the friendly road-第7章

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〃Let　me　take　you　by　the　hand；　sir。　We　know　you；　and　have　known　you　for　a　long　time。〃

I　shall　not　attempt　to　relate　the　conversation　which　followed；　nor　tell　of　the　keen　joy　I　had　in　itafter　the　first　cold　plunge。　We　found　that　we　had　a　thousand　common　interests　and　enthusiasms。　I　had　to　tell　them　of　my　farm；　and　why　I　had　left　it　temporarily；　and　of　the　experiences　on　the　road。　No　sooner　had　I　related　what　had　befallen　me　at　the　Stanleys'　than　Mrs。　Vedder　disappeared　into　the　house　and　came　out　again　presently　with　a　tray　loaded　with　cold　meat；　bread；　a　pitcher　of　fine　milk；　and　other　good　things。

〃I　shall　not　offer　any　excuses；〃　said　I；　〃I'm　hungry；〃　and　with　that　I　laid　in；　Mr。　Vedder　helping　with　the　milk；　and　all　three　of　us　talking　as　fast　as　ever　we　could。

It　was　nearly　midnight　when　at　last　Mr。　Vedder　led　the　way　to　the　immaculate　little　bedroom　where　I　spent　the　night。

The　next　morning　I　awoke　early；　and　quietly　dressing；　slipped　down　to　the　garden　and　walked　about　among　the　trees　and　the　shrubs　and　the　flower…beds。　The　sun　was　just　coming　up　over　the　hill；　the　air　was　full　of　the　fresh　odours　of　morning；　and　the　orioles　and　cat…birds　were　singing。

In　the　back　of　the　garden　I　found　a　charming　rustic　arbour　with　seats　around　a　little　table。　And　here　I　sat　down　to　listen　to　the　morning　concert；　and　I　saw；　cut　or　carved　upon　the　table；　this　verse；　which　so　pleased　me　that　I　copied　it　in　my　book：

A　garden　is　a　lovesome　thing；　God　wot！　Rose　plot；　Fringed　pool；　Ferned　grot　The　veriest　school　of　peace；　and　yet　the　fool　Contends　that　God　is　not　Not　God！　in　gardens？　when　the　even　is　cool？　Nay；　but　I　have　a　sign；　'Tis　very　sure　God　walks　in　mine。

I　looked　about　after　copying　this　verse；　and　said　aloud：

〃I　like　this　garden：　I　like　these　Vedders。〃

And　with　that　I　had　a　moment　of　wild　enthusiasm。

〃I　will　come；〃　I　said；　〃and　buy　a　little　garden　next　them；　and　bring　Harriet；　and　we　will　live　here　always。　What's　a　farm　compared　with　a　friend？〃

But　with　that　I　thought　of　the　Scotch　preacher；　and　of　Horace；　and　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Starkweather；　and　I　knew　I　could　never　leave　the　friends　at　home。

〃It's　astonishing　how　many　fine　people　there　are　in　this　world；〃　I　said　aloud；　〃one　can't　escape　them！〃

〃Good　morning；　David　Grayson；〃　I　heard　some　one　saying；　and　glancing　up　I　saw　Mrs。　Vedder　at　the　doorway。　〃Are　you　hungry？〃

〃I　am　always　hungry；〃　I　said。

Mr。　Vedder　came　out　and　linking　his　arm　in　mine　and　pointing　out　various　spireas　and　Japanese　barberries；　of　which　he　was　very　proud；　we　walked　into　the　house　together。

I　did　not　think　of　it　especially　at　timeHarriet　says　I　never　see　anything　really　worth　while；　by　which　she　means　dishes；　dresses；　doilies；　and　such　like　but　as　I　remembered　afterward　the　table　that　Mrs。　Vedder　set　was　wonderfully　daintydainty　not　merely　with　flowers　（with　which　it　was　loaded）；　but　with　the　quality　of　the　china　and　silver。　It　was　plainly　the　table　of　no　ordinary　gardener　or　caretakerbut　this　conclusion　did　not　come　to　me　until　afterward；　for　as　I　remember　it；　we　were　in　a　deep　discussion　of　fertilizers。

Mrs。　Vedder　cooked　and　served　breakfast　herself；　and　did　it　with　a　skill　almost　equal　to　Harriet'sso　skillfully　that　the　talk　went　on　and　we　never　once　heard　the　machinery　of　service。

After　breakfast　we　all　went　out　into　the　garden；　Mrs。　Vedder　in　an　old　straw　hat　and　a　big　apron；　and　Mr。　Vedder　in　a　pair　of　old　brown　overalls。　Two　men　had　appeared　from　somewhere；　and　were　digging　in　the　vegetable　garden。　After　giving　them　certain　directions　Mr。　Vedder　and　I　both　found　five…tined　forks　and　went　into　the　rose　garden　and　began　turning　over　the　rich　soil；　while　Mrs。　Vedder；　with　pruning…shears；　kept　near　us；　cutting　out　the　dead　wood。

