24-the dead wife-第1章

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THE　DEAD　WIFE＇20＇



＇20＇　From　the　Iroquois。



Once　upon　a　time　there　were　a　man　and　his　wife　who　lived　in　the

forest；　very　far　from　the　rest　of　the　tribe。　　Very　often　they

spent　the　day　in　hunting　together；　but　after　a　while　the　wife

found　that　she　had　so　many　things　to　do　that　she　was　obliged　to

stay　at　home；　so　he　went　alone；　though　he　found　that　when　his

wife　was　not　with　him　he　never　had　any　luck。　　One　day；　when　he

was　away　hunting；　the　woman　fell　ill；　and　in　a　few　days　she　died。



Her　husband　grieved　bitterly；　and　buried　her　in　the　house　where

she　had　passed　her　life；　but　as　the　time　went　on　he　felt　so

lonely　without　her　that　he　made　a　wooden　doll　about　her　height

and　size　for　company；　and　dressed　it　in　her　clothes。　　He　seated

it　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　tried　to　think　he　had　his　wife　back

again。　　The　next　day　he　went　out　to　hunt；　and　when　he　came　home

the　first　thing　he　did　was　to　go　up　to　the　doll　and　brush　off

some　of　the　ashes　from　the　fire　which　had　fallen　on　its　face。　

But　he　was　very　busy　now；　for　he　had　to　cook　and　mend；　besides

getting　food；　for　there　was　no　one　to　help　him。　　And　so　a　whole

year　passed　away。



At　the　end　of　that　time　he　came　back　from　hunting　one　night　and

found　some　wood　by　the　door　and　a　fire　within。　　The　next　night

there　was　not　only　wood　and　fire；　but　a　piece　of　meat　in　the

kettle；　nearly　ready　for　eating。　　He　searched　all　about　to　see

who　could　have　done　this；　but　could　find　no　one。　　The　next　time

he　went　to　hunt　he　took　care　not　to　go　far；　and　came　in　quite

early。　　And　while　he　was　still　a　long　way　off　he　saw　a　woman

going　into　the　house　with　wood　on　her　shoulders。　　So　he　made

haste；　and　opened　the　door　quickly；　and　instead　of　the　wooden

doll；　his　wife　sat　in　front　of　the　fire。



Then　she　spoke　to　him　and　said；　'The　Great　Spirit　felt　sorry　for

you；　because　you　would　not　be　comforted；　so　he　let　me　come　back

to　you；　but　you　must　not　stretch　out　your　hand　to　touch　me　till

we　have　seen　the　rest　of　our　people。　　If　you　do；　I　shall　die。'　



So　the　man　listened　to　her　words；　and　the　woman　dwelt　there；　and

brought　the　wood　and　kindled　the　fire；　till　one　day　her　husband

said　to　her；　'It　is　now　two　years　since　you　died。　　Let　us　now　go

back　to　our　tribe。　　Then　you　will　be　well；　and　I　can　touch　you。'



And　with　that　he　prepared　food　for　the　journey；　a　string　of

deer's　flesh　for　her　to　carry；　and　one　for　himself；　and　so　they

started。　　Now　the　camp　of　the　tribe　was　distant　six　days'

journey；　and　when　they　were　yet　one　day's　journey　off　it　began　to

snow；　and　they　felt　weary　and　longed　for　rest。　　Therefore　they

made　a　fire；　cooked　some　food；　and　spread　out　their　skins　to

sleep。



Then　the　heart　of　the　man　was　greatly　stirred；　and　he　stretched

out　his　arms　to　his　wife；　but　she　waved　her　hands　and　said；　'We

have　seen　no　one　yet；　it　is　too　soon。'



But　he　would　not　listen　to　her；　and　caught　her　to　him；　and

behold！　　he　was　clasping　the　wooden　doll。　　And　when　he　saw　it　was

the　doll　he　pushed　it　from　him　in　his　misery　and　rushed　away　to

the　camp；　and　told　them　all　his　story。　　And　some　doubted；　and

they　went　back　with　him　to　the　place　where　he　and　his　wife　had

stopped　to　rest；　and　there　lay　the　doll；　and　besides；　they　saw　in

the　snow　the　steps　of　two　people；　and　the　foot　of　one　was　like

the　foot　of　the　doll。　　And　the　man　grieved　sore　all　the　days　of

his　life。