on our selection-第20章

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！



〃Be　off　with　you；　you〃　（Dad　coughed　suddenly　and　scattered　fragments　of　meat　and　munched　pumpkin　about　the　table）　〃at　once；　and　do　as　I　tell　you；　you〃

〃That'll　do；　Fatherthat'll　do；〃　Mother　said　gently；　and　Joe　took　Stump　out　to　the　barn　and　kicked　him；　and　hit　him　against　the　corn…sheller；　and　threatened　to　put　him　through　it　if　he　did　n't　stop　squealing。

He　was　a　small　dog；　a　dog　that　was　always　on　the　watchfor　meat；　a　shrewd；　intelligent　beast　that　never　barked　at　anyone　until　he　got　inside　and　well　under　the　bed。　　Anyway；　he　had　taken　a　fancy　to　Miss　Ribbone's　stocking；　which　had　fallen　down　while　he　was　lying　under　the　table；　and　commenced　to　worry　it。　　Then　he　discovered　she　had　a　calf；　and　started　to　eat　THAT。　　She　did　n't　tell　US　thoughshe　told　Mrs。　Macpherson；　who　imparted　the　secret　to　mother。　　I　suppose　Stump　did　n't　understand　stockings；　because　neither　Mother　nor　Sal　ever　wore　any；　except　to　a　picnic　or　somebody's　funeral；　and　that　was　very　seldom。　　The　Creek　was　n't　much　of　a　place　for　sport。

〃I　hope　as　you'll　be　comfortable；　my　dear；〃　Mother　observed　as　she　showed　the　young　lady　the　back…room　where　she　was　to　sleep。　　〃It　ain't　s'　nice　as　we　should　like　to　have　it　f'　y'；　we　had　n't　enough　spare　bags　to　line　it　all　with；　but　the　cracks　is　pretty　well　stuffed　up　with　husks　an'　one　thing　an'　'nother；　and　I　don't　think　you'll　find　any　wind　kin　get　in。　Here's　a　bear…skin　f'　your　feet；　an'　I've　nailed　a　bag　up　so　no　one　kin　see…in　in　the　morning。　　S'　now；　I　think　you'll　be　pretty　snug。〃

The　schoolmistress　cast　a　distressed　look　at　the　waving　bag…door　and　said：

〃Th…h…ank　you…very　much。〃

What　a　voice！　　I've　heard　kittens　that　had　n't　their　eyes　open　make　a　fiercer　noise。

Mother　must　have　put　all　the　blessed　blankets　in　the　house　on　the　school…teacher's　bed。　　I　don't　know　what　she　had　on　her　own；　but　we　only　had　the　old　bag…quilt　and　a　stack　of　old　skirts；　and　other　remnants　of　the　family　wardrobe；　on　ours。　　In　the　middle　of　the　night；　the　whole　confounded　pile　of　them　rolled　off；　and　we　nearly　froze。　　Do　what　we　boys　wouldtie　ourselves　in　knots　and　coil　into　each　other　like　ropeswe　could　n't　get　warm。　　We　sat　up　in　the　bed　in　turns；　and　glared　into　the　darkness　towards　the　schoolmistress's　room；　which　was　n't　more　than　three　yards　away；　then　we　would　lie　back　again　and　shiver。　　We　were　having　a　time。　　But　at　last　we　heard　a　noise　from　the　young　lady's　room。　　We　listenedall　we　knew。　Miss　Ribbone　was　up　and　dressing。　　We　could　hear　her　teeth　chattering　and　her　knees　knocking　together。　　Then　we　heard　her　sneak　back　to　bed　again　and　felt　disappointed　and　colder　than　ever；　for　we　had　hoped　she　was　getting　up　early；　and　would　n't　want　the　bed　any　longer　that　night。　　Then　we　too　crawled　out　and　dressed　and　tried　it　that　way。

In　answer　to　Mother　at　breakfast；　next　morning；　Miss　Ribbone　said　she　had　〃slept　very　well　indeed。〃

We　did　n't　say　anything。

She　was　n't　much　of　an　eater。　　School…teachers　are　n't　as　a　　rule。　　They　pick；　and　paw；　and　fiddle　round　a　meal　in　a　way　that　gives　a　healthy…appetited　person　the　jim…jams。　　She　did　n't　touch　the　fried　pumpkin。　　And　the　way　she　sat　there　at　the　table　in　her　watch…chain　and　ribbons　made　poor　old　Dave；　who　sat　opposite　her　in　a　ragged　shirt　without　a　shirt…button；　feel　quite　miserable　and　awkward。

For　a　whole　week　she　did　n't　take　anything　but　bread　and　teathough　there　was　always　plenty　good　pumpkin　and　all　that。　　Mother　used　to　speak　to　Dad　about　it；　and　wonder　if　she　ate　the　little　pumpkin…tarts　she　put　up　for　her　lunch。　　Dad　could　n't　understand　anyone　not　eating　pumpkin；　and　said　HE'D　tackle　GRASS　before　he'd　starve。

