the song of the cardinal-第12章

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hand　into　his　pocket；　drew　out　a　formidable　jack…knife；　opening

it　as　he　rode。　　When　he　reached　the　fence；　he　almost　flew　over

Nancy's　head。　　He　went　into　a　fence　corner；　and　with　a　few

slashes　severed　a　stout　hickory　withe；　stripping　the　leaves　and

topping　it　as　he　leaped　the　fence。



He　grasped　this　ugly　weapon；　his　eyes　dark　with　anger　as　he

appeared　before　the　hunter；　who　supposed　him　at　the　other　side　of

the　field。



〃Did　you　shoot　at　that　redbird？〃　he　roared。



As　his　gun　was　at　the　sportman's　shoulder；　and　he　was　still

peering　among　the　bushes；　denial　seemed　useless。　　〃Yes；　I　did；〃

he　replied；　and　made　a　pretense　of　turning　to　the　sumac　again。



There　was　a　forward　impulse　of　Abram's　body。　　〃Hit　'im？〃　he

demanded　with　awful　calm。



〃Thought　I　had；　but　I　guess　I　only　winged　him。〃



Abram's　fingers　closed　around　his　club。　　At　the　sound　of　his

friend's　voice；　the　Cardinal　came　darting　through　the　bushes　a

wavering　flame；　and　swept　so　closely　to　him　for　protection　that　a

wing　almost　brushed　his　cheek。



〃See　here！　See　here！〃　shrilled　the　bird　in　deadly　panic。　　There

was　not　a　cut　feather　on　him。



Abram's　relief　was　so　great　he　seemed　to　shrink　an　inch　in

height。



〃Young　man；　you　better　thank　your　God　you　missed　that　bird；〃　he

said　solemnly；　〃for　if　you'd　killed　him；　I'd　a…mauled　this　stick

to　ribbons　on　you；　an'　I'm　most　afraid　I　wouldn't　a…knowed　when

to　quit。〃



He　advanced　a　step　in　his　eagerness；　and　the　hunter；　mistaking

his　motive；　levelled　his　gun。



〃Drop　that！〃　shouted　Abram；　as　he　broke　through　the　bushes　that

clung　to　him；　tore　the　clothing　from　his　shoulders；　and　held　him

back。　　〃Drop　that！　　Don't　you　dare　point　a　weapon　at　me；　on　my

own　premises；　an'　after　you　passed　your　word。



〃Your　word！〃　repeated　Abram；　with　withering　scorn；　his　white；

quivering　old　face　terrible　to　see。　　〃Young　man；　I　got　a　couple

o'　things　to　say　to　you。　　You'r'　shaped　like　a　man；　an'　you'r'

dressed　like　a　man；　an'　yet　the　smartest　person　livin'　would

never　take　you　for　anything　but　an　egg…suckin'　dog；　this　minute。

All　the　time　God　ever　spent　on　you　was　wasted；　an'　your　mother's

had　the　same　luck。　　I　s'pose　God's　used　to　having　creatures　'at

He's　made　go　wrong；　but　I　pity　your　mother。　　Goodness　knows　a

woman　suffers　an'　works　enough　over　her　children；　an'　then　to

fetch　a　boy　to　man's　estate　an'　have　him；　of　his　own　free　will

an'　accord；　be　a　liar！　　Young　man；　truth　is　the　cornerstone　o'

the　temple　o'　character。　　Nobody　can　put　up　a　good　buildin'

without　a　solid　foundation；　an'　you　can't　do　solid　character

buildin'　with　a　lie　at　the　base。　　Man　'at's　a　liar　ain't　fit　for

anything！　　Can't　trust　him　in　no　sphere　or　relation　o'　life；　or

in　any　way；　shape；　or　manner。　　You　passed　out　your　word　like　a

man；　an'　like　a　man　I　took　it　an'　went　off　trustin'　you；　an'　you

failed　me。　　Like　as　not　that　squirrel　story　was　a　lie；　too！　　Have

you　got　a　sick　friend　who　is　needin'　squirrel　broth？〃



The　hunter　shook　his　head。



〃No？　　That　wasn't　true　either？　　I'll　own　you　make　me　curious。　

'Ud　you　mind　tellin'　me　what　was　your　idy　in　cookin'　up　that

squirrel　story？〃



The　hunter　spoke　with　an　effort。　　〃I　suppose　I　wanted　to　do

something　to　make　you　feel　small；〃　he　admitted；　in　a　husky　voice。



〃You　wanted　to　make　me　feel　small；〃　repeated　Abram；　wonderingly。　

〃Lord！　　Lord！　　Young　man；　did　you　ever　hear　o'　a　boomerang？　　It's

a　kind　o'　weapon　used　in　Borneo；　er　Australy；　er　some　o'　them

furrin　parts；　an'　it's　so　made　'at　the　heathens　can　pitch　it；　an'

