C60b 你煞無 teh 相信伊

2. Lí soah bô teh siong-sìn i

Rabbi lī-khui ah, Litvak mā tòe i lī-khui. Tī pòaⁿ-lō͘, rabbi tī chàu-kha thêng lo̍h-lâi, àⁿ-io ùi bîn-chhn̂g the̍h-khí chi̍t-ki pó͘-thâu, kā seh tī io-tòa, tō lī-khui chhù. Litvak chhoah-chhoah, m̄-koh kè-sio̍k tòe.

"Kèng-ùi Ji̍t" ê im-thim khióng-pò͘ tà tī àm-sàm ê ke-lō͘ téng. Sam-put-gō͘-sî, tō thiaⁿ tio̍h Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê siaⁿ ùi siōng-keng hōe a̍h pēⁿ-lâng thoân lâi. Rabbi óa ke-lō͘ piⁿ kiâⁿ, pó-chhî tī chhù iáⁿ ni̍h. I kiâⁿ kòe chi̍t-keng koh chi̍t-keng ê chhù, iá Litvak tòe leh. Litvak thiaⁿ tio̍h ka-tī sim-thiàu ê siaⁿ chham tio̍h rabbi tîm-tāng ê kha-pō͘ siaⁿ. M̄-koh i kè-sio̍k kiâⁿ, tòe rabbi lâi-kàu tìn ê kau-gōa.

Chi̍t-phiàn sió chhiū-nâ khiā tī kau-gōa hia.

Rabbi -- chiok i tn̂g hòe-siū! -- chìn-ji̍p chhiū-nâ. I kiâⁿ saⁿ/sì-cha̍p pō͘ liáu, thêng tī chi̍t-châng sè-châng chhiū-á chêng. Litvak chin hòⁿ-hiân, khòaⁿ tio̍h rabbi ùi io-tòa giú-chhut pó͘-thâu, khai-sí chhò hit-châng chhiū-á. I thiaⁿ tio̍h chhiū-á piak-siaⁿ, tó khì. Rabbi kā chhiū-kut chām chò chhâ-kho͘, koh kā chhâ-kho͘ phòa chò chhâ-phìⁿ. Jiân-āu, i kā hiah-ê chhâ kok chò tui, kō͘ i lak-tē-á ni̍h ê soh-á kā pa̍k chò chi̍t-khún. I kā hit-khún chhâ phāiⁿ tī kha-chiah-phiaⁿ, kā pó͘-thâu seh-ji̍p io-tòa, koh tńg-lâi tìn-lāi. I thêng tī chi̍t-tiâu āu-ke, piⁿ-á sī chi̍t-keng phòa-kū ê chhù-liâu, i khok thang-á.

"Sī siáⁿ-lâng?" chi̍t-ê kiaⁿ-kiaⁿ ê siaⁿ mn̄g. Litvak jīn-chhut he sī chi̍t-ê phòa-pēⁿ Iû-thài hū-jîn lâng ê siaⁿ.

"Góa," rabbi kō͘ lông-bîn ê kháu-im ìn.

"Góa sī siáng?"

Rabbi koh kō͘ Rusía ōe kā ìn: "Vassil."

"Vassil sī siáng, lí boeh chhòng-siáⁿ?"

"Góa ū chhâ boeh bē, chin sio̍k." Bô tán hit-ê hū-jîn lâng ìn, i tō kiâⁿ-ji̍p chhù.

Litvak mā tòe i ê āu-bīn thau liu ji̍p-khì. Tī chheng-chá ê phú-kng tiong, i khòaⁿ tio̍h chi̍t-ê khó-liân ê pâng-keng, pò͘-tì phòa-kū koh òe-sòe. Chi̍t-ê pau phòa thán-á ê phòa-pēⁿ cha-bó͘, tó tī bîn-chhn̂g téng. Yi khó͘-khó͘ bâi-oàn kóng, "Bé? Góa boeh cháⁿ-iūⁿ bé ah? Sàn-chhiah kóa-hū boeh tá-lo̍h ū chîⁿ ah?"

"Góa ē-sái chioh lí," hit-ê Vassil án-ne kā ìn. "Kan-ta 6-sén chîⁿ."

"Góa boeh cháⁿ-iūⁿ hêng lí ah?" khó-liân ê cha-bó͘ án-ne ìn, ná teh haiⁿ.

"Sam-pat lah," rabbi kóng, ná-chhiūⁿ teh kā chek-pī. "Lí khòaⁿ, lí sī khó-liân, ū-pēⁿ ê Iû-thài lâng, góa kā chi̍t sut-á chhâ kau hō͘ lí, góa siong-sìn lí ē hù chîⁿ. M̄-koh, tùi lí lâi kóng, lí ū chi̍t-ê úi-tāi, ū-la̍t ê Sîn, lí soah ūi tio̍h 6-sén bô teh siong-sìn i."

"Siáng lâi hiâⁿ-hóe ah?" kóa-hū mn̄g. "Góa kám ū khùi-la̍t lo̍h-chhn̂g? Goán hāu-seⁿ khì chò-kang."

"Góa lâi hiâⁿ-hóe," rabbi ìn.

Rabbi ná kā chhâ khǹg-ji̍p hóe-lô͘ ê sî, i i-i ā-ā àm-liām Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê tē-it pō͘-hūn.

I ná teh tiám-hóe, chhâ ná teh to̍h kah chin ōng ê sî, i koh-khah hoaⁿ-hí, i kè-sio̍k àm-liām Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê tē-jī pō͘-hūn. Tán hóe to̍h chhiâng-chāi ê sî, i àm-liām tē-saⁿ pō͘-hūn, kā lô͘-á mn̂g koaiⁿ hó.

Khòaⁿ tio̍h chiah-ê it-chhè ê Litvak chiâⁿ-chò rabbi ê bûn-tô͘.

Án-ne liáu-āu, nā ū pa̍t-ê bûn-tô͘ kóng Nemirov rabbi tī Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê sî seng-thiⁿ khì, Litvak tō bô chhiò. I kan-ta chēng-chēng ke chi̍t-kù: "Pí he koh-khah koân."

[Soah]

--

2. 你煞無 teh 相信伊

Rabbi 離開 ah, Litvak mā 綴伊離開. Tī 半路, rabbi tī 灶跤停落來, àⁿ 腰 ùi 眠床提起一支斧頭, kā 楔 tī 腰帶, tō 離開厝. Litvak 掣掣, 毋過繼續綴.

"敬畏日" ê 陰鴆恐怖罩 tī 暗毿 ê 街路頂. 三不五時, tō 聽著懺悔祈禱 ê 聲 ùi 誦經會 a̍h 病人傳來. Rabbi 倚街路邊行, 保持 tī 厝影 ni̍h. 伊行過一間 koh 一間 ê 厝, iá Litvak 綴 leh. Litvak 聽著家己心跳 ê 聲參著 rabbi 沉重 ê 跤步聲. 毋過伊繼續行, 綴 rabbi 來到鎮 ê 郊外.

一遍小樹林徛 tī 郊外 hia.

Rabbi -- 祝伊長歲壽! -- 進入樹林. 伊行三四十步了, 停 tī 一叢細叢樹仔前. Litvak 真好玄, 看著 rabbi ùi 腰帶搝出斧頭, 開始剉彼叢樹仔. 伊聽著樹仔噼聲, 倒去. Rabbi kā 樹骨鏨做柴箍, koh kā 柴箍破做柴片. 然後, 伊 kā hiah-ê 柴 kok 做堆, kō͘ 伊橐袋仔 ni̍h ê 索仔 kā 縛做一捆. 伊 kā 彼捆柴揹 tī 尻脊骿, kā 斧頭楔入腰帶, koh 轉來鎮內. 伊停 tī 一條後街, 邊仔是一間破舊 ê 厝寮, 伊硞窗仔.

"是啥人?" 一个驚驚 ê 聲問. Litvak 認出彼是一个破病猶太婦人 lâng ê 聲.

"我," rabbi kō͘ 農民 ê 口音應.

"我是 siáng?"

Rabbi koh kō͘ Rusía 話 kā 應: "Vassil."

"Vassil 是 siáng, 你欲創啥?"

"我有柴欲賣, 真俗." 無等彼个婦人 lâng 應, 伊 tō 行入厝.

Litvak mā 綴伊 ê 後面偷溜入去. Tī 清早 ê 殕光中, 伊看著一个可憐 ê 房間, 布置破舊 koh 穢涗. 一个包破毯仔 ê 破病查某, 倒 tī 眠床頂. 她苦苦埋怨講, "買? 我欲 cháⁿ-iūⁿ 買 ah? 散赤寡婦欲佗落有錢 ah?"

"我會使借你," 彼个 Vassil án-ne kā 應. "干焦 6-sén 錢."

"我欲 cháⁿ-iūⁿ 還你 ah?" 可憐 ê 查某 án-ne 應, ná teh 哼.

"三八 lah," rabbi 講, ná 像 teh kā 責備. "你看, 你是可憐, 有病 ê 猶太人, 我 kā 一屑仔柴交予你, 我相信你會付錢. 毋過, 對你來講, 你有一个偉大, 有力 ê 神, 你煞為著 6-sén 無 teh 相信伊."

"Siáng 來燃火 ah?" 寡婦問. "我敢有氣力落床? 阮後生去做工."

"我來燃火," rabbi 應.

Rabbi ná kā 柴囥入火爐 ê 時, 伊 i-i ā-ā 暗念懺悔祈禱 ê 第一部份.

伊 ná teh 點火, 柴 ná teh to̍h kah 真旺 ê 時, 伊閣較歡喜, 伊繼續暗念懺悔祈禱 ê 第二部份. 等火 to̍h 常在 ê 時, 伊暗念第三部份, kā 爐仔門關好.

看著 chiah-ê 一切 ê Litvak 成做 rabbi ê 門徒.

Án-ne 了後, 若有別个門徒講 Nemirov rabbi tī 懺悔祈禱 ê 時升天去, Litvak tō 無笑. 伊干焦靜靜加一句: "比 He 閣較懸."

[煞]

--

2.

The rabbi leaves and the Litvak follows. On the way the rabbi stops in the kitchen, bends down, takes an axe from the bed, puts it into his belt, and leaves the house. The Litvak trembles but continues to follow.

The hushed dread of the Days of Awe hangs over the dark streets. Every once in a while a cry rises from some minyan reciting the Penitential Prayers, or from a sickbed. The rabbi hugs the sides of the streets, keeping to the shade of the houses. He glides from house to house, and the Litvak after him. The Litvak hears the sound of his heartbeats mingling with the sound of the rabbi’s heavy steps. But he keeps on going and follows the rabbi to the outskirts of town.

A small wood stands just outside the town.

The rabbi - long life to him! - enters the wood. He takes thirty or forty steps and stops by a small tree. The Litvak, overcome with amazement, watches the rabbi take the axe out of his belt and strike the tree. He hears the tree creak and fall. The rabbi chops the tree into logs and the logs into sticks. Then he makes a bundle of the wood and ties it with the rope in his pocket. He puts the bundle of wood on his back, shoves the axe back into his belt, and returns to the town. He stops at a back street besides a small, broken-down shack and knocks at the window.

