the song of the cardinal-第9章

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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；　recognized

that　his　whole　being　proclaimed　an　inward　exultation。



〃Abram　Johnson；〃　she　solemnly　demanded；　〃have　you　got　the　power？〃



〃Yes；〃　cried　Abram；　pulling　off　his　old　felt　hat；　and　gazing　into

the　crown　as　if　for　inspiration。　　〃You've　said　it；　honey！　　I　got

the　power！　　Got　it　of　a　little　red　bird！　Power　o'　spring！　　Power

o'　song！　　Power　o'　love！　　If　that　poor　little　red　target　for　some

ornery　cuss's　bullet　can　get　all　he's　getting　out　o'　life　to…day；

there's　no　cause　why　a　reasonin'　thinkin'　man　shouldn't　realize

some　o'　his　blessings。　　You　hit　it；　Maria；　I　got　the　power。　　It's

the　power　o'　God；　but　I　learned　how　to　lay　hold　of　it　from　that

little　red　bird。　　Come　here；　Maria！〃



Abram　wrapped　the　lines　around　the　plow　handle；　and　cautiously

led　his　wife　to　the　fence。　　He　found　a　piece　of　thick　bark　for

her　to　stand　on；　and　placed　her　where　she　would　be　screened　by　a

big　oak。　　Then　he　stood　behind　her　and　pointed　out　the　sumac　and

the　female　bird。



〃Jest　you　keep　still　a　minute；　an'　you'll　feel　paid　for　comin'

