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！
little circle on the surface of the water。 She now looked up；
disclosing features still comely； but which had acquired an
expression of fretfulness； in the same long course of evil
fortune that had thrown a sullen gloom over the temper of the
unprosperous yeoman。
〃I am his wife；〃 said she； a shade of irritability just
perceptible in the sadness of her tone。 〃These poor little
things； asleep on the ground； are two of our children。 We had two
more； but God has provided better for them than we could； by
taking them to Himself。〃
〃And what would thee advise Josiah and me to do？〃 asked Miriam；
this being the first question which she had put to either of the
strangers。
〃 'Tis a thing almost against nature for a woman to try to part
true lovers；〃 answered the yeoman's wife； after a pause； 〃but
I'll speak as truly to you as if these were my dying words。
Though my husband told you some of our troubles； he didn't
mention the greatest； and that which makes all the rest so hard
to bear。 If you and your sweetheart marry； you'll be kind and
pleasant to each other for a year or two； and while that's the
case； you never will repent； but； by and by； he'll grow gloomy；
rough； and hard to please； and you'll be peevish； and full of
little angry fits； and apt to be complaining by the fireside；
when he comes to rest himself from his troubles out of doors； so
your love will wear away by little and little； and leave you
miserable at last。 It has been so with us； and yet my husband and
I were true lovers once； if ever two young folks were 。〃
As she ceased； the yeoman and his wife exchanged a glance； in
which there was more and warmer affection than they had supposed
to have escaped the frost of a wintry fate； in either of their
breasts。 At that moment； when they stood on the utmost verge of
married life； one word fitly spoken； or perhaps one peculiar
look； had they had mutual confidence enough to reciprocate it；
might have renewed all their old feelings； and sent them back；
resolved to sustain each other amid the struggles of the world。
But the crisis passed and never came again。 Just then； also； the
children； roused by their mother's voice； looked up； and added
their wailing accents to the testimony borne by all the
Canterbury pilgrims against the world from which they fled。
〃We are tired and hungry！〃 cried they。 〃Is it far to the Shaker
village？〃
The Shaker youth and maiden looked mournfully into each other's
eyes。 They had but stepped across the threshold of their homes；
when lo！ the dark array of cares and sorrows that rose up to warn
them back。 The varied narratives of the strangers had arranged
themselves into a parable； they seemed not merely instances of
woful fate that had befallen others； but shadowy omens of
disappointed hope and unavailing toil； domestic grief and
estranged affection； that would cloud the onward path of these
poor fugitives。 But after one instant's hesitation； they opened
their arms； and sealed their resolve with as pure and fond an
embrace as ever youthful love had hallowed。
〃We will not go back；〃 said they。 〃The world never can be dark to
us； for we will always love one another。〃
Then the Canterbury pilgrims went up the hill； while the poet
chanted a drear and desperate stanza of the Farewell to his Harp；
fitting music for that melancholy band。 They sought a home where
all former ties of nature or society would be sundered； and all
old distinctions levelled； and a cold and passionless security be
substituted for mortal hope and fear； as in that other refuge of
the world's weary outcasts； the grave。 The lovers drank at the
Shaker spring； and then； with chastened hopes； but more confiding
affections； went on to mingle in an untried life。