"Who is there?" asks a frightened voice. The Litvaks recognizes it as the voice of a sick Jewish woman.

"I" answers the rabbi in the accent of a peasant.

"Who is I?"

Again the rabbi answers in Russian. "Vassil."

"Who is Vassil, and what do you want?"

"I have wood to sell, very cheap." And not waiting for the woman’s reply, he goes into the house.

The Litvak steals in after him. In the gray light of early morning he sees a poor room with broken, miserable furnishings. A sick woman, wrapped in rags, lies on the bed. She complains bitterly, "Buy? How can I buy? Where will a poor widow get money?"

"I’ll lend it to you," answers the supposed Vassil. "It’s only six cents."

"And how will I ever pay you back?" asks the poor woman, groaning.

"Foolish one," says the rabbi reproachfully. "See, you are a poor, sick Jew, and I am ready to trust you with a little wood. I am sure you’ll pay. While you, you have such a great and mighty God and you don’t trust him for six cents."

"And who will kindle the fire?" asks the widow? "Have I the strength to get up? My son is at work."

"I’ll kindle the fire," answers the rabbi.

As the rabbi puts the wood into the oven he recited, in a groan, the first portion of the Penitential Prayers.

As he kindled the fire and the wood burned brightly, he recited, a bit more joyously, the second portion of the Penitential Prayers. When the fire was set, he recited the third portion, and shut the stove.

The Litvak who saw all this became a disciple of the rabbi.

And ever after, when another disciple tells how the rabbi of Nemirov ascends to heaven at the time of the Penitential Prayers, the Litvak does not laugh. He only adds quietly, "If not higher."

--

// 2022-7-22

I.L. Peretz (1852-1915), was one of the greatest and most beloved of the Yiddish writers in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Although a maskilic (secularist) writer, he maintained a great fondness and respect for the Chasidic world and frequently wrote about the kindness that he saw as central to Jewish religious life.

C60 Pí He Koh-khah Koân | 比 He 閣較懸 - a Rabbi 總是消失去

If Not Higher /by I.L. Peretz /trans Ruth Wisse

https://joewolfson.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/i-l-peretz-if-not-higher.pdf

Siōng-bô Ū Hiah Koân | 上無有遐懸

--

1. Rabbi chóng-sī siau-sit khì

Múi-kái pài-gō͘ thàu-chá, tī Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê sî, Nemirov rabbi* chóng-sī siau-sit khì. [* rabbi: Iû-thài Kàu ê hoat-su]

I bô khòaⁿ-e iáⁿ -- bô tī Iû-thài kàu-tn̂g, bô tī nn̄g-ê ha̍k-si̍p keng, mā bô tī kî-tó hōe. I tong-jiân mā bô tī chhù. I ê mn̂g khui-khui: jīm-hô lâng to ē-tàng chhut-ji̍p; bô-lâng ē thau-the̍h rabbi ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ. M̄-koh, lāi-té bô jīm-hô oa̍h-bu̍t-á.

Rabbi ū khó-lêng khì tó-ūi neh? I eng-kai tī tó-ūi ah? Tiāⁿ-tio̍h sī, tī thian-tn̂g lah. Tī Kèng-ùi Ji̍t (Days of Awe) chìn-chêng, rabbi ū chē-chē tāi-chì tio̍h chhú-lí. Iû-thài lâng, siū-tio̍h Sîn ê pì-iū, su-iàu seng-oa̍h, hô-pêng, khong-kiān, hām hó in-iân.

In boeh ài khiân-sêng hām siān-liông, m̄-koh lán ê chōe-gia̍t siuⁿ tōa, chhian-lí-gán Satan ùi chit-thâu kàu hit-thâu kàm-sī kui-ê tē-kiû. I pò-kò só͘ khòaⁿ-tio̍h ê it-chhè; i khián-chek, i thong-ti.

Nā m̄-sī rabbi, siáng ē-tàng pang-chō͘ lán! Che tō sī lâng-lâng ê siūⁿ-hoat.

M̄-koh ū chi̍t-pái, chi̍t-ê Litvak* lâi, i chhiò chhut-lâi. Lí chai Litvak lah. In bô teh siūⁿ sèng-chheh, kan-ta kā ka-tī that tīⁿ "Talmud" [Keng-chheh] hām lu̍t-hoat. Só͘-í, chit-ê Litvak kí "Gamara" keng-chheh lāi-bīn ê chi̍t-kù -- hō͘ li khòaⁿ bêng-bêng -- hia sī án-ne siá: sīm-chì lán Su-hū Moses it-seng tiong mā bô chhiūⁿ kàu thian-tông, kan-ta thêng-liû tī ē-bīn 2-chhioh-pòaⁿ hit-ê ūi. Khì hām Litvak sio-chèⁿ! Nā án-ne, rabbi khì tó-ūi ah? [* Litvak: chhut-sin tī Lithuvania ê Iû-thài lâng]

"He bô góa ê tāi-chì," Litvak keng-thâu giâ chi̍t-ē, án-ne kóng. M̄-koh, kui-ê sî-chūn -- Litvak án-chóaⁿ chò ah! -- i it-tit teh kè-bô͘ boeh chhōe chhut tap-àn.

Kāng hit-àm, tī àm-sî kî-tó liáu-āu, Litvak thau-thau chìn-ji̍p rabbi ê pâng-keng, liu-kàu rabbi ê bîn-chhn̂g kha, tī hia tán. I boeh kò͘ kui-mê, boeh hoat-hiān i sit-chong tī tó-ūi khì, Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê sî, i teh chhòng-siáⁿ. Nā sī pa̍t-lâng, khó-lêng í-keng teh tuh-ku koh khùn khì, m̄-koh Litvak chóng-sī bē gō͘-sū; i àm-liām kui-pún "Talmud" ê lāi-iông. Thiⁿ phú-kng ê sî, i thiaⁿ tio̍h chio-ho͘ khì kî-tó ê kiò-siaⁿ. 

Rabbi í-keng chhéⁿ chin kú ah. Litvak í-keng thiaⁿ i kui tiám-cheng ê haiⁿ-siaⁿ.

Thiaⁿ kòe Nemirov rabbi haiⁿ ê lâng lóng chai, múi chi̍t-ê haiⁿ-siaⁿ pau-hâm tùi só͘-ū Israel /iz.rel/ lâng gōa-chē ê pi-siong, gōa-chē ê thòng-khó͘. Thiaⁿ tio̍h he, hō͘ lâng khó-lêng sim-chhùi. M̄-koh, Litvak sī thih chò ê; i thiaⁿ tio̍h, iáu-sī lâu tī goân-ūi. Rabbi -- hi-bāng i tn̂g hòe-siū -- tó tī bîn-chhn̂g, iá Litvak sī tī bîn-chhn̂g kha.

Jiân-āu, Litvak thiaⁿ tio̍h chhù lāi ê bîn-chhn̂g khai-sí kīⁿ-kōaⁿ kiò; i thiaⁿ tio̍h lâng thiàu-lo̍h bîn-chhn̂g; nauh kúi-kù Iû-thài ōe, tò chúi tī chéng-kah, siàng mn̂g. Ta̍k-ê lóng lī-khui khì ah. Taⁿ, iū-koh an-chēng, o͘-àm; chi̍t-sut-á goe̍h-niû kng thàu-kòe pah-hio̍h thang chiò ji̍p-lâi.

(Sū-āu, Litvak sêng-jīn, tán i hoat-hiān i tan-to̍k hām rabbi tī hia ê sî, hō͘ i chin tōa ê kiaⁿ-hiâⁿ. I ê phôe-hu giâ ke-bó-phôe, pìn-piⁿ ê mô͘-kin ná chiam teh chha̍k. Sió-sū lah: Tī Chhàm-hóe Kî-tó ê sî-kan hām rabbi tan-to̍k chò-hóe! M̄-koh, Litvak chin kò͘-chip. Só͘-í i boeh tiò-hî, tō lâu tī goân-ūi.)

Chòe-āu, rabbi -- chiok i tn̂g hòe-siū! -- khí-chhn̂g ah. Thâu-seng, i chò Iû-thài lâng eng-kai chò ê tāi-chì. Jiân-āu i kiâⁿ kàu saⁿ-tû, the̍h chhut chi̍t-khún chng-kha lâng chhēng ê saⁿ-khò͘: môa-pò͘ tn̂g-khò͘, tn̂g-hia, tōa-i, chiⁿ-bō, chi̍t-tiâu tn̂g koh khoah, tèng tâng teng ê phôe-tòa. Rabbi kā saⁿ-khò͘ chhēng hó-sè. I ê tōa-i saⁿ-á-tē, thó͘ chhut chi̍t-chat lông-bîn ê chho͘ soh-á chat.

--

1. Rabbi 總是消失去

每改拜五透早, tī 懺悔祈禱 ê 時, Nemirov rabbi* 總是消失去. [* rabbi: 猶太教 ê 法師]

伊無看 e 影 -- 無 tī 猶太教堂, 無 tī 兩个學習間, mā 無 tī 祈禱會. 伊當然 mā 無 tī 厝. 伊 ê 門開開: 任何人 to 會當出入; 無人會偷提 rabbi ê 物件. 毋過, 內底無任何活物仔.

Rabbi 有可能去佗位 neh? 伊應該 tī 佗位 ah? 定著是, tī 天堂 lah. Tī 敬畏日 (Days of Awe) 進前, rabbi 有濟濟代誌著處理. 猶太人, 受著神 ê 庇佑, 需要生活, 和平, 康健, 和好因緣.

In 欲愛虔誠和善良, 毋過咱 ê 罪孽 siuⁿ 大, 千里眼 Satan ùi 這頭到彼頭監視規个地球. 伊報告所看著 ê 一切; 伊譴責, 伊通知.

若毋是 rabbi, siáng 會當幫助咱! 這 tō 是人人 ê 想法.

毋過有一擺, 一个 Litvak* 來, 伊笑出來. 你知 Litvak lah. In 無 teh 想聖冊, 干焦 kā 家己窒滇 "Talmud" [經冊] 和律法. 所以, 這个 Litvak 指 "Gamara" 經冊內面 ê 一句 -- 予你看明明 -- hia 是 án-ne 寫: 甚至咱師父 Moses 一生中 mā 無上到天堂, 干焦停留 tī 下面 2 尺半彼个位. 去和 Litvak 相諍! 若 án-ne, rabbi 去佗位 ah? [* Litvak: 出身 tī Lithuvania ê 猶太人]

"彼無我 ê 代誌," Litvak 肩頭夯一下, án-ne 講. 毋過, 規个時陣 -- Litvak 按怎做 ah! -- 伊一直 teh 計謀欲揣出答案.

