eben holden-第14节

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I　thought　I　couldn't　keep　my　feet　any　longer；　for　an　irresistible　drowsiness　had　come　over　me。　The　voice　of　Uncle　Eb　seemed　far　away；　and　when　I　sank　in　the　snow　and　shut　my　eyes　to　sleep　he　shook　me　as　a　terrier　shakes　a　rat。

'Wake　up；　my　boy；'　said　he；　'ye　musn't　sleep。'

Then　he　boxed　my　ears　until　I　cried；　and　picked　me　up　and　ran　with　me　along　the　side　of　the　wall。　I　was　but　dimly　conscious　when　he　dropped　me　under　a　tree　whose　bare　twigs　lashed　the　air　and　stung　my　cheeks。　I　heard　him　tearing　the　branches　savagely　and　muttering；　'Thanks　to　God；　it's　the　blue　beech。'　I　shall　never　forget　how　he　turned　and　held　to　my　hand　and　put　the　whip　on　me　as　I　lay　in　the　snow；　and　how　the　sting　of　it　started　my　blood。　Up　I　sprang　in　a　jiffy　and　howled　and　danced。　The　stout　rod　bent　and　circled　on　me　like　a　hoop　of　fire。　Then　I　turned　and　tried　to　run　while　he　clung　to　my　coat　tails；　and　every　step　I　felt　the　stinging　grab　of　the　beech。　There　is　a　little　seam　across　my　cheek　today　that　marks　a　footfall　of　one　of　those　whips。　In　a　moment　I　was　as　wide　awake　as　Uncle　Eb　and　needed　no　more　stimulation。

The　wall　led　us　to　the　pasture　lane；　and　there　it　was　easy　enough　to　make　our　way　to　the　barnyard　and　up　to　the　door　of　the　house；　which　had　a　candle　in　every　window；　I　remember。　David　was　up　and　dressed　to　come　after　us；　and　I　recall　how　he　took　Uncle　Eb　in　his　arms；　when　he　fell　fainting　on　the　doorstep；　and　carried　him　to　the　lounge。　I　saw　the　blood　on　my　face　as　I　passed　the　mirror；　and　Elizabeth　Brower　came　running　and　gave　me　one　glance　and　rushed　out　of　doors　with　the　dipper。　It　was　full　of　snow　when　she　ran　in　and　tore　the　wrappings　off　my　neck　and　began　to　rub　my　ears　and　cheeks　with　the　cold　snow；　calling　loudly　for　Grandma　Bisnette。　She　came　in　a　moment　and　helped　at　the　stripping　of　our　feet　and　legs。　I　remember　that　she　slit　my　trousers　with　the　shears　as　I　lay　on　the　floor；　while　the　others　rubbed　my　feet　with　the　snow。　Our　hands　and　ears　were　badly　frosted；　but　in　an　hour　the　whiteness　had　gone　out　of　them　and　the　returning　blood　burnt　like　a　fire。

'How　queer　he　stares！'　I　heard　them　say　when　Uncle　Eb　first　came　to；　and　in　a　moment　a　roar　of　laughter　broke　from　him。

'I'll　never　fergit；'　said　he　presently；　'if　I　live　a　thousan'　years；　the　lickin'　I　gin　thet　boy；　but　it　hurt　me　worse'n　it　hurt　him。'

Then　he　told　the　story　of　the　blue　beech。

The　next　day　was　that　'cold　Friday'　long　remembered　by　those　who　felt　its　deadly　chill　…　a　day　when　water　thrown　in　the　magic　air　came　down　in　clinking　crystals；　and　sheaths　of　frost　lay　thick　upon　the　windows。　But　that　and　the　one　before　it　were　among　the　few　days　in　that　early　period　that　lie；　like　a　rock；　under　my　character。

Chapter　9

Grandma　Bisnette　came　from　Canada　to　work　for　the　Browers。　She　was　a　big；　cheerful　woman；　with　a　dialect；　an　amiable　disposition　and　a　swarthy；　wrinkled　face。　She　had　a　loose　front　tooth　that　occupied　all　the　leisure　of　her　tongue。　When　she　sat　at　her　knitting　this　big　tooth　clicked　incessantly。　On　every　stitch　her　tongue　went　in　and　out　across　it'　and　I；　standing　often　by　her　knees；　regarded　the　process　with　great　curiosity。

