Grandfather, too, had been happy, though not mirthful. He felt that this was to be set down as one of the good Thanksgivings of his life. In truth, all his former Thanksgivings had borne their part in the present one; for, his years of infancy4, and youth, and manhood with their blessings6 and their griefs, had flitted before him, while he sat silently in the great chair. Vanished scenes had been pictured in the air. The forms of departed friends had visited him. Voices, to be heard no more on earth, had sent an echo from the infinite and the eternal. These shadows, if such they were, seemed almost as real to him, as what was actually present—as the merry shouts and laughter of the children—as their figures, dancing like sunshine before his eyes.
He felt that the past was not taken from him. The happiness of former days was a possession forever. And there was something in the mingled7 [pg 134] sorrow of his lifetime, that became akin8 to happiness, after being long treasured in the depths of his heart. There it underwent a change, and grew more precious than pure gold.
And now came the children, somewhat aweary with their wild play, and sought the quiet enjoyment9 of Grandfather's talk. The good old gentleman rubbed his eyes, and smiled round upon them all. He was glad, as most aged11 people are, to find that he was yet of consequence, and could give pleasure to the world. After being so merry, all day long, did these children desire to hear his sober talk? Oh, then, old Grandfather had yet a place to fill among living men,—or at least among boys and girls!
And, truly, our yellow friend, the cat, lay upon the hearth13 rug, basking14 in the warmth of the fire, pricking15 up her ears, and turning her head from the children to Grandfather, and from Grandfather to the children, as if she felt herself very sympathetic with them all. A loud purr, like the singing of a tea-kettle, or the hum of a spinning-wheel, testified that she was as comfortable and happy as a cat could be. For Puss had feasted, and therefore, like Grandfather and the children, had kept a good Thanksgiving.
"Does Pussy want to hear me?" said Grandfather, smiling. "Well; we must please Pussy, if we can!" [pg 135]
And so he took up the history of the chair, from the epoch16 of the peace of 1748. By one of the provisions of the treaty, Louisbourg, which the New Englanders had been at so much pains to take, was restored to the king of France.
The French were afraid, that, unless their colonies should be better defended than heretofore, another war might deprive them of the whole. Almost as soon as peace was declared, therefore, they began to build strong fortifications in the interior of North America. It was strange to behold17 these warlike castles, on the banks of solitary18 lakes, and far in the midst of woods. The Indian, paddling his birch-canoe on Lake Champlain, looked up at the high ramparts of Ticonderoga, stone piled on stone, bristling19 with cannon20, and the white flag of France floating above. There were similar fortifications on Lake Ontario, and near the great Falls of Niagara, and at the sources of the Ohio River. And all around these forts and castles lay the eternal forest; and the roll of the drum died away in those deep solitudes21.
The truth was, that the French intended to build forts, all the way from Canada to Louisiana. They would then have had a wall of military strength, at the back of the English settlements, so as completely to hem10 them in. The king of England considered the building of these forts as a sufficient cause of war, which was accordingly commenced in 1754. [pg 136]
"Governor Shirley," said Grandfather, "had returned to Boston in 1753. While in Paris, he had married a second wife, a young French girl, and now brought her to the Province House. But, when war was breaking out, it was impossible for such a bustling22 man to stay quietly at home, sitting in our old chair, with his wife and children round about him. He therefore obtained a command in the English forces."
"And what did Sir William Pepperell do?" asked Charley.
"He staid at home," said Grandfather, "and was general of the militia23. The veteran regiments24 of the English army, which were now sent across the Atlantic, would have scorned to fight under the orders of an old American merchant. And now began what aged people call the Old French War. It would be going too far astray from the history of our chair, to tell you one half of the battles that were fought. I cannot even allow myself to describe the bloody25 defeat of General Braddock, near the sources of the Ohio River, in 1755. But, I must not omit to mention, that when the English general was mortally wounded, and his army routed, the remains26 of it were preserved by the skill and valor27 of George Washington."
At the mention of this illustrious name, the children started, as if a sudden sunlight had gleamed upon the history of their country, now that the great Deliverer had arisen above the horizon. [pg 137]
Among all the events of the Old French War, Grandfather thought that there was none more interesting than the removal of the inhabitants of Acadia. From the first settlement of this ancient province of the French, in 1604, until the present time, its people could scarcely ever know what kingdom held dominion28 over them. They were a peaceful race, taking no delight in warfare29, and caring nothing for military renown30. And yet, in every war, their region was infested31 with iron-hearted soldiers, both French and English, who fought one another for the privilege of ill treating these poor harmless Acadians. Sometimes the treaty of peace made them subjects of one king, sometimes of another.
