the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第6部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
something worse than death？ What drove them to this dreadful resting…
place？ What spectre hurried them to the leap？ These things； too； are
my concern； the river says。
Life is very grim in London： it is not painted in the fair； glowing
colours of grass and sky and trees； and shining streams that bring peace。
It is drawn in hard black and white； but the voice of its dark waters must
be heard all the same。
* * * * *
I would not leave my rivers in the shadow。 After all； this life is only
a prelude； a beginning： we pass on to where 〃the rivers and streams
make glad the city of God。〃 But if we will not listen here how shall we
understand hereafter。
23
… Page 24…
The Grey Brethren
Spring
HARK how the merry daffodils； Fling golden music to the hills！ And
how the hills send echoing down； Through wind…swept turf and moorland
brown； The murmurs of a thousand rills That mock the song…birds' liquid
trills！ The hedge released from Winter's frown Shews jewelled branch and
willow crown； While all the earth with pleasure trills； And 'dances with the
daffodils。'
Out； out； ye flowers！ Up and shout！ Staid Winter's passed and
Spring's about To lead your ranks in joyous rout； To string the hawthorn's
milky pearls； And gild the grass with celandine； To dress the catkins'
tasselled curls； To twist the tendrils of the vine。 She wakes the wind…
flower from her sleep； And lights the woods with April's moon； The
violets lift their heads to peep； The daisies brave the sun at noon。
The gentle wind from out the west Toys with the lilac pretty maids；
Ruffles the meadow's verdant…vest； And rings the bluebells in the glades；
The ash…buds change their sombre suit； The orchards blossom white and
red … Promise of Autumn's riper fruit； When Spring's voluptuousness has
fled。 Awake！ awake； O throstle sweet！ And haste with all your choir to
greet This Queen who comes with wakening feet。
Persephone with grateful eyes Salutes the Sun … 'tis Paradise： Then
hastens down the dewy meads； Past where the herd contented feeds； Past
where the furrows hide the grain； For harvesting of sun and rain； To where
Demeter patient stands With longing lips and outstretched hands； Until the
dawning of one face Across the void of time and space Shall bring again
her day of grace。 Rejoice； O Earth！ Rejoice and sing！ This is the promise
of the Spring； And this the world's remembering。
24
… Page 25…
The Grey Brethren
A Lark's Song
SWEET； sweet！ I rise to greet The sapphire sky The air slips by On
either side As up I ride On mounting wing； And sing and sing … Then reach
my bliss； The sun's great kiss； And poise a space To see his face； Sweet；
sweet； In radiant grace； Ah； sweet！ ah； sweet！
Sweet； sweet！ Beneath my feet My nestlings call： And down I fall
Unerring； true； Through heaven's blue； And haste to fill Each noisy bill。
My brooding breast Stills their unrest。 Sweet； sweet； Their quick hearts
beat； Safe in the nest： Ah； sweet； sweet； sweet！ Ah； sweet！
Sweet； sweet The calling sky That bids me fly Up … up … on high。
Sweet； sweet The claiming earth； It holds my nest And draws me down To
where Love's crown Of priceless worth Awaits my breast。 Sweet； sweet！
Ah； this is best And this most meet； Sweet； sweet！ ah； sweet！
25
… Page 26…
The Grey Brethren
'Luvly Miss'
NOBODY thought of consequences。 There was a lighted paraffin
lamp on the table and nothing else handy。 Mrs Brown's head presented a
tempting mark； and of course Mr Brown's lengthy stay at 'The Three
Fingers' had something to do with it； but nobody thought of Miss Brown；
aged four； who was playing happily on the floor； unruffled by the storm to
which she was so well accustomed。
Mrs Brown ducked； there was a smash； a scream； and poor little Miss
Brown was in a blaze。 The shock sobered the father and silenced the
mother。 Miss Brown was extinguished with the aid of a table… cover；
much water； and many neighbours； but she was horribly burnt all over；
except her face。
* * * * *
