DARK STORMS AND DARK MEMORIES.
Hush! be silent--let the storm sweep by!
Its howlings fill me with unuttered dread!
This shuddering soul hugs its dark mystery,
Oh, trouble not the ashes of the dead!
While uncle Nathan and Mary were conversing on the porch, the two
women within doors remained comparatively silent, till the storm rose
almost to a hurricane. The gloominess of the night seemed to oppress
them, and they sat before the hearth till the fire had nearly
smouldered out, leaving only a couple of large pointed brands of what
had been a back-log, protruding from a bed of ashes, that grew whiter
and deeper with each coal that crumbled away from the original stock.
With her calf-skin shoes planted on each foot of the andiron, and her
dress just enough lifted to reveal a glimpse of her blue yarn
stockings, aunt Hannah sat gazing on the embers, with a countenance
that grew stern and troubled as the storm raged more and more
fiercely. Her knitting-work lay upon the stand beside her; three of
the needles formed a triangle, and the fourth was thrust through the
stocking, in a way that betokened a strange tumult in the owner, for
never, save when it was the sign of some great calamity, had aunt
Hannah been known to lay down her knitting except at the seam-stitch.
That some bitter trouble weighed upon her now was certain, for the
thoughts that possessed her seemed bowing her person forward. She
stooped heavily toward the fire, with her long, flail-like arms
clasped around her knees, not rocking back and forth as seemed most
natural to the position, but immovable as the andiron upon which her
feet rested, and sombre as the storm that shook the windows and howled
down the chimney.
Salina occupied the other andiron. Her leathern shoes were tinged with
mud about the soles, and a spot or two had settled on her white yarn
stockings, which were gingerly exposed at the ankles. But while aunt
Hannah stooped forward, bowed down by thought, Salina sat upright as a
church-steeple, with one elbow planted on each knee, and her sharp
chin resting in the palms of her hands. Faint flashes from the fire
now and then gleamed across her hair, firing it up with ferocious
redness; and her eyes were bent upon the broken back-log, as if
defying it to a competition, while her feet were planted on the
andiron.
At last, when the storm grew so fierce that it rocked the old house to
its foundations, and gusts of rain came sweeping down the chimney, the
two women looked into each other's eyes.
"Did you ever see anything like it!" said Salina.
It was an exclamation only, but aunt Hannah answered as if her
thoughts had been questioned.
"Yes, once--that night!"
"True enough--that was an awful night. I hate to think of it."
"But how can one help it?" said aunt Hannah, bending her white face
downward again, "I'd give anything on earth to forget that one night."
"Well," answered Salina, "I have sort of forgot a good deal about it;
but now, as you bring it to mind, there was a thing or two happened
that I never told of before, and couldn't account for in any way--that
is, for the whole of it."
"What was that?" questioned aunt Hannah, sharply.
"Well, now, it's no use snapping one's head off, if the night is
howling like old Nick himself," answered Salina, kindling up.
"If I was snappish, it wasn't because I meant it," said aunt Hannah,
sinking to her dejected position again; "you said something about that
night--what was it?"
"Well, now, I'll up and tell you--it's nothing worth mentioning--but
somehow I always sort of remembered it. You know, after poor little
Anna died, I went home in all the storm, for I had only run over to
tell you about Mrs. Farnham's baby, and hadn't expected to stay. I
couldn't but jest get along, the wind and rain beat in my face so; and
somehow what I had seen here took away all my nat'ral strength;
besides, it was dark as pitch, and before I got home there wasn't a
dry thread on me.
"Well, I went in through the back door mighty still, I tell you, for I
didn't want any one to know that I'd been out when there was sickness
in the house. Besides, I'd promised the nus to sit up and tend the
baby, while she got a little sleep. So, without stopping to bolt the
back door or anything, I jest stole up to the chamber next Mrs.
Farnham's, where the nus was with the baby, and opening the door a
trifle, told her to go to bed, and I'd be down in less than no time.
"The baby was sound asleep in the cradle, that had been ready for it
ever so long, so the nus just put the blanket a little more over its
head and went out.
"I ran up stairs, got off my wet clothes, and went down to the room
agin, but first I remembered the back door, and went to fasten it for
fear some one would find out that I had been away from home.
"When I got to the door, it was wide open, and the wind came storming
in like all possessed. The candle swirled till it almost went out in
my hand, and it was as much as I could make out to shut the door and
get things to rights, without being wet through agin. At last I got
the door shut to and fastened, but when I went to cross the kitchen,
where I never would let them put a carpet down, you know, the white
pine boards were tramped over and over with wet footsteps. Now, I
hadn't crossed it but once with my wet things on, and the footsteps
went both ways, as if some one had gone in and went out agin.
"Well, I held down the light and followed these same steps along the
carpet clear into the room where the baby was; I hadn't gone across
the threshold, remember, and yet the steps were all over the room, and
a little puddle of water lay close agin the cradle--are you listening,
aunt Hannah?"
"Go on," answered the old woman, in a husky voice.
