a mountain woman(山妇)-第30节
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clover will grow； and mignonette。〃
At the tea…tables that night； there was a mighty chattering。 The brisk
village made a mystery of this lady with the slow step； the foreign trick of
speech； the long black gown； and the gentle voice。 The men； concealing
their curiosity in presence of the women； gratified it secretly； by
sauntering to the tavern in the evening。 There the keeper and his wife
stood ready to convey any neighborly intelligence。
〃Elizabeth Astrado〃 was written in the register； a name conveying
little； unaccom… panied by title or by place of residence。
〃She eats alone；〃 the tavern…keeper's wife confided to their eager ears；
〃and asks for no service。 Oh； she's a curiosity！ She's got her story；
you'll see！〃
In a town where every man knew every other man； and whether or not
he paid his taxes on time； and what his standing was in church； and all the
skeletons of his home； a stranger alien to their ways disturbed their peace
of mind。
〃An upland meadow where clover and mignonette will grow；〃 she had
said； and such an one she found； and planted thick with fine white clover
and with mignonette。 Then； while the carpenters raised her cabin at the
border of the meadow； near the street； she passed among the villagers；
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mingling with them gently； winning their good…will； in spite of
themselves。
The cabin was of unbarked maple logs； with four rooms and a rustic
portico。 Then all the villagers stared in very truth。 They； living in their trim
and ugly little homes； accounted houses of logs as the misfortune of their
pioneer parents。 A shed for wood； a barn for the Jersey cow； a rustic fence；
tall； with a high swinging gate； completed the domain。 In the front room of
the cabin was a fireplace of rude brick。 In the bed… rooms； cots as bare
and hard as a nun's； and in the kitchen the domestic necessaries； that was
all。 The poorest house…holder in the town would not have confessed to
such scant furnishing。 Yet the richest man might well have hesitated
before he sent to France for hives and hives of bees； as she did； setting
them up along the southern border of her meadow。
Later there came strong boxes； marked with many marks of foreign
transportation lines； and the neighbor…gossips； seeing them； imagined
wealth of curious furniture； but the man who carted them told his wife；
who told her friend； who told her friend； that every box to the last one was
placed in the dry cemented cellar； and left there in the dark。
〃An' a mighty ridic'lous expense a cellar like that is； t' put under a
house of that char'cter；〃 said the man to his wife who repeated it to her
friend。
〃But that ain't all；〃 the carpenter's wife had said when she heard about
it all； 〃Hank says there is one little room； not fit for buttery nor yet fur
closit； with a window high up well； you ken see yourself an' a strong
door。 Jus' in passin' th' other day； when he was there； hangin' some shelves；
he tried it； an' it was locked！〃
〃Well！〃 said the women who listened。
However； they were not unfriendly； these brisk gossips。 Two of them；
plucking up tardy courage； did call one afternoon。 Their hostess was out
among her bees； crooning to them； as it seemed； while they lighted all
about her； lit on the flower in her dark hair； buzzed vivaciously about her
snow…white linen gown； lighted on her long； dark hands。 She came in
brightly when she saw her guests； and placed chairs for them； courte…
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ously； steeped them a cup of pale and fra… grant tea； and served them with
little cakes。 Though her manner was so quiet and so kind； the women were
shy before her。 She； turning to one and then the other； asked questions in
her quaint way。
〃You have children； have you not？〃
Both of them had。
〃Ah；〃 she cried； clasping those slender hands； 〃but you are very
fortunate！ Your little ones； what are their ages？〃
They told her； she listening smilingly。
〃And you nurse your little babes you nurse them at the breast？〃
The modest women blushed。 They were not used to speaking with
such freedom。 But they confessed they did； not liking arti… ficial means。
〃No；〃 said the lady； looking at them with a soft light in her eyes； 〃as
you say； there is nothing like the good mother Nature。 The little ones God
sends should lie at the breast。 'Tis not the milk alone that they imbibe； it
is the breath of life； it is the human magnetism； the power； how shall I
say？ Happy the mother who has a little babe to hold！〃
They wanted to ask a question； but they dared not wanted to ask a
hundred ques… tions。 But back of the gentleness was a hauteur； and they
were still。
〃Tell me；〃 she said； breaking her reverie； 〃of what your husbands do。
Are they carpenters？ Do they build houses for men； like the blessed Jesus？
Or are they tillers of the soil？ Do they bring fruits out of this bountiful
valley？〃
They answered； with a reservation of ap… proval。 〃The blessed Jesus！〃
It sounded like popery。
She had gone from these brief personal matters to other things。
〃How very strong you people seem；〃 she had remarked。 〃Both your
men and your women are large and strong。 You should be； being appointed
to subdue a continent。 Men think they choose their destinies； but indeed；
good neighbors； I think not so。 Men are driven by the winds of God's will。
They are as much bidden to build up this valley； this storehouse for the
nations； as coral insects are bidden to make the reefs with their own little
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bodies； dying as they build。 Is it not so？〃
〃We are the creatures of God's will； I suppose；〃 said one of her visitors；
piously。
She had given them little confidences in return。
〃I make my bread；〃 she said； with child… ish pride； 〃pray see if you do
not think it excellent！〃 And she cut a flaky loaf to dis… play its whiteness。
One guest summoned the bravado to inquire；
〃Then you are not used to doing house… work？〃
〃I？〃 she said； with a slow smile； 〃I have never got used to anything；
not even liv… ing。〃 And so she baffled them all； yet won them。
The weeks went by。 Elizabeth Astrado attended to her bees； milked her
cow； fed her fowls； baked； washed； and cleaned； like the simple women
about her； saving that as she did it a look of ineffable content lighted up
her face； and she sang for happiness。 Sometimes； amid the ballads that she
hummed； a strain slipped in of some great melody； which she； singing
unaware； as it were； corrected； shaking her finger in self… reproval； and
returning again to the ballads and the hymns。 Nor was she remiss in
neighborly offices； but if any were ailing； or had a festivity； she was at
hand to assist； condole； or congratulate； carrying always some simple gift
in her hand； appropriate to the occasion。
She had her wider charities too； for all she kept close to her home。
When； one day； a story came to her of a laborer struck down with heat in
putting in a culvert on the railroad； and gossip said he could not speak
English； she hastened to him； caught dying words from his lips； whispered
a reply； and then what seemed to be a prayer； while he held fast her hand；
and sank to coma with wistful eyes upon her face。 Moreover 'twas she
who buried him； rais… ing a cross above his grave； and she who planted
rose…bushes about the mound。
〃He spoke like an Italian；〃 said the phy… sician to her warily。
〃And so he was；〃 she had replied。
〃A fellow…countryman of yours； no doubt？〃
〃Are not all men our countrymen； my friend？〃 she said； gently。 〃What
are little lines drawn in the imagination of men； dividing territory； that
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