仝彼暗, tī 暗時祈禱了後, Litvak 偷偷進入 rabbi ê 房間, 溜到 rabbi ê 眠床跤, tī hia 等. 伊欲顧規暝, 欲發伊現失蹤 tī 佗位去, 懺悔祈禱 ê 時, 伊 teh 創啥. 若是別人, 可能已經 teh tuh-ku koh 睏去, 毋過 Litvak 總是袂誤事; 伊暗念規本 "Talmud" ê 內容. 天殕光 ê 時, 伊聽著招呼去祈禱 ê 叫聲. 

Rabbi 已經醒真久 ah. Litvak 已經聽伊規點鐘 ê 哼聲.

聽過 Nemirov rabbi 哼 ê 人 lóng 知, 每一个哼聲包含對所有 Israel /iz.rel/ 人偌濟 ê 悲傷, 偌濟 ê 痛苦. 聽著 he, 予人可能心碎. 毋過, Litvak 是鐵做 ê; 伊聽著, 猶是留 tī 原位. Rabbi -- 希望伊長歲壽 -- 倒 tī 眠床, iá Litvak 是 tī 眠床跤.

然後, Litvak 聽著厝內 ê 眠床開始 kīⁿ-kōaⁿ 叫; 伊聽著人跳落眠床; 喃幾句猶太話, 倒水 tī 指甲, siàng 門. 逐个 lóng 離開去 ah. 今, 又閣安靜, 烏暗; 一屑仔月娘光透過百葉窗照入來.

(事後, Litvak 承認, 等伊發現伊單獨和 rabbi tī hia ê 時, 予伊真大 ê 驚惶. 伊 ê 皮膚夯雞母皮, 鬢邊 ê 毛根 ná 針 teh 鑿. 小事 lah: Tī 懺悔祈禱 ê 時間和 rabbi 單獨做伙! 毋過, Litvak 真固執. 所以伊欲釣魚, tō 留 tī 原位.)

最後, rabbi -- 祝伊長歲壽! -- 起床 ah. 頭先, 伊做猶太人應該做 ê 代誌. 然後伊行到衫櫥, 提出一捆庄跤人穿 ê 衫褲: 麻布長褲, 長靴, 大衣, 氈帽, 一條長 koh 闊, 釘銅釘 ê 皮帶. Rabbi kā 衫褲穿好勢. 伊 ê 大衣衫仔袋, 吐出一節農民 ê 粗索仔節.

--

1.

Early every Friday morning, at the time of the Penitential Prayers, the rabbi of Nemirov would vanish.

He was nowhere to be seen - neither in the synagogue nor in the two study houses nor at a minyan. And he was certainly not at home. His door stood open: whoever wished could go in and out; no one would steal from the rabbi. But not a living creature was within.

Where could the rabbi be? Where should he be? In heaven, no doubt. A rabbi has plenty of business to take care of just before the Days of Awe. Jews, God bless them, need livelihood, peace, health, and good matches.

They want to be pious and good, but our sins are so great, and Satan of the thousand eyes watches the whole earth from one end to the other. What he sees, he reports; he denounces, informs.

Who can help us if not the rabbi! That’s what the people thought.

But once a Litvak came, and he laughed. You know the Litvaks. They think little of the holy books but stuff themselves with Talmud and law. So this Litvak points to a passage in the Gamara - it sticks in your eyes - where it is written that even Moses our Teacher did not ascend to heaven during his lifetime but remained suspended two and a half feet below. Go argue with a Litvak! So where can the rabbi be?

"That’s not my business," said the Litvak, shrugging. Yet all the while - what a Litvak can do! - he is scheming to find out.

That same night, right after the evening prayers, the Litvak steals into the rabbi’s room, slides under the rabbi’s bed, and waits. He’ll watch all night and discover where the rabbi vanishes and what he does during the Penitential Prayers. Someone else might have gotten drowsy and fallen asleep, but a Litvak is never at a loss; he recites a whole tractate of the Talmud by heart. At dawn he hears the call to prayers.

The rabbi has already been awake for a long time. The Litvak has heard him groaning for a whole hour.

Whoever has heard the rabbi of Nemirov groan knows how much sorrow for all Israel, how much suffering, lies in each groan. A man’s heart might break, hearing it. But a Litvak is made of iron; he listens and remains where he is. The rabbi - long life to him! - lies on the bed, and the Litvak under the bed.

Then the Litvak hears the beds in the house begin to creak; he hears people jumping out of their beds; mumbling a few Jewish words, pouring water on their fingernails, banging doors. Everyone has left. It is again quiet and dark; a bit of light from the moon shines through the shutters.

(Afterward, the Litvak admitted that when he found himself alone with the rabbi a great fear took hold of him. Goose pimples spread across his skin, and the roots of his sidelocks pricked him like needles. A trifle: to be alone with the rabbi at the time of the Penitential Prayers! But a Litvak is stubborn. So he fish in water and remained where he was.)

Finally the rabbi - long life to him! - arises. First, he does what befits a Jew. Then he goes to the clothes closet and takes out a bundle of peasant clothes: linen trousers, high boots, a coat, a big felt hat, and a long, wide leather belt studded with brass nails. The rabbi gets dressed. From his coat pocket dangles the end of a heavy peasant rope.

--

C59b 袂輸放落一切 ê 重擔

2. Bē-su pàng-lo̍h it-chhè ê tāng-tàⁿ

Yi kiông-boeh khí ài-chhiò, ka-chài ū chīn-la̍t kā jím lo̍h-lâi. Hut-jiân-kan, yi ê kha khai-sí m̄ thiaⁿ-ōe teh khí-chiūⁿ. Sīm-chì sió-khóa, bô-ì-sek teh chun. M̄-koh, hit-ê kéng-chhat siūⁿ-kóng he put-kò sī chi̍t-ê hoàn-kak, a̍h sī in-ūi hun-chháu ê chok-iōng.

Kéng-chhat lia̍h yi siòng chiok kú. I ē sió siu-soah chi̍t-ē, jiân-āu koh tńg-lâi kā siông-sè khòaⁿ. Án-ne lâi-lâi khì-khì, kú kah yi teh khí-siān. Yi hòⁿ-hiân, hit-ê hàu-tai tàu-té sī boeh cháu m̄? Yi kám-kak chiâⁿ bē sóng-khoài. Yi chai, yi bē-tàng kō͘ chit-ê chu-sè it-ti̍t khiā lo̍h-khì. Kāng hit-sî, yi mā chai, yi tī tián-sī tû-thang lāi-bīn chin an-choân. Nā tī gōa-kháu, tá-thó ū chiah an-choân ê só͘-chāi!

Kám-siā Thiⁿ-kong, kéng-chhat chóng-sǹg koat-tēng boeh lī-khui, iá yi mā thó͘ chi̍t-kháu khin-sang ê khùi, kā kha-chhiú pàng lēng, kín-tiuⁿ ê kha-chiah-phiaⁿ chhun-ti̍t, sīm-chì sió kā masáji chi̍t-ē. Àm-mê boeh kàu ah, lâng-tīn chiām-chiām po̍h kah chhun kúi-ê kha-pō͘ khin-khoài ê kòe-lō͘ lâng.

Liâm-mi tō boeh àm ah, yi siūⁿ. Yi siōng-hó thàn iáu ū kng ê sî chhut-khì. Pò͘-tiàm tiāⁿ-tio̍h tī teh chheng lâng ah. Khiong-kiaⁿ ū-lâng ē khòaⁿ tio̍h yi lī-khui tián-sī tû-thang. Yi tio̍h te̍k-pia̍t sió-sim... koh tio̍h ài kín. M̄-koh, tī tû-thang lāi iū-koh kám-kak hiah-nī sù-sī! Koh tán 10 hun-cheng? Ná-ē m̄-hó ah...

Yi tng-teh su-khó chit-ê būn-tê, hit-sî yi khòaⁿ tio̍h yi ê lú-sèng pêng-iú Sheyama kiâⁿ tī lâng-hêng-tō. Yi sûi kín koh pos tú-chiah ê chu-sè, tiām-tiām bô chhoán-khùi. Sheyama ǹg yi chit-ê hong-hiòng bô chù-sim khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē, in-ūi sim-koaⁿ teh siūⁿ pa̍t-hāng, ka-chài, hûi-hiám hòa-kái ah. Tī Sheyama chhut-hiān chìn-chêng, yi it-ti̍t bô siūⁿ-tio̍h ē ū se̍k-sāi lâng khòaⁿ tio̍h yi. Chit-ê sî-kan mā-sī yin a-hiaⁿ hā-pan tńg-chhù ê sî-chū, siūⁿ tio̍h che, yi khì chheⁿ-kông. I í-keng hoān tio̍h sim-chōng pēⁿ. Hō͘ i khòaⁿ tio̍h ka-têng "miâ-ū" tī ke-lō͘ án-ne sià-sì sià-chèng boeh án-chóaⁿ? I kám bē tó-lo̍h sí?

Nn̄g-ê gín-á hiaⁿ chhut-hiān tī yi ê gán-kài lāi. In tú ùi ha̍k-hāu tńg-lâi, chheh phāiⁿ-á phāiⁿ tī kha-chiah-phiaⁿ. In kō͘ ke̍k-tōa ê hòⁿ-kî khòaⁿ, kā bīn -- ba̍k-chiu hām it-chhè -- tī po-lê tah kah pêⁿ-pêⁿ teh khòaⁿ. "Heh, yi sī chin-lâng," kî-tiong chi̍t-ê gín-á hiaⁿ ê siaⁿ bî-bî thoân-ji̍p yi ê hīⁿ-khang. Yi iū-koh khí ài-chhiò.

"A-tai, he sī sok-ka--ê," lēng-gōa hit-ê kóng. "Kám ū-lâng iōng chin-lâng modél?"

"M̄-koh, yi khòaⁿ tio̍h chiok sêng chin ê. Khòaⁿ tio̍h ná-chhiūⁿ yi sûi-sî ē khui-chhùi kóng-ōe."

"He sī in-ūi hông-hun ê iân-kò͘. Tī chèng-siông ê chiò-bêng, lí tō khòaⁿ ē-chhut."

"Hái!" hit-ê gín-á hiaⁿ ná kóng, ná gia̍t-thiok ǹg yi nih ba̍k-chiu.

Lēng-gōa hit-ê pàng-siaⁿ chhiò chhut-lâi. Jiân-āu, i mā ǹg yi ia̍t-chhiú, kóng "Bye!" nn̄g-lâng tō kiâⁿ chhut yi ê gán-kài.

In chi̍t-ē kiâⁿ-khui, yi hut-leh khai-sí chhiò, m̄-koh mā hut-leh kín-tiuⁿ khí-lâi.

Chi̍t-ê siàu-liân-ke tī po-lê hit-pêng kō͘ giâu-gî ê ba̍k-kng teh khòaⁿ yi. Tán in ê ba̍k-kng sio-tú ê sî, i chhiò chi̍t-ē. Yi mā hôe i chi̍t-ê bî-chhiò, kō͘ án-ne am-khàm ka-tī ê kiaⁿ-hiâⁿ. Yi kín lia̍h khí sok-ka ké-lâng, chhì boeh kā chhāi hó-sè, ké-kúi yi sī chi̍t-ê tiàm-oân.

