The solemnity with which Winnie and Bobsey promised to obey orders gave some hope of performance; so I tossed them into the straw, and we drove away, a merry party, leaving Mousie consoled with the hope of receiving something from the vendue.
"There's allers changes and breakin's up in the spring," said Mr. Jones, as we drove along; "and this family's goin' out West. Everything is to be sold, in doors and out."
The farmhouse2 in question was about two miles away. By the time we arrived, all sorts of vehicles were converging3 to it on the muddy roads, for the weather had become mild again. Stylish-looking people drove up in top-buggies, and there were many heavy, springless wagons4 driven by rusty-looking countrymen, whose trousers were thrust into the top of their cowhide boots. I strolled through the house before the sale began, thinking that I might find something there which would please Mousie and my wife. The rooms were already half filled with the housewives from the vicinity; red-faced Irish women, who stalked about and examined everything with great freedom; placid5, peach-cheeked dames6 in Quaker bonnets7, who softly cooed together, and took every chance they could to say pleasant words to the flurried, nervous family that was being thrust out into the world, as it were, while still at their own hearth8.
I marked with my eye a low, easy sewing-chair for my wife, and a rose geranium, full of bloom, for Mousie, purposing to bid on them. I also observed that Junior was examining several pots of flowers that stood in the large south window. Then giving Merton charge of the children, with directions not to lose sight of them a moment, I went to the barn-yard and stable, feeling that the day was a critical one in our fortunes. True enough, among the other stock there was a nice-looking cow with a calf9, and Mr. Jones said she had Jersey10 blood in her veins11. This meant rich, creamy milk. I thought the animal had a rather ugly eye, but this might be caused by anxiety for her calf, with so many strangers about. We also examined the old bay horse and a market wagon and harness. Then Mr. Jones and I drew apart and agreed upon the limit of his bids, for I proposed to act solely12 through him. Every one knew him and was aware that he would not go a cent beyond what a thing was worth. He had a word and a jest for all, and "How ARE YOU, JOHN?" greeted him wherever he went.
At ten o'clock the sale began. The auctioneer was a rustic13 humorist, who knew the practical value of a joke in his business. Aware of the foibles and characteristics of the people who flocked around and after him, he provoked many a ripple14 and roar of laughter by his telling hits and droll15 speeches. I found that my neighbor, Mr. Jones, came in for his full share, but he always sent back as good as he received. The sale, in fact, had the aspect of a country merrymaking, at which all sorts and conditions of people met on common ground, Pat bidding against the best of the landed gentry16, while boys and dogs innumerable played around and sometimes verged17 on serious quarrels.
Junior, I observed, left his mark before the day was over. He was standing18, watching the sale with his usual impassive expression, when a big, hulking fellow leered into his face and cried.
"Tow head, white-head, Thick-head, go to bed."
The last word was scarcely out of his mouth before Junior's fist was between his eyes, and down he went.
"Want any more?" Junior coolly asked, as the fellow got up.
At noon there was an immense pot of coffee with crackers20 and cheese, placed on a table near the kitchen door, and we had a free lunch. To this Bobsey paid his respects so industriously21 that a great, gawky mountaineer looked down at him and said, with a grin, "I say, young 'un, you're gettin' outside of more fodder22 than any critter of your size I ever knowed."
"'Tain't your fodder," replied Bobsey, who had learned, in the streets, to be a little pert.
The day came to an end at last, and the cow and calf, the old bay horse, the wagon, and the harness were mine. On the whole, Mr. Jones had bought them at reasonable rates. He also bid in for me, at one dollar per pair, two cocks and twenty hens that looked fairly well in their coop.
For my part, I had secured the chair and blooming geranium. To my surprise, when the rest of the flowers were sold, Junior took part in the bidding for the first time, and, as a result, carried out to the wagon several other pots of house-plants.
"Why, Junior," I said, "I didn't know you had such an eye for beauty."
He blushed, but made no reply.
The chickens and the harness were put into Mr. Jones's conveyance23, the wagon I had bought was tied on behind, and we jogged homeward, the children exulting24 over our new possessions. When I took in the geranium bush and put it on the table by the sunny kitchen window, Junior followed with an armful of his plants.
Indeed, it soon became evident that Mousie was Junior's favorite. She never said much to him, but she looked a great deal. To the little invalid26 girl he seemed the embodiment of strength and cleverness, and, perhaps because he was so strong, his sympathies went out toward the feeble child.
The coop of chickens was carried to the basement that we had made ready, and Winnie declared that she meant to "hear the first crow and get the first egg."
The next day the horse and the cow and calf were brought over, and we felt that we were fairly launched in our country life.
"You have a bigger family to look after outdoors than I have indoors," my wife said, laughingly.
I was not long in learning that some of my outdoor family were anything but amiable27. The two cocks fought and fought until Junior, who had run over before night, showed Merton that by ducking their heads in cold water their belligerent28 spirit could be partially29 quenched30. Then he proceeded to give me a lesson in milking. The calf was shut up away from the cow, which was driven into a corner, where she stood with signs of impatience31 while Junior, seated on a three-legged stool, essayed to obtain the nectar we all so dearly loved. At first he did not succeed very well.
"She won't let it down—she's keepin' it for the calf," said the boy.
But at last she relented, and the white streams flowed. "Now," said
Junior to me, "you see how I do it. You try."
As I took his place, I noticed that Brindle turned on me a vicious look. No doubt I was awkward and hurt her a little, also; for the first thing I knew the pail was in the air, I on my back, and Brindle bellowing32 around the yard, switching her tail, Junior and Merton meanwhile roaring with laughter. I got up in no amiable mood and said, roughly, to the boys, "Quit that nonsense."
But they couldn't obey, and at last I had to join in the laugh.
"Why, she's ugly as sin," said Junior. "I'll tell you what to do. Let her go with her calf now, and in the morning we'll drive her down to one of the stalls in the basement of the barn and fasten her by the head. Then we can milk her without risk. After her calf is gone she'll be a great deal tamer."
This plan was carried out, and it worked pretty well, although it was evident that, from some cause, the cow was wild and vicious. One of my theories is, that all animals can be subdued33 by kindness. Mr. Jones advised me to dispose of Brindle, but I determined34 to test my theory first. Several times a day I would go to the barn-yard and give her a carrot or a whisp of hay from my hand, and she gradually became accustomed to me, and would come at my call. A week later I sold her calf to a butcher, and for a few days she lowed and mourned deeply, to Mousie's great distress35. But carrots consoled her, and within three weeks she would let me stroke her, and both Merton and I could milk her without trouble. I believe she had been treated harshly by her former owners.
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1
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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4
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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5
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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6
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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7
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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8
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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9
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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12
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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14
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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17
verged
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| 接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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20
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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industriously
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22
fodder
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| n.草料；炮灰 | |
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23
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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24
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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25
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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29
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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30
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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31
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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32
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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33
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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34
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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35
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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