marm lisa-第6部分

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r　violence　or　treachery！　　Why；　dear　girls；　such　a　task；　if　it　did　not　appeal　to　one　on　the　moral；　certainly　would　on　the　intellectual；　side。　　Marm　Lisa　will　teach　us　more　in　a　year；　you　may　be　sure；　than　we　shall　teach　her。　　Let　us　keep　a　record　of　our　experiments；　drop　all　materials　that　seem　neither　to　give　her　sensations　nor　wake　her　discriminative　power；　and　choose　others　that　speak　to　her　more　clearly。　　Let　us　watch　her　closely；　both　to　penetrate　the　secret　of　her　condition　and　to　protect　the　other　children。　　What　a　joy；　what　a　triumph　to　say　to　her　some　dear　day；　a　few　years　hence；　〃You　poor；　motherless　bairn；　we　have　swept　away　the　cobwebs　of　your　dreams；　given　you　back　your　will；　put　a　clue　to　things　in　your　hand：　　now　go　on　and　learn　to　live　and　be　mistress　of　your　own　life　under　God！〃'

It　was　at　such　a　moment；　when　Mary's　voice　trembled；　and　her　eyes　shone　through　a　mist　of　tears　like　two　victorious　stars；　that　a　hush　fell　upon　the　little　group；　and　the　spirit　of　the　eternal　child　descended　like　a　dove；　its　pure　wings　stirring　the　silence　of　each　woman's　heart。　　At　such　a　moment；　their　daily　work；　with　its　round　of　harsh；　unlovely；　beautiful；　discouraging；　hopeful；　helpful；　heavenly　duties；　was　transfigured；　and　so　were　they。　　The　servant　was　transformed　by　the　service；　and　the　service　by　the　servant。　　They　were　alone　together；　each　heart　knit　to　all　the　others　by　the　close　bond　of　a　common　vocation；　and　though　a　heretofore　unknown　experience；　it　seemed　a　natural　one　when　Mistress　Mary　suddenly　bent　her　head；　and　said　softly：

'Father　in　heaven；　it　is　by　the　vision　of　Thy　relation　to　us　that　we　can　apprehend　our　relation　to　these　little　ones。　　As　we　have　accepted　that　high　trust；　so　make　us　loyal　to　it。　　When　our　feet　grow　weary　and　our　faith　grows　dim；　help　us　to　follow　close　after　the　ever　perfect　One　who　taught　even　as　we　are　trying　to　teach。　　He　it　was　whom　the　common　people　heard　gladly。　　He　it　was　who　disdained　not　the　use　of　objects　and　symbols；　remembering　it　was　the　childhood　of　the　race。　　He　it　was　who　spake　in　parables　and　stories；　laying　bare　soul　of　man　and　heart　of　nature；　and　revealing　each　by　divine　analogy。　　He　it　was　who　took　the　little　ones　in　His　arms　and　blessed　them；　who　set　the　child　in　the　midst；　saying；　〃Except　ye　become　as　one　of　these。〃　May　the　afterglow　of　that　inspired　teaching　ever　shine　upon　the　path　we　are　treading。　　May　we　bathe　our　tired　spirits　in　its　warmth　and　glory；　and　kindle　our　torches　at　the　splendour　of　its　light。　　We　remember　that　He　told　us　to　feed　His　lambs。　　Dear　Lord；　help　all　the　faithful　shepherds　who　care　for　the　ninety…and…nine　that　lie　in　the　safe　cover　of　the　fold；　help　us；　too；　for　we　are　the　wandering　shepherds　whose　part　it　is　to　go　out　over　the　bleak　hills；　up　the　mountain　sides　and　rocky　places；　and　gather　in　out　of　the　storm　and　stress　of　things　all　the　poor；　unshepherded；　wee　bit　lammies　that　have　either　wandered　forlornly　away　from　shelter；　or　have　been　born　in　the　wilderness；　and　know　no　other　home。　　Such　an　one　has　just　strayed　into　the　fold　from　the　dreary　hill…country。　　It　needs　a　wiser　shepherd　than　any　one　of　us。　　Grant　that　by　gentleness；　patience；　and　insight　we　may　atone　somewhat　for　our　lack　of　wisdom　and　skill。　　We　read　among　Thy　mysteries　that　the　divine　Child　was　born　of　a　virgin。　May　He　be　born　again　and　born　daily　in　our　hearts；　already　touched　by　that　remembrance　and　consecrated　by　its　meaning。　　And　this　we　ask　for　love's　sake。　　Amen。'

