William John Hopkins

“ And, having made the test, I hurried to the house.
“Eve,” I shouted—I must needs shout, with the spring rioting in my veins. “Eve, the spring is here!”
And Eve laughed—and came out a door at my elbow. “Why do you shout it so, Adam? Have I not known it this last month? For the song sparrows came long since, and the bluebirds, and it is weeks since I saw the first robin. And now the birds are coming fast. Why shout it? As well come in and shout that the sun is shining.”
“Truly that would be well done, too,” I answered, “for the sun shines as it has not shone these many months. ”

“ And such a day maketh the soul of a man to rejoice—if he be in truth a man, and not a mere beast of burden—it maketh the soul of him to rejoice within him and his heart to sing; and of such as rejoice not in such a day, there is little hope.
And Eve and I came to the bank, where the pebbles shone in the sun—save some few that had been washed out in the storms of winter. Eve cried out at that, and set herself to find others, that she make the names whole again. ”

“ What is a fisherman, that he should offer the little that he has to you? But I am well-to-do, Eve,—for a fisherman. You should never want—nor work. And if you might find it in your heart”—
“I will consider your offer, good fisherman,” she said, smiling. “I must consider. You have—I must tell you, [61] in justice, you have an even chance with that other. But I must consider.”
“So an honest fisherman, well-to-do, has an even chance with a rich rascal whom you do not love. That is a high price on honesty, Eve.”
“Yes,” she said, “but not too high. And now, Adam, be my good friend still.” ”

“ She smiled, a smile as sweet as her voice, but with a touch of sadness in it. The life of a governess to the Rich is not all a path of roses.
“Yes,” she said. “I came down to see the sun set, too. But why are you digging?”
“I was digging clams,” I answered gently. For I felt a sorrow for her sadness.
“Oh,” she said, “do you dig clams? Have you some clams in your basket? I should like to see some clams.”
Now, truly, that was an easy matter, that she should see some clams, for there they were in the basket. [12] And the sun was gone, so I lost none of his company if I would please the governess. ”

“ But Old Goodwin, with his quiet smile, was yet Goodwin the Rich. It was a marvel.
“You are good children,” he said. “Good-night,—and bless you.”
So he ambled off, up the path that was beginning to show, even in that dim light. For a path is made by walking upon it, and even once a day [104] will serve for that. And that path was walked on more than once a day. As he reached a turn, he waved his hand to us, and we to him.
“Eve,” I said, musing, “there goes a good man.”
She turned to me. “He is,” she said. “And I am glad to have you think that, Adam. There are those—who say cruel things of him.” ”

“ I remembered me of a day, not two months back, that had been a driving drizzle of rain, and of a certain figure that had stood beneath a tree, and the water dripped from the rim of her wide felt hat, and shone upon her long coat. And that day, with all its wetness, had seemed as good a day as this, for she had smiled to see me coming along the shore, my face as black as the clouds, and not expecting to find her ”

“ And, standing, he looked more like some old fisherman than like Goodwin the Rich, which was, no doubt, why he wore them. My neighbors would be but too happy if they were to see Old Goodwin—and know him—digging in my clam beds, and their tongues are ever ready at inventing tales. Those neighbors of mine are a grief to Eve, and an incitement to anger, which, as every one knows, heats the blood and causes vapors in the brain. ”

“ But, I reflected, all married people are not as Eve and I; and we have been married but a few months—although it will be the same when the months are become years, I do believe. And Eve and her mother are two very different persons. So, as we sat, Eve sewed upon her doll’s dresses, unabashed; and Old Goodwin, if he noted it, and saw upon what her fingers were busy, gave no sign of his surprise—it is not easy to surprise him—but he seemed to find pleasure in the sight. ”

“ I cried. “And why?”
“Why—they—it is not easy to tell you, Adam.”
“I will not urge you, Eve, but”—
“You need not. I wish to tell you, for I—a governess may not always stand alone. She is a woman, after all.”
“Yes,” I said, “thank God!”
“They—they would”— She began to laugh, a nervous laugh and with no mirth in it,—“they would marry me, Adam.”
“What!” I cried. “They would—who would marry you? Not old Goodwin!”
“No,” she said; and laughed the more, and seemed really merry at it. “Now I feel better. Not old Goodwin. He has a wife.” ”