The　reader　may　gather　much　from　these　frank　and　informing　words　of　Grandma　Bisnette。　'When　I　los'　my　man；　Mon　Dieu！　I　have　two　son。　An'　when　I　come　across　I　bring　him　with　me。　Abe　he　rough；　but　den　he　no　bad　man。'

Abe　was　the　butcher　of　the　neighbourhood　…　that　red…handed；　stony…hearted；　necessary　man　whom　the　Yankee　farmer　in　that　north　country　hires　to　do　the　cruel　things　that　have　to　be　done。　He　wore　ragged；　dirty　clothes　and　had　a　voice　like　a　steam　whistle。　His　rough；　black　hair　fell　low　and　mingled　with　his　scanty　beard。　His　hands　were　stained　too　often　with　the　blood　of　some　creature　we　loved。　I　always　crept　under　the　bed　in　Mrs　Brower's　room　when　Abe　came　…　he　was　such　a　terror　to　me　with　his　bloody　work　and　noisy　oaths。　Such　men　were　the　curse　of　the　cleanly　homes　in　that　country。　There　was　much　to　shock　the　ears　and　eyes　of　children　in　the　life　of　the　farm。　It　was　a　fashion　among　the　help　to　decorate　their　speech　with　profanity　for　the　mere　sound　of　it'　and　the　foul　mouthings　of　low…minded　men　spread　like　a　pestilence　in　the　fields。

Abe　came　always　with　an　old　bay　horse　and　a　rickety　buckboard。　His　one　foot　on　the　dash；　as　he　rode；　gave　the　picture　a　dare…devil　finish。　The　lash　of　his　bull…whip　sang　around　him；　and　his　great　voice　sent　its　blasts　of　noise　ahead。　When　we　heard　a　fearful　yell　and　rumble　in　the　distance；　we　knew　Abe　was　coming。

'Abe　he　come；'　said　Grandma　Bisnette。　'Mon　Dieu！　he　make　de　leetle　rock　fly。'

It　was　like　the　coming　of　a　locomotive　with　roar　of　wheel　and　whistle。　In　my　childhood；　as　soon　as　I　saw　the　cloud　of　dust；　I　put　for　the　bed　and　from　its　friendly　cover　would　peek　out'　often；　but　never　venture　far　until　the　man　of　blood　had　gone。

To　us　children　he　was　a　marvel　of　wickedness。　There　were　those　who　told　how　he　had　stood　in　the　storm　one　night　and　dared　the　Almighty　to　send　the　lightning　upon　him。

The　dog　Fred　had　grown　so　old　and　infirm　that　one　day　they　sent　for　Abe　to　come　and　put　an　end　to　his　misery。　Every　man　on　the　farm　loved　the　old　dog　and　not　one　of　them　would　raise　a　hand　to　kill　him。　Hope　and　I　heard　what　Abe　was　coming　to　do；　and　when　the　men　had　gone　to　the　fields；　that　summer　morning；　we　lifted　Fred　into　the　little　wagon　m　which　he　had　once　drawn　me　and　starting　back　of　the　barn　stole　away　with　him　through　the　deep　grass　of　the　meadow　until　we　came　out　upon　the　highroad　far　below。　We　had　planned　to　take　him　to　school　and　make　him　a　nest　in　the　woodshed　where　he　could　share　our　luncheon　and　be　out　of　the　way　of　peril。　After　a　good　deal　of　difficulty　and　heavy　pulling　we　got　to　the　road　at　last。　The　old　dog；　now　blind　and　helpless；　sat　contentedly　in　the　wagon　while　its　wheels　creaked　and　groaned　beneath　him。　We　had　gone　but　a　short　way　in　the　road　when　we　heard　the　red　bridge　roar　under　rushing　wheels　and　the　familiar　yell　of　Abe。

'We'd　better　run；'　said　Hope；　'　'er　we'll　git　swore　at。'

I　looked　about　me　in　a　panic　for　some　place　to　hide　the　party；　but　Abe　was　coming　fast　and　there　was　only　time　to　pick　up　clubs　and　stand　our　ground。