Then　there　was　a　space　of　silenceone　of　those　silences　in　which　we　seem　to　be　caught　up　into　the　heart　of　things；　when　hidden　meanings　are　revealed；　when　the　soul　stretches　itself　and　grows　a　little。

It　was　a　few　minutes　later　when　Rhoda　said；　'I　am　fired　with　zeal；　I　confess　it。　　Henceforth　my　single　aim　shall　be　to　bring　Marm　Lisa　into　her　lost　kingdom　and　inheritance。　　But　meanwhile；　how；　oh　how　shall　I　master　the　hateful　preliminaries？　　How　shall　I　teach　her　to　lace　her　shoes　and　keep　them　laced；　unless　I　invent　a　game　for　it？　How　shall　I　keep　her　hair　from　dangling　in　her　eyes；　how　keep　her　aprons　neat？though　in　those　respects　she　is　no　worse　than　Pacific　Simonson。　　I　promised　her　a　doll　yesterday；　and　she　was　remarkably　good。　　Do　you　object；　Mistress　Mary？'

'I　don't　know　how　much　rewards　are　used　in　these　cases；'　answered　Mary；　'but　why　do　you　begin　with　them　when　the　problem　presents　no　insuperable　difficulties　as　yet？　　Whenever　she　herself；　her　awkward　hands；　her　weak　will；　her　inattention；　her　restlessness；　give　her　some　task　she　likes；　some　pleasure　or　occupation　for　which　she　has　shown　decided　preference；　and　thus　make　happiness　follow　close　upon　the　heels　of　effort。　　We　who　see　more　clearly　the　meaning　of　life　know　that　this　will　not　always　happen；　and　we　can　be　content　to　do　right　for　right's　sake。　　I　don't　object　to　your　putting　hosts　of　slumbering　incentives　in　Lisa's　mind；　but　a　slumbering　incentive　is　not　vulgar　and　debasing；　like　a　bribe。'

A　plant　might　be　a　feeble　and　common　thing；　yet　it　might　grow　in　beauty　and　strength　in　a　garden　like　Mistress　Mary's。　　Such　soil　in　the　way　of　surroundings；　such　patient　cultivation　of　roots　and　stems；　such　strengthening　of　tendrils　on　all　sorts　of　lovely　props；　such　sunshine　of　love；　such　dew　of　sympathy；　such　showers　of　kindness；　such　favouring　breezes　of　opportunity；　such　pleasure　for　a　new　leaf；　joy　for　a　bud；　gratitude　for　a　bloom！　　What　an　atmosphere　in　which　to　grow　towards　knowledge　and　goodness！　　Was　it　any　wonder　that　the　little　people　'all　in　a　row'　responded　to　the　genius　of　Mistress　Mary's　influence？　　They　used　to　sing　a　song　calleth　The　Light　Bird；'　in　which　some　one；　all　unknown　to　the　children；　would　slip　into　the　playground　with　a　bit　of　broken　looking…glass；　and　suddenly　a　radiant　fluttering　disk　of　light　would　appear　on　the　wall；　and　dance　up　and　down；　above　and　below；　hither　and　yon；　like　a　winged　sunbeam。　　The　children　held　out　longing　arms；　and　sang　to　it　coaxingly。　　Sometimes　it　quivered　over　Mistress　Mary's　head；　and　fired　every　delicate　point　of　her　steel　tiara　with　such　splendour　that　the　Irish　babies　almost　felt　like　crossing　themselves。　　At　such　times；　those　deux　petits　coeurs　secs；　Atlantic　and　Pacific；　and　all　the　other　full…fledged　and　half…fledged　scape…graces；　forgot　to　be　naughty；　and　the　millennium　was　foreshadowed。　　The　neophytes　declared　Mistress　Mary　a　bit　of　a　magician。　　Somehow　or　other；　the　evil　imps　in　the　children　shrank　away；　abashed　by　the　soft　surprise　of　a　glance　that　seemed　to　hope　something　better；　and　the　good　angels　came　out　of　their　banishment；　unfolded　their　wings；　and　sunned　themselves　in　the　warmth　of　her　approving　smile。　　Her　spiritual　antennae　were　so　fine；　so　fine；　that　they　discerned　the　good　in　everything；　they　were　feeling　now　after　the　soft　spot　in　the　rocky　heart　of　Atlantic　Simonson；　they　had　not　found　it　yet；　but　they　wouldoh；　they　would　in　time；　for　if　hope　is　the　lover's　staff；　it　is　no　less　that　of　the　idealist。

