旧式女孩 英文版 An Old-fashioned Girl
露意莎.梅.奥尔科特 Louisa May Alcott
CHAPTER XI NEEDLES AND TONGUES Page 2
"I declare I will!" cried Belle, whose conscience suddenly woke,and smote her for beating down the woman who did her plainsewing, in order that she might have an extra flounce on a newdress. "Belle has got a virtuous fit; pity it won't last a week," saidTrix.
"Wait and see," retorted Belle, resolving that it should last, just todisappoint "that spiteful minx;" as she sweetly called her oldschool-mate.
"Now we shall behold Belle galloping away at a great pace, on hernew hobby. I should n't be surprised to hear of her preaching in thejail, adopting a nice dirty little orphan, or passing round tracts at aWoman's Rights meeting," said Trix, who never could forgiveBelle for having a lovely complexion, and so much hair of her ownthat she never patronized either rats, mice, waterfalls, switches, orpuff-combs.
"Well, I might do worse; and I think, of the two, I 'd rather amusemyself so, than as some young ladies do, who get into the papersfor their pranks," returned Belle, with a moral air.
"Suppose we have a little recess, and rest while Polly plays to us.Will you, Polly? It will do us good; they all want to hear you, andbegged I 'd ask."
"Then I will, with pleasure"; and Polly went to the piano with suchobliging readiness, that several reproachful glances fell upon Trix,who did n't need her glass to see them.
Polly was never too sad, perturbed, or lazy to sing, for it wasalmost as easy to her as breathing, and seemed the most naturaloutlet for her emotions. For a minute her hands wandered over thekeys, as if uncertain what to play; then, falling into a sad, sweetstrain, she sang "The Bridge of Sighs." Polly did n't know why shechose it, but the instinct seemed to have been a true one, for, old asthe song was, it went straight to the hearts of the hearers, and Pollysung it better than she ever had before, for now the memory oflittle Jane lent it a tender pathos which no art could give. It didthem all good, for music is a beautiful magician, and few can resistits power. The girls were touched by the appeal; Polly was liftedout of herself, and when she turned round, the softened look on allthe faces told her that for the moment foolish differences andfrivolous beliefs were forgotten in the one womanly sentiment ofpity for the wrongs and woes of which the listeners' happy liveswere ignorant.
"That song always makes me cry, and feel as if I had no right to beso comfortable," said Belle, openly wiping her eyes on a crashtowel.
"Fortunately such cases are very rare," said another young lady,who seldom read the newspapers.
"I wish they were, but I 'm afraid they are not; for only three weeksago, I saw a girl younger than any of us, and no worse, who tried todestroy herself simply because she was so discouraged, sick, andpoor," said Polly.
"Do tell about her," cried Belle, eagerly.
Feeling that the song had paved the way for the story, and givenher courage to tell it, Polly did tell it, and must have done it well,for the girls stopped work to listen, and when she ended, other eyesbeside warm-hearted Belle's were wet. Trix looked quite subdued;Miss Perkins thawed to such a degree, that something glittered onher hand as she bent over the pink pinafore again, better andbrighter than her biggest diamond; Emma got up and went to Pollywith a face full of affectionate respect, while Fanny, moved by asudden impulse, caught up a costly SSvres plate that stood on theetagSre, and laying a five-dollar bill in it, passed it round, quotingPolly's words, "Girls, I know you 'll like to help poor little Jenny'begin again, and do better this time.' "
It was good to see how quickly the pretty purses were out, howgenerously each gave of its abundance, and what hearty applausebroke from the girls, as Belle laid down her gold thimble, sayingwith an April face, "There, take that; I never have any money,somehow it won't stay with me, but I can't let the plate pass me thistime."
When Fanny brought the contributions to Polly, she just gathered itup in her two hands with such a glad, grateful face, the girlswished they had had more to give.
"I can't thank you enough," she said, with an eloquent little chokein her voice. "This will help Jenny very much; but the way inwhich it was done will do her more good than double the money,because it will prove to her that she is n't without friends, andmake her feel that there is a place in the world for her. Let herwork for you in return for this; she don't ask alms, she only wantsemployment and a little kindness, and the best charity we canbestow is to see that she has both."
