按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
place we visited was a candy store； and I recall dis…
tinctly that we forced the weary proprietor to take
down and show us every jar in the place before we
spent one penny。 The first banana I ever ate was
purchased that day； and I hesitated over it a long
time。 Its cost was five cents； and in view of that
large expenditure； the eating of the fruit； I was
afraid； would be too brief a joy。 I bought it； how…
ever； and the experience developed into a tragedy；
for； not knowing enough to peel the banana； I bit
through skin and pulp alike； as if I were eating an
apple； and then burst into ears of disappointment。
The beautiful conduct of my sister Mary shines
down through the years。 She； wise child； had
taken no chances with the unknown； but now；
moved by my despair； she bought half of my banana；
and we divided the fruit； the loss； and the lesson。
Fate； moreover； had another turn of the screw for
us； for； after Mary had taken a bite of it； we gave
what was left of the banana to a boy who stood near
us and who knew how to eat it； and not even the
large amount of candy in our sticky hands enabled
us to regard with calmness the subsequent happiness
of that little boy。
Another experience with fruit in Lawrence illus…
trates the ideas of my mother and the character of
the training she gave her children。 Our neighbors；
the Cabots； were one day giving a great garden party；
and my sister was helping to pick strawberries for
the occasion。 When I was going home from school
I passed the berry…patches and stopped to speak to
my sister； who at once presented me with two straw…
berries。 She said Mrs。 Cabot had told her to eat
all she wanted； but that she would eat two less than
she wanted and give those two to me。 To my
mind； the suggestion was generous and proper； in
my life strawberries were rare。 I ate one berry；
and then； overcome by an ambition to be generous
also； took the other berry home to my mother； tell…
ing her how I had got it。 To my chagrin； mother
was deeply shocked。 She told me that the trans…
action was all wrong； and she made me take back
the berry and explain the matter to Mrs。 Cabot。
By the time I reached that generous lady the berry
was the worse for its journey； and so was I。 I was
only nine years old and very sensitive。 It was clear
to me that I could hardly live through the humilia…
tion of the confession； and it was indeed a bitter
experience the worst； I think； in my young life；
though Mrs。 Cabot was both sympathetic and
understanding。 She kissed me； and sent a quart
of strawberries to my mother； but for a long time
afterward I could not meet her kind eyes； for I be…
lieved that in her heart she thought me a thief。
My second friendship； and one which had a strong
influence on my after…life； was formed in Lawrence。
I was not more than ten years old when I met this
new friend； but the memory of her in after…years；
and the impression she had made on my susceptible
young mind； led me first into the ministry； next into
medicine； and finally into suffrage…work。 Living
next door to us； on Prospect Hill； was a beautiful
and mysterious woman。 All we children knew of
her was that she was a vivid and romantic figure；
who seemed to have no friends and of whom our
elders spoke in whispers or not at all。 To me she
was a princess in a fairy…tale； for she rode a white
horse and wore a blue velvet riding…habit with a
blue velvet hat and a picturesquely drooping white
plume。 I soon learned at what hours she went
forth to ride； and I used to hover around our gate
for the joy of seeing her mount and gallop away。
I realized that there was something unusual about
her house； and I had an idea that the prince was
waiting for her somewhere in the far distance； and
that for the time at least she had escaped the ogre
in the castle she left behind。 I was wrong about
the prince； but right about the ogre。 It was only
when my unhappy lady left her castle that she was
free。
Very soon she noticed me。 Possibly she saw the
adoration in my childish eyes。 She began to nod
and smile at me； and then to speak to me； but at
first I was almost afraid to answer her。 There were
stories now among the children that the house was
haunted； and that by night a ghost walked there and
in the grounds。 I felt an extraordinary interest in
the ghost； and I spent hours peering through our
picket fence； trying to catch a glimpse of it； but I
hesitated to be on terms of neighborly intimacy with
one who dwelt with ghosts。
One day the mysterious lady bent and kissed me。
Then； straightening up； she looked at me queerly
and said： ‘‘Go and tell your mother I did that。''
There was something very compelling in her manner。
I knew at once that I must tell my mother what she
had done； and I ran into our house and did so。
While my mother was considering the problem the
situation presented； for she knew the character of
the house next door； a note was handed in to her
a very pathetic little note from my mysterious lady；
asking my mother to let me come and see her。 Long
afterward mother showed it to me。 It ended with
the words： ‘‘She will see no one but me。 No harm
shall come to her。 Trust me。''
That night my parents talked the matter over and
decided to let me go。 Probably they felt that the
slave next door was as much to be pitied as the es…
caped…negro slaves they so often harbored in our
home。 I made my visit； which was the first of many；
and a strange friendship began and developed be…
tween the woman of the town and the little girl she
loved。 Some of those visits I remember as vividly
as if I had made them yesterday。 There was never
the slightest suggestion during any of them of things
I should not see or hear； for while I was with her
my hostess became a child again； and we played
together like children。 She had wonderful toys for
me； and pictures and books； but the thing I loved
best of all and played with for hours was a little
stuffed hen which she told me had been her dearest
treasure when she was a child at home。 She had
also a stuffed puppy； and she once mentioned that
those two things alone were left of her life as
a little girl。 Besides the toys and books and pic…
tures； she gave me ice…cream and cake； and told me
fairy…tales。 She had a wonderful understanding of
what a child likes。 There were half a dozen women
in the house with her； but I saw none of them nor
any of the men who came。
Once； when we had become very good friends
indeed and my early shyness had departed； I
found courage to ask her where the ghost was
the ghost that haunted her house。 I can still see
the look in her eyes as they met mine。 She told
me the ghost lived in her heart； and that she did
not like to talk about it； and that we must not
speak of it again。 After that I never mentioned it；
but I was more deeply interested than ever；