Trying to bring order out of chaos3, I was rushing up and down the narrow aisle4 between the rows of rapidly filling beds, and, after brushing several times against a pair of the largest and muddiest boots I ever saw, I paused at last to inquire why they were impeding5 the passageway. I found they belonged to a very tall man who seemed to be already asleep or dead, so white and still and utterly6 worn out he looked as he lay there, without a coat, a great patch on his forehead, and the right arm rudely bundled up. Stooping to cover him, I saw that he was unconscious, and, whipping out my brandy-bottle and salts, soon brought him round, for it was only exhaustion7.
"Can you eat?" I asked, as he said, "Thanky, ma'am," after a long draught8 of water and a dizzy stare.
"Eat! I'm starvin'!" he answered, with such a ravenous9 glance at a fat nurse who happened to be passing, that I trembled for her, and hastened to take a bowl of soup from her tray.
As I fed him, his gaunt, weather-beaten face had a familiar look; but so many such faces had passed before me that winter, I did not recall this one till the ward-master came to put up the cards with the new-comers' names above their beds. My man seemed absorbed in his food; but I naturally glanced at the card, and there was the name "Joseph Collins" to give me an additional interest in my new patient.
"Why, Joe! is it really you?" I exclaimed, pouring the last spoonful of soup down his throat so hastily that I choked him.
"All that's left of me. Wal, ain't this luck, now?" gasped10 Joe, as gratefully as if that hospital-cot was a bed of roses.
"What is the matter? A wound in the head and arm?" I asked, feeling sure that no slight affliction had brought Joe there.
"Right arm gone. Shot off as slick as a whistle. I tell you, it's a sing'lar kind of a feelin' to see a piece of your own body go flyin' away, with no prospect11 of ever coming back again," said Joe, trying to make light of one of the greatest misfortunes a man can suffer.
"That is bad, but it might have been worse. Keep up your spirits, Joe; and we will soon have you fitted out with a new arm almost as good as new."
"I guess it won't do much lumberin', so that trade is done for. I s'pose there's things left-handed fellers can do, and I must learn 'em as soon as possible, since my fightin' days are over," and Joe looked at his one arm with a sigh that was almost a groan12, helplessness is such a trial to a manly13 man,—and he was eminently14 so.
"What can I do to comfort you most, Joe? I'll send my good Ben to help you to bed, and will be here myself when the surgeon goes his rounds. Is there anything else that would make you more easy?"
"If you could just drop a line to mother to let her know I'm alive, it would be a sight of comfort to both of us. I guess I'm in for a long spell of hospital, and I'd lay easier if I knew mother and Lucindy warn't frettin' about me."
He must have been suffering terribly, but he thought of the women who loved him before himself, and, busy as I was, I snatched a moment to send a few words of hope to the old mother. Then I left him "layin' easy," though the prospect of some months of wearing pain would have daunted15 most men. If I had needed anything to increase my regard for Joe, it would have been the courage with which he bore a very bad quarter of an hour with the surgeons; for his arm was in a dangerous state, the wound in the head feverish16 for want of care; and a heavy cold on the lungs suggested pneumonia17 as an added trial to his list of ills.
"He will have a hard time of it, but I think he will pull through, as he is a temperate18 fellow, with a splendid constitution," was the doctor's verdict, as he left us for the next man, who was past help, with a bullet through his lungs.
"I don'no as I hanker to live, and be a burden. If Jim was able to do for mother, I feel as if I wouldn't mind steppin' out now I'm so fur along. As he ain't, I s'pose I must brace19 up, and do the best I can," said Joe, as I wiped the drops from his forehead, and tried to look as if his prospect was a bright one.
"You will have Lucindy to help you, you know; and that will make things easier for all."
"Think so? 'Pears to me I couldn't ask her to take care of three invalids20 for my sake. She ain't no folks of her own, nor much means, and ought to marry a man who can make things easy for her. Guess I'll have to wait a spell longer before I say anything to Lucindy about marryin' now;" and a look of resolute21 resignation settled on Joe's haggard face as he gave up his dearest hope.
"I think Lucindy will have something to say, if she is like most women, and you will find the burdens much lighter22, for sharing them between you. Don't worry about that, but get well, and go home as soon as you can."
"All right, ma'am;" and Joe proved himself a good soldier by obeying orders, and falling asleep like a tired child, as the first step toward recovery.
For two months I saw Joe daily, and learned to like him very much, he was so honest, genuine, and kind-hearted. So did his mates, for he made friends with them all by sharing such small luxuries as came to him, for he was a favorite; and, better still, he made sunshine in that sad place by the brave patience with which he bore his own troubles, the cheerful consolation23 he always gave to others. A droll24 fellow was Joe at times, for under his sobriety lay much humor; and I soon discovered that a visit from him was more efficacious than other cordials in cases of despondency and discontent. Roars of laughter sometimes greeted me as I went into his ward, and Joe's jokes were passed round as eagerly as the water-pitcher.
Yet he had much to try him, not only in the ills that vexed25 his flesh, but the cares that tried his spirit, and the future that lay before him, full of anxieties and responsibilities which seemed so heavy now when the strong right arm, that had cleared all obstacles away before, was gone. The letters I wrote for him, and those he received, told the little story very plainly; for he read them to me, and found much comfort in talking over his affairs, as most men do when illness makes them dependent on a woman. Jim was evidently sick and selfish. Lucindy, to judge from the photograph cherished so tenderly under Joe's pillow, was a pretty, weak sort of a girl, with little character or courage to help poor Joe with his burdens. The old mother was very like her son, and stood by him "like a hero," as he said, but was evidently failing, and begged him to come home as soon as he was able, that she might see him comfortably settled before she must leave him. Her courage sustained his, and the longing26 to see her hastened his departure as soon as it was safe to let him go; for Lucindy's letters were always of a dismal27 sort, and made him anxious to put his shoulder to the wheel.
"She always set consider'ble by me, mother did, bein' the oldest; and I wouldn't miss makin' her last days happy, not if it cost me all the arms and legs I've got," said Joe, as he awkwardly struggled into the big boots an hour after leave to go home was given him.
It was pleasant to see his comrades gather round him with such hearty28 adieus that his one hand must have tingled29; to hear the good wishes and the thanks called after him by pale creatures in their beds; and to find tears in many eyes beside my own when he was gone, and nothing was left of him but the empty cot, the old gray wrapper, and the name upon the wall.
I kept that card among my other relics30, and hoped to meet Joe again somewhere in the world. He sent me one or two letters, then I went home; the war ended soon after, time passed, and the little story of my Maine lumberman was laid away with many other experiences which made that part of my life a very memorable31 one.
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1
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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2
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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3
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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4
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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impeding
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| a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的 | |
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6
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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7
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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8
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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ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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10
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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11
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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12
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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13
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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14
eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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15
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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17
pneumonia
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| n.肺炎 | |
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18
temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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19
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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20
invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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21
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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22
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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23
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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24
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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25
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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26
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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27
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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28
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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29
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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31
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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