I have never forgotten the ecstasy11 of one of these early February mornings. Mittened12 and hooded13 I ran down the garden walk from which the snow had been swept and piled high on either side. Delicious little rivers were running down and I launched a mighty14 fleet of leaves and sticks. Suddenly I beheld15 a miracle. The snow was lying thickly all around, but the sun had melted it from a south bank, and white violets—hundreds of them—had popped out. I spread my apron16 on the clean snow and filled it with the cool, crisp blossoms. Running in exultant17 I poured my treasure into my dear aunt's lap as she sat on a low chair which brought my head just on a level with her bosom18. Ah! Like St. Gaudens, I remember the gingerbread and apples!—but I remember the violets also!
I can see myself in the early hot summer, sent forth19 to breathe the cool air of the morning. What a paradise of sweets met my senses! The squares, crescents, and circles edged with box, over which an enchanted20 glistening21 veil had been thrown during the night; the tall lilacs, snowballs, myrtles, and syringas, guarding like sentinels the entrance to every avenue; the glowing beds of tulips, pinks, purple iris22, "bleeding hearts," flowering almond with rosy23 spikes24, lily-of-the-valley! I scanned them all with curious eyes. Did I not know that the fairies, riding on butterflies, had visited each one and painted it during the night? Did I not know that these 12same fairies had hung their cups on the grass, and danced so long that the cups grew fast to the blades of grass and became lilies-of-the-valley? I knew all this—although my dear aunt never approved of fairy tales and gave me no fairy-tale books. Cousin Charles believed them; moreover, I had a charming picture of a fairy, riding on a butterfly. Of course they were true.
But I always hurried along, with small delay, among the flower beds. I knew where the passion-vine had dropped golden globes of fruit during the night—and I knew well where the cool figs26, rimy with the early dew, were bursting with scarlet27 sweetness. Tell me not of your acrid28 grape-fruit, or far-fetched orange, wherewithal to break the morning fast! I know of something better. Alas29! neither you nor I can ever again—except in fancy—cool our lips with the dew-washed fruits of an "old Virginia" garden.
It seems to me that the life we led at Cedar30 Grove31 and Shrubbery Hill was busy beyond all parallel. Everything the family and the plantation32 needed was manufactured at home, except the fine fabrics34, the perfumes, wines, etc., which were brought from Richmond, Baltimore, or Philadelphia. Everything, from the goose-quill pen to carpets, bedspreads, coarse cotton cloth, and linsey-woolsey for servants' clothing, was made at home. Even corset-laces were braided of cotton threads, the corset itself of home manufacture.
Miss Betsey, the housekeeper35, was the busiest of women. Besides her everlasting36 pickling, preserving, 13and cake-baking, she was engaged, with my aunt, in mysterious incantations over cordials, tonics37, camomile, wild cherry, bitter bark, and "vinegar of the four thieves," to be used in sickness.
The recipe for the latter—well known in Virginia households a century ago—was probably brought by Thomas Jefferson from France in 1794. He was a painstaking38 collector of everything of practical value. To this day there exists in the French druggists' code a recipe known as the "Vinaigre des Quatre Voleurs"; and it is that given by condemned39 malefactors who, according to official records still existing in France, entered deserted40 houses in the city of Marseilles during a yellow fever epidemic41 in the seventeenth century and carried off immense quantities of plunder42. They seemed to possess some method of preserving themselves from the scourge43. Being finally arrested and condemned to be burned to death, an offer was made to change the method of inflicting44 their punishment if they would reveal their secret. The condemned men then confessed that they always wore over their faces handkerchiefs that had been saturated45 in strong vinegar and impregnated with certain ingredients, the principal one being bruised46 garlic.
