酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

The Spirit of the Border-Part26_Zane Gray(1872-1939)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页


"Kate is dead," answered Jim, quickly. He could not endure the horror in her

eyes. He deliberately intended to lie, as had Heckewelder.



It was as if the tension of Nell's nerves was suddenly relaxed. The relief

from her worst fear was so great that her mind took in only the one



impression. Then, presently, a choking cry escaped her, to be followed by a

paroxysm of sobs.



Chapter XX.

Early on the following day Heckewelder, astride his horse, appeared at the



door of Edwards' cabin.

"How is George?" he inquired of Dave, when the latter had opened the door.



"He had a bad night, but is sleeping now. I think he'll be all right after a

time," answered Dave.



"That's well. Nevertheless keep a watch on him for a few days."

"I'll do so."



"Dave, I leave matters here to your good judgment. I'm off to Goshocking to

join Zeisberger. Affairs there demand our immediate attention, and we must



make haste."

"How long do you intend to be absent?"



"A few days; possibly a week. In case of any unusualdisturbance among the

Indians, the appearance of Pipe and his tribe, or any of the opposing



factions, send a fleet runner at once to warn me. Most of my fears have been

allayed by Wingenund's attitude toward us. His freeing Jim in face of the



opposition of his chiefs is a sure sign of friendliness. More than once I have

suspected that he was interested in Christianity. His daughter, Whispering



Winds, exhibited the same intense fervor in religion as has been manifested by

all our converts. It may be that we have not appealed in vain to Wingenund and



his daughter; but their high position in the Delaware tribe makes it impolitic

for them to reveal a change of heart. If we could win over those two we'd have



every chance to convert the whole tribe. Well, as it is we must be thankful

for Wingenund's friendship. We have two powerful allies now. Tarhe, the



Wyandot chieftain, remains neutral, to be sure, but that's almost as helpful

as his friendship."



"I, too, take a hopeful view of the situation," replied Edwards.

"We'll trust in Providence, and do our best," said Heckewelder, as he turned



his horse. "Good-by."

"Godspeed!" called Edwards, as his chief rode away.



The missionary resumed his work of getting breakfast. He remained in doors all

that day, except for the few moments when he ran over to Mr. Wells' cabin to



inquire regarding Nell's condition. He was relieved to learn she was so much

better that she had declared her intention of moving about the house. Dave



kept a close watch on Young. He, himself, was suffering from the same blow

which had prostrated his friend, but his physical strength and fortitude were



such that he did not weaken. He was overjoyed to see that George rallied, and

showed no further indications of breaking down.



True it was, perhaps, that Heckewelder's earnest prayer on behalf of the

converted Indians had sunk deeply into George's heart and thus kept it from



breaking. No stronger plea could have been made than the allusion to those

gentle, dependent Christians. No one but a missionary could realize the



sweetness, the simplicity, the faith, the eager hope for a good, true life

which had been implanted in the hearts of these Indians. To bear it in mind,



to think of what he, as a missionary and teacher, was to them, relieved him of

half his burden, and for strength to bear the remainder he went to God. For



all worry there is a sovereign cure, for all suffering there is a healing

balm; it is religious faith. Happiness had suddenly flashed with a



meteor-like radiance into Young's life only to be snuffed out like a candle in

a windy gloom, but his work, his duty remained. So in his trial he learned the



necessity of resignation. He chaffed no more at the mysterious, seemingly

brutal methods of nature; he questioned no more. He wondered no more at the



apparent indifference of Providence. He had one hope, which was to be true to

his faith, and teach it to the end.



Nell mastered her grief by an astonishing reserve of strength. Undoubtedly it

was that marvelouslymerciful power which enables a person, for the love of



others, to bear up under a cross, or even to fight death himself. As Young

had his bright-eyed Indian boys and girls, who had learned Christianity from



him, and whose future depended on him, so Nell had her aged and weakening

uncle to care for and cherish.



Jim's attentions to her before the deep affliction had not been slight, but

now they were so marked as to be unmistakable. In some way Jim seemed changed



since he had returned from the Delaware encampment. Although he went back to

the work with his old aggressiveness, he was not nearly so successful as he



had been before. Whether or not this was his fault, he took his failure deeply




文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号