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a girl of the limberlost-第66部分
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hour to put an idea into our heads that will stick for a lifetime;
and grow for good。 That's the way I look at your job。 Now; what
are you going to give us? We don't want any old silly stuff
that has been hashed over and over; we want a big new idea
to plant in our hearts。 Come on; Miss Teacher; what is the
boiled…down; double…distilled essence of June? Give it to
us strong。 We are large enough to furnish it developing ground。
Hurry up! Time is short and we are waiting。 What is the
miracle of June? What one thing epitomizes the whole month;
and makes it just a little different from any other?〃
〃The birth of these big night moths;〃 said Elnora promptly。
Philip clapped his hands。 The tears started to Mrs。
Comstock's eyes。 She took Elnora in her arms; and kissed
her forehead。
〃You'll do!〃 she said。 〃June is June; not because it
has bloom; bird; fruit; or flower; exclusive to it alone。
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! MyselfI 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。
CHAPTER XVII
WHEREIN MRS。 COMSTOCK DANCES IN THE MOONLIGHT;
AND ELNORA MAKES A CONFESSION
Billy was swinging in the hammock; at peace with himself
and all the world; when he thought he heard something。
He sat bolt upright; his eyes staring。 Once he opened
his lips; then thought again and closed them。
The sound persisted。 Billy vaulted the fence;
and ran down the road with his queer sidewise hop。
When he neared the Comstock cabin; he left the
warm dust of the highway and stepped softly at slower
pace over the rank grasses of the roadside。 He had
heard aright。 The violin was in the grape arbour;
singing a perfect jumble of everything; poured out in
an exultant tumult。 The strings were voicing the joy of
a happy girl heart。
Billy climbed the fence enclosing the west woods and
crept toward the arbour。 He was not a spy and not a sneak。
He merely wanted to satisfy his child…heart as to
whether Mrs。 Comstock was at home; and Elnora at last
playing her loved violin with her mother's consent。
One peep sufficed。 Mrs。 Comstock sat in the moonlight;
her head leaning against the arbour; on her face was a
look of perfect peace and contentment。 As he stared at
her the bow hesitated a second and Mrs。 Comstock spoke:
〃That's all very melodious and sweet;〃 she said; 〃but I
do wish you could play Money Musk and some of the
tunes I danced as a girl。〃
Elnora had been carefully avoiding every note that
might be reminiscent of her father。 At the words she
laughed softly and began 〃Turkey in the Straw。〃
An instant later Mrs。 Comstock was dancing in the
moon light。 Ammon sprang to her side; caught her in
his arms; while to Elnora's laughter and the violin's
impetus they danced until they dropped panting on the
arbour bench。
Billy scarcely knew when he reached the road。 His li
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