a mountain woman(山妇)-第12节
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meant。 〃What was she doing？〃
〃Killin' snakes； b'gosh！ She says th' baby's crazy fur um； an' so she
takes aroun' a hoe on her shoulder wherever she goes； an' when she sees a
snake； she has it out with 'im then an' there。 I says to 'er； 'Yer don't expec' t'
git all th' snakes outen this here country； d' yeh？' 'Well；' she says； 'I'm as
good a man as St。 Patrick any day。' She is a jolly one； Henderson。 She tuk
me in an' showed me th' kids； and give me a loaf of gingerbread to bring
home。 Here it is； see？〃
〃Hu！〃 said Gillispie。 〃I'm not in it。〃 But for all of his scorn he was not
above eating the gingerbread。
It was gardening time； and the three Johns were putting in every spare
moment in the little paling made of willow twigs behind the house。 It
was little enough time they had； though； for the cattle were new to each
other and to the country； and they were hard to manage。 It was generally
conceded that Waite had a genius for herd… ing； and he could take the
〃mad〃 out of a fractious animal in a way that the others looked on as little
less than superhuman。 Thus it was that one day； when the clay had been
well turned； and the seeds arranged on the kitchen table； and all things
prepared for an afternoon of busy planting； that Waite and Henderson； who
were needed out with the cattle； felt no little irritation at the inex… plicable
absence of Gillispie； who was to look after the garden。 It was quite night…
fall when he at last returned。 Supper was ready； although it had been
Gillispie's turn to prepare it。
Henderson was sore from his saddle； and cross at having to do more
than his share of the work。 〃Damn yeh！〃 he cried； as Gillispie appeared。
〃Where yeh been？〃
〃Making garden；〃 responded Gillispie； slowly。
〃Making garden！〃 Henderson indulged in some more harmless oaths。
Just then Gillispie drew from under his coat a large and friendly
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looking apple…pie。 〃Yes；〃 he said； with emphasis； 〃I've bin a…makin' garden
fur Mis' Ford。〃
And so it came about that the three Johns knew her and served her； and
that she never had a need that they were not ready to supply if they could。
Not one of them would have thought of going to town with… out stopping
to inquire what was needed at the village。 As for Catherine Ford； she was
fighting her way with native pluck and maternal unselfishness。 If she had
feared solitude she did not suffer from it。 The activity of her life stifled her
fresh sorrow。 She was pleasantly excited by the rumors that a railroad was
soon to be built near the place； which would raise the value of the claim
she was 〃holding down〃 many thou… sand dollars。
It is marvellous how sorrow shrinks when one is very healthy and very
much occupied。 Although poverty was her close companion； Catherine
had no thought of it in this prim… itive manner of living。 She had come out
there； with the independence and determi… nation of a Western woman； for
the purpose of living at the least possible expense； and making the most
she could while the baby was 〃getting out of her arms。〃 That process has
its pleasures； which every mother feels in spite of burdens； and the mind is
happily dulled by nature's merciful provision。 With a little child tugging at
the breast； care and fret vanish； not because of the happiness so much as
because of a certain mammal complacency； which is not at all intellectual；
but serves its purpose better than the pro… foundest method of reasoning。
So without any very unbearable misery at her recent widowhood； this
healthy young woman worked in field and house； cared for her little ones；
milked the two cows out in the corral； sewed； sang； rode； baked； and was
happy for very wholesomeness。 Some… times she reproached herself that
she was not more miserable； remembering that long grave back in the
unkempt little prairie cemetery； and she sat down to coax her sorrow into
proper prominence。 But the baby cooing at her from its bunk； the low of
the cattle from the corral begging her to relieve their heavy bags； the
familiar call of one of her neighbors from without； even the burning sky of
the summer dawns； broke the spell of this conjured sorrow； and in spite of
herself she was again a very hearty and happy young woman。 Besides； if
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A Mountain Woman
one has a liking for comedy； it is impossible to be dull on a Nebraska
prairie。 The people are a merrier divertissement than the theatre with its
hackneyed stories。 Catherine Ford laughed a good deal； and she took the
three Johns into her confidence； and they laughed with her。 There was
Minerva Fitch； who insisted on coming over to tell Catherine how to raise
her children； and who was almost offended that the children wouldn't die
of sunstroke when she predicted。 And there was Bob Ackerman； who had
inflam… matory rheumatism and a Past； and who confided the latter to Mrs。
Ford while she doctored the former with homoeopathic medicines。 And
there were all the strange visionaries who came out prospecting； and quite
naturally drifted to Mrs。 Ford's cabin for a meal； and paid her in
compliments of a peculiarly Western type。 And there were the three Johns
themselves。 Catherine con… sidered it no treason to laugh at them a little。
Yet at Waite she did not laugh much。 There had come to be something
pathetic in the constant service he rendered her。 The beginning of his more
particular devotion had started in a particular way。 Malaria was very bad
in the country。 It had carried off some of the most vigorous on the prairie；
and twice that summer Catherine herself had laid out the cold forms of her
neighbors on ironing…boards； and； with the assistance of Bill Deems of
Missourah； had read the burial service over them。 She had averted several
other fatal runs of fever by the con… tents of her little medicine…case。
These remedies she dealt out with an intelligence that astonished her
patients； until it was learned that she was studying medicine at the time
that she met her late husband； and was persuaded to assume the
responsibilities of matrimony instead of those of the medi… cal profession。
One day in midsummer； when the sun was focussing itself on the raw
pine boards of her shanty； and Catherine had the shades drawn for
coolness and the water…pitcher swathed in wet rags； East Indian fashion；
she heard the familiar halloo of Waite down the road。 This greeting； which
was usually sent to her from the point where the dip… ping road lifted itself
into the first view of the house； did not contain its usual note of
cheerfulness。 Catherine； wiping her hands on her checked apron； ran out to
wave a welcome； and Waite； his squat body looking more distorted than
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ever； his huge shoulders lurching as he walked； came fairly plung… ing
down the hill。
〃It's all up with Henderson！〃 he cried； as Catherine approached。 〃He's
got the malery； an' he says he's dyin'。〃
〃That's no sign he's dying； because he says so；〃 retorted Catherine。
〃He wants to see yeh；〃 panted Waite； mopping his big ugly head。 〃I
think he's got somethin' particular to say。〃
〃How long has he been down？〃
〃Three days； an' yeh wouldn't know 'im。〃
The children were playing on the floor at that side of the house where
it was least hot。 Catherine poured out three bowls of milk； and cut some
bread； meanwhile telling Kitty how to feed the baby。
〃She's a sensible thing； is the little daughter；〃 said Catherine； as she
tied on her sunbonnet and packed a little basket with things from the
cupboard。 She kissed the babies tenderly； flung her hoe her only weapon
of defence over her shoulder； and the two started off。
They did not speak； for their throats were soon too parched。 The
prairie was burned brown with the sun； the grasses curled as if they had
been on a gridiron。 A strong wind was blowing； but it brought no com… fort；
for it was heavy with a scorching heat。