"I haven't anything more to say, only this," said Salina, "the baby
lay snug in the cradle, but its little hands were as cold as stone,
and I'm sartin there was a drop of water on its forehead. That wasn't
all. As I was looking around, I saw a little baby's night-gown a-lying
half across the door-sill."
Aunt Hannah looked up suddenly, and Salina checked herself.
"Good gracious, how pale you are!--do tell--what's the matter?"
"You heard the thunder--I always was afraid of thunder."
"Yes," answered Salina, "lightning don't amount to much, but when
thunder strikes it is awful. That clap wasn't nothing to speak of,
though, after all."
"Wasn't it?" said aunt Hannah, dropping her face between both her
hands. "It seemed terribly loud to me."
"Well, as I was a-saying about that night. There was a baby's
night-gown on the door-sill. I took it up and looked at it. It was
fine cotton, edged round with a little worked pattern, such as I'd
seen our Anna working there in the out-room. The sight of it sort of
puzzled me, I can tell you, besides it made me feel bad to think how
cold her poor little fingers were then, so I sat down and cried over
it all by myself. But how came the little gown there? It didn't belong
to Mrs. Farnham, for her baby's clothes were all linen, cambric, and
lace, and French work. I sat down and thought and thought, but at last
burst out a-crying agin. It was all clear enough."
"How," said aunt Hannah, lifting her face suddenly, "how was it
clear?"
"Why, the night-gown must have stuck to my shawl when we laid Anna's
baby in your bed up stairs. Everything was tossed about, you know; and
I am always catching to briars and things every time I move. Never
could go a blackberrying with other gals, but the first thing they
were calling out, 'that Salina had got a bean' and there would be a
great long briar dragging to the bottom of my frock. It was my luck
always to have things hanging onto me. I wish you could see the ticks
and burdock leaves that I have picked off from this identical dress
since harvest."
Aunt Hannah drew herself up a little more freely, but it was some
moments before she spoke.
"Did you keep the night-gown?" she inquired.
"Yes, I hadn't the heart to bring it here at the time, so I locked it
up in the till of my chest, and there it lies yet, as yellow as
saffron. Would you like to have it now?"
"No," answered aunt Hannah, "what should I have it for? keep it safe
just as it is; who knows but it may be wanted yet?"
Salina drew herself primly up, and observed that if the best man in
York State was to offer himself to her, he would get sent about his
business in double quick time.
Aunt Hannah raised her eyes, with a heavy questioning look, but
dropped them again without in the least comprehending the drift of
Salina's thoughts.
"No," said the spinster, stoutly. "It's of no use looking at me in
that way; if every hair of his head was hung with diamonds, I wouldn't
have him. It's no use asking me, I'm a sot cretur where I am sot, aunt
Hannah."
While Salina was moving her head up and down, with a force that almost
dislodged the horn-comb from her fiery tresses, a clap of thunder
shook the house to its foundations, and sheets of lightning rushed
athwart the windows.
"Nathan, where is my brother Nathan?" cried aunt Hannah, starting to
her feet.
"No, it's of no use calling even him," persisted Salina, unmindful
of both thunder and lightning. "The face of a man can't change me; you
needn't call him, I tell you it's of no use, I'm flint."
"The old hemlock is in flames again!" cried aunt Hannah, rushing
through the porch, "and Nathan's chair empty. Is this thunderbolt for
him? Nathan! Nathan!"
By the light of the stricken hemlock, she saw her brother coming
toward the porch, holding Mary Fuller by the hand.
"Come, brother, come!" she cried, stretching forth her arms, "you are
all that I have left."
Nathan heard his sister, and came toward her. She saw that he was
safe, and her old manner returned.
"Come," she said, opening the kitchen door, "it is time for prayers."
"Yes, let us pray," said uncle Nathan, solemnly, "for truly, God
speaketh to us in the thunder and the lightning."
Salina, who had remained standing in the room, was so struck by the
unusual sadness of every face around her, that for the time she forgot
herself. There was something in uncle Nathan's face that she had never
seen before, a depth and intensity of feeling that held even her rude
strength in awe.
"Good night," she said, tying on her hood and folding a large blanket
shawl over her person; "it's time for me to be a going."
"Not in this rain," said Mary, "you will be wet through."
"Well, what then? I ain't neither sugar nor salt," she said, folding
her shawl closer. "The old tree gives light enough, and as for a
little rain I can stand that."
"It mayn't be safe to pass the hemlock, when it's on fire. I'll go
with you till you get beyond that," said uncle Nathan, taking his drab
overcoat from a nail behind the door.
Salina drew the shawl with still more desperate resolution around her
lathy figure.
"No, sir," she said, with emphasis, "after what your sister has been
saying to-night, I feel it a duty that I owe to myself to go home
alone."
"But this terrible weather," said uncle Nathan, holding his great-coat
irresolutely in his hand.
"As I observed before," said Salina, "I'm neither sugar nor salt, sir,
but rock, marble, or, if there is a stone harder than these, I'm
that."
