain　the　mass　of　coals　heaped　on　top。　　The　cook's　scepter　was　a　wooden　hook；　with　which　she　moved　the　kettles　and　ovens　and　lifted　lids；　while　the　restless　fire　scorched　her　amrs　and　face　ruddier　than　cherry。

It　was　a　primitive　way；　and　so　wasteful　of　wood　that　it　required　a　tree　to　furnish　fuel　enough　to　prepare　breakfast；　but　under　the　hands　of　a　skillful　woman　those　ovens　and　skillets　turned　out　viands　with　a　flavor　that　no　modern　appliance　can　equal。

The　joists　of　the　house　were　thickly　hung　with　the　small　delicious　hams　of　the　countryhams　made　from　young　and　tender　hogs；　which　had　lived　and　fattened　upon　the　acorns；　fragrant　hickory…nuts　and　dainty　beechnuts　of　the　abundant　〃mast〃　of　the　forest；　until　the　were　saturated　with　their　delicate；　nutty　flavor。　　This　was　farther　enriched　by　a　piquancy　gained　from　the　smoke　of　the　burning　hickory　and　oak；　with　which　they　were　cured；　and　the　absorption　of　odors　from　the　scented　herbs　in　the　rooms　where　they　were　drying。　　Many　have　sung　the　praises　of　Kentucky's　horses；　whisy　and　women；　but　no　poet　has　tuned　his　lyre　to　the　more　fruitful　theme　of　Kentucky's　mast…fed；　smoke…cured；　herb…scented　hams。　　For　such　a　man　waits　a　crown　of　enduring　bays。

Slices　of　this　savory　ham；　fried　in　a　skilletthe　truth　of　history　forces　the　reluctant　confession　that　the　march　of　progress　had　not　yet　brought　the　grid…iron　and　its　virtues　to　the　mountainsa　hot　pone　of　golden…yellow　meal；　whose　steaming　sweetness　had　not　been　allowed　to　distill　off；　but　had　been　forced　back　into　the　loaf　by　the　hot　oven…lid；　coffee　as　black　and　strong　as　the　virile　infusions　which　cheer　the　hearts　of　the　true　believers　in　the　tents　of　the　Turk；　and　cream　from　cows　that　cropped　the　odorous　and　juicy　grasses　of　mountain　meadows；　made　a　breakfast　that　could　not　have　been　more　appetizing　if　composed　by　a　French　CHEF；　and　garnished　by　a　polyglot　bill…of…fare。

Moved　thereto　by　the　hospitable　urgings　of　Aunt　Debby；　and　his　own　appetite；　Harry　ate　heartily。　　Under　the　influence　of　the　comfortable　meal；　the　cheerful　sunshine；　and　the　rousing　of　the　energies　that　follow　a　change　from　a　recumbent　to　an　erect　posture；　his　spirits　rose　to　a　manlier　pitch。　　As　he　could　not　walk　without　pain　he　took　his　seat　in　a　slat…bottomed　chair　by　the　side　of　the　hearth；　and　Aunt　Debby；　knitting　in　hand；　occupied　a　low　rocker　nearly　opposite。

〃Where's　Mr。　Fortner？〃　asked　Harry。

〃Jim　got　up；　arly；　an'　arter　eatin'　a　snac　said　he'd　go　out　an'　take　a　look　aroundmebbe　he　mout　go　ez　fur　ez　the　Ford。〃

As　if　to　accompany　Harry's　instinctie　tremor　over　the　possibilities　attending　the　resumption　of　Fortner's　prowling　around　the　flanks　of　Zollicoffer's　army；　the　fire　shot　off　a　whole　volley　of　sharp　little　explosions。

Harry　sprang　two　or　three　inches　above　his　chair；　then　reddened　violently；　and　essayed　to　conceal　his　confusion　by　assiduous　attention　with　the　poker　to　the　wants　of　the　fire。

Aunt　Debby　regarded　him　with　gentle　compassion。

〃Yer　all　shuck　up　by　the　happenin's　yesterday；〃　she　said　with　such　tactful　sympathy　that　his　sensitive　mettle　was　not　offended。　　〃'Tis　nateral　ye　should　be。　　Hit's　allers　so。　　Folks　kin　say　what　they　please；　but　fouten's　terrible　tryin'　to　the　narves；　no　matter　who　does　hit。　　My　husband　wuz　in　the　Mexican　War；　an'　he's　offen　tole　me　thet　fur　weeks　arter　the　battle　o'　Buner　Visty　he　couldn't　heah　a　twig　snap　withouten　his　heart　poppin'　right　up　inter　his　mouth；　an'　hit　wuz　so　with　everybody　else；　much　ez　they　tried　ter　play　off　unconsarned　like。〃

〃Ah；　really？〃　said　Henry；　deeply　interested　in　all　the　concerned　this　woman；　whose　remarkable　qualities　were　impressing　themselves　upon　his　recognition。　　〃What　part　of　the　army　did　your　husband　belong　to？〃

〃He　wuz　in　the　Kentucky　rigimint　commanded　by　Kunnel　Henry　Clay；　son　o'　the　great　Henry　Clay；　who　wuz　killed　thar。　　My　husband　was　promoted　to　a　Leftenant　fur　his　brav'ry　in　the　battle。〃

〃Then　this　is　not　your　first　experience　with　war？〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　said　she；　with　just　a　trace　of　pride　swelling　in　the　temple's　delicate　network　of　blue　veins。　　〃The　Fortners　an'　the　Brills　air　soljer　families；　an'　ther　young　men　hev　shouldered　ther　guns　whenever　the　country　needed　fouten…men。　　Great　gran'fathers　Brill　an'　Fortner　come　inter　the　State　along　with　Dan'l　boone　nigh　onter　a　hu