The recipe, still preserved in the Randolph family of Virginia, is an odd one—with a homely47 flavor—hardly to be expected of a French formula. It requires simply "lavender, rosemary, sage48, wormwood, rue25 and mint, of each a large handful; put them in a pot of earthenware49, cover the pot closely, and put a board on the top; keep it in the hottest sun two 14weeks, then strain and bottle it, putting in each a clove50 of garlic. When it has settled in the bottle and becomes clear, pour it off gently; do this until you get it all free from sediment51. The proper time to make it is when herbs are in full vigor52, in June."
Only a housewife, who lived in an age of abundant leisure, could afford to interest herself for two weeks in the preparation of a bottle of the "Vinegar of the Four Thieves." The housekeeper of to-day can steep her herbs, then strain them through one of the fine sieves53 in her pantry, the whole operation costing little labor54 and time, with perhaps as good results. If she is inclined to make the experiment, she will achieve a decoction which has the merit at least of romance, the secret of its combination having been purchased by sparing the lives of four distinguished55 Frenchmen, with the present practical value of providing a refreshing56 prophylactic57 for the sick room,—provided the lavender, rosemary, sage, wormwood, rue, and mint completely stifle58 the clove of garlic!
Pepper and spices were pounded in marble mortars59. Sugar was purchased in the bulk—in large cones60 wrapped in thick blue paper. This was broken into great slices, and then subdivided61 into cubes by means of a knife and hammer.
Sometimes a late winter storm would overtake the new-born lambs, and they would be found forsaken62 by the flock. The little shivering creatures would be brought to a shelter, and fed with warm milk from the long bottles, in which even now 15we get Farina Cologne. Soft linen63 was wrapped around the slender neck, and my dear aunt fed the nurslings with her own white hands. How the lambkins could wag their tiny tails! and how they grew and prospered64!
All the fine muslins of the family, my aunt's great collars, and the ruffles65 worn by my uncle, my Cousin Charles, and myself, were carefully laundered66 under my aunt's supervision67. Dipped in pearly starch68, they were "clapped dry" in our own hands, ironed with small irons, and beautifully crimped on a board with a penknife. Fine linen was a kind of hall-mark by which a gentleman was "known in the gates when he" sat "among the elders of the land."
I was intensely interested in all this busy life—and always eager to be a part of it.
There was nothing I had not attempted before I rounded my first decade,—churning, printing the butter with wooden moulds, or shaping it into a bristling69 pineapple; spinning on tiptoe at the great wheel—we had no flax-wheels—and even once scrambling70 up to the high seat of the weaver71 and sending the shuttle into hopeless tangles72. "Ladies don't nuvver do dem things" sternly rebuked73 Milly. "Lemme ketch you ergin at dat business, an' 'twont be wuf while for Marse Chawles to baig for you."
The inconsistencies as to proprieties75 puzzled me then and have puzzled me ever since.
"Why mustn't I spin and churn, Milly?" I insisted. 16 "Ain't I done tole you? Ladies don't nuvver do dem things."
"Then why can I help with the laces and muslins?"
"Cause—ladies does do dem things."
And so I became an expert blanchisseuse de fin33, as it was the one household industry allowed my caste.
There was no railroad to bring us luxuries from the nearest town—Richmond—twenty-five miles distant, and we depended upon the little covered cart of Aunt Mary Miller76. Aunt Mary and her husband, Uncle Jacob, were old family servants who had been given their freedom. They lived at the foot of a hill near our house, and down the path, slippery with fallen pine needles, I was often sent with Milly to summon Uncle Jacob, who was the coachman. He was very old, and gray, and always unwilling77 to "hitch78 up de new kerridge in dis bad weather." He would stand on the lawn and scan the horizon in every direction—and a dim, distant haze79 was enough to daunt80 him. Aunt Mary was allowed to collect eggs, poultry81, and peacock's feathers from the neighbors, take them down to Richmond to her waiting customers, and return with sundry82 delightful83 things,—Peter Parley's books, a wax doll, oranges and candy for me, and wonderful stories of the splendors84 she had seen. She had other stories than these. One night "a hant" had walked around her cart and "skeered" her old horse "pretty nigh outen his senses"; as to herself, "Humph, I'se used to hants." 17 "Where, Aunt Mary, tell me," I begged. With a furtive85 glance lest my elders would hear, she answered:—
"I ain't sayin' nothin'. Don't you go an' say I tole you anythin'. Jes you run down to the back of the gyardin as fur as the weepin' willer an' you'll know."
