samantha at saratoga-第51章

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st　ground　out　here；　and；〃　sez　he；　in　a　sort　of　a　coaxin'　tone；　〃le's　stop　and　get　some　victory；　Samantha。〃　And　I　told　him；　that　I　guessed　when　he　got　a　victory　over　the　world；　the　flesh；　or　the　　David；　he　would　have　to　work　for　it；　he　wouldn't　get　it　ground　out　for　him。　　But　anon；　he　cast　his　eyes　on　sunthin'　else　and　so　forgot　to　muse　on　this　any　further。　　It　wuz　a　fair　seen。　Anon；　a　big　manufactory；　as　big　as　the　hull　side　of　Jonesville　almost；　loomed　up　by　the　side　of　us。　　And　anon；　the　fair；　the　beautiful　country　spread　itself　out　before　our　vision。　　While　fur；　fur　away　the　pale　blue　mountains　peeked　up　over　the　green　ones；　to　see　if　they　too　could　see　the　monument　riz　up　to　our　National　Liberty。　　It　belonged　to　them；　jest　as　much　as　to　the　hill　it　wuz　a　standin'　on；　it　belongs　to　the　hull　liberty…lovin'　world。　Wall；　the　cars　stopped　in　a　pretty　little　village；　a　clean；　pleasant　little　place　as　I　ever　see；　or　want　to　see。　　And　Josiah　and　me　wended　our　way　up　the　broad　roomy　street；　up　to　where　the　monument　seemed　to　sort　a　beegon　to　us　to　come。　　And　when　we　got　up　to　it；　we　see　it　wuz　a　sight；　a　sight　to　behold。　The　curius　thing　on't　wuz；　it　kep　a　growin'　bigger　and　bigger　all　the　time　we　wuz　approachin'　it；　till；　as　we　stood　at　its　base；　it　seemed　to　tower　up　into　the　very　skies。　There　wuz　some　flights　of　stun　steps　a　leadin'　up　to　some　doors　in　the　side　on't。　　And　we　went　inside　on't　after　we　had　gin　a　good　look　at　the　outside。　　But　it　took　us　some　time　to　get　through　gazin'　at　the　outside　on't。　Way　up　over　our　heads　wuz　some　sort　a　recesses；　some　like　the　recess　in　my　spare　bed…room；　only　higher　and　narrower；　and　kinder　nobler　lookin'。　　And　standin'　up　in　the　first　one；　a　lookin'　stiddy　through　storm　and　shine　at　the　North　star；　stood　General　Gates；　bigger　than　life　considerable；　but　none　too　big；　for　his　deeds　and　the　deeds　of　all　of　our　old　4　fathers　stand　out　now　and　seem　a　good　deal　bigger　than　life。　　Yes；　take　'em　in　all　their　consequences；　a　sight　bigger。　Wall；　there　he　stands；　a　leanin'　on　his　sword。　　He'll　be　ready　when　the　enemy　comes；　no　danger　but　what　he　will。　On　the　east　side；　is　General　Schuyler　a　horsback；　ready　to　dash　forward　against　the　foe；　impetuous；　ardent；　gallant。　　But　oh！　the　perils　and　dangers　that　obstruct　his　pathway；　thick　underbrush　and　high；　tall　trees　stand　up　round　him　that　he　seemin'ly　can't　get　through。　But　his　gallant　soldiers　are　a　helpin'　him　onward；　they　are　a　cuttin'　down　the　trees　so's　he　can　get　through　'em　and　dash　at　the　enemy。　　You　see　as　you　look　on　him　that　he　will　get　through　it　all。　　No　envy；　nor　detraction；　nor　jealousy；　no　such　low　underbrush　full　of　crawlin'　reptiles；　nor　no　high　solid　trees；　no　danger　of　any　sort　can　keep　him　back。　　His　big　brave；　generous　heart　is　sot　on　helpin'　his　country；　he'll　do　it。　On　the　south　side；　is　the　saddest　sight　that　a　patriotic　American　can　see。　　On　a　plain　slab　stun；　lookin'　a　good　deal　like　a　permanent　grave…stun；　sot　up　high　there；　for　Americans　to　weep　over　forever；　bitter　tears　of　shames；　is　the　name；　〃Arnold。〃　He　wuz　a　brave　soldier；　his　name　ort　to　be　there；　it　is　all　right　to　have　it　there　and　jest　where　it　is；　on　a　gravestun。　　All　through　the　centuries　it　will　stand　there；　a　name　carved　by　the　hand　of　cupidity；　selfishness；　and　treachery。　On　the　west　side；　General　Morgan　is　standin'　up　with　his　hands　over　his　eyes；　lookin'　away　into　the　sunset。　　He　looked　jest　like　that　when　he　wuz　a　lookin'　after　prowlin'　red　skins　and　red　coats；　when　the　sun　wuz　under　dark　clouds；　and　the　day　wuz　dark　100　years　ago。　