“Ef I could only get hold on him,” Mrs. Payson had remarked on several occasions to Cynthy Ann, “I'd shake the mischief7 out of him, ef I died for't the very next minute.”
Mrs. Payson was destined8 to meet with a second calamity, which increased, if possible, her antipathy9 to the “young imp10.”
Being of a social disposition11, she was quite in the habit of dropping in to tea at different homes in the village. Having formerly12 lived in Rossville, she was acquainted with nearly all the townspeople, and went the rounds about once in two weeks.
One afternoon she put her knitting into a black work-bag, which she was accustomed to carry on her arm, and, arraying herself in a green cloak and hood13, which had served her for fifteen years, she set out to call on Mrs. Thompson.
Now, the nearest route to the place of her destination lay across a five-acre lot. The snow lay deep upon the ground, but the outer surface had become so hard as, without difficulty, to bear a person of ordinary weight.
When Mrs. Payson came up to the bars, she said to herself, “'Tain't so fur to go across lots. I guess I'll ventur'.”
She let down a bar and, passing through, went on her way complacently14. But, alas15, for the old lady's peace of mind! She was destined to come to very deep grief.
That very afternoon Pomp had come over to play with Sam Thompson, and the two, after devising various projects of amusement, had determined16 to make a cave in the snow. They selected a part of the field where it had drifted to the depth of some four or five feet. Beginning at a little distance, they burrowed17 their way into the heart of the snow, and excavated18 a place about four feet square by four deep, leaving the upper crust intact, of course, without its ordinary strength.
The two boys had completed their task, and were siting down in their subterranean19 abode20, when the roof suddenly gave way, and a visitor entered in the most unceremonious manner.
The old lady had kept on her way unsuspiciously, using as a cane21 a faded blue umbrella, which she carried invariably, whatever the weather.
When Mrs. Payson felt herself sinking, she uttered a loud shriek22 and waved her arms aloft, brandishing23 her umbrella in a frantic24 way. She was plunged25 up to her armpits in the snow, and was, of course, placed in a very unfavorable position for extricating26 herself.
The two boys were at first nearly smothered27 by the descent of snow, but when the first surprise was over they recognized their prisoner. I am ashamed to say that their feeling was that of unbounded delight, and they burst into a roar of laughter. The sound, indistinctly heard, terrified the old lady beyond measure, and she struggled frantically28 to escape, nearly poking29 out Pomp's eye with the point of her umbrella.
“Massy sakes! Where am I?” ejaculated the affrighted old lady. “There's some wild crittur down there. Oh, Cynthy Ann, ef you could see your marm at this moment!”
She made another vigorous flounder, and managed to kick Sam in the face. Partly as a measure of self-defense, he seized her ankle firmly.
Her struggles became so energetic that the boys soon found it expedient33 to evacuate34 the premises35. They crawled out by the passage they had made, and appeared on the surface of the snow.
The old lady presented a ludicrous appearance. Her hood had slipped off, her spectacles were resting on the end of her nose, and she had lost her work-bag. But she clung with the most desperate energy to the umbrella, on which apparently36 depended her sole hope of deliverance.
“Hi yah!” laughed Pomp, as he threw himself back on the snow and began to roll about in an ecstasy37 of delight.
Instantly Mrs. Payson's apprehensions38 changed to furious anger.
“So it's you, you little varmint, that's done this. Jest le' me get out, and I'll whip you so you can't stan'. See ef I don't.”
“You can't get out, missus; yah, yah!” laughed Pomp. “You's tied, you is, missus.”
“Come an' help me out, this minute!” exclaimed the old lady, stamping her foot.
“Lor', missus, you'll whip me. You said you would.”
“So I will, I vum,” retorted the irate39 old lady, rather undiplomatically. “As true as I live, I'll whip you till you can't stan'.”
“Den, missus, I guess you'd better stay where you is.”
“Oh, you imp. See ef I don't have you put in jail. Here, you, Sam Thompson, come and help me out. Ef you don't, I'll tell your mother, an' she'll give you the wust lickin' you ever had. I'm surprised at you.”
“You won't tell on me, will you?” said Sam, irresolutely42.
She felt her powerlessness, and that concession45 must precede victory.
“Then, give me the umbrella,” said Sam, who evidently distrusted her.
“You'll run off with it,” said Mrs. Payson suspiciously.
“No, I won't.”
“Well, there 'tis.”
“Come here, Pomp, and help me,” said Sam.
“She'll whip me,” he said, shaking his head. “She's an old debble.”
“Oh, you—you sarpint!” ejaculated the old lady, almost speechless with indignation.
“You can run away as soon as she gets out,” suggested Sam.
“Jest catch hold of my hands, both on ye,” said Mrs. Payson, “an' I'll give a jump.”