It　was　one　of　the　charming　forenoons　of　my　life。　This　pleasant　work；　spiced　with　the　most　interesting　conversation　and　interrupted　by　a　hundred　little　excursions　into　other　parts　of　the　garden；　to　see　this　or　that　wonder　of　vegetation；　brought　us　to　dinner…time　before　we　fairly　knew　it。

About　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　I　made　the　next　discovery。　I　heard　first　the　choking　cough　of　a　big　motor…car　in　the　country　road；　and　a　moment　later　it　stopped　at　our　gate。　I　thought　I　saw　the　Vedders　exchanging　significant　glances。　A　number　of　merry　young　people　tumbled　out；　and　an　especially　pretty　girl　of　about　twenty　came　running　through　the　garden。

〃Mother；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　MUST　come　with　us！〃

〃I　can't；　I　can't；〃　said　Mrs。　Vedder；　〃the　roses　MUST　be　prunedand　see！　The　azaleas　are　coming　into　bloom。〃

With　that　she　presented　me　to　her　daughter。

And；　then；　shortly；　for　it　could　no　longer　be　concealed；　I　learned　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Vedder　were　not　the　caretakers　but　the　owners　of　the　estate　and　of　the　great　house　I　had　seen　on　the　hill。　That　evening；　with　an　air　almost　of　apology；　they　explained　to　me　how　it　all　came　about。

〃We　first　came　out　here；〃　said　Mrs。　Vedder；　〃nearly　twenty　years　ago；　and　built　the　big　house　on　the　hill。　But　the　more　we　came　to　know　of　country　life　the　more　we　wanted　to　get　down　into　it。　We　found　it　impossible　up　thereso　many　unnecessary　things　to　see　to　and　care　forand　we　couldn'twe　didn't　see〃

〃The　fact　is；〃　Mr。　Vedder　put　in；　〃we　were　losing　touch　with　each　other。〃

〃There　is　nothing　like　a　big　house；〃　said　Mrs。　Vedder；　〃to　separate　a　man　and　his　wife。〃

〃So　we　came　down　here；〃　said　Mr。　Vedder；　〃built　this　little　cottage；　and　developed　this　garden　mostly　with　our　own　hands。　We　would　have　sold　the　big　house　long　ago　if　it　hadn't　been　for　our　friends。　They　like　it。〃

〃I　have　never　heard　a　more　truly　romantic　story；〃　said　I。

And　it　WAS　romantic：　these　fine　people　escaping　from　too　many　possessions；　too　much　property；　to　the　peace　and　quietude　of　a　garden　where　they　could　be　lovers　again。

〃It　seems；　sometimes；〃　said　Mrs。　Vedder；　〃that　I　never　really　believed　in　God　until　we　came　down　here〃

〃I　saw　the　verse　on　the　table　in　the　arbour；〃　said　I。

〃And　it　is　true；〃　said　Mr。　Vedder。　〃We　got　a　long；　long　way　from　God　for　many　years：　here　we　seem　to　get　back　to　Him。〃

I　had　fully　intended　to　take　the　road　again　that　afternoon；　but　how　could　any　one　leave　such　people　as　those？　We　talked　again　late　that　night；　but　the　next　morning；　at　the　leisurely　Sunday　breakfast；　I　set　my　hour　of　departure　with　all　the　firmness　I　could　command。　I　left　them；　indeed；　before　ten　o'clock　that　forenoon。　I　shall　never　forget　the　parting。　They　walked　with　me　to　the　top　of　the　hill；　and　there　we　stopped　and　looked　back。　We　could　see　the　cottage　half　hidden　among　the　trees；　and　the　little　opening　that　the　precious　garden　made。　For　a　time　we　stood　there　quite　silent。

〃Do　you　remember；〃　I　said　presently；　〃that　character　in　Homer　who　was　a　friend　of　men　and　lived　in　a　house　by　the　side　of　the　road？　I　shall　always　think　of　you　as　friends　of　menyou　took　in　a　dusty　traveller。　And　I　shall　never　forget　your　house　by　the　side　of　the　road。〃

〃The　House　by　the　Side　of　the　Roadyou　have　christened　it　anew；　David　Grayson；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Vedder。

And　so　we　parted　like　old　friends；　and　I　left　them　to　return　to　their　garden；　where　〃'tis　very　sure　God　walks。〃



CHAPTER　IV。　　I　AM　THE　SPECTATOR　OF　A　MIGHTY　BATTLE；　IN　WHICH　CHRISTIAN　MEETS　APPOLLYON

It　is　one　of　the　prime　joys　of　the　long　road　that　no　two　days　are　ever　remotely　alikeno　two　hours　even；　and　sometimes　a　day　that　begins　calmly　will　end　with　the　most　stirring　events。

