Зов предков
The Toil of Trace and Trail
Thewonderfulpatienceofthetrailwhichcomestomenwhotoilhardandsuffersore,andremainsweetofspeechandkindly,didnotcometothesetwomenandthewoman. Theyhadnoinklingofsuchapatience. Theywerestiffandinpain;theirmusclesached,theirbonesached,theirveryheartsached; andbecauseofthistheybecamesharpofspeech,andhardwordswerefirstontheirlipsinthemorningandlastatnight.
CharlesandHalwrangledwheneverMercedesgavethemachance. Itwasthecherishedbeliefofeachthathedidmorethanhisshareofthework,andneitherforboretospeakthisbeliefateveryopportunity. SometimesMercedessidedwithherhusband,sometimeswithherbrother. Theresultwasabeautifulandunendingfamilyquarrel. Startingfromadisputeastowhichshouldchopafewsticksforthefire(adisputewhichconcernedonlyCharlesandHal),presentlywouldbeluggedintherestofthefamily,fathers,mothers,uncles,cousins,peoplethousandsofmilesaway,andsomeofthemdead. ThatHal’sviewsonart,orthesortofsocietyplayshismother’sbrotherwrote,shouldhaveanythingtodowiththechoppingofafewsticksoffirewood,passescomprehension; neverthelessthequarrelwasaslikelytotendinthatdirectionasinthedirectionofCharles’spoliticalprejudices.
