a mountain woman(山妇)-第21节
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eating a dish of corn…meal and milk that Ninon had just prepared； 〃and a
woman also of Christian courage。〃
〃Christian courage？〃 echoed Ninon； 〃do you think that is what you call
it？ I am not afraid； no； not I； but it is not Christian courage。 You mistake in
calling it that。〃 There were tears in her eyes。 The priest saw them。
〃God lead you at last into peaceful ways；〃 said he； softly； lifting one
hand in blessing。 〃Your vigil is ended。 Go to your home and sleep。 You
know the value of the temporal life that God has given to man。 In the
hours of the night； Ninon； think of the value of eternal life； which it is also
His to give。〃
Ninon stared at him a moment with a dawning horror in her eyes。
Then she pointed to the table。
〃Whatever you do；〃 said she； 〃don't forget the bear's grease。〃 And she
went out laughing。 The priest did not pause to recommend her soul to
further blessing。 He obeyed her directions。
March was wearing away tediously。 The river was not yet open； and
the belated boats with needed supplies were moored far down the river。
Many of the reduced settlers were dependent on the meat the Indians
brought them for sustenance。 The mud made the roads almost impassable；
for the frost lay in a solid bed six inches below the surface； and all above
that was semi… liquid muck。 Snow and rain alternated； and the frightful
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disease did not cease its ravages。
The priest got little sleep。 Now he was at the bed of a little half…breed
child； smoothing the straight black locks from the narrow brow； now at the
cot of some hulking trapper； who wept at the pain； but died finally with a
grin of bravado on his lips； now in a foul tepee； where some grave Pawnee
wrapped his mantle about him； and gazed with prophetic and unflinching
eyes into the land of the hereafter。
The little school that the priest started had been long since abandoned。
It was only the preservation of life that one thought of in these days。 And
recklessness had made the men desperate。 To the ravages of dis… ease were
added horrible murders。 Moral health is always low when physical health
is so。
Give a nation two winters of grippe； and it will have an epidemic of
suicide。 Give it starvation and small…pox； and it will have a contagion of
murders。 There are subtle laws underlying these things； laws which the
physicians think they can explain； but they are mistaken。 The reason is not
so material as it seems。
But spring was near in spite of falling snow and the dirty ice in the
river。 There was not even a flushing of the willow twigs to tell it by； nor a
clearing of the leaden sky； only the almanac。 Yet all men were looking
forward to it The trappers put in the feeble days of convalescence； making
long rafts on which to pile the skins dried over winter； a fine variety；
worth all but their weight in gold。 Money was easily got in those days； but
there are circumstances under which money is valueless。
Father de Smet thought of this the day before Easter； as he plunged
through the mud of the winding street in his bearskin gaiters。 Stout were
his legs； firm his lungs； as he turned to breathe in the west wind； clear his
sharp and humorous eyes。 He was going to the little chapel where the
mission school had previously been held。 Here was a rude pulpit； and back
of it a much…disfigured virgin； dressed in turkey… red calico。 Two cheap
candles in their tin sticks guarded this figure； and beneath； on the floor；
was spread an otter…skin of perfect beauty。 The seats were of pine； without
backs； and the wind whistled through the chinks between the logs。
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Moreover； the place was dirty。 Lenten service had been out of the question。
The living had neither time nor strength to come to worship； and the dead
were not given the honor of a burial from church in these times of terror。
The priest looked about him in dismay； the place was so utterly forsaken；
yet to let Easter go by without recognition was not to his liking。 He had
been the night before to every house in the settlement； bidding the people
to come to devotions on Sunday morning。 He knew that not one of them
would refuse his invitation。 There was no hero larger in the eyes of these
unfortunates than the simple priest who walked among them with his
unpretentious piety。 The promises were given with whispered bless… ings；
and there were voices that broke in making them； and hands that shook
with honest gratitude。 The priest； remembering these things； and all the
awful suffering of the winter； determined to make the ser… vice symbolic；
indeed； of the resurrection and the life； the annual resurrection and life
that comes each year； a palpable miracle； to teach the dullest that God
reigns。
〃How are you going to trim the altar？〃 cried a voice behind him。
He turned； startled； and in the doorway stood Mademoiselle Ninon； her
short skirt belted with a red silk scarf； the token of some trapper； her
ankles protected with fringed leggins； her head covered with a be…
ribboned hat of felt； such as the voyageurs wore。
〃Our devotions will be the only decora… tions we can hang on it。 But
gratitude is better than blossoms； and humanity more beautiful than green
wreaths；〃 said the father； gently。
It was a curious thing； and one that he had often noticed himself； he
gave this woman unworthy as she was the best of his simple thoughts。
Ninon tiptoed toward the priest with one finger coquettishly raised to
insure secrecy。
〃You will never believe it；〃 she whis… pered； 〃no one would believe it！
But the fact is； father； I have two lilies。〃
〃Lilies；〃 cried the priest； incredulously； 〃two lilies？〃
〃That's what I say； father two marvel… lously fair lilies with little
sceptres of gold in them； and leaves as white as snow。 The bulbs were
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brought me last autumn by ； that is to say； they were brought from St。
Louis。 Only now have they blossomed。 Heavens； how I have watched the
buds！ I have said to myself every morning for a fortnight： 'Will they open
in time for the good father's Easter morning service？' Then I said： 'They
will open too soon。 Buds；' I have cried to them； 'do not dare to open yet； or
you will be horribly passé；e by Easter。 Have the kindness； will you；
to save your… selves for a great event。' And they did it； yes； father； you may
not believe； but no later than this morning these sensible flowers opened
up their leaves boldly； quite conscious that they were doing the right thing；
and to…morrow； if you please； they will be here。 And they will perfume
the whole place； yes。〃
She stopped suddenly； and relaxed her vivacious expression for one of
pain。
〃You are certainly ill；〃 cried the priest。 〃Rest yourself。〃 He tried to
push her on to one of the seats； but a sort of convulsive rigidity came over
her； very alarming to look at。
〃You are worn out；〃 her companion said gravely。 〃And you are
chilled。〃
〃Yes； I'm cold；〃 confessed Ninon。 〃But I had to come to tell you about
the lilies。 But； do you see； I never could bring myself to put them in this
room as it is now。 It would be too absurd to place them among this dirt。
We must clean the place。〃
〃The place will be cleaned。 I will see to it。 But as for you； go home
and care for yourself。〃 Ninon started toward the door with an uncertain
step。 Suddenly she came back。
〃It is too funny；〃 she said； 〃 that red calico there on the Virgin。 Father；
I have some laces which were my mother's； who was a good woman； and
which have never been worn by me。 They are all I have to remember
France by and the days when I was different。 If I might be permitted 〃
she hesitated and looked timidly at the priest。
〃'She hath done what she could；'〃 mur… mured Father de Smet； softly。
〃Bring your laces； Ninon。〃 He would have added： 〃Thy sins be forgiven
thee。〃 But un… fortunately； at this moment； Pie
