a girl of the limberlost-第7章

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Are　you　free　to　part　with　them？〃



〃They　are　mine；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃No　one　but　God

knows　I　have　them。　　Mr。　Duncan　gave　me　the　books

and　the　box。　　He　told　Freckles　about　me；　and　Freckles

told　him　to　give　me　all　he　left。　　He　said　for　me　to　stick

to　the　swamp　and　be　brave；　and　my　hour　would　come；　and

it　has！　　I　know　most　of　them　are　all　right；　and　oh；　I

do　need　the　money！〃



〃Could　you　tell　me？〃　asked　the　Bird　Woman　softly。



〃You　see　the　swamp　and　all　the　fields　around　it　are　so

full；〃　explained　Elnora。　　〃Every　day　I　felt　smaller　and

smaller；　and　I　wanted　to　know　more　and　more；　and　pretty

soon　I　grew　desperate；　just　as　Freckles　did。　　But　I　am

better　off　than　he　was；　for　I　have　his　books；　and　I　have　a

mother；　even　if　she　doesn't　care　for　me　as　other　girls'

mothers　do　for　them；　it's　better　than　no　one。〃



The　Bird　Woman's　glance　fell；　for　the　girl　was　not

conscious　of　how　much　she　was　revealing。　　Her　eyes

were　fixed　on　a　black　pitcher　filled　with　goldenrod　in

the　centre　of　the　table　and　she　was　saying　what　she　thought。



〃As　long　as　I　could　go　to　the　Brushwood　school　I　was

happy；　but　I　couldn't　go　further　just　when　things　were

the　most　interesting；　so　I　was　determined　I'd　come　to

high　school　and　mother　wouldn't　consent。　　You　see

there's　plenty　of　land；　but　father　was　drowned　when　I

was　a　baby；　and　mother　and　I　can't　make　money　as　men　do。　

The　taxes　are　higher　every　year；　and　she　said　it　was

too　expensive。　　I　wouldn't　give　her　any　rest；　until　at

last　she　bought　me　this　dress；　and　these　shoes　and　I　came。　

It　was　awful！〃



〃Do　you　live　in　that　beautiful　cabin　at　the　northwest

end　of　the　swamp？〃　asked　the　Bird　Woman。



〃Yes；〃　said　Elnora。



〃I　remember　the　place　and　a　story　about　it；　now。　

You　entered　the　high　school　yesterday？〃



〃Yes。〃



〃It　was　rather　bad？〃



〃Rather　bad！〃　echoed　Elnora。　



The　Bird　Woman　laughed。



〃You　can't　tell　me　anything　about　that；〃　she　said。　

〃I　once　entered　a　city　school　straight　from　the　country。　

My　dress　was　brown　calico；　and　my　shoes　were　heavy。〃



The　tears　began　to　roll　down　Elnora's　cheeks。　



〃Did　they？〃　she　faltered。



〃They　did！〃　said　the　Bird　Woman。　　〃All　of　it。　　I　am

sure　they　did　not　miss　one　least　little　thing。〃



Then　she　wiped　away　some　tears　that　began　coursing

her　cheeks；　and　laughed　at　the　same　time。



〃Where　are　they　now？〃　asked　Elnora　suddenly。



〃They　are　widely　scattered；　but　none　of　them　have

attained　heights　out　of　range。　　Some　of　the　rich　are

poor；　and　some　of　the　poor　are　rich。　　Some　of　the　brightest

died　insane；　and　some　of　the　dullest　worked　out　high

positions；　some　of　the　very　worst　to　bear　have　gone　out；

and　I　frequently　hear　from　others。　　Now　I　am　here；

able　to　remember　it；　and　mingle　laughter　with　what

used　to　be　all　tears；　for　every　day　I　have　my　beautiful

work；　and　almost　every　day　God　sends　some　one　like　you

to　help　me。　　What　is　your　name；　my　girl？〃



〃Elnora　Comstock；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃Yesterday　on　the

board　it　changed　to　Cornstock；　and　for　a　minute　I

thought　I'd　die；　but　I　can　laugh　over　that　already。〃



The　Bird　Woman　arose　and　kissed　her。　　〃Finish　your

lunch；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　will　bring　my　price　lists；　and