At the peace of 1748, Acadia had been ceded32 to England. But the French still claimed a large portion of it, and built forts for its defence. In 1755, these forts were taken, and the whole of Acadia was conquered, by three thousand men from Massachusetts, under the command of General Winslow. The inhabitants were accused of supplying the French with provisions, and of doing other things that violated their neutrality.
"These accusations33 were probably true," observed Grandfather; "for the Acadians were descended34 from the French, and had the same friendly feelings towards them, that the people of Massachusetts had for the English. But their punishment was severe. The English determined35 to tear these poor people from their native homes and scatter36 them abroad."
The Acadians were about seven thousand in number. A considerable part of them were made prisoners, and transported to the English colonies. All their dwellings37 and churches were burnt, their cattle were killed, and the whole country was laid waste, so that none of them might find shelter or food in their old homes, after the departure of the English. One thousand of the prisoners were sent to Massachusetts; and Grandfather allowed his fancy to follow them thither39, and tried to give his auditors40 an idea of their situation.
We shall call this passage the story of
THE ACADIAN EXILES
A sad day it was for the poor Acadians, when the armed soldiers drove them, at the point of the bayonet, down to the sea-shore. Very sad were they, likewise, while tossing upon the ocean, in the crowded transport vessels41. But, methinks, it must have been sadder still, when they were landed on the Long Wharf42, in Boston, and left to themselves, on a foreign strand43.
Then, probably, they huddled44 together, and looked into one another's faces for the comfort which was not there. Hitherto, they had been confined on board of separate vessels, so that they could not tell whether their relatives and friends were prisoners along with them. But, now, at least, they could tell that many had been left behind, or transported to other regions.
Now, a desolate45 wife might be heard calling for her husband. He, alas46! had gone, she knew not whither, or perhaps had fled into the woods of Acadia, and had now returned to weep over the ashes of their dwelling38. An aged widow was crying out, in a querulous, lamentable47 tone, for her son, whose affectionate toil48 had supported her for many a year. He was not in the crowd of exiles; and what could this aged widow do but sink down and die? Young men and maidens49, whose hearts had been torn asunder50 by separation, had hoped, during the voyage, to meet their beloved ones at its close. Now, they began to feel that they were separated forever. And, perhaps, a lonesome little girl, a golden-haired child of five years old, the very picture of our little Alice, was weeping and wailing51 for her mother, and found not a soul to give her a kind word.
Oh, how many broken bonds of affection were here! Country lost!—friends lost!—their rural wealth of cottage, field, and herds52, all lost together! Every tie between these poor exiles and the world seemed to be cut off at once. They must have regretted that they had not died before their exile; for even the English would not have been so pitiless as to deny them graves in their native soil. The dead were happy; for they were not exiles!
While they thus stood upon the wharf, the curiosity and inquisitiveness53 of the New England people would naturally lead them into the midst of the poor Acadians. Prying54 busy-bodies thrust their heads into the circle, wherever two or three of the exiles were conversing55 together. How puzzled did they look, at the outlandish sound of the French tongue! There were seen the New England women, too. They had just come out of their warm, safe homes, where every thing was regular and comfortable, and where their husbands and children would be with them at night-fall. Surely, they could pity the wretched wives and mothers of Acadia! Or, did the sign of the cross, which the Acadians continually made upon their breasts, and which was abhorred56 by the descendants of the Puritans—did that sign exclude all pity?
Among the spectators, too, was the noisy brood of Boston school-boys, who came running, with laughter and shouts, to gaze at this crowd of oddly dressed foreigners. At first they danced and capered57 around them, full of merriment and mischief58. But the despair of the Acadians soon had its effect upon these thoughtless lads, and melted them into tearful sympathy.
At a little distance from the throng59, might be seen the wealthy and pompous60 merchants, whose warehouses61 stood on Long Wharf. It was difficult to touch these rich men's hearts; for they had all the comforts of the world at their command; and when they walked abroad, their feelings were seldom moved, except by the roughness of the pavement, irritating their gouty toes. Leaning upon their gold-headed canes62, they watched the scene with an aspect of composure. But, let us hope, they distributed some of their superfluous63 coin among these hapless exiles, to purchase food and a night's lodging64.
After standing65 a long time at the end of the wharf, gazing seaward, as if to catch a glimpse of their lost Acadia, the strangers began to stray into the town.
They went, we will suppose, in parties and groups, here a hundred, there a score, there ten, there three or four, who possessed66 some bond of unity67 among themselves. Here and there was one, who, utterly68 desolate, stole away by himself, seeking no companionship.
