the red acorn-第28部分

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upon　them　now；　with　unstrung　nerves；　made　them　seem　a　hundred…fold　more　terrible　than　when　they　were　the　spontaneous　offspring　of　hot　blood。　　With　the　reflection　came　the　thoguhts　that　this　was　but　a　preludean　introductionto　an　infinitely　horrible　saturnalia　of　violence　and　blood；　through　which　he　was　to　be　hurried　until　released　by　his　own　destruction。　This　became　a　nightmare　that　threatened　to　stagnate　the　blood　in　his　veins。　　He　gasped；　turned　his　back　to　the　wall　with　an　effort　that　thrilled　him　with　pain；　and　opened　his　eyes。

Naught　that　he　saw　reminded　him　of　the　preceding　day。　　Sunny　peace　and　contentment　reigned。　　The　door　stood　wide　open；　and　as　it　faced　the　south；　the　noonday　sun　pushed　inclear　to　the　opposite　walla　broad　band　of　mellow　light；　vividly　telling　of　the　glory　he　was　shedding　where　roof　nor　shade　checked　his　genial　glow。　　On　the　smooth；　hard；　ashen　floor；　in　the　center　of　this　bright　zone；　sat　a　matronly　cat；　giving　with　tongue　and　paw　dainty　finishing　touches　to　her　morning　toilet；　and　watching　with　maternal　pride　a　kittenish　game　of　hide…and…seek　on　the　front　step。　　Through　the　open　doorway　came　the　self…complacent　cackling　of　hens；　celebrating　their　latest　additions　to　their　nests；　and　the　exultant　call　of　a　cock　to　his　feathered　harem　to　come；　admire　and　partake　of　some　especially　fat　worm；　which　he　had　just　unearthed。　　Farther　away　speckled　Guinea　chickens　were　clamoring　their　satisfaction　at　the　improvement　in　the　weather。　　Still　farther；　gentle　tinklings　hinted　of　peacfully…browsing　sheep。

Inside　the　house；　bunches　of　sweet…smelling　medicinal　herbs；　hanging　agains　the　walls　to　dry；　made　the　air　heavy　with　their　odors。　　Aunt　Debby　was　at　work　near　the　bright　zone　of　sun…rays；　spinning　yarn　with　a　〃big　wheel。〃　　She　held　in　one　hand　a　long　slender　roll　of　carded　wool；　and　in　the　other　a　short　stick；　with　which　she　turned　the　wheel。　　Setting　it　to　whirling　with　a　long　sweep　of　the　stick　against　a　spoke；　she　would　walk　backward　while　the　roll　was　twisted　out　into　a　long；　thin　thread；　and　then　walk　forward　as　they　yarn　was　wound　upon　the　spindle。　　When　she　walked　backward；　the　spindle　hummed　sharply；　when　she　came　forward　it　droned。　　There　was　a　stately　rhythm　in　both；　to　which　her　footsteps　and　graceful　sway　of　body　kept　time；　and　all　blended　harmoniously　with　the　camp…meeting　melody　she　was　softly　singing：


〃Jesus；　I　my　cross　have　taken；　　　　All　to　leave　and　follow　Thee；　Naked；　poor；　despised；　forsaken；　　　　Thou　from　hence　my　all　shalt　be。　Perish　every　fond　ambition　　　　All　I've　sought；　or　hoped；　or　known；　Yet　how　rich　is　my　condition　　　　God　and　Heaven　still　my　own。〃


A　world　of　memories　of　a　joyous　past；　unflecked　by　a　single　one　of　the　miseries　of　the　present；　crowded　in　upon　Harry　on　the　wings　of　this　well…remembered　tune。　　It　was　a　favorite　hymn　at　the　Methodist　church　in　Sardis；　and　the　last　time　he　had　heard　it　was　when　he　had　accompanied　Rachel　to　the　church　to　attend　services　conducted　by　a　noted　evangelist。

Ah；　Rachel！what　of　her？

He　had　not　thought　of　her　since　a　swift　recollection　of　her　words　at　the　parting　scene　on　the　piazza　had　come　to　spur　up　his　faltering　resolution；　as　the　regiment　advanced　up　the　side　of　Wildcat。　　Now　one　bitter　thought　of　how　useless　all　that　he　had　gone　through　with　the　day　before　was　to　rehabilitate　himself　in　her　good　opinion　was　speedily　chased　from　his　mind　by　the　still　bitterer　one　of　the　contempt　she　must　feel　for　him；　did　she　but　know　of　his　present　abject　prostration。

After　all；　might　not　the　occurrences　of　yesterday　be　but　the　memories　of　a　nightmare？　　They　seemed　too　unreal　for　probability。　　Perhaps　he　was　just　recovering　consciousness　after　the　delirium　of　a　fever。

The　walnut　sticks　in　the　fireplace　popped　as　sharply　as　pistols；　and　he　trembled　from　head　to　foot。

