the song of the cardinal-第9部分

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way。　　He　dashed　into　mid…air；　and　with　a　gyration　that　would　have

done　credit　to　a　flycatcher；　he　snapped　up　a　gadfly　that　should

have　been　more　alert。



With　a　tender　〃Chip！〃　from　branch　to　branch；　slowly；　cautiously；

he　came　with　it。　　Because　he　was　half　starved　himself；　he　knew

that　she　must　be　almost　famished。　　Holding　it　where　she　could

see；　he　hopped　toward　her；　eagerly；　carefully；　the　gadfly　in　his

beak；　his　heart　in　his　mouth。　　He　stretched　his　neck　and　legs　to

the　limit　as　he　reached　the　fly　toward　her。　　What　matter　that　she

took　it　with　a　snap；　and　plunged　a　quarter　of　a　mile　before

eating　it？　　She　had　taken　food　from　him！　　That　was　the　beginning。

Cautiously　he　impelled　her　toward　the　sumac；　and　with　untiring

patience　kept　her　there　the　remainder　of　the　day。　　He　carried　her

every　choice　morsel　he　could　find　in　the　immediate　vicinity　of

the　sumac；　and　occasionally　she　took　a　bit　from　his　beak；　though

oftenest　he　was　compelled　to　lay　it　on　a　limb　beside　her。　　At

dusk　she　repeatedly　dashed　toward　the　underbrush；　but　the

Cardinal；　with　endless　patience　and　tenderness；　maneuvered　her　to

the　sumac；　until　she　gave　up；　and　beneath　the　shelter　of　a

neighbouring　grapevine；　perched　on　a　limb　that　was　the　Cardinal's

own　chosen　resting…place；　tucked　her　tired　head　beneath　her　wing；

and　went　to　rest。　　When　she　was　soundly　sleeping；　the　Cardinal

crept　as　closely　as　he　dared；　and　with　one　eye　on　his　little　gray

love；　and　the　other　roving　for　any　possible　danger；　he　spent　a

night　of　watching　for　any　danger　that　might　approach。



He　was　almost　worn　out；　but　this　was　infinitely　better　than　the

previous　night；　at　any　rate；　for　now　he　not　only　knew　where　she

was；　but　she　was　fast　asleep　in　his　own　favourite　place。　　Huddled

on　the　limb；　the　Cardinal　gloated　over　her。　　He　found　her　beauty

perfect。　　To　be　sure；　she　was　dishevelled；　but　she　could　make　her

toilet。　　There　were　a　few　feathers　gone；　but　they　would　grow

speedily。　　She　made　a　heart…satisfying　picture；　on　which　the

Cardinal　feasted　his　love…sick　soul；　by　the　light　of　every

straying　moonbeam　that　slid　around　the　edges　of　the　grape　leaves。



Wave　after　wave　of　tender　passion　shook　him。　　In　his　throat　half

the　night　he　kept　softly　calling　to　her：　〃Come　here！　Come　here！〃



Next　morning；　when　the　robins　announced　day　beside　the　shining

river；　she　awoke　with　a　start；　but　before　she　could　decide　in

which　direction　to　fly；　she　discovered　a　nice　fresh　grub　laid　on

