And who could wonder?
Even a larger town than Hardhack would have experienced unusual agitation1 at seeing one of its own boys, who had a few years before gone away poor, slender and twenty, come back with broad shoulders, a full beard, and a pocketful of money, dug out of the ugly hills of Nevada.
But even the return of Nathan Brown, in so unusual a condition for a Hardhackian to be found in, was not the fullness of Hardhack's excitement, for Nathan had brought with him Tom Crewne and Harry2 Faxton, two friends he had made during his absence, and both of them broad-shouldered, full-bearded, and auriferous as Nathan himself.
No wonder the store at Hardhack was all the while crowded with those who knew all about Nathan, or wanted to—no wonder that "Seen 'm?" was the passing form of salutation for days.
The news spread like wildfire, and industrious3 farmers deliberately4 took a day, drove to town, and stood patiently on the door-steps of the store until they had seen one or more of the wonderful men.
The good Deacon Twinkham himself, who had, at a late prayer-meeting, stated that "his feet already felt the splashin' of Jordan's waves," temporarily withdrew his aged5 limbs from the rugged6 banks famed in song, and caused them to bear him industriously7 up and down the Ridge8 Road, past Nathan's mother's house, until he saw all three of the bearded Croesuses seat themselves on the piazza9 to smoke. Then he departed, his good face affording an excellent study for a "Simeon in the Temple."
Even the peaceful influences of the Sabbath were unable to restore tranquillity10 to Hardhack.
On Sunday morning the meeting-house was fuller than it had been since the funeral services of the last pastor11. At each squeak12 of the door, every head was quickly turned; and when, in the middle of the first hymn13, the three ex-miners filed decorously in, the staring organist held one chord of "Windham" so long that the breath of the congregation was entirely14 exhausted15.
The very pulpit itself succombed to the popular excitement; and the Reverend Abednego Choker, after reading of the treasures of Solomon's Temple, and of the glories of the New Testament16, for the first and second lessons, preached from Isaiah xlvi. 6: "They lavish17 gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the balance."
But all this excitement was as nothing compared with the tumult18 which agitated19 the tender hearts of the maidens20 at Hardhack.
Young, old, handsome, plain, smart and stupid, until now few of them had dared to hope for a change of name; for, while they possessed22 as many mental and personal charms as girls in general, all the enterprising boys of Hardhack had departed from their birthplace in search of the lucre23 which Hardback's barren hills and lean meadows failed to supply, and the cause of their going was equally a preventive of the coming of others to fill their places.
But now—oh, hope!—here were three young men, good-looking, rich, and—if the other two were fit companions for the well-born and bred Nathan—all safe custodians24 for tender hearts.
Few girls were there in Hardhack who did not determine, in their innermost hearts, to strive as hard as Yankee wit and maiden21 modesty25 would allow for one of those tempting26 prizes.
Nor were they unaided. Rich and respectable sons-in-law are scarce enough the world over, so it was no wonder that all the parents of marriageable daughters strove to make Hardhack pleasant for the young men.
Fathers read up on Nevada, and cultivated the three ex-miners; mothers ransacked27 cook-books and old trunks; Ladies' Companions were industriously searched for pleasing patterns; crimping-irons and curling-tongs were extemporized28, and the demand for ribbons and trimmings became so great that the storekeeper hurried to the city for a fresh supply.
Then began that season of mad hilarity29 and reckless dissipation, which seemed almost a dream to the actors themselves, and to which patriotic30 Hardhackians have since referred to with feelings like those of the devout31 Jew as he recalls the glorious deeds of his forefathers32, or of the modern Roman as, from the crumbling33 arches of the Coliseum, he conjures34 up the mighty35 shade of the C?sarian period.
The fragrant36 bohea flowed as freely as champagne37 would have done in a less pious38 locality; ethereal sponge-cakes and transparent39 currant-jellies became too common to excite comment; the surrounding country was heavily drawn40 upon for fatted calves41, chickens and turkeys, and mince-pies were so plenty, that observing children wondered if the Governor had not decreed a whole year of special Thanksgiving.
Bravely the three great catches accepted every invitation, and, though it was a very unusual addition to his regular duties, the Reverend Abednego Choker faithfully attended all the evening festivities, to the end that they might be decorously closed with prayer, as had from time immemorial been the custom of Hardhack.
And the causes of all these efforts on the part of Hardhack society enjoyed themselves intensely. Young men of respectable inclinations42, who have lived for several years in a society composed principally of scoundrels, and modified only by the occasional presence of an honest miner or a respectable mule-driver, would have considered as Elysium a place far less proper and agreeable than Hardhack. In fact, the trio was so delighted, that its eligibility43 soon became diminished in quantity.
Faxton, at one of the first parties, made an unconditional44 surrender to a queenly damsel, while Nathan, having found his old schoolday sweetheart still unmarried, whispered something in her ear (probably the secret of some rare cosmetic), which filled her cheeks with roses from that time forth45.
But Crewne, the handsomest and most brilliant of the three, still remained, and over him the fight was far more intense than in the opening of the campaign, when weapons were either rusty46 or untried, and the chances of success were seemingly more numerous.
But to designate any particular lady as surest of success seemed impossible. Even Nathan and Faxton, when besought47 for an opinion by the two ladies who now claimed their innermost thoughts, could only say that no one but Crewne knew, and perhaps even he didn't.
