eben holden-第23章

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f　renting　the　farm　and　going　to　town　with　the　children。

I　had　a　stent　of　cording　wood　that　day　and　finished　it　before　two　o'clock　Then　I　got　my　pole　of　mountain　ash；　made　hook　and　line　ready；　dug　some　worms　and　went　fishing。　I　cared　not　so　much　for　the　fishing　as　for　the　solitude　of　the　woods。　I　had　a　bit　of　thing　to　do。　In　the　thick　timber　there　was　a　place　where　Tinkle　brook　began　to　hurry　and　break　into　murmurs　on　a　pebble　bar；　as　if　its　feet　were　tickled。　A　few　more　steps　and　it　burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter　that　lasted　half　the　year　as　it　tumbled　over　narrow　shelves　of　rock　into　a　foamy　pool。　Many　a　day　I　had　sat　fishing　for　hours　at　the　little　fall　under　a　birch　tree；　among　the　brakes　and　moss。　No　ray　of　sunlight　ever　got　to　the　dark　water　below　me　…　the　lair　of　many　a　big　fish　that　had　yielded　to　the　temptation　of　my　bait。　Here　I　lay　in　the　cool　shade　while　a　singular　sort　of　heart　sickness　came　over　me。　A　wild　partridge　was　beating　his　gong　in　the　near　woods　all　the　afternoon。　The　sound　of　the　water　seemed　to　break　in　the　tree…tops　and　fall　back　upon　me。　I　had　lain　there　thinking　an　hour　or　more　when　I　caught　the　jar　of　approaching　footsteps。　Looking　up　I　saw　Jed　Feary　coming　through　the　bushes；　pole　in　hand。

'Fishin'？'　he　asked。

'Only　thinking；'　I　answered。

'Couldn't　be　in　better　business；'　said　he　as　he　sat　down　beside　me。

More　than　once　he　had　been　my　father　confessor　and　I　was　glad　he　had　come。

'In　love？'　he　asked。　'No　boy　ever　thinks　unless　he's　in　love。'

'In　trouble；'　said　I。

'Same　thing；'　he　answered；　lighting　his　pipe。　'Love　is　trouble　with　a　bit　of　sugar　in　it　…　the　sweetest　trouble　a　man　can　have。　what's　the　matter？'

'It's　a　great　secret；'　I　said；　'I　have　never　told　it。　I　am　in　love。'

'Knew　it；'　he　said；　puffing　at　his　pipe　and　smiling　in　a　kindly　way。　'Now　let's　put　in　the　trouble。'

'She　does　not　love　me；'　I　answered。

'Glad　of　it；'　he　remarked。　'I've　got　a　secret　t；　tell　you。'

'What's　that？'　I　enquired。

'Wouldn't　tell　anybody　else　for　the　world；　my　boy；'　he　said；　'it's　between　you　an'　me。'

'Between　you　an'　me；'　I　repeated。

'Well；'　he　said；　you're　a　fool。'

'That's　no　secret；'　I　answered　much　embarrassed。

'Yes　it　is；'　he　insisted；　'you're　smart　enough　an'　ye　can　have　most　anything　in　this　world　if　ye　take　the　right　road。　Ye've　grown　t'　be　a　great　big　strapping　fellow　but　you're　only　…　sixteen？'

'That's　all；'　I　said　mournfully。

'Ye're　as　big　a　fool　to　go　falling　in　love　as　I'd　be。　Ye're　too　young　an'　I'm　too　old。　I　say　to　you；　wait。　Ye've　got　to　go　t'　college。'

'College！'　I　exclaimed；　incredulously。

'Yes！　an'　thet's　another　secret；'　said　he。　I　tol'　David　Brower　what　I　thought　o'　your　writing　thet　essay　on　bugs　in　pertickier　…　an'　I　tol'　'im　what　people　were　sayin'　o'　your　work　in　school。'

'What　d'　he　say？'　I　asked。

'Said　Hope　had　tol'　him　all　about　it　…　that　she　was　as　proud　o'　you　as　she　was　uv　her　curls；　an'　I　believe　it。　〃Well；〃　says　I；　〃y'　oughter　sen'　that　boy　t'　college。〃　〃Goin'　to；〃　says　he。　〃He'll　go　t'　the　'Cademy　this　fall　if　he　wants　to。　Then　he　can　go　t'　college　soon's　he's　ready。〃　Threw　up　my　hat　an'　shouted　I　was　that　glad。'

As　he　spoke　the　old　man's　face　kindled　with　enthusiasm。　In　me　he　had　one　who　understood　him；　who　saw　truth　in　his　thought；　music　in　his　verse；　a　noble　simplicity　in　his　soul。　I　took　his　hand　in　mine　and　thanked　him　heartily。　Then　we　rose　and　came　away　together。

'Remember；'　he　said；　as　we　parted　at　the　corner；　'there's　a　way　laid　out　fer　you。　In　God's　time　it　will　lead　to　every　good　thing　you　desire。　Don't　jump　over　the　fence。　Don't　try　t'　pass　any　milestun　'fore　ye've　come　to　it。　Don't　mope。　Keep　yer　head　cool　with　philosophy；　yer　feet　warm　with　travel　an'　don't　worry　bout　yer　heart。　It　won't　turn　t'　stun　if　ye　do　keep　it　awhile。　Allwus　hev　enough　of　it　about　ye　t'　do　business　with。　Goodbye！'

