the song of the cardinal-第7章

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their　wild　berries。　　Woods　full　o'　berries！　　Anybody　could　get

'em　by　the　bushel　for　the　pickin'；　an'　we　hadn't　got　on　to

raisin'　much　wheat；　an'　had　to　carry　it　on　horses　over　into　Ohio

to　get　it　milled。　　Took　Pa　five　days　to　make　the　trip；　an'　then

the　blame　old　squaws　'ud　come；　an'　Ma　'ud　be　compelled　to　hand

over　to　'em　her　big　white　loaves。　　Jest　about　set　her　plumb

crazy。　　Used　to　get　up　in　the　night；　an'　fix　her　yeast；　an'　bake；

an'　let　the　oven　cool；　an'　hide　the　bread　out　in　the　wheat　bin；

an'　get　the　smell　of　it　all　out　o'　the　house　by　good　daylight；

so's　'at　she　could　say　there　wasn't　a　loaf　in　the　cabin。　　Oh！　　if

it's　good　pickin'　you're　after；　they's　berries　for　all　creation

'long　the　river　yet；　an'　jest　wait　a　few　days　till　old　April　gets

done　showerin'　an'　I　plow　this　corn　field！〃



Abram　set　a　foot　on　the　third　rail　and　leaned　his　elbows　on　the

top。　　The　Cardinal　chipped　delightedly　and　hopped　and　tilted

closer。



〃I　hadn't　jest　'lowed　all　winter　I'd　tackle　this　field　again。

I've　turned　it　every　spring　for　forty　year。　　Bought　it　when　I　was

a　young　fellow；　jest　married　to　Maria。　　Shouldered　a　big　debt　on

it；　but　I　always　loved　these　slopin'　fields；　an'　my　share　of　this

old　Wabash　hasn't　been　for　sale　nor　tradin'　any　time　this　past

forty　year。　　I've　hung　on　to　it　like　grim　death；　for　it's　jest

that　much　o'　Paradise　I'm　plumb　sure　of。　　First　time　I　plowed

this　field；　Mr。　Redbird；　I　only　hit　the　high　places。　　Jest

married　Maria；　an'　I　didn't　touch　earth　any　too　frequent　all　that

summer。　I've　plowed　it　every　year　since；　an'　I've　been　'lowin'

all　this　winter；　when　the　rheumatiz　was　gettin'　in　its　work；　'at

I'd　give　it　up　this　spring　an'　turn　it　to　medder；　but　I　don't

know。　　Once　I　got　started；　b'lieve　I　could　go　it　all　right　an'

not　feel　it　so　much；　if　you'd　stay　to　cheer　me　up　a　little　an'

post　me　on　the　weather。　　Hate　the　doggondest　to　own　I'm　worsted；

an'　if　you　say　it's　stay；　b'lieve　I'll　try　it。　　Very　sight　o'　you

kinder　warms　the　cockles　o'　my　heart　all　up；　an'　every　skip　you

take　sets　me　a…wantin'　to　be　jumpin'；　too。



〃What　on　earth　are　you　lookin'　for？　　Man！　　I　b'lieve　it's　grub！　

Somebody's　been　feedin'　you！　　An'　you　want　me　to　keep　it　up？　

Well；　you　struck　it　all　right；　Mr。　Redbird。　　Feed　you？　　You　bet　I

will！　　You　needn't　even　'rastle　for　grubs　if　you　don't　want　to。　

Like　as　not　you're　feelin'　hungry　right　now；　pickin'　bein'　so

slim　these　airly　days。　　Land's　sake！　　I　hope　you　don't　feel

you've　come　too　soon。　　I'll　fetch　you　everything　on　the　place

it's　likely　a　redbird　ever　teched；　airly　in　the　mornin'　if　you'll

say　you'll　stay　an'　wave　your　torch　'long　my　river　bank　this

summer。　I　haven't　a　scrap　about　me　now。　　Yes；　I　have；　too！　

Here's　a　handful　o'　corn　I　was　takin'　to　the　banty　rooster；　but

shucks！　he's　fat　as　a　young　shoat　now。　　Corn's　a　leetle　big　an'