Crewne was a very odd boy, they said—excellent company, the best of good fellows, the staunchest of friends, and the very soul of honor; but there were some things about him they never could understand. In fact, he was something like that sum of all impossibilities, a schoolgirl's hero.
"But, Harry," said the prospective48 Mrs. Faxton, with rather an angry pout49 for a Church-member in full communion, "just see what splendid girls are dying for him! I'm sure there are no nicer girls anywhere than in Hardhack, and he needn't be so stuck up—"
"My dear," interrupted Faxton, "I say it with fear and trembling, but perhaps Crewne don't want to be in love at all."
An indignant flash of doubt went over the lady's face.
"Just notice him at a party," continued Faxton. "He seems to distribute his attentions with exact equality among all the ladies present, as if he were trying to discourage the idea that he was a marrying man."
"Well," said the lady, still indignant, "I think you might ask him and settle the matter."
"Excuse me, my dear," replied Faxton. "I have seen others manifest an interest in Crewne's affairs, and the result was discouraging. I'd rather not try the experiment."
A few mornings later Mrs. Leekins, who took the place of a newspaper at Hardhack, was seen hurrying from house to house on her own street, and such housekeepers50 as saw her instantly discovered that errands must be made to houses directly in Mrs. Leekins's route.
Mrs. Leekins's story was soon told. Crewne had suddenly gone to the city, first purchasing the cottage which Deacon Twinkham had built several years before for a son who had never come back from sea.
Crewne had hired old Mrs. Bruff to put the cottage to rights, and to arrange the carpets and furniture, which he was to forward immediately. But who was to be mistress of the cottage Mrs. Leekins was unable to tell, or even to guess.
The clerks at the store had been thoroughly51 pumped; but while they admitted that one young lady had purchased an unusual quantity of inserting, another had ordered a dress pattern of gray empress cloth, which was that year the fashionable material and color for traveling dresses.
Old Mrs. Bruff had received unusual consideration and unlimited52 tea, but even the most systematic53 question failed to elicit54 from her anything satisfactory.
At any rate, it was certain that Crewne was absent from Hardhack, and it was evident that he had decided55 who was to be the lady of the cottage, so the season of festivity was brought to an abrupt56 close, and the digestions57 of Hardhack were snatched from ruin.
From kitchen-windows were now wafted58 odors of boiled corned beef and stewed59 apples, instead of the fragrance60 of delicate preserves and delicious turkey.
Young ladies, when they met in the street, greeted each, other with a shade less of cordiality than usual, and fathers and mothers in Israel cast into each other's eyes searching and suspicious glances.
One afternoon, when the pious matrons of Hardhack were gathering61 at the pastor's residence to take part in the regular weekly mothers' prayer-meeting, the mail-coach rolled into town, and Mrs. Leekins, who was sitting by the window, as she always did, exclaimed:
"He's come back—there he is—on the seat with the driver!"
Every one hurried to the window, and saw that Mrs. Leekins had spoken truly, for there sat Crewne with a pleasant smile on his face, while on top of the stage were several large trunks marked C.
The sisters hastened to the window.
The sisters hastened to the window.
"Must have got a handsome fit-out," suggested Mrs. Leekins.
The stage stopped at the door of Crewne's new cottage, and Crewne got out. The pastor entered the parlor62 to open the meeting, and was selecting a hymn, when Mrs. Leekins startled the meeting by ejaculating:
"Lands alive!"
The meeting was demoralized; the sisters hastened to the window, and the good pastor, laying down his hymn-book, followed in time to see Crewne helping63 out a well-dressed and apparently64 young and handsome lady.
"Hardhack girls not good 'nough for him, it seems!" sneered65 Mrs. Leekins.
A resigned and sympathetic sigh broke from the motherly lips present, then Mrs. Leekins cried:
"Gracious sakes! married a widder with children!"
It certainly seemed that she told the truth, for Crewne lifted out two children, the youngest of whom seemed not more than three years old.
The gazers abruptly66 left the window, and the general tone of the meeting was that of melancholy67 resignation.
"Why didn't he ever say he was a married man?" asked the prospective Mrs. Faxton, of her lover, that evening.
"Partly because he is too much of a gentleman to talk of his own affairs," replied Faxton; "but principally because there had been, as he told me this afternoon, an unfortunate quarrel between them, which drove him to the mines. A few days ago he heard from her, for the first time in three years, and they've patched up matters, and are very happy."
"Well," said the lady, with considerable decision, "Hardhack will never forgive him."
Hardhack did, however, for Crewne and his two friends drew about them a few of their old comrades, who took unto themselves wives from the people about them, and made of Hardhack one of the pleasantest villages in the State.
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1
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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industriously
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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lucre
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| n.金钱，财富 | |
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custodians
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| n.看守人，保管人( custodian的名词复数 ) | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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extemporized
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| v.即兴创作，即席演奏( extemporize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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conjures
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的第三人称单数 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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42
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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43
eligibility
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| n.合格，资格 | |
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unconditional
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| adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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49
pout
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| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
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housekeepers
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| n.（女）管家( housekeeper的名词复数 ) | |
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51
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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52
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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53
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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54
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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57
digestions
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| n.消化能力( digestion的名词复数 )；消化，领悟 | |
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58
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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