? 2 ?
My mother, her sleeves rolled high over her round white arms, was in the dark interior of the milk-house as I passed, and spoke6 to me laughingly; and I could perceive my father sitting in his great splint-bottomed chair just within the front doorway7, and I marked how the slight current of air toyed with his long gray beard. The old Bible lay wide open upon his knee; yet his eyes were resting upon the dark green of the woods that skirted our clearing. I wondered, as I quaffed8 the cool sweet water at the spring, if he was dreaming again of those old days when he had been a man among men. How distinct in each detail the memory of it remains9! The blue sky held but one fleecy white cloud in all its wide arch; it seemed as if the curling film of smoke rising from our chimney had but gathered there and hung suspended to render the azure10 more pronounced. A robin11 peeked13 impudently14 at me from an oak limb, and a roguish gray squirrel chattered15 along the low ridge-pole, with seeming willingness to make friends, until Rover, suddenly spying me, sprang hastily around the corner of the house to lick my hand, with glad barkings and a frantic16 effort to wave the stub of his poor old tail. It was such a homely17, quiet scene, there in the heart of the backwoods, one I had known unchanged so long, that I little dreamed it was soon to witness the turning over of a page of destiny in my life, that almost from that hour I was to sever18 every relation of the past, ? 3 ? and be sent forth19 to buffet20 with the rough world alone.
There were no roads, in those days, along that valley of the upper Maumee,—merely faint bridle-paths, following ancient Indian trails through dense21 woods or across narrow strips of prairie-land; yet as I hung the gourd22 back on its wooden peg23, and lifted my eyes carelessly to the northward24, I saw a horseman riding slowly toward the house along the river bank. There were flying rumors25 of coming Indian outbreaks along the fringe of border settlements; but my young eyes were keen, and after the first quick thrill of suspicion I knew the approaching stranger to be of white blood, although his apparel was scarcely less uncivilized than that of the savage26. Yet so unusual were visitors, that I grasped a gun from its pegs27 in the kitchen, and called warningly to my mother as I passed on to meet the new-comer.
He was a very large and powerful man, with a matted black beard and an extremely prominent nose. A long rifle was slung28 at his back, and the heavy bay horse he bestrode bore unmistakable signs of hard travelling. As he approached, Rover, spying him, sprang out savagely29; but I caught and held him with firm grip, for to strangers he was ever a surly brute30.
"Is this yere Major Wayland's place?" the man questioned, in a deep, gruff voice, reining31 in his tired ? 4 ? horse, and carelessly flinging one booted foot across the animal's neck as he faced me.
"Yes," I responded with caution, for we were somewhat suspicious of stray travellers in those days, and the man's features were not pleasing. "The Major lives here, and I am his son."
He looked at me intently, some curiosity apparent in his eyes, as he deliberately32 drew a folded paper from his belt.
"No? Be ye the lad what downed Bud Eberly at the meetin' over on the Cow-skin las' spring?" he questioned, with faintly aroused interest.
I blushed like a school-girl, for this unexpected reference was not wholly to my liking33, though the man's intentions were evidently most kind.
"He bullied34 me until I could take no more," I answered, doubtfully; "yet I hurt him more seriously than I meant."
He laughed at the trace of apology in my words.
"Lord!" he ejaculated, "don't ever let that worry ye, boy. The hull35 settlement is mighty36 glad 'twas done. Old Hawkins bin12 on the p'int o' doin' it himself a dozen o' times. Told me so. Ye're quite a lad, ain't ye? Weigh all o' hundred an' seventy, I'll bet; an' strong as an ox. How old be ye, anyhow?"
"Twenty," I answered, not a little mollified by his manner. "You must live near here, then?"
"Wal, no, but been sorter neighbor o' yourn fer ? 5 ? a month er so back; stoppin' up at Hawkins's shebang, at the ford37, on the Military Road, visitin'; but guess I never met up with none o' your folks afore. My name's Burns, Ol' Tom Burns, late o' Connecticut. A sojer from out West left this yere letter fer yer father at Hawkins's place more nor a week ago. Said as how it was mighty important; but blamed if this wasn't the fust chance he's hed to git it over yere sence. I told him I'd fetch it, as it wasn't more nor a dozen miles er so outer my way."
He held out a square paper packet; and while I turned it over curiously38 in my hand,—the first letter I had ever seen,—he took some loose tobacco from an outside pocket and proceeded leisurely39 to fill his pipe.
