the diary of a goose girl-第8章

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and　the　next　question　was　hushed　upon　her　awe…stricken　tongue；　as　I
intended。

〃They　are　obeying　my　wish　to　be　let　alone；　there's　no　doubt　of
that；〃　I　was　thinking。　　〃For　my　part；　I　like　a　little　more　spirit；
and　a　little　less　〃letter〃！〃

As　the　word　〃letter〃　flitted　through　my　thoughts；　I　pulled　one　from
my　pocket　and　glanced　through　it　carelessly。　　It　arrived；　somewhat
tardily；　only　last　night；　or　I　should　not　have　had　it　with　me。　　I
wore　the　same　dress　to　the　post…office　yesterday　that　I　wore　to　the
Hen　Conference　to…day；　and　so　it　chanced　to　be　still　in　the　pocket。
If　it　had　been　anything　I　valued；　of　course　I　should　have　lost　or
destroyed　it　by　mistake；　it　is　only　silly；　worthless　little　things
like　this　that　keep　turning　up　and　turning　up　after　one　has
forgotten　their　existence。


〃You　are　a　mystery！〃　＇it　ran。＇　　〃I　can　apprehend；　but　not
comprehend　you。　　I　know　you　in　part。　　I　understand　various　bits　of
your　nature；　but　my　knowledge　is　always　fragmentary　and
disconnected；　and　when　I　attempt　to　make　a　whole　of　the　mosaics　I
merely　get　a　kaleidoscopic　effect。　　Do　you　know　those　geographical
dissected　puzzles　that　they　give　to　children？　　You　remind　me　of　one
of　them。

〃I　have　spent　many　charming　（and　dangerous）　hours　trying　to　〃put
you　together〃；　but　I　find；　when　I　examine　my　picture　closely；　that
after　all　I've　made　a　purple　mountain　grow　out　of　a　green　tree；
that　my　river　is　running　up　a　steep　hillside；　and　that　the　pretty
milkmaid；　who　should　be　wandering　in　the　forest；　is　standing　on　her
head　with　her　pail　in　the　air

〃Do　you　understand　yourself　clearly？　　Or　is　it　just　possible　that
when　you　dive　to　the　depths　of　your　own　consciousness；　you
sometimes　find　the　pretty　milkmaid　standing　on　her　head？　　I
wonder！〃　。　。　。


Ah；　well；　it　is　no　wonder　that　he　wonders！　　　So　do　I；　for　that
matter！



CHAPTER　XII



July　17th。

Thornycroft　Farm　seems　to　be　the　musical　centre　of　the　universe。

When　I　wake　very　early　in　the　morning　I　lie　in　a　drowsy　sort　of
dream；　trying　to　disentangle；　one　from　the　other；　the　various　bird
notes；　trills；　coos；　croons；　chirps；　chirrups；　and　warbles。
Suddenly　there　falls　on　the　air　a　delicious；　liquid；　finished　song；
so　pure；　so　mellow；　so　joyous；　that　I　go　to　the　window　and　look　out
at　the　morning　world；　half　awakened；　like　myself。

There　is　I　know　not　what　charm　in　a　window　that　does　not　push　up；
but　opens　its　lattices　out　into　the　greenness。　　And　mine　is　like　a
little　jewelled　door；　for　the　sun　is　shining　from　behind　the
chimneys　and　lighting　the　tiny　diamond　panes　with　amber　flashes。

A　faint　delicate　haze　lies　over　the　meadow；　and　rising　out　of　it；
and　soaring　toward　the　blue　is　the　lark；　flinging　out　that
matchless　matin　song；　so　rich；　so　thrilling；　so　lavish！　　As　the
blithe　melody　fades　away；　I　hear　the　plaintive　ballad…fragments　of
the　robin　on　a　curtsying　branch　near　my　window；　and　there　is　always
the　liquid　pipe　of　the　thrush；　who　must　quaff　a　fairy　goblet　of　dew
between　his　songs；　I　should　think；　so　fresh　and　eternally　young　is
his　note。

There　is　another　beautiful　song　that　I　follow　whenever　I　hear　it；
straining　my　eyes　to　the　treetops；　yet　never　finding　a　bird　that　I
can　identify　as　the　singer。　　Can　it　be　the　…


〃Ousel…cock　so　black　of　hue；
With　orange…tawny　bill〃？


He　is　called　the　poet…laureate　of　the　primrose　time；　but　I　don't
know　whether　he　sings　in　midsummer；　and　I　have　not　seen　him
hereabouts。　　I　must　write　and　ask　my　dear　Man　of　the　North。　　The
Man　of　the　North；　I　sometimes　think；　had　a　Fairy　Grandmother　who
was　a　robin；　and　perhaps　she　made　a　nest　of　fresh　moss　and　put　him
in　the　green　wood　when　he　was　a　wee　bairnie；　so　that　he　waxed　wise
in　bird…lore　without　knowing　it。　　At　all　events；　describe　to　him
the　cock　of　a　head；　the　glance　of　an　eye；　the　tip…up　of　a　tail；　or
the　sheen　of　a　feather；　and　he　will　name　you　the　bird。　　Near…
sighted　he　is；　too；　the　Man　of　the　North；　but　that　is　only　for
people。

