登陆注册
5382600000081

第81章 CHAPTER XVI(4)

It's half May and half July in all of them.But to me,it's just June,when it comes to these great,velvet-winged night moths which sweep its moonlit skies,consummating their scheme of creation,and dropping like a bloomed-out flower.Give them moths for June.Then make that the basis of your year's work.Find the distinctive feature of each month,the one thing which marks it a time apart,and hit them squarely between the eyes with it.Even the babies of the lowest grades can comprehend moths when they see a few emerge,and learn their history,as it can be lived before them.You should show your specimens in pairs,then their eggs,the growing caterpillars,and then the cocoons.You want to dig out the red heart of every month in the year,and hold it pulsing before them.

"I can't name all of them off-hand,but I think of one more right now.February belongs to our winter birds.

It is then the great horned owl of the swamp courts his mate,the big hawks pair,and even the crows begin to take notice.These are truly our birds.Like the poor we have them always with us.You should hear the musicians of this swamp in February,Philip,on a mellow night.

Oh,but they are in earnest!For twenty-one years I've listened by night to the great owls,all the smaller sizes,the foxes,coons,and every resident left in these woods,and by day to the hawks,yellow-hammers,sap-suckers,titmice,crows,and other winter birds.Only just now it's come to me that the distinctive feature of February is not linen bleaching,nor sugar making;it's the love month of our very own birds.Give them hawks and owls for February,Elnora."With flashing eyes the girl looked at Philip."How's that?"she said."Don't you think I will succeed,with such help?

You should hear the concert she is talking about!It is simply indescribable when the ground is covered with snow,and the moonlight white.""It's about the best music we have,"said Mrs.Comstock.

"I wonder if you couldn't copy that and make a strong,original piece out of it for your violin,Elnora?"There was one tense breath,then----"I could try,"said Elnora simply.

Philip rushed to the rescue."We must go to work,"he said,and began examining a walnut branch for Luna moth eggs.

Elnora joined him while Mrs.Comstock drew her embroidery from her pocket and sat on a log.She said she was tired,they could come for her when they were ready to go.

She could hear their voices around her until she called them at supper time.When they came to her she stood waiting on the trail,the sewing in one hand,the violin in the other.Elnora became very white,but followed the trail without a word.Philip,unable to see a woman carry a heavier load than he,reached for the instrument.Mrs.Comstock shook her head.She carried the violin home,took it into her room and closed the door.

Elnora turned to Philip.

"If she destroys that,I shall die!"cried the girl.

"She won't!"said Philip."You misunderstand her.

She wouldn't have said what she did about the owls,if she had meant to.She is your mother.No one loves you as she does.Trust her!Myself--I think she's simply great!"Mrs.Comstock returned with serene face,and all of them helped with the supper.When it was over Philip and Elnora sorted and classified the afternoon's specimens,and made a trip to the woods to paint and light several trees for moths.When they came back Mrs.Comstock sat in the arbour,and they joined her.The moonlight was so intense,print could have been read by it.

The damp night air held odours near to earth,making flower and tree perfume strong.A thousand insects were serenading,and in the maple the grosbeak occasionally said a reassuring word to his wife,while she answered that all was well.A whip-poor-will wailed in the swamp and beside the blue-bordered pool a chat complained disconsolately.

Mrs.Comstock went into the cabin,but she returned immediately,laying the violin and bow across Elnora's lap."I wish you would give us a little music,"she said.

同类推荐
  • 杨文敏集

    杨文敏集

    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。
  • 佛说所欲致患经

    佛说所欲致患经

    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。
  • 天仙道戒忌须知

    天仙道戒忌须知

    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。
  • 萨婆多宗五事论

    萨婆多宗五事论

    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。
  • 隆平纪事

    隆平纪事

    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
  • 一叶昭华

    一叶昭华

    杭家二小姐一朝回京,发现自己竟成了水性杨花偷盗成性的代名词,人在京城外,锅从天上来,且看她如何步步抽丝剥茧为自己洗清冤屈,既然无法低调,那便将高调进行到底,手撕恶毒女,智斗奸佞人,携手大周神探小分队屡破奇案。
  • The Chimes

    The Chimes

    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。
  • Morning Star

    Morning Star

    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。
  • 聆听天堂的声音

    聆听天堂的声音

    那一年,我18岁,在花一样的年纪,却出现了一次巨大的转折,人生没有多少次转折点,而那一次,却改变了我整个人生,人生就是一道选择题,而那一次却不是我所能选择的......
  • 萌宝来袭:林少的冷酷鲜妻

    萌宝来袭:林少的冷酷鲜妻

    听说林家少爷从来不近女色,奉承女人乃身外之物,所以,她面前的这个紧跟她不走的人一定是个假的吧莫(冰山脸):林先生,你是闲的没事做吗?林(抛媚眼):不是啊,我正在做人生大事啊什么?追你啊~
  • 人皮嫁衣

