eben holden-第39章

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　fln　ly　David　he　up　'n　done　it。　Wall　he's　hed　'em　t'pay　fer　an'the　fact　is　it　costs　s'much　if　sell　'em　it　eats　up　all　the　profits。　

'Looks　like　a　swindle；'I　said　indignantly。

'No；'said　Uncle　El；　〃tain't　no　swindle。　Barker　thought　he　hed　a　gran'good　thing。　He　got　fooled　an'the　fool　complaint　is　very　ketchin　。　Got　it　myself　years　ago　an'I've　been　doctorin'fer　it　ever　sence。　

The　story　of　David's　undoing　hurt　us　sorely。　He　had　gone　the　way　of　most　men　who　left　the　farm　late　in　life　with　unsatisfied　ambition。

'They　shall　never　want　for　anything；　so　long　as　I　have　my　health；'I　said。

'I　have　four　hundred　dollars　in　the　bank；'said　Hope；　'and　shall　give　them　every　cent　of　it。　

'Tam'nuthin'if　worry　over；'said　Uncle　Eb。　'If　I　don'never　lose　more　n　a　little　money　I　shan　t　feel　terrible　bad。　We　re　all　young　yit。　Got　more　n　a　million　dollars　wuth　o'good　health　right　here　'n　this　room。　So　well；　I　m　'shamed　uv　it！　Man's　more　decent　if　he's　a　leetle　bit　sickly。　An'thet　there　girl　Bill's　agreed　t'marry　ye！　Why！　'Druther　hey　her　'n　this　hull　cityo'New　York。　

'So　had　I；'was　my　answer。

'Wall；　you　am'no　luckier　'n　she　is　…　not　a　bit；'he　added。　'A　good　man's　better　'n　a　gol'mine　ev　ry　time。　

'Who　knows；'said　Hope。　'He　may　be　president　someday。　

'Ther's　one　thing　I　hate；'Uncle　El　continued。　'That's　the　idee　o　　hevin'the　woodshed　an'barn　an'garret　full　o'them　infernal　wash　bilers。　Ye　can't　take　no　decent　care　uv　a　hoss　there　'n　the　stable'　they　re　so　piled　up。　One　uv　'em　tumbled　down　top　o'me　t　other　day。　'Druther　'twould　a　been　a　panther。　Made　me　s'mad　I　took　a　club　an'knocked　that　biler　into　a　cocked　hat。　'Tain't　right！　I　m　sick　o'the　sight　uv　'em。　

'They　ll　make　a　good　bonfire　someday；'said　Hope。

'Don't　believe　they　d　burn；'he　answered　sorrowfully；　'they　re　tin。　

'Couldn't　we　bury　'em？'I　suggested。

'Be　a　purty　costly　funeral；'he　answered　thoughtfully。　'Ye　d　hey　if　dig　a　hole　deeper　n　Tupper's　dingle。　

'Couldn't　you　give　them　away？'I　enquired。

'Wall；'said　he；　helping　himself　to　a　chew　of　tobacco；　'we　ve　tried　thet。　Gin　'em　t'everybody　we　know　but　there　ain't　folks　enough'　there's　such　a　slew　o'them　bilers。　We　could　give　one　if　ev　ry　man；　woman　an'child　in　Faraway　an'hex　enough　left　t'fill　an　acre　lot。　Dan　Perry　druv　in　t　other　day　with　a　double　buggy。　We　gin　him　one　fer　his　own　fam　ly。　It　was　heavy　t'carry　an'he　didn　t　seem　t　　like　the　looks　uv　it　someway。　Then　I　asked　him　if　he　wouldn　t　like　one　fer　his　girl。　〃She　ain't　married；〃　says　he。　〃She　will　be　some　time；〃　says　I；　〃take　it　along；〃　so　he　put　in　another。　〃You　ve　got　a　sister　over　on　the　turnpike　hain't　ye？〃　says　I。　〃Yes；〃　says　he。　〃Wall；〃　I　says；　〃don'want　a　hex　her　feel　slighted。〃　〃She　won't　know　'bout　my　hevin''em；〃　says　he；　lookin''s　if　he　d　hed　enough。　〃Yis　she　will；〃　I　says；　'she　ll　hear　uv　it　an'mebbe　make　a　fuss。〃　Then　we　piled　in　another。　〃Look　here；〃　I　says　after　that；　〃there　s　yer　brother　Bill　up　there　'bove　you。　Take　one　along　fer　him。〃　〃No；〃　says　he；　〃I　don'tell　ev　ry　body；　but　Bill　an'I　ain't　on　good　terms。　We　ain't　spoke　fer　more　n　a　year。〃

