a summer in a canyon-第14章
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could be a lovelier surprise！ Dicky clapped his hands in glee as he
looked at them； and thought of a little verse of poetry which Bell
had taught him：
'Some fairy umbrellas came up to…day
Under the elm…tree； just over the way；
And as we have had a shower of rain；
The reason they came is made very plain：
To…night is the woodland fairies' ball；
And drops from the elm…tree might on them fall；
So little umbrellas wait for them here；
And under their shelter they'll dance without fear。
Take care where you step； nor crush them； I pray；
For fear you will frighten the fairies away。'
'Oh！' thought Dicky； in a trance of delight； 'now I shall go to the
fairies' ball； and see 'em dance under the cunning little teenty
umberells； and wunt they be mad at home when nobuddy can't see 'em
but just only me！ And then if that potry is a big whopper； like that
there uvver one'laddin…lamp story of Bell'sI'll just pick evry
white toadstool for my papa's Sunday dinner； and she sha'n't never
see a singul fairy dance。'
But he waited very patiently for a long； long time that seemed like
years； for Lubin had disappeared； and all at once it grew so dark in
this thickly…wooded place that Dicky's courage oozed out in a single
moment； without any previous warnings as to its intention。 The
toadstools looked like the ghosts of little past…and…gone fairy
umbrellas in the darkness； and not a single fairy couple came to
waltz under their snowy canopies； or exchange a furtive kiss beneath
their friendly shadows。
Dicky thought the situation exceedingly gloomy； and； without knowing
it； followed the example of many older people； who； on being deserted
by man； experienced their first desire to find favour with God。 He
was not in the least degree a saintly child； but he felt
instinctively that this was the proper time for prayer； and not
knowing anything appropriate to the occasion； he repeated over and
over again the time…worn plaint of childhood：…
'Now I lay me down to sleep；
I pray the Lord my soul to keep；
If I should die before I wake；
I pray the Lord my soul to take。 Amen。'
Like older mortals of feeble faith； he looked for an immediate and
practical answer； in the shape； perhaps； of his mother； with his
little night…gown and bowl of bread and milk。
'My sakes alive！' he grumbled between his sobs； 'they're the meanest
fings I ever saw。 How long do they s'pose I'm goin' to wait for 'em
in this dark？ When the bears have et me up in teenty snips； then
they'll be saterfied； I guess； and wisht they'd tookened gooder care
of mea little speck of a boy； lefted out in this dark； bear…y
place； all by his lone self。 Ooooooh！' and he wound up with a
murderous yell； which had never failed before to bring the whole
family to his side。
His former prayer seeming to be in vain； he found a soft place；
brushed it as clean as possible； and with difficulty bending his
little stiff； scratched body into a kneeling position； he prayed his
nightly postscript to 'Now I lay me'： 'God bless papa； 'n' mamma；
'n' Bell； 'n' Jack； 'n' Madge； 'n' Polly； 'n' Phil； 'n' Geoff； 'n'
Elsie。' Then； realizing that he was in a perilous position； and it
behoved him to be as pious as possible； he added： 'And please bless
Pancho； 'n' Hop Yet； 'n' Lubin； 'n' the goatnot the wild goat up on
the hill； but my goat； what got sick to his stummick when I painted
him with black letters。'
What a dreadful calamity； to be sure； if the wrong goat had been
blessed by mistake！ His whole duty performed； he picked the
toadstools for his papa's Sunday dinner； and； leaning his head
against the lone stump； cried himself to sleep。
But relief was near； though he little suspected it as he lay in the
sound； dreamless sleep which comes only to the truly good。 There was
a crashing sound in the still darkness； and Bell plunged through the
thick underbrush with a cry of delight。
'He is here！ Dear； dear Geoff； he is all here！ I knew it； I knew
it！ Hurrah！no； I meanthank God！' she said softly as she stooped