Hit-ê siàu-liân-ke ê ba̍k-chiu iáu-sī tèng tī yi.

Ná kā sari moa tī lâng-hêng sin-khu, yi kō͘ ba̍k-chiu bóe khòaⁿ hit-ê siàu-liân-ke, khòaⁿ i taⁿ teh khòaⁿ siáng. I ê ba̍k-chiu tī sok-ka lâng téng-bīn té-chām lió chi̍t-ē, tō thiàu khui he, liâm tī yi ê sin-khu.

Yi tò-thè lu, ke̍k chū-sìn, phah-khui tû-thang ê mn̂g, kiâⁿ chhut-khì.

Bô jīm-hô tiàm-oân khòaⁿ tio̍h yi lī-khui, a̍h sī, ká-sú in ū khòaⁿ tio̍h, in-ūi yi ê bín-chia̍t koh kín-sok, in bô gî-gō͘ ū siáⁿ tāi-chì hoat-seng. Siú-ūi mā bô chù-ì tio̍h, in-ūi i teh bô-êng hām chi̍t-ê tiàm-oân kóng-ōe.

Sìn-sim móa-móa, yi tōa-pō͘ kiâⁿ khui, kín koh khin, hoaⁿ-hí koh boán-chiok. Bē-su yi tú-tú pàng-lo̍h it-chhè tîⁿ tī sin-khu hām lêng-hûn ê tāng-tàⁿ. Kiâⁿ khui chi̍t-tōaⁿ lō͘ liáu-āu, yi oa̍t-sin, ǹg āu-bīn khòaⁿ. Hit-ê siàu-liân-ke iáu-sī lia̍h yi teh siòng, khó-lêng sī in-ūi hòⁿ-kî.

Yi kín oat-kòe lēng-gōa chi̍t-tiâu ke.

[Soah]

--

2. 袂輸放落一切 ê 重擔

她強欲起愛笑, 佳哉有盡力 kā 忍落來. 忽然間, 她 ê 跤開始毋聽話 teh 起癢. 甚至小可, 無意識 teh chun. 毋過, 彼个警察想講 he 不過是一个幻覺, a̍h 是因為薰草 ê 作用.

警察掠她相足久. 伊會小收煞一下, 然後 koh 轉來 kā 詳細看. Án-ne 來來去去, 久 kah 她 teh 起僐. 她好玄, 彼个孝呆到底是欲走毋? 她感覺誠袂爽快. 她知, 她袂當 kō͘ 這个姿勢一直徛落去. 仝彼時, 她 mā 知, 她 tī 展示櫥窗內面真安全. 若 tī 外口, tá 討有 chiah 安全 ê 所在!

感謝天公, 警察總算決定欲離開, iá 她 mā 吐一口輕鬆 ê 氣, kā 跤手放冗, 緊張 ê 尻脊骿伸直, 甚至小 kā masáji 一下. 暗暝欲到 ah, 人陣漸漸薄 kah 賰幾个跤步輕快 ê 過路人.

Liâm-mi tō 欲暗 ah, 她想. 她上好趁猶有光 ê 時出去. 布店定著 tī teh 清人 ah. 恐驚有人會看著她離開展示櫥窗. 她著特別小心... koh 著愛緊. 毋過, tī 櫥窗內又閣感覺 hiah-nī 四序! 閣等 10 分鐘? 那會毋好 ah...

她 tng-teh 思考這个問題, 彼時她看著她 ê 女性朋友 Sheyama 行 tī 人行道. 她隨緊 koh pos 拄才 ê 姿勢, 恬恬無喘氣. Sheyama ǹg 她這个方向無注心看一下, 因為心肝 teh 想別項, 佳哉, 危險化解 ah. Tī Sheyama 出現進前, 她一直無想著會有熟似人看著她. 這个時間 mā 是姻阿兄下班轉厝 ê 時陣, 想著這, 她起生狂. 伊已經患著心臟病. 予伊看著家庭 "名譽" tī 街路 án-ne 卸世卸眾欲按怎? 伊敢袂倒落死?

兩个囡仔兄出現 tī 她 ê 眼界內. In 拄 ùi 學校轉來, 冊揹仔揹 tī 尻脊骿. In kō͘ 極大 ê 好奇看, kā 面 -- 目睭和一切 -- tī 玻璃貼 kah 平平 teh 看. "Heh, 她是真人," 其中一个囡仔兄 ê 聲微微傳入她 ê 耳空. 她又閣起愛笑.

"阿呆, 彼是塑膠 ê," 另外彼个講. "敢有人用真人 modél?"

"毋過, 她看著足成真 ê. 看著 ná 像她隨時會開喙講話."

"彼是因為黃昏 ê 緣故. Tī 正常 ê 照明, 你 tō 看會出."

"Hái!" 彼个囡仔兄 ná 講, ná gia̍t-thiok ǹg 她 nih 目睭.

另外彼个放聲笑出來. 然後, 伊 mā ǹg 她擛手, 講 "Bye!" 兩人 tō 行出她 ê 眼界.

In 一下行開, 她 hut-leh 開始笑, 毋過 mā hut-leh 緊張起來.

一个少年家 tī 玻璃彼爿 kō͘ 憢疑 ê 目光 teh 看她. 等 in ê 目光相拄 ê 時, 伊笑一下. 她 mā 回伊一个微笑, kō͘ án-ne 掩崁家己 ê 驚惶. 她緊掠起塑膠人形, 試欲 kā chhāi 好勢, 假鬼她是一个店員.

彼个少年家 ê 目睭猶是釘 tī 她.

Ná kā sari 幔 tī 人形身軀, 她 kō͘ 目睭尾看彼个少年家, 看伊今 teh 看 siáng. 伊 ê 目睭 tī 人形頂面短站瞭一下, tō 跳開 he, 黏 tī 她 ê 身軀.

她倒退攄, 極自信, 拍開櫥窗 ê 門, 行出去.

無任何店員看著她離開, a̍h 是, 假使 in 有看著, 因為她 ê 敏捷 koh 緊速, in 無疑悟有啥代誌發生. 守衛 mā 無注意著, 因為伊 teh 無閒和一个店員講話.

信心滿滿, 她大步行開, 緊 koh 輕, 歡喜 koh 滿足. 袂輸她拄拄放落一切纏 tī 身軀和靈魂 ê 重擔. 行開一段路了後, 她越身, ǹg 後面看. 彼个少年家猶是掠她 teh 相, 可能是因為好奇.

她緊斡過另外一條街.

[煞]

--

2.

She was overcome by a powerful urge to laugh, but managed to stop herself with the greatest difficulty. Suddenly her feet began to itch uncontrollably. There was even a slight, involuntary tremble. But the cop thought it was a mere illusion, or the effect of the tobacco.

The cop stared at her for a long time. He would withdraw a little, then come back and inspect her closely. This went on for so long that she began to tire. Is the idiot going to leave at all, she wondered? She was feeling uncomfortable. She knew she couldn’t go on standing in that pose. All the same, she also knew that she was safe inside the show window. Where would she find such a sanctuary outside?

Thank God the cop finally decided to leave, and she drew a breath of relief, loosened her hands and feet, straightened up her tense back, indeed even massaged it a bit. Night was approaching and the crowd had thinned down to a few swift-footed pedestrians.

Soon it will grow dark, she thought. She’d better get out of here while there was still some light. The fabric store must be emptying out. Somebody might see her getting out of the show window. She’d have to be very careful  . . . and fast. And yet there was such comfort inside the show window! How she wallowed in that pleasure! Another ten minutes? Why not . . .  

She was still mulling over this when she spotted her girlfriend Sheyama on the sidewalk. Right away she sprang into her former pose and held her breath. Sheyama threw an inattentive look in her direction and because her thoughts were elsewhere, the danger, luckily, was averted. The thought that some of her acquaintances might spot her here had not occurred to her until Sheyama came along. This was precisely the time when her older brother returned from work, she recalled with horror. He’s already suffering from a heart ailment. What if he saw the family’s “honor” exposed so shamelessly out on the street? Wouldn’t he drop dead?

Two boys appeared in her field of vision. They were returning from school, their satchels glued to their backs. They looked with zesty curiosity and pasted their faces—eyes and all—flat against the glass. “Hey, she’s real,” the voice of one of the boys entered her ear faintly. Once again she wanted to laugh.

“Idiot, it’s plastic,” the other boy said. “Whoever uses a live model?”

“But she looks so real. Seems she’d open her mouth and start speaking any moment.”

“That’s because of the evening. In proper light, you’d see.”

“Hi!” the boy said as he winked at her mischievously.

The other one broke into a gale of laughter. Then he too waved at her and said “Bye!” and the two walked out of her field of vision.

As soon as they were gone, she suddenly began to laugh, but just as suddenly, became very nervous.

A young man was looking at her with perplexed eyes from across the glass. When their eyes met, he smiled. She smiled back, if only to hide her trepidation. She quickly grabbed the plastic dummy, and tried to install it, pretending to be one of the store clerks.

The youth’s eyes were still riveted on her.

Arranging the sari around the mannequin she looked at the youth from the corner of her eye to see who he was looking at. His eyes lingered briefly at the plastic figure, then bounced off it and became glued to her.

She backed up, supremely confident, opened the door to the show window and walked out.

None of the store attendants saw her leave, or if they did, she was so agile and so fast that they couldn’t figure out what had happened. The doorman didn’t notice, as he was busy talking to one of the sales clerks.

Confidently she strode away, briskly but lightly, happy and satisfied. As though she’d just unloaded the entire pestering weight of her body and soul. After she had walked away some distance, she turned around and looked back. The youth was still staring at her, perhaps with wonder.

She quickly turned down another street.

--

//

Translated from Urdu

The moment he saw her, his hand stopped dead, his mouth fell open, and his eyes widened. She stared at the cop sweetly.

September 1, 2010

--

// 2022-7-18

C59 Chu-sè | 姿勢 - a 激出人形 ê 姿勢

The Pose /by Anwer Khan

https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2010-09/the-pose/

Chu-sè | 姿勢

--

1. Kek-chhut lâng-hêng ê chu-sè

Thiⁿ-kong chiah chai sī siáⁿ ji̍p yi ê thâu. Yi hut-leh phah-tn̄g kha-hoa̍h, liu ji̍p Shandar Pò͘-tiàm. Jiân-āu, yi khui tû-thang ê mn̂g, koh chin liú-lia̍h kā khó-ài ê lâng-hêng sóa-khui, kā ka-tī khiā tī goân-lâi sok-ka ké-lâng ê ūi, kek-chhut lâng-hêng ê chu-sè.

He sī tī àm-thâu-á. Ke-lō͘ lâng tīⁿ-tīⁿ, m̄-koh lâng-lâng choân-sim teh kiâⁿ ka-tī ê lō͘, bô-lâng chù-ì tio̍h yi tú-chiah chò ê tāi-chì.

