the song of the cardinal-第5章

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〃Scared　you　into　the　next　county；　I　s'pose；〃　he　muttered。



But　it　came　nearer　being　a　scared　man　than　a　frightened　bird；　for

the　Cardinal　flashed　straight　toward　him　until　only　a　few　yards

away；　and　then；　swaying　on　a　bush；　it　chipped；　cheered；　peeked；

whistled　broken　notes；　and　manifested　perfect　delight　at　the

sight　of　the　white…haired　old　man。　　Abram　stared　in　astonishment。



〃Lord　A'mighty！〃　he　gasped。　　〃Big　as　a　blackbird；　red　as　a　live

coal；　an'　a…comin'　right　at　me。　　You　are　somebody's　pet；　that's

what　you　are！　　An'　no；　you　ain't　either。　　Settin'　on　a　sawed

stick　in　a　little　wire　house　takes　all　the　ginger　out　of　any

bird；　an'　their　feathers　are　always　mussy。　　Inside　o'　a　cage

never　saw　you；　for　they　ain't　a　feather　out　o'　place　on　you。　　You

are　finer'n　a　piece　o'　red　satin。　　An'　you　got　that　way　o'

swingin'　an'　dancin'　an'　high…steppin'　right　out　in　God

A'mighty's　big　woods；　a　teeterin'　in　the　wind；　an'　a　dartin'

'crost　the　water。　　Cage　never　touched　you！　But　you　are　somebody's

pet　jest　the　same。　　An'　I　look　like　the　man；　an'　you　are　tryin'

to　tell　me　so；　by　gum！〃　



Leaning　toward　Abram；　the　Cardinal　turned　his　head　from　side　to

side；　and　peered；　〃chipped；〃　and　waited　for　an　answering　〃Chip〃

from　a　little　golden…haired　child；　but　there　was　no　way　for　the

man　to　know　that。



〃It's　jest　as　sure　as　fate；〃　he　said。　　〃You　think　you　know　me；

an'　you　are　tryin'　to　tell　me　somethin'。　　Wish　to　land　I　knowed

what　you　want！　　Are　you　tryin'　to　tell　me　‘Howdy'？　　Well；　I　don't

'low　nobody　to　be　politer　'an　I　am；　so　far　as　I　know。〃



Abram　lifted　his　old　hat；　and　the　raindrops　glistened　on　his

white　hair。　　He　squared　his　shoulders　and　stood　very　erect。



〃Howdy；　Mr。　　Redbird！　　How　d'ye　find　yerself　this　evenin'？　　I

don't　jest　riccolict　ever　seein'　you　before；　but　I'll　never　meet

you　agin　'thout　knowin'　you。　　When　d'you　arrive？　　Come　through　by

the　special　midnight　flyer；　did　you？　Well；　you　never　was　more

welcome　any　place　in　your　life。　　I'd　give　a　right　smart　sum　this

minnit　if　you'd　say　you　came　to　settle　on　this　river　bank。　　How

do　you　like　it？　　To　my　mind　it's　jest　as　near　Paradise　as　you'll

strike　on　earth。



〃Old　Wabash　is　a　twister　for　curvin'　and　windin'　round；　an'　it's

limestone　bed　half　the　way；　an'　the　water's　as　pretty　an'　clear

as　in　Maria's　springhouse。　　An'　as　for　trimmin'；　why　say；　Mr。

Redbird；　I'll　jest　leave　it　to　you　if　she　ain't　all　trimmed　up

like　a　woman's　spring　bunnit。　　Look　at　the　grass　a…creepin'　right

down　till　it's　a　trailin'　in　the　water！　　Did　you　ever　see　jest

quite　such　fine　fringy　willers？　　An'　you　wait　a　little；　an'　the

flowerin'　mallows　'at　grows　long　the　shinin'　old　river　are　fine

as　garden　hollyhocks。　　Maria　says　'at　thy'd　be　purtier　'an　hers

if　they　were　only　double；　but；　Lord；　Mr。　　Redbird；　they　are！　　See

'em　once　on　the　bank；　an'　agin　in　the　water！　　An'　back　a　little

an'　there's　jest　thickets　of　papaw；　an'　thorns；　an'　wild

grape…vines；　an'　crab；　an'　red　an'　black　haw；　an'　dogwood；　an'

