the song of the cardinal-第6部分

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kinder　warms　the　cockles　o'　my　heart　all　up；　an'　every　skip　you

take　sets　me　a…wantin'　to　be　jumpin'；　too。



〃What　on　earth　are　you　lookin'　for？　　Man！　　I　b'lieve　it's　grub！　

Somebody's　been　feedin'　you！　　An'　you　want　me　to　keep　it　up？　

Well；　you　struck　it　all　right；　Mr。　Redbird。　　Feed　you？　　You　bet　I

will！　　You　needn't　even　'rastle　for　grubs　if　you　don't　want　to。　

Like　as　not　you're　feelin'　hungry　right　now；　pickin'　bein'　so

slim　these　airly　days。　　Land's　sake！　　I　hope　you　don't　feel

you've　come　too　soon。　　I'll　fetch　you　everything　on　the　place

it's　likely　a　redbird　ever　teched；　airly　in　the　mornin'　if　you'll

say　you'll　stay　an'　wave　your　torch　'long　my　river　bank　this

summer。　I　haven't　a　scrap　about　me　now。　　Yes；　I　have；　too！　

Here's　a　handful　o'　corn　I　was　takin'　to　the　banty　rooster；　but

shucks！　he's　fat　as　a　young　shoat　now。　　Corn's　a　leetle　big　an'

