samantha at saratoga-第22章

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Like　big　summer　bird's…nests；　all　full　and　a　runnin'　over　with　summer　wealth；　to　be　blowed　down　by　the　autumn　winds。　　These　shops　are　full　of　everything　elegant　and　beautiful　and　useful。　　The　most　gorgeous　vases　and　plaks　and　chiner　ware　of　every　description　and　color；　and　books；　and　jewelry；　and　rugs；　and　fans；　and　parasols；　and　embroideries；　and　laces；　and　etc。；　etc。；　etc。　And　one　shop　seemed　to　be　jest　full　of　drops　of　light；　light　and　sunshine；　crystalized　in　golden；　clear；　tinted　amber。　　There　wuz　a　young　female　statute　a　standin'　up　in　the　winder　of　that　store　with　her　hands　outstretched　and　jest　a　drippin'　with　the　great　glowin'　amber　drops。　　Some　wuz　a　hangin'　over　her　wings　for　she　was　a　young　flyin'　female。　　And　I　thought　to　myself　it　must　be　she　would　fly　better　with　all　that　golden　light　a　drippin'　about　her。　Josiah　liked　her　looks　first　rate。　　And　he　liked　the　looks　of　some　of　the　pictures　extremely。　　There　wuz　lots　of　places　all　full　of　pictures。　　A　big　collection　of　water　colors；　though　as　Josiah　said　and　well　said；　How　they　could　get　so　many　colors　out　of　water　wuz　a　mystery　to　him。　But　my　choice　out　of　all　the　pictures　I　see；　wuz　a　little　one　called　〃The　Sands　of　Dee。〃　　It　wuz　〃Mary　a　callin'　the　cattle　home。〃　　The　cruel　treacherus　water　wuz　a　risin'　about　her　round　bare　ankles　as　she　stood　there　amongst　the　rushes　with　her　little　milk…bucket　on　her　arm。　Her　pretty　innocent　face　wuz　a　lookin'　off　into　the　shadows；　and　the　last　ray　of　sunset　was　a　fallin'　on　her。　　Maybe　it　wuz　the　pity　on't　that　struck　so　hard　as　I　looked　at　it；　to　know　that　the　〃cruel；　crawli'n　foam〃　wuz　so　soon　to　creep　over　the　sweet　young　face　and　round　limbs。　　And　there　seemed　to　be　a　shadow　of　the　comin'　fate；　a　sweepin'　in　on　the　gray　mist　behind　her。　I　stood　for　some　time；　and　I　don't　know　but　longer；　a　lookin'　at　it；　my　Josiah　a　standin'　placidly　behind　me；　a　lookin'　over　my　shoulder　and　enjoyin'　of　it　too；　till　the　price　wuz　mentioned。　But　at　that　fearful　moment；　my　pardner　seized　me　by　the　arm；　and　walked　me　so　voyalently　out　of　that　store　and　down　the　walk　that　I　did　not　find　and　recover　myself　till　we　stood　at　the　entrance　to　Philey　street。　And　I　wuz　so　out　of　breath；　by　his　powerful　speed；　that　she　didn't　look　nateral　to　me；　I　hardly　recognized　Philey。　　But　Josiah　hurried　me　down　Philey　and　wanted　to　get　my　mind　offen　Mary　Dee　I　knew；　for　he　says　as　we　come　under　a　sign　hangin'　down　over　the　road；　〃Horse　Exchange；〃　sez　he；　〃What　do　you　say；　Samantha；　do　you　spose　I　could　change　off　the　old　mair；　for　a　camel　or　sunthin'？　How　would　you　like　a　camel　to　ride？〃　I　looked　at　him　in　speechless　witherin'　silence；　and　he　went　on　hurridly；　〃It　would　make　a　great　show　in　Jonesville；　wouldn't　it；　to　see　us　comin'　to　meetin'　on　a　camel；　or　to　see　us　ridin'　in　a　cutter　drawed　by　one。　　I　guess　I'll　see　about　it；　some　other　time。〃　And　he　went　on　hurridly；　and　almost　incoherently　as　we　see　another　sign；　over　the　road　…　oh！　how　vollubly　he　did　talk　…　〃Quick；　Livery。〃　〃I　hate　to　see　folks　so　dumb　conceeted！　　Now　I　don't　spose　that　man　has　got　any　hosses　much　faster　than　the　old　mair。〃　〃'Wing's！'　　Shaw！　　I　don't　believe　no　such　thing　…　a　livery　on　wings。　　I　don't　believe　a　word　on't。　　And　you　wouldn't　ketch　me　on　one　on　'em；　if　they　had！〃　〃'Yet　Sing！〃'　sez　he；　a　lookin'　accost　the　street　into　a　laundry　house。　　〃What　do　I　care　if　you　do　sing？　　'Taint　of　much　account　if　you　do　any　way。　　I　sing　sometimes；　I　yet　sing；〃　says　he。　〃Sing；〃　sez　I　in　neerly　witherin'　tone。　　〃I'd　love　to　hear　you　sing；　I　haint　yet　and　I've　lived　with　you　agoin'　on　30　years。