Yi ná boeh án-ne chò? Hoān-sè yi ka-tī mā m̄-chai. Tek-khak, yi tī gín-á sî-tāi tō chin chāi-táⁿ. M̄-koh taⁿ yi í-keng sī tōa kàu-gia̍h ê siàu-liân cha-bó͘, chi̍t-ê tāi-ha̍k-seng, chhong-bêng, kìⁿ-kòe sè-bīn, kí-chí bûn-ngá. Sīm-chì tāi-ha̍k lāi siōng tōa-táⁿ ê siàu-liân-ke, hām yi kiâⁿ chò-hóe mā ē sim tám-tám. Yi tú-chiah chò ê, hmh, tō sī án-ne hoat-seng ah. Che sī oân-choân bô sū-sian siūⁿ kòe ê.

Khiā tī tû-thang lāi, yi kám-kak sim-thâu éng-khí chi̍t-chūn kî-koài ê chheng-sóng. Pit-kèng, taⁿ yi sī chit-ê lāu-jia̍t chhī-tiûⁿ ê chi̍t pō͘-hūn. Yi mā ē-tàng chim-chiok koan-chhat chit-ê só͘-chāi, kui-ê khòaⁿ thàu-thàu, kan-ta khiā tī chi̍t-ê só͘-chāi, m̄-bián sóa-tāng. Tī lâng-tīn tiong chò kî-tiong chi̍t-lâng teh kiâⁿ, a̍h teh bé mi̍h-kiāⁿ ê sî, yi m̄-bat kám-kak ka-tī sī chiu-ûi seng-oa̍h ê chi̍t pō͘-hūn -- hit-chióng lāu-jia̍t, e-kheh ê seng-oa̍h, chhiong-móa oa̍h-le̍k kap chhì-kek.

Yi ngē-chiāⁿ ê sin-khu bān-bān nńg-lio̍h lo̍h-lâi, chhùi-kak phû-chhut bô-iân bô-kò͘ ê bî-chhiò. Yi kài kah-ì án-ne -- chi̍t-kha sió-khóa ta̍h hiòng-chêng, se̍h sari* ê ki pau yi ê thâu-khak, jiân-āu hō͘ i sûi-lo̍h, khàm tio̍h chiàⁿ-chhiú āu-khiau. Yi khòaⁿ khí-lâi chin-chiàⁿ bê-lâng. Yi ē-tàng éng-oán khiā chit-ê sin chu-sè, yi án-ne siūⁿ, phō chi̍t-ê hut-jiân ê chhiong-tōng, sui-bóng yi ê kha-thâu-u í-keng in-ūi ap-le̍k khai-sí teh sng-thiàⁿ ah. [* sari: Indo cha-bó͘ moa ê saⁿ]

Yi tú siūⁿ boeh hō͘ kha āu-teⁿ sió pàng-lēng chi̍t-ē, hit-sî yi ê ba̍k-chiu gán tio̍h chi̍t-ê chng-kha lâng, chhiat-kòe lâng-hêng-tō ê lâng-tīn, kiâⁿ óa tû-thang, khai-sí kō͘ giàn-giàn koh hòⁿ-kî ê ba̍k-kng lia̍h yi siòng. I ê ba̍k-chiu ká-ná teh kóng: Siūⁿ bē-kàu! Sai-hū ê chhiú-gē ū-kàu gâu! In chò ê tiau-siōng chiâⁿ sêng chin-lâng!

Ka-chài in nn̄g-lâng tiong-kan ū po-lê keh-khui, nā-bô, hit-ê chng-kha-sông tiāⁿ-tio̍h ē siūⁿ boeh chhun-chhiú bong yi.

Chng-kha lâng hoān-sè siūⁿ boeh tī hia sô chi̍t-ē, m̄-koh kòe-lō͘ lâng ê hòⁿ-kî ba̍k-kng, pek-sú i chí-hó koh kiâⁿ hiòng-chêng. I chi̍t-ē kiâⁿ khui, yi kín hō͘ siang-kha sió khin-sang chi̍t-ē. Sīm-chì sió kā hàiⁿ chi̍t-ē. M̄-koh, taⁿ yi ê chhùi-tûn khai-sí kam-kak ta-ta. "Koh sió tán chi̍t-ē," tī chhoán-khùi tiong-kan, yi án-ne kā chhùi-tûn kóng, "liâm-mi góa chiah chhōa lín khì chhan-thiaⁿ, chiau-thāi lín lim chi̍t-poe peng-chúi, jiân-āu koh lim chi̍t-au sio thǹg-thǹg ê hó tê." Yi ê chhùi-ta ū sió-khóa khah kiám-khin ah, yi tō koh liu-tńg goân-lâi ê chu-sè.

Yi tong-jiân bô hi-bāng chhiūⁿ án-ne tián-sī ka-tī hō͘ kòe-lō͘ lâng khòaⁿ. Hoān-sè chit-ê siūⁿ-hoat chū-lâi m̄-bat tī yi náu-tiong chhut-hiān. Tian-tò sī, yi chin hoaⁿ-hí siūⁿ tio̍h, taⁿ yi sī chiu-ûi oa̍h-thiàu seng-oa̍h tang-tiong ê chi̍t-ê oân-choân chham-ú-chiá. Che ū chi̍t-ê kî-miāu ê kám-kak. Kòe-khì yi m̄-bat ū chit-lō keng-giām.

"Oh, Thiⁿ ah!" -- chit-ê ōe-gí lâi chū nn̄g-ê cha-bó͘ tāi-ha̍k-seng ê chhùi-tûn -- "ū-kàu sêng chin-lâng!"

Yin ê siaⁿ iân po-lê pang thoân, thàu-kòe tû-thang kǹg-kheng ê phāng, khin-khin lâi-kàu yi ê hīⁿ-khang, bē-su ùi chiok hn̄g ê só͘-chāi thoân-lâi ê.

Nn̄g-ê ko͘-niû kō͘ him-siān khòaⁿ yi, hō͘-siong kau-ōaⁿ kúi-kù ōe, iá yi tō kō͘ un-jiû kā yin khòaⁿ. Yi chin hoaⁿ-hí, lân-tit chiah-nī hoaⁿ-hí. Í-chêng m̄-bat ū-lâng án-ne him-sióng khòaⁿ yi, siōng-bô, m̄-bat tī yi bīn-chêng. Ná-chhiūⁿ chû-ài ê lú-ông, chiap-siū chú-bîn ê chông-pài, yi pó-chhî hit-ê ko-kùi ê chu-sè, it-ti̍t kàu ko͘-niû-á koh iûⁿ-ji̍p lâng-tīn, siau-sit tī gán-kài. 

"Tán khòaⁿ koh-lâi sī siáng?" yi ka-tī án-ne siūⁿ.

Yi ê kha koh khai-sí khòng-gī. M̄-koh chit-kái, yi kā in kéng-kò, chi̍t-ê giâm-lē ê kéng-kò: Àu kha-siàu, mài tāng! Lín kám bē-tàng sió tán chi̍t-ē? Yi chi̍t-sut-á to m̄-chhap yin ê khòng-gī, yi án-ne koat-tēng.

Yi iáu teh khèng-chiok ka-tī ê kian-tēng koat-sim, chit-sî yi khòaⁿ tio̍h chi̍t-ê kéng-chhat, i tú ùi lâng-tīn tiong kiâⁿ chhut-lâi, ùi chhiú-ni̍h ê a̍p-á the̍h-chhut chi̍t-oân hun-chháu, kō͘ tōa-pû-ong teh kā jôe. Tī khòaⁿ tio̍h yi ê hit-sî, i ê chhiú tiām khì, chhùi khui-khui, ba̍k-chiu tián-tōa. Yi tiⁿ but-but kā khòaⁿ hit-ê kéng-chhat. Kéng-chhat ê ba̍k-chiu-mo͘ chhoa̍p-chhoa̍p nih; i kín-kín jôe hun-si, kā he that-ji̍p ē-tûn hām chhùi-khí tiong-kan, ba̍k-chiu kiông boeh tah tio̍h tû-thang ê po-lê.

--

1. 激出人形 ê 姿勢

天公才知是啥入她 ê 頭. 她 hut-leh 拍斷跤伐, 溜入 Shandar 布店. 然後, 她開櫥窗 ê 門, koh 真扭掠 kā 可愛 ê 人形徏開, kā 家己徛 tī 原來塑膠假人 ê 位, 激出人形 ê 姿勢.

彼是 tī 暗頭仔. 街路人滇滇, 毋過人人全心 teh 行家己 ê 路, 無人注意著她拄才做 ê 代誌.

她那欲 án-ne 做? 凡勢她家己 mā 毋知. 的確, 她 tī 囡仔時代 tō 真在膽. 毋過今她已經是大夠額 ê 少年查某, 一个大學生, 聰明, 見過世面, 舉止文雅. 甚至大學內上大膽 ê 少年家, 和她行做伙 mā 會心 tám-tám. 她拄才做 ê, hmh, tō 是 án-ne 發生 ah. 這是完全無事先想過 ê.

徛 tī 櫥窗內, 她感覺心頭湧起一陣奇怪 ê 清爽. 畢竟, 今她是這个鬧熱市場 ê 一部份. 她 mā 會當斟酌觀察這个所在, 規个看透透, 干焦徛 tī 一个所在, 毋免徙動. Tī 人陣中做其中一人 teh 行, a̍h teh 買物件 ê 時, 她 m̄-bat 感覺家己是周圍生活 ê 一部份 -- 彼種鬧熱, e-kheh ê 生活, 充滿活力 kap 刺激.

她硬掙 ê 身軀慢慢軟略落來, 喙角浮出無緣無故 ê 微笑. 她蓋佮意 án-ne -- 一跤小可踏向前, 踅 sari* ê 裾包她 ê 頭殼, 然後予伊垂落, 崁著正手後曲. 她看起來真正迷人. 她會當永遠徛這个新姿勢, 她 án-ne 想, 抱一个忽然 ê 衝動, 雖罔她 ê 跤頭趺已經因為壓力開始 teh 痠疼 ah. [* sari: Indo 查某幔 ê 衫]

她拄想欲予跤後蹬小放冗一下, 彼時她 ê 目睭眼著一个庄跤人, 切過人行道 ê 人陣, 行倚櫥窗, 開始 kō͘ 癮癮 koh 好奇 ê 目光掠她相. 伊 ê 目睭 ká-ná teh 講: 想袂到! 師傅 ê 手藝有夠 gâu! In 做 ê 雕像誠成真人!

佳哉 in 兩人中間有玻璃隔開, 若無, 彼个庄跤倯定著會想欲伸手摸她.

庄跤人凡勢想欲 tī hia 趖一下, 毋過過路人 ê 好奇目光, 迫使伊只好 koh 行向前. 伊一下行開, 她緊予雙跤小輕鬆一下. 甚至小 kā 幌一下. 毋過, 今她 ê 喙唇開始感覺焦焦. "Koh 小等一下," tī 喘氣中間, 她 án-ne kā 喙唇講, "liâm-mi 我才 chhōa 恁去餐廳, 招待恁啉一杯冰水, 然後 koh 啉一甌燒燙燙 ê 好茶." 她 ê 喙焦有小可較減輕 ah, 她 tō koh 溜轉原來 ê 姿勢.

