She had been dead two days. They were all about her at the time, knowing that the end was drawing on. She died soon after daybreak. They had read and talked to her in the earlier portion of the night, but as the hours crept on, she sunk to sleep. They could tell, by what she faintly uttered in her dreams, that they were of her journeyings with the old man; they were of no painful scenes, but of people who had helped and used them kindly1, for she often said ‘God bless you!’ with great fervour. Waking, she never wandered in her mind but once, and that was of beautiful music which she said was in the air. God knows. It may have been.
Opening her eyes at last, from a very quiet sleep, she begged that they would kiss her once again. That done, she turned to the old man with a lovely smile upon her face — such, they said, as they had never seen, and never could forget — and clung with both her arms about his neck. They did not know that she was dead, at first.
She had spoken very often of the two sisters, who, she said, were like dear friends to her. She wished they could be told how much she thought about them, and how she had watched them as they walked together, by the river side at night. She would like to see poor Kit3, she had often said of late. She wished there was somebody to take her love to Kit. And, even then, she never thought or spoke2 about him, but with something of her old, clear, merry laugh.
For the rest, she had never murmured or complained; but with a quiet mind, and manner quite unaltered — save that she every day became more earnest and more grateful to them — faded like the light upon a summer’s evening.
The child who had been her little friend came there, almost as soon as it was day, with an offering of dried flowers which he begged them to lay upon her breast. It was he who had come to the window overnight and spoken to the sexton, and they saw in the snow traces of small feet, where he had been lingering near the room in which she lay, before he went to bed. He had a fancy, it seemed, that they had left her there alone; and could not bear the thought.
He told them of his dream again, and that it was of her being restored to them, just as she used to be. He begged hard to see her, saying that he would be very quiet, and that they need not fear his being alarmed, for he had sat alone by his young brother all day long when he was dead, and had felt glad to be so near him. They let him have his wish; and indeed he kept his word, and was, in his childish way, a lesson to them all.
Up to that time, the old man had not spoken once — except to her — or stirred from the bedside. But, when he saw her little favourite, he was moved as they had not seen him yet, and made as though he would have him come nearer. Then, pointing to the bed, he burst into tears for the first time, and they who stood by, knowing that the sight of this child had done him good, left them alone together.
Soothing4 him with his artless talk of her, the child persuaded him to take some rest, to walk abroad, to do almost as he desired him. And when the day came on, which must remove her in her earthly shape from earthly eyes for ever, he led him away, that he might not know when she was taken from him.
They were to gather fresh leaves and berries for her bed. It was Sunday — a bright, clear, wintry afternoon — and as they traversed the village street, those who were walking in their path drew back to make way for them, and gave them a softened5 greeting. Some shook the old man kindly by the hand, some stood uncovered while he tottered6 by, and many cried ‘God help him!’ as he passed along.
‘Neighbour!’ said the old man, stopping at the cottage where his young guide’s mother dwelt, ‘how is it that the folks are nearly all in black to-day? I have seen a mourning ribbon or a piece of crape on almost every one.’
She could not tell, the woman said. ‘Why, you yourself — you wear the colour too?’ he said. ‘Windows are closed that never used to be by day. What does this mean?’
Again the woman said she could not tell.
‘We must go back,’ said the old man, hurriedly. ‘We must see what this is.’
‘No, no,’ cried the child, detaining him. ‘Remember what you promised. Our way is to the old green lane, where she and I so often were, and where you found us, more than once, making those garlands for her garden. Do not turn back!’
‘Where is she now?’ said the old man. ‘Tell me that.’
‘Do you not know?’ returned the child. ‘Did we not leave her, but just now?’
‘True. True. It was her we left — was it?’
He pressed his hand upon his brow, looked vacantly round, and as if impelled7 by a sudden thought, crossed the road, and entered the sexton’s house. He and his deaf assistant were sitting before the fire. Both rose up, on seeing who it was.
The child made a hasty sign to them with his hand. It was the action of an instant, but that, and the old man’s look, were quite enough.
‘Do you — do you bury any one to-day)’ he said, eagerly.
‘No, no! Who should we bury, Sir?’ returned the sexton.
‘Aye, who indeed! I say with you, who indeed!’
‘It is a holiday with us, good Sir,’ returned the sexton mildly. ‘We have no work to do to-day.’
‘Why then, I’ll go where you will,’ said the old man, turning to the child. ‘You’re sure of what you tell me? You would not deceive me? I am changed, even in the little time since you last saw me.’
