登陆注册
5228600000054

第54章 CHAPTER XII(1)

The school term ended on a Saturday morning in mid-December. Mary's trunk was packed and ready, and she and it reached the South Station long before train time. She was going home, home for the holidays, and if she had been going on a trip around the world she could not have been more delighted at the prospect. And her delight and anticipations were shared in South Harniss. Her uncles' letters for the past fortnight had contained little except joyful announcements of preparations for her coming.

We are counting the minutes [wrote Zoeth]. The first thing Shadrach does every morning is to scratch another day off the calendar. I never saw him so worked up and excited and I calculate I ain't much different myself. I try not to set my heart on things of this world more than I ought to, but it does seem as if I couldn't think of much else but our girl's coming back to us. I am not going to worry the way Shadrach does about your getting here safe and sound. The Lord's been mighty good to us and I am sure He will fetch you to our door all right. I am contented to trust you in His hands.

P.S. One or both of us will meet you at the depot.

Captain Shad's epistle was more worldly but not more coherent.

Be sure and take the train that comes right on through [he wrote].

Don't take the one that goes to Woods Hole. Zoeth is so fidgety and nervous for fear you will make a mistake that he keeps me on pins and needles. Isaiah ain't much better. He swept out the setting-room twice last week and if he don't roast the cat instead of the chicken he is calculating to kill, it will be a mercy. I am the only one aboard the ship that keeps his head and I tell them not to worry. Be sure you take that through train. And look out for them electric cars, if you come to the depot in one. Better settle on the one you are going to take and then take the one ahead of it so as to be sure and not be late. Your train leaves the dock at quarter-past four. The Woods Hole one is two minutes earlier. Look out and not take that. Zoeth is afraid you will make a mistake, but I laugh at him. Don't take the wrong train.

Mary laughed when she read these letters, but there was a choke in the laugh. In spite of the perils of travel by the electrics and the New Haven railroad, she reached South Harniss safe, sound, and reasonably on time. The first person she saw on the platform of the station was Captain Shadrach. He had been pacing that platform for at least forty minutes.

He spied her at the same time and came rushing to greet her, both hands outstretched.

"And here you be!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm.

Mary laughed happily.

"Yes, Uncle Shad, here I am," she said. "Are you glad to see me?"

Shadrach looked at her.

"JUMPIN'!" was the only answer he made, but it was fervent and sufficient.

They rode home together in the old buggy. As they reached the corner by the store Mary expected the vehicle to be brought to a halt at the curb, but it was not. The Captain chirruped to the horse and drove straight on.

"Why, Uncle Shad!" exclaimed the girl. "Aren't you going to stop?"

"Eh? Stop? What for?"

"Why, to see Uncle Zoeth, of course. He's at the store, isn't he?"

Shadrach shook his head.

"No, he ain't," he said. "He's to home."

Mary was amazed and a trifle alarmed. One partner of Hamilton and Company was there in the buggy with her. By all the rules of precedent and South Harniss business the other should have been at the store. She knew that her uncles had employed no clerk or assistant since she left.

"But--but is Uncle Zoeth sick?" she asked.

"Sick? No, no, course he ain't sick. If he didn't have no better sense than to get sick the day you come home I'd--I'd--I don't know's I wouldn't drown him. HE ain't sick--unless," he added, as an afterthought, "he's got Saint Vitus dance from hoppin' up and down to look out of the window, watchin' for us."

"But if he isn't sick, why isn't he at the store? Who is there?"

The Captain chuckled.

"Not a solitary soul," he declared. "That store's shut up tight and it's goin' to stay that way this whole blessed evenin'. Zoeth and me we talked it over. I didn't know but we'd better get Abel Snow's boy or that pesky Annabel or somebody to stay while we was havin' supper. You see, we was both sot on eatin' supper with you tonight, no matter store or not, and Isaiah, he was just as sot as we was.

But all to once Zoeth had an idea. 'Shadrach,' he says, 'in Scriptur' times when people was real happy, same as we are now, they used to make a sacrifice to the Almighty to show how glad and grateful they was. Let's you and me make a sacrifice; let's sacrifice this evenin's trade--let's shut up the store on account of our girl's comin' home.' 'Good idea!' says I, so we did it."

Mary looked at him reproachfully.

"Oh, Uncle Shad," she said, "you shouldn't have done that. It was dear and sweet of you to think of it, but you shouldn't have done it. It didn't need any sacrifice to prove that you were glad to see me."

Shadrach winked over his shoulder.

"Don't let that sacrifice worry you any," he observed. "The sacrifice is mainly in Zoeth's eye. Fur's I'm concerned--well, Jabez Hedges told me yesterday that Rastus Young told him he cal'lated he'd have to be droppin' in at the store some of these nights to buy some rubber boots and new ileskins. We sold him the ones he's got four years ago and he ain't paid for 'em yet. No, no, Mary-'Gusta, don't you worry about that sacrifice. I can sacrifice Rastus Young's trade eight days in the week and make money by it.

Course I didn't tell Zoeth that; have to humor these pious folks much as we can, you know."

Mary smiled, but she shook her head. "It's no use your talking to me in that way, Uncle Shad," she said. "I know you too well. And right in the Christmas season, too!"

Zoeth's welcome was as hearty, if not as exuberant, as Captain Shad's. He met her at the door and after the first hug and kiss held her off at arm's length and looked her over.

