the song of the cardinal-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



when　he　carried　her　the　first　food；　he　found　that　she　was　on　the

edge　of　the　nest；　dropping　bits　of　shell　outside；　and　creeping　to

peep；　he　saw　the　tiniest　coral　baby；　with　closed　eyes；　and　little

patches　of　soft　silky　down。　　Its　beak　was　wide　open；　and　though

his　heart　was　even　fuller　than　on　the　previous　day；　the　Cardinal

knew　what　that　meant；　and　instead　of　indulging　in　another

celebration；　he　assumed　the　duties　of　paternity；　and　began

searching　for　food；　for　now　there　were　two　empty　crops　in　his

family。　　On　the　following　day　there　were　four。　　Then　he　really

worked。　　How　eagerly　he　searched；　and　how　gladly　he　flew　to　the

sumac　with　every　rare　morsel！　　The　babies　were　too　small　for　the

mother　to　leave；　and　for　the　first　few　days　the　Cardinal　was

constantly　on　wing。



If　he　could　not　find　sufficiently　dainty　food　for　them　in　the

trees　and　bushes；　or　among　the　offerings　of　the　farmer；　he

descended　to　earth　and　searched　like　a　wood　robin。　　He　forgot　he

needed　a　bath　or　owned　a　sun　parlour；　but　everywhere　he　went；

from　his　full　heart　there　constantly　burst　the　cry：



〃See　here！　See　here！〃



His　mate　made　never　a　sound。　　Her　eyes　were　bigger　and　softer

than　ever；　and　in　them　glowed　a　steady　lovelight。　　She　hovered

over　those　three　red　mites　of　nestlings　so　tenderly！　　She　was　so

absorbed　in　feeding；　stroking；　and　coddling　them　she　neglected

herself　until　she　became　quite　lean。



When　the　Cardinal　came　every　few　minutes　with　food；　she　was　a

picture　of　love　and　gratitude　for　his　devoted　attention；　and　once

she　reached　over　and　softly　kissed　his　wing。　　〃See　here！　See

here！〃　shrilled　the　Cardinal；　and　in　his　ecstasy　he　again　forgot

himself　and　sang　in　the　sumac。　　Then　he　carried　food　with　greater

activity　than　ever　to　cover　his　lapse。



The　farmer　knew　that　it　lacked　an　hour　of　noon；　but　he　was　so

anxious　to　tell　Maria　the　news　that　he　could　not　endure　the

suspense　another　minute。　　There　was　a　new　song　from　the　sumac。　

He　had　heard　it　as　he　turned　the　first　corner　with　the　shovel

plow。　He　had　listened　eagerly；　and　had　caught　the　meaning　almost

at　once〃See　here！　See　here！〃　　He　tied　the　old　gray　mare　to　the

fence　to　prevent　her　eating　the　young　corn；　and　went　immediately。

By　leaning　a　rail　against　the　thorn　tree　he　was　able　to　peer　into

the　sumac；　and　take　a　good　look　at　the　nest　of　handsome

birdlings；　now　well　screened　with　the　umbrella…like　foliage。　　It

seemed　to　Abram　that　he　never　could　wait　until　noon。　　He

critically　examined　the　harness；　in　the　hope　that　he　would　find　a

buckle　missing；　and　tried　to　discover　a　flaw　in　the　plow　that

would　send　him　to　the　barn　for　a　file；　but　he　could　not　invent　an

excuse　for　going。　　So；　when　he　had　waited　until　an　hour　of　noon；

he　could　endure　it　no　longer。



〃Got　news　for　you；　Maria；〃　he　called　from　the　well；　where　he　was

making　a　pretense　of　thirst。



〃Oh　I　don't　know；〃　answered　Maria；　with　a　superior　smile。　　〃If

it's　about　the　redbirds；　he's　been　up　to　the　garden　three　times

this　morning　yellin'；　'See　here！'　fit　to　split；　an'　I　jest

figured　that　their　little　ones　had　hatched。　　Is　that　your　news？〃



〃Well　I　be　durned！〃　gasped　the　astonished　Abram。



Mid…afternoon　Abram　turned　Nancy　and　started　the　plow　down　a　row

that　led　straight　to　the　sumac。　　He　intended　to　stop　there；　tie

to　the　fence；　and　go　to　the　river　bank；　in　the　shade；　for　a　visit

with　the　Cardinal。　　It　was　very　warm；　and　he　was　feeling　the　heat

so　much；　that　in　his　heart　he　knew　he　would　be　glad　to　reach　the

end　of　the　row　and　the　rest　he　had　promised　himself。



The　quick　nervous　strokes　of　the　dinner　bell；　〃Clang！　Clang！〃

came　cutting　the　air　clearly　and　sharply。　　Abram　stopped　Nancy

with　a　jerk。　　It　was　the　warning　Maria　had　promised　to　send　him

if　she　saw　prowlers　with　guns。　　He　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hand