hard　for　you。　　Mebby　I　can　split　it　up　a　mite。〃



Abram　took　out　his　jack…knife；　and　dotting　a　row　of　grains　along

the　top　rail；　he　split　and　shaved　them　down　as　fine　as　possible；

and　as　he　reached　one　end　of　the　rail；　the　Cardinal；　with　a

spasmodic　〃Chip！〃　dashed　down　and　snatched　a　particle　from　the

other；　and　flashed　back　to　the　bush；　tested；　approved；　and

chipped　his　thanks。



〃Pshaw　now！〃　said　Abram；　staring　wide…eyed。　　〃Doesn't　that　beat

you？　　So　you　really　are　a　pet？　　Best　kind　of　a　pet　in　the　whole

world；　too！　　Makin'　everybody；　at　sees　you　happy；　an'　havin'　some

chance　to　be　happy　yourself。　　An'　I　look　like　your　friend？　　Well！





Well！　　I'm　monstrous　willin'　to　adopt　you　if　you'll　take　me；　an'；

as　for　feedin'；　from　to…morrow　on　I'll　find　time　to　set　your

little　table　'long　this　same　rail　every　day。　　I　s'pose　Maria　'ull

say　'at　I'm　gone　plumb　crazy；　but；　for　that　matter；　if　I　ever　get

her　down　to　see　you　jest　once；　the　trick's　done　with　her；　too；

for　you're　the　prettiest　thing　God　ever　made　in　the　shape　of　a

bird；　'at　I　ever　saw。　　Look　at　that　topknot　a　wavin'　in　the　wind！





Maybe　praise　to　the　face　is　open　disgrace；　but　I'll　take　your

share　an'　mine；　too；　an'　tell　you　right　here　an'　now　'at　you're

the　blamedest　prettiest　thing　'at　I　ever　saw。



〃But　Lord！　　You　ortn't　be　so　careless！　　Don't　you　know　you　ain't

nothin'　but　jest　a　target？　　Why　don't　you　keep　out　o'　sight　a

little？　　You　come　a…shinneyin'　up　to　nine　out　o'　ten　men　'long

the　river　like　this；　an'　your　purty；　coaxin'；　palaverin'　way

won't　save　a　feather　on　you。　　You'll　get　the　little　red　heart

shot　plumb　outen　your　little　red　body；　an'　that's　what　you'll

get。　It's　a　dratted　shame！　　An'　there's　law　to　protect　you；　too。

They's　a　good　big　fine　for　killin'　such　as　you；　but　nobody　seems

to　push　it。　　Every　fool　wants　to　test　his　aim；　an'　you're　the

brightest　thing　on　the　river　bank　for　a　mark。



〃Well；　if　you'll　stay　right　where　you　are；　it　'ull　be　a　sorry　day

for　any　cuss　'at　teches　you；　'at　I'll　promise　you；　Mr。　Redbird。

This　land's　mine；　an'　if　you　locate　on　it；　you're　mine　till　time

to　go　back　to　that　other　old　fellow　'at　looks　like　me。　　Wonder　if

he's　any　willinger　to　feed　you　an'　stand　up　for　you　'an　I　am？〃



〃Here！　Here！　Here！〃　whistled　the　Cardinal。



〃Well；　I'm　mighty　glad　if　you're　sayin'　you'll　stay！　　Guess　it

will　be　all　right　if　you　don't　meet　some　o'　them　Limberlost　hens

an'　tole　off　to　the　swamp。　　Lord！　　the　Limberlost　ain't　to　be

compared　with　the　river；　Mr。　Redbird。　　You're　foolish　if　you　go！　

Talkin'　'bout　goin'；　I　must　be　goin'　myself；　or　Maria　will　be

comin'　down　the　line　fence　with　the　lantern；　an'；　come　to　think

of　it；　I'm　a　little　moist；　not　to　say　downright　damp。　　But　then

you　WARNED　me；　didn't　you；　old　fellow？　　Well；　I　told　Maria　seein'

you　'ud　be　like　meetin'　folks；　an'　it　has　been。　　Good　deal　more'n

I　counted　on；　an'　I've　talked　more'n　I　have　in　a　whole　year。　

Hardly　think　now　'at　I've　the　reputation　o'　being　a　mighty　quiet

fellow；　would　you？〃



Abram　straightened　and　touched　his　hat　brim　in　a　trim　half

military　salute。　　〃Well；　good…bye；　Mr。　Redbird。　　Never　had　more

pleasure　meetin'　anybody　in　my　life　'cept　first　time　I　met　Maria。

You　think　about　the　plowin'；　an'；　if　you　say　‘stay；'　it's　a　go！　

Good…bye；　an'　do　be　a　little　more　careful　o'　yourself。　　See　you

in　the　mornin'；　right　after　breakfast；　no　count　taken　o'　the

weather。〃



〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃　called　the　Cardinal　after　his　retreating

figure。



Abram　turned　and　gravely　saluted　the　second　time。　　The　Cardinal

went　to　the　top　rail　and　feasted　on　the　sweet　grains　of　corn

until　his　craw　was　full；　and　then　nestled　in　the　sumac　and　went

to　sleep。　　Early　next　morning　he　was　abroad　and　in　fine　toilet；

and　with　a　full　voice　from　the　top　of　the　sumac　greeted　the

day〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃



Far　down　the　river　echoed　his　voice　until　it　so　closely　resembled

some　member　of　his　family　replying　that　he　followed；　searching

the　banks　mile　after　mile　on　either　side；　until　finally　he　heard

voices　of　his　kind。　　He　located　them；　but　it　was　only　several

staid　old　couples；　a　long　time　mated；　and　busy　with　their

nest…building。　　The　Cardinal　returned　to　the　sumac；　feeling　a

degree　lonelier　than　ever。



He　decided　to　prospect　in　the　opposite　direction；　and　taking

wing；　he　started　up　the　river。　　Following　the　channel；　he　winged

his　flight　for　miles　over　the　cool　sparkling　water；　between　the

tangle　of　foliage　bordering　the　banks。　　When　he　came　to　the　long

cumbrous　structures　of　wood　with　which　men　had　bridged　the　river；

where　the　shuffling　feet　of　tired　farm　horses　raised　clouds　of

dust　and　set　the　echoes　rolling　with　their　thunderous　hoof　beats；

he　was　afraid；　and　rising　high；　he　sailed　over　them　in　short

broken　curves　of　flight。　　But　where　giant　maple　and　ash；　leaning；

locked　branches　across　the　channel　in　one　of　old　Mother　Nature's

bridges　for　the　squirrels；　he　knew　no　fear；　and　dipped　so　low

beneath　them　that　his　image　trailed　a　wavering　shadow　on　the

silver　path　he　followed。



He　rounded　curve　after　curve；　and　frequently　stopping　on　a

conspicuous　perch；　flung　a　ringing　challenge　in　the　face　of　the

morning。　　With　every　mile　the　way　he　followed　grew　more

beautiful。　The　river　bed　was　limestone；　and　the　swiftly　flowing

water；　clear　and　limpid。　　The　banks　were　precipitate　in　some

places；　gently　sloping　in　others；　and　always　crowded　with　a

tangle　of　foliage。



At　an　abrupt　curve　in　the　river　he　mounted　to　the　summit　of　a　big

ash　and　made　boastful　prophecy；　〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃　and　on　all