‘Go thy ways with him, Sir,’ cried the sexton, ‘and Heaven be with ye both!’
‘I am quite ready,’ said the old man, meekly8. ‘Come, boy, come —’ and so submitted to be led away.
And now the bell — the bell she had so often heard, by night and day, and listened to with solemn pleasure almost as a living voice — rung its remorseless toll9, for her, so young, so beautiful, so good. Decrepit10 age, and vigorous life, and blooming youth, and helpless infancy11, poured forth12 — on crutches13, in the pride of strength and health, in the full blush of promise, in the mere14 dawn of life — to gather round her tomb. Old men were there, whose eyes were dim and senses failing — grandmothers, who might have died ten years ago, and still been old — the deaf, the blind, the lame15, the palsied, the living dead in many shapes and forms, to see the closing of that early grave. What was the death it would shut in, to that which still could crawl and creep above it!
Along the crowded path they bore her now; pure as the newly-fallen snow that covered it; whose day on earth had been as fleeting16. Under the porch, where she had sat when Heaven in its mercy brought her to that peaceful spot, she passed again; and the old church received her in its quiet shade.
They carried her to one old nook, where she had many and many a time sat musing17, and laid their burden softly on the pavement. The light streamed on it through the coloured window — a window, where the boughs18 of trees were ever rustling19 in the summer, and where the birds sang sweetly all day long. With every breath of air that stirred among those branches in the sunshine, some trembling, changing light, would fall upon her grave.
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust! Many a young hand dropped in its little wreath, many a stifled20 sob21 was heard. Some — and they were not a few — knelt down. All were sincere and truthful22 in their sorrow.
The service done, the mourners stood apart, and the villagers closed round to look into the grave before the pavement-stone should be replaced. One called to mind how he had seen her sitting on that very spot, and how her book had fallen on her lap, and she was gazing with a pensive23 face upon the sky. Another told, how he had wondered much that one so delicate as she, should be so bold; how she had never feared to enter the church alone at night, but had loved to linger there when all was quiet, and even to climb the tower stair, with no more light than that of the moon rays stealing through the loopholes in the thick old wall. A whisper went about among the oldest, that she had seen and talked with angels; and when they called to mind how she had looked, and spoken, and her early death, some thought it might be so, indeed. Thus, coming to the grave in little knots, and glancing down, and giving place to others, and falling off in whispering groups of three or four, the church was cleared in time, of all but the sexton and the mourning friends.
They saw the vault24 covered, and the stone fixed25 down. Then, when the dusk of evening had come on, and not a sound disturbed the sacred stillness of the place — when the bright moon poured in her light on tomb and monument, on pillar, wall, and arch, and most of all (it seemed to them) upon her quiet grave — in that calm time, when outward things and inward thoughts teem26 with assurances of immortality27, and worldly hopes and fears are humbled28 in the dust before them — then, with tranquil29 and submissive hearts they turned away, and left the child with God.
Oh! it is hard to take to heart the lesson that such deaths will teach, but let no man reject it, for it is one that all must learn, and is a mighty30, universal Truth. When Death strikes down the innocent and young, for every fragile form from which he lets the panting spirit free, a hundred virtues31 rise, in shapes of mercy, charity, and love, to walk the world, and bless it. Of every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on such green graves, some good is born, some gentler nature comes. In the Destroyer’s steps there spring up bright creations that defy his power, and his dark path becomes a way of light to Heaven.
It was late when the old man came home. The boy had led him to his own dwelling32, under some pretence33, on their way back; and, rendered drowsy34 by his long ramble35 and late want of rest, he had sunk into a deep sleep by the fireside. He was perfectly36 exhausted37, and they were careful not to rouse him. The slumber38 held him a long time, and when he at length awoke the moon was shining.
The younger brother, uneasy at his protracted39 absence, was watching at the door for his coming, when he appeared in the pathway with his little guide. He advanced to meet them, and tenderly obliging the old man to lean upon his arm, conducted him with slow and trembling steps towards the house.
He repaired to her chamber40, straight. Not finding what he had left there, he returned with distracted looks to the room in which they were assembled. From that, he rushed into the schoolmaster’s cottage, calling her name. They followed close upon him, and when he had vainly searched it, brought him home.
With such persuasive41 words as pity and affection could suggest, they prevailed upon him to sit among them and hear what they should tell him. Then endeavouring by every little artifice42 to prepare his mind for what must come, and dwelling with many fervent43 words upon the happy lot to which she had been removed, they told him, at last, the truth. The moment it had passed their lips, he fell down among them like a murdered man.
