samantha at saratoga-第9章

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ight　outside；　but　the　red　curtains　wuz　down　at　our　sitting…room　winders；　shettin'　out　the　cold　drizzlin'　storm　of　hail　and　snow　that　wuz　a　deseendin'　onto　the　earth。　　The　fire　burned　up　warm　and　bright；　and　we　sot　there　in　our　comfortable　home；　with　the　teakettle　singin'　on　the　stove；　and　the　tea…table　set　out　cosy　and　cheerful；　for　Josiah　had　been　away　and　I　had　waited　supper　for　him。　As　I　sot　there　waitin'　for　the　tea…kettle　to　bile　（and　when　I　say　bile；　I　mean　bile；　I　don't；　mean　simmer）　the　thought　of　the　Smedleys　would　come　in。　　The　warm　red　curtains　would　keep　the　storm　out；　but　they　couldn't　keep　the　thought　of　the　children；　and　the　feeble　old　grandmother　out　of　the　room。　　They　come　right　in；　through　the　curtains；　and　the　firelight；　and　everything；　and　sot　right　down　by　me　and　hanted　me。　And　what　curious　creeters　thoughts　be；　haint　they？　and　oncertain；　too。　　You　may　make　all　your　plans　to　get　away　from　'em。　　You　may　shet　up　your　doors　and　winders；　and　set　with　a　veil　on　and　an　umbrell　up　…　but　good　land！　how　easy　they　jest　ontackle　the　doors　and　windows；　with　no　sounds　of　ontacklin'　and　come　right　in　by　you。　First　you　know　there　they　be　right　by　the　side　of　you；　under　your　umbrell；　under　your　veil；　under　your　spectacles；　a　lookin'　right　down　into　your　soul；　and　a　hantin'　you。　And　then　agin；　when　you　expect　to　be　hanted　by　'em；　lay　out　to；　why；　they'll　jest　stand　off　somewhere　else；　and　don't　come　nigh　you。　　Don't　want　to。　　Oncertain　creeters；　thoughts　be；　and　curious；　curious　where　they　come　from；　and　how。　Why；　I　got　to　thinkin'　about　it　the　other　day；　and　I　got　lost；　some　like　children　settin'　on　a　log　over　a　creek　a　ridin'；　there　they　be；　and　there　the　log　is；　but　they　don't　seem　to　be　there；　they　seem　to　be　a　floatin'　down　the　water。　And　there　I　wuz；　a　settin'　in　my　rockin'　chair；　and　I　seemed　to　be　a　floatin'　down　deep　water；　very　deep。　　A　thinkin'　and　a　wonderin'。　A　thinkin'　how　all　through　the　ages　what　secrets　God　had　told　to　man　when　the　time　had　come；　and　the　reverent　soul　below　was　ready　to　hear　the　low　words　whispered　to　his　soul；　and　a　wonderin'　what　strange　revelation　God　held　now；　ready　to　reveal　when　the　soul　below　had　fitted　itself　to　hear；　and　comprehend　it。　Ah！　such　mysteries　as　He　will　reveal　to　us　if　we　will　listen。　　If　we　wait　for　God's　voice。　　If　we　did　not　heed　so　much　the　confusing　clamor　of　the　world's　voices　about　us。　　Emulation；　envy；　anger；　strife；　jealousy；　if　we　turned　our　heads　away　from　these　discords；　and　in　the　silence　which　is　God's　temple；　listened；　listened；　　who　knows　the　secrets　He　would　make　known　to　us？　Secrets　of　the　day；　secrets　of　the　night；　the　sunshine；　the　lightning；　the　storm。　　The　white　glow　of　that　wonderful　light　that　is　not　like　the　glow　of　the　sun　or　of　the　moon；　but　yet　lighteth　the　world。　　That　strange　light　that　has　a　soul　…　that　reads　our　thoughts；　translates　our　wishes；　overleaps　distance；　carrying　our　whispered　words　after　holding　our　thoughts　for　ages；　and　then　unfoldin'　'em　at　will。　　What　other　wondrous　mysteries　lie　concealed；　wrapped　around　by　that　soft　pure　flame；　mysteries　that　shall　lie　hidden　until　some　inspired　eye　shall　be　waiting；　looking　upward　at　the　moment　when　God's　hand　shall　draw　back　the　shining　veil　for　an　instant；　and　let　him　read　the　glowing　secret。　Secrets　of　language！　shall　some　simple　power；　some　symbol　be　revealed；　and　the　nations　speak　together？　Secrets　of　song！　shall　some　serene；　harmonious　soul　catch　the　note　to　celestial　melodies？　Secrets　of　sight！　shall　the　eyes　too　dim　now；　see　the　faces　of　the　silent　throngs　that　surround　them；　〃the　great　cloud　of　witnesses〃？　