tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第15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！
stealthily； so soft…footed and unbidden。 Had not this child been given her
as a punishment for her guilt？ Had she then a right to turn God's scourge
56
… Page 57…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
into a blessing？ Did she give to God 〃that which belongeth unto God；〃
as long as all her hopes； her thoughts； and her whole being revolved about
this one earthly thing； her son； the child of her sorrow？ She was not a
nature to shrink from grave questions； no； she met them boldly； when once
they were there； wrestled fiercely with them； was defeated； and again with
a martyr's zeal rose to renew the combat。 God had Himself sent her this
perplexing doubt and it was her duty to bear His burden。 Thus ran Brita's
reasoning。 In the mean while the years slipped by； and great changes
were wrought in the world about her。
The few hundred dollars which Brita had been able to save； during the
first three years of her stay in Chicago； she had invested in a piece of land。
In the mean while the city had grown； and in the year 1859 she was
offered five thousand dollars for her lot； this offer she accepted and again
bought a small piece of property at a short distance from the city。 The
boy had since his eighth year attended the public school； and had made
astonishing progress。 Every day when school was out； she would meet
him at the gate； take him by the hand and lead him home。 If any of the
other boys dared to make sport of her； or to tease him for his dependence
upon her； it was sure to cost that boy a black eye｛。｝ He soon succeeded in
establishing himself in the respect of his school…mates； for he was the
strongest boy of his own age； and ever ready to protect and defend the
weak and defenseless。 When Thomas Bright （for that was the name by
which he was known） was fifteen years old he was offered a position as
clerk in the office of a lumber…merchant； and with his mother's consent he
accepted it。 He was a fine young lad now； large and well…knit； and with a
clear earnest countenance。 In the evening he would bring home books to
read； and as it had always been Brita's habit to interest herself in whatever
interested him； she soon found herself studying and discussing with him
things which had in former years been far beyond the horizon of her mind。
She had at his request reluctantly given up her work in the lumber…yards；
and now spent her days at home； busying herself with sewing and reading
and such other things as women find to fill up a vacant hour。
One evening； when Thomas was in his nineteenth year； he returned
from his office with a graver face than usual。 His mother's quick eye
57
… Page 58…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
immediately saw that something had agitated him； but she forbore to ask。
〃Mother；〃 said he at last； 〃who is my father？ Is he dead or alive？〃
〃God is your father； my son；〃 answered she； tremblingly。 〃If you
love me； ask me no more。〃
〃I do love you； mother；〃 he said； and gave her a grave look； in which
she thought she detected a mingling of tenderness and reproach。 〃And it
shall be as you have said。〃
It was the first time she had had reason to blush before him； and her
emotion came near overwhelming her； but with a violent effort she stifled
it； and remained outwardly calm。 He began pacing up and down the
floor with his head bent and his hands on his back。 It suddenly occurred
to her that he was a grown man； and that she could no longer hold the
same relation to him as his supporter and protector。 〃Alas；〃 thought she；
〃if God will but let me remain his mother； I shall bless and thank Him。〃
It was the first time this subject had been broached； and it gave rise to
many a doubt and many a question in the anxious mother's mind。 Had
she been right in concealing from him that which he might justly claim to
know？ What had been her motive in keeping him ignorant of his origin
and of the land of his birth？ She had wished him to grow to the strength
of man… hood； unconscious of guilt； so that he might bear his head upright；
and look the world fearlessly in the face。 And still； had there not in all
this been a lurking thought of herself； a fear of losing his love； a desire to
stand pure and perfect in his eye？ She hardly dared to answer these
questions； for； alas； she knew not that even our purest motives are but
poorly able to bear a searching scrutiny。 She began to suspect that her
whole course with her son had been wrong from the very beginning。
Why had she not told him the stern truth； even if he should despise her for
it； even if she should have to stand a blushing culprit in his presence？
