eben holden-第9章

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l　at　Hillsborough；　some　twelve　miles　away；　and　Hope　and　I；　after　much　coaxing　and　many　family　counsels；　got　leave　to　go　with　him。　The　sky　was　cloudless；　and　the　frosty　air　was　all　aglow　in　the　sunlight　that　morning　we　started。　There　was　a　little　sheet　iron　stove　in　one　comer　of　the　sledgehouse；　walled　in　with　zinc　and　anchored　with　wires；　a　layer　of　hay　covered　the　floor　and　over　that　we　spread　our　furs　and　blankets。　The　house　had　an　open　front；　and　Uncle　Eb　sat　on　the　doorstep；　as　it　were；　to　drive；　while　we　sat　behind　him　on　the　blankets。

'I　love　you　very　much；'　said　Hope；　embracing　me；　after　we　were　seated。　Her　affection　embarrassed　me；　I　remember。　It　seemed　unmanly　to　be　petted　like　a　doll。

'I　hate　to　be　kissed；'　I　said；　pulling　away　from　her；　at　which　Uncle　Eb　laughed　heartily。

The　day　came　when　I　would　have　given　half　my　life　for　the　words　I　held　so　cheaply　then。

'You'd　better　be　good　t'　me；'　she　answered；　'for　when　mother　dies　I'm　goin'　t'　take　care　o'　you。　Uncle　Eb　and　Gran'ma　Bisnette　an'　you　an'　everybody　I　love　is　goin'　t'　come　an'　live　with　me　in　a　big；　big　house。　An'　I'm　goin'　t'　put　you　t'　bed　nights　an'　hear　ye　say　yer　prayers　an　everything。'

'Who'll　do　the　spankin？'　Uncle　Eb　asked。

'My　husban'；'　she　answered；　with　a　sigh　at　the　thought　of　all　the　trouble　that　lay　before　her。

'An'　I'll　make　him　rub　your　back；　too；　Uncle　Eb；'　she　added。　'Wall；　I　rather　guess　he'll　object　to　that；'　said　he。

'Then　you　can　give　'ins　five　cents；　an'　I　guess　he'll　be　glad　t'　do　it；'　she　answered　promptly。

'Poor　man！　He　won't　know　whether　he's　runnin'　a　poorhouse　er　a　hospital；　will　he？'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Look　here；　children；'　he　added；　taking　out　his　old　leather　wallet；　as　he　held　the　reins　between　his　knees。　'Here's　tew　shillin'　apiece　for　ye；　an'　I　want　ye　t'　spend　it　jest　eggsackly　as　ye　please。'　The　last　words　were　spoken　slowly　and　with　emphasis。

We　took　the　two　silver　pieces　that　he　handed　to　us　and　looked　them　all　over　and　compared　them。

'I　know　what　I'll　do；'　said　she；　suddenly。　'I'm　goin'　t'　buy　my　mother　a　new　dress；　or　mebbe　a　beautiful　ring；'　she　added　thoughtfully。

For　my　own　part　I　did　not　know　what　I　should　buy。　I　wanted　a　real　gun　most　of　all　and　my　inclination　oscillated　between　that　and　a　red　rocking　horse。　My　mind　was　very　busy　while　I　sat　in　silence。　Presently　I　rose　and　went　to　Uncle　Eb　and　whispered　in　his　ear。

'Do　you　think　I　could　get　a　real　rifle　with　two　shilin'？'　I　enquired　anxiously。

'No；'　he　answered　in　a　low　tone　that　seemed　to　respect　my　confidence。　'Bime　by；　when　you're　older；　I'll　buy　ye　a　rifle　…　a　real　rip　snorter；　too；　with　a　shiny　barrel　'n　a　silver　lock。　When　ye　get　down　t；　the　village　ye'll　see　lots　o'　things　y'd　rather　hev；　prob'ly。　If　I　was　you；　children；'　he　added；　in　a　louder　tone；　'I　wouldn't　buy　a　thing　but　nuts　'n'　raisins。'