It　was　thus；　indeed；　with　that　perfect　spring　Sunday；　when　I　left　my　friends；　the　Vedders；　and　turned　my　face　again　to　the　open　country。　It　began　as　quietly　as　any　Sabbath　morning　of　my　life；　but　what　an　end　it　had！　I　would　have　travelled　a　thousand　miles　for　the　adventures　which　a　bounteous　road　that　day　spilled　carelessly　into　my　willing　hands。

I　can　give　no　adequate　reason　why　it　should　be　so；　but　there　are　Sunday　mornings　in　the　springat　least　in　our　country　which　seem　to　put　on；　like　a　Sabbath　garment；　an　atmosphere　of　divine　quietude。　Warm；　soft；　clear；　but；　above　all；　immeasurably　serene。

Such　was　that　Sunday　morning；　and　I　was　no　sooner　well　afoot　than　I　yielded　to　the　ingratiating　mood　of　the　day。　Usually　I　am　an　active　walker；　loving　the　sense　of　quick　motion　and　the　stir　it　imparts　to　both　body　and　mind；　but　that　morning　I　found　myself　loitering；　looking　widely　about　me；　and　enjoying　the　lesser　and　quieter　aspects　of　nature。　It　was　a　fine　wooded　country　in　which　I　found　myself；　and　I　soon　struck　off　the　beaten　road　and　took　to　the　forest　and　the　fields。　In　places　the　ground　was　almost　covered　with　meadow…rue；　like　green　shadows　on　the　hillsides；　not　yet　in　seed；　but　richly　umbrageous。　In　the　long　green　grass　of　the　meadows　shone　the　yellow　star…flowers；　and　the　sweet…flags　were　blooming　along　the　marshy　edges　of　the　ponds。　The　violets　had　disappeared；　but　they　were　succeeded　by　wild　geraniums　and　rank…growing　vetches。

I　remember　that　I　kept　thinking　from　time　to　time；　all　the　forenoon；　as　my　mind　went　back　swiftly　and　warmly　to　the　two　fine　friends　from　whom　I　had　so　recently　parted：

How　the　Vedders　would　enjoy　this！　Or；　I　must　tell　the　Vedders　that。　And　two　or　three　times　I　found　myself　in　animated　conversations　with　them　in　which　I　generously　supplied　all　three　parts。　It　may　be　true　for　some　natures；　as　Leonardo　said；　that　〃if　you　are　alone　you　belong　wholly　to　yourself；　if　you　have　a　companion；　you　belong　only　half　to　yourself〃；　but　it　is　certainly　not　so　with　me。　With　me　friendship　never　divides：　it　multiplies。　A　friend　always　makes　me　more　than　I　am；　better　than　I　am；　bigger　I　am。　We　two　make　four；　or　fifteen；　or　forty。

Well；　I　loitered　through　the　fields　and　woods　for　a　long　time　that　Sunday　forenoon；　not　knowing　in　the　least　that　Chance　held　me　close　by　the　hand　and　was　leading　me　onward　to　great　events。　I　knew；　of　course；that　I　had　yet　to　find　a　place　for　the　night；　and　that　this　might　be　difficult　on　Sunday；　and　yet　I　spent　that　forenoon　as　a　man　spends　his　immortal　youthwith　a　glorious　disregard　for　the　future。


Some　time　after　noonfor　the　sun　was　high　and　the　day　was　growing　much　warmer　I　turned　from　the　road；　climbed　an　inviting　little　hill；　and　chose　a　spot　in　an　old　meadow　in　the　shade　of　an　apple　tree；and　there　I　lay　down　on　the　grass；　and　looked　up　into　the　dusky　shadows　of　the　branches　above　me。　I　could　feel　the　soft　airs　on　my　face；　I　could　hear　the　buzzing　of　bees　in　the　meadow　flowers；　and　by　turning　my　head　just　a　little　I　could　see　the　slow　fleecy　clouds；　high　up；　drifting　across　the　perfect　blue　of　the　sky。　And　the　scent　of　the　fields　in　spring！he　who　has　known　it；　even　once；　may　indeed　die　happy。

Men　worship　God　in　various　ways：　seemed　to　me　that　Sabbath　morning；　as　I　lay　quietly　there　in　the　warm　silence　of　midday；　that　I　was　truly　worshipping　God。　That　Sunday　morning　everything　about　me　seemed　somehow　to　be　a　miracle；a　miracle　gratefully　accepted　and　explainable　only　by　the　presence　of　God。　There　was　another　strange；　deep　feeling　which　I　had　that　morning；　which　I　have　had　a　few　other　times　in　my　life　at　the　rare　heights　of　experienceI　hesitate　always　when　I　try　to　put　down　the　deep；　deep　things　of　the　human　hearta　feeling　immeasurably　real；　that　if　I　should　turn　my　head　quickly　I　should　indeed　SEE　that　Immanent　Presence。　。　。　。

One　of　the　few　birds　I