"I 'll give her as much sewing as she wants, and she can stay at ourhouse while she does it, if she needs a home," said Trix, in a spasmof benevolence.
"She does n't need a home, thank you; Miss Mills has given half ofhers, and considers Jane her child," answered Polly, with proudsatisfaction in the fact.
"What an old dear!" cried Belle.
"I want to know her. May I?" whispered Emma.
"Oh, yes; I 'm glad to make her known to any one. She is a quietlittle old lady, but she does one heaps of good, and shows you howto be charitable in the wisest way."
"Do tell us about it. I 'm sure I want to do my duty, but it 's such amuddle, I don't know how," said Belle.
Then, quite naturally, the conversation fell upon the great workthat none should be too busy to think of, and which few are tooyoung or too poor to help on with their mite. The faces grew moreearnest, the fingers flew faster, as the quick young hearts andbrains took in the new facts, ideas, and plans that grew out of thetrue stories, the sensible hints, the successful efforts which Pollytold them, fresh from the lips of Miss Mills; for, of late, Polly hadtalked much with the good lady, and learned quickly the lessonsher unselfish life conveyed. The girls found this more interestingthan gossip, partly owing to its novelty, doubtless; but theenthusiasm was sincere while it lasted, and did them good. Manyof them forgot all about it in a week, but Polly's effort was not lost,for Emma, Belle, and Fanny remained firm friends to Jane, sokindly helping her that the poor child felt as if she had indeed beenborn again, into a new and happy world.
Not till long afterward did Polly see how much good this littleeffort had done her, for the first small sacrifice of this sort leadsthe way to others, and a single hand's turn given heartily to theworld's great work helps one amazingly with one's own smalltasks. Polly found this out as her life slowly grew easier andbrighter, and the beautiful law of compensation gave her betterpurposes and pleasures than any she had lost. The parents of someof her pupils were persons of real refinement, and such are alwaysquick to perceive the marks of culture in others, no matter wherethey find them. These, attracted first by Polly's cheerful face,modest manners, and faithful work, soon found in her somethingmore than a good teacher; they found a real talent for music, aneager desire for helpful opportunities, and a heart grateful for thekindly sympathy that makes rough places smooth. Fortunatelythose who have the skill to detect these traits also possess the spiritto appreciate and often the power to serve and develop them. Inways so delicate that the most sensitive pride could not resent thefavor, these true gentlefolk showed Polly their respect and regard,put many pleasures in her way, and when they paid her for herwork, gave her also the hearty thanks that takes away all sense ofdegradation even from the humblest service, for money so earnedand paid sweetens the daily bread it buys, and makes the mutualobligation a mutual benefit and pleasure.
A few such patrons did much for Polly, and the music she gavethem had an undertone of gratitude that left blithe echoes in thosegreat houses, which money could not buy.
Then, as her butterfly acquaintances deserted her, she found herway into a hive of friendly bees, who welcomed her, and showedher how to find the honey that keeps life sweet and wholesome.Through Miss Mills, who was the counsellor and comforter ofseveral, Polly came to know a little sisterhood of busy, happy,independent girls, who each had a purpose to execute, a talent todevelop, an ambition to achieve, and brought to the work patienceand perseverance, hope and courage. Here Polly found her place atonce, for in this little world love and liberty prevailed; talent,energy, and character took the first rank; money, fashion, andposition were literally nowhere; for here, as in the big worldoutside, genius seemed to blossom best when poverty was headgardener. Young teachers, doing much work for little pay; youngartists, trying to pencil, paint, or carve their way to Rome; youngwriters, burning to distinguish themselves; young singers,dreaming of triumphs, great as those of Jenny Lind; and some whotried to conquer independence, armed only with a needle, like poorJane. All these helped Polly as unconsciously as she helped them,for purpose and principle are the best teachers we can have, andthe want of them makes half the women of America what they are,restless, aimless, frivolous, and sick.
To outsiders that was a very hard-working and uneventful winterto Polly. She thought so herself; but as spring came on, the seed ofnew virtues, planted in the winter time, and ripened by thesunshine of endeavor, began to bud in Polly's nature, betrayingtheir presence to others by the added strength and sweetness of hercharacter, long before she herself discovered these May flowersthat had blossomed for her underneath the snow.