it　cuts　a　circle　an'　comes　back　to　the　fellow；　at　throwed。　　I

can't　see　myself；　an'　I　don't　know　how　small　I'm　lookin'；　but　I'd

rather　lose　ten　year　o'　my　life　'an　to　have　anybody　catch　me

lookin'　as　little　as　you　do　right　now。　　I　guess　we　look　about　the

way　we　feel　in　this　world。　　I'm　feelin'　near　the　size　o'　Goliath

at　present；　but　your　size　is　such　'at　it　hustles　me　to　see　any

MAN　in　you　at　all。　　An'　you　wanted　to　make　me　feel　small！　　My；

oh；　my！　　An'　you　so　young　yet；　too！



〃An'　if　it　hadn't　a…compassed　a　matter　o'　breakin'　your　word；

what　'ud　you　want　to　kill　the　redbird　for；　anyhow？　Who　give　you

rights　to　go　'round　takin'　such　beauty　an'　joy　out　of　the　world？　

Who　do　you　think　made　this　world　an'　the　things　'at's　in　it？

Maybe　it's　your　notion　'at　somebody　about　your　size　whittled　it

from　a　block　o'　wood；　scattered　a　little　sand　for　earth；　stuck　a

few　seeds　for　trees；　an'　started　the　oceans　with　a　waterin'　pot！　

I　don't　know　what　paved　streets　an'　stall　feedin'　do　for　a　man；

but　any　one　'at's　lived　sixty　year　on　the　ground　knows　'at　this

whole　old　earth　is　jest　teemin'　with　work　'at's　too　big　for

anything　but　a　God；　an'　a　mighty　BIG　God　at　that！



〃You　don't　never　need　bother　none　'bout　the　diskivries　o'

science；　for　if　science　could　prove　'at　the　earth　was　a　red　hot

slag　broken　from　the　sun；　'at　balled　an'　cooled　flyin'　through

space　until　the　force　o'　gravity　caught　an'　held　it；　it　doesn't

prove　what　the　sun　broke　from；　or　why　it　balled　an'　didn't　cool。

Sky　over　your　head；　earth　under　foot；　trees　around　you；　an'　river

thereall　full　o'　life　'at　you　ain't　no　mortal　right　to　touch；

'cos　God　made　it；　an'　it's　His！　　Course；　I　know　'at　He　said

distinct　'at　man　was　to　have　‘dominion　over　the　beasts　o'　the

field；　an'　the　fowls　o'　the　air'　An'　that　means　'at　you're　free

to　smash　a　copperhead　instead　of　letting　it　sting　you。　　Means　'at

you　better　shoot　a　wolf　than　to　let　it　carry　off　your　lambs。

Means；　at　it's　right　to　kill　a　hawk　an'　save　your　chickens；　but

God　knows　'at　shootin'　a　redbird　just　to　see　the　feathers　fly

isn't　having　dominion　over　anything；　it's　jest　makin'　a　plumb

beast　o'　YERSELF。　　Passes　me；　how　you　can　face　up　to　the

Almighty；　an'　draw　a　bead　on　a　thing　like　that！　Takes　more　gall'n

I　got！



〃God　never　made　anything　prettier　'an　that　bird；　an'　He　must

a…been　mighty　proud　o'　the　job。　　Jest　cast　your　eyes　on　it　there！



Ever　see　anything　so　runnin'　over　with　dainty；　pretty；　coaxin'

ways？　　Little　red　creatures；　full　o'　hist'ry；　too！　Ever　think　o'

that？　　Last　year's　bird；　hatched　hereabout；　like　as　not。　　Went

South　for　winter；　an'　made　friends　'at's　been　feedin'；　an'

teachin'　it　to　TRUST　mankind。　　Back　this　spring　in　a　night；　an'

