eben holden-第42章

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And　when　the　rest　of　us　had　gone　to　bed　Uncle　Eb　sat　awhile　by　the　fire　with　David。　Late　at　night　he　came　upstairs　with　his　candle。　He　came　over　to　my　bed　on　tiptoe　to　see　if　I　were　awake；　holding　the　candle　above　my　head。　I　was　worn　out　and　did　not　open　my　eyes。　He　sat　down　snickering。

'Tell　ye　one　thing；　Dave　Brower；'he　whispered　to　himself　as　he　drew　off　his　boots；　'when　some　folks　calls　ye　a　fool　's　a　purty　good　sign　ye　ain't。　

Chapter　45

Since　that　day　I　have　seen　much　coming　and　going。

We　are　now　the　old　folks　…　Margaret　and　Nehemiah　and　Hope　and　I。　Those　others；　with　their　rugged　strength；　their　simple　ways；　their　undying　youth；　are　of　the　past。　The　young　folks　…　they　are　a　new　kind　of　people。　It　gives　us　comfort　to　think　they　will　never　have　to　sing　in　choirs　or　'pound　the　rock'for　board　money；　but　I　know　it　is　the　worse　luck　for　them。　They　are　a　fine　lot　of　young　men　and　women　…　comely　and　well…mannered　…　but　they　will　not　be　the　pathfinders　of　the　future。　What　with　balls　and　dinners　and　clubs　and　theatres；　they　find　too　great　a　solace　in　the　rear　rank。

Nearly　twenty　years　after　that　memorable　Christmas；　coming　from　Buffalo　to　New　York　one　summer　morning；　my　thoughts　went　astray　in　the　north　country。　The　familiar　faces；　the　old　scenes　came　trooping　by　and　that　very　day　I　saw　the　sun　set　in　Hillsborough　as　I　had　often　those　late　years。

Mother　was　living　in　the　old　home；　alone；　with　a　daughter　of　Grandma　Bisnette。　It　was　her　wish　to　live　and　die　under　that　roof。　She　cooked　me　a　fine　supper；　with　her　own　hands；　and　a　great　anxiety　to　please　me。

'Come　Willie！'said　she；　as　if　I　were　a　small　boy　again；　'you　fill　the　woodbox　an'I　ll　git　supper　ready。　Lucindy；　you　clear　out；'she　said　to　the　hired　girl；　good…naturedly。　'You　dunno　how　t'cook　for　him。　

I　filled　the　woodbox　and　brought　a　pail　of　water　and　while　she　was　frying　the　ham　and　eggs　read　to　her　part　of　a　speech　I　had　made　in　Congress。　Before　thousands　I　had　never　felt　more　elation。　At　last　I　was　sure　of　winning　her　applause。　The　little　bent　figure　stood；　thoughtfully；　turning　the　ham　and　eggs。　She　put　the　spider　aside；　to　stand　near　me；　her　hands　upon　her　hips。　There　was　a　mighty　pride　in　her　face　when　I　had　finished。

I　rose　and　she　went　and　looked　out　of　the　window。

'Grand！'she　murmured；　wiping　her　eyes　with　the　corner　of　her　handkerchief。

'Glad　you　like　it；'I　said；　with　great　satisfaction。

'O；　the　speech！'she　answered；　her　elbow　resting　on　the　windowr　sash；　her　hand　supporting　her　head。　'I　liked　it　very　well　…　but　…　but　I　was　thinking　of　the　sunset。　How　beautiful　it　is。　

I　was　weary　after　my　day　of　travel　and　went　early　to　bed　there　in　my　old　room。　I　left　her　finishing　a　pair　of　socks　she　had　been　knitting　for　me。　Lying　in　bed；　I　could　hear　the　creak　of　her　chair　and　the　low　sung；　familiar　words：

'On　the　other　side　of　Jordan；　In　the　sweet　fields　of　Eden；　Where　the　tree　of　life　is　blooming；　There　is　rest　for　you。　

Late　at　rnght　she　came　into　my　room　with　a　candle。　I　heard　her　come　softly　to　the　bed　where　she　stood　a　moment　leaning　over　me。　Then　she　drew　the　quilt　about　my　shoulder　with　a　gentle　hand。

'Poor　little　orphan！'said　she；　in　a　whisper　that　trembled。　She　was　thinking　of　my　childhood　…　of　her　own　happier　days。

Then　she　went　away　and　I　heard；　in　the　silence；　a　ripple　of　measureless　waters。

Next　morning　I　took　flowers　and　strewed　them　on　the　graves　of　David　and　Uncle　Eb；　there；　Hope　and　I　go　often　to　sit　for　half　a　summer　day　above　those　perished　forms；　and　think　of　the　old　time　and　of　those　last　words　of　my　venerable　friend　now　graven　on　his　tombstone：

I　AIN'T　AFRAID。　'SHAMED　O'NUTHIN'I　EVER　DONE。　ALWUSS　KEP'MY　TUGS　TIGHT；　NEVER　SWORE　'LESS　'TWAS　NECESSARY；　NEVER　KETCHED　A　FISH　BIGGER　'N　'TWAS　ER　LIED　'N　A　HOSS　TRADE　ER　SHED　A　TEAR　I　DIDN'T　HEV　TO。　NEVER　CHEATED　ANYBODY　BUT　EBEN　HOLDEN。　GOIN'OFF　SOMEWHERES；　BILL　DUNNO　THE　WAY　NUTHER　DUNNO　'F　IT'S　EAST　ER　WEST　ER　NORTH　ER　SOUTH；　ER　ROAD　ER　TRAIL；　BUT　I　AIN'T　AFRAID。





End