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LESSON 3
Timothy S. Arthur (b. 1809, d. 1885) was born near Newburgh, N.Y., but passed most of his life at Baltimore and Philadelphia. His opportunities for good schooling were quite limited, and he may be considered a self-educated man. He was the author of more than a hundred volumes, principally novels of a domestic and moral tone, and of many shorter tales—magazine articles, etc. “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” and “Three Years in a Mantrap,” are among his best known works.
1. When and where it matters not now to relate—but once upon a time, as I was passing through a thinly peopled district of country, night came down upon me almost unawares. Being on foot, I could not hope to gain the village toward which my steps were directed, until a late hour; and I therefore preferred seeking shelter and a night’s lodging at the first humble dwelling that presented itself.
2. Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows, when I found myself in the vicinity
of a dwelling, from the small uncurtained windows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of good cheer and comfort. The house stood within an inclosure, and a short distance from the road along which I was moving with wearied feet.
3. Turning aside, and passing through the ill-hung gate, I approached the dwelling. Slowly the gate swung on its wooden hinges, and the rattle of its latch, in closing, did not disturb the air until I had nearly reached the porch in front of the house, in which a slender girl, who had noticed my entrance, stood awaiting my arrival.
4. A deep, quick bark answered, almost like an echo, the sound of the shutting gate, and, sudden as an apparition, the form of an immense dog loomed in the doorway. At the instant when he was about to spring, a light hand was laid upon his shaggy neck, and a low word spoken.
5. “Go in, Tiger,” said the girl, not in a voice of authority, yet in her gentle tones was the consciousness that she would be obeyed; and, as she spoke, she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand, and he turned away and disappeared within the dwelling.
6. “Who’s that?” A rough voice asked the question; and now a heavy-looking man took the dog’s place in the door.
7. “How far is it to G—?” I asked, not deeming it best to say, in the beginning, that I sought a resting place for the night.
8. “To G—!” growled the man, but not so harshly as at first. “It’s good six miles from here.”
9. “A long distance; and I’m a stranger and on foot,” said I. “If you can make room for me until morning, I will be very thankful.”
10. I saw the girl’s hand move quickly up his arm, until it rested on his shoulder, and now she leaned to him still closer.
11. “Come in. We’ll try what can be done for you.” There was a change in the man’s .evoicethatmadewonder.enteredlargeinwhichblazedbriskfire BeforImearoom,athe fire sat two stout lads, who turned ne their heavy eyes, with no very welcome mupo greeting. A middle-aged woman was st andingtable,andchildrenamusingattwowerea .themselveswithkittentheflooraon
12. “A stranger, mother,” said the man who had given me so rude a greeting at the door; “and he wants us to let him stay all night.”
13. The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments, and then replied coldly, “We don’t keep a public house.”
14. “I’m aware of that, ma’am,” said I; “but night has overtaken me, and it’s a long way yet to G—.”
15. “Too far for a tired man to go on foot,” said the master of the house, kindly, “so it’s no use talking about it, mother; we must give him a bed.”
16. So unobtrusively
that I scarce noticed the movement, the girl had drawn to her mother’s side. What she said to her I did not hear, for the brief words were uttered in a low voice; but I noticed, as she spoke, one small, fair hand rested on the woman’s hand. of kindl 17. Was there magic in that touch? The woman’s repulsive
aspect changed into one dawelcome,andshesaid,it’slongfin“Yes,G—.Itoguessweawaycan y place fo him.” r
18. Many times more during that evening, did I observe the magic power of that hand and voice—the one gentle yet potent
as the other. On the next morning, breakfast being over, I was preparing to take my departure when my host
informed me that if I would wait for half an hour he would give me a ride in his wagon to G—, as business required him to go there. I was very well pleased to accept of the invitation.
19. In due time, the farmer’s wagon was driven into the road before the house, and I was invited to get in. I noticed the horse as a rough-looking Canadian pony, with a certain air of stubborn endurance. As the farmer took his seat by my side, the family came to the door to see us off.
20. “Dick!” said the farmer in a peremptory
voice, giving the rein a quick jerk as he spoke. But Dick moved not a step. “Dick! you vagabond! get up.” And the farmer’s whip cracked sharply by the pony’s ear.
21. It availed
not, however, this second appeal. Dick stood firmly disobedient. Next the whip was brought down upon him with an impatient hand; but the pony only reared up a little. Fast and sharp the strokes were next dealt to the number of half a dozen. The man might as well have beaten the wagon, for all his end was gained.
22. A stout lad now came out into the road, and, catching Dick by the bridle, jerked him forward, using, at the same time, the customary language on such occasions, but Dick met this new ally
with increased stubbornness, planting his fore feet more firmly and at a sharper angle with the ground.