sides　there　sprang　up　the　voices　of　his　kind。　　Startled；　the

Cardinal　took　wing。　　He　followed　the　river　in　a　circling　flight

until　he　remembered　that　here　might　be　the　opportunity　to　win　the

coveted　river　mate；　and　going　slower　to　select　the　highest　branch

on　which　to　display　his　charms；　he　discovered　that　he　was　only　a

few　yards　from　the　ash　from　which　he　had　made　his　prediction。　

The　Cardinal　flew　over　the　narrow　neck　and　sent　another　call；

then　without　awaiting　a　reply；　again　he　flashed　up　the　river　and

circled　Horseshoe　Bend。　　When　he　came　to　the　same　ash　for　the

third　time；　he　understood。



The　river　circled　in　one　great　curve。　　The　Cardinal　mounted　to

the　tip…top　limb　of　the　ash　and　looked　around　him。　　There　was

never　a　fairer　sight　for　the　eye　of　man　or　bird。　　The　mist　and

shimmer　of　early　spring　were　in　the　air。　　The　Wabash　rounded

Horseshoe　Bend　in　a　silver　circle；　rimmed　by　a　tangle　of　foliage

bordering　both　its　banks；　and　inside　lay　a　low　open　space　covered

with　waving　marsh　grass　and　the　blue　bloom　of　sweet　calamus。　

Scattered　around　were　mighty　trees；　but　conspicuous　above　any；　in

the　very　center；　was　a　giant　sycamore；　split　at　its　base　into

three　large　trees；　whose　waving　branches　seemed　to　sweep　the　face

of　heaven；　and　whose　roots；　like　miserly　fingers；　clutched　deep

into　the　black　muck　of　Rainbow　Bottom。



It　was　in　this　lovely　spot　that　the　rainbow　at　last　materialized；

and　at　its　base；　free　to　all　humanity　who　cared　to　seek；　the

Great　Alchemist　had　left　His　rarest　treasuresthe　gold　of

sunshine；　diamond　water…drops；　emerald　foliage；　and　sapphire　sky。



For　good　measure；　there　were　added　seeds；　berries；　and　insects

for　the　birds；　and　wild　flowers；　fruit；　and　nuts　for　the

children。　　Above　all；　the　sycamore　waved　its　majestic　head。



It　made　a　throne　that　seemed　suitable　for　the　son　of　the　king；

and　mounting　to　its　topmost　branch；　for　miles　the　river　carried

his　challenge：　〃Ho；　cardinals！　Look　this　way！　Behold　me！　Have　you

seen　any　other　of　so　great　size？　Have　you　any　to　equal　my　grace？

Who　can　whistle　so　loud；　so　clear；　so　compelling　a　note？　Who　will

fly　to　me　for　protection？　Who　will　come　and　be　my　mate？〃



He　flared　his　crest　high；　swelled　his　throat　with　rolling　notes；

and　appeared　so　big　and　brilliant　that　among　the　many　cardinals

that　had　gathered　to　hear；　there　was　not　one　to　compare　with　him。



Black　envy　filled　their　hearts。　　Who　was　this　flaming　dashing

stranger；　flaunting　himself　in　the　faces　of　their　females？　There

were　many　unmated　cardinals　in　Rainbow　Bottom；　and　many　jealous

males。　　A　second　time　the　Cardinal；　rocking　and　flashing；

proclaimed　himself；　and　there　was　a　note　of　feminine　approval　so

strong　that　he　caught　it。　　Tilting　on　a　twig；　his　crest　flared　to

full　height；　his　throat　swelled　to　bursting；　his　heart　too　big

for　his　body；　the　Cardinal　shouted　his　challenge　for　the　third

time；　when　clear　and　sharp　arose　a　cry　in　answer；　〃Here！　Here！

Here！〃　　It　came　from　a　female　that　had　accepted　the　caresses　of

the　brightest　cardinal　in　Rainbow　Bottom　only　the　day　before；　and

had　spent　the　morning　carrying　twigs　to　a　thicket　of　red　haws。



The　Cardinal；　with　a　royal　flourish；　sprang　in　air　to　seek　her；

but　her　outraged　mate　was　ahead　of　him；　and　with　a　scream　she

fled；　leaving　a　tuft　of　feathers　in　her　mate's　beak。　　In　turn　the

Cardinal　struck　him　like　a　flashing　rocket；　and　then　red　war

waged　in　Rainbow　Bottom。　　The　females　scattered　for　cover