Uncle Nathan was too thoroughly saddened for contention; indeed he
scarcely noticed the magnificent change in Salina's manner; and, if
the truth must be told, was rather glad to be left under the shelter
of a roof, when the rain was rattling over it so fiercely.
"Well," he said, hanging up his coat again, "if you'd rather go home
alone than stay all night, or let me go with you, of course I don't
want to interfere."
"Thank you," answered the lady, tossing her head and snuffing the air
like a race-horse; "I'm sure I'm obleged beyond anything. It's kind of
you to let me have my own way."
Uncle Nathan looked at little Mary Fuller, to gather her opinion of
the unaccountable airs their guest was putting on, but the girl's
heart was full of the story she had been listening to, and she sat by
the table gazing sadly upon the floor, with one hand supporting her
forehead.
Aunt Hannah had seated herself on the hearth again, and was gazing
absorbed into the embers. Salina had poor uncle Nathan thus entirely
to herself.
"Now," said she, "if you will have the goodness to turn your face
toward the chamber-door, while I pin up the skirt of my dress a
little, I shall be prepared to depart from this roof."
Uncle Nathan quietly withdrew into the porch, and sat down in his
easy-chair. Salina would have puzzled him exceedingly but for the
pre-occupation of his feelings. As it was, the old man was rather
sorry that she _would_ go home alone, in all the rain, but his heart
was too heavy for a second thought on the subject.
I do not pretend to be a judge of these matters, but really I believe
Salina was a little taken aback, when she came forth into the porch,
with her dress nicely tucked up, and her shawl folded in a fashion
that left one arm at liberty, and saw uncle Nathan sitting there in
the dark, instead of standing by the cheese-press, hat in hand,
determined to escort her as a man of spirit ought to have been, after
the trouble she had taken with the shawl. Nor do I pretend to say that
she was disappointed, or anything of the sort, because Salina in her
day possessed the very germ and root of a strong-minded woman of
modern times, and persons of ordinary capacity are shy of running
counter to ladies of that class--all that we venture to assert is that
she made a dead halt on the porch, looked up and down the garden,
observed in an under-tone "It was raining cats and dogs yet," devices
by which a weak-minded woman might have insinuated, that she had taken
the subject of going home alone into consideration and thought better
of it.
Uncle Nathan, instead of suspecting the art that I have been wicked
enough to insinuate, seemed perfectly oblivious of the antique
damsel's presence.
At last she gathered up her raiment and muttering.
"Well, now, I never did!" prepared to step from the porch, when the
voice of uncle Nat arrested her.
"Salina, is it you? Come here, Salina!"
Salina drew close to uncle Nathan's chair--very close considering the
circumstances, and, with a relenting voice, answered, "Well, Mr.
Nathan, I'm here--what is it you want to say?"
Uncle Nathan reached forth his hand. Salina's unconsciously crept out
from the folds of her shawl, in a sort of way as if she didn't intend
to let the left hand know what the right was about.
"Salina," said uncle Nathan, pressing her fingers in his broad palm.
"Well, uncle Nathan?"
"My heart is full to-night, Salina, I feel a'most broke down."
"Well, now, don't take on this way. My bark is worse than my bite, you
know that."
"You are a kind soul at the bottom, I always knew that, and have been
a true friend to us; I shall never forget you for it."
I don't know as uncle Nathan was conscious of it, but Salina's hand
certainly tightened around his plump fingers.
"You were kind to _her_, and I want to thank you for it."
"_Her_! Who are you talking about?"
"Our Anna. The night has put me so in mind of her. I've been talking
about her to little Mary all the evening, and now let me thank you,
for you were always good to Anna."
Salina drew her hand from uncle Nathan's, and folded it in her shawl.
"I hope I haven't hurt your feelings mentioning her suddenly, after so
many years," said the old man.
Salina stood upright while he was speaking, but the moment he ceased,
the dim light through the kitchen window revealed her wading through
the wet plaintain leaves as she turned a corner of the house.
"She always was a kind creature," said uncle Nathan, moving his head
with gentle compunction. "I'm afraid it came hard though to hear poor
Anna mentioned, but I couldn't help it."
With these meek words, half of sorrow, half of self-reproach, uncle
Nathan went back into the kitchen. Aunt Hannah had gone up stairs, but
Mary sat by the little stand, reading in the open Bible. She turned it
gently toward the old man as he sat down, but he shook his head and
motioned her to read aloud.
Mary had a clear, silver-toned voice, and she read with that natural
pathos which true feeling always renders effective. That night there
was depth and sweetness in her reading, that fell like the voice of an
angel on the excited feelings of uncle Nathan. The storm was now
hushing itself in the valley, and her voice rose sweet and clear, till
it penetrated to the room above, where aunt Hannah lay.
Why had aunt Hannah absented herself from family prayer that night?
Why did she, as the voice of that young girl rose to her ears, cower
down in the bed, and nervously draw up the coverlet to shut those
sweet tones out from her soul?