tattine-第2部分

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〃Bunny　is　dead；　Joey；〃　she　called　to　the　gardener's　little　boy　as　she　came
back。　〃Come　help　me　bury　him；〃　and　so　Joey　trotted　behind　her　to　the　spot
already　selected。　〃We　must　make　this　hole　good　and　deep；〃　she　explained　（Joey
stood　looking　on　in　wide…eyed　wonder）；　〃for　if　Doctor　and　Betsy　would　kill　a
little　live　rabbit；　there　is　no　telling　but　they　would　dig　up　a　dead　one。〃　So
the　hole　was　made　at　least　four　inches　deep；　Bunny　was　buried　in　it；　and　the
earth；　with　Joey's　assistance；　stamped　down　hard；　but　afterwards　it　was
loosened　somewhat　to　plant　a　little　wild…wood　plant　atop　of　the　tiny　grave。
〃Now；　Joey；　you　wait　here　till　I　go　bring　something　for　a　tombstone；〃　Tattine
directed；　and　in　a　second　she　was　back　again　with　the　cover　of　a　box　in　one
hand　and　a　red　crayon　in　the　other。　Sitting　flat　upon　the　grass；　she　printed
on　the　cover　in　rather　irregular　letters：

　　BORNI　don't　know　when。　　　　DIED　June　17th。
　　　　　　　LAVERACK　SETTERS　NOT　ALLOWED。

This　she　put　securely　into　place；　while　Joey　raked　up　a　little　about　the　spot；
and　they　left　the　little　rabbit　grave　looking　very　neat　and　tidy。　The　next
morning　Tattine　ran　out　to　see　how　the　little　wild…wood　plant　was　growing；　and
then　she　stood　with　her　arms　akimbo　in　blank　astonishment。　The　little　grave
had　disappeared。　She　kicked　aside　the　loose　earth；　and　saw　that　box　and　Bunny
were　both　gone；　and；　not　content　with　that；　they　had　partially　chewed　up　the
tombstone；　which　lay　upon　its　face　a　little　distance　away。　They；　of　course；
meant　Betsy　and　Doctor。　〃There　was　no　use　in　my　putting：　'Laverack　setters　not
allowed；'　〃　she　said　to　herself　sorrowfully；　and　she　ran　off　to　tell　her
Mother　of　this　latest　tragedy。

〃Yes；　I　know；　Tattine　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Gerald；　in　the　first　pause；　〃there　is
neither　pity　nor　mercy　in　the　heart　of　a　setter　when　he　is　on　the　scent　of　a
rabbit；　alive　or　deadbut；　Tattine；　don't　forget　they　have　their　good　sides；
Doctor　and　Betsy；　just　think　how　fond　they　are　of　you　and　me。　Why；　the　very
sight　of　us　always　makes　them　beat　a　tattoo　with　their　tails。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　Mamma；　but　I　can't　feel　somehow　that　tattoos　with　their　tails
make　up　for　killing　rabbits　with　their　teeth。〃



CHAPTER　II。　A　MAPLE…WAX　MORNING

A　team　came　rushing　in　between　the　gate…posts　of　the　stone　wall；　and　it　looked
like　a　run…away。　They　were　riderless　and　driverless；　and　if　there　had　been　any
harness；　there　was　not　a　vestige　of　it　to　be　seen；　still；　they　kept　neck　and
neck；　which　means　in　horsey　language　side　by　side；　and　on　they　came　in　the
maddest　fashion。　Tattine　stood　on　the　front　porch　and　watched　them　in　high
glee；　and　not　a　bit　afraid　was　she；　though　they　were　coming　straight　in　her
direction。　When　they　reached　her　they　considerately　came　to　a　sudden　stop；
else　there　is　no　doubt　whatever　but　she　would　have　been　tumbled　over。