    人皮嫁衣

    女朋友身上开始长了奇怪的斑点。水落石出之后,我发现自己陷入了一个更加恐怖的阴谋。
  • 女海盗

    女海盗

    少女深夜逃出鲨鱼庄园,庄园主苏善世闲走花园,碰到干活的尤济水,不禁目瞪口呆——十七八岁的尤济水比初春的桃花还美,好像姨太太唐迪声翩翩从天上飞来,飞回鲨鱼庄园,又飞到苏善世面前,仍是十七八岁时的样子。唐迪声是破产船王的娇女,识字解文,能歌善舞,只是耐不得鲨鱼庄园的寂寞,在生下女儿五个月后,跟随镇压抗渔税的年轻军官郑定国私奔了,十八年了。
  • 总裁专属,宝贝嫁我吧!

    总裁专属,宝贝嫁我吧!

    老浮新文求收藏:《逼婚36计,总裁的旧爱新妻》http://m.wkkk.net/a/987399/****************幽暗的房间内,他强势的像个帝王,阴沉着脸,问道:“告诉我!他到底哪里好?值得你为他这样做?!”而他的愤怒,全然不被她放在眼里。“左擎宇,他是我未婚夫,你有什么资格质问?”下一刻,左擎宇低沉的声音在她耳边响起,道:“解决他眼前的危机,换他放弃你,你觉得我的提议好不好?”“……”****************订婚三天,未婚夫和名模的绯闻上了娱乐头条。苏子衿看着手上的钻戒,心凉如水。她一次次的容忍,一次次的退让,却仅仅证明了自己是个笑话……他说:你越痛苦,我就越痛快……陆少铮将对另一个女人的恨,全部发泄在她的身上。苏子衿终于醒悟,若一个男人对一个女人恨之入骨,那么他对她的爱就无法计量……可当她终于决定离开的时侯,他却说:“子衿,我爱你……”****************【片段赏析】一场相亲会上。坐在苏子衿对面的男人,红着脸介绍着:“我有车有房,无贷款,无爹娘……”不等苏子衿开口,坐在邻桌的左擎宇,拉着椅子在地上刮出一阵难听的噪音走过来,坐到苏子衿身旁,对着对面的男人说道:“她叫苏子衿,心口处有颗红色的痣,喜欢睡在男人的右手边,睡熟的时候喜欢抢被子。最怕被人挠痒痒,尤其小腿最敏感,这些你一定要记住了……”对面的男人呆愣了几秒后,起身,迅速遁走。而左擎宇坐到相亲的位置上,介绍道:“本人左擎宇,有车有房,数亿资产,最敏感的地方……”“你给我闭嘴!”苏子衿终于忍受不了,压制住心头的怒火,道:“左擎宇,我想我们有必要深刻的聊一聊了……”左擎宇做回忆状,片刻后,很认真的说道:“宝贝儿,昨晚不是已经聊过了么?”“……”PS:老浮新坑,不一样的故事,不一样的女主等待你的跳坑。想知道左少是怎么追妻的么?吼吼~千万别手软,“加入书架”吧,亲~推荐老浮完结文《家有总裁,不好惹!》http://m.wkkk.net/a/765257/
  • 诱宠成婚:妖孽,别乱撩

    诱宠成婚:妖孽,别乱撩

    韩天阳,我喜欢你,你喜欢我吗?每当想起自己拒绝了麦宝的表白,就让清冷矜贵的韩天阳后悔莫及。如果时光能再给他次机会,他一定会抱紧这个丫头。不让纪家那头猪给拱了。纪辰初次见麦宝,是这丫头表白失败,恼羞成怒自己扎了自己一刀。他还从来没有见过,能对自己下这么狠手的娇娇大小姐。那时他心里只有一个想法,他要宠她,宠她,宠她。她心里有别的男人,没关系他让那个男人,没机会出现在她面前。有不长眼的人,在她面前搬弄事非,没关系他让那人生不如死人人都知道,花名在外的纪少对麦家小姐痴迷成疾人人都知道,纪少和韩军长是死敌,见面就冷嘲热讽,纪韩两派之间相互拆台,使手段更是家长便饭。这一切只因为麦家的那个妖艳货
  • 校草别动,让我撩!

    校草别动,让我撩!

    爹不管,娘不爱的优珂抛弃乖乖女人设,一心想把自己发展成叛逆少女。 迟到早退翘课成绩烂渣统统SoEasy! 难就难在——早恋!校草级别轰轰烈烈的那种!优珂托腮:是冰冷禁欲型学霸好呢?还是桀骜不羁型学渣好呢?亦或是温暖可爱的小同桌?————学霸一脸冰冷:“只撩不爱?由不得你!”学渣一脸戏谑:“想学坏?找哥哥我啊!”同桌亮出小虎牙:“优珂,我的温暖属于你……”