23. The impatient boy now struck the pony on the side of the head with his clinched hand, and jerked cruelly at his bridle. It availed nothing, however; Dick was not to be wrought upon by any such arguments.
24. “Don’t do so, John!” I turned my head as the maiden’s sweet voice reached my ear. She was passing through the gate into the road, and in the next moment had taken hold of the lad and drawn him away from the animal. No strength was exerted in this; she took hold of his arm, and he obeyed her wish as readily as if he had no thought
beyond her gratification.
25. And now that soft hand was laid gently on the pony’s neck, and a single low word spoken. How instantly were the tense
muscles relaxed
—how quickly the stubborn air vanished!
26. “Poor Dick!” said the maiden, as she stroked his neck lightly, or softly patted it with a childlike hand. “Now, go along, you provoking fellow!” she added, in a halfchiding
, yet affectionate voice, as she drew up the bridle.
27. The pony turned toward her, and rubbed his head against her arm for an instant or two; then, pricking up his ears, he started off at a light, cheerful trot, and went on his way as freely as if no silly crotchet
had ever entered his stubborn brain.
28. “What a wonderful power that hand possesses!” said I, speaking to my companion, as we rode away.
29. He looked at me for a moment, as if my remark had occasioned surprise. Then a light came into his countenance, and he said briefly, “She’s good! Everybody and everything loves her.”
30. Was that, indeed, the secret of her power? Was the quality of her soul perceived in the impression of her hand, even by brute beasts! The father’s explanation was doubtless the true one. Yet have I ever since wondered, and still do wonder, at the potency which lay in that maiden’s magic touch. I have seen something of the same power, showing itself in the loving and the good, but never to the extent as instanced
in her, whom, for want of a better name, I must still call “Gentle Hand.”
【中文阅读】
提摩太·斯·亚瑟(1809～1885)出生于纽约州纽博市附近，他在巴尔的摩和费城度过生命中的大量时光。他接受正规教育机会相当有限，属于自学成才的类型。他的著述多达一百多部，主要有涉及家庭伦理方面的小说，以及为杂志撰写的大量篇幅更短的文章等。《酒吧间的十个夜晚》和《捕人陷阱中的三年》皆为他的名篇。
1 ．究竟什么时间、地点，现在看来似乎无关紧要——姑且算是从前吧，当我走过一处人烟稀少的地区，不知不觉间，夜幕降临了。由于步行，我不可能指望找到一处乡镇或村庄。又过了一个时辰，我急切地想找处地方过夜，没别的，最先撞见的地方，无论怎样粗鄙简陋，对付一晚足矣。
