Мхи старой усадьбы
Roger Malvin's Burial
Hefelthowhardwasthedoomofthekindandgenerousbeingwhomhehaddesertedinhisextremity.Deathwouldcomeliketheslowapproachofacorpse,stealinggraduallytowardshimthroughtheforest,andshowingitsghastlyandmotionlessfeaturesfrombehindanearerandyetanearertree.ButsuchmusthavebeenReuben’sownfatehadhetarriedanothersunset;andwhoshallimputeblametohimifheshrinkfromsouselessasacrifice?Ashegaveapartinglook,abreezewavedthelittlebanneruponthesaplingoakandremindedReubenofhisvow.
Manycircumstancescombinedtoretardthewoundedtravellerinhiswaytothefrontiers.Ontheseconddaytheclouds,gatheringdenselyoverthesky,precludedthepossibilityofregulatinghiscoursebythepositionofthesun;andheknewnotbutthateveryeffortofhisalmostexhaustedstrengthwasremovinghimfartherfromthehomehesought.Hisscantysustenancewassuppliedbytheberriesandotherspontaneousproductsoftheforest.Herdsofdeer,itistrue,sometimesboundedpasthim,andpartridgesfrequentlywhirredupbeforehisfootsteps;buthisammunitionhadbeenexpendedinthefight,andhehadnomeansofslayingthem.Hiswounds,irritatedbytheconstantexertioninwhichlaytheonlyhopeoflife,woreawayhisstrengthandatintervalsconfusedhisreason.But,eveninthewanderingsofintellect,Reuben’syoungheartclungstronglytoexistence;anditwasonlythroughabsoluteincapacityofmotionthatheatlastsankdownbeneathatree,compelledtheretoawaitdeath.