〃　〃Wall；　if　you　haint　heerd　me；　it　is　because　you　are　deef；〃　sez　he。　But　that　is　jest　the　way　he　kep'　on；　a　hurryin'　me　along；　and　a　talkin'　fast　to　try　to　get　the　price　of　that　picture　out　of　my　head。　　Anon；　and　sometimes　oftener；　we　would　come　to　the　word　in　big　letters　on　signs；　or　on　the　fence；　or　the　sides　of　barns；　〃Pray。〃　　And　sometimes　it　would　read；　〃Pray　for　my　wife！〃　　And　Josiah　every　time　he　came　to　the　words　would　stop　and　reflect　on　'em。　〃‘Pray！'　　What　business　is　it　of　yourn；　whether　I　pray　or　not？　‘Pray　for　my　wife！'　　That　haint　none　of　your　business。〃　Sez　he；　a　shakin'　his　fist　at　the　fence；　〃'Taint　likely　I　should　have　a　wife　without　prayin'　for　her。　　She　needs　it　bad　enough；〃　sez　he　once；　as　he　stood　lookin'　at　it。　I　gin　him　a　strange　look；　and　he　sez；　〃You　wouldn't　like　it；　would　you；　if　I　didn't　pray　for　you？〃　〃No；〃　sez　I；　〃and　truly　as　you　say；　the　woman　who　is　your　wife　needs　prayer；　she　needs　help；　morn　half　the　time　she　duz。〃　He　looked　kinder　dissatisfied　at　the　way　I　turned　it；　but　he　sez；　〃'Plumbin'　done　here！'〃　〃I'd　love　to　know　where　they　are　goin'　to　plum。　　I　don't　see　no　sign　of　plum　trees；　nor　no　stick　to　knock　'em　off　with。〃　　And　agin　he　sez；　〃You　would　make　a　great　'fuss；　Samantha；　if　I　should　say　what　is　painted　up　right　there　on　that　cross　piece。　　You　would　say　I　wuz　a　swearin'。〃　Sez　I　coldly；　（or　as　cold　as　I　could　with　my　blood　heated　by　the　voyalence　and　rapidity　of　the　walk　he　had　been　a　leadin'　me；）　〃There　is　a　Van　in　front　of　it。　　Van　Dam　haint　swearin'。〃　〃You　would　say　it　wuz　if　I　used　it；〃　sez　he　reproachfully。　　〃If　I　should　fall　down　on　the　ice；　or　stub　my　toe；　and　trip　up　on　the　meetin'　house　steps；　and　I　should　happen　to　mention　the　name　of　that　street　about　the　same　time；　you　would　say　I　wuz　a　swearin'。〃　I　did　not　reply　to　him；　I　wouldn't。　　And　ag'in　he　hurried　me　on'ards　by　some　good　lookin'　bildin's；　and　trees；　and　tavrens；　and　cottages；　and　etc。；　etc。；　and　we　come　to　Caroline　street；　and　Jane；　and　Matilda；　and　lots　of　wimmen's　names。　And　Josiah　sez；　〃I'll　bet　the　man　that　named　them　streets　wuz　love　sick！〃　But　he　wuzn't　no　such　thing。　　It　was　a　father　that　owned　the　land；　and　laid　out　the　streets；　and　named　'em　for　his　daughters。　　Good　old　creeter！　　I　wuzn't　goin'　to　have　him　run　at　this　late　day；　and　run　down　his　own　streets　too。　But　ag'in　Josiah　hurried　me　on'ards。　　And　bimeby　we　found　ourselves　a　standin'　in　front　of　a　kind　of　a　lonesome　lookin'　house；　big　and　square；　with　tall　pillows　in　front。　　It　wuz　a　standin'　back　as　if　it　wuz　a　kinder　a　drawin'　back　from　company；　in　a　square　yard　all　dark　and　shady　with　tall　trees。　　And　it　all　looked　kinder　dusky；　and　solemn　like。　　And　a　bystander　a　standin'　by　told　us　that　it　wuz　〃ha'nted。〃　Josiah　pawed　at　it；　and　shawed　at　the　idee　of　a　gost。　But　I　sez；　〃There！　that　is　the　only　thing　Saratoga　lacked　to　make　her　perfectly　interestin'；　and　that　is　a　gost！〃　But　agin　Josiah　pawed　at　the　idee；　and　sez；　〃There　never　wuz　such　a　thing　as　a　gost！　and　never　will　be。〃　　And　sez　he；　〃what　an　extraordenary　idiot　anybody　must　be　to　believe　in　any　sech　thing。〃　And　ag'in　he　looked　very　skernful　and　high…headed；　and　once　ag'in　he　shawed。　And　I　kep'　pretty　middlin'　calm　and　serene　and　asked　the　bystander；　when　the　gost　ha'nted；　and　where？　And　he　said；　it　opened　doors　and　blowed　out　lights　mostly；　and　trampled　up　stairs。　〃Openin'；　and　blowin'；　and　tramplin'；〃　sez　I　dreamily。　〃Yes；〃　sez　the　man；　〃that's　what　it　duz。〃　And　agin　Josiah　shawed　loud。　　And　agin　I　kep'　calm；　and　sez　I；　〃I'd　give　a　cent　to　see　it。〃　　And　sez　I；　〃Do　you　suppose　it　would　blow　out　and　trample　if　we　should　go　in？〃　But　Josiah　grasped　holt　of　my　arm　and　sez；　〃'Taint　safe！