〃And　did　ever　y'　see　such　a　object？〃　Mother　went　on。　　〃The　hands　an'　arms　on　her！　　Dear　me！　　Why；　I　do　believe　if　our　Sal　was　to　give　her　one　squeeze　she'd　kill　her。　　Oh；　but　the　finery　and　clothes！　　Y'　never　see　the　like！　　Just　look　at　her！〃　　And　Dad；　the　great　oaf；　with　Joe　at　his　heels；　followed　her　into　the　young　lady's　bedroom。

〃Look　at　that！〃　said　Mother；　pointing　to　a　couple　of　dresses　hanging　on　a　nail〃she　wears　THEM　on　week…days；　no　less；　and　here〃　（raising　the　lid　of　a　trunk　and　exposing　a　pile　of　clean　and　neatly…folded　clothing　that　might　have　been　anything；　and　drawing　the　articles　forth　one　by　one）〃look　at　them！　　There's　thatand　thatand　thisand〃

〃I　say；　what's　this；　Mother？〃　interrupted　Joe；　holding　up　something　he　had　discovered。

〃And　thatan'〃

〃Mother！〃

〃And　this〃

〃Eh；　Mother？〃

〃Don't　bother　me；　boy；　it's　her　tooth…brush；〃　and　Mother　pitched　the　clothes　back　into　the　trunk　and　glared　round。　　Meanwhile；　Joe　was　hard　at　his　teeth　with　the　brush。

〃Oh；　here！〃　and　she　dived　at　the　bed　and　drew　a　night…gown　from　beneath　the　pillow；　unfolded　it；　and　held　it　up　by　the　neck　for　inspection。

Dad；　with　his　huge；　ungainly；　hairy　paws　behind　him；　stood　mute；　like　the　great　pitiful　elephant　he　was；　and　looked　　at　the　tucks　and　the　reststupidly。　　〃Where　before　did　y'ever　see　such　tucks　and　frills　and　lace　on　a　night…shirt？　　Why；　you'd　think　't　were　for　goin'　to　picnics　in；　'stead　o'　goin'　to　bed　with。　　Here；　too！　here's　a　pair　of　brand　new　stays；　besides　the　ones　she's　on　her　back。　　Clothes！she's　nothin'　else　but　clothes。〃

Then　they　came　out；　and　Joe　began　to　spit　and　said　he　thought　there　must　have　been　something　on　that　brush。

Miss　Ribbone　did　n't　stay　the　full　monthshe　left　at　the　end　of　the　second　week；　and　Mother　often　used　to　wonder　afterwards　why　the　creature　never　came　to　see　us。




CHAPTER　XXV。



The　Man　with　the　Bear…Skin　Cap。


One　evening　a　raggedly…dressed　man；　with　a　swag　on　his　back；　a　bear…skin　cap　on　his　head；　and　a　sheath…knife　in　his　belt；　came　to　our　place　and　took　possession　of　the　barn。　　Dad　ordered　him　off。　　The　man　offered　to　fight　Dad　for　the　barn。　　Dad　ran　in　and　got　the　gun。　　Then　the　man　picked　up　his　swag　and　went　away。　　The　incident　caused　much　talk　for　a　few　days；　but　we　soon　forgot　all　about　it；　and　the　man　with　the　bear…skin　cap　passed　from　our　minds。

Church　service　was　to　be　held　at　our　selection。　　It　was　the　first　occasion；　in　fact；　that　the　Gospel　had　come　to　disturb　the　contentedly　irreligious　mind　of　our　neighbourhood。　　Service　was　to　open　at　3　p。m。；　at　break…of…day　we　had　begun　to　get　ready。

Nothing　but　bustle　and　hurry。　　Buttons　to　be　sewn　on　Dave's　shirt；　Dad's　pantswashed　the　night　before　and　left　on　the　clothes…line　all　night　to　bleachlost；　Little　Bill's　to　be　patched　up　generally；　Mother　trotting　out　to　the　clothes…line　every　minute　to　see　if　Joe's　coat　was　dry。　　And；　what　　was　unusual；　Dave；　the　easy…going；　took　a　notion　to　spruce　himself　up。　　He　wandered　restlessly　from　one　room　to　another；　robed　in　a　white　shirt　which　was　n't　starched　or　ironed；　trying　hard　to　fix　a　collar　to　it。　He　had　n't　worn　the　turn…out　for　a　couple　of　years；　and；　of　course；　had　grown　out　of　it；　but　this　did　n't　seem　to　strike　him。　　He　tugged　and　fumbled　till　he　lost　patience；　then　he　sat　on　the　bed　and　railed　at　the　women；　and　wished　that　the　shirt　and　the　collar；　and　the　church…service　and　the　parson；　were　in　Heaven。　　Mother　offered　to　fasten　the　collar；　but　when　she　took　hold　of　itforgetting　that　her　hands　were　covered　with　dough　and　thingsDave　flew　clean　off　the　handle！　　And　when　Sal　advised　him　to　wear　his　coloured　shirt；　same　as　Dad　was　going　to　do；　and　reminded　him　that　Mary　Anderson　might　n't　come　at　all；　he　aimed　a　pillow　at　her　and　knocked　Little　Bill　under　the　table；　and　scattered　husks　all　over　the　floor。　　Then　he　fled　to　the　barn　and　refused　dinner。

