During my absence Dick had made many friends. Wherein lies his secret I do not know, but he has a peculiar1 power of ingratiation with people whose lives are quite outside his experience or sympathies. In the short space of four days he had earned joyous2 greetings from every one in town. The children grinned at him cheerfully; the old women cackled good-natured little teasing jests to him as he passed; the pretty, dusky half-breed girls dropped their eyelashes fascinatingly across their cheeks, tempering their coyness with a smile; the men painfully demanded information as to artistic4 achievement which was evidently as well meant as it was foreign to any real thirst for knowledge they might possess; even the lumber-jacks addressed him as "Bub." And withal Dick's methods of approach were radically5 wrong, for he blundered upon new acquaintance with a beaming smile, which is ordinarily a sure repellent to the cautious, taciturn men of the woods. Perhaps their keenness penetrated6 to the fact that he was absolutely without guile7, and that his kindness was an essential part of himself. I should be curious to know whether Billy Knapp of the Black Hills would surrender his gun to Dick for inspection8.
"I want you to go out this afternoon to see some friends of mine," said Dick. "They're on a farm about two miles back in the brush. They're ancestors."
"They're what?" I inquired.
"Ancestors. You can go down to Grosse Point near Detroit, and find people living in beautiful country places next the water, and after dinner they'll show you an old silhouette9 or a daguerreotype10 or something like that, and will say to you proudly, 'This is old Jules, my ancestor, who was a pioneer in this country. The Place has been in the family ever since his time.'"
"Well?"
"Well, this is a French family, and they are pioneers, and the family has a place that slopes down to the water through white birch trees, and it is of the kind very tenacious11 of its own land. In two hundred years this will be a great resort; bound to be--beautiful, salubrious, good sport, fine scenery, accessible--"
"Railroad fifty miles away; boat every once in a while," said I sarcastically12.
"Accessible in two hundred years, all right," insisted Dick serenely13. "Even Canada can build a quarter of a mile of railway a year. Accessible," he went on; "good shipping-point for country now undeveloped."
"You ought to be a real estate agent," I advised.
"Lived two hundred years too soon," disclaimed14 Dick. "What more obvious? These are certainly ancestors."
"Family may die out," I suggested.
"It has a good start," said Dick sweetly. "There are eighty-seven in it now."
"One great-grandfather, twelve grandparents, thirty-seven parents, and thirty-seven children," tabulated16 Dick.
"I should like to see the great-grandfather," said I; "he must be very old and feeble."
"He is eighty-five years old," said Dick, "and the last time I saw him he was engaged with an axe17 in clearing trees off his farm."
All of these astonishing statements I found to be absolutely true.
We started out afoot soon after dinner, through a scattering18 growth of popples that alternately drew the veil of coyness over the blue hills and caught our breath with the delight of a momentary19 prospect20. Deuce, remembering autumn days, concluded partridges, and scurried21 away on the expert diagonal, his hind22 legs tucked well under his flanks. The road itself was a mere23 cutting through the miniature woods, winding24 to right or left for the purpose of avoiding a log-end or a boulder25, surmounting26 little knolls28 with an idle disregard for the straight line, knobby with big, round stones, and interestingly diversified29 by circular mud holes a foot or so in diameter. After a mile and a half we came to the corner of a snake fence. This, Dick informed me, marked the limits of the "farm."
We burst through the screen of popples definitely into the clear. A two-storied house of squared logs crested30 a knoll27 in the middle distance. Ten acres of grass marsh31, perhaps twenty of ploughed land, and then the ash-white-green of popples. We dodged32 the grass marsh and gained the house. Dick was at once among friends.
The mother had no English, so smiled expansively, her bony arms folded across her stomach. Her oldest daughter, a frail-looking girl in the twenties, but with a sad and spiritual beauty of the Madonna in her big eyes and straight black hair, gave us a shy good-day. Three boys, just alike in their slender, stolid33 Indian good looks, except that they differed in size, nodded with the awkwardness of the male. Two babies stared solemnly. A little girl with a beautiful, oval face, large mischievous34 gray eyes behind long black lashes3, a mischievously35 quirked mouth to match the eyes, and black hair banged straight, both front and behind, in almost mediaeval fashion, twirked a pair of brown bare legs all about us. Another light-haired, curly little girl, surmounted36 by an old yachting-cap, spread apart sturdy shoes in an attitude at once critical and expectant.