'Nuts　'n'　raisins！'　Hope　exclaimed；　scornfully。

'Nuts　'n'　raisins；'　he　repeated。　'They're　cheap　'n'　satisfyin'。　If　ye　eat　enough　uv　'em　you'll　never　want　anything　else　in　this　world。'

I　failed　to　see　the　irony　in　Uncle　Eb's　remark　and　the　suggestion　seemed　to　have　a　good　deal　of　merit；　the　more　I　thought　it　over。

''T　any　rate；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　'I'd　git　somethin'　fer　my　own　selves。'

'Well；'　said　Hope；　'You　tell　us　a　lot　o'　things　we　could　buy。'

'Less　see！'　said　Uncle　Eb；　looking　very　serious。　'There's　bootjacks　an'　there's　warmin'　pans　'n'　mustard　plasters　'n'　liver　pads　'n'　all　them　kind　o'　things。'

We　both　shook　our　heads　very　doubtfully。

'Then；'　he　added；　'there　are　jimmyjacks　'n'　silver　no　nuthin's。'

There　were　many　other　suggestions　but　none　of　them　were　decisive。

The　snow　lay　deep　on　either　side　of　the　way　and　there　was　a　glimmer　on　every　white　hillside　where　Jack　Frost　had　sown　his　diamonds。　Here　and　there　a　fox　track　crossed　the　smooth　level　of　the　valley　and　dwindled　on　the　distant　hills　like　a　seam　in　a　great　white　robe。　It　grew　warmer　as　the　sun　rose；　and　we　were　a　jolly　company　behind　the　merry　jingle　of　the　sleigh　bells。　We　had　had　a　long　spell　of　quiet　weather　and　the　road　lay　in　two　furrows　worn　as　smooth　as　ice　at　the　bottom。

'Consarn　it！'　said　Uncle　Eb　looking　up　at　the　sky；　after　we　had　been　on　the　road　an　hour　or　so。　'There's　a　sun　dog。　Wouldn't　wonder　if　we　got　a　snowstorm'　fore　night。

I　was　running　behind　the　sledge　and　standing　on　the　brake　hooks　going　downhill。　He　made　me　get　in　when　he　saw　the　sun　dog；　and　let　our　horse　…　a　rat…tailed　bay　known　as　Old　Doctor　…　go　at　a　merry　pace。

We　were　awed　to　silence　when　we　came　in　sight　of　Hillsborough；　with　spires　looming　far　into　the　sky；　as　it　seemed　to　me　then；　and　buildings　that　bullied　me　with　their　big　bulk；　so　that　I　had　no　heart　for　the　spending　of　the　two　shillings　Uncle　Eb　had　given　me。　Such　sublimity　of　proportion　I　have　never　seen　since；　and　yet　it　was　all　very　small　indeed。　The　stores　had　a　smell　about　them　that　was　like　chloroform　in　its　effect　upon　me；　for；　once　in　them；　I　fell　into　a　kind　of　trance　and　had　scarce　sense　enough　to　know　my　own　mind。　The　smart　clerks；　who　generally　came　and　asked；　'Well；　young　man；　what　can　I　do　for　you？'　I　regarded　with　fear　and　suspicion。　I　clung　the　tighter　to　my　coin　always；　and　said　nothing；　although　I　saw　many　a　trinket　whose　glitter　went　to　my　soul　with　a　mighty　fascination。　We　both　stood　staring　silently　at　the　show　cases；　our　tongues　helpless　with　awe　and　wonder。　Finally；　after　a　whispered　conference；　Hope　asked　for　a　'silver　no　nothing'；　and　provoked　so　much　laughter　that　we　both　fled　to　the　sidewalk。　Uncle　Eb　had　to　do　our　buying　for　us　in　the　end。