'Knew　he　was　lyin　；'Uncle　Eb　added　with　a　laugh；　'I　d　seen　him　talkin'with　Bill　a　day　er　two　before。　

'Whew！'he　whistled　as　he　looked　at　his　big　silver　watch。　'I　declare　it's　mos'one　o　clock　They's　jes'one　other　piece　o'business　if　come　before　this　meetin　。　Double　or　single；　want　ye　if　both　promise　me　t'be。　hum　Crissmus。　

We　promised。

'Now　childern；'said　he。''S　time　if　go　if　bed。　B　lieve　ye　d　stan　　there　swappin'kisses　'till　ye　was　knee　sprung　if　I　didn　t　tell　yet　　quit。　

Hope　came　and　put　her　arms　about　his　neck；　fondly；　and　kissed　him　good…night。

'Did　Bill　prance　right　up　like　a　man？'he　asked；　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder。

'Did　very　well；'said　she；　smiling；　'for　a　man　with　a　wooden　leg。　

Unde　Eb　sank　into　a　chair；　laughing　heartily；　and　pounding　his　knee。　It　seemed　he　had　told　her　that　I　was　coming　home　with　a　wooden　leg！　'That　is　the　reason　I　held　your　arm；'she　said。　'I　was　expecting　to　hear　it　squeak　every　moment　as　we　left　the　depot。　But　when　I　saw　that　you　walked　so　naturally　I　knew　Uncle　Eb　had　been　trying　to　fool　me。　

'Purty　good　sort　uv　a　lover；　ain't　he？'said　he　after　we　were　done　laughing。

'He　wouldn　t　take　no　for　an　answer；'she　answered。

'He　was　aiwuss　a　gritty　cuss；'said　Uncle　Eb；　wiping　his　eyes　with　a　big　red　handkerchief　as　he　rose　to　go。　'Ye　d　oughter　be　mighty　happy　an'ye　will；　too　…　their　am'no　doubt　uv　it　…　not　a　bit。　Trouble　with　most　young　folks　is　they　wan'if　fly　tew　high；　these　days。　If　they　d　only　fly　clus　enough　t'the　ground　so　the　could　aiwuss　touch　one　foot；　they　d　be　all　right。　Glad　ye　ain't　thet　kind。　

We　were　off　early　on　the　boat　…　as　fine　a　summer　morning　as　ever　dawned。　What　with　the　grandeur　of　the　scenery　and　the　sublimity　of　our　happiness　it　was　a　delightful　journey　we　had　that　day。　I　felt　the　peace　and　beauty　of　the　fields；　the　majesty　of　the　mirrored　cliffs　and　mountains；　but　the　fair　face　of　her　I　loved　was　enough　for　me。　Most　of　the　day　Uncle　Eb　sat　near　us　and　I　remember　a　woman　evangelist　came　and　took　a　seat　beside　him；　awhile；　talking　volubly　of　the　scene。

'My　friend；'said　she　presently；　'are　you　a　Christian？　

''Fore　I　answer　I　ll　hex　if　tell　ye　a　story；'said　Uncle　Eb。　'I　recollec　　a　man　by　the　name　o'Ranney　over　n　Vermont　…　he　was　a　pious　man。　Got　into　an　argyment　an'a　feller　slapped　him　in　the　face。　Ranney　turned　t　other　side　an'then　t　other　an'the　feller　kep'a　slappin'hot　'n　heavy。　It　was　jes'like　strappin'a　razor　fer　haifa　minnit。　Then　Ranney　sailed　in　…　gin　him　the　wust　lickin'he　ever　hed。