Marm　Lisa　looked　upon　the　miracles　that　happened　under　Mistress　Mary's　roof　with　a　sort　of　dazed　wonder；　but　her　intelligence　grew　a　little　day　by　day；　and　though　she　sadly　taxed　everybody's　patience；　she　infused　a　new　spirit　into　all　the　neophytes。

Had　not　improvement　been　rapid；　their　untrained　zeal　might　perhaps　have　flagged。　　Had　the　mental　symptoms；　by　their　obscurity；　baffled　them　or　defied　them　on　every　side；　their　lack　of　systematic；　scientific　training　for　such　a　task　might　have　made　them　discouraged：　but　delicate　and　exacting　as　the　work　was；　their　love　and　enthusiasm；　their　insight　and　patience；　their　cleverness　and　ingenuity；　triumphed　over　all　obstacles；　and　luckily　for　their　youth　and　comparative　inexperience；　they　were　rewarded　in　marvellous　measure。

Not　that　every　day　was　bright　and　hopeful。　　The　carefully　kept　record　was　black　enough　on　occasions；　beginning　with　the　morning　when　Helen；　sitting　in　the　circle；　felt　a　rough　hand　on　her　head；　and　Marm　Lisa；　without　the　slightest　warning　of　her　intention；　snatched　Mary's　steel　band　forcibly　from　her　hair；　and；　taking　it　across　the　room；　put　it　in　its　accustomed　place　on　its　owner's　head。　　Everybody　was　startled；　but　Mary　rose　from　her　chair　quietly；　and；　taking　the　ornament　in　one　hand　and　Marm　Lisa　in　the　other；　she　came　to　Helen's　side。

'I　like　to　have　my　shining　crown　in　Miss　Helen's　hair；'　she　said；　'it　is　such　pretty；　curly　hairstroke　it　softly；　Lisa；　she　must　wear　it　this　morning　to　please　me；　and　then　I　will　take　it　again　for　my　own。　Dear　Miss　Helen；　who　is　so　sweet　and　good　to　the　children；　I　love　her；'　and　she　kissed　her　fondly　on　each　cheek。

Marm　Lisa　did　not　attempt　to　rebel　but　she　was　sullen；　and　refused　her　work　when　it　was　offered　her　later。

Such　occurrences　were　rare；　however；　for　her　obliquity　always　seemed　mental　rather　than　moral。

Straws　and　bright　papers；　beads　and　pretty　forms　to　thread　on　stout　laces；　were　given　her　to　wean　her　from　her　favourite　but　aimless　string…play。　　There　were　days　of　restlessness　which　she　wandered　up　and　down　stairs；　and　could　not　be　kept　in　her　chair　nor　persuaded　to　stand　in　her　place　in　the　circle。　　There　were　days；　too；　when　she　tore　the　bright　cardboards　and　glossy　weaving…mats　that　ordinarily　gave　her　such　keen　pleasure；　but　this　carelessness　grew　more　and　more　infrequent；　until　it　ceased　altogether；　so　that　it　had　probably　come　more　from　her　inability　to　hold　and　move　the　materials　and　needles　properly　than　from　a　wanton　instinct　of　destruction；　for　they　would　often　see　the　tears　drop　from　her　eyes　upon　her　clumsy　fingers　as　she　strove　to　make　them　obey　her　feeble　behests。　　At　such　a　moment　there　was　always　some　one　to　fling　herself　with　passionate　ardour　and　sympathy　into　this　latest　difficulty。　　A　stouter　weaving…needle　was　invented；　and　a　mat　of　pretty　coloured　morocco　substituted　for　the　fragile　paper；　while　the　poor　inert　hands　were　held　and　coaxed　and　strengthened　every　day　by　finger　gymnastics。

As　Lisa　grew　in　power　Rhoda　grew　in　ingenuity；　and　failure　in　any　one　particular　only　stimulated　her　genius　of　invention　the　more。　　Did　she　spill　paste；　mucilage；　water　on　her　gingham　aprons；　and　wipe　anything　and　everything　on　them　that　came　in　her　way；　Rhoda　dressed　her　in　daintier　ones　of　white　cambric；　with　a　ruffle　at　the　neck　and　sleeves；