Dick rose to the occasion by sorting out from some concealed37 recess38 of his garments a huge paper parcel of candy.
With infinite tact39, he presented this bag to Madame rather than the children. Madame instituted judicious40 distribution and appropriate reservation for the future. We entered the cabin.
Never have I seen a place more exquisitely41 neat. The floor had not only been washed clean; it had been scrubbed white. The walls of logs were freshly whitewashed42. The chairs were polished. The few ornaments43 were new, and not at all dusty or dingy44 or tawdry. Several religious pictures, a portrait of royalty45, a lithographed advertisement of some buggy, a photograph or so--and then just the fresh, wholesome46 cleanliness of scrubbed pine. Madame made us welcome with smiles--a faded, lean woman with a remnant of beauty peeping from her soft eyes, but worn down to the first principles of pioneer bone and gristle by toil47, care, and the bearing of children. I spoke48 to her in French, complimenting her on the appearance of the place. She was genuinely pleased, saying in reply that one did one's possible, but that children!--with an expressive49 pause.
Next we called for volunteers to show us to the great-grandfather. Our elfish little girls at once offered, and went dancing off down the trail like autumn leaves in a wind. Whether it was the Indian in them, or the effects of environment, or merely our own imaginations, we both had the same thought--that in these strange, taciturn, friendly, smiling, pirouetting little creatures was some eerie50, wild strain akin51 to the woods and birds and animals. As they danced on ahead of us, turning to throw us a delicious smile or a half-veiled roguish glance of nascent52 coquetry, we seemed to swing into an orbit of experience foreign to our own. These bright-eyed woods people were in the last analysis as inscrutable to us as the squirrels.
We followed our swirling53, airy guides down through a trail to another clearing planted with potatoes. On the farther side of this they stopped, hand in hand, at the woods' fringe, and awaited us in a startlingly sudden repose54.
"V'la le gran'pere," said they in unison55.
At the words a huge gaunt man clad in shirt and jeans arose and confronted us. Our first impression was of a vast framework stiffened56 and shrunken into the peculiar petrifaction57 of age; our second, of a Jove-like wealth of iron-gray beard and hair; our third, of eyes, wide, clear, and tired with looking out on a century of the world's time. His movements, as he laid one side his axe and passed a great, gnarled hand across his forehead, were angular and slow. We knew instinctively58 the quality of his work--a deliberate pause, a mighty59 blow, another pause, a painful recovery--labour compounded of infinite slow patience, but wonderfully effective in the week's result. It would go on without haste, without pause, inevitable60 as the years slowly closing about the toiler61. His mental processes would be of the same fibre. The apparent hesitation62 might seem to waste the precious hours remaining, but in the end, when the engine started, it would move surely and unswervingly along the appointed grooves63. In his wealth of hair; in his wide eyes, like the mysterious blanks of a marble statue; in his huge frame, gnarled and wasted to the strange, impressive, powerful age-quality of Phidias's old men, he seemed to us to deserve a wreath and a marble seat with strange inscriptions64 and the graceful65 half-draperies of another time and a group of old Greeks like himself with whom to exchange slow sentences on the body politic66. Indeed, the fact that his seat was of fallen pine, and his draperies of butternut brown, and his audience two half-breed children, an artist, and a writer, and his body politic two hundred acres in the wilderness67, did not filch68 from him the impressiveness of his estate. He was a Patriarch. It did not need the park of birch trees, the grass beneath them sloping down to the water, the wooded knoll fairly insisting on a spacious69 mansion70, to substantiate71 Dick's fancy that he had discovered an ancestor.
Neat piles of brush, equally neat piles of cord-wood, knee-high stumps72 as cleanly cut as by a saw, attested73 the old man's efficiency. We conversed74.
Yes, said he, the soil was good. It is laborious75 to clear away the forest. Still, one arrives. M'sieu has but to look. In the memory of his oldest grandson, even, all this was a forest. Le bon Dieu had blessed him. His family was large. Yes, it was as M'sieu said, eighty-seven--that is, counting himself. The soil was not wonderful. It is indeed a large family and much labour, but somehow there was always food for all. For his part he had a great pity for those whom God had not blessed. It must be very lonesome without children.
We spared a private thought that this old man was certainly in no danger of loneliness.