make　a　memorandum　of　what　you　think　you　have；　so　I

will　know　how　many　boxes　to　prepare。　　And　remember　this：　

What　you　are　lies　with　you。　　If　you　are　lazy；　and

accept　your　lot；　you　may　live　in　it。　　If　you　are　willing

to　work；　you　can　write　your　name　anywhere　you　choose；

among　the　only　ones　who　live　beyond　the　grave　in　this

world；　the　people　who　write　books　that　help；　make　exquisite

music；　carve　statues；　paint　pictures；　and　work　for　others。　

Never　mind　the　calico　dress；　and　the　coarse　shoes。　

Work　at　your　books；　and　before　long　you　will　hear

yesterday's　tormentors　boasting　that　they　were　once

classmates　of　yours。　　‘I　could　a　tale　unfold'！〃



She　laughingly　left　the　room　and　Elnora　sat　thinking；

until　she　remembered　how　hungry　she　was；　so　she　ate　the

food；　drank　the　hot　chocolate　and　began　to　feel　better。



Then　the　Bird　Woman　came　back　and　showed　Elnora　a

long　printed　slip　giving　a　list　of　graduated　prices　for

moths；　butterflies；　and　dragonflies。



〃Oh；　do　you　want　them！〃　exulted　Elnora。　　〃I　have

a　few　and　I　can　get　more　by　the　thousand；　with　every

colour　in　the　world　on　their　wings。〃



〃Yes；〃　said　the　Bird　Woman；　〃I　will　buy　them；　also　the

big　moth　caterpillars　that　are　creeping　everywhere　now；

and　the　cocoons　that　they　will　spin　just　about　this　time。　

I　have　a　sneaking　impression　that　the　mystery；　wonder；

and　the　urge　of　their　pure　beauty；　are　going　to　force　me

to　picture　and　paint　our　moths　and　put　them　into　a　book

for　all　the　world　to　see　and　know。　　We　Limberlost　people

must　not　be　selfish　with　the　wonders　God　has　given　to　us。　

We　must　share　with　those　poor　cooped…up　city　people　the

best　we　can。　　To　send　them　a　beautiful　book；　that　is　the

way；　is　it　not；　little　new　friend　of　mine？〃



〃Yes；　oh　yes！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃And　please　God　they

find　a　way　to　earn　the　money　to　buy　the　books；　as　I　have

those　I　need　so　badly。〃



〃I　will　pay　good　prices　for　all　the　moths　you　can　find；〃

said　the　Bird　Woman；　〃because　you　see　I　exchange　them

with　foreign　collectors。　　I　want　a　complete　series　of　the

moths　of　America　to　trade　with　a　German　scientist；

another　with　a　man　in　India；　and　another　in　Brazil。　

Others　I　can　exchange　with　home　collectors　for　those　of

California　and　Canada；　so　you　see　I　can　use　all　you　can

raise；　or　find。　　The　banker　will　buy　stone　axes；　arrow

points；　and　Indian　pipes。　　There　was　a　teacher　from　the

city　grade　schools　here　to…day　for　specimens。　　There　is

a　fund　to　supply　the　ward　buildings。　　I'll　help　you　get

in　touch　with　that。　　They　want　leaves　of　different　trees；

flowers；　grasses；　moths；　insects；　birds'　nests　and　anything

about　birds。〃



Elnora's　eyes　were　blazing。　　〃Had　I　better　go　back　to

school　or　open　a　bank　account　and　begin　being　a　millionaire？　

Uncle　Wesley　and　I　have　a　bushel　of　arrow　points　gathered；

a　stack　of　axes；　pipes；　skin…dressing　tools；　tubes　and　mortars。　

I　don't　know　how　I　ever　shall　wait　three　hours。〃



〃You　must　go；　or　you　will　be　late；〃　said　the　Bird　Woman。　

〃I　will　be　ready　at　four。〃



After　school　closed　Elnora；　seated　beside　the　Bird

Woman；　drove　to　Freckles's　room　in　the　Limberlost。　　One　at

a　time　the　beautiful　big　moths　were　taken　from　the

interior　of　the　old　black　case。　　Not　a　fourth　of　them　could

be　moved　that　night　and　it　was　almost　dark　when　the　last

box　was　closed；　the　list　figured；　and　into　Elnora's　trembling

fingers　were　paid　fifty…nine　dollars　and　sixteen　cents。　

Elnora　clasped　the　money　closely。



〃Oh　you　beautiful　stuff！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　are　going　to