the　limb　close　to　her；　and　very　sensibly　remained　for　breakfast。

Then　the　Cardinal　went　to　the　river　and　bathed。　　He　made　such

delightful　play　of　it；　and　the　splash　of　the　water　sounded　so

refreshing　to　the　tired　draggled　bird；　that　she　could　not　resist

venturing　for　a　few　dips。　　When　she　was　wet　she　could　not　fly

well；　and　he　improved　the　opportunity　to　pull　her　broken　quills；

help　her　dress　herself；　and　bestow　a　few　extra　caresses。　　He

guided　her　to　his　favourite　place　for　a　sun　bath；　and　followed

the　farmer's　plow　in　the　corn　field　until　he　found　a　big　sweet

beetle。　　He　snapped　off　its　head；　peeled　the　stiff　wing　shields；

and　daintily　offered　it　to　her。　　He　was　so　delighted　when　she

took　it　from　his　beak；　and　remained　in　the　sumac　to　eat　it；　that

he　established　himself　on　an　adjoining　thorn…bush；　where　the

snowy　blossoms　of　a　wild　morning…glory　made　a　fine　background　for

his　scarlet　coat。　　He　sang　the　old　pleading　song　as　he　never　had

sung　it　before；　for　now　there　was　a　tinge　of　hope　battling　with

the　fear　in　his　heart。



Over　and　over　he　sang；　rounding；　fulling；　swelling　every　note；

leaning　toward　her　in　coaxing　tenderness；　flashing　his　brilliant

beauty　as　he　swayed　and　rocked；　for　her　approval；　and　all　that　he

had　suffered　and　all　that　he　hoped　for　was　in　his　song。　　Just

when　his　heart　was　growing　sick　within　him；　his　straining　ear

caught　the　faintest；　most　timid　call　a　lover　ever　answered。　　Only

one　imploring；　gentle　〃Chook！〃　from　the　sumac！　　His　song　broke　in

a　suffocating　burst　of　exultation。　　Cautiously　he　hopped　from

twig　to　twig　toward　her。　　With　tender　throaty　murmurings　he

slowly　edged　nearer；　and　wonder　of　wonders！　　with　tired　eyes　and

quivering　wings；　she　reached　him　her　beak　for　a　kiss。



At　dinner　that　day；　the　farmer　said　to　his　wife：



〃Maria；　if　you　want　to　hear　the　prettiest　singin'；　an'　see　the

cutest　sight　you　ever　saw；　jest　come　down　along　the　line　fence

an'　watch　the　antics　o'　that　redbird　we　been　hearin'〃



〃I　don't　know　as　redbirds　are　so　scarce　'at　I've　any　call　to　wade

through　slush　a　half…mile　to　see　one；〃　answered　Maria。



〃Footin's　pretty　good　along　the　line　fence；〃　said　Abram；　〃an'　you

never　saw　a　redbird　like　this　fellow。　　He's　as　big　as　any　two

common　ones。　　He's　so　red　every　bush　he　lights　on　looks　like　it

was　afire。　　It's　past　all　question；　he's　been　somebody's　pet；　an'

he's　taken　me　for　the　man。　　I　can　get　in　six　feet　of　him　easy。

He's　the　finest　bird　I　ever　set　eyes　on；　an'　as　for　singin'；　he's

dropped　the　weather；　an'　he's　askin'　folks　to　his　housewarmin'