all　right；　honey；〃　he　whispered；　〃but　don't　make　any　sudden

movement。〃



〃I　don't　know　as　I　ever　saw　a　worse…lookin'　specimen　'an　she　is；〃

answered　Maria。



〃She　looks　first…class　to　him。　　There's　no　kick　comin'　on　his

part；　I　can　tell　you；〃　replied　Abram。



The　bride　hopped　shyly　through　the　sumac。　　She　pecked　at　the

dried　berries；　and　frequently　tried　to　improve　her　plumage；　which

certainly　had　been　badly　draggled；　and　there　was　a　drop　of　blood

dried　at　the　base　of　her　beak。　　She　plainly　showed　the　effects　of

her　rough　experience；　and　yet　she　was　a　most　attractive　bird；　for

the　dimples　in　her　plump　body　showed　through　the　feathers；　and

instead　of　the　usual　wickedly　black　eyes　of　the　cardinal　family；

hers　were　a　soft　tender　brown　touched　by　a　love…light　there　was

no　mistaking。　　She　was　a　beautiful　bird；　and　she　was　doing　all　in

her　power　to　make　herself　dainty　again。　　Her　movements　clearly

indicated　how　timid　she　was；　and　yet　she　remained　in　the　sumac　as

if　she　feared　to　leave　it；　and　frequently　peered　expectantly

among　the　tree…tops。



There　was　a　burst　of　exultation　down　the　river。　　The　little　bird

gave　her　plumage　a　fluff；　and　watched　anxiously。　　On　came　the

Cardinal　like　a　flaming　rocket；　calling　to　her　on　wing。　　He

alighted　beside　her；　dropped　into　her　beak　a　morsel　of　food；　gave

her　a　kiss　to　aid　digestion；　caressingly　ran　his　beak　the　length

of　her　wing　quills；　and　flew　to　the　dogwood。　　Mrs。　Cardinal

enjoyed　the　meal。　　It　struck　her　palate　exactly　right。　　She　liked

the　kiss　and　caress；　cared；　in　fact；　for　all　that　he　did　for　her；

and　with　the　appreciation　of　his　tenderness　came　repentance　for

the　dreadful　chase　she　had　led　him　in　her　foolish　fright；　and　an

impulse　to　repay。　　She　took　a　dainty　hop　toward　the　dogwood；　and

the　invitation　she　sent　him　was　exquisite。　　With　a　shrill　whistle

of　exultant　triumph　the　Cardinal　answered　at　a　headlong　rush。



The　farmer's　grip　tightened　on　his　wife's　shoulder；　but　Maria

turned　toward　him　with　blazing；　tear…filled　eyes。　　〃An'　you　call

yourself　a　decent　man；　Abram　Johnson？〃



〃Decent？〃　quavered　the　astonished　Abram。　　〃Decent？　　I　believe　I

am。〃



〃I　believe　you　ain't；〃　hotly　retorted　his　wife。　　〃You　don't　know

what　decency　is；　if　you　go　peekin'　at　them。　　They　ain't　birds！

They're　folks！〃



〃Maria；〃　pled　Abram；　〃Maria；　honey。〃



〃I　am　plumb　ashamed　of　you；〃　broke　in　Maria。　　〃How　d'you　s'pose

she'd　feel　if　she　knew　there　was　a　man　here　peekin'　at　her？　

Ain't　she　got　a　right　to　be　lovin'　and　tender？　Ain't　she　got　a

right　to　pay　him　best　she　knows？　　They're　jest　common　human

bein's；　an'　I　don't　know　where　you　got　privilege　to　spy　on　a

female　when　she's　doin'　the　best　she　knows。〃



Maria　broke　from　his　grasp　and　started　down　the　line　fence。



In　a　few　strides　Abram　had　her　in　his　arms；　his　withered　cheek

with　its　springtime　bloom　pressed　against　her　equally　withered；

tear…stained　one。



〃Maria；〃　he　whispered；　waveringly；　〃Maria；　honey；　I　wasn't

meanin'　any　disrespect　to　the　sex。〃



Maria　wiped　her　eyes　on　the　corner　of　her　shawl。　　〃I　don't　s'pose

you　was；　Abram；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　you're　jest　like　all　the　rest

o'　the　men。　　You　never　think！　　Now　you　go　on　with　your　plowin'

an'　let　that　little　female　alone。〃



She　unclasped　his　arms　and　turned　homeward。



〃Honey；〃　called　Abram　softly；　〃since　you　brought　'em　that

pocketful　o'　wheat；　you　might　as　well　let　me　have　it。〃



〃Landy！〃　exclaimed　Maria；　blushing；　〃I　plumb　forgot　my　wheat！　　I

thought　maybe；　bein'　so　early；　pickin'　was　scarce；　an'　if　you'd

put　out　a　little　wheat　an'　a　few　crumbs；　they'd　stay　an'　nest　in

the　sumac；　as　you're　so　fond　o'　them。〃



〃Jest　what　I'm　fairly　prayin'　they'll　do；　an'　I　been　carryin'