'〃I　declare；〃　says　another　man；　after　'twas　all　over；　〃I　thought　you　was　a　Christian。〃

〃Am　up　to　a　cert　in　p　int；〃　says　he。　〃Can't　go　tew　fur　not　'n　these　parts　…　men　are　tew　powerful。　'Twon't　do　'less　ye　wan'if　die　sudden。　When　he　begun　poundin'uv　me　I　see　I　wan　t　eggzac　ly　prepared。〃

''Fraid　's　a　good　deal　thet　way　with　most　uv　us。　We　re　Christians　up　to　a　cert　in　p　int。　Fer　one　thing；　I　think　if　a　rnan　ll　stan'still　an'see　himself　knocked　into　the　nex'world　he's　a　leetle　tew　good　fer　this。　

The　good　lady　began　to　preach　and　argue。　For　an　hour　Uncle　Eb　sat　listening　unable　to　get　in　a　word。　When；　at　last；　she　left　him　he　came　to　us　a　look　of　relief　in　his　face。

'I　b'lieve；'said　he；　'if　Balaam's　ass　hed　been　rode　by　a　woman　he　never　'd　hey　spoke。　

'Why　not？'I　enquired。

'Never'd　hey　hed　a　chance；'Unde　Eb　added。

We　were　two　weeks　at　home　with　mother　and　father　and　Uncle　Eb。　It　was　a　delightful　season　of　rest　in　which　Hope　and　I　went　over　the　sloping　roads　of　Faraway　and　walked　in　the　fields　and　saw　the　harvesting。　She　had　appointed　Christmas　Day　for　our　wedding　and　I　was　not　to　go　again　to　the　war；　for　now　my　first　duty　was　to　my　own　people。　If　God　prospered　me　they　were　all　to　come　to　live　with　us　in　town　and；　though　slow　to　promise；　I　could　see　it　gave　them　comfort　to　know　we　were　to　be　for　them　ever　a　staff　and　refuge。

And　the　evening　before　we　came　back　to　townJed　Feary　was　with　us　and　Uncle　Eb　played　his　flute　and　sang　the　songs　that　had　been　the　delight　of　our　childhood。

The　old　poet　read　these　lines　written　in　memory　of　old　times　in　Faraway　and　of　Hope's　girlhood。

'The　red　was　in　the　clover　an'the　blue　was　in　the　sky：　There　was　music　in　the　meadow；　there　was　dancing　in　the　rye；　An'I　heard　a　voice　a　calling　to　the　flocks　o'Faraway　An'its　echo　in　the　wooded　hills　…　Co'day！　Go'day！　Go'day！

O　fair　was　she　…　my　lady　love　…　an'lithe　as　the　willow　tree；　An'aye　my　heart　remembers　well　her　parting　words　t'me。　An'I　was　sad　as　a　beggar…man　but　she　was　blithe　an'gay　An'I　think　o'her　as　I　call　the　flocks　Go'day！　Go'day！　Go'day！

Her　cheeks　they　stole　the　dover's　red；　her　lips　the　odoured　air；　An'the　glow　o'the　morning　sunlight　she　took　away　in　her　hair；　Her　voice　had　the　meadow　music；　her　form　an'her　laughing　eye　Have　taken　the　blue　o'the　heavens　an'the　grace　o'the　bending　rye。

My　love　has　robbed　the　summer　day　…　the　field；　the　sky；　the　dell；　She　has　taken　their　treasures　with　her；　she　has　taken　my　heart　as　well；　An'if　ever；　in　the　further　fields；　her　feet　should　go　astray　May　she　hear　the　good　God　calling　her　Co'day！　Go'day！　Go'day！