These directions were followed, and the old lady rose to the surface, when, in an evil hour, intent upon avenging48 herself upon Pomp, she made a clutch for his collar. In doing so she lost her footing and fell back into the pit from which she had just emerged. Her spectacles dropped off and, falling beneath her, were broken.
She rose, half-provoked and half-ashamed of her futile49 attempt. It was natural that neither of these circumstances should effect an improvement in her temper.
“You did it a purpose,” she said, shaking her fist at Pomp, who stood about a rod off, grinning at her discomfiture50. “There, I've gone an' broke my specs, that I bought two years ago, come fall, of a pedler. I'll make you pay for 'em.”
“Lor', missus, I ain't got no money,” said Pomp. “Nebber had none.”
Unfortunately for the old lady, it was altogether probable that Pomp spoke the truth this time.
“Three and sixpence gone!” groaned51 Mrs. Payson. “Fust my bunnit, an' then my specs. I'm the most unfort'nit' crittur. Why don't you help me, Sam Thompson, instead of standin' and gawkin' at me?” she suddenly exclaimed, glaring at Sam.
“I didn't know as you was ready,” said Sam. “You might have been out before this, ef you hadn't let go. Here, Pomp, lend a hand.” Pomp shook his head decisively.
“Don't catch dis chile again,” he said. “I'm goin' home. Ole woman wants to lick me.”
Sam endeavored to persuade Pomp, but he was deaf to persuasion52. He squatted53 down on the snow, and watched the efforts his companion made to extricate54 the old lady. When she was nearly out he started on a run, and was at a safe distance before Mrs. Payson was in a situation to pursue him.
The old lady shook herself to make sure that no bones were broken. Next, she sent Sam down into the hole to pick up her bag, and then, finding, on a careful examination, that she had recovered everything, even to the blue umbrella, fetched the astonished Sam a rousing box on the ear.
“'Taint half as much as you deserve,” said the old lady. “I'm goin' to your house right off, to tell your mother what you've been a-doin'. Ef you was my child, I'd beat you black and blue.”
“I wish I'd left you down there,” muttered Sam.
“What's that?” demanded Mrs. Payson sharply. “Don't you go to bein' sassy. It'll be the wuss for ye. You'll come to the gallows56 some time, ef you don't mind your p's and q's. I might 'ave stayed there till I died, an' then you'd have been hung.”
“You know'd it well enough,” returned the old lady. “You'll bring your mother's gray hairs with sorrer to the grave.”
“Well, she will have some, ef she lives long enough. I once know'd a boy just like you, an' he was put in jail for stealin'.”
“I ain't a-goin to stay and be jawed59 that way,” said Sam. “You won't catch me pulling you out of a hole again. I wouldn't have you for a grandmother for all the world. Tom Baldwin told me, only yesterday, that you was always a-hectorin' him.”
Tom Baldwin was the son of Cynthy Ann, and consequently old Mrs. Payson's grandson.
“Yes, he did.”
“Well, he's the ungratefullest cub62 that I ever sot eyes on,” exclaimed his indignant grandmother. “Arter all I've done for him. I'm knittin' a pair of socks for him this blessed minute. But he sha'n't have 'em. I'll give 'em to the soldiers, I vum. Did he say anything else?”
“Yes, he said he should be glad when you were gone.”
“I'll go right home and tell Cynthy Ann,” exclaimed Mrs. Payson, “an' if she don't w'ip him I will. I never see such a bad set of boys as is growin' up. There ain't one on 'em that isn't as full of mischief as a nut is of meat. I'll come up with them, as true as I live.”
Full of her indignation, Mrs. Payson gave up her proposed call on Mrs. Thompson, and, turning about, hurried home to lay her complaint before Cynthy Ann.
“I'm glad she's gone,” said Sam, looking after her, as with resolute43 steps she trudged63 along, punching the snow vigorously with the point of her blue cotton umbrella. “I pity Tom Baldwin; if I had such a grandmother as that, I'd run away to sea. That's so!”
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1
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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rancor
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| n.深仇，积怨 | |
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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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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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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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8
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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14
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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15
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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16
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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17
burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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18
excavated
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| v.挖掘( excavate的过去式和过去分词 )；开凿；挖出；发掘 | |
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19
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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20
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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21
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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22
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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23
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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24
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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25
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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26
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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27
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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28
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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29
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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30
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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31
aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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32
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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34
evacuate
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| v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便 | |
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35
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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36
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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37
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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38
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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39
irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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40
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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41
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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42
irresolutely
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| adv.优柔寡断地 | |
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43
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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44
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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45
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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46
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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47
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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48
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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49
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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50
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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51
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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52
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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53
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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54
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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55
aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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56
gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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57
jawing
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| n.用水灌注 | |
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58
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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59
jawed
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| adj.有颌的有颚的 | |
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60
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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61
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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62
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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63
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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