'Wall；　what'll　ye　hev？'　he　said　to　me　at　length。

I　tried　to　think…it　was　no　easy　thing　to　do　after　all　I　had　seen。

'Guess　I'll　take　a　jacknife；'　I　whispered。

'Give　this　boy　a　knife；'　he　demanded。　'Wants　t'　be　good　'n　sharp。　Might　hev　t'　skin　a　swift　with　it　sometime。'

'What　ye　want？'　he　asked；　then　turning　to　Hope。

'A　doll；'　she　whispered。

'White　or　black？'　said　he。

'White；'　said　she；　'with　dark　eyes　and　hair。'

'Want　a　reel；　splendid；　firs'…class　doll；'　he　said　to　the　clerk。　'Thet　one'll　do；　there；　with　the　sky…blue　dress　'n　the　pink　apron。'

We　were　worn　out　with　excitement　when　we　left　for　home　under　lowering　skies。　We　children　lay　side　by　side　under　the　robes；　the　doll　between　us；　and　were　soon　asleep。　It　was　growing　dark　when　Uncle　Eb　woke　us；　and　the　snow　was　driving　in　at　the　doorway。　The　air　was　full　of　snow；　I　remember；　and　Old　Doctor　was　wading　to　his　knees　in　a　drift。　We　were　up　in　the　hills　and　the　wind　whistled　in　our　little　chimney。　Uncle　Eb　had　a　serious　look　in　his　face。　The　snow　grew　deeper　and　Old　Doctor　went　slower　every　moment。

'Six　mild　from　home；'　Uncle　Eb　muttered；　as　he　held　up　to　rest　a　moment。　'Six　mild　from　home。　'Fraid　we're　in　fer　a　night　uv　it。'

We　got　to　the　top　of　Fadden's　Hill　about　dark；　and　the　snow　lay　so　deep　in　the　cut　we　all　got　out　for　fear　the　house　would　tip　over。　Old　Doctor　floundered　along　a　bit　further　until　he　went　down　in　the　drift　and　lay　between　the　shafts　half　buried。　We　had　a　shovel　that　always　hung　beside　a　small　hatchet　in　the　sledgehouse　…　for　one　might　need　much　beside　the　grace　of　God　of　a　winter's　day　in　that　country　…　and　with　it　Uncle　Eb　began　to　uncover　the　horse。　We　children　stood　in　the　sledgehouse　door　watching　him　and　holding　the　lantern。　Old　Doctor　was　on　his　feet　in　a　few　minutes。

''Tain'　no　use　tryin'；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　began　to　unhitch。　'Can't　go　no　further　t'night'

Then　he　dug　away　the　snow　beside　the　sledgehouse；　and　hitched　Old　Doctor　to　the　horseshoe　that　was　nailed　to　the　rear　end　of　it。　That　done；　he　clambered　up　the　side　of　the　cut　and　took　some　rails　off　the　fence　and　shoved　them　over　on　the　roof　of　the　house；　so　that　one　end　rested　there　and　the　other　on　the　high　bank　beside　us。　Then　he　cut　a　lot　of　hemlock　boughs　with　the　hatchet；　and　thatched　the　roof　he　had　made　over　Old　Doctor；　binding　them　with　the　reins。　Bringing　more　rails；　he　leaned　them　to　the　others　on　the　windward　side　and　nailed　a　big　blanket　over　them；　piecing　it　out　with　hemlock　thatching；　so　it　made　a　fairly　comfortable　shelter。　We　were　under　the　wind　in　this　deep　cut　on　Fadden's　Hill；　and　the　snow　piled　in　upon　us　rapidly。　We　had　a　warm　blanket　for　Old　Doctor　and　two　big　buffalo　robes　for　our　own　use。　We　gave　him　a　good　feed　of　hay　and　oats；　and　then　Uncle　Eb　cut　up　a　fence　rail　with　our　hatchet　and　built　a　roaring　fire　in　the　stove。　We　had　got　a　bit　chilly　wading　in　the　snow；　and　the　fire　gave　us　a　mighty　sense　of　comfort。