Secrets　of　the　green　pathways　that　lead　up　through　the　blue　silent　fields　of　space　…　shall　we　float　from　star　to　star？　Secrets　of　holiness！　shall　earthly　faces　wear　the　pure　light　of　the　immortals？　But　oh！　who　shall　be　the　happy　soul　that　shall　be　listening　when　the　time　has　fully　come　and　He　shall　reveal　His　great　secret？　　The　happy　soul　listening　so　intently　that　it　shall　catch　the　low；　clear　whisper。　Listening；　maybe；　through　the　sweet　twilight　shadows　for　the　wonderful　secret；　while　the　silver　shallop　of　the　moon　is　becalmed　over　the　high　northern　mountains；　as　if　a　fleet　of　heavenly　guests　had　floated　down　through　the　clear　ocean　waves　of　the　sky　to　listen　too　…　to　hear　the　wonderful　heavenly　secret　revealed　to　man　…　and　a　clear　star　looks　out　over　the　glowing　rose　of　the　western　heavens；　looking　down　like　God's　eye；　searching　his　soul；　searching　if　it　be　worthy　of　the　great　trust。　Maybe　it　will　be　in　the　fresh　dawning　of　the　day；　that　the　great　secret　will　grow　bright　and　clear　and　luminous；　as　the　dawning　of　the　light。　Maybe　it　will　be　in　the　midst　of　the　storm　…　a　mighty　voice　borne　along　by　the　breath　of　the　wind　and　the　thunder；　clamoring　and　demanding　the　hearer　to　listen。　Oh！　if　we　were　only　good　enough；　only　pure　enough；　what　might　not　our　rapt　vision　discern？　But　we　know　not　where　or　when　the　time　shall　be　fully　come；　but　who；　who；　shall　be　the　happy　soul　that　shall；　at　the　time；　be　listening？　Oh！　how　deep；　how　strange　the　waters　wuz；　and　how　I　floated　away　on　'em；　and　how　I　didn't。　　For　there　I　wuz　a　settin　in　my　own　rockin'　chair　and　there　opposite　me　sot　my　own　Josiah　a　whittlin'；　for　the　〃World〃　hadn't　come；　and　he　wuz　restless　and　ill　at　ease；　and　time　hung　heavy　on　his　hands。　There　I　sot　the　same　Samantha　…　and　the　thought　of　the　Smedleys；　the　same　old　Smedleys；　was　a　hantin'　of　me；　the　same　old　hant；　and　I　says　to　my　Josiah；　says　I：　〃Josiah；　I　can't　help　thinkin'　about　the　Smedleys；〃　says　I。　　〃What　do　you　think　about　havin'　a　pound　party　for　'em；　and　will　you　take　holt；　and　do　your　part？〃　〃Good　land；　Samantha！　　Are　you　crazy？　　Crazy　as　a　loon？　　What　under　the　sun　do　you　want　to　pound　the　Smedleys　for？　　I　should　think　they　had　trouble　enough　without　poundin'　'em。　　Why；〃　says　he；　〃the　old　woman　couldn't　stand　any　poundin'　at　all；　without　killin'　her　right　out　and　out；　and　the　childern　haint　over　tough　any　of　'em。　　Why；　what　has　got　into　you？　　I　never　knew　you　to　propose　anything　of　that　wicked　kind　before。　　I　sha'n't　have　anything　to　do　with　it。　　If　you　want　'em　pounded　you　must　get　your　own　club　and　do　your　own　poundin'。〃　Says　I；　〃I　don't　mean　poundin'　'em　with　a　club；　but　let　folks　buy　a　pound　of　different　things　to　eat　and　drink　and　carry　it　to　'em；　and　we　can　try　and　raise　a　little　money　to　get　a　warmer　horse　for　'em　to　stay　in　the　coldest　of　the　weather。〃　〃Oh！〃　says　he；　with　a　relieved　look。　　〃That's　a　different　thing。　I　am　willin'　to　do　that。　　I　don't　know　about　givin'　'em　any　money　towards　gettin'　'em　a　home；　but　I'll　carry　'em　a　pound　of　crackers　or　a　pound　of　flour；　and　help　it　along　all　I　can。〃　Josiah　is　a　clever　creeter　（though　close）；　and　he　never　made　no　more　objections　towards　havin'　it。　Wall；　the　next　day　I　put　on　my　shawl　and　hood　（a　new　brown　hood　knit　out　of　zephyr　worsted；　very　nice；　a　present　from　our　daughter　Maggie；　our　son　Thomas　Jefferson's　wife）；　and　sallied　out　to　see　what　the　neighbor's　thought　about　it。　The　first　woman　I　called　on　wuz　Miss　Beazley；　a　new　neighbor　who　had　just　moved　into　the　neighborhood。　　They　are　rich　as　they　can　be；　and　I　expected　at　least　to　get　a　pound　of　tea　out　of　her。　She　said　it　wuz　a　worthy　object；　and　she　w