stuff　an'　pettin'　him　up　best　I　knowed　for　a　week；〃　said　Abram；

as　he　knelt；　and　cupped　his　shrunken　hands；　while　Maria　guided

the　wheat　from　her　apron　into　them。　　〃I'll　scatter　it　along　the

top　rail；　an'　they'll　be　after　it　in　fifteen　minutes。　　Thank　you；

Maria。　　'T　was　good　o'　you　to　think　of　it。〃



Maria　watched　him　steadily。　　How　dear　he　was！　How　dear　he　always

had　been！　　How　happy　they　were　together！　〃Abram；〃　she　asked；

hesitatingly；　〃is　there　anything　else　I　could　do　foryour

birds？〃



They　were　creatures　of　habitual　repression；　and　the　inner

glimpses　they　had　taken　of　each　other　that　day　were　surprises

they　scarcely　knew　how　to　meet。　　Abram　said　nothing；　because　he

could　not。　　He　slowly　shook　his　head；　and　turned　to　the　plow；　his

eyes　misty。　　Maria　started　toward　the　line　fence；　but　she　paused

repeatedly　to　listen；　and　it　was　no　wonder；　for　all　the　redbirds

from　miles　down　the　river　had　gathered　around　the　sumac　to　see　if

there　were　a　battle　in　birdland；　but　it　was　only　the　Cardinal；

turning　somersaults　in　the　air；　and　screaming　with　bursting

exuberance：　〃Come　here！　Come　here！〃







Chapter　4



〃So　dear！　So　dear！〃　crooned　the　Cardinal





She　had　taken　possession　of　the　sumac。　　The　location　was　her

selection　and　he　loudly　applauded　her　choice。　　She　placed　the

first　twig；　and　after　examining　it　carefully；　he　spent　the　day

carrying　her　others　just　as　much　alike　as　possible。　　If　she　used

a　dried　grass　blade；　he　carried　grass　blades　until　she　began

dropping　them　on　the　ground。　　If　she　worked　in　a　bit　of　wild

grape…vine　bark；　he　peeled　grape…vines　until　she　would　have　no

more。　　It　never　occurred　to　him　that　he　was　the　largest　cardinal

in　the　woods；　in　those　days；　and　he　had　forgotten　that　he　wore　a

red　coat。　　She　was　not　a　skilled　architect。　　Her　nest　certainly

was　a　loose　ramshackle　affair；　but　she　had　built　it；　and　had

allowed　him　to　help　her。　　It　was　hers；　and　he　improvised　a　paean

in　its　praise。　　Every　morning　he　perched　on　the　edge　of　the　nest

and　gazed　in　songless　wonder　at　each　beautiful　new　egg；　and

whenever　she　came　to　brood　she　sat　as　if　entranced；　eyeing　her

treasures　in　an　ecstasy　of　proud　possession。



Then　she　nestled　them　against　her　warm　breast；　and　turned　adoring

eyes　toward　the　Cardinal。　　If　he　sang　from　the　dogwood；　she　faced

that　way。　　If　he　rocked　on　the　wild　grape…vine；　she　turned　in　her

nest。　　If　he　went　to　the　corn　field　for　grubs；　she　stood　astride

her　eggs　and　peered　down；　watching　his　every　movement　with

unconcealed　anxiety。　　The　Cardinal　forgot　to　be　vain　of　his

beauty；　she　delighted　in　it　every　hour　of　the　day。　　Shy　and　timid

beyond　belief　she　had　been　during　her　courtship；　but　she　made

reparation　by　being　an　incomparably　generous　and　devoted　mate。



And　the　Cardinal！　He　was　astonished　to　find　himself　capable　of　so

much　and　such　varied　feeling。　　It　was　not　enough　that　he　brooded

while　she　went　to　bathe　and　exercise。　　The　daintiest　of　every

morsel　he　found　was　carried　to　her。　　When　she　refused　to　swallow

another　particle；　he　perched　on　a　twig　close　by　the　nest　many

times　in　a　day；　and　with　sleek　feathers　and　lowered　crest；　gazed

at　her　in　silent　worshipful　adoration。



Up　and　down　the　river　bank　he　flamed　and　rioted。　　In　the　sumac　he

uttered　not　the　faintest　〃Chip！〃　that　might　attract　attention。　

He　was　so　anxious　to　be　inconspicuous　that　he　appeared　only　half

his　real　size。　　Always　on　leaving　he　gave　her　a　tender　little

peck　and　ran　his　beak　the　length　of　her　winga　characteristic

caress　that　he　delighted　to　bestow　on　her。



If　he　felt　that　he　was　disturbing　her　too　often；　he　perched　on

the　dogwood　and　sang　for　life；　and　love；　and　happiness。　　His

music　was　in　a　minor　key　now。　　The　high；　exultant；　ringing　notes

of　passion　were　mellowed　and　subdued。　　He　was　improvising　cradle

songs　and　lullabies。　　He　was　telling　her　how　he　loved　her；　how　he

would　fight　for　her；　how　he　was　watching　over　her；　how　he　would

signal　if　any　danger　were　approaching；　how　proud　he　was　of　her；

what　a　perfect　nest　she　had　built；