to…day。　　He's　been　there　alone　for　a　week；　an'　his　singin's　been

first…class；　but　to…day　he's　picked　up　a　mate；　an'　he's　as

tickled　as　ever　I　was。　　I　am　really　consarned　for　fear　he'll

burst　himself。〃



Maria　sniffed。



〃Course；　don't　come　if　you're　tired；　honey；〃　said　the　farmer。　　〃I

thought　maybe　you'd　enjoy　it。　　He's　a…doin'　me　a　power　o'　good。　

My　joints　are　limbered　up　till　I　catch　myself　pretty　near

runnin'；　on　the　up　furrow；　an'　then；　down　towards　the　fence；　I　go

slow　so's　to　stay　near　him　as　long　as　I　can。〃



Maria　stared。　　〃Abram　Johnson；　have　you　gone　daft？〃　she　demanded。



Abram　chuckled。　　〃Not　a　mite　dafter'n　you'll　be；　honey；　once　you

set　eyes　on　the　fellow。　　Better　come；　if　you　can。　　You're

invited。　He's　askin'　the　whole　endurin'　country　to　come。〃



Maria　said　nothing　more；　but　she　mentally　decided　she　had　no　time

to　fool　with　a　bird；　when　there　were　housekeeping　and　spring

sewing　to　do。　　As　she　recalled　Abram's　enthusiastic　praise　of　the

singer；　and　had　a　whiff　of　the　odour…laden　air　as　she　passed　from

kitchen　to　spring…house；　she　was　compelled　to　admit　that　it　was　a

temptation　to　go；　but　she　finished　her　noon　work　and　resolutely

sat　down　with　her　needle。　　She　stitched　industriously；　her　thread

straightening　with　a　quick　nervous　sweep；　learned　through　years

of　experience；　and　if　her　eyes　wandered　riverward；　and　if　she

paused　frequently　with　arrested　hand　and　listened　intently；　she

did　not　realize　it。　　By　two　o'clock；　a　spirit　of　unrest　that

demanded　recognition　had　taken　possession　of　her。　　Setting　her

lips　firmly；　a　scowl　clouding　her　brow；　she　stitched　on。　　By　half

past　two　her　hands　dropped　in　her　lap；　Abram's　new　hickory　shirt

slid　to　the　floor；　and　she　hesitatingly　arose　and　crossed　the

room　to　the　closet；　from　which　she　took　her　overshoes；　and　set

them　by　the　kitchen　fire；　to　have　them　ready　in　case　she　wanted

them。



〃Pshaw！〃　she　muttered；　〃I　got　this　shirt　to　finish　this

afternoon。　　There's　butter　an'　bakin'　in　the　mornin'；　an'　Mary

Jane　Simms　is　comin'　for　a　visit　in　the　afternoon。〃



She　returned　to　the　window　and　took　up　the　shirt；　sewing　with

unusual　swiftness　for　the　next　half…hour；　but　by　three　she

dropped　it；　and　opening　the　kitchen　door；　gazed　toward　the　river。

Every　intoxicating　delight　of　early　spring　was　in　the　air。　　The

breeze　that　fanned　her　cheek　was　laden　with　subtle　perfume　of

pollen　and　the　crisp　fresh　odour　of　unfolding　leaves。　　Curling

skyward；　like　a　beckoning　finger；　went　a　spiral　of　violet　and

gray　smoke　from　the　log　heap　Abram　was　burning；　and　scattered

over　spaces　of　a　mile　were　half　a　dozen　others；　telling　a　story

of　the　activity　of　his　neighbours。　　Like　the　low　murmur　of

distant　music　came　the　beating　wings　of　hundreds　of　her　bees；

rimming　the　water　trough；　insane　with　thirst。　　On　the　wood…pile

the　guinea　cock　clattered　incessantly：　〃Phut　rack！　Phut　rack！〃

Across　the　dooryard　came　the　old　turkey…gobbler　with　fan　tail　and

a　rasping　scrape　of　wing；　evincing　his　delight　in　spring　and

mating　time　by　a　series　of　explosive　snorts。　　On　the　barnyard

gate　the　old　Shanghai　was　lustily　challenging　to　mortal　combat

one　of　his　kind　three　miles　across　country。　　From　the　river　arose

the　strident　scream　of　her　blue　gander　jealously　guarding　his

harem。　　In　the　poultry…yard　the　hens　made　a　noisy　cackling　party；

and　the　stable　lot　was　filled　with　cattle　bellowing　for　the

freedom　of　the　meadow　pasture；　as　yet　scarcely　ready　for　grazing。



It　seemed　to　the　little　woman；　hesitating　in　the　doorway；　as　if

all　nature　had　entered　into　a　conspiracy　to　lure　her　from　her

work；　and　just　then；　clear　and　imperious；　arose　the　demand　of　the

Cardinal：　〃Come　here！　Come　here！〃



Blank　amazement　filled　her　face。　　〃As　I'm　a　livin'　woman！〃　she

gasped。　　〃He's　changed　his　song！　　That's　what　Abram　meant　by　me

bein'　invited。　　He's　askin'　folks　to　see　his　mate。　　I'm　goin'。〃



The　dull　red　of　excitement　sprang　into　her　cheeks。　　She　hurried

on　her　overshoes；　and　drew　an　old　shawl　over　her　head。　　She

crossed　the　dooryard；　followed　the　path　through　the　orchard；　and

came　to　the　lane。　　Below　the　barn　she　turned　back　and　attempted

to　cross。　The　mud　was　deep　and　thick；　and　she　lost　an　overshoe；

but　with　the　help　of　a　stick　she　pried　it　out；　and　replaced　it。



〃Joke　on　me　if　I'd　a…tumbled　over　in　this　mud；〃　she　muttered。



She　entered　the　barn；　and　came　out　a　minute　later；　carefully

closing　and　buttoning　the　door；　and　started　down　the　line　fence

toward　the　river。



Half…way　across　the　field　Abram　saw　her　coming。　　No　need　to

recount　how　often　he　had　looked　in　that　direction　during　the

afternoon。　　He　slapped　the　lines　on　the　old　gray's　back　and　came

tearing　down　the　slope；　his　eyes　flashing；　his　cheeks　red；　his

hands　firmly　gripping　the　plow　that　rolled　up　a　line　of　black

mould　as　he　passed。



Maria；　staring　at　his　flushed　face　and　shining　eyes；