sumac；　an'　spicebush；　an'　trees！　Lord！　Mr。　Redbird；　the

sycamores；　an'　maples；　an'　tulip；　an'　ash；　an'　elm　trees　are　so

bustin'　fine　'long　the　old　Wabash　they　put　'em　into　poetry　books

an'　sing　songs　about　'em。　　What　do　you　think　o'　that？　Jest　back

o'　you　a　little　there's　a　sycamore　split　into　five　trunks；　any

one　o'　them　a　famous　big　tree；　tops　up　'mong　the　clouds；　an'

roots　diggin'　under　the　old　river；　an'　over　a　little　farther's　a

maple　'at's　eight　big　trees　in　one。　　Most　anything　you　can　name；

you　can　find　it　'long　this　ole　Wabash；　if　you　only　know　where　to

hunt　for　it。



〃They's　mighty　few　white　men　takes　the　trouble　to　look；　but　the

Indians　used　to　know。　　They'd　come　canoein'　an'　fishin'　down　the

river　an'　camp　under　these　very　trees；　an'　Ma　'ud　git　so　mad　at

the　old　squaws。　　Settlers　wasn't　so　thick　then；　an'　you　had　to　be

mighty　careful　not　to　rile　'em；　an'　they'd　come　a…trapesin'　with

their　wild　berries。　　Woods　full　o'　berries！　　Anybody　could　get

'em　by　the　bushel　for　the　pickin'；　an'　we　hadn't　got　on　to

raisin'　much　wheat；　an'　had　to　carry　it　on　horses　over　into　Ohio

to　get　it　milled。　　Took　Pa　five　days　to　make　the　trip；　an'　then

the　blame　old　squaws　'ud　come；　an'　Ma　'ud　be　compelled　to　hand

over　to　'em　her　big　white　loaves。　　Jest　about　set　her　plumb

crazy。　　Used　to　get　up　in　the　night；　an'　fix　her　yeast；　an'　bake；

an'　let　the　oven　cool；　an'　hide　the　bread　out　in　the　wheat　bin；

an'　get　the　smell　of　it　all　out　o'　the　house　by　good　daylight；

so's　'at　she　could　say　there　wasn't　a　loaf　in　the　cabin。　　Oh！　　if

it's　good　pickin'　you're　after；　they's　berries　for　all　creation

'long　the　river　yet；　an'　jest　wait　a　few　days　till　old　April　gets

done　showerin'　an'　I　plow　this　corn　field！〃



Abram　set　a　foot　on　the　third　rail　and　leaned　his　elbows　on　the

top。　　The　Cardinal　chipped　delightedly　and　hopped　and　tilted

closer。



〃I　hadn't　jest　'lowed　all　winter　I'd　tackle　this　field　again。

I've　turned　it　every　spring　for　forty　year。　　Bought　it　when　I　was

a　young　fellow；　jest　married　to　Maria。　　Shouldered　a　big　debt　on

it；　but　I　always　loved　these　slopin'　fields；　an'　my　share　of　this

old　Wabash　hasn't　been　for　sale　nor　tradin'　any　time　this　past

forty　year。　　I've　hung　on　to　it　like　grim　death；　for　it's　jest

that　much　o'　Paradise　I'm　plumb　sure　of。　　First　time　I　plowed

this　field；　Mr。　Redbird；　I　only　hit　the　high　places。　　Jest

married　Maria；　an'　I　didn't　touch　earth　any　too　frequent　all　that

summer。　I've　plowed　it　every　year　since；　an'　I've　been　'lowin'

all　this　winter；　when　the　rheumatiz　was　gettin'　in　its　work；　'at

I'd　give　it　up　this　spring　an'　turn　it　to　medder；　but　I　don't

know。　　Once　I　got　started；　b'lieve　I　could　go　it　all　right　an'

not　feel　it　so　much；　if　you'd　stay　to　cheer　me　up　a　little　an'

post　me　on　the　weather。　　Hate　the　doggondest　to　own　I'm　worsted；

an'　if　you　say　it's　stay；　b'lieve　I'll　try　it。　　Very　sight　o'　you

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