Whither did they go? I imagine them wandering about the streets, telling the town's-people, in outlandish, unintelligible69 words, that no earthly affliction ever equalled what had befallen them. Man's brotherhood70 with man was sufficient to make the New Englanders understand this language. The strangers wanted food. Some of them sought hospitality at the doors of the stately mansions71, which then stood in the vicinity of Hanover Street and the North Square. Others were applicants72 at the humble73 wooden tenements74, where dwelt the petty shop-keepers and mechanics. Pray Heaven, that no family in Boston turned one of these poor exiles from their door! It would be a reproach upon New England—a crime worthy75 of heavy retribution—if the aged women and children, or even the strong men, were allowed to feel the pinch of hunger.
Perhaps some of the Acadians, in their aimless wanderings through the town, found themselves near a large brick edifice76, which was fenced in from the street by an iron railing, wrought77 with fantastic figures. They saw a flight of red freestone steps, ascending78 to a portal, above which was a balcony and balustrade. Misery79 and desolation give men the right of free passage everywhere. Let us suppose, then, that they mounted the flight of steps, and passed into the Province House. Making their way into one of the apartments, they beheld80 a richly clad gentleman, seated in a stately chair, with gilding81 upon the carved work of its back, and a gilded82 lion's head at the summit. This was Governor Shirley, meditating83 upon matters of war and state, in Grandfather's chair!
If such an incident did happen, Shirley, reflecting what a ruin of peaceful and humble hopes had been wrought by the cold policy of the statesman, and the iron hand of the warrior84, might have drawn85 a deep moral from it. It should have taught him that the poor man's hearth is sacred, and that armies and nations have no right to violate it. It should have made him feel, that England's triumph, and increased dominion, could not compensate86 to mankind, nor atone87 to Heaven, for the ashes of a single Acadian cottage. But it is not thus that statesmen and warriors88 moralize.
"Grandfather," cried Laurence, with emotion trembling in his voice, "did iron-hearted War itself ever do so hard and cruel a thing as this before?"
"You have rend89 in history, Laurence, of whole regions wantonly laid waste," said Grandfather. "In the removal of the Acadians, the troops were guilty of no cruelty or outrage90, except what was inseparable from the measure."
Little Alice, whose eyes had, all along, been brimming full of tears, now burst forth91 a-sobbing; for Grandfather had touched her sympathies more than he intended.
"To think of a whole people, homeless in the world!" said Clara, with moistened eyes. "There never was any thing so sad!"
"It was their own fault," cried Charley, energetically. "Why did not they fight for the country where they were born? Then, if the worst had happened to them they could only have been killed and buried there. They would not have been exiles then!"
"Certainly, their lot was as hard as death," said Grandfather. "All that could be done for them, in the English provinces, was to send them to the alms-houses, or bind92 them out to task-masters. And this was the fate of persons, who had possessed a comfortable property in their native country. Some of them found means to embark93 for France; but though it was the land of their forefathers94, it must have been a foreign land to them. Those, who remained behind, always cherished a belief, that the king of France would never make peace with England, till his poor Acadians were restored their country and their homes."
"And did he?" inquired Clara.
"Alas, my dear Clara," said Grandfather, "it is improbable that the slightest whisper of the woes95 of Acadia ever reached the ears of Louis the Fifteenth. The exiles grew old in the British provinces, and never saw Acadia again. Their descendants remain among us, to this day. They have forgotten the language of their ancestors, and probably retain no tradition of their misfortunes. But, methinks, if I were an American poet, I would choose Acadia for the subject of my song."
Since Grandfather first spoke96 these words, the most famous of American poets has drawn sweet tears from all of us, by his beautiful poem of Evangeline.
And now, having thrown a gentle gloom around the Thanksgiving fire-side, by a story that made the children feel the blessing5 of a secure and peaceful hearth, Grandfather put off the other events of the Old French War till the next evening.
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1
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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pussy
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| n.(儿语)小猫，猫咪 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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17
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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ceded
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| v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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41
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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46
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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48
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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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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50
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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51
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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52
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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53
inquisitiveness
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| 好奇，求知欲 | |
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54
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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56
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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57
capered
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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59
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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canes
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| n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖 | |
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superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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64
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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65
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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69
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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70
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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71
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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72
applicants
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| 申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
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73
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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tenements
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| n.房屋，住户，租房子( tenement的名词复数 ) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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77
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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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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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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82
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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83
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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84
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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85
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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88
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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89
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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92
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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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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95
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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