"My! my! my!" he exclaimed. "And this is our little Mary-'Gusta come back again! It don't seem as if it could be, somehow."

同类推荐
  • 女范捷录

    女范捷录

    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。
  • THE OATH

    THE OATH

    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。
  • Critical and Historical Essays

    Critical and Historical Essays

    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。
  • 郡斋读书志

    郡斋读书志

    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。
  • The Elusive Pimpernel

    The Elusive Pimpernel

    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
  • 前七国志

    前七国志

    此书叙战国时,孙膑自请去云梦山鬼谷子处学兵法,途遇魏人庞涓,二人为兄弟,同去求学。后来学成后,二人各归其主,庞涓进攻韩国,孙率兵相救,生擒庞涓于马陵道,又会齐七国诸王,斩了庞涓。孙膑功成身退。
  • 绝世武尊

    绝世武尊

    一个身患竭血症,无法修炼的废物,得到一面能够推衍世间一切的神奇镜子!功法、武技、炼丹、制符、布阵,对他来说,统统都变得易如反掌!他修炼最强的功法,饮最烈的美酒,泡最美的女人,灭最嚣张的敌人,一步步走向武道巅峰!亿万神魔,匍匐脚下;无尽星空,尽在掌中!
  • 雪姬之几生几世只为你

    雪姬之几生几世只为你

    根据韩国人气动漫《雪姬》改编。雪姬继承了富豪乔先生几十亿家产,名义上是他的女儿,实际却是被隐藏多年的情人,他们之间究竟有什么秘密?乔先生离世后,雪姬低调回到霓虹市,却同时陷入两个当红男明星的绯闻中,这究竟是预谋还是巧合?雪姬的真实身份是什么,她回来的目的又是什么?
  • 易经战略

    易经战略

    历史上的张良、诸葛亮、刘伯温等,这些著名的战略家,都精通《易经》,并利用易经的智慧“运筹帷幄,决胜千里”。伟大领袖毛泽东的战略思想,实也暗合着易学规律之道。《易经战略》,是张松先生穷十几年之精力,寻师问道、潜心研究与实践的成果。本书的精要所在,是阐发了易学规律的精华,将之用于战略实践的指导。
  • 隐杀

    隐杀

    谢谢馒头同学提供的书友群(邪恶者同好会):32632289(已满)由kIsS铭同学提供的隐杀二群(cJ的香蕉):20137707隐杀高V群:43237511(香蕉船)(高V会员加入,进去后请改成起点的呢称)欢迎各位XeYD的同学们莅临指教^_^
  • 美国,谁做总统都一样?

    美国,谁做总统都一样?

    提起美国总统,人们的脑海里通常浮现的是一个至高无上、威力无边的形象。总统摇一摇,美国震一震,世界就是大海啸了。美国总统真有这么大的权力吗?美国总统在一国之中担当着什么角色?美国总统充其量不过是个“办公室主任”?他到底为金主还是为选民代言?总统真的统领三军吗?总统的地位其实也不稳,随时被监控着,选民不高兴,任职中途也能拉你下马。对不少美国人来说,美国总统,谁当都一样。
  • 凌云道传

    凌云道传

    时人不识凌云木,直待凌云始道高!小镇少年林亮穿梭世间,为了心中的梦想,为了追寻一切的真相而不断前行。且看平凡少年如何逆境重生,霸凌大陆!
  • 斗破之灭世大战序章

    斗破之灭世大战序章

    域外邪族蠢蠢欲动,炎帝萧炎、武祖林动、青衫剑圣、不死之主,四位主宰者现身域外世界,牧尘洛璃重游圣灵山,开启尘封已久的故事。大千世界边缘之地、无尽火域、武境、剑域等势力,太古神族之中巅峰强者尽数现身,对战域外邪族王者、妖皇。无尽火域少主萧霖掌天地间第二神火,连番大战,力挽狂澜。神秘禁忌之地,薰儿、绫清竹相继现身,探查未知之秘。域外邪族强者入侵无尽火域,九彩吞天蟒大战吞天之帝,萧玄霸道出手,天才战阵师率领炎神卫与魔阵天皇以战阵斗法。魔王苏醒,世界震动,两大阵营,谁能取得最后的胜利?这一切,不过是真正灭世大劫的开端而已...
  • 上清太极真人神仙经

    上清太极真人神仙经

    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。
  • 田园无小事

    田园无小事

    想她李筱筱一个娇滴滴的黄花大闺女,在现代赚赚钱、旅旅游,最重要的是可以到处品尝最爱的美食。可是为毛、为毛只是爬个山而已,只是不小心扭了脚而已,为什么会掉下水潭;掉下水潭就算了,为什么会穿越;穿越就算了,为什么会穿越成一个已婚农妇,最最崩溃的还是她.她.她还有一个两岁的嗷嗷待哺的便宜儿子,她要晕了。一间还算过的去的泥房,一家十多口人住在一起,一盆如洗,个个被饿的面黄肌瘦。什么!大嫂要来拿东西,二嫂要来占便宜,包子老公听之任之,尼玛!真当老娘是吃素的,看我如何斗婆婆,戏大嫂,惩二嫂,教训小姑,调教老公,培养包子,用美食发家致富笑傲田园。