But　now；　all　he　has　to　do　is　to　stand　up　there　and　look　off　into　the　glowin'　heavens；　a　watchin'　the　golden　light　of　the　sun　of　Liberty　a　rollin'　on　westward。　　He　holds　his　hand　over　his　eyes；　its　rays　most　blind　him；　he　is　most　lost　a　thinkin'　how　fur；　how　fur　them　rays　are　a　spreadin'；　and　a　glowin'；way；　way　off；　Morgan　is　a　lookin'　onto　our　future；　and　it　dazzles　him。　　Its　rays　stretch　off　into　other　lands；　they　strike　dark　places；　they　burn！　they　glow！　they　shine！　they　light　up　the　world！　Hold　up　your　head；　brave　old　General；　and　your　loyal　steadfast　eyes。　　You　helped　to　strike　that　light。　　Its　radience　half…frights　you。　　It　is　so　heavenly　bright；　its　rays；　may　well　dazzle　you。　Brown　old　soldiers；　I　love　to　think　of　you　always　a　standin'　up　there；　lifted　high　up　by　a　grateful　Nation；　a　lookin'　off　over　all　the　world；　a　lookin'　off　towards　the　glowin'　west；　toward　our　glorious　future。　On　the　inside　too；　it　wuz　a　noble　seen。　　After　you　rose　up　the　steps　and　went　inside；　you　found　yourself　in　a　middlin'　big　room　all　surrounded　by　figures　in　what　they　called　Alto　Relief；　or　sunthin'　to　that　effect。　　I　don't　know　what　Alto　they　meant。　　I　don't　know　nobody　by　that　name；　nor　I　don't　know　how　they　relieved　him。　　But　I　s'pose　Alto　when　he　wuz　there　wuz　relieved　to　think　that　the　figures　wuz　all　so　noble　and　impressive。　　Mebby　he　had　been　afraid　they　wouldn't　suit　him　and　the　nation。　　But　they　did；　they　must　have。　　He　must　have　been　hard　to　suit；　Alto　must；　if　he　wuzn't　relieved；　and　pleased　with　these。　On　one　side　wuz　George　the　3d　of　England；　in　his　magnificent　palace；　all　dressed　up　in　velvet　and　lace；　surrounded　by　his　slick　drestup　nobles；　and　all　of　'em　a　sittin'　there　soft　and　warm；　in　the　lap　of　Luxury；　a　makin'　laws　to　bind　the　strugglin'　colonies。　And　right　acrost　from　that；　wuz　a　picture　of　them　Colonists；　cold　and　hungry；　a　havin'　a　Rally　for　Freedom；　and　a　settin'　up　a　Town　meetin！　right　amongst　the　trees；　and　under…brush　that　hedged　'em　all　in　and　tripped　'em　up　at　every　step；　and　savages　a　hidin'　behind　the　trees；　and　fears　of　old　England；　and　dread　of　a　hazerdous　unknown　future；　a　hantin'　and　cloudin'　every　glimpse　of　sky　that　came　down　on　'em　through　the　trees。　　But　they　looked　earnest　and　good；　them　old　4　fathers　did；　and　the　Town　meetin'　looked　determined；　and　firm　principled　as　ever　a　Town　meetin'　looked　on　the　face　of　the　earth。　Then　there　wuz　some　of　the　women　of　the　court；　fine　ladies；　all　silk；　and　ribbons；　and　embroideries；　and　paint；　and　powder；　a　leanin'　back　in　their　cushioned　arm…chairs；　a　wantin'　to　have　the　colonies　taxed　still　further　so's　to　have　more　money　to　buy　lace　with　and　artificial　flowers。　　And　right　acrost　from　'em　wuz　some　of　our　old　4　mothers；　in　a　rude；　log　hut；　not　strong　enough　to　keep　out　the　cold；　or　the　Injuns。　One　wuz　a　cardin'　wools；　one　of　'em　wuz　a　spinnin'　'em；　a　tryin'　to　make　clothes　to　cover　the　starved；　half…naked　old　4　fathers　who　wuz　a　tramplin'　round　in　the　snow　with　bare　feet　and　shiverin'　lims。　　And　one　of　'em　had　a　gun　in　her　hand。　　She　had　smuggled　the　children　all　in　behind　her　and　she　wuz　a　lookin'　out　for　the　foe。　These　wimmen　hadn't　no　ribbons　on；　no；　fur　from　it。　And　then　there　wuz　General　Schuyler　a　fellin'　trees　to　obstruct　the　march　of　the　British　army。　　And　Miss　Schuyler　a　settin'　fire　to　a　field　of　wheat　rather　than　have　it　help　the　enemy　of　her　country。　　Brave　old　4　mother；　worthy　pardner　of　a　grand　man；　she　wuz　a　takin'　her　life　in　her　hand　and　a　destroyin'　her　own　property　for　the　sake　of　the　cause　she　loved。　　A　emblem　of　the　way　men　and　women　sot　fire　to　their　own　hopes；　their　own　happiness；　and　burnt　'em　up　on　the　altar　of　the　land　we　love。　And　there　wuz　some