hard　for　you。　　Mebby　I　can　split　it　up　a　mite。〃



Abram　took　out　his　jack…knife；　and　dotting　a　row　of　grains　along

the　top　rail；　he　split　and　shaved　them　down　as　fine　as　possible；

and　as　he　reached　one　end　of　the　rail；　the　Cardinal；　with　a

spasmodic　〃Chip！〃　dashed　down　and　snatched　a　particle　from　the

other；　and　flashed　back　to　the　bush；　tested；　approved；　and

chipped　his　thanks。



〃Pshaw　now！〃　said　Abram；　staring　wide…eyed。　　〃Doesn't　that　beat

you？　　So　you　really　are　a　pet？　　Best　kind　of　a　pet　in　the　whole

world；　too！　　Makin'　everybody；　at　sees　you　happy；　an'　havin'　some

chance　to　be　happy　yourself。　　An'　I　look　like　your　friend？　　Well！





Well！　　I'm　monstrous　willin'　to　adopt　you　if　you'll　take　me；　an'；

as　for　feedin'；　from　to…morrow　on　I'll　find　time　to　set　your

little　table　'long　this　same　rail　every　day。　　I　s'pose　Maria　'ull

say　'at　I'm　gone　plumb　crazy；　but；　for　that　matter；　if　I　ever　get

her　down　to　see　you　jest　once；　the　trick's　done　with　her；　too；

for　you're　the　prettiest　thing　God　ever　made　in　the　shape　of　a

bird；　'at　I　ever　saw。　　Look　at　that　topknot　a　wavin'　in　the　wind！





Maybe　praise　to　the　face　is　open　disgrace；　but　I'll　take　your

share　an'　mine；　too；　an'　tell　you　right　here　an'　now　'at　you're

the　blamedest　prettiest　thing　'at　I　ever　saw。



〃But　Lord！　　You　ortn't　be　so　careless！　　Don't　you　know　you　ain't

nothin'　but　jest　a　target？　　Why　don't　you　keep　out　o'　sight　a

little？　　You　come　a…shinneyin'　up　to　nine　out　o'　ten　men　'long

the　river　like　this；　an'　your　purty；　coaxin'；　palaverin'　way

won't　save　a　feather　on　you。　　You'll　get　the　little　red　heart

shot　plumb　outen　your　little　red　body；　an'　that's　what　you'll

get。　It's　a　dratted　shame！　　An'　there's　law　to　protect　you；　too。

They's　a　good　big　fine　for　killin'　such　as　you；　but　nobody　seems

to　push　it。　　Every　fool　wants　to　test　his　aim；　an'　you're　the

brightest　thing　on　the　river　bank　for　a　mark。



〃Well；　if　you'll　stay　right　where　you　are；　it　'ull　be　a　sorry　day

for　any　cuss　'at　teches　you；　'at　I'll　promise　you；　Mr。　Redbird。

This　land's　mine；　an'　if　you　locate　on　it；　you're　mine　till　time

to　go　back　to　that　other　old　fellow　'at　looks　like　me。　　Wonder　if

he's　any　willinger　to　feed　you　an'　stand　up　for　you　'an　I　am？〃



〃Here！　Here！　Here！〃　whistled　the　Cardinal。



〃Well；　I'm　mighty　glad　if　you're　sayin'　you'll　stay！　　Guess　it

will　be　all　right　if　you　don't　meet　some　o'　them　Limberlost　hens

an'　tole　off　to　the　swamp。　　Lord！　　the　Limberlost　ain't　to　be

compared　with　the　river；　Mr。　Redbird。　　You're　foolish　if　you　go！　

Talkin'　'bout　goin'；　I　must　be　goin'　myself；　or　Maria　will　be

comin'　down　the　line　fence　with　the　lantern；　an'；　come　to　think

of　it；　I'm　a　little　moist；　not　to　say　downright　damp。　　But　then

you　WARNED　me；　didn't　you；　old　fellow？　　Well；　I　told　Maria　seein'

you　'ud　be　like　meetin'　folks；　an'　it　has　been。　　Good　deal　more'n

I　counted　on；　an'　I've　talked　more'n　I　have　in　a　whole　year。　

Hardly　think　now　'at　I've　the　reputation　o'　being　a　mighty　quiet

fellow；　would　you？〃



Abram　straightened　and　touched　his　hat　brim　in　a　trim　half

military　salute。　　〃Well；　good…bye；　Mr。　Redbird。　　Never　had　more

pleasure　meetin'　anybody　in　my　life　'cept　first　time　I　met　Maria。

You　think　about　the　plowin'；　an'；　if　you　say　‘stay；'　it's　a　go！　

Good…bye；　an'　do　be　a　little　more　careful　o'　yourself。　　See　you

in　the　mornin'；　right　after　breakfast；　no　count　taken　o'　the

weather。〃



〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃　called　the　Cardinal　after　his　retreating

figure。



Abram　turned　and　gravely　saluted　the　second　time。　　The　Cardinal

went　to　the　top　rail　and　feasted　on　the　sweet　grains　of　corn

until　his　craw　was　full；　and　then　nestled　in　the　sumac　and　went

to　sleep。　　Early　next　morning　he　was　abroad　and　in　fine　toilet；

and　with　a　full　voice　from　the　top　of　the　sumac　greeted　the

day〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃



Far　down　the　river　echoed　his　voice　until　it　so　closely　resembled

some　member　of　his　family　replying　that　he　followed；　searching

the　banks　mile　after　mile　on　either　side；　until　finally　he　heard

voices　of　his　kind。　　He　located　them；　but　it　was　only　several

staid　old　couples；　a　long　time　mated；　and　busy　with　their

nest…building。　　The　Cardinal　returned　to　the　sumac；　feeling　a

degree　lonelier　than　ever。



He　decided　to　prospect　in　the　opposite　direction；　and　taking

wing；　he　started　up　the　river。　　Following　the　channel；　he　winged

his　flight　for　miles　over　the　cool　sparkling　water；　between　the

tangle　of　foliage　bordering　the　banks。　　When　he　came　to　the　long

cumbrous　structures　of　wood　with　which　men　had　bridged　the　river；

where　the　shuffling　feet　of　tired　farm　horses　raised　clouds　of

dust　and　set　the　echoes　rolling　with　their　thunderous　hoof　beats；

he　was　afraid；　and　rising　high；　he　sailed　over　them　in　short

broken　curves　of　flight。　　But　where　giant　maple　and　ash；　leaning；

locked　branches　across　the　channel　in　one　of　old　Mother　Nature's

bridges　for　the　squirrels；　he　knew　no　fear；　and　dipped　so　low

beneath　them　that　his　image　trailed　a　wavering　shadow　on　the

silver　path　he　followed。



He　rounded　curve　after　curve；　and　frequent