〃Heavens；　I'm　a　bigger　coward　than　ever；〃　he　said　bitterly；　and　turning　himself　painfully　in　bed；　he　fixed　his　eyes　upon　the　wall。　〃I　was　led　to　believe；〃　he　continued；　〃that　after　I　had　once　been　under　fire；　I　would　cease　to　dread　it。　　Now；　it　seems　to　me　more　dreadful　than　I　ever　imagined　it　to　be。〃

Aunt　Debby's　wheel　hummed　and　droned　still　louder；　but　her　pleasant　tones　rode　on　the　cadences　like　an　Aeolian　harp　in　a　rising　wind：


〃Man　may　trouble　and　distress　me；　　　　'T　will　but　drive　me　to　Thy　breast；　Life　with　trials　hard　may　press　me；　　　　Heaven　will　bring　me　sweeter　rest。　O；　'tis　not　in　grief　to　harm　me；　　　　While　Thy　love　is　left　to　me。　O；　'twere　not　in　joy　to　charm　me；　　　　Were　that　joy　unmixed　with　Thee。〃


He　wondered　weakly　why　ther　were　no　monasteries　in　this　land　and　age；　to　serve　as　harbors　or　refuge　for　those　who　shrank　from　the　fearfulness　of　war。

He　turned　over　again　wearily；　and　Aunt　Debby；　looking　toward　him；　encountered　his　wide…open　eyes。

〃Yer　awake；　air　ye？〃　she　said　kindly。　　〃Hope　I　didn't　disturb　you。　I　wuz　tryin'　ter　make　ez　little　noise　ez　possible。〃

〃No；　you　didn't　rouse　me。　　It's　hard　for　me　to　sleep　in　daylight；　even　when　fatigued；　as　I　am。〃

〃Ef　ye　want　ter　git　up　now；〃　she　said；　stopping　the　whell　by　pressing　the　stick　against　a　spoke；　and　laying　the　〃roll〃　in　her　hand　upon　the　wheel…head；　〃I'll　hev　some　breakfast　fur　ye　in　a　jiffy。　　Ye　kin　rise　an'　dress　while　I　run　down　ter　the　spring　arter　a　fresh　bucket　o'　water。〃

She　covered　her　head　with　a　〃slat　sun…bonnet；〃　which　she　took　from　a　peg　in　the　wall；　lifted　a　cedar　waterpail　from　a　shelf　supported　by　other　long　pegs；　poured　its　contents　into　a　large　cast…iron　teakettle　swinging　over　the　fire；　and　whisked　out　of　the　door。　Presently　the　notes　of　her　hymn　mingled　in　plaintive　harmony　with　the　sparkling　but　no　sweeter　song　of　a　robin　redbreast；　twittering　his　delight　in　the　warm　sunshine　amid　the　crimson　apples　of　the　tree　that　overhung　the　spring。

〃Will　ye　hev　a　fresh　drink？〃　she　asked　Harry；　on　her　return。

He　took　the　gourdful　of　clear；　cool　water；　which　she　offered　him；　and　drank　heartily。

〃Thet　hez　the　name　o'　bein'　the　best　spring　in　these　parts；〃　she　said；　pleased　with　his　appreciation。

〃An'　hit's　a　never…failin'　spring；　too。　　We've　plenty　o'　water　the　dryest　times；　when　everybody　else's　goes　dry。〃

〃That　IS　delicious　water；〃　said　Harry。

〃An'　now　I'll　git　ye　yor　breakfast　in　a　minnit。　　The　teakittle's　a…bilin'；　the　coffee's　ground；　the　pone's　done；　an'　when　I　fry　a　little　ham；　everything　will　be　ready。〃

As　her　culinary　methods　and　utensils　differed　wholly　from　anything　Harry　had　ever　seen；　he　studied　them　with　great　interest　sharpened　not　a　little　by　a　growing　appetite　for　breakfast。

The　clumsy　iron　teakettle　swung　on　a　hook　at　the　end　of　a　chain　fastened　somewhere　in　the　throat　of　the　chimney。　　On　the　rough　stones　forming　the　hearth　were　a　half…dozen　〃ovens〃　and　〃skillets〃circular；　cast…iron　vessels　standing　on　legs；　high　enough　to　allow　a　layer　of　live　coals　to　be　placed　beneath　them。　　They　were　covered　by　a　lid　with　a　ledge　around　it；　to　retain　the　mass　of　coals　heaped　on　top。　　The　cook's　scepter　was　a　wooden　hook；　with　which　she　moved　the　kettles　and　ovens　and　lifted　lids；　while　the　restless　fire　scorched　her　amrs　and　face　ruddier　than　cherry。

It　was　a　primitive　way；　and　so　wasteful　of　wood　that　it　required　a　tree　to　furnish　fuel　enough　t