Great were the preparations among the[39] housewives of Castleton Hollow. That must indeed be a poor household which, on this occasion, could not boast its turkey and plum-pudding,—those well-established dishes; not to mention its long rows of pies,—apple, mince3, and pumpkin,—wherewith the Thanksgiving board is wont4 to be garnished5.
But it is not of the households generally that I propose to speak. Let the reader accompany me, in imagination, to a rather prim6-looking brick mansion7, situated8 on the principal street, but at some distance back, being separated from it by a front yard. Between this yard and the fence ran a prim-looking hedge, of very formal cut, being cropped in the most careful manner, lest one twig9 should, by chance, have the presumption10 to grow higher than its kindred. It was a two-story house, containing in each story one room on either side of the front door; making, of course, four in all.
[40]
If we go in, we shall find the outward primness11 well supported by the appearance of things within. In the front parlor—we may peep through the door, but it would be high treason, in the present moistened state of our boots, to step within its sacred precincts—there are six high-backed chairs standing12 in state, two at each window. One can easily see, from the general arrangement of the furniture, that from romping13 children, unceremonious kittens, and unhallowed intruders generally, this room is most sacredly guarded.
Without speaking particularly of the other rooms,—which, though not furnished in so stately a manner, bear a family resemblance to “the best room,”—we will usher14 the reader into the opposite room, where he will find the owner and occupant of this prim-looking residence.
Courteous15 reader! Miss Hetty Henderson. Miss Hetty Henderson, let me make you[41] acquainted with this lady (or gentleman), who is desirous of knowing you better.
Miss Hetty Henderson, with whom the reader has just passed through the ceremony of introduction, is a maiden16 of some thirty-five summers, attired17 in a sober-looking dress of irreproachable18 neatness, but most formal cut. She is the only occupant of the house, of which, likewise, she is proprietor19. Her father, who was the village physician, died some ten years since; leaving to Hetty,—or perhaps I should give her full name, Henrietta,—his only child, the house in which he lived, and some four thousand dollars in bank-stock, on the income of which she lived very comfortably.
Somehow, Miss Hetty had never married; though, such is the mercenary nature of man, the rumor20 of her inheritance brought to her feet several suitors. But Miss Hetty had resolved never to marry,—at least, this was her invariable answer to matrimonial offers;[42] and so, after a time, it came to be understood that she was fixed21 for life,—an old maid. What reasons impelled22 her to this course were not known; but possibly the reader will be furnished with a clew before he finishes this narrative23.
Meanwhile, the invariable effect of a single and solitary24 life combined attended Hetty. She grew precise, prim, and methodical, to a painful degree. It would have been quite a relief if one could have detected a stray thread even upon her well-swept carpet; but such was never the case.
On this particular day,—this Thanksgiving Day of which we are speaking,—Miss Hetty had completed her culinary preparations; that is, she had stuffed her turkey and put it in the oven, and kneaded her pudding; for, though she knew that but one would be present at the dinner, her conscience would scarcely have acquitted25 her if she had not made all the preparations[43] to which she had been accustomed on such occasions.
This done, she sat down to her knitting; casting a glance every now and then at the oven, to make sure that all was going on well. It was a quiet morning; and Miss Hetty’s thoughts kept time to the clicking of her knitting-needles.
“After all,” thought she, “it’s rather solitary taking dinner alone, and that on Thanksgiving Day. I remember, a long time ago, when my father and my brothers and sisters were living, what a merry time we used to have round the table. But they are all dead; and I—I alone—am left.”
Miss Hetty sighed; but, after a while, the recollections of those old times returned. She tried to shake them off; but they had a fascination26 about them, after all, and would not go at her bidding.
“There used to be another there,” thought she,—“Nick Anderson. He too, I fear, is dead.”
[44]
Hetty heaved a thoughtful sigh, and a faint color came into her cheeks. She had reason. This Nicholas Anderson had been a medical student, apprenticed27 to her father; or rather placed with him, to be prepared for his profession. He was perhaps a year older than Hetty, and had regarded her with more than ordinary warmth of affection. He had, in fact, proposed to her, and had been conditionally28 accepted on a year’s probation29. The trouble was, he was a little disposed to be wild, and, being naturally of a lively and careless temperament30, did not exercise sufficient discrimination in the choice of his associates. Hetty had loved him as warmly as one of her nature could love. She was not one who would be drawn31 away beyond the dictates32 of reason and judgment33 by the force of affection. Still, it was not without a feeling of deep sorrow,—deeper than her calm manner led him to suspect,—that, at the end of the year’s probation, she informed[45] Anderson that the result of his trial was not favorable to his suit, and that henceforth he must give up all thoughts of her.
To his vehement34 asseverations, promises, and protestations, she returned the same steady and inflexible35 answer; and, at the close of the interview, he left her, quite as full of indignation against her as of grief for his rejection36.
That night, his clothing was packed up, and lowered from the window; and, when the next morning dawned, it was found that he had left the house, never, as was intimated in a slight note pencilled and left on the table in his room, to return again.