The　Square　Baby　and　I　have　a　new　game。

I　bought　a　doll's　table　and　china　tea…set　in　Buffington。　　We　put　it
under　an　apple…tree　in　the　side　garden；　where　the　scarlet　lightning
grows　so　tall　and　the　Madonna　lilies　stand　so　white　against　the
flaming　background。　　We　built　a　little　fence　around　it；　and　every
afternoon　at　tea…time　we　sprinkle　seeds　and　crumbs　in　the　dishes；
water　in　the　tiny　cups；　drop　a　cherry　in　each　of　the　fruit…plates；
and　have　a　the　chantant　for　the　birdies。　　We　sometimes　invite　an
〃invaleed〃　duckling；　or　one　of　the　baby　rabbits；　or　the　peacock；　in
which　case　the　cards　read：…


Thornycroft　Farm。
The　pleasure　of　your　company　is　requested
at　a
The　Chantant
Under　the　Apple　Tree。
Music　at　five。


It　is　a　charming　game；　as　I　say；　but　I'd　far　rather　play　it　with
the　Man　of　the　North；　he　is　so　much　younger　than　the　Square　Baby；
and　so　much　more　responsive；　too。

Thornycroft　Farm　is　a　sweet　place；　too；　of　odours　as　well　as
sounds。　　The　scent　of　the　hay　is　for　ever　in　the　nostrils；　the
hedges　are　thick　with　wild　honeysuckle；　so　deliciously　fragrant；
the　last　of　the　June　roses　are　lingering　to　do　their　share；　and
blackberry　blossoms　and　ripening　fruit　as　well。

I　have　never　known　a　place　in　which　it　is　so　easy　to　be　good。　　I
have　not　said　a　word；　nor　scarcely　harboured　a　thought；　that　was
not　lovely　and　virtuous　since　I　entered　these　gates；　and　yet　there
are　those　who　think　me　fantastic；　difficult；　hard　to　please；
unreasonable！

I　believe　the　saints　must　have　lived　in　the　country　mostly　（I　am
certain　they　never　tried　Hydropathic　hotels）；　and　why　anybody　with
a　black　heart　and　natural　love　of　wickedness　should　not　simply　buy
a　poultry　farm　and　become　an　angel；　I　cannot　understand。

Living　with　animals　is　really　a　very　improving　and　wholesome　kind
of　life；　to　the　person　who　will　allow　himself　to　be　influenced　by
their　sensible　and　high…minded　ideals。　　When　you　come　to　think
about　it；　man　is　really　the　only　animal　that　ever　makes　a　fool　of
himself；　the　others　are　highly　civilised；　and　never　make　mistakes。
I　am　going　to　mention　this　when　I　write　to　somebody；　sometime；　I
mean　if　I　ever　do。　　To　be　sure；　our　human　life　is　much　more
complicated　than　theirs；　and　I　believe　when　the　other　animals
notice　our　errors　of　judgment　they　make　allowances。　　The　bee　is　as
busy　as　a　bee；　and　the　beaver　works　like　a　beaver；　but　there　their
responsibility　ends。　　The　bee　doesn't　have　to　go　about　seeing　that
other　bees　are　not　crowded　into　unsanitary　tenements　or　victimised
by　the　sweating　system。　　When　the　beaver's　day　of　toil　is　over　he
doesn't　have　to　discuss　the　sphere；　the　rights；　or　the　voting
privileges　of　beaveresses；　all　he　has　to　do　is　to　work　like　a
beaver；　and　that　is　comparatively　simple。



CHAPTER　XIII



I　have　been　studying　The　Young　Poultry　Keeper's　Friend　of　late。　　If
there　is　anything　I　dislike　and　deplore；　it　is　the　possession　of
knowledge　which　I　cannot　put　to　practical　use。　　Having　discovered
an　interesting　disease　called　Scaly　Leg　in　the　July　number；　I　took
the　magazine　out　into　the　poultry…yard　and　identified　the　malady　on
three　hens　and　a　cock。　　Phoebe　joined　me　in　the　diagnosis　and　we
treated　the　victims　with　a　carbolic　lotion　and　scrubbed　them　with
vaseline。

