下载辰思小说免费APP
AlittleapartinthemainavenueofRotoava，inalowhutofleavesthatopenedonasmallenclosure，likeapigstyonapen，anoldmandweltsolitarywithhisagedwife。Perhapstheyweretoooldtomigratewiththeothers；perhapstheyweretoopoor，andhadnopossessionstodispute。Atleasttheyhadremainedbehind；anditthusbefellthattheywereinvitedtomyfeast。Idaresayitwasquiteapieceofpoliticsinthepigstywhethertocomeornottocome，andthehusbandlongswitheredbetweencuriosityandage，tillcuriosityconquered，andtheycame，andinthemidstofthatlastmerrymakingdeathtappedhimontheshoulder。Forsomedays，whentheskywasbrightandthewindcool，hismatwouldbespreadinthemainhighwayofthevillage，andhewastobeseenlyingthereinert，amerehandfulofaman，hiswifeinertlyseatedbyhishead。Theyseemedtohaveoutgrownalikeourneedsandfaculties；theyneitherspokenorlistened；theysufferedustopasswithoutaglance；thewifedidnotfan，sheseemednottoattenduponherhusband，andthetwopoorantiquessatjuxtaposedunderthehighcanopyofpalms，thehumantragedyreducedtoitsbareelements，asightbeyondpathos，stirringathrillofcuriosity。Andyettherewasonetouchofthepathetichauntedme：
thatsomuchyouthandexpectationshouldhaveruninthesestarvedveins，andthemanshouldhavesquanderedallhisleesoflifeonapleasureparty。
Onthemorningof17thSeptemberthesuffererdied，and，timepressing，hewasburiedthesamedayatfour。ThecemeteryliestoseawardbehindGovernmentHouse；brokencoral，likesomuchroad-
metal，formsthesurface；afewwoodencrosses，afewinconsiderableuprightstones，designategraves；amortaredwall，highenoughtoleanon，ringsitabout；aclusteringshrubsurroundsitwithpaleleaves。Herewasthegravedugthatmorning，doubtlessbyuneasydiggers，tothesoundofthenighseaandthecriesofsea-birds；meanwhilethedeadmanwaitedinhishouse，andthewidowandanotheragedwomanleanedonthefencebeforethedoor，nospeechupontheirlips，nospeculationintheireyes。
Sharpatthehourtheprocessionwasinmarch，thecoffinwrappedinwhiteandcarriedbyfourbearers；mournersbehind-notmany，fornotmanyremainedinRotoava，andnotmanyinblack，forthesewerepoor；themeninstrawhats，whitecoats，andbluetrousersorthegorgeousparti-colouredpariu，theTahitiankilt；thewomen，withafewexceptions，brightlyhabited。Farintherearcamethewidow，painfullycarryingthedeadman’smat；acreatureagedbeyondhumanity，tothelikenessofsomemissinglink。
ThedeadmanhadbeenaMormon；buttheMormonclergymanwasgonewiththeresttowrangleoverboundariesintheadjacentisle，andalaymantookhisoffice。Standingattheheadoftheopengrave，inawhitecoatandbluepariu，hisTahitianBibleinhishandandoneeyeboundwitharedhandkerchief，hereadsolemnlythatchapterinJobwhichhasbeenreadandheardoverthebonesofsomanyofourfathers，andwithagoodvoiceoffereduptwoprayers。
Thewindandthesurfboreaburthen。Bythecemeterygateamotherincrimsonsuckledaninfantrolledinblue。Inthemidstthewidowsatuponthegroundandpolishedoneofthecoffin-
stretcherswithapieceofcoral；alittlelatershehadturnedherbacktothegraveandwasplayingwithaleaf。Didsheunderstand?
Godknows。Theofficiantpausedamoment，stooped，andgatheredandthrewreverentlyonthecoffinahandfulofrattlingcoral。
Dusttodust：butthegrainsofthisdustweregrosslikecherries，andthetruedustthatwastofollowsatnearby，stillcohering(asbyamiracle)inthetragicsemblanceofafemaleape。
Sofar，Mormonornot，itwasaChristianfuneral。Thewell-knownpassagehadbeenreadfromJob，theprayershadbe
