by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第1章
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BY SHORE AND SEDGE
BY SHORE AND
SEDGE
BRET HARTE
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BY SHORE AND SEDGE
AN APOSTLE OF THE TULES
I
On October 10； 1856； about four hundred people were camped in
Tasajara Valley； California。 It could not have been for the prospect； since a
more barren； dreary； monotonous； and uninviting landscape never
stretched before human eye； it could not have been for convenience or
contiguity； as the nearest settlement was thirty miles away； it could not
have been for health or salubrity； as the breath of the ague…haunted tules in
the outlying Stockton marshes swept through the valley； it could not have
been for space or comfort； for； encamped on an unlimited plain； men and
women were huddled together as closely as in an urban tenement…house；
without the freedom or decency of rural isolation； it could not have been
for pleasant companionship； as dejection； mental anxiety； tears； and
lamentation were the dominant expression； it was not a hurried flight from
present or impending calamity； for the camp had been deliberately planned；
and for a week pioneer wagons had been slowly arriving； it was not an
irrevocable exodus； for some had already returned to their homes that
others might take their places。 It was simply a religious revival of one or
two denominational sects； known as a 〃camp…meeting。〃
A large central tent served for the assembling of the principal
congregation； smaller tents served for prayer…meetings and class… rooms；
known to the few unbelievers as 〃side…shows〃； while the actual dwellings
of the worshipers were rudely extemporized shanties of boards and canvas；
sometimes mere corrals or inclosures open to the cloudless sky； or more
often the unhitched covered wagon which had brought them there。 The
singular resemblance to a circus； already profanely suggested； was carried
out by a straggling fringe of boys and half…grown men on the outskirts of
the encampment； acrimonious with disappointed curiosity； lazy without
the careless ease of vagrancy； and vicious without the excitement of
dissipation。 For the coarse poverty and brutal economy of the larger
arrangements； the dreary panorama of unlovely and unwholesome
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domestic details always before the eyes； were hardly exciting to the senses。
The circus might have been more dangerous； but scarcely more brutalizing。
The actors themselves； hard and aggressive through practical struggles；
often warped and twisted with chronic forms of smaller diseases； or
malformed and crippled through carelessness and neglect； and restless and
uneasy through some vague mental distress and inquietude that they had
added to their burdens； were scarcely amusing performers。 The rheumatic
Parkinsons； from Green Springs； the ophthalmic Filgees； from Alder
Creek； the ague…stricken Harneys； from Martinez Bend； and the feeble…
limbed Steptons； from Sugar Mill； might； in their combined families； have
suggested a hospital； rather than any other social assemblage。 Even their
companionship； which had little of cheerful fellowship in it； would have
been grotesque but for the pathetic instinct of some mutual vague appeal
from the hardness of their lives and the helplessness of their conditions
that had brought them together。 Nor was this appeal to a Higher Power any
the less pathetic that it bore no reference whatever to their respective
needs or deficiencies； but was always an invocation for a light which；
when they believed they had found it； to unregenerate eyes scarcely
seemed to illumine the rugged path in which their feet were continually
stumbling。 One might have smiled at the idea of the vendetta…following
Ferguses praying for 〃justification by Faith；〃 but the actual spectacle of
old Simon Fergus； whose shot…gun was still in his wagon； offering up that
appeal with streaming eyes and agonized features was painful beyond a
doubt。 To seek and obtain an exaltation of feeling vaguely known as 〃It；〃
or less vaguely veiling a sacred name； was the burden of the general
appeal。
The large tent had been filled； and between the exhortations a certain
gloomy enthusiasm had been kept up by singing； which had the effect of
continuing in an easy； rhythmical； impersonal； and irresponsible way the
sympathies of the meeting。 This was interrupted by a young man who rose
suddenly； with that spontaneity of impulse which characterized the
speakers； but unlike his predecessors； he remained for a moment mute；