“ For there, just where the sod broke off to the sand and the pebbles shone bright in the sun, sat Eve. And she smiled upon me as she spoke.
“Adam,” said she, reproving, “you are almost late to-night.”
And, at that, the ganglion that I have mentioned, that does duty for my heart, leaped for joy, so that I was [89] nigh to choking. And indeed, though it is but a ganglion, it knows its duty well, and leaps for joy or aches with sorrow as well as the best-behaved heart in the world. I have not known the ache for sorrow since the day of my clambake; but it can make a man very wretched. ”

“ Down under my great pine is a pleasant place for a man—or for a governess, I should suppose—with a heart at ease. And for a fisherman whose heart is not at ease it serves as well as any place but one, and that one not fixed, but moving as she moves. And for a certain rich man it might, indeed, be pleasant under my pine, but not if I could make it otherwise. And there was the seat against the tree, and from that seat he might see my favorite clam beds. But what would rich men care for clam beds? ”

“ But Eve held her peace. And we two watched the rock, with its leaning spindle, and ever it leaned the more, but it kept fast hold on the rock, though it was nearly buried in the foam. And ever the tide came higher, until it was buried in every sea that came. So it was come to dinner time; and I felt a great hunger that gnawed within me. For a clammer must eat, even as other men.
“Eve,” I said, “it is my dinner time, and I am hungry.”
“Oh, Adam,” she cried, “can you think about eating—with this to see? ”

“ It was like to be blown flat in that wind—as flat as if it had been harvested—and what was a clambake without fresh corn? But there was no help for it. I ate my [116] breakfast at my leisure,—there would be more wind before there was less,—put on oilskins, boots, and sou’wester, and fared forth.
As I passed down through my garden I glanced at my corn. It was flat, as I expected, save one great stalk, stronger than its comrades, or more deeply rooted, and that stalk waved and thrashed about in anguish. It would break soon, I knew. ”

“ I said. “Even the stones grow cold.”
“Adam,” she cried, “why will you be so contrary? It is not ended. I will not have it so.”
“The Rich may have what they will,” I said, “nearly, but not quite. I was not made for a plaything for the Rich.”
“You are bitter, and you are not fair,” she said softly. “It is not like you, Adam. There is something more. Why will you make it hard?”
“I will not make it hard,” I answered. [75] “There is nothing else. What has a fisherman to say to a Daughter of the Rich, or she to him? So, for that other matter, Miss Goodwin, I absolve you from an answer.” ”

“ And those who stand nearest to nature—well, I am learning. Come and sit here, Eve, where I can see you.”
[29] “Now, Adam, really—you must learn. Even a fisherman should not need to be told to stand”—
“Your pardon, madam,” I cried, standing. “You are right, and as I said, I am but a passable fisherman. Did the first man stand, in Paradise? Probably he ran. But I do not, for I can see you well as we are—and that light on your hair, Eve”—
She stamped her foot. “Fisherman,” she cried, “it is too much. I will not stay. Remember that”—
“I am a fisherman. I will,” I said. “And you are a governess.” ”

“ He was a quiet man, peaceable and peace-loving, and I marveled, often, that he should be Goodwin the Rich. But so it was. And his automobiles flashed past my front gate, as they had done before, covering my hedge with dust and enveloping my house in nauseous smells; also as they had done before. But I like automobiles better than I did. I even ride in them sometimes, with Eve, on the back seat; and Old Goodwin [95] rides on the front seat, and drives as though the Devil were after him; which I think he is not, for Old Goodwin is a lovable man, and a good man I believe, as men go. ”

“ Eve shook her head. “She will refuse,” she said,—“or take no notice of your asking. But father will be grateful. There are so few things the rich may do simply. Father would like to muss around, himself,—to help you with the bake, Adam,—and wear his old clothes. He generally has a horrid time.”
She was smiling and eager, and her eyes shone. I nodded. “He shall have his clambake.”
So Eve went in early, and Old Goodwin, for the sky was become all gray and nothing to see. And to me there is nothing so dismal as a dull gray sky when there is neither wind nor rain. ”

“ Then Eve sighed, saying nothing. The sun had dropped behind the western hills; and the twilight faded swiftly, and the night was come.
There is a restlessness that seizes upon men in certain case. I had felt it before, and had wandered the shores with my basket upon my arm and my hoe in my hand; and I had digged here and there as the fancy took me. But the clams that I digged lay forgotten upon the sands, to bury themselves once more ”