Often； when she heard his footsteps in the hall； as he returned from the
work of the day； she would man herself up and the words hovered upon
her lips： 〃Son； thou art a bastard born； a child of guilt； and thy mother is
an outcast upon the earth。〃 But when she met those calm blue eyes of his；
saw the unsuspecting frankness of his manner and the hopefulness with
which he looked to the future； her womanly heart shrank from its duty； and
58
… Page 59…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
she hastened out of the room； threw herself on her bed； and wept。
Fiercely she wrestled with God in prayer； until she thought that even God
had deserted her。 Thus months passed and years； and the constant care
and anxiety began to affect her health。 She grew pale and nervous； and
the slightest noise would annoy her。 In the mean while； her manner
toward the young man had become strangely altered； and he soon noticed
it； although he forbore to speak。 She was scrupulously mindful of his
comfort； anxiously anticipated his wants； and observed toward him an ever
vigilant consideration； as if he had been her master instead of her son。
When Thomas was twenty…two years of age； he was offered a
partnership in his employer's business； and with every year his prospects
brightened。 The sale of his mother's property brought him a very
handsome little fortune； which enabled him to build a fine and comfortable
house in one of the best portions of the city。 Thus their outward
circumstances were greatly improved； and of comfort and luxury Brita had
all and more than she had ever desired； but her health was broken down；
and the physicians declared that a year of foreign travel and a continued
residence in Italy might possibly restore her。 At last； Thomas； too； began
to urge her； until she finally yielded。 It was on a bright morning in May
that they both started for New York； and three days later they took the boat
for Europe。 What countries they were to visit they had hardly decided；
but after a brief stay in England we find them again on a steamer bound
for Norway。
IV。
Warm and gentle as it is； June often comes to the fjord…valleys of
Norway with the voice and the strength of a giant。 The glaciers totter
and groan； as if in anger at their own weakness； and send huge avalanches
of stones and ice down into the valleys。 The rivers swell and rush with
vociferous brawl out over the mountain… sides； and a thousand tiny brooks
join in the general clamor； and dance with noisy chatter over the moss…
grown birch…roots。 But later； when the struggle is at an end； and June has
victoriously seated herself upon her throne； her voice becomes more richly
59
… Page 60…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
subdued and brings rest and comfort to the ear and to the troubled heart。
It was while the month was in this latter mood that Brita and her son
entered once more the valley whence； twenty…five years ago； they had fled。
Many strange； turbulent emotions stirred the mother's bosom； as she saw
again the great snow…capped mountains； and the calm； green valley； her
childhood's home； lying so snugly sheltered in their mighty embrace。
Even Thomas's breast was moved with vaguely sympathetic throbs； as this
wondrous scene spread itself before him。 They soon succeeded in hiring
a farm…house； about half an hour's walk from Blakstad； and； according to
Brita's wish； established themselves there for the summer。 She had
known the people well； when she was young； but they never thought of
identifying her with the merry maid； who had once startled the parish by
her sudden flight； and she； although she longed to open her heart to them；
let no word fall to betray her real character。 Her conscience accused her
of playing a false part； but for her son's sake she kept silent。
Then； one day；it was the second Sunday after their arrival；she rose
early in the morning； and asked Thomas to accompany her on a walk up
through the valley。 There was Sabbath in the air； the soft breath of
summer； laden with the perfume of fresh leaves and field…flowers； gently
wafted into their faces。 The sun glittered in the dewy grass； the crickets
sung with a remote voice of wonder； and the air seemed to be half visible；
and moved in trem… bling wavelets on the path before them。 Resting on
her son's arm； Brita walked slowly up through the flowering meadows； she
hardly knew whither her feet bore her； but her heart beat violently； and she
often was obliged to pause and press her hands against her bosom； as if to
stay the turbulent emotions。
〃You are not well； mother；〃 said the son。 〃It was imprudent in me to
allow you to exert yourself in this way。〃
〃Let us sit down on this sto