'I　thought　somethin'　might　happen；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　hung　his　lantern　to　the　ridge　pole　and　took　a　big　paper　parcel　out　of　his　great　coat　pocket。　'I　thought　mebbe　somethin'　might　happen；　an'　so　I　brought　along　a　bite　o'　luncheon。'

He　gave　us　dried　herring　and　bread　and　butter　and　cheese。

''S　a　little　dry；'　he　remarked；　while　we　were　eating；　'but　it's　drier　where　there's　none。'

We　had　a　pail　of　snow　on　top　of　the　little　stove　and　plenty　of　good　drinking　water　for　ourselves　and　the　Old　Doctor　in　a　few　minutes。

After　supper　Uncle　Eb　went　up　the　side　of　the　cut　and　brought　back　a　lot　of　hemlock　boughs　and　spread　them　under　Old　Doctor　for　bedding。

Then　we　all　sat　around　the　stove　on　the　warm　robes　and　listened　to　the　wind　howling　above　our　little　roof　and　the　stories　of　Uncle　Eb。　The　hissing　of　the　snow　as　it　beat　upon　the　sledgehouse　grew　fainter　by　and　by；　and　Uncle　Eb　said　he　guessed　we　were　pretty　well　covered　up。　We　fell　asleep　soon。　I　remember　he　stopped　in　the　middle　of　a　wolf　story；　and；　seeing　that　our　eyes　were　shut；　pulled　us　back　from　the　fire　a　little　and　covered　us　with　one　of　the　robes。　It　had　been　a　mighty　struggle　between　Sleep　and　Romance；　and　Sleep　had　won。　I　roused　myself　and　begged　him　to　go　on　with　the　story；　but　he　only　said；　'Hush；　boy；　it's　bedtime；'　and　turned　up　the　lantern　and　went　out　of　doors。　I　woke　once　or　twice　in　the　night　and　saw　him　putting　wood　on　the　fire。　He　had　put　out　the　light。　The　gleam　of　the　fire　shone　on　his　face　when　he　opened　the　stove　door。

'Gittin'　a　leetle　cool　here；　Uncle　Eb；'　he　was　saying　to　himself。

We　were　up　at　daylight；　and　even　then　it　was　snowing　and　blowing　fiercely。　There　were　two　feet　of　snow　on　the　sledgehouse　roof；　and　we　were　nearly　buried　in　the　bank。　Uncle　Eb　had　to　do　a　lot　of　shoveling　to　get　out　of　doors　and　into　the　stable。　Old　Doctor　was　quite　out　of　the　wind　in　a　cave　of　snow　and　nickering　for　his　breakfast。　There　was　plenty　for　him；　but　we　were　on　short　rations。　Uncle　Eb　put　on　the　snow　shoes；　after　we　had　eaten　what　there　was　left；　and；　cautioning　us　to　keep　in；　set　out　for　Fadden's　across　lots。　He　came　back　inside　of　an　hour　with　a　good　supply　of　provisions　in　a　basket　on　his　shoulder。　The　wind　had　gone　down　and　the　air　was　milder。　Big　flakes　of　snow　came　fluttering　slowly　downward　out　of　a　dark　sky。　After　dinner　we　went　up　on　top　of　the　sledgehouse　and　saw　a　big　scraper　coming　in　the　valley　below。　Six　teams　of　oxen　were　drawing　it；　and　we　could　see　the　flying　furrows　on　either　side　of　the　scraper　as　it　ploughed　in　the　deep　drifts。　Uncle　Eb　put　on　the　snow　shoes　again；　and；　with　Hope　on　his　back　and　me　clinging　to　his　hand；　he　went　down　to　meet　them　and　to　tell　of　our　plight。　The　front　team　had　wallowed　to　their　ears；　and　the　men　were　digging　them