Of course I knew already what I should find beneath the willow86. I had often stood at the foot of the two long white slabs87 and read: "Sacred to the Memory of Charles Crenshaw" and "Sacred to the Memory of Susannah Crenshaw." I knew their story. This had been their home. The brother had died early, and for love of him the sister had broken her heart. My sweet great-aunt Susannah! Had she not left a lovely Chinese basket—which I was to inherit—full of curious and precious things; a carved ivory fan, necklace, pearls, and amethysts88, and a treasure of musk-scented yellow lace? Aunt Mary shook her head when I announced scornfully that I wasn't afraid of my Aunt Susannah.
"I ain't talkin'! Miss Susannah used to war blue satin high-heeled slippers89. You jes listen! Some o' dese dark nights you'll hear sump'n goin' 'click, click.'"
"I know, Aunt Mary. That's the death-head moth90. Milly says it won't hurt anybody, without you meddle91 with it."
"Humph! Milly! I seed hants befo' her mammy was bawn! I tells you it's Miss Susannah comin' on her high heels to see if you meddlin' with her things. I knowed Miss Susannah! she 18was monsous particlar. She ain't nuvver goin' to let you war her things."
I was a wretched child for a long time after this. Whenever I retired92 into the inner chambers93 of my imagination—as was my wont74 when grown-up people talked politics, or religion, or slavery—I found my pretty fairies all fled, and in their places hollow-eyed goblins and ghosts. If my gentle Aunt Susannah was permitted to come back to her home, how about all the others who had lived there? My aunt coming for her final good-night kiss would uncover a hot face, to be instantly recovered upon her departure. Par3 parenthèse, I never did wear Aunt Susannah's jewels. All disappeared mysteriously except the chain of lovely beads94. These I wore. One night I slept in them and the next morning they were gone. Whither? Ah, you must call up some one of those long-time sleepers95. According to latter-day lights, they may "come when you do call." They may know. I never did know.
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1
conservatories
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| n.（培植植物的）温室，暖房( conservatory的名词复数 ) | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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cacti
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| n.（复）仙人掌 | |
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gardenias
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| n.栀子属植物，栀子花( gardenia的名词复数 ) | |
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adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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diaphanous
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| adj.(布)精致的，半透明的 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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profanation
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| n.亵渎 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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mittened
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| v.（使）变得潮湿，变得湿润( moisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hooded
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| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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figs
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| figures 数字，图形，外形 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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tonics
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| n.滋补品( tonic的名词复数 )；主音；奎宁水；浊音 | |
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38
painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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40
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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42
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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43
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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44
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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45
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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46
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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47
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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48
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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49
earthenware
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| n.土器，陶器 | |
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50
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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51
sediment
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| n.沉淀，沉渣，沉积(物) | |
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52
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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53
sieves
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| 筛，漏勺( sieve的名词复数 ) | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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55
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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56
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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prophylactic
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| adj.预防疾病的；n.预防疾病 | |
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stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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59
mortars
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| n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵 | |
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60
cones
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| n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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61
subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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63
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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66
laundered
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| v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的过去式和过去分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入） | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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starch
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| n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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70
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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71
weaver
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| n.织布工；编织者 | |
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72
tangles
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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75
proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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76
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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78
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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80
daunt
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| vt.使胆怯，使气馁 | |
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81
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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82
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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83
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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84
splendors
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| n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫 | |
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85
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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86
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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87
slabs
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| n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片 | |
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88
amethysts
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| n.紫蓝色宝石( amethyst的名词复数 )；紫晶；紫水晶；紫色 | |
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89
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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90
moth
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| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
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91
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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92
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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93
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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94
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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95
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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