2 ．昏暗灯火来自深不可测的黑暗，我突然发现附近有户人家，从那扇光秃秃的窗口里，似乎感觉到灯火里透出喜悦的安详。屋子四周有栅栏，离我走的路很近，那时，我可真是走得太累了。
3 ．走下路，跨过那扇歪扭的大门，我走向那处屋子。大门在木质铰链上慢慢晃动，门闩的吱呀声悄无声息，直到最后关门才发出轻微声响。待我走到房前走廊时，才看到一位身材修长的姑娘站在那里，显然，刚才她听到了我的脚步。
4 ．门甫关上，旋即响起一声低沉的狗吠，一条体型硕大的狗幽灵般出现在我的身边。就在它立马扑过来的刹那，一只手轻轻搭在那只狗毛发蓬松的脖颈。
5 ．“虎子，进去，”姑娘低声说道，声音并不威严，但温柔中含有不得不服从的暗示，与此同时，她轻轻地拍打那狗几下，于是那狗转身闪进屋内。
6 ．“你是谁？”一个粗厉声音响起，一位脸色阴沉的男人在狗的身后闪出。
7 ．“请问，这里离 G 地还有多远？”我问道，乍开口，才觉得并不合适，那时的我不过想找个过夜的地方。
8 ．“到 G 地去，”那男人大声地说，言语间却少了最初的苛厉，“从这到那还有不近的六英里路呢。”
9 ．“路真够远的，我是步行来的，一个过路客，”我说，“如果你们让我在这歇上一晚，我真是感激不尽。”
10 ．我看见那姑娘的手迅速上移，最后搭在那男人肩膀上，现在她贴那男人更近了点。
11 ．“进来吧，看看我们能给你帮上什么忙。”那男人语气的变化让我有点喜出望外。我走进房间，房间很宽敞，火苗轻快地跳跃着。火堆边坐着两位粗硕身材的人，满脸阴沉地打量着我，明显带着不快的神情。一位中年妇女站在桌子旁边，两个孩子在地上逗着小猫玩。
12 ．“妈妈，这位过路客，”刚才在门口粗鲁地与我打招呼的那位男人说道，“他想在这里过上一夜。”
13 ．那妇人狐疑地打量我片刻，冷淡地说，“我们这没有客房。”
14 ．“我，我知道，夫人，”我说，“不过，天太晚了，去 G 地路实在太远了。”
15 ．“他走得太累了，前面的路那么远，”那好心的姑娘接着说，“别说了，妈妈，我们得给他准备个睡觉的地方。”
16 ．起初，我还真没注意到，悄无声息地，那姑娘仄到她妈妈身边，那些话语很轻，我听不见她对母亲说了什么，不过，我留意到，那姑娘说话的当口，她那小巧美丽的手已搭在那妇人的手上。
17 ．这就是触摸的神奇？那妇人反感冷淡的口吻转瞬变得柔和亲近，“是的，去 G 地的路还远着呢，我想，我们是得给他安排住下。”
18 ．就在那个晚上，我确实留心到那双手、那个声音的神奇——温柔中透出强势力量。次日清早，早饭后，我打算告辞，男主人突然告诉我，如果我可以等半个时辰的话，他可以捎带我去 G 地，他要赶着马车去 G 地办事。我自然非常高兴地接受了他的好意。
19 ．约定的时间到了，那农夫的马车来到屋前路上，我受邀上车后，这才看见那匹驾辕的马驹，那马驹面部粗糙，属于加拿大品种，具有顽强忍耐的优良品性。农夫上了车，坐在我身边，全家人走出门来给我们送行。
20 、“狄克！”那农夫严厉地呵斥，一边猛地拉动缰绳，狄克竟然没有挪步，“狄克！你这个懒鬼！快走呀。”农夫鞭子在小马耳边尖锐地乍响。
21 ．依然毫不奏效。接下来，农夫语气变得委婉甚至恳求，小马驹还是无动于衷。然后，主人急躁的鞭子甩在了狄克身上，那马驹只是稍稍后退，接着又来了六七下快速猛烈的鞭笞，那农夫如果早知道他最终束手无策，还不如起先就鞭打那马车罢。
22 ．一位身材粗硕的妇人走过来，她抓住马笼头猛地往前拉，嘴里不停叨唠类似场合那些粗鄙的话，但狄克愈发倔犟，死活不走，甚至还将它的前蹄翘起，死死地抵住地面。
23 ．这会儿，那位不耐烦的男孩用钳子般手掌猛力撞击狄克头部，然后死命猛拽马的笼头，毫不奏效，狄克不会在这样暴力下尥开蹄子。
24 ．“约翰，别这样！”我一转头，那位姑娘的温柔声音传了过来。她正迈过大门，来到路上。姑娘一把抓住那莽撞的家伙，将他从狄克身边甩开。她毫不费力地抓住了他的一只胳膊，他好像也相当乐意地与其配合，好像压根没有忤逆她的意思。
25 ．眼前，那只温柔的手轻轻放在小马驹的脖颈上，姑娘轻声慢语地对它说话。不过转眼间，狄克紧张的肌肉已经松弛，僵持的坚冰终于打破。
26 ．“可怜的狄克，”那姑娘一边说，一边轻轻拍着小马驹的脖颈，或者不如说，用那满怀柔情的孩子般手拍打狄克，“该走了，你这让人生气的孩子！”她的话语中夹杂责备，亦不乏温情脉脉，说话间，她还提了提笼头。
27 ．狄克朝她转过身来，用头朝她胳膊蹭动片刻，然后竖立耳朵，轻快地跑起碎步，接着，尥开蹄子跑开了，好像刚才不曾有任何怪异的念头盘踞在它那固执的小脑瓜里。
28 ．马车跑起来了，“手，该有多么神奇！”我对身边的人说道。
29 ．农夫注视了我片刻，好像我的话使他偶发惊奇，他的脸上闪过一丝喜悦，却只说了句，“她心地仁慈，这里的人和那些牲口都喜欢她。”
30 ．的确，难道她有神奇力量的秘密？抑或她的灵魂高贵？这位父亲的话无疑道出了真相，从那以后，我确实想知道，甚至今天，似乎更想弄明白，那姑娘轻抚的手里究竟存在什么样的神奇魔力。我见过同样的力量诉求，从容地表达爱恋与善行，但从未见过类似这位姑娘手里升起的奇迹，她给我内心带来了惊悚震撼。如果让我用贴切的词语形容，我宁愿称呼她为“温柔的手”。