and　scanned　the　points　of　the　compass　through　narrowed　lids　with

concentrated　vision。　　He　first　caught　a　gleam　of　light　playing　on

a　gun…barrel；　and　then　he　could　discern　the　figure　of　a　man　clad

in　hunter's　outfit　leisurely　walking　down　the　lane；　toward　the

river。



Abram　hastily　hitched　Nancy　to　the　fence。　　By　making　the　best

time　he　could；　he　reached　the　opposite　corner；　and　was　nibbling

the　midrib　of　a　young　corn　blade　and　placidly　viewing　the

landscape　when　the　hunter　passed。



〃Howdy！〃　he　said　in　an　even　cordial　voice。



The　hunter　walked　on　without　lifting　his　eyes　or　making　audible

reply。　　To　Abram's　friendly　oldfashioned　heart　this　seemed　the

rankest　discourtesy；　and　there　was　a　flash　in　his　eye　and　a

certain　quality　in　his　voice　he　lifted　a　hand　for　parley。



〃Hold　a　minute；　my　friend；〃　he　said。　　〃Since　you　are　on　my

premises；　might　I　be　privileged　to　ask　if　you　have　seen　a　few

signs　'at　I　have　posted　pertainin'　to　the　use　of　a　gun？〃



〃I　am　not　blind；〃　replied　the　hunter；　〃and　my　education　has　been

looked　after　to　the　extent　that　I　can　make　out　your　notices。　

From　the　number　and　size　of　them；　I　think　I　could　do　it；　old　man；

if　I　had　no　eyes。〃



The　scarcely　suppressed　sneer；　and　the　〃old　man〃　grated　on

Abram's　nerves　amazingly；　for　a　man　of　sixty　years　of　peace。　　The

gleam　in　his　eyes　grew　stronger；　and　there　was　a　perceptible　lift

of　his　shoulders　as　he　answered：



〃I　meant　'em　to　be　read　an'　understood！　　From　the　main　road

passin'　that　cabin　up　there　on　the　bank；　straight　to　the　river；

an'　from　the　furthermost　line　o'　this　field　to　the　same；　is　my

premises；　an'　on　every　foot　of　'em　the　signs　are　in　full　force。

They're　in　a　little　fuller　force　in　June；　when　half　the　bushes

an'　tufts　o'　grass　are　housin'　a　young　bird　family；　'an　at　any

other　time。　　They're　sort　o'　upholdin'　the　legislature's　act；

providing　for　the　protection　o'　game　an'　singin'　birds；　an'　maybe

it　'ud　be　well　for　you　to　notice　'at　I'm　not　so　old　but　I'm　able

to　stand　up　for　my　right　to　any　livin'　man。〃



There　certainly　was　an　added　tinge　of　respect　in　the　hunter's

tones　as　he　asked：　　〃Would　you　consider　it　trespass　if　a　man

simply　crossed　your　land；　following　the　line　of　the　fences　to

reach　the　farm　of　a　friend？〃



〃Certainly　not！〃　cried　Abram；　cordial　in　his　relief。　　〃To　be　sure

not！　　Glad　to　have　you　convenience　yourself。　　I　only　wanted　to

jest　call　to　your　notice　'at　the　BIRDS　are　protected　on　this

farm。〃



〃I　have　no　intention　of　interfering　with　your　precious　birds；　I

assure　you；〃　replied　the　hunter。　　〃And　if　you　require　an

explanation　of　the　gun　in　June；　I　confess　I　did　hope　to　be　able

to　pick　off　a　squirrel　for　a　very　sick　friend。　　But　I　suppose　for

even　such　cause　it　would　not　be　allowed　on　your　premises。〃



〃Oh　pshaw　now！〃　said　Abram。　　〃Man　alive！　I'm　not　onreasonable。　

O'　course　in　case　o'　sickness　I'd　be　glad　if　you　could　run　across

a　squirrel。　　All　I　wanted　was　to　have　a　clear　understandin'　about

the　birds。　　Good　luck；　an'　good　day　to　you！〃



Abram　started　across　the　field　to　Nancy；　but　he　repeatedly　turned

to　watch　the　gleam　of　the　gun…barrel；　as　the　hunter　rounded　the

corner　and　started　down　the　river　bank。　　He　saw　him　leave　the

line　of　the　fence　and　disappear　in　the　thicket。



〃Goin'　straight　for　the　sumac；〃　muttered　Abram。　　〃It's　likely　I'm

a　fool　for　not　stayin'　right　beside　him　past　that　point。　　An'

yetI　made　it　fair　an'　plain；　an'　he　passed　his　word　'at　he

wouldn't　touch　the　birds。〃



He　untied　Nancy；　and　for　the　second　time　started　toward　the

sumac。　　He　had　been　plowing　carefully；　his　attention　divided

between　the　mare　and　the　corn；　but　he　uprooted　half　that　row；　for

his　eyes　wandered　to　the　Cardinal's　home　as　if　he　were

fascinated；　and　his　hands　were　shaking　with　undue　excitement　as

he　gripped　the　plow　handles。　　At　last　he　stopped　Nancy；　and　stood

gazing　eagerly　toward　the　river。



〃Must　be　jest　about　the　sumac；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Lord！　but　I'll　be

glad　to　see　the　old　gun…barrel　gleamin'　safe　t'other　side　o'　it。〃



There　was　a　thin　puff　of　smoke；　and　a　screaming　echo　went　rolling

and　reverberatin