Chapter　41

I　got　a　warm　welcome　on　Monkey　Hill。　John　Trumbull　came　to　dine　with　us　at　the　chalet　the　evening　of　my　arrival。　McGlingan　had　become　editor…in…chief　of　a　new　daily　newspaper。　Since　the　war　began　Mr　Force　had　found　ample　and　remunerative　occupation　writing　the　'Obituaries　of　Distinguished　Persons　。　He　sat　between　Trumbull　and　McGlingan　at　table　and　told　again　of　the　time　he　had　introduced　the　late　Daniel　Webster　to　the　people　of　his　native　town。

Reciting　a　passage　of　the　immortal　Senator　he　tipped　his　beer　into　the　lap　of　McClingan。　He　ceased　talking　and　sought　pardon。

'It　is　nothing；　Force　…　nothing；'said　the　Scotchman；　with　great　dignity；　as　he　wiped　his　coat　and　trousers。　'You　will　pardon　me　if　I　say　that　I　had　rather　be　drenched　in　beer　than　soaked　in　recollections。　

'That's　all　right；'said　Mr　Opper；　handing　him　a　new　napkin。　'Yes；　in　the　midst　of　such　affliction　I　should　call　it　excellent　fun；　　McClingan　added。　'If　you　ever　die；　Force；　I　will　preach　the　sermon　without　charge。　

'On　what　text？'the　obituary　editor　enquired。

'〃There　remaineth　therefore；　a　rest　for　the　people　of　God；〃'quoth　McClingan　solemnly。　'Hebrews；　fourth　chapter　and　ninth　verse。　

'If　I　continue　to　live　with　you　I　shall　need　it；'said　Force。

'And　if　I　endure　to　the　end；'said　McClingan；　'I　shall　have　excellent　Christian　discipline；　I　shall　feel　like　opening　my　mouth　and　making　a　loud　noise。　

McGlingan　changed　his　garments　and　then　came　into　my　room　and　sat　with　us　awhile　after　dinner。

'One　needs　ear　lappers　and　a　rubber　coat　at　that　table；'said　he。

'And　a　chest　protector；'I　suggested；　remembering　the　finger　of　Force。

'I　shall　be　leaving　here　soon；　Brower；'said　McGlingan　as　he　lit　a　cigar。

'Where　shall　you　go？'I　asked。

'To　my　own　house。　

'Going　to　hire　a　housekeeper？　

'Going　to　marry　one；'said　he。

'That's　funny；'I　said。　We　re　all　to　be　married　…　every　man　of　us。　

'By　Jove！'said　McClingan；　'this　is　a　time　for　congratulation。　God　save　us　and　grant　for　us　all　the　best　woman　in　the　world。　

Chapter　42

For　every　man　he　knew　and　loved　Mr　Greeley　had　a　kindness　that　filled　him　to　the　fingertips。　When　I　returned　he　smote　me　on　the　breast　…　an　unfailing　mark　of　his　favour　…　and　doubled　my　salary。

'If　he　ever　smites　you　on　the　breast；'McClingan　had　once　said　to　me；

'turn　the　other　side；　for；　man；　your　fortune　is　made。　

And　there　was　some　truth　in　the　warning。

He　was　writing　when　I　came　in。　A　woman　sat　beside　him　talking。　An　immense　ham　lay　on　the　marble　top　of　the　steam　radiator；　a　basket　of　eggs　sat　on　the　floor　near　Mr　Greeley's　desk　All　sorts　of　merchandise　were　sent　to　the　Tribune　those　days；　for　notice；　and　sold　at　auction；　to　members　of　the　staff；　by　Mr　Dana。

'Yes；　yes；　Madame；　go　on；　I　hear　you；'said　the　great　editor；　as　his　pen　flew　across　the　white　page。

She　asked　him　then　for　a　loan　of　money。　He　continued　writing　but；　presently；　his　left　hand　dove　into　his　trousers　pocket　coming　up　full　of　bills。

'Take　what　you　want；'said　he；　holding　it　toward　her；　'and　please　go　for　I　am　very　busy。'Whereupon　she　helped　herself　libera