trembling and irresolute。 The fatal hesitation seemed to check the
unreasoning； monotonous flow of emotion； and to recall to some extent
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the reason and even the criticism of the worshipers。 He stammered a
prayer whose earnestness was undoubted； whose humility was but too
apparent； but his words fell on faculties already benumbed by repetition
and rhythm。 A slight movement of curiosity in the rear benches； and a
whisper that it was the maiden effort of a new preacher； helped to prolong
the interruption。 A heavy man of strong physical expression sprang to the
rescue with a hysterical cry of 〃Glory！〃 and a tumultuous fluency of
epithet and sacred adjuration。 Still the meeting wavered。 With one final
paroxysmal cry； the powerful man threw his arms around his nearest
neighbor and burst into silent tears。 An anxious hush followed； the speaker
still continued to sob on his neighbor's shoulder。 Almost before the fact
could be commented upon； it was noticed that the entire rank of
worshipers on the bench beside him were crying also； the second and third
rows were speedily dissolved in tears； until even the very youthful scoffers
in the last benches suddenly found their half…hysterical laughter turned to
sobs。 The danger was averted； the reaction was complete； the singing
commenced； and in a few moments the hapless cause of the interruption
and the man who had retrieved the disaster stood together outside the tent。
A horse was picketed near them。
The victor was still panting from his late exertions； and was more or
less diluvial in eye and nostril； but neither eye nor nostril bore the slightest
tremor of other expression。 His face was stolid and perfectly in keeping
with his physique；heavy； animal； and unintelligent。
〃Ye oughter trusted in the Lord；〃 he said to the young preacher。
〃But I did；〃 responded the young man； earnestly。
〃That's it。 Justifyin' yourself by works instead o' leanin' onto Him！
Find Him； sez you！ Git Him； sez you！ Works is vain。 Glory！ glory！〃 he
continued； with fluent vacuity and wandering； dull； observant eyes。
〃But if I had a little more practice in class； Brother Silas； more
education？〃
〃The letter killeth；〃 interrupted Brother Silas。 Here his wandering eyes
took dull cognizance of two female faces peering through the opening of
the tent。 〃No； yer mishun； Brother Gideon； is to seek Him in the by…ways；
in the wilderness；where the foxes hev holes and the ravens hev their
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young；but not in the Temples of the people。 Wot sez Sister Parsons？〃
One of the female faces detached itself from the tent flaps； which it
nearly resembled in color； and brought forward an angular figure clothed
in faded fustian that had taken the various shades and odors of household
service。
〃Brother Silas speaks well；〃 said Sister Parsons； with stridulous
fluency。 〃It's fore…ordained。 Fore…ordinashun is better nor ordinashun； saith
the Lord。 He shall go forth； turnin' neither to the right hand nor the left
hand； and seek Him among the lost tribes and the ungodly。 He shall put
aside the temptashun of Mammon and the flesh。〃 Her eyes and those of
Brother Silas here both sought the other female face； which was that of a
young girl of seventeen。
〃Wot sez little Sister Meely；wot sez Meely Parsons？〃 continued
Brother Silas； as if repeating an unctuous formula。
The young girl came hesitatingly forward； and with a nervous cry of
〃Oh； Gideon！〃 threw herself on the breast of the young man。
For a moment they remained locked in each other's arms。 In the
promiscuous and fraternal embracings which were a part of the devotional
exercises of the hour； the act passed without significance。 The young man
gently raised her face。 She was young and comely； albeit marked with a
half…frightened； half…vacant sorrow。 〃Amen；〃 said Brother Gideon；
gravely。
He mounted his horse and turned to go。 Brother Silas had clasped his
powerful arms around both women and was holding them in a ponderous
embrace。
〃Go forth； young man； into the wilderness。〃
The young man bowed his head； and urged his horse forward in the
bleak and barren plain。 In half an hour every vestige of the camp and its
unwholesome surroundings was lost in the distance。 It was as if the strong
desiccating wind； which seemed to spring up at his horse's feet； had
cleanly erased the flimsy structures from the face of the plain； swept away
the lighter breath of praise and plaint； and dried up the easy…flowing tears。
The air was harsh but pure； the grim economy of form and shade and color
in the level plain was coarse but not vulgar； the sky above him was cold
