登陆注册
5192200000038

第38章

"I be right," insisted Mrs.Todd with much amiability."'Twas most too bad to cramp him down to his peaceful trade, but he's a most excellent shoemaker at his best, an' he always says it's a trade that gives him time to think an' plan his maneuvers.Over to the Port they always invite him to march Decoration Day, same as the rest, an' he does look noble; he comes of soldier stock."I had been noticing with great interest the curiously French type of face which prevailed in this rustic company.I had said to myself before that Mrs.Blackett was plainly of French descent, in both her appearance and her charming gifts, but this is not surprising when one has learned how large a proportion of the early settlers on this northern coast of New England were of Huguenot blood, and that it is the Norman Englishman, not the Saxon, who goes adventuring to a new world.

"They used to say in old times," said Mrs.Todd modestly, "that our family came of very high folks in France, and one of 'em was a great general in some o' the old wars.I sometimes think that Santin's ability has come 'way down from then.'Tain't nothin' he's ever acquired; 'twas born in him.I don't know's he ever saw a fine parade, or met with those that studied up such things.He's figured it all out an' got his papers so he knows how to aim a cannon right for William's fish-house five miles out on Green Island, or up there on Burnt Island where the signal is.He had it all over to me one day, an' I tried hard to appear interested.His life's all in it, but he will have those poor gloomy spells come over him now an' then, an' then he has to drink."Mrs.Caplin gave a heavy sigh.

"There's a great many such strayaway folks, just as there is plants," continued Mrs.Todd, who was nothing if not botanical."Iknow of just one sprig of laurel that grows over back here in a wild spot, an' I never could hear of no other on this coast.I had a large bunch brought me once from Massachusetts way, so I know it.

This piece grows in an open spot where you'd think 'twould do well, but it's sort o' poor-lookin'.I've visited it time an' again, just to notice its poor blooms.'Tis a real Sant Bowden, out of its own place."Mrs.Caplin looked bewildered and blank."Well, all I know is, last year he worked out some kind of plan so's to parade the county conference in platoons, and got 'em all flustered up tryin'

to sense his ideas of a holler square," she burst forth.

"They was holler enough anyway after ridin' 'way down from up country into the salt air, and they'd been treated to a sermon on faith an' works from old Fayther Harlow that never knows when to cease.'Twa'n't no time for tactics then,--they wa'n't a'thinkin'

of the church military.Sant, he couldn't do nothin' with 'em.

All he thinks of, when he sees a crowd, is how to march 'em.'Tis all very well when he don't 'tempt too much.He never did act like other folks.""Ain't I just been maintainin' that he ain't like 'em?" urged Mrs.Todd decidedly."Strange folks has got to have strange ways, for what I see.""Somebody observed once that you could pick out the likeness of 'most every sort of a foreigner when you looked about you in our parish," said Sister Caplin, her face brightening with sudden illumination."I didn't see the bearin' of it then quite so plain.

I always did think Mari' Harris resembled a Chinee.""Mari' Harris was pretty as a child, I remember," said the pleasant voice of Mrs.Blackett, who, after receiving the affectionate greetings of nearly the whole company, came to join us,--to see, as she insisted, that we were out of mischief.

"Yes, Mari' was one o' them pretty little lambs that make dreadful homely old sheep," replied Mrs.Todd with energy."Cap'n Littlepage never'd look so disconsolate if she was any sort of a proper person to direct things.She might divert him; yes, she might divert the old gentleman, an' let him think he had his own way, 'stead o' arguing everything down to the bare bone.

'Twouldn't hurt her to sit down an' hear his great stories once in a while.""The stories are very interesting," I ventured to say.

同类推荐
  • 养生秘旨

    养生秘旨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 答大学堂校长蔡鹤卿太史书

    答大学堂校长蔡鹤卿太史书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 青囊奥语

    青囊奥语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Letters from England

    Letters from England

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 血腥的皇权(明代君臣的政治斗争)

    血腥的皇权(明代君臣的政治斗争)

    本书以明代政治斗争为主线,以明朝历代帝王为时间序列、重点讲述明代的君臣关系、政治博弈、朝局走向,以此展现明代的政治运行特点、帝王的心路历程、君臣关系的演进,以及臣子们为了维护儒家礼法所做的抗争,突出演示了大历史视角下的人物命运。
  • 王妃太俏皮:霸道君上很贪心