她當然無希望像 án-ne 展示家己予過路人看. 凡勢這个想法自來 m̄-bat tī 她腦中出現. 顛倒是, 她真歡喜想著, 今她是周圍活跳生活當中 ê 一个完全參與者. 這有一个奇妙 ê 感覺. 過去她 m̄-bat 有 chit-lō 經驗.

"Oh, 天 ah!" -- 這个話語來自兩个查某大學生 ê 喙唇 -- "有夠成真人!"

姻 ê 聲沿玻璃枋傳, 透過櫥窗鋼框 ê 縫, 輕輕來到她 ê 耳空, 袂輸 ùi 足遠 ê 所在傳來 ê.

兩个姑娘 kō͘ 欣羨看她, 互相交換幾句話, iá 她 tō kō͘ 溫柔 kā 姻看. 她真歡喜, 難得 chiah-nī 歡喜. 以前 m̄-bat 有人 án-ne 欣賞看她, 上無, m̄-bat tī 她面前. Ná 像慈愛 ê 女王, 接受子民 ê 崇拜, 她保持彼个高貴 ê 姿勢, 一直到姑娘仔 koh 溶入人陣, 消失 tī 眼界. 

"等看閣來是 siáng?" 她家己 án-ne 想.

她 ê 跤 koh 開始抗議. 毋過這改, 她 kā in 警告, 一个嚴厲 ê 警告: 漚跤數, 莫動! 恁敢袂當小等一下? 她一屑仔 to m̄-chhap 姻 ê 抗議, 她 án-ne 決定.

她猶 teh 慶祝家己 ê 堅定決心, 這時她看著一个警察, 伊拄 ùi 人陣中行出來, ùi 手 ni̍h ê 盒仔提出一丸薰草, kō͘ 大垺翁 teh kā 挼. Tī 看著她 ê 彼時, 伊 ê 手恬去, 喙開開, 目睭展大. 她甜 but-but kā 看彼个警察. 警察 ê 目睭毛 chha̍p-chha̍p nih; 伊緊緊挼薰絲, kā he 窒入下唇和喙齒中間, 目睭強欲貼著櫥窗 ê 玻璃.

--

1.

God knows what got into her head. She abruptly broke her stride and slipped into Shandar Cloth Store. Then she opened the door of the show window and, deftly, removing the lovely mannequin, stood herself in the plastic dummy’s place and assumed its pose.

It was evening. The street was packed with people, but they were so preoccupied as they went their way that none of them noticed what she had just done.

Why did she do it? She probably didn’t know that herself. True, she was something of a daredevil in her childhood. But now she was a grown young woman, a college student, smart, sophisticated, urbane. Even the most daring boys at the college got cold feet walking with her. What she’d just done, well, it just happened. It was entirely unpremeditated.

Standing in the show window she felt a strange sense of comfort wash over her. She was now, after all, a part of this bustling marketplace. She could also look closely at the place, the whole of it, standing in just one spot, without having to move. Walking as one of the crowd or while shopping, she never felt herself a part of the life around her—the buoyant, strident life, full of vigor and excitement.

Her tense body gradually became unstrung, and an unprovoked smile came to her lips. She quite liked it—standing with one foot slightly forward, the hem of her sari going over her head and then dropping down to wrap itself around the joint of her right elbow. She looked positively ravishing. She could stand in her new posture forever, she thought, overcome by a sudden impulse, although her knees had already begun to ache from the pressure.

She was just considering easing up on her heels a bit when her eyes caught sight of a peasant who suddenly cut through the crowd on the sidewalk and came over to the show window and began gawking at her with eyes at once full of lust and wonder. His eyes seemed to say—Incredible! These craftsmen can be so skilful! How they make statues that look like real people!

It was good the glass panel stood between them, otherwise the country bumpkin would certainly have ventured to touch her.

The peasant perhaps wanted to linger on for a while, but the scouring glances of the passersby forced him to move on. As soon as he had moved away, she relaxed her feet a little. Even shook them a bit. But now her lips began to feel dry. “Just a little while longer,” she told her lips under her breath, “and then I’ll take you to a restaurant and treat you to a glass of ice water, followed by a steaming cup of some finely brewed tea.” Her thirst let up a bit and she slipped back into her former pose.

She certainly had no wish to exhibit herself like this to the pedestrians. Perhaps the thought had never even entered her mind. Rather, it pleased her to think that she was now a full participant in the teeming life around her. It was a strange feeling. She had never experienced it before.

“Oh God!”—the expression came from the lips of two college girls—“how lifelike!”

Their voices, travelling along the glass panels and filtering through the holes in the steel strips holding the frame, came upon her softly, as if from a great distance.

The two girls gawked at her with admiration as they exchanged a few words among themselves, while she looked at them with tenderness. She was happy, incredibly happy. No one had looked at her with such appreciation before, at least not in her presence. Like a kind and caring queen receiving the adulation of her subjects, she sustained her regal pose until the girls had once again melted into the crowd and disappeared from view.

“Let’s see who comes next?” she thought to herself.

Her feet had again started to protest. This time around, though, she sent them a warning, a rather stern one: Scoundrels, stay put! Can’t you wait even a little? She wouldn’t care a hoot about their protest, she decided.

She was still congratulating herself on her firm resolve when she caught sight of a cop who had just separated from the crowd and after taking a pinch of chewing tobacco from a box he held was rubbing it with his thumb. The moment he saw her, his hand stopped dead, his mouth fell open, and his eyes widened. She stared at the cop sweetly. The cop’s eyelashes began to flap frantically; he rubbed the tobacco hastily and stuffing it between his lower lip and teeth practically stuck his eyes against the glass of the show window.

--

C58b 這 tō 是伊 ê 自信

2. Che tō sī i ê chū-sìn

Che sī chiàⁿ-chiàⁿ chi̍t-tiuⁿ siá hō͘ Thiⁿ-kong ê phe.

"Thiⁿ-kong," i án-ne siá, "lí nā bô kă pang-chān, góa hām chhù-lāi kin-nî lóng tio̍h iau pak-tó͘. Góa su-iàu 100 peso, thang-hó koh chèng-choh chhân-hn̂g, koh tī siu-sêng chìn-chêng thang-hó seng-oa̍h, lóng sī in-ūi peng-pha̍uh..."

I tī phe-lông téng siá "Kià hō͘ Thiⁿ-kong," kā phe-chóa lok ji̍p-khì, iáu sī sim cho-cho án-ne ji̍p siâⁿ khì. Kàu iû-piān-kio̍k, kā phe tah iû-phiò liáu-āu, i kā long ji̍p phe-tháng.

Kî-tiong chi̍t-ê oân-kang, i sī the̍h-phe-á, taⁿ tī iû-piān-kio̍k tàu kha-chhiú, cháu khì chhōe thâu-ke, chhiò kah sim-hoe khui, hō͘ i khòaⁿ hit-tiuⁿ kià hō͘ Thiⁿ-kong ê phe. Chi̍t-lō͘ the̍h-phe í-lâi, i m̄-bat hit-ê tē-chí. Iû-piān kio̍k-tiúⁿ -- chi̍t-ê tōa-kho͘, hô-siān ê lâng -- mā chhiò kah bē ha̍p-chhùi, m̄-koh i sûi pìⁿ giâm-siok khí-lâi, ná thok hit-hong toh-téng ê phe, ná án-ne phêng-lūn: "chiâⁿ khiân-sêng! Góa hi-bāng góa mā ū siá chit-tiuⁿ phe hit-lâng ê khiân-sêng. Chiàu i só͘ sìn-gióng ê hong-sek lâi sìn-gióng. Chiàu i só͘ chai án-chóaⁿ hi-bāng ê sìn-sim lâi hi-bāng. Án-ne lâi khai-sí hām Thiⁿ-kong thong-phe!"

Chū án-ne, ūi tio̍h mài hō͘ chit-ê kō͘ chi̍t-hong kià bē-kàu ê phe só͘ hián-sī ê sìn-gióng kî-sū hoàn-bia̍t, iû-piān kio̍k-tiúⁿ thê-chhut chi̍t-ê siūⁿ-hoat: kā hôe-phe. M̄-koh, tán i phah-khui lâi khòaⁿ, chin bêng-hián, i só͘ su-iàu ê, m̄-sī kan-ta hó-ì, ba̍k-chúi hām chóa, tō ū-kàu hôe-phe. M̄-koh, i kian-chhî ka-tī ê koat-tēng: i hiòng oân-kang bō͘-khoán, ka-tī mā the̍h-chhut chi̍t pō͘-hūn sin-súi, koh ū kúi-ê pêng-iú mā ūi chit-ê "chû-siān hêng-tōng" put-tek-put kòng-hiàn tām-po̍h.

 I bô khó-lêng khêng ū-kàu Lencho só͘ iau-kiû ê 100 peso, i kan-ta ē-tàng kià hō͘ hit-ê chò-sit lâng chi̍t-pòaⁿ khah ke chi̍t-sut-á ê chîⁿ. I kā gîn-phiò té tī kià hō͘ Lencho ê phe-lông ni̍h, lāi-bīn hū chi̍t-tiuⁿ phe-chóa, téng-bīn kan-ta ū chi̍t-ê chhiam-miâ: THIⁿ-KONG.

Koh-lâi hit-ê lé-pài-ji̍t, Lencho pí pêng-siông-sî khah chá lâi mn̄g, kám ū i ê phe. Sī hit-ê the̍h-phe-á chhin-sin kā phe kau hō͘ i, iá keng-giām tio̍h chò hó-sū ê iû-piān kio̍k-tiúⁿ, tō khiā tī i pān-kong-sek mn̂g-kháu khòaⁿ. 

Lencho khòaⁿ tio̍h phiò-á, chi̍t-sut-á to bô tio̍h-kiaⁿ -- che tō sī i ê chū-sìn -- m̄-koh, tán i kā chîⁿ sǹg liáu, i hoán siū-khì. Thiⁿ-kong bô khó-lêng hut m̄-tio̍h, i koh-khah bē kī-choa̍t Lencho ê chhéng-kiû!

Chek-sî, i kiâⁿ kàu thang-á kháu, thó chi̍t-tiuⁿ chóa hām ba̍k-chúi. Tī kong-kiōng siá-jī-tâi, i khai-sí piàⁿ-miā siūⁿ khòaⁿ án-chóaⁿ piáu-ta̍t ì-sù, siá kah ba̍k-bâi phah-kat. Tán i siá-liáu, i khì thang-á kháu bé chi̍t-tiuⁿ iû-phiò, chīⁿ-chīⁿ leh, tō kō͘ kûn-thâu-bó tûi chi̍t-ē, kā tah tī phe-lông.

