Redcoat Captain: A Story of That CountryOllivant, Alfred
Science
Redcoat Captain: A Story of That Country
Ollivant, Alfred
English fiction; Parables
For Tiny always wanted to get somewhere, he didn't know quite where,
only that it was just on in front. But when he got as far as in front,
he always found it was a little further, and so on etc.
Then they climbed the hill.
And when they got to the top there was a great wind there, and the sky
blown clear, with the sea flashing far away beneath, and white seagulls
floating and screaming between them and it.
And Baby was rosy with wind, and her hair splendid in the sun, and
little tresses wild about her face, and she bowed and gleamed and
yelled,
"I say, Tiny! Isn't it simplee tip-up-top?"
But Tiny only bent, and held her up against the wind into the sun, and
looked, and looked.
Then they came down the hill, and home across the moor by the edge of
the lake.
And it began to be night. And the wind went down, and the moon rose
up. And the moor was black as ink, and the moon white as silver, and
the sky shining like a diamond.
And a large great ghost-owl swooped about them on wavy wings, as they
tipped along on their toes.
And Baby held Tiny's little finger and whispered,
"Oh, Tiny."
And Tiny held Baby's, and whispered,
"Oh, Baby."
So they crept into the house; and up the stairs in the dark; and to bed
by a star; and a little hushaby wind rocked them to sleep.
14
But Baby and Tiny weren't really so idle as they made out; because all
the time Baby taught Tiny.
And she taught Tiny jolly well, although only between ten and twenty.
And _really_ Baby was years and years older than Tiny, though _truly_
she was years and years younger.
And Baby began Tiny from the very beginning and taught him up, because
that is best.
And she taught him most of the time _without words_.
And Tiny was pretty clever when he tried, which he honestly did. And
it was wonderful how quick he picked it up.
And really Tiny had learnt it all before from his mother in the
nursery, only he thought he'd forgotten it. But when Baby began to
teach him, it all came back quick. So that made it easy for Baby to
teach, and for Tiny to learn.
Then Baby, when she found how well grounded Tiny had been, sat in a
white frock, with chestnut hair, and wrote to Tiny's mother a
thank-you-for-my-nice-husband letter, which you do in That Country
after the first month, if you find him satisfactory.
And Tiny's mother was so pleased when she got the letter that she cried.
And Tiny's mother lived by the willow near the bridge. And when the
wind blew the willow turned white. And Tiny's mother when she lay in
bed could just see the top branches black in the moon as they stirred
to and fro. And whenever she woke she could hear the wind in the
willow tree, like the rustle of angels; and at the back of the rustle
was the groaning of ghosts under the bridge.
But the rustle of angels went on always and always; and the groaning of
ghosts only at times.
And that is like things as they really are: for Love goes on for ever,
but Pain only at times--just enough to remind you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account