    王妃太俏皮:霸道君上很贪心

    什么?!在湖边洗澡也会被人偷香,小心得针眼吧你!那个混蛋王爷还把她毫无顾忌的抱起,带到皇宫里。他想封她为王妃,她却总想着逃跑,他一次次逮她回来,硬冠上王妃的头衔给她。
  • 梦回魔界之命中注定

    梦回魔界之命中注定

    喜欢一个人,是一开始就注定的,无论她好还是坏,是悲悯终生的仙,又或是罪孽深重的魔,喜欢便是喜欢。
  • 极品阴阳师

    极品阴阳师

    我本是个不起眼的阴阳师,有空算算命,捉捉鬼,生活也算滋润。某天司命仙君突然到访,说冥君转世成靖南王世子,要我保冥君平安,事后可飞升成仙。同时,言之凿凿说有仙君帮助。没成想,看似一个无意的任务,竟要追溯到许多年以前的一宗往事。真相一层一层剥开,也揭开了那绵延数千年的爱恨情仇……
  • 总裁老婆很极品

    总裁老婆很极品

    【最热新书】苏平安有个未婚妻,是一家上市公司的美女总裁。说实话,这个未婚妻很美,但就是点冷。上一辈的情仇,这一世的恩怨,看苏平安如何拥美入怀。欢天读者群:195713137
  • 穿越之独宠王妃

    穿越之独宠王妃

    二十一世界的赏金猎人代号‘华星‘一朝穿越竟然成为了赵梁的大将军之女,什么柔弱,可怜,被欺负的都跟她挂不上边。最严厉的酷刑,最让人生不如死的折磨,一次次施加于曾经欠她的人【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 优质茶叶生产新技术

    优质茶叶生产新技术

    本系列图书涵盖了种植业、养殖业、加工和服务业, 门类齐全, 技术方法先进, 专业知识权威, 既有种植、养殖新技术, 又有致富新门路、职业技能训练等方方面面, 科学性与实用性相结合, 可操作性强, 图文并茂, 让农民朋友们轻轻松松地奔向致富路; 同时培养造就有文化、懂技术、会经营的新型农民, 增加农民收入, 提升农民综合素质, 推进社会主义新农村建设。
  • 欲望青春

    欲望青春

    一座山,女人山;一个洞,女人洞;一条河,女人河。这个酷似女人生殖器的洞,在女人山沉睡了千百年,给女人山的女人带来了什么?山外的人想进来,山里的人想出去,女人山到底怎么了?在女人洞出生的女人为你讲叙这一切。在女人洞出生的孪生姐妹——方方和圆圆,质朴单纯,外柔内刚。在成长、奋斗的过程中,她们竟发现父亲不是自己的亲生父亲,而母亲却难以启齿;初涉职场,妹妹为找工作取代了姐姐,在爱情里,又奋不顾身地做了姐姐的影子和替身……这是出生在大山深处的80后的青春故事,但却映射了每个人的青春欲望。
  • 灭仙弑神

    灭仙弑神

    苏南,原是枫林宗一员无名之辈,他原本想平平淡淡度过一生,却不想六界纷争,将他卷入。从此,他走上了一条自强之路。灵兽,魔怪,仙道,凡间,每一个结界都被他搅得天翻地覆,鸡犬不宁。他不喜欢自己这样的状态,却又无奈,而且在这样的左右冲突中,他开始变得强大,变得复杂,最终攀上了气力与灵力结界的最高层。
  • 看不见爱情的房间

    看不见爱情的房间

    初相遇,我睡得正香,蒙眬中鼻端痒痒的,像有个人在对着我的面颊呵气。我心里一慌,条件反射地睁开眼睛,自椅子上跳起来,不想脚下一滑,摔了一个惨不忍睹。可是,眼前却空荡荡的,什么也没有……那时,我并不知道,始作俑者的某男正憋笑憋到内伤。再相遇,家里正半夜上演“鬼影喧嚣”,各种奇幻场景连番上演。我愣了好半天,才反应过来发生了什么,尖叫着夺门而逃。殊不知,家里某男正又无奈又好笑地看着我被吓得屁滚尿流。终于,某男为我打开了一个神奇的奇幻世界。我们不是一见倾心,却感觉像是认识了好几个世纪。他嘲笑我胆小不禁吓,我奴役他做我的“专属男仆”。