Hit-hong phe chi̍t-ē lak-lo̍h phe-tháng, iû-piān kio̍k-tiúⁿ sûi kā phah khui. Lāi-bīn án-ne siá:

"Thiⁿ-kong: Iú-koan góa chhéng-kiû ê chîⁿ, kan-ta 70 peso lâi kàu góa chhiú tiong. Chhiáⁿ kā chhun-ê chîⁿ kià hō͘ góa, in-ūi he góa hui-siông su-iàu. M̄-koh, m̄-thang iōng iû-piān kià hō͘ góa, in-ūi iû-piān-kio̍k ê oân-kang sī chi̍t-tīn khiang-á. Lencho."

[Soah]

--

2. 這 tō 是伊 ê 自信

這是正正一張寫予天公 ê 批.

"天公," 伊 án-ne 寫, "你若無 kă 幫贊, 我和厝內今年 lóng 著枵腹肚. 我需要 100 peso, 通好 koh 種作田園, koh tī 收成進前通好生活, lóng 是因為冰雹..."

伊 tī 批囊頂寫 "寄予 天公," kā 批紙 lok ji̍p-khì, 猶是心慒慒 án-ne 入城去. 到郵便局, kā 批貼郵票了後, 伊 kā long 入批桶.

其中一个員工, 伊是提批仔, 今 tī 郵便局鬥跤手, 走去揣頭家, 笑 kah 心花開, 予伊看彼張寄予天公 ê 批. 一路提批以來, 伊 m̄-bat 彼个地址. 郵便局長 -- 一个大箍, 和善 ê 人 -- mā 笑 kah 袂合喙, 毋過伊隨 pìⁿ 嚴肅 khí-lâi, ná 托彼封桌頂 ê 批, ná án-ne 評論: "誠虔誠! 我希望我 mā 有寫這張批彼人 ê 虔誠. 照伊所信仰 ê 方式來信仰. 照伊所知按怎希望 ê 信心來希望. Án-ne 來開始和天公通批!"

自 án-ne, 為著莫予這个 kō͘ 一封寄袂到 ê 批所顯示 ê 信仰奇事幻滅, 郵便局長提出一个想法: kā 回批. 毋過, 等伊拍開來看, 真明顯, 伊所需要 ê, 毋是干焦好意, 墨水和紙, tō 有夠回批. 毋過, 伊堅持家己 ê 決定: 伊向員工募款, 家己 mā 提出一部份薪水, koh 有幾个朋友 mā 為這个 "慈善行動" 不得不貢獻淡薄.

 伊無可能 khêng 有夠 Lencho 所要求 ê 100 peso, 伊干焦會當寄予彼个做穡人一半較加一屑仔 ê 錢. 伊 kā 銀票貯 tī 寄予 Lencho ê 批囊 ni̍h, 內面附一張批紙, 頂面干焦有一个簽名: THIⁿ-KONG.

閣來彼个禮拜日, Lencho 比平常時較早來問, 敢有伊 ê 批. 是彼个提批仔親身 kā 批交予伊, iá 經驗著做好事 ê 郵便局長, tō 徛 tī 伊辦公室門口看. 

Lencho 看著票仔, 一屑仔 to 無著驚 -- 這 tō 是伊 ê 自信 -- 毋過, 等伊 kā 錢算了, 伊反受氣. 天公無可能 hut 毋著, 伊閣較袂拒絕 Lencho ê 請求!

即時, 伊行到窗仔口, 討一張紙和墨水. Tī 公共寫字台, 伊開始拚命想看按怎表達意思, 寫 kah 目眉拍結. 等伊寫了, 伊去窗仔口買一張郵票, 舐舐 leh, tō kō͘ 拳頭母捶一下, kā 貼 tī 批囊.

彼封批一下 lak-lo̍h 批桶, 郵便局長隨 kā 拍開. 內面 án-ne 寫:

"天公: 有關我請求 ê 錢, 干焦 70 peso 來到我手中. 請 kā 賰 ê 錢寄予我, 因為 he 我非常需要. 毋過, 毋通用郵便寄予我, 因為郵便局 ê 員工是一陣勍仔. Lencho."

[煞]

--

2.

It was nothing less than a letter to God.

“God,” he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos in order to resow the field and to live until the crop comes, because the hailstorm…”

He wrote “To God” on the envelope, put the letter inside and, still troubled, went to town. At the post office he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox.

One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post officer, went to his boss, laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster – a fat amiable fellow – also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented: “what faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. To believe the way he believes. To hope with the confidence that he knows how to hope with. Starting up a correspondence with God!”

So, in order not to disillusion that prodigy of faith, revealed by a letter that could not be delivered, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than good will, ink and paper. But he stuck to his resolution: he asked for money from his employee, he himself gave part of his salary, and several friends of his were obliged to give something “for an act of charity”.

It was impossible for him to gather together the hundred pesos requested by Lencho, so he was able to send the farmer only a little more than half. He put the bills in an envelope addressed to Lencho and with them a letter containing only a signature: GOD

The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him, while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from the doorway of his office.

Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the bills – such was his confidence – but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested!

Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing table, he started to write with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp, which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist.

The moment that the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said:

“God: Of the money that I asked for only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail, because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho.”

--

// 2022-7-15

C58 Hō͘ Thiⁿ-kong ê Phe | 予天公 ê 批 - a 冰雹了, 啥 to 無留落來

A Letter to God /by Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes /Eng tran. Donald A. Yates

http://lstc-learning-shortstories.blogspot.com/2008/03/letter-to-god.html

Hō͘ Thiⁿ-kong ê Phe | 予天公 ê 批

--

1. Peng-pha̍uh liáu, siáⁿ to bô lâu lo̍h-lâi

Chit-keng chhù sī kui-ê soaⁿ-kok ûi-it ê chhù, khiā tī kē-soaⁿ téng-bīn. Ùi chit-ê koân-tō͘, ē-tit khòaⁿ tio̍h khe, koh tī ûi thâu-seⁿ ê lân-kan piⁿ, ū kui-phiàn kàu-hun ê hoan-be̍h hn̂g, kòa chi̍t-tiám chi̍t-tiám ê io-chí tāu-á (kidney bean) hoe, he chóng-sī chin hó siu-sêng.

Thó͘-tē ûi-it su-iàu ê, tō sī chi̍t-chūn tōa-hō͘, a̍h sī siōng-bô mā sió lo̍h chi̍t-ē. Lencho chiâⁿ liáu-kái i ê chhân-hn̂g, kui chá-khí, i siáⁿ to bô chò, kan-ta ǹg tang-pak hiòng khòaⁿ thiⁿ.

"Taⁿ, lán chèng-keng tit-boeh ū kóa hō͘-chúi ah, cha-bó͘."

Hit-ê cha-bó͘, tng-teh khoán àm-tǹg, án-ne kā ìn: "Sī lah, Thiⁿ-kong chin hó-sim."

Tōa-hàn cha-po͘ gín-á lóng tī hn̂g ni̍h chò-sit, khah sè-hàn ê tī chhù hū-kīn sńg, it-ti̍t kàu cha-bó͘-lâng kiò in: "Tńg-lâi chia̍h-pn̄g oh..."

Tng-teh chia̍h-pn̄g ê sî, tō ná-chhiūⁿ Lencho só͘ ī-chhek ê, tōa-lia̍p hō͘ khai-sí lo̍h. Tī tang-pak hiòng, ū khòaⁿ-e ná tōa-soaⁿ ê hûn teh óa lâi. Khong-khì chhiⁿ koh tiⁿ.

Hit-lâng khì ûi thâu-seⁿ ê só͘-chāi khòaⁿ-khòaⁿ leh, bô pa̍t-hāng, put-kò sī boeh kám-kak hō͘-chúi ak tī sin-khu ê sóng-khoài, tán i tńg-lâi ê sî, i hoah kóng: "he m̄-sī thiⁿ-téng lâi ê hō͘ tiám, he sī sin ê gîn-kak-á. Tōa ê sī chi̍t-kho͘, sè ê sī gō͘-kak..."

I kō͘ boán-chiok ê piáu-chêng khòaⁿ he kàu-hun hoan-be̍h kòa io-chí tāu-á hoe ê chhân-hn̂g, tī pe̍h phú-phú ê hō͘-lî tang-tiong. M̄-koh, hut-jiân-kan khí chi̍t-chūn tōa hong. Che koh-khah sêng sī sin gîn-kak-á. Cha-po͘ gín-á cháu chhut-khì tī hō͘ tiong, khì siu-chi̍p kiat-peng ê chin-chu.

"Taⁿ, tāi-chì piàn bái ah," hit-lâng hoah kóng, kám-kak bô bīn-chú. "Góa hi-bāng che kín kòe."

He bô chin kín kòe. Chiok-chiok chi̍t tiám-cheng, peng-pha̍uh lo̍h tī chhù, tī hoe-hn̂g, tī soaⁿ-piⁿ, tī hoan-be̍h hn̂g, tī kui-ê soaⁿ-kok. Chhân-tē chi̍t-phiàn pe̍h, be-su khàm iâm. Chhiū-ki lóng bô hio̍h. Hoan-be̍h oân-choân phò-hāi. Io-chí tāu ê hoe lak kah bô pòaⁿ lúi. Lencho ê lêng-hûn chhiong-móa pi-siong. Tán hong-hō͘ kòe ê sî, i khiā tī chhân-hn̂g tiong-ng, kā chiòng hāu-seⁿ kóng: "Tú-tio̍h chháu-meh che, chhun lo̍h-lâi ê mā pí che khah chē... peng-pha̍uh siáⁿ to bô lâu lo̍h-lâi: kin-nî lán chiong bô hoan-be̍h, mā bô tāu-á..."

Hit-àm sī pi-siong ê àm-mê: "Lán it-chhè ê phah-piàⁿ, lóng pe̍h liáu-kang!"

"Bô lâng ē-tàng kā lán pang-chān!"

M̄-koh, tī soaⁿ-kok ê chit-keng to̍k chhù lāi-bīn, múi chi̍t-lâng ê sim-koaⁿ té, ū chi̍t-ê ûi-it ê hi-bāng: Thiⁿ-kong ê pang-chān.

"Sui-bóng, khòaⁿ khí-lâi sī oân-choân ê sún-sit, lán m̄-thang hiah sit-chì. Kì hō͘ tiâu, bô lâng ē iau sí!"

"Lâng-lâng lóng án-ne kóng: bô lâng ē iau sí..."

Kui-mê, Lencho kan-ta teh siūⁿ i hit-ki tî-thâu: Thiⁿ-kong ē pang-chān, i-chiáu i chū-lâi tit-tio̍h ê kà-sī, Thiⁿ-kong ū ba̍k-chiu, siáⁿ to khòaⁿ ē-tio̍h, sīm-chì khòaⁿ tio̍h lán chhim-chhim ê liông-sim.

Lencho m̄-kiaⁿ chia̍h-khó͘, tī hn̂g ni̍h i chò kah ná gû, m̄-koh i mā ē-hiáu siá-jī. Kàu lé-pài hit-kang, thiⁿ tú kng, i soeh-ho̍k ka-tī, siong-sìn ū sîn ē pó-pì, i tō khai-sí siá chi̍t-tiuⁿ phe, boeh chhin-sin chah khì siâⁿ lāi, kià iû-piān. 

