搜索
AWHITEHERONSarahOrneJewettI.ThewoodswerealreadyfilledwithshadowsoneJuneevening,justbeforeeighto'clock,thoughabrightsunsetstillglimmeredfaintlyamongthetrunksofthetrees.Alittlegirlwasdrivinghomehercow,aplodding,dilatory,provokingcreatureinherbehavior,butavaluedcompanionforallthat.Theyweregoingawayfromwhateverlighttherewas,andstrikingdeepintothewoods,buttheirfeetwerefamiliarwiththepath,anditwasnomatterwhethertheireyescouldseeitornot.Therewashardlyanightthesummerthroughwhentheoldcowcouldbefoundwaitingatthepasturebars;onthecontrary,itwashergreatestpleasuretohideherselfawayamongthehuckleberrybushes,andthoughsheworealoudbellshehadmadethediscoverythatifonestoodperfectlystillitwouldnotring.SoSylviahadtohuntforheruntilshefoundher,andcallCo'!Co'!withneveranansweringMoo,untilherchildishpatiencewasquitespent.Ifthecreaturehadnotgivengoodmilkandplentyofit,thecasewouldhaveseemedverydifferenttoherowners.Besides,Sylviahadallthetimetherewas,andverylittleusetomakeofit.Sometimesinpleasantweatheritwasaconsolationtolookuponthecow'spranksasanintelligentattempttoplayhideandseek,andasthechildhadnoplaymatesshelentherselftothisamusementwithagooddealofzest.Thoughthischasehadbeensolongthatthewaryanimalherselfhadgivenanunusualsignalofherwhereabouts,SylviahadonlylaughedwhenshecameuponMistressMoollyattheswamp-side,andurgedheraffectionatelyhomewardwithatwigofbirchleaves.Theoldcowwasnotinclinedtowanderfarther,sheeventurnedintherightdirectionforonceastheyleftthepasture,andsteppedalongtheroadatagoodpace.Shewasquitereadytobemilkednow,andseldomstoppedtobrowse.Sylviawonderedwhathergrandmotherwouldsaybecausetheyweresolate.Itwasagreatwhilesinceshehadlefthomeathalf-pastfiveo'clock,buteverybodyknewthedifficultyofmakingthiserrandashortone.Mrs.Tilleyhadchasedthehornédtormenttoomanysummereveningsherselftoblameanyoneelseforlingering,andwasonlythankfulasshewaitedthatshehadSylvia,nowadays,togivesuchvaluableassistance.ThegoodwomansuspectedthatSylvialoiteredoccasionallyonherownaccount;thereneverwassuchachildforstrayingaboutout-of-doorssincetheworldwasmade!Everybodysaidthatitwasagoodchangeforalittlemaidwhohadtriedtogrowforeightyearsinacrowdedmanufacturingtown,but,asforSylviaherself,itseemedasifsheneverhadbeenaliveatallbeforeshecametoliveatthefarm.Shethoughtoftenwithwistfulcompassionofawretchedgeraniumthatbelongedtoatownneighbor.'Afraidoffolks,'oldMrs.Tilleysaidtoherself,withasmile,aftershehadmadetheunlikelychoiceofSylviafromherdaughter'shousefulofchildren,andwasreturningtothefarm.'Afraidoffolks,'theysaid!Iguessshewon'tbetroublednogreatwith'emuptotheoldplace!Whentheyreachedthedoorofthelonelyhouseandstoppedtounlockit,andthecatcametopurrloudly,andrubagainstthem,adesertedpussy,indeed,butfatwithyoungrobins,Sylviawhisperedthatthiswasabeautifulplacetolivein,andshenevershouldwishtogohome.Thecompanionsfollowedtheshadywood-road,thecowtakingslowstepsandthechildveryfastones.Thecowstoppedlongatthebrooktodrink,asifthepasturewerenothalfaswamp,andSylviastoodstillandwaited,lettingherbarefeetcoolthemselvesintheshoalwater,whilethegreattwilightmothsstrucksoftlyagainsther.Shewadedonthroughthebrookasthecowmovedaway,andlistenedtothethrusheswithaheartthatbeatfastwithpleasure.Therewasastirringinthegreatboughsoverhead.Theywerefulloflittlebirdsandbeaststhatseemedtobewideawake,andgoingabouttheirworld,orelsesayinggood-nighttoeachotherinsleepytwitters.Sylviaherselffeltsleepyasshewalkedalong.However,itwasnotmuchfarthertothehouse,andtheairwassoftandsweet.Shewasnotofteninthewoodssolateasthis,anditmadeherfeelasifshewereapartofthegrayshadowsandthemovingleaves.Shewasjustthinkinghowlongitseemedsinceshefirstcametothefarmayearago,andwonderingifeverythingwentoninthenoisytownjustthesameaswhenshewasthere,thethoughtofthegreatred-facedboywhousedtochaseandfrightenhermadeherhurryalongthepathtoescapefromtheshadowofthetrees.Suddenlythislittlewoods-girlishorror-strickentohearaclearwhistlenotveryfaraway.Notabird's-whistle,whichwouldhaveasortoffriendliness,butaboy'swhistle,determined,andsomewhataggressive.Sylvialeftthecowtowhateversadfatemightawaither,andsteppeddiscreetlyasideintothebushes,butshewasjusttoolate.Theenemyhaddiscoveredher,andcalledoutinaverycheerfulandpersuasivetone,Halloa,littlegirl,howfarisittotheroad?andtremblingSylviaansweredalmostinaudibly,Agoodways.Shedidnotdaretolookboldlyatthetallyoungman,whocarriedagunoverhisshoulder,butshecameoutofherbushandagainfollowedthecow,whilehewalkedalongside.Ihavebeenhuntingforsomebirds,thestrangersaidkindly,andIhavelostmyway,andneedafriendverymuch.Don'tbeafraid,headdedgallantly.Speakupandtellmewhatyournameis,andwhetheryouthinkIcanspendthenightatyourhouse,andgooutgunningearlyinthemorning.Sylviawasmorealarmedthanbefore.Wouldnothergrandmotherconsiderhermuchtoblame?Butwhocouldhaveforeseensuchanaccidentasthis?Itdidnotseemtobeherfault,andshehungherheadasifthestemofitwerebroken,butmanagedtoanswerSylvy,withmucheffortwhenhercompanionagainaskedhername.Mrs.Tilleywasstandinginthedoorwaywhenthetriocameintoview.Thecowgavealoudmoobywayofexplanation.Yes,you'dbetterspeakupforyo