〃Well；　you　are　a　team；〃　laughed　Tattine。　and　they　laughed　back；　〃Yes；　we　know
we　are；〃　and　sat　down　on　the　step　on　either　side　of　her。　Of　course；　that　would
have　been　a　remarkable　thing　for　some　teams　to　do；　but　not　for　this　one；　for；
as　you　can　guess；　they　were　just　two　little　people；　Mabel　and　Rudolph；　but
they　were　a　perfect　team　all　the　same；　everybody　said　so；　and　what　everybody
meant　was　thisthat　whatever　Rudolph　〃was　up　to；〃　Mabel　was　〃up　to〃　also；　and
vice　versa。　They　traveled　together　finely；　right　〃up　on　the　bit〃　all　the　time。
It　would　have　been　easier　for　those　who　had　charge　of　them　if　one　or　the　other
had　held　back　now　and　then；　and　set　a　slower　pace；　but　as　that　was　not　their
nature　and　could　not　be　helped；　everybody　tried　to　make　the　best　of　them；　and
everybody　loved　them。　Tattine　did　not　see　how　she　could　ever　have　lived
without　them；　for　they　were　almost　as　much　a　brother　and　sister　to　her　as　to
each　other。　This　morning　hey　had　come　over　by　invitation　for　what　they　called
a　Maple…wax　morning；　and　that　was　exactly　what　it　was；　and　if　you　have　never
had　one　of　your　own；　wait　till　you　read　about　this　one　of　Tattine's；　and　then
give　your　dear　Mamma　no　peace　until　you　have　had　one；　either　in　your　kitchen
in　town；　or　in　the　woods　out　of　town；　which　is　better。　One　thing　is　necessary
to　its　complete　enjoyment；　however：　you　must　have　a　〃sweet　tooth；〃　but　as　most
little　people　cut　that　particular　tooth　very　early；　probably　you　are　among　the
fortunate　number。

〃Well；　I　don't　see　what　we　are　sitting　here　for；〃　said　Mabel　at　last。

〃Neithet　do　I；〃　said　Tattine；　〃I　was　only　giving　you　a　chance　to　get　a　little
breath。　You　did　not　seem　to　have　much　left。〃

〃No　more　we　had；〃　laughed　Rudolph；　who　was　still　taking　little　swallows　and
drawing　an　occasional　long　breath；　as　people　do　when　they　have　been　exercising
very　vigorously。　〃But　if　everything　is　ready。〃　he　added；　〃let　us　start。〃

〃Well；　everything　is　ready；〃　said　Tattine　quite　complacently；　as　she　led　the
way　to　the　back　piazza；　where　〃everything〃　was　lying　in　a　row。　There　was　the
maple　sugar　itself；　two　pounds　of　it　on　a　plate；　two　large　kitchen　spoons；　a
china　cup；　two　sheets　of　brown　wrapping…paper；　two　or　three　newspapers；　a　box
of　matches；　a　pail　of　clear　spring　water；　a　hammer；　an　ice…pick；　and　last；　and
most　important　of　all；　a　granite…ware　kettle。

〃Now　if　you'll　carry　these；〃　explained　Tattine；　〃I'll　run　and　tell　Philip　to
bring　the　ice；〃　so　Rudolph　and　Mabel　〃loaded　up〃　and　marched　down　to　the　camp；
and　Tattine　disappeared　in　the　direction　of　the　ice…house。　The　camp　was　not
far　away；　and　consisted　of　a　cosy　little　〃A〃　tent；　a　hammock　hung　between　two
young　chestnuts；　and　a　fire…place　made　of　a　circle　of　stones　on　the　ground；
with　a　crane　hanging　above　it。　The　crane　was　quite　an　elaborate　contrivance；
for　which　Joseph　the　gardener　was　to　be　thanked。

The　long　branch　on　which　the　pot　hung　was　pivoted；　if　you　know　what　that　is；
on　an　upright　post　fastened　firmly　in　the　ground；　and　in　such　a　way　that　you
could　〃higher　it；〃　as　Tattine　said；　or　lower　it；　or　swing　it　clear　of　the　fire
on　either　side。　At　the　end　of　the　branch　away　from　the　fire　hung　a　chain；　with
a　few　blocks　tied　into　it；　for　a　weight；　so　that　you　lifted　the　weight　with
one　hand　when　you　wished　to　change　the　position　of　the　branch　with　the　other；
and　then　let　it　rest　on　the　ground　again　at　the　spot　where　you　wanted　the　pole
to　stay。　You　see；　the　great　advantage　of　this　was　that；　when　you　wished　to　see
how　things　were　going　on　inside　of　the　kettle；　or　to　stop　its　boiling
instantlyyou　could　just　swing　it　away　from　the　fire　in　no　time；　and　not　run
the　risk　of　burning　face　or　hands；　or　petticoats；　if　you　belong　to　the
petticoat　family。‘