down to kiss her mischievous little brother。
'But what a looking creature！' exclaimed Geoff； as he stooped over
the recovered treasure。 'See； Bell； his curls are glistening with
pitch； his dress is torn into ribbons； and his handsugh； how
dirty！'
'Poor little darling； he is thoroughly used up；' whispered Bell；
wiping tears of joy from her brown eyes。 'Now； I'll run home like
lightning to blow the horn； and you carry Dicky； for he is too sleepy
and stiff to walk； and； Geoff'（here she laid an embarrassed hand on
his shoulder）'I'm afraid he'll be awfully cross； but you'll not
mind it； will you？ He's so worn…out。'
'Not I；' laughed Geoff； as he dropped a brotherly kiss on Bell's pale
cheek。 'But I've no idea of letting you go alone； you're tired to
death； and you'll miss the path。 I wish I could carry you both。'
'Tiredafraid！' cried Bell； with a ringing laugh； while Dicky woke
with a stare； and nestled on Geoffrey's shoulder as if nothing had
happened。 'Why； now that this weight is lifted off my heart； I could
see a path in an untravelled forest！ Good…bye； you dear； darling；
cruel boy！ I must run； for every moment is precious to mamma。' And
with one strangling hug； which made Dicky's ribs crack； she dashed
off。
Oh how joyously； how sweetly and tunefully； the furious blast of the
old cracked dinner…horn fell on the anxious ears in that canyon。 It
seemed clearer and more musical than a chime of silver bells。
In a trice the wandering couples had gathered jubilantly round the
camp…fire； all embracing Bell； who was the heroine of the hour
entirely by chance； and not though superior vision or courage； as she
confessed。
It was hardly fifteen minutes when Geoff strode into the ring with
his sorry…looking burden； which he laid immediately in Aunt Truth's
lap。
'Oh my darling！' she cried； embracing him fondly。 'To think you are
really not dead； after all！'
'No； he is about as alive as any chap I ever saw。' And while the
happy parents caressed their restored darling； Geoff gathered the
girls and boys around the dinner…table； and repeated some of Dicky's
remarks on the homeward trip。
It seems that he considered himself the injured party； and with great
ingenuity laid all the blame of the mishap on his elders。
'Nobuddy takes care of me； anyhow；' he grumbled。 'If my papa wasn't
a mean fing I'd orter to have a black nurse with a white cap and
apurn； like Billy Thomas； 'n' then I couldn't git losted so offul
easy。 An' you all never cared a cent about it either； or you'd a
founded me quicker 'n this'n' I've been hungry fur nineteen hours；
'n' I guess I've been gone till December； by the feelin'； but you was
too lazy to found me 'f I freezed to def'n' there ain't but one
singul boy of me round the whole camp； 'n' 't would serveded you
right if I had got losted for ever； then I bet you wouldn't had much
fun Fourth of July 'thout my two bits 'n' my fire…crackers！'
It was an hour or two before peace and quiet were restored to the
camp。 The long…delayed dinner had to be eaten； and to Hop Yet's calm
delight； it was a very bad one。 Dicky's small wounds were dressed
with sweet oil； and after being fed and bathed he was tucked lovingly
into bed； with a hundred kisses or more from the whole party。
A little rest and attention had entirely restored his good…humour；
and when Dr。 Paul went into the tent to see that all was safe for the
night； he found him sitting up in bed with a gleeful countenance；
prattling like a little angel。
'We had an offul funny time 'bout my gittin' losted； didn't we；
mamma？' chuckled he； with his gurgling little laugh。 'Next time I'm
goin' to get losted in annover bran'…new place where no…bud…dy can
find me！ I fink it was the nicest time 'cept Fourth of July； don't
you； mamma？' And he patted his mother's cheek and imprinted an oily
kiss thereon。
'Truth；' said the Doctor； with mild severity； 'I know you don't
believe in applying the slipper； but I do think we should arrange
some plan for giving that child an idea of the solemnity of life。 So
far as I can judge； he looks at it as one prolonged picnic。'
'My sentiments exactly