While Miss Henderson’s mind was far back in the past, she had not observed the approach of a man, shabbily attired, accompanied by a little girl apparently37 some eight years of age. The man’s face bore the impress of many cares and hardships. The[46] little girl was of delicate appearance; and an occasional shiver showed that her garments were too thin to protect her sufficiently38 from the inclemency39 of the weather.
“This is the place, Henrietta,” said the traveller at length, pausing at the head of the gravelled walk which led up to the front door of the prim-looking brick house.
Together they entered; and a moment afterwards, just as Miss Hetty was preparing to lay the cloth for dinner, a knock sounded through the house.
“Goodness!” said Miss Hetty, fluttered. “Who can it be that wants to see me at this hour?”
Smoothing down her apron40, and giving a look at the glass to make sure that her hair was in order, she hastened to the door.
“Will it be asking too much, madam, to request a seat by your fire for myself and little girl for a few moments? It is very cold.”
[47]
Miss Hetty could feel that it was cold. Somehow, too, the appealing expression of the little girl’s face touched her. So she threw the door wide open, and bade them enter.
Miss Hetty went on preparing the table for dinner. A most delightful41 odor issued from the oven; one door of which was open, lest the turkey should overdo42. Miss Hetty could not help observing the wistful glance cast by the little girl towards the tempting43 dish as she placed it on the table.
“Poor little creature!” thought she. “I suppose it is a long time since she has had a good dinner.”
Then the thought struck her, “Here I am alone to eat all this. There is quite enough for half a dozen. How much these poor people would relish44 it!”
By this time the table was arranged.
“Sir,” said she, turning to the traveller, “you look as if you were hungry as well as[48] cold. If you and your little daughter would like to sit up, I should be happy to have you.”
“Thank you, madam!” was the grateful reply. “We are hungry, and shall be much indebted to your kindness.”
It was rather a novel situation for Miss Hetty,—sitting at the head of the table, dispensing45 food to others beside herself. There was something rather agreeable about it.
“Will you have some of the dressing46, little girl? I have to call you that; for I don’t know your name,” she added, in an inquiring tone.
“Her name is Henrietta; but I generally call her Hetty,” said the traveller.
“What!” said Miss Hetty, dropping the spoon in surprise.
“She was named after a very dear friend of mine,” said he, sighing.
“May I ask,” said Miss Hetty, with excusable[49] curiosity, “the name of this friend? I begin to feel quite an interest in your little girl,” she added, half apologetically.
“Her name is Henrietta Henderson,” said the stranger.
“Why, that is my name!” ejaculated Miss Hetty.
“And she was named after you,” said the stranger, composedly.
“Why, who in the world are you?” she asked, her heart beginning to beat unwontedly fast.
“Then you don’t remember me?” said he, rising, and looking steadily47 at Miss Hetty. “Yet you knew me well in bygone days,—none better. At one time, it was thought you would join your destiny to mine——”
“Nick Anderson!” said Miss Hetty, rising in confusion.
“You are right. You rejected me because you did not feel secure of my principles.[50] The next day, in despair at your refusal, I left the house, and, ere forty-eight hours had passed, was on my way to India. I had not formed the design of going to India in particular; but, in my then state of mind, I cared not whither I went. One resolution I formed,—that I would prove by my conduct that your apprehensions48 were ill founded. I got into a profitable business. In time, I married; not that I had forgotten you, but that I was solitary, and needed companionship. I had ceased to hope for yours. By and by, a daughter was born. True to my old love, I named her Hetty, and pleased myself with the thought that she bore some resemblance to you. Afterwards my wife died; misfortunes came upon me; and I found myself deprived of all my property. Then came yearnings for my native soil. I have returned (as you see), not as I departed, but poor and care-worn.”
[51]
While Nicholas was speaking, Miss Hetty’s mind was filled with conflicting emotions. At length, extending her hand frankly49, she said,—
“I feel that I was too hasty, Nicholas. I should have tried you longer. But, at least, I may repair my injustice50. I have enough for us all. You shall come and live with me.”
“I can only accept your generous offer on one condition,” said Nicholas.
“And what is that?”
“That you will be my wife!”
A vivid blush came over Miss Hetty’s countenance51. She “couldn’t think of such a thing,” she said. Nevertheless, an hour afterwards the two united lovers had fixed upon the marriage-day.
The house does not look so prim as it used to do. The yard is redolent with many fragrant52 flowers. The front door is[52] half open, revealing a little girl playing with a kitten.
“Hetty,” says a matronly lady, “you have got the ball of yarn53 all over the floor. What would your father say if he should see it?”
“Never mind, mother; it was only kitty that did it.”
Marriage has filled up a void in the heart of Miss Hetty. Though not so prim, or perhaps careful, as she used to be, she is a good deal happier. Three hearts are filled with thankfulness at every return of Miss Henderson’s Thanksgiving Day.
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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garnished
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| v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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mansion
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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primness
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| n.循规蹈矩，整洁 | |
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standing
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romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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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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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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proprietor
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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impelled
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narrative
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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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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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apprenticed
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conditionally
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| adv. 有条件地 | |
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probation
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| n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期) | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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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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dictates
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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inclemency
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| n.险恶，严酷 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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overdo
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| vt.把...做得过头，演得过火 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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