My mother rolled my father's chair forward into the open doorway, and stood close behind him, as was her custom, one arm resting lightly upon the quaintly40 carved chair-back.
"What is it, John?" she questioned gently. Instantly aroused by her voice, I crossed quickly over and placed the packet in my father's thin hands. He turned it over twice before he opened it, looking at the odd seal, and reading the superscription carefully aloud, as if fearful there might be some mistake:
"Major David Wayland,
Along the Upper Maumee.
Leave at Hawkins Ford
"Important.on Military Road."
? 6 ?
I can see him yet as he read it, slowly feeling his way through the rude, uneven41 writing, with my mother leaning over his shoulder and helping42 him, her rosy43 cheeks and dark tresses making strange contrast beside his pain-racked features and iron-gray hair.
"Read it aloud, Mary," he said at last. "I shall understand it better. 'Tis from Roger Matherson, of whom you have heard me speak."
My mother was a good scholar, and she read clearly, only hesitating now and then over some ill-written or misspelled word.
At Fort Dearborn, near the head of the
Great Lake. Twelfth June, 1812.
My Dear Old Friend:
I have come to the end of life; they tell me it will be all over by the morrow, and there remains but one thing that greatly troubles me—my little girl, my Elsa. You know I have never much feared death, nor do I in this hour when I face it once more; for I have ever tried to honor God and do my duty as both man and soldier. David, I can scarcely write, for my mind wanders strangely, and my fingers will but barely grasp the pen. 'Tis not the grip of the old sword-hand you knew so well, for I am already very weak, and dying. But do you yet remember the day I drew you out of the rout44 at Saratoga, and bore you away safely, though the Hessians shot me twice? God knows, old friend, I never thought to remind you of the act,—'twas no more than any comrade would have done,—yet I am here among strangers, and there is no one else living to whom I may turn in my need. David, in memory of it, will you not give my little orphan45 child a home? Your old comrade, upon his death-bed, begs this of you with his final breath. She is all alone here, save for me, and there is no blood kin2 in all the world ? 7 ? to whom I may appeal. I shall leave some property, but not much. As you love your own, I pray you be merciful in this hour to my little girl.
Your old comrade,
Roger Matherson.
Captain Roger Matherson, late of the Massachusetts Continental47 Line, died at this fort, of fever, fourteenth June, 1812. His daughter is being cared for by the ladies of the garrison48.
Nathan Heald,
Capt. First Regt. Inf., Commanding.
The tears were clinging to my mother's long lashes49 as she finished the reading; she was ever tender of heart and sympathetic with sorrow. My father sat in silence, looking far off at the green woods. Presently he took the paper again into his hands, folded it carefully in the old creases50, and placed it safely away between the Bible leaves. I saw my mother's fingers steal along the arm of the chair until they closed softly over his.
"The poor little lamb!" she said gently.
My father's old sword hung over the fireplace, and I saw his glance wander toward it, as something seemed to rise choking in his throat. He was always a man who felt deeply, yet said but little; and we both knew he was thinking about the old days and the strong ties of comradeship.
The stranger struck flint and steel to light his ? 8 ? pipe; the act instantly recalled my father to the demands of hospitality.
"Friend," he said, speaking firmly, "hitch51 to the stump52 yonder, and come in. You have brought me sad news enough, yet are no less welcome, and must break bread at our board. John," and he turned toward me, "see to friend Burns's horse, and help your mother to prepare the dinner."
Out in the rude shed, which answered as a kitchen during summer weather, I ventured to ask:
"Mother, do you suppose he will take the little girl?"
"I hope so, John," she answered, soberly; "but your father must decide himself. He will not tell us until he has thought it all out alone."
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1
scythe
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| n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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2
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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3
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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4
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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5
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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6
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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7
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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8
quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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9
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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10
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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11
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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12
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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13
peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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14
impudently
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15
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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16
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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17
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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18
sever
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| v.切开，割开；断绝，中断 | |
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19
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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20
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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21
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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22
gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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23
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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24
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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25
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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26
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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27
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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28
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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29
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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30
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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31
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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32
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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33
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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34
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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36
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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37
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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38
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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39
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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40
quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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41
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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42
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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43
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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44
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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45
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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46
endorsed
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| vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品 | |
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47
continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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48
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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49
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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50
creases
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的第三人称单数 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹 | |
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51
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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52
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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