As　Phoebe　and　I　grow　wise　in　medical　lore　the　case　of　Cannibal　Ann
assumes　a　different　aspect。　　As　the　bibulous　man　quaffs　more　and
more　flagons　of　beer　and　wine　when　his　daily　food　is　ham；　salt
fish；　and　cabbage；　so　does　the　hen　avenge　her　wrongs　of　diet　and
woes　of　environment。　　Cannibal　Ann；　herself；　has；　so　far　as　we
know；　been　raised　in　a　Christian　manner　and　enjoyed　all　the
advantages　of　modern　methods；　but　her　maternal　parent　may　have
lived　in　some　heathen　poultry…yard　which　was　asphalted　or　bricked
or　flagged；　so　that　she　was　debarred　from　scratching　in　Mother
Earth　and　was　forced　to　eat　her　own　shells　in　self…defence。

*　*　*

The　Square　Baby　is　not　particularly　attracted　by　the　poultry　as　a
whole；　save　when　it　is　boiled　with　bacon　or　roasted　with　bread…
sauce；　but　he　is　much　interested　in　the　〃invaleeds。〃　　Whenever
Phoebe　and　I　start　for　the　hospital　with　the　tobacco…pills；　the　tin
of　paraffin；　and　the　bottle　of　oil；　he　is　very　much　in　evidence。
Perhaps　he　has　a　natural　leaning　toward　the　medical　profession；　at
any　rate；　when　pain　and　anguish　wring　the　brow；　he　is　in　close
attendance　upon　the　ministering　angels。

Now　it　is　necessary　for　the　physician　to　have　practice　as　well　as
theory；　so　the　Square　Baby；　being　left　to　himself　this　afternoon；
proceeded　to　perfect　himself　in　some　of　the　healing　arts　used　by
country　practitioners。

When　discovered；　he　was　seated　in　front　of　the　wire…covered　〃run〃
attached　to　a　coop　occupied　by　the　youngest　goslings。　　A　couple　of
bottles　and　a　box　stood　by　his　side；　and　I　should　think　he　had
administered　a　cup　of　sweet　oil；　a　pint　of　paraffin；　and　a　quarter
of　a　pound　of　tobacco　during　his　clinic。　　He　had　used　the　remedies
impartially；　sometimes　giving　the　paraffin　internally　and　rubbing
the　patient's　head　with　tobacco　or　oil；　sometimes　the　reverse。

Several　goslings　leaned　languidly　against　the　netting；　or　supported
themselves　by　the　edge　of　the　water…dish；　while　others　staggered
and　reeled　about　with　eyes　half　closed。

It　was　Mrs。　Heaven　who　caught　her　son　red…handed；　so　to　speak。　　She
was　dressed　in　her　best；　and　just　driving　off　to　Woodmucket　to
spend　a　day　or　two　with　her　married　daughter；　and　soothe　her　nerves
with　the　uproar　incident　to　a　town　of　six　hundred　inhabitants。　　She
delayed　her　journey　a　half…hourlong　enough；　in　fact；　to　change
her　black　silk　waist　for　a　loose　sacque　which　would　give　her　arms
full　and　comfortable　play。　　The　joy　and　astonishment　that　greeted
the　Square　Baby　on　his　advent；　five　years　ago；　was　forgotten　for
the　first　time　in　his　brief　life；　and　he　was　treated　precisely　as
any　ordinary　wrongdoer　would　have　been　treated　under　the　same
circumstances；　summarily　and　smartly；　the　〃wepping；〃　as　Phoebe
would　say；　being　Mrs。　Heaven's　hand。

All　but　one　of　the　goslings　lived；　like　thousands　of　others　who
recover　in　spite　of　the　doctors；　but　the　Square　Baby's　interest　in
the　healing　art　is　now　perceptibly　lessened。



CHAPTER　XIV



July　18th。

The　day　was　Friday；　Phoebe's　day　to　go　to　Buffington　with　eggs　and
chickens　and　rabbits；　her　day　to　solicit　orders　for　ducklings　and
goslings。　　The　village　cart　was　ready　in　the　stable；　Mr。　and　Mrs。
Heaven　were　in　Woodmucket；　I　was　eating　my　breakfast　（which　I
remember　was　an　egg　and　a　rasher）　when　Phoebe　came　in；　a　figure　of
woe。

The　Square　Baby　was　ill；　very　ill；　and　would　not　permit　her　to
leave　him　and　go　to　market。　　Would　I　look　at　him？　　For　he　must　have
dowsed　'imself　as　well　as　the　goslings　yesterday；　anyways　he　was
strong　of　paraffin　and　tobacco；　though　he　'ad　'ad　a　good　barth。

I　prescribed　for　Albert　Edward；　who　was　as　uncomfortable　and
feverish　as　any　little　sinner　in　the　county　of　Sussex；　and　I　then
promptly　proposed　going　to　Buffington　in　Phoebe's　place。

She　did　not　think　it　at　all　proper；　and　said　that；　notwithstanding
my　cotton　gown　and　sailor　hat；　I　looked　quite；　quite　the　lydy；　and
it　would　never　do。

〃I　cannot　get　any　new　orders；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　can　certainly　leave
the　rabb