'Here！'　the　man　shouted　as　he　pulled　up　along　side　of　us；　'where　ye　goin'　with　that　dog？'

'Go　'way；'　I　answered；　between　anger　and　tears；　lifting　my　club　in　a　threatening　manner。

He　laughed　then　…　a　loud　guffaw　that　rang　in　the　near　woods。

'What'll　ye　give　me；'　he　asked　leaning　forward；　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　'What'll　ye　give　me　if　I　don't　kill　him？'

I　thought　a　moment。　Then　I　put　my　hand　in　my　pocket　and　presently　took　out　my　jack…knife　…　that　treasure　Uncle　Eb　had　bought　for　me　…　and　looked　at　it　fondly。

Then　I　offered　it　to　him。

Again　he　laughed　loudly。

'Anything　else？'　he　demanded　while　Hope　sat　hugging　the　old　dog　that　was　licking　her　hands。

'Got　forty　cents　that　I　saved　for　the　fair；'　said　I　promptly。

Abe　backed　his　horse　and　turned　in　the　road。

'Wall　boy；'　he　said；　'Tell　'em　I've　gone　home。'

Then　his　great　voice　shouted；　'g'lang'　the　lash　of　his　whip　sang　in　the　air　and　off　he　went。

We　were　first　to　arrive　at　the　schoolhouse；　that　morning；　and　when　the　other　children　came　we　had　Fred　on　a　comfortable　bed　of　grass　in　a　corner　of　the　woodshed。　What　with　all　the　worry　of　that　day　I　said　my　lessons　poorly　and　went　home　with　a　load　on　my　heart。　Tomorrow　would　be　Saturday；　how　were　we　to　get　food　and　water　to　the　dog？　They　asked　at　home　if　we　had　seen　old　Fred　and　we　both　declared　we　had　not　…　the　first　lie　that　ever　laid　its　burden　on　my　conscience。　We　both　saved　all　our　bread　and　butter　and　doughnuts　next　day；　but　we　had　so　many　chores　to　do　it　was　impossible　to　go　to　the　schoolhouse　with　them。　So　we　agreed　to　steal　away　that　night　when　all　were　asleep　and　take　the　food　from　its　hiding　place。

In　the　excitement　of　the　day　neither　of　us　had　eaten　much。　They　thought　we　were　ill　and　sent　us　to　bed　early。　When　Hope　came　into　my　room　above　stairs　late　in　the　evening　we　were　both　desperately　hungry。　We　looked　at　our　store　of　doughnuts　and　bread　and　butter　under　my　bed。　We　counted　it　over。

'Won't　you　try　one　o'　the　doughnuts；'　I　whispered　hoping　that　she　would　say　yes　so　that　I　could　try　one　also；　for　they　did　smell　mighty　good。

''Twouldn't　be　right〃　said　she　regretfully。　'There　ain't　any　more　'n　he'll　want　now。

''Twouldn't　be　right〃　I　repeated　with　a　sigh　as　I　looked　longingly　at　one　of　the　big　doughnuts。　'Couldn't　bear　t'　do　it　…　could　you？'

'Don't　seem　as　if　I　could；'　she　whispered；　thoughtfully；　her　chin　upon　her　hand。

Then　she　rose　and　went　to　the　window。

'O　my！　how　dark　it　is！'　she　whispered；　looking　out　into　the　night。

'Purty　dark！'　I　said；　'but　you　needn't　be　'fraid。　I'll　take　care　o'　you。　If　we　should　meet　a　bear　I'll　growl　right　back　at　him　…　that's　what　Uncle　Eb　tol'　me　t'　do。　I'm　awful　stout　…　most　a　man　now！　Can't　nuthin'　scare　me。'

We　could　hear　them　talking　below　stairs　and　we　went　back　to　bed；　intending　to　go　forth　later　when　the　house　was　still。　But'　unfortunately　for　our　adventure　I　fell　asleep。

It　was　morning　when　I　opened　my　eyes　again。　We　children　looked　accusingly　at　each　other　while　eating　breakfast。　Then　we　had　to　be　washed