“ So she stood beside me, which was a marvel, and the sun rested his red rim on the bearded hill, and we saw him sink. And as the last thin line of red vanished behind the hill, I saluted, and so did she. And then she laughed. I love a ready laugh,—mine is not ready, but has to be pumped out, with a great noise,—and such an one as hers—
“Now, Adam,” she said, “we must dig. We have wasted time.”
[31] “No,” I answered, “for the beds are but now uncovered. See the colors, Eve. What would you give to paint like that? There is but one Painter.” ”

“ And those who find it, why, eternal youth is theirs, and joy and peace are in their abiding places forever. And those who find it not, why, Heaven help them! For there is no peace for them nor rest on earth. ”

“ I do not like automobiles. It is not to be imagined that Goodwin finds me peculiar, for he is probably unaware of my existence; but I have some humbler neighbors who stare at me and shake their heads. And I smile and pass on; for I know what I know, and it passeth their understanding. And all this shaking of heads, and all the protesting of my friends, is because I choose to go clamming.
Some of my friends may, at first, have had the idea that my interest in clams was biological ”

“ I suppose, alive. Poor little fish! Alive in a living tomb! And, as I thought these thoughts, I heard a sound behind me, on the bank. I raised my head—and there was Mrs. Goodwin. She was leaning against a tree—Eve’s tree—and she was gazing at the terns, too, but mournfully. ”

“ He waved his hand about. “That is much to be thankful for. But I—the memory of those baked clams is all that has carried me over many a hard place. For I realize—sometimes—that I am an old man; but when I am here”—
“You are not,” I finished for him. “And that is reason enough for staying. You have a roof over your head—such as it is—and a crust of bread—with a chop or two when there is need. No man, however poor, can ask more—and no man, however rich, can get more. So I foretell”—
[225] Old Goodwin was roaring with laughter. ”

“ And, indeed, it was a pleasant sight to see Eve sewing there—pleasant for a prospective father and for a prospective grandfather it was as pleasant, as I judged. I doubt me much that Mrs. Goodwin sewed, ever, of an evening; [229] or ever had sewed, even when sewing was to be done for Eve’s coming. The clothes that she had made for her baby were of the finest and the softest and the richest no doubt—but she had them made; and can even the finest and the softest and the richest, made by the hand of another, mean as much as these, with love sewed under every stitch of them? ”

“ I hesitated—I say it to my shame, though a man is but a man after all—I hesitated an instant; then Old Goodwin began to shout, and I shouted, too, wading into the water up to my waist, and waving my hands. For I would warn them farther off. And at our shouting, the man did but get upon the rail, still holding by the stanchion, and lean far out, and put his hand behind his ear. For the wind [132] whipped the words out of our mouths before they were well spoken, and they reached him not at all. And the yacht was but a length from the rock. ”

“ So at last my tale of days was done, and Eve was come home. And I awoke one morning to see a thin skimming of ice, crisp and crackling, spread over every shallow pool, and it was well into November. And my breakfast was ambrosia and nectar, being the same that had been gall and wormwood before; for Eve was come. And [167] if I did not eat much, why, that lovesick boy that I have mentioned can tell you why it was. ”

“ And so Eve and he sat, while Old Goodwin helped me. And I took my fork and opened the smoking dome, and together we set upon the table corn and potatoes, both sweet and white, and a chicken and some fish and the lobsters; and last of all a great pan of clams. And the rest, upon the hot stones, I covered again with seaweed; but not deep, for soon we should want more clams—and more fish and another chicken, for here were three good men to eat them; and what three men can eat at a clambake is nothing less than a marvel. Eve did her part, too. ”

“ It sent its skirmishers ahead and covered the shore, only to uncover it; for the skirmisher must move fast—and it is not large, being but a skirmisher. And then would come another and hide another piece of shore—haply my point with the pine upon it; and I could see the top of the pine sticking up out of it, like a sentinel. But always the main body of the fog followed fast after, dark and dim and gray. And as it enveloped us at last, something—I know not what it was—made me turn about; and there, in the path, up under [236] the trees, stood Eve’s mother. ”

“ Eve does not like vapors. So I was at some pains to get those boots.
And Old Goodwin, after further searching in the tree, drew forth a clam hoe and a basket; and being thus equipped, he hied him to the flats, which were, by now, almost bare, and he began to dig. Now that is a luxury [97] which the rich may seldom have, that they should dig for clams. Old Goodwin enjoyed it mightily, splashing here and there in his boots, and digging as the fancy seized him; which was as like to be where the clams were not as where they were. ”