I made Miss Brown's acquaintance a few days later。 She was lying
on a bed made up on two chairs； and was covered with cotton wool。 She
had scarcely any pain； and could not move at all； and the small face that
peered out of what she called her 〃pitty warm snow〃 was wan and drawn
and had a far…away look in the dark eyes。
Miss Brown possessed one treasure； her 'luvly miss。' I suppose I
must call it a doll； though in what its claim to the title consisted I dared not
ask； Miss Brown would have deeply resented the enquiry。 It was a very
large potato with a large and a small bulge。 Into the large bulge were
inserted three pieces of fire… wood； the body and arms of 'luvly miss'； legs
she had none。
How Miss Brown came by this treasure I never heard。 She had an
impression that it 〃flied froo the winder〃 … I fancy Mr Brown had a hand in
the manufacture in one of his lucid moments； but it was a treasure indeed
and the joy of Miss Brown's life。 She held long conversations with 'luvly
miss' on all familiar subjects； and apparently obtained much strange and
rare information from her。 For example； Miss Brown and 'luvly miss' in
some previous stage of their existence had inhabited a large chimney…pot
together； 〃where it was always so warm and a bootie 'mell of cookin'。'〃
26
… Page 27…
The Grey Brethren
Also she had a rooted belief that one day she and 'luvly miss' would be
〃hangels wiv' black weils and basticks。〃 This puzzled me for some time；
until I discovered it to be an allusion to the good deaconess who attended
her； and whom Mrs Brown in gratitude designated by this title。
Alas for little Miss Brown and her 'luvly miss'！ their respective ends
were drawing near。 I went in one Friday； a week or so after the accident；
and found Mrs Brown in tears and despair； and Miss Brown with a look of
anguish on her poor little pinched face that was bad to see。 'Luvly Miss'
was no more。
It was Mr Brown again； or； to trace back the links of occasion； it was
the action of 'The Three Fingers' on Mr Brown's frail constitution。 He
had come in late； seen 'luvly miss' on the table； and； with his usual
heedlessness of consequence； had chucked her into the dying embers
where … alas that I should have to say it！ … she slowly baked。 Little Miss
Brown； when the miserable truth was broken to her； neither wept nor
remonstrated； she lay quite still with a look of utter forsaken wretchedness
on her tiny white face； and moaned very softly for 'luvly miss。'
I came face to face with this state of things and I confess it staggered
me。 I knew Miss Brown too well to hope that any pink… and…white
darling from the toy…shop could replace 'luvly miss；' or that she could be
persuaded to admit even a very image of the dear departed into her
affections。 Then； too； the doctor said Miss Brown had but a few days at
the most； perhaps only hours； to live； and comforted she must be。
All at once I had an inspiration； and never in my life have I welcomed
one more。 I knelt down by little Miss Brown and told her the story of the
Phoenix。 I had not reckoned in vain upon her imagination： would I
〃yerely and twooly bwing〃 her 〃werry own luvly miss out of the ashes？〃
I lied cheerfully and hastened away to the dust…bin； accompanied by Mrs
Brown。
In a few minutes we returned with a pail of ashes； the ashes； of course；
of 'luvly miss' mingled with those of the cruel fire which had consumed
her。 I danced solemnly round them； murmured mysterious words； parted
the ashes； and revealed the form of 'luvly miss。' Love's eyes were not
sharp to mark a change； and little Miss Brown's misplaced faith in me was
27
… Page 28…
The Grey Brethren
strong。 Never shall I forget the scream of joy which greeted the restored
treasure； or the relief with which I saw an expression of peace settle once
more on Miss Brown's face。
I saw them again next day。 Little Miss Brown was asleep in her last
little bed； still wrapped in the 〃pitty warm snow；〃 and 'luvly miss' lay
beside her。
28
… Page 29…
The Grey Brethren
Four Stories Told to Children
The Story of the Dreadful Griffin。