Mid…day；　and　Dad's　pants　not　found。　　We　searched　inside　and　outside　and　round　about　the　pig…sty；　and　the　hay…stack；　and　the　cow…yard；　and　eyed　the　cows；　and　the　pet　kangaroo；　and　the　draught…horses　with　suspicion；　but　saw　nothing　of　the　pants。　　Dad　was　angry；　but　had　to　make　the　most　of　an　old　pair　of　Dave's　through　the　legs　of　which　Dad　thrust　himself　a　lot　too　far。　Mother　and　Sal　said　he　looked　well　enough　in　them；　but　laughed　when　he　went　outside。

The　people　commenced　to　arrive　on　horseback　and　in　drays。　　The　women　went　on　to　the　verandah　with　their　babies；　the　men　hung　round　outside　and　waited。　　Some　sat　under　the　peach…tree　and　nibbled　sticks　and　killed　green…heads；　others　leant　against　the　fence；　while　a　number　gathered　round　the　pig…sty　and　talked　about　curing　bacon。

The　parson　came　along。　　All　of　them　stared　at　him；　watched　him　unsaddle　his　horse　and　hunt　round　for　a　place　to　fasten　the　beast。　　They　regarded　the　man　in　the　long　black　coat　with　awe　and　wonder。

Everything　was　now　ready；　and；　when　Dad　carried　in　the　side…boards　of　the　dray　and　placed　them　on　boxes　for　seat　accommodation；　the　clergyman　awaited　his　congregation；　which　had　collected　at　the　back…door。　　Anderson　stepped　in；　the　rest　followed；　timid…looking；　and　stood　round　the　room　till　the　clergyman　motioned　them　to　sit。　　They　sat　and　watched　him　closely。

〃We'll　now　join　in　singing　hymn　499；〃　said　the　parson；　commencing　to　sing　himself。　　The　congregation　listened　attentively；　but　did　n't　join　in。　The　parson　jerked　his　arms　encouragingly　at　them；　which　only　made　them　the　more　uneasy。　　They　did　n't　understand。　　He　snapped　his　arms　harder；　as　he　lifted　his　voice　to　the　rafters；　still　they　only　stared。　　At　last　Dad　thought　he　saw　through　him。　　He　bravely　stood　up　and　looked　hard　at　the　others。　　They　took　the　hint　and　rose　clumsily　to　their　feet；　but　just　then　the　hymn　closed；　and；　as　　no　one　seemed　to　know　when　to　sit　again；　they　remained　standing。

They　were　standing　when　a　loud　whip…crack　sounded　close　to　the　house；　and　a　lusty　voice　roared：

〃Wah　Tumbler！　　Wah　Tumbler！　　Gee　back；　Brandy！　　Gee　back；　you！！！！！！〃

People　smiled。　　Then　a　team　of　bullocks　appeared　on　the　road。　　The　driver　drawled；　〃Wa…a…a…y！〃　and　the　team　stopped　right　in　front　of　the　door。　The　driver　lifted　something　weighty　from　the　dray　and　struggled　to　the　verandah　with　it　and　dropped　it　down。　　It　was　a　man。　　The　bullock…driver；　of　course；　did　n't　know　that　a　religious　service　was　being　conducted　inside；　and　the　chances　are　he　did　n't　much　care。　　He　only　saw　a　number　of　faces　looking　out；　and　talked　at　them。

〃I've　a　　cove　here；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　found　lying　on　the　　plain。　Gawd　knows　what's　up　with　himI　don't。　　A　good　square　feed　is　about　what　he　wants；　I　reckon。〃　　Then　he　went　back　for　the　man's　swag。

Dad；　after　hesitating；　rose　and　went　out。　　The　others　followed　like　a　flock　of　sheep；　and　the　〃shepherd〃　brought　up　the　rear。　　Church　was　out。　It　gathered　around　the　seeming　corpse；　and　stared　hard　at　it。　　Dad　and　Dave　spoke　at　the　same　time。

〃Why；〃　they　said；　〃it's　the　cove　with　the　bear…skin　cap！〃　　Sure　enough　it　was。　　The　clergyman　knelt　down　and　felt　the　man's　pulse；　then　went　and　brought　a　bottle　from　his　valisehe　always　carried　the　bottle；　he　said；　in　case　of　snake…bite　and　things　like　thatand　poured　some　of　the　contents　down　the　man's　throat。　　The　colour　began　to　come　to　the　man's　face。　　The　clergyman　gave　him　some　more；　and　in　a　while　the　man　opened　his　eyes。　They　rested　on　Dad；　who　was　bending　benignly　over　him。　　He　seemed　to　recognise　Dad。　　He　stared　for　some　time　at　him；　then　said　something　in　a　feeble　whisper；　which　the　clergyman　interpreted〃He　wishes　you〃　looking　at　Dad〃to　get　what's　in　his　swag　if　he　dies。〃　　Dad　nodded；　and　his　thoughts　went　sadly　back　t