“Ahem, Miss Nellie, when we go back home, will you promise me to say nothing about this part of your lesson?”
“You mean ’bout that bad word?”
“Yes,––let’s forget all about it.”
“I’ll try, but mebbe I’ll forget to forget it.”
“Likely enough,” gloomily reflected the parson; “suppose we try some other words. Ah, we have a visitor.”
At that moment Budge7 Isham climbed into view and 76 sauntered smilingly toward them. Brush added a whispered warning to the little one not to forget her promise, though, since Isham was an educated man, there ought not to have been anything to fear in his case, but the teacher knew his waggish8 nature, and had good reason to fear the mischief9 he would delight in creating.
“Good day,” was his cheery greeting, as he came up; “I hope I am not intruding10, but I thought I should like to see how you are getting on, Nellie.”
“Oh, Mr. Brush says I am learning real fast; I can spell ‘cat,’ and ‘dog,’ and ‘dam.’”
Budge raised his hands in horror.
“What in the name of heaven, parson, does she mean?”
“Mr. Isham,” said the gentleman, severely11, “are you aware that you are using improper language in the presence of this young lady?”
“Explain yourself.”
“It is wrong for you to appeal to heaven on so trifling12 a question; it is such a near approach to profanity that the dividing line is imperceptible. I am sorry you forgot yourself, but I will overlook it this time.”
Budge was really frightened, for though the distinction was quite fine, he felt there was some justice in the position of the parson, but he bluffed13 it out.
“I doubt whether a jury would find me guilty, and in 77 the meantime explain the remark just made by Nellie, if you please.”
Thus cornered, the parson made a clean breast of it. Isham assumed a grave expression.
“The only criticism I can make is upon your taste in selecting a word, susceptible14 of a questionable15 meaning. You know as well as I that if this should be submitted to a jury at the Heavenly Bower16 this evening, the majority would sit down on you, and it would be hard work for you to escape the penalty.”
“I’m afraid it would,” responded the parson; “it was a piece of forgetfulness on my part–––”
“Which is the plea that Bidwell and Ruggles made, but it didn’t answer. However, I’ll say nothing about it, knowing you will be more careful in the future, while I shall not forget to put a bridle17 on my own tongue. The trouble, however,” he added with a smile, “is to make her overlook it.”
“She has promised she will do so.”
“Since that promise was made just before I got here, she has shown how readily she can forget it.”
“I will give her a longer lesson than usual and thus drive all remembrance out of her mind,” said the parson resolutely18.
Budge Isham folded his arms, prepared to look on and listen, but the queen of the proceedings19 checked it all by an unexpected veto.
78
“Mr. Brush, I feel so tired.”
Her face wore a bored expression and she looked wistfully away from the blackboard toward the cabins below them.
“Does your head hurt you?” inquired the teacher with much solicitude21, while the single auditor22 was ready to join in the protest.
“No, but mebbe it will hurt me one of these days.”
“It isn’t wise, parson, to force the child; a great deal of injury is done to children by cramming23 their heads with useless knowledge.”
The teacher could not feel sure that this counsel was disinterested24, for there could be no danger of his taxing the mental powers of the little one too severely, but her protest could not pass unheeded.
“You have done very well, my child; you are learning fast, so we’ll leave the spelling for to-morrow. Suppose we now try the commandments: can you repeat the first one?”
Nellie gave it correctly, as she did with slight assistance, the remaining ones. She was certainly gifted with a remarkable25 memory and possessed26 an unusually bright mind. Budge Isham was impressed by her repetition of the decalogue, whose meaning she was unable fully20 to grasp. His frivolous27 disposition28 vanished, as he looked upon the innocent child and watched the lips from which the sacred words flowed. He quietly decided29 79 that it would be inexcusably mean to seek any amusement at the expense of the parson, and it may as well be added that he never afterward30 referred to the incident, while it seemed to have passed wholly from the mind of Nellie herself. At the conclusion of the lesson, Budge complimented teacher and pupil and said he would be glad to certify31 that Mr. Brush was the best teacher in New Constantinople, and that it was impossible for any one to take his place. Then he bade them good day and walked thoughtfully away, leaving them once more to themselves.
