It had indeed. The huge golden ball had just dropped behind the hills on the western side of the river.
Grandma half-raised herself on her cushions, a restrained eagerness took possession of her, as if she were disappointed that she had not obtained one more glimpse of the king of day, then she sank back and smiled into the unwavering eyes of her youngest granddaughter. The eyes of the others might occasionally wander. Berty’s gaze had not left her face since they came upon the river.
“You wished to see the sun again,” said Berty. “I should have warned you that it was about to disappear.”
“I wished to say good-bye to it,” said Grandma, “a last good-bye.”
[278]
“To say good-bye,” repeated Berty, in a stunned2 voice, “a last good-bye,” and with a heart-broken gesture she put her hand to her head, as if wondering if she had heard aright.
Margaretta was trembling. Since the withdrawal3 of the sun, the yellow, lovely glow had faded. There was a gray shadow on everything, even on their own bright faces—on all except Grandma’s. That radiance about her was not a reflection of any light in this world; it was unearthly; and she fearfully touched Roger with a finger.
She knew now why they had been brought out upon the river, and, endeavouring once, twice, and finally a third time, she managed to utter, in a quivering voice, “Grandma, shall we take you home?”
“No, Margaretta,” replied Grandma, clearly, and she pointed1 down the river. “Take me toward the sea. I shall soon be sent for.”
They all understood her now. Their scarcely suppressed forebodings rushed back and enveloped4 them in a dark, unhappy cloud.
Grandma was repeating in a low voice, “Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting5 light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”
[279]
Margaretta, leaning over, drew a flask6 from Roger’s pocket. Then, slipping past the motionless Berty, she knelt before her grandmother.
“Dearest, I brought a stimulant7 with me. Will you have some?”
“But I have no need of it,” said Grandma, opening wide her strangely beautiful eyes.
It seemed to Margaretta that she could not endure their bliss8, their radiance. She turned her head quietly away, and, with a rain of tears falling down her face, sat looking out over the river.
Presently controlling herself, she again turned to her grandmother. Perhaps there was something she could do for her. Her hands might be cold. They were, and Margaretta, taking them in her own, chafed9 them gently.
Grandma smiled quietly. “Always thoughtful—my dear, you will be a mother to Bonny.”
“I will,” said the weeping girl.
“Do not be unhappy,” said Grandma, pleadingly. “I am so happy to go. My earthly house is in order. I long for my heavenly one.”
“But—but, Grandma, you have been happy with us,” stammered10 Margaretta.
“Happy, so happy—always remember that. My only trouble a separated family. One half in[280] heaven, the other on earth. One day to be reunited. You will cherish each other after I am gone—you precious ones on earth—Roger?”
The young man nodded, and bent11 his head low over the oars12.
“And Tom,” said Grandma, with exquisite13 sweetness, “my third grandson, you will take care of Berty?” Tom tried to speak, failed, tried again, but Grandma knew the significance of his hoarse14, inarticulate murmur15. Then he averted16 his gaze from the heart-breaking sight of Berty at her grandmother’s feet. The despairing girl had clasped them to her breast. Grandma was more to her than any of them. How could he comfort her for such a loss?
“Come, come,” said Grandma, cheerily, “our parting is but for a little. See, my child, my spirit is growing brighter and brighter. It has outgrown17 this poor old worn-out body. Berty, lift your head, and look your grandmother once more in the eyes.”
After some delay, Berty, in mute, anguished18 silence did as she was bid.
“Some day,” said Grandma, firmly, “your own sturdy limbs will fail you. You will fly from them as from a discarded burden, and come to rejoin your[281] mother and grandmother in the sky. Let me hear you speak. Will you be brave?”
Still in dumb, tearless sorrow, the girl shook her head.
“Is this the child I have brought up?” asked Grandma, with some faintness. “Have I been unsuccessful? Where is your strength in the hour of trial?”
Berty clasped her hands to her side. “Grandma,” she said, slowly, and as if each word were wrung19 from her. “I will be brave, I will not forget what you have told me.”
“Keep your own family together, and keep the welfare of the children of the city next your heart,” said Grandma, with new strength, “so you will be blessed in your own soul.”
“I promise,” said Berty, with quivering lips.
“Give my love to Selina and her husband,” Grandma went on, after a short pause. “They are happy together, and they know their duty. They have no need of words from me. And now, Bonny, my own and last grandchild—the baby of the family.”
The boy stretched out his hands. He was younger than the others, and he made no attempt to restrain his sobs20.
[282]
“Such a dear baby he was,” murmured Grandma, patting his downcast head. “Such a lovely, beautiful baby.”
Margaretta made an effort to control herself, and resolutely21 wiped away the tears pouring down her face. “Grandma,” she uttered, brokenly, “would you like us to sing to you?”
Grandma slightly turned her head. She seemed to be listening to something beyond them. Then she said, slowly, “My dears, I never fancied going out of this world to the sound of earthly music. There are strange and exquisite harmonies from another world floating in my ears. Hark, children—I hear it now plainly. I am nearing the sea.”
“Grandma, darling,” said Margaretta, in distress22, “we are many miles from the sea.”
“It is the sea,” murmured the dying woman, and a triumphant23 smile broke over her face, “the sea of glass near the great white throne—and there is a new sound now. Ah, children!” and, raising herself on her cushions, a very flame of unearthly and exquisite anticipation24 swept over her face, “the new sound is from the harps25 of gold of them that stand beside the sea. They have gotten the victory, and they sing praises!”
[283]
She sank back—with one joyful26 exclamation27 the breath left her body.
Who could mourn for a death like that? Who would dare to grieve over the little worn-out body?
Margaretta reverently28 stooped over, kissed the face so soon to grow cold, then, lightly draping a white wrap about it, she sat down and held out one hand to Berty, the other to her brother.
Tom and Roger turned the boat’s head toward the city. Their hearts were full of grief, and yet, looking at the calm sky, the peaceful river, they knew that time would pass, their grief would grow chastened, in all probability there stretched before each occupant of that boat a useful and happy life.
Grandma had not lived in vain. She had kept her family together, and while her children’s children lived, and their children, her memory would not be suffered to grow cold, neither would her good deeds be forgotten.
The End
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1
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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2
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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6
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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7
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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8
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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9
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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10
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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12
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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14
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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15
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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16
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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17
outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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18
anguished
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| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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21
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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24
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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25
harps
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| abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
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26
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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27
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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