Yes, he went on, he was old--eighty-five. He was not as quick as he used to be; he left that for the young ones. Still, he could do a day's work. He was most proud to have made these gentlemen's acquaintance. He wished us good-day.
We left him seated on the pine log, his axe between his knees, his great, gnarled brown hands hanging idly. After a time we heard the _whack_ of his implement76; then after another long time we heard it _whack_ again. We knew that those two blows had gone straight and true and forceful to the mark. So old a man had no energy to expend77 in the indirections of haste.
Our elfish guides led us back along the trail to the farmhouse78. A girl of thirteen had just arrived from school. In the summer the little ones divided the educational advantages among themselves, turn and turn about.
The newcomer had been out into the world, and was dressed accordingly. A neat dark-blue cloth dress, plainly made, a dull red and blue checked apron79; a broad, round hat, shoes and stockings, all in the best and quietest taste--marked contrast to the usual garish80 Sunday best of the Anglo-Saxon. She herself exemplified the most striking type of beauty to be found in the mixed bloods. Her hair was thick and glossy81 and black in the mode that throws deep purple shadows under the rolls and coils. Her face was a regular oval, like the opening in a wishbone. Her skin was dark, but rich and dusky with life and red blood that ebbed82 and flowed with her shyness. Her lips were full, and of a dark cherry red. Her eyes were deep, rather musing83, and furnished with the most gloriously tangling84 of eyelashes. Dick went into ecstasies85, took several photographs which did not turn out well, and made one sketch86 which did. Perpetually did he bewail the absence of oils. The type is not uncommon87, but its beauty rarely remains88 perfect after the fifteenth year.
We made our ceremonious adieus to the Madame, and started back to town under the guidance of one of the boys, who promised us a short cut.
This youth proved to be filled with the old, wandering spirit that lures89 so many of his race into the wilderness life. He confided90 to us as we walked that he liked to tramp extended distances, and that the days were really not made long enough for those who had to return home at night.
"I is been top of dose hills," he said. "Bime by I mak' heem go to dose lak' beyon'."
He told us that some day he hoped to go out with the fur traders. In his vocabulary "I wish" occurred with such wistful frequency that finally I inquired curiously91 what use he would make of the Fairy Gift.
"If you could have just one wish come true, Pierre," I asked, "what would you desire?"
His answer came without a moment's hesitation.
"I is lak' be one giant," said he.
"Why?" I demanded.
"So I can mak' heem de walk far," he replied simply.
I was tempted92 to point out to him the fact that big men do not outlast93 the little men, and that vast strength rarely endures, but then a better feeling persuaded me to leave him his illusions. The power, even in fancy, of striding on seven-league boots across the fascinations94 spread out below his kindling95 vision from "dose hills" was too precious a possession lightly to be taken away.
Strangely enough, though his woodcraft naturally was not inconsiderable, it did not hold his paramount96 interest. He knew something about animals and their ways and their methods of capture, but the chase did not appeal strongly to him, nor apparently97 did he possess much skill along that line. He liked the actual physical labour, the walking, the paddling, the tump-line, the camp-making, the new country, the companionship of the wild life, the wilderness as a whole rather than in any one of its single aspects as Fish Pond, Game Preserve, Picture Gallery. In this he showed the true spirit of the _voyageur_. I should confidently look to meet him in another ten years--if threats of railroads spare the Far North so long--girdled with the red sash, shod in silent moccasins, bending beneath the portage load, trolling _Isabeau_ to the silent land somewhere under the Arctic Circle. The French of the North have never been great fighters nor great hunters, in the terms of the Anglo-Saxon frontiersmen, but they have laughed in farther places.
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1
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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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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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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daguerreotype
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| n.银板照相 | |
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tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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tabulated
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| 把（数字、事实）列成表( tabulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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knolls
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| n.小圆丘，小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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diversified
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| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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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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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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nascent
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| adj.初生的，发生中的 | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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petrifaction
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| n.石化，化石；吓呆；惊呆 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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toiler
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| 辛劳者，勤劳者 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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grooves
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| n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏 | |
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inscriptions
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| （作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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substantiate
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| v.证实；证明...有根据 | |
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72
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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garish
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| adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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ebbed
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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tangling
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的现在分词 ) | |
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ecstasies
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| 狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 )； 出神； 入迷； 迷幻药 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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lures
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| 吸引力，魅力（lure的复数形式） | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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outlast
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| v.较…耐久 | |
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fascinations
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| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
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kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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