These were the most precious moments of all to the teacher, when the formal lesson was completed, and he sat down for a little talk with his pupil. He occupied the stone which served her for a seat, while one arm loosely clasped the figure which stood between his knees. She patted his cheek, played with his rough collar and shaggy whiskers, while as he listened and replied to her prattle32, felt as never before the truth of the declaration that of such is the kingdom of heaven.
“Mr. Brush,” she finally said, “do you know why I love you?”
“I suppose it must be because I am so handsome,” he replied with a smile.
“No; it isn’t that, for you ain’t handsome.”
“Whew! but you are not afraid to speak the truth, little one, and I hope you will always do that. No; I 80 don’t know why you love me, unless you are so good yourself that you can’t help it.”
This was not exactly clear to the little one, and she stood silent for a minute, gently fingering his long beard. Then she thought it best to clear up the mystery without further parley33.
“I love you ’cause you’re good.”
Even though the avowal34 was delightful35, it caused a pang36, like a knife-thrust from his accusing conscience.
“I am thankful to hear you say that, but, Nellie, I am not good.”
“Yes, you is, but if you ain’t good, why ain’t you good?”
“I suppose the true reason is because I am bad. I am sorry to say it, but I have drifted far away from where I ought to be.”
The dimpled hand continued to fondle the whiskers, and the little brain was busy, but a wisdom that was more than human guided it. Turning those lustrous38 blue eyes upon him she softly asked:
“Will you do what I ask you?”
He almost gasped39, for he instinctively40 suspected what was coming, but he answered without hesitation41:
“If it is my power I will do it, though it kills me.”
81
“Oh, I don’t want it to kill you; this won’t hurt you; will you do it, Mr. Brush?”
“Do like Mr. Ruggles.”
“How’s that?” asked the parson with a sinking heart.
“Don’t drink any more of that red water, which makes men talk loud and sometimes say bad words.”
“Heavens!” thought the parson; “she little dreams what she is asking me, but it is not she but some One who is thus calling me back to duty. Yes, my child, I will do what you ask.”
“You is as good and nice as you can be now, but then you will be a good deal gooder and nicer,” said she, warmly kissing him.
“I hope so,” he added, rising to his feet, with the feeling that he was not himself but some one else, and that that some one else was the young man away among the distant hills of Missouri, before he wandered to the West, and in doing so, wandered from the path along which he had attempted to guide and lead others.
“I call myself her teacher,” he mused43, as he reached down and took the tiny hand in his own, “but she is the teacher and I am the pupil.”
They had started in the direction of the cabins, when they heard curious shouts and outcries in that direction. 82 “There’s something strange going on down there,” he said, peering toward the point; “I wonder what it can be; let us hurry and find out.”
Firmly clasping her hand, the two hastened down the incline, wondering what it was that caused all the noise and confusion.
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收听单词发音
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1
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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2
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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3
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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6
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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7
budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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8
waggish
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| adj.诙谐的，滑稽的 | |
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9
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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10
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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11
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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13
bluffed
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| 以假象欺骗，吹牛( bluff的过去式和过去分词 )； 以虚张声势找出或达成 | |
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14
susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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16
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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17
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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18
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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19
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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20
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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21
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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22
auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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23
cramming
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| n.塞满，填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 )；填塞；塞满；（为考试而）死记硬背功课 | |
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24
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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25
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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26
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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27
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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28
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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29
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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30
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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31
certify
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| vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给 | |
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32
prattle
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| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
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33
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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34
avowal
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| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
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35
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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36
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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37
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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38
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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39
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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40
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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41
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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42
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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43
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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