--

1. 冰雹了, 啥 to 無留落來

這間厝是規个山谷唯一 ê 厝, 徛 tī 低山頂面. Ùi 這个懸度, 會得看著溪, koh tī 圍頭牲 ê 欄杆邊, 有規遍夠分 ê 番麥園, 掛一點一點 ê 腰子豆仔 (kidney bean) 花, 彼總是真好收成.

土地唯一需要 ê, tō 是一陣大雨, a̍h 是上無 mā 小落一下. Lencho 誠了解伊 ê 田園, 規早起, 伊啥 to 無做, 干焦 ǹg 東北向看天.

"今, 咱正經得欲有寡雨水 ah, 查某."

彼个查某, tng-teh 款暗頓, án-ne kā 應: "是 lah, 天公真好心."

大漢查埔囡仔 lóng tī 園 ni̍h 做穡, 較細漢 ê tī 厝附近耍, 一直到查某人叫 in: "轉來食飯 oh..."

Tng-teh 食飯 ê 時, tō ná 像 Lencho 所預測 ê, 大粒雨開始落. Tī 東北向, 有看 e ná 大山 ê 雲 teh 倚 lâi. 空氣鮮 koh 甜.

彼人去圍頭牲 ê 所在看看 leh, 無別項, 不過是欲感覺雨水沃 tī 身軀 ê 爽快, 等伊轉來 ê 時, 伊喝講: "彼毋是天頂來 ê 雨點, 彼是新 ê 銀角仔. 大 ê 是一箍, 細 ê 是五角..."

伊 kō͘ 滿足 ê 表情看 he 夠分番麥掛腰子豆仔花 ê 田園, tī 白殕殕 ê 雨簾當中. 毋過, 忽然間起一陣大風. 這閣較成是新銀角仔. 查埔囡仔走出去 tī 雨中, 去收集結冰 ê 真珠.

"今, 代誌變䆀 ah," 彼人喝講, 感覺無面子. "我希望這緊過."

彼無真緊過. 足足一點鐘, 冰雹落 tī 厝, tī 花園, tī 山邊, tī 番麥園, tī 規个山谷. 田地一遍白, 袂輸崁鹽. 樹枝 lóng 無葉. 番麥完全破害. 腰子豆 ê 花 lak kah 無半蕊. Lencho ê 靈魂充滿悲傷. 等風雨過 ê 時, 伊徛 tī 田園中央, kā 眾後生講: "拄著草蜢災, 賰 lo̍h-lâi ê mā 比這較濟... 冰雹啥 to 無留 lo̍h-lâi: 今年咱將無番麥, mā 無豆仔..."

彼暗是悲傷 ê 暗暝: "咱一切 ê 拍拚, lóng 白了工!"

"無人會當 kā 咱幫贊!"

毋過, tī 山谷 ê 這間獨厝內面, 每一人 ê 心肝底, 有一个唯一 ê 希望: 天公 ê 幫贊.

"雖罔, 看 khí-lâi 是完全 ê 損失, 咱毋通 hiah 失志. 記予牢, 無人會枵死!"

"人人 lóng án-ne 講: 無人會枵死..."

規暝, Lencho 干焦 teh 想伊彼支鋤頭: 天公會幫贊, 依照伊自來得 tio̍h ê 教示, 天公有目睭, 啥 to 看會著, 甚至看著咱深深 ê 良心.

Lencho 毋驚食苦, tī 園 ni̍h 伊做 kah ná 牛, 毋過伊 mā 會曉寫字. 到禮拜彼工, 天拄光, 伊說服家己, 相信有神會保庇, 伊 tō 開始寫一張批, 欲親身扎去城內, 寄郵便. 

--

1.

The house – the only one in the entire valley – sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and, next to the corral, the field of ripe corn dotted with the kidney bean flowers that always promised a good harvest.

The only thing the earth needed was a rainfall, or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho – who knew his fields intimately – had done nothing else but scan the sky toward the northeast.

“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.”

The woman, who was preparing supper, replied: “Yes, God willing.”

The oldest boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house, until the woman called to them all: “Come for dinner…”

It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drips of rain began to fall. In the northeast huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet.

The man went out to look for something in the corral for no other reason than to allow himself the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed: “those aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they’re new coins. The big drops are ten-centavo pieces and the little ones are fives…”

With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its kidney bean flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.

“It’s really getting bad now,” exclaimed the man, mortified. “I hope it passes quickly.”

It did not pass quickly. For an hour the hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, on the whole valley. The field was white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the kidney bean plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said to his sons: “A plague of locusts would have left more than this… the hail has left nothing: this year we will have no corn or beans…”

That night was a sorrowful one: “All our work, for nothing!”

“There’s no one who can help us!”

But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.

“Don’t be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger!”

“That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger….”

All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hoe: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.

Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write. The following Sunday, at day break, after having convinced himself that there is a protecting spirit, he bgan to write a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail.

--

C57 Sim hām Chhiú | 心和手

Hearts And Hands /by O. Henry

https://americanliterature.com/author/o-henry/short-story/hearts-and-hands

Sim hām Chhiú | 心和手

--

Tī Denver Chām, chē-chē sêng-kheh chiūⁿ óng-tang ê B&M Te̍k-khoài chhia-siuⁿ. Kî-tiong chi̍t-ê chhia-siuⁿ, chē chi̍t-ūi chin súi ê siàu-liân cha-bó͘, chhēng-chhah iu-ngá, sûi-sin chah ê, mā sī lāu keng-giām lí-hêng-chiá ê phok-sóng chong-pī. Sin chiūⁿ-chhia ê lí-kheh tang-tiong, ū nn̄g-ê siàu-liân lâng: chi̍t-ê gōa-piáu iân-tâu, piáu-chêng hām kí-chí toan-chiàⁿ, sêng-khún; lēng-gōa hit-lâng ba̍k-thâu kat-kat, bīn iu-iu, seⁿ-chò tōa hàn-chháu, chhēng chho͘-pò͘ saⁿ. Hit nn̄g-lâng ê chhiú, khàu chò-hóe.

In kiâⁿ kòe-tō kòe-lâi ê sî, chhia-siuⁿ lāi chhun ê chē-ūi, kan-ta sī tùi-hō ūi, tī hit-ê bê-lâng siàu-liân cha-bó͘ ê tùi-bīn. Hit nn̄g-ê sio-liân ê lâng tō tī hia chē lo̍h. Siàu-liân cha-bó͘ gia̍h ba̍k-chiu, léng koh kín lia̍h in chhìn-chhái khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē; jiân-āu, yi ê bīn tián-khui khó-ài ê chhiò-iông, iù mī-mī ê chhùi-phé chhut-hiān un-jiû ê hún-âng, yi chhun chhut chi̍t-ki sè-sè, kòa chhiú-thò ê chhiú. Yi kóng-ōe ê sî, siaⁿ-im pá-tīⁿ, hó-thiaⁿ, koh thò-tòng, khó-kiàn yi koàn-sì kóng-ōe, koh ū lâng thiaⁿ.

"Hmh, Easton Ss [Sian-siⁿ], lí nā ài góa seng kóng, góa siūⁿ góa tio̍h kóng. Kàu Se-pō͘, tú tio̍h lāu pêng-iú, lí kám tō bē jīn-tit ah?"

Siàu-liân-ke thiaⁿ tio̍h yi ê siaⁿ, hut-leh gia̍h-thâu, ká-ná sió-khóa pháiⁿ-sè gāng chi̍t-ē, m̄-koh sûi tō hôe-sîn, tō kō͘ i ê tò-chhiú khì ak yi ê chéng-thâu-á.

"Sī Fairchild Sc [Sió-chiá]," i chhiò-chhiò kóng. "Góa tio̍h chhiáⁿ lí goân-liōng góa iáu chi̍t-ki chhiú; taⁿ i teh bô lī-piān."

I kā chiàⁿ-chhiú sió-khóa gia̍h chi̍t-ē, chhiú-ba̍k kō͘ chi̍t-ê kim sih-sih ê "chhiú-khoân" kat kàu in tông-phōaⁿ ê tò-chhiú. Ko͘-niû ba̍k-chiu ê hoaⁿ-hí gán-sîn, bān-bān choán-piàn chò chi̍t-chióng khùn-he̍k ê kiaⁿ-hiâⁿ. Yi bīn-téng ê sîn-chhái siau-sit. Yi ê chhùi-tûn khui-khui, ū chi̍t-chióng put-bêng, pàng-sang ê kòa-sim. Easton sió-khóa chhiò-chhiò, ká-ná kám-kak sim-sek, tú boeh koh khui-chhùi ê sî, khì hō͘ lēng-gōa hit-lâng kā chhiúⁿ ōe. Hit-ê bīn-iu-iu ê lâng it-ti̍t kō͘ jia̍t-chhiat, cheng-bêng ê ba̍k-chiu àm-tiong koan-chhat ko͘-niû ê piáu-chêng.

"Chhiáⁿ goân-liōng góa kóng-ōe, sió-chiá, m̄-koh góa khòaⁿ, lí ū se̍k-sāi chit-ūi kéng-koaⁿ. Lí nā kiò i tī goán kàu kaⁿ ê sî ūi góa kóng ōe, i ē án-ne chò, án-ne góa tī hia ê tāi-chì tō ē khah khùiⁿ-oa̍h. I boeh hām góa khì Leavenworth kàm-ga̍k. Ūi tio̍h chō-ké, tio̍h 7-nî."

"Oh!" ko͘-niû kóng, chhim-chhim suh chi̍t-ē khùi, hôe-ho̍k bīn-sek. "Só͘-í, che tō sī lí tī chia ê sit-thâu? Chi̍t-ê hoat-kéng!"

"Góa chhin-ài ê Fairchild Sc," Easton pêng-chēng kóng, "Góa chóng tio̍h chò tāi-chì. Ū chîⁿ tō ná ū si̍t, lí chai lah, tī Washington, tio̍h ài ū chîⁿ chiah tòe ē tio̍h tīn. Tī Se-pō͘, góa khòaⁿ tio̍h chit-ê ki-hōe, iá... hmh, hoat-kéng ê tē-ūi bô tāi-sài hiah koân, m̄-koh..."

"Tāi-sài," ko͘-niû jia̍t-chêng kóng, "m̄-bat koh khà tiān-ōe. I kin-pún mā bô su-iàu án-ne chò. Che lí eng-kai mā chai. Iá taⁿ, lí sī chi̍t-ê phiau-phiat ê Se-pō͘ eng-hiông, khiâ-bé, pōng-chhèng, chhut-ji̍p chióng-chióng hûi-hiám. Che hām Washington ê seng-oa̍h bô kāng. Lāu pêng-iú phōaⁿ í-keng teh su-liām lí ah lah."

Ko͘-niû ê ba̍k-chiu hòⁿ-hiân, sió-khóa tián-tōa chi̍t-ē, koh sóa-tńg khòaⁿ he kim sih-sih ê chhiú