buy　the　books；　pay　the　tuition；　and　take　me　to　high　school。〃



Then　because　she　was　a　woman；　she　sat　on　a　log　and

looked　at　her　shoes。　　Long　after　the　Bird　Woman　drove

away　Elnora　remained。　　She　had　her　problem；　and　it　was

a　big　one。　　If　she　told　her　mother；　would　she　take　the

money　to　pay　the　taxes？　　If　she　did　not　tell　her；　how　could

she　account　for　the　books；　and　things　for　which　she　would

spend　it。　　At　last　she　counted　out　what　she　needed　for

the　next　day；　placed　the　remainder　in　the　farthest　corner

of　the　case；　and　locked　the　door。　　She　then　filled　the　front

of　her　skirt　from　a　heap　of　arrow　points　beneath　the　case

and　started　home。









CHAPTER　IV





WHEREIN　THE　SINTONS　ARE　DISAPPOINTED；

AND　MRS。　COMSTOCK　LEARNS　THAT　SHE　CAN　LAUGH





With　the　first　streak　of　red　above　the　Limberlost

Margaret　Sinton　was　busy　with　the　gingham　and　the

intricate　paper　pattern　she　had　purchased。　

Wesley　cooked　the　breakfast　and　worked　until　he　thought

Elnora　would　be　gone；　then　he　started　to　bring　her　mother。



〃Now　you　be　mighty　careful；〃　cautioned　Margaret。　

〃I　don't　know　how　she　will　take　it。〃



〃I　don't　either；〃　said　Wesley　philosophically；　〃but

she's　got　to　take　it　some　way。　　That　dress　has　to　be

finished　by　school　time　in　the　morning。〃



Wesley　had　not　slept　well　that　night。　　He　had　been　so

busy　framing　diplomatic　speeches　to　make　to　Mrs。　Comstock

that　sleep　had　little　chance　with　him。　　Every　step　nearer

to　her　he　approached　his　position　seemed　less　enviable。　

By　the　time　he　reached　the　front　gate　and　started　down

the　walk　between　the　rows　of　asters　and　lady　slippers

he　was　perspiring；　and　every　plausible　and　convincing

speech　had　fled　his　brain。　　Mrs。　Comstock　helped　him。　

She　met　him　at　the　door。



〃Good　morning；〃　she　said。　　〃Did　Margaret　send　you

for　something？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Wesley。　　〃She's　got　a　job　that's　too　big

for　her；　and　she　wants　you　to　help。〃



〃Of　course　I　will；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　It　was　no

one's　affair　how　lonely　the　previous　day　had　been；　or

how　the　endless　hours　of　the　present　would　drag。　

〃What　is　she　doing　in　such　a　rush？〃



Now　was　his　chance。



〃She's　making　a　dress　for　Elnora；〃　answered；　Wesley。　

He　saw　Mrs。　Comstock's　form　straighten；　and　her　face

harden；　so　he　continued　hastily。　　〃You　see　Elnora　has

been　helping　us　at　harvest　time；　butchering；　and　with

unexpected　visitors　for　years。　　We've　made　out　that

she's　saved　us　a　considerable　sum；　and　as　she　wouldn't

ever　touch　any　pay　for　anything；　we　just　went　to　town

and　got　a　few　clothes　we　thought　would　fix　her　up　a　little

for　the　high　school。　　We　want　to　get　a　dress　done　to…day

mighty　bad；　but　Margaret　is　slow　about　sewing；　and　she

never　can　finish　alone；　so　I　came　after　you。〃



〃And　it's　such　a　simple　little　matter；　so　dead　easy；

and　all　so　between　old　friends　like；　that　you　can't　look

above　your　boots　while　you　explain　it；〃　sneered　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃Wesley　Sinton；　what　put　the　idea　into　your　head　that

Elnora　would　take　things　bought　with　money；　when　she

wouldn't　take　the　money？



Then　Sinton's　eyes　came　up　straightly。



〃Finding　her　on　the　trail　last　night　sobbing　as　hard　as

I　ever　saw　any　one　at　a　funeral。　　She　wasn't　complaining

at　all；　but　she's　come　to　me　all　her　life　with　her　little　hurts；

and　she　couldn't　hide　how　she'd　been　laughed　at；　twitted；

and　run　face　to　face　against　the　fact　that　there　were　books

and　tuition；　unexpected；　and　nothing　will　ever　make　me

believe　you　didn't　know　that；　Kate　Comstock。〃



〃If　any　doubts　are　troubling　you　on　that　subject；　sure

I　knew　it！　　She　was　so　anxious　to　try　the　world；　I　thought

I'd　just　let　her　take　a　few　knocks　and　see　how　she　liked　them。〃



〃As　if　she'd　ever　taken　anything　but　knocks　all　her　life！〃

cried　Wesley　Sinton。　　〃Kate　Comstock；　you　are　a　heartless；

selfish　woman。　　You've　never　shown　Elnora　any　real　love　in

her　life。　　If　ever　she　finds　out　that　thing　you'll　lose　her；

and　it　will　serve　you　right。〃



〃She　knows　it　now；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock　icily；　〃and

she'll　be　home　to…night　just　as　usual。〃



〃Well；　you　are　a　brave　woman　if　you　dared　put　a　girl　of

Eln