Chapter　15

Gerald　Brower；　who　was　a　baby　when　I　came　to　live　at　Faraway；　and　was　now　eleven；　had　caught　a　cold　in　seed　time；　and　he　had　never　quite　recovered。　His　coughing　had　begun　to　keep　him　awake；　and　one　night　it　brought　alarm　to　the　whole　household。　Elizabeth　Brower　was　up　early　in　the　morning　and　called　Uncle　Eb；　who　went　away　for　the　doctor　as　soon　as　light　came。　We　ate　our　breakfast　in　silence。　Father　and　mother　and　Grandma　Bisnette　spoke　only　in　low　tones　and　somehow　the　anxiety　in　their　faces　went　to　my　heart。　Uncle　Eb　returned　about　eight　o'clock　and　said　the　doctor　was　coming。　Old　Doctor　Bigsby　was　a　very　great　man　in　that　country。　Other　physicians　called　him　far　and　wide　for　consultation。　I　had　always　regarded　him　with　a　kind　of　awe　intensified　by　the　aroma　of　his　drugs　and　the　gleam　of　his　lancet。　Once　I　had　been　his　patient　and　then　I　had　trembled　at　his　approach。　when　he　took　my　little　wrist　in　his　big　hand；　I　remember　with　what　reluctance　I　stuck　out　my　quivering　tongue；　black；　as　I　feared　with　evidences　of　prevarication。

He　was　a　picture　for　a　painter　man　as　he　came　that　morning　erect　in　his　gig。　who　could　forget　the　hoary　majesty　of　his　head　…　his　'stovepipe'　tilted　back；　his　white　locks　flying　about　his　ears？　He　had　a　long　nose；　a　smooth…shaven　face　and　a　left　eye　that　was　a　trifle　turned。　His　thoughts　were　generally　one　day　behind　the　calendar。　Today　he　seemed　to　be　digesting　the　affairs　of　yesterday。　He　was；　therefore；　absentminded；　to　a　degree　that　made　no　end　of　gossip。　If　he　came　out　one　day　with　shoe…strings　flying；　in　his　remorse　the　next　he　would　forget　his　collar；　if　one　told　him　a　good　joke　today；　he　might　not　seem　to　hear　it；　but　tomorrow　he　would　take　it　up　in　its　turn　and　shake　with　laughter。

I　remember　how；　that　morning　after　noting　the　symptoms　of　his　patient；　he　sat　a　little　in　silent　reflection。　He　knew　that　colour　in　the　cheek；　that　look　in　the　eye　…　he　had　seen　so　much　of　it。　His　legs　were　crossed　and　one　elbow　thrown　carelessly　over　the　back　of　his　chair。　We　all　sat　looking　at　him　anxiously。　In　a　moment　he　began　chewing　hard　on　his　quid　of　tobacco。　Uncle　Eb　pushed　the　cuspidor　a　bit　nearer。　The　doctor　expectorated　freely　and　resumed　his　attitude　of　reflection。　The　clock　ticked　loudly；　the　patient　sighed；　our　anxiety　increased。　Uncle　Eb　spoke　to　father；　in　a　low　tone；　whereupon　the　doctor　turned　suddenly；　with　a　little　grunt　of　enquiry；　and　seeing　he　was　not　addressed；　sank　again　into　thoughtful　repose。　I　had　begun　to　fear　the　worst　when　suddenly　the　hand　of　the　doctor　swept　the　bald　peak　of　benevolence　at　the　top　of　his　head。　Then　a　smile　began　to　spread　over　his　face。　It　was　as　if　some　feather　of　thought　had　begun　to　tickle　him。　In　a　moment　his　head　was　nodding　with　laughter　that　brought　a　great　sense　of　relief　to　all　of　us。　In　a　slow；　deliberate　tone　he　began　to　speak：

'I　was　over　t'　Rat　Tupper's　t'other　day；'　said　he；　'Rat　was　sitting　with　me　in　the　door　yard。　Purty　soon　a　young　chap　came　in；　with　a　scythe；　and　asked　if　he　might　use　the　grindstun。　He　was　a　new　hired　man　from　somewhere　near。　He　didn't　know　Rat；　an'　Rat　didn't　know　him。　So　Rat　o'　course　had　t'　crack　one　o'　his　jokes。

'〃May　I　use　yer　grindstun？〃　said　the　young　feller。

'〃Dunno；〃　said　Rat；　〃I'm　only　the　hired　man　here。　Go　an'　ask　Mis'　Tupper。〃

'The　ol'　lady　had　overheard　him　an'　so　she　says　t'　the　young　feller；　〃Yes　…　ye　can　use　the　grindstun。　The　hired　man　out　there'll　turn　it　fer　ye。〃

'Rat　see　he　was　trapped；　an'　so　he　went　out　under　the　plum　tree；　where　the　stun　was；　an'　begun　t'　turn。　The　scythe　was　dull　an'　the　young　feller　bore　on　harder'n　wuz　reely　decent　fer　a　long　time。　Rat　begun　t'　git　very　sober　lookin'。

'〃Ain't　ye　'bout　done；〃　said　he。

'〃Putty　nigh；〃　said　the　young　feller　bearin'　down　a　leetle　harder　all　the　time。

'Rat　made　the　stun　go　faster。　putty　soon　he　asked　agin；　〃Ain't　ye　done　yit？〃

'〃putty　nigh！〃　says　the　other　feeling　o'　the　edge。

'〃I'm　done；〃　said　Rat；　an'　he　let　go　o'　the　handle。　〃I　dunno　'bout　the　scythe　but　I'm　a　good　deal　sharper'n　I　wuz。〃

'〃You're　the　hired　man　here　ain't　ye？〃　said　the　young　feller。

'〃No；　I　ain't；〃　said　Rat。　〃'D　rather　own　up　t'　bein'　a　liar　than　turn　that　stun　another　minnit。〃

As　soon　as　he　was　fairly　started　with　this　droll　narrative　the　strain　of　the　situation　was　relieved。　We　were　all　laughing　as　much　at　his　deliberat