struck　that　sumac　over　a　month　ago。　　Broke　me　all　up　first　time　I

ever　set　eyes　on　it。



〃Biggest　reddest　redbird　I　ever　saw；　an'　jest　a　master　hand　at

king's　English！　　Talk　plain　as　you　can！　　Don't　know　what　he　said

down　South；　but　you　can　bank　on　it；　it　was　sumpin'　pretty　fine。

When　he　settled　here；　he　was　discoursin'　on　the　weather；　an'　he

talked　it　out　about　proper。　　He'd　say；　‘Wet　year！　Wet　year！'　jest

like　that！　　He　got　the　‘wet'　jest　as　good　as　I　can；　an'；　if　he

drawed　the　‘ye…ar'　out　a　little；　still　any　blockhead　could　a…told

what　he　was　sayin'；　an'　in　a　voice　pretty　an'　clear　as　a　bell。　

Then　he　got　love…sick；　an'　begged　for　comp'ny　until　he　broke　me

all　up。　　An'　if　I'd　a…been　a　hen　redbird　I　wouldn't　a…been　so

long　comin'。　　Had　me　pulverized　in　less'n　no　time！　Then　a　little

hen　comes　'long；　an'　stops　with　him；　an'　'twas　like　an　organ

playin'　prayers　to　hear　him　tell　her　how　he　loved　her。　Now

they've　got　a　nest　full　o'　the　cunningest　little　topknot　babies；

an'　he's　splittin'　the　echoes；　calling　for　the　whole

neighbourhood　to　come　see　'em；　he's　so　mortal　proud。



〃Stake　my　life　he's　never　been　fired　on　afore！　　He's　pretty　near

wild　with　narvousness；　but　he's　got　too　much　spunk　to　leave　his

fam'ly；　an'　go　off　an'　hide　from　creatures　like　you。　　They's　no

caution　in　him。　　Look　at　him　tearin'　'round　to　give　you　another

chance！



〃I　felt　most　too　rheumaticky　to　tackle　field　work　this　spring

until　he　come　'long；　an'　the　fire　o'　his　coat　an'　song　got　me

warmed　up　as　I　ain't　been　in　years。　　Work's　gone　like　it　was

greased；　an'　my　soul's　been　singin'　for　joy　o'　life　an'　happiness

ev'ry　minute　o'　the　time　since　he　come。　　Been　carryin'　him　grub

to　that　top　rail　once　an'　twice　a　day　for　the　last　month；　an'　I

can　go　in　three　feet　o'　him。　　My　wife　comes　to　see　him；　an'

brings　him　stuff；　an'　we　about　worship　him。　　Who　are　you；　to　come

'long　an'　wipe　out　his　joy　in　life；　an'　our　joy　in　him；　for　jest

nothin'？　You'd　a　left　him　to　rot　on　the　ground；　if　you'd　a　hit

him；　an'　me　an'　Maria's　loved　him　so！



〃D'you　ever　stop　to　think　how　full　this　world　is　o'　things　to

love；　if　your　heart's　jest　big　enough　to　let　'em　in？　　We　love　to

live　for　the　beauty　o'　the　things　surroundin'　us；　an'　the　joy　we

take　in　bein'　among　'em。　　An'　it's　my　belief　'at　the　way　to　make

folks　love　us；　is　for　us　to　be　able　to　'preciate　what　they　can

do。　　If　a　man's　puttin'　his　heart　an'　soul；　an'　blood；　an'

beef…steak；　an'　bones　into　paintin'　picters；　you　can　talk　farmin'

to　him　all　day；　an'　he's　dumb；　but　jest　show　him　'at　you　see　what

he's　a…drivin'　at　in　his　work；　an'　he'll　love　you　like　a　brother。

Whatever　anybody　succeeds　in；　it's　success　'cos　they　so　love　it

'at　they　put　the　best　o'　theirselves　into　it；　an'　so；　lovin'　what

they　do；　is　lovin'　them。



〃It　'ud　'bout　kill　a　painter…man　to　put　the　best　o'　himself　into

his　picture；　an'　then　have　some　fellow　like　you　come　'long　an'

pour　turpentine　on　it　jest　to　see　the　paint　run；　an'　I　think　it

must　pretty　well　use　God　up；　to　figure　out　how　to　make　an'　colour

a　thing　like　that　bird；　an'　then　have　you　walk　up　an'　shoot　the

little　red　heart　out　of　it；　jest　to　prove　'at　you　can！　He's　the

very　life　o'　this　river　bank。　　I'd　as　soon　see　you　dig　up　the

underbrush；　an'　dry　up　the　river；　an'　spoil　the　picture　they　make

against　the　sky；　as　to　hev'　you　drop　the　redbird。　　He's　the　red

life　o'　the　whole　thing！　　God　must　a…made　him　when　his　heart　was

pulsin'　hot　with　love　an'　the　lust　o'　creatin'　in…com…PAR…able

things；　an'　He　jest　saw　how　pretty　it　'ud　be　to　dip　his

featherin'　into　the　blood　He　was　puttin'　in　his　veins。



〃To　my　mind；　ain't　no　better　way　to　love　an'　worship　God；　'an　to

protect　an'　'preciate　these　fine　gifts　He's　given　for　our　joy　an'

use。　　Worshipin'　that　bird's　a　kind　o'　religion　with　me。　　Getting

the　beauty　from　the　sky；　an'　the　trees；　an'　the　grass；　an'　the

water　'at　God　made；　is　nothin'　but　doin'　Him　homage。　　Whole

earth's　a　sanctuary。　　You　can　worship　from　sky　above　to　grass

under　foot。



〃Course；　each　man　has　his　particular　altar。　　Mine's　in　that　cabin

up　at　the　bend　o'　the　river。　　Maria　lives　there。　　God　never　did

cleaner　work；　'an　when　He　made　Maria。　　Lovin；　her's　sacrament。　　

She's　so　clean；　an'　pure；　an'　honest；　an'　big…hearted！　　In　forty

year　I've　never　jest　durst　brace　right　up　to　Maria　an'　try　to　put

in　words　what　she　means　to　me。　　Never　saw　nothin'　else　as

beautiful；　or　as　good。　　No　flower's　as　fragrant　an'　smelly　as　her

hair　on　her　pillow。　　Never　tapped　a　bee　tree　with　honey　sweet　as

her　lips　a…twitchin'　with　a　love　quiver。　　Ain't　a　bird　'long　the

ol'　Wabash　with　a　voice　up　to　hers。