〃Now；〃　panted　Tattine；　for　it　was　her　turn　to　be　breathless　with　running；
〃I'll　break　the　sugar　if　you　two　will　make　the　fire；　but　Rudolph's　to　light　it
and　he's　the　only　one　who　is　to　lean　over　it　and　put　the　wood　on　when　it's
needed。　Mamma　says　there　is　to　be　a　very　strict　rule　about　that；　because
skirts　and　fluffy　hair　like　mine　and　Mabel's　are　very　dangerous　about　a
fire；〃　and　then　Tattine　proceeded　to　roll　the　maple　sugar　in　the　brown　paper
so　as　to　have　two　or　three　thicknesses　about　it；　and　then；　laying　it　upon　a
flat　stone；　began　to　pound　and　break　it　with　the　hammer。

〃Yes；〃　said　Rudolph；　on　his　knees　on　the　ground；　and　making　balls　of　newspaper
for　the　foundation　of　the　fire；　〃it's　lucky　for　Mabel　and　me　that　fire　is　one
thing　about　which　we　can　be　trusted。〃

〃I　shouldn't　wonder　if　it's　the　only　thing；〃　laughed　Tattine；　whereupon　Mabel
toppled　her　over　on　the　grass　by　way　of　punishment。

〃No；　but　honest！〃　continued　Rudolph；　〃I　have　just　been　trained　and　trained
about　fire。　I　know　it's　an　awfully　dangerous　thing。　It's　just　foolhardy　to　run
any　sort　of　risk　with　it；　and　it's　wise　when　you　make　a　fire　in　the　open　air
like　this；　to　stand　on　the　same　side　as　the　wind　comes　from；　even　if　you
haven't　any　skirts　or　fluffy　hair　to　catch。〃

〃Here's　some　more　wood；　grandfather；〃　said　Mabel　solemnly；　dumping　an　armful
down　at　his　side；　〃I　should　think　you　were　eighty　to　hear　you　talk；〃　and　then
Mabel　had　her　punishment　by　being　chased　down　the　path　and　plumped　down　rather
hard　in　the　veriest　tangle　of　brambles　and　briars。　It　chanced；　however；　that
her　corduroy　skirt　furnished　all　the　protection　needed　from　the　sharp　little
thorns；　so　that；　like　〃Brer　Rabbit；〃　she　called　out　exultingly；　〃　'Born　and
bred　in　a　briar…patch；　Brer　Rudolph；　born　and　bred　in　a　briar…patch；'〃　and
could　have　sat　there　quite　comfortably；　no　one‘knows　how　long；　but　that　she
heard　the　maple　sugar　go　tumbling　into　the　kettle。　And　then　she　heard　Tattine
say；　〃A　cup　of　water　to　two　pounds；　isn't　it？〃　Then　she　heard　the　water　go
splash　on　top　of　the　maple　sugar。　Now　she　could　stand　it　no　longer；　and；
clearing　the　briars　at　one　bound；　was　almost　back　at　the　camp　with　another。

By　this　time　the　fire　was　blazing　away　finely；　and　the　sugar；　with　the　help　of
an　occasional　stirring　from　the　long…handled　spoon　in　Rudolph's　hand；　soon
dissolved。　Dissolving　sometimes　seems　to　be　almost　a　day's　journey　from
boiling；　and　the　children　were　rather　impatient　for　that　stage　to　be　reached。
At　last；　however；　Rudolph　announced　excitedly；　〃It　boils；　it　boils！　and　now　I
mustn't　leave　it　for　a　minute。　More　wood；　Mabel！　don't　be　so　slow；　and；
Tattine；　hurry　Philip　up　with　that　ice；〃　but　Philip　was　seen　at　that　moment
bringing　a　large　piece　of　ice　in　a　wheelbarrow；　so　Tattine　was　saved　that
journey；　and　devoted　the　time　instead　to　spreading　out　one　of　the　pieces　of
wrapping…paper；　to　keep　the　ice　from　the　ground；　because　of　the　dead　leaves
and　〃things〃　that　were　likely　to　cling　to　it。

〃Now　break　off　a　good…sized　piece；　Tattine；〃　Rudolph　directed；　〃and　put　it　on
a　piece　of　paper　near　the　fire；〃　but　Tattine　knew　that　was　the　next　thing　to
do；　so　what　was　the　use　of　Rudolph's　telling　her？　It　happens　quite　frequently
that　people　who　are　giving　directions　give　too　many　by　far。

〃Now；　Mabel；〃　continued　the　drum…major；　〃will　you　please　bring　some　more　wood；
and　will　you　please　put　your　mind　on　it　and　keep　bringing　it？　These　little
twigs　that　make　the　best　fire　burn　out　in　a　twinkling；　please　notice；〃　but
Mabel　did　not　hurry　so　very　much　for　the　next　armful；　since　she　could　see　for
herself　there　was　no　great　need　for　haste。　Ru