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！
So the old chronicles say； that were writ in the days of the
fathers。
But when he heard their defiance； the boast； the taunt； and the
insult；
All the hot blood of his race； of Sir Hugh and of Thurston de
Standish；
Boiled and beat in his heart； and swelled in the veins of his
temples。
Headlong he leaped on the boaster； and； snatching his knife from
its scabbard；
Plunged it into his heart； and； reeling backward； the savage
Fell with his face to the sky； and a fiendlike fierceness upon
it。
Straight there arose from the forest the awful sound of the
war…whoop；
And； like a flurry of snow on the whistling wind of December；
Swift and sudden and keen came a flight of feathery arrows；
Then came a cloud of smoke； and out of the cloud came the
lightning；
Out of the lightning thunder； and death unseen ran before it。
Frightened the savages fled for shelter in swamp and in thicket；
Hotly pursued and beset； but their sachem； the brave Wattawamat；
Fled not； he was dead。 Unswerving and swift had a bullet
Passed through his brain； and he fell with both hands clutching
the greensward；
Seeming in death to hold back from his foe the land of his
fathers。
There on the flowers of the meadow the warriors lay； and above
them；
Silent； with folded arms； stood Hobomok； friend of the white man。
Smiling at length he exclaimed to the stalwart Captain of
Plymouth：
〃Pecksuot bragged very loud； of his courage； his strength； and
his stature；
Mocked the great Captain； and called him a little man； but I see
now
Big enough have you been to lay him speechless before you！〃
Thus the first battle was fought and won by the stalwart Miles
Standish。
When the tidings thereof were brought to the village of Plymouth；
And as a trophy of war the head of the brave Wattawamat
Scowled from the roof of the fort； which at once was a church and
a fortress；
All who beheld it rejoiced； and praised the Lord； and took
courage。
Only Priscilla averted her face from this spectre of terror；
Thanking God in her heart that she had not married Miles
Standish；
Shrinking； fearing almost； lest； coming home from his battles；
He should lay claim to her hand； as the prize and reward of his
valor。
VIII
THE SPINNING…WHEEL
Month after month passed away； and in Autumn the ships of the
merchants
Came with kindred and friends； with cattle and corn for the
Pilgrims。
All in the village was peace； the men were intent on their
labors；
Busy with hewing and building； with garden…plot and with
merestead；
Busy with breaking the glebe； and mowing the grass in the
meadows；
Searching the sea for its fish； and hunting the deer in the
forest。
All in the village was peace； but at times the rumor of warfare
Filled the air with alarm； and the apprehension of danger。
Bravely the stalwart Miles Standish was scouring the land with
his forces；
Waxing valiant in fight and defeating the alien armies；
Till his name had become a sound of fear to the nations。
Anger was still in his heart； but at times the remorse and
contrition
Which in all noble natures succeed the passionate outbreak；
Came like a rising tide； that encounters the rush of a river；
Staying its current awhile； but making it bitter and brackish。
Meanwhile Alden at home had built him a new habitation；
Solid； substantial； of timber rough…hewn from the firs of the
forest。
Wooden…barred was the door； and the roof was covered with rushes；
Latticed the windows were； and the window…panes were of paper；
Oiled to admit the light； while wind and rain were excluded。
There too he dug a well； and around it planted an orchard：
Still may be seen to this day some trace of the well and the
orchard。
Close to the house was the stall； where； safe and secure from
annoyance；
Raghorn； the snow…white steer； that had fallen to Alden's
allotment
In the division of cattle； might ruminate in the night…time
Over the pastures he cropped； made fragrant by sweet pennyroyal。
Oft when his labor was finished； with eager feet would the
dreamer
Follow the pathway that ran through the woods to the house of
Priscilla；
Led by illusions romantic and subtile deceptions of fancy；
Pleasure disguised as duty； and love in the semblance of
friendship。
Ever of her he thought； when he fashioned the walls of his
dwelling；
Ever of her he thought； when he delved in the soil of his garden；
Ever of her he thought； when he read in his Bible on Sunday
Praise of the virtuous woman； as she is described in the
Proverbs；
How the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her always；
How all the days of her life she will do him good； and not evil；
How she seeketh the wool and the flax and worketh with gladness；
How she layeth her hand to the spindle and holdeth the distaff；
How she is not afraid of the snow for herself or her household；
Knowing her household are clothed with the scarlet cloth of her
weaving！
So as she sat at her wheel one afternoon in the Autumn；
Alden； who opposite sat； and was watching her dexterous fingers；
As if the thread she was spinning were that of his life and his
fortune；
After a pause in their talk； thus spake to the sound of the
spindle。
〃Truly； Priscilla；〃 he said； 〃when I see you spinning and
spinning；
Never idle a moment； but thrifty and thoughtful of others；
Suddenly you are transformed； are visibly changed in a moment；
You are no longer Priscilla； but Bertha the Beautiful Spinner。〃
Here the light foot on the treadle grew swifter and swifter； the
spindle
Uttered an angry snarl； and the thread snapped short in her
fingers；
While the impetuous speaker； not heeding the mischief； continued：
〃You are the beautiful Bertha； the spinner； the queen of
Helvetia；
She whose story I read at a stall in the streets of Southampton；
Who； as she rode on her palfrey； o'er valley and meadow and
mountain；
Ever was spinning her thread from a distaff fixed to her saddle。
She was so thrifty and good； that her name passed into a proverb。
So shall it be with your own； when the spinning…wheel shall no
longer
Hum in the house of the farmer； and fill its chambers with music。
Then shall the mothers； reproving； relate how it was in their
childhood；
Praising the good old times； and the days of Priscilla the
spinner！〃
Straight uprose from her wheel the beautiful Puritan maiden；
Pleased with the praise of her thrift from him whose praise was
the sweetest；
Drew from the reel on the table a snowy skein of her spinning；
Thus making answer； meanwhile； to the flattering phrases of
Alden：
〃Come； you must not be idle； if I am a pattern for housewives；
Show yourself equally worthy of being the model of husbands。
Hold this skein on your hands； while I wind it； ready for
knitting；
Then who knows but hereafter； when fashions have changed and the
manners；
Fathers may talk to their sons of the good old times of John
Alden！〃
Thus； with a