For many hours, they had little hope of his surviving; but grief is strong, and he recovered.
If there be any who have never known the blank that follows death — the weary void — the sense of desolation that will come upon the strongest minds, when something familiar and beloved is missed at every turn — the connection between inanimate and senseless things, and the object of recollection, when every household god becomes a monument and every room a grave — if there be any who have not known this, and proved it by their own experience, they can never faintly guess how, for many days, the old man pined and moped away the time, and wandered here and there as seeking something, and had no comfort.
Whatever power of thought or memory he retained, was all bound up in her. He never understood, or seemed to care to understand, about his brother. To every endearment44 and attention he continued listless. If they spoke to him on this, or any other theme — save one — he would hear them patiently for awhile, then turn away, and go on seeking as before.
On that one theme, which was in his and all their minds, it was impossible to touch. Dead! He could not hear or bear the word. The slightest hint of it would throw him into a paroxysm, like that he had had when it was first spoken. In what hope he lived, no man could tell; but that he had some hope of finding her again — some faint and shadowy hope, deferred45 from day to day, and making him from day to day more sick and sore at heart — was plain to all.
They bethought them of a removal from the scene of this last sorrow; of trying whether change of place would rouse or cheer him. His brother sought the advice of those who were accounted skilful46 in such matters, and they came and saw him. Some of the number staid upon the spot, conversed47 with him when he would converse48, and watched him as he wandered up and down, alone and silent. Move him where they might, they said, he would ever seek to get back there. His mind would run upon that spot. If they confined him closely, and kept a strict guard upon him, they might hold him prisoner, but if he could by any means escape, he would surely wander back to that place, or die upon the road.
The boy, to whom he had submitted at first, had no longer any influence with him. At times he would suffer the child to walk by his side, or would even take such notice of his presence as giving him his hand, or would stop to kiss his cheek, or pat him on the head. At other times, he would entreat49 him — not unkindly — to be gone, and would not brook50 him near. But, whether alone, or with this pliant51 friend, or with those who would have given him, at any cost or sacrifice, some consolation52 or some peace of mind, if happily the means could have been devised; he was at all times the same — with no love or care for anything in life — a broken-hearted man.
At length, they found, one day, that he had risen early, and, with his knapsack on his back, his staff in hand, her own straw hat, and little basket full of such things as she had been used to carry, was gone. As they were making ready to pursue him far and wide, a frightened schoolboy came who had seen him, but a moment before, sitting in the church — upon her grave, he said.
They hastened there, and going softly to the door, espied53 him in the attitude of one who waited patiently. They did not disturb him then, but kept a watch upon him all that day. When it grew quite dark, he rose and returned home, and went to bed, murmuring to himself, ‘She will come to-morrow!’
Upon the morrow he was there again from sunrise until night; and still at night he laid him down to rest, and murmured, ‘She will come to-morrow!’
And thenceforth, every day, and all day long, he waited at her grave, for her. How many pictures of new journeys over pleasant country, of resting-places under the free broad sky, of rambles54 in the fields and woods, and paths not often trodden — how many tones of that one well-remembered voice, how many glimpses of the form, the fluttering dress, the hair that waved so gaily55 in the wind — how many visions of what had been, and what he hoped was yet to be — rose up before him, in the old, dull, silent church! He never told them what he thought, or where he went. He would sit with them at night, pondering with a secret satisfaction, they could see, upon the flight that he and she would take before night came again; and still they would hear him whisper in his prayers, ‘Lord! Let her come to-morrow!’
The last time was on a genial56 day in spring. He did not return at the usual hour, and they went to seek him. He was lying dead upon the stone.
They laid him by the side of her whom he had loved so well; and, in the church where they had often prayed, and mused57, and lingered hand in hand, the child and the old man slept together.
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1
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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2
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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3
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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4
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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5
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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6
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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7
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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9
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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10
decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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11
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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12
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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crutches
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| n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
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14
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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15
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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16
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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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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18
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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19
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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20
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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21
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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22
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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23
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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24
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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25
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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26
teem
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| vi.(with)充满，多产 | |
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27
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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28
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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29
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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30
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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31
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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32
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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33
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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34
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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35
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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36
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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38
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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39
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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40
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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41
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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42
artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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43
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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44
endearment
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| n.表示亲爱的行为 | |
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45
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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46
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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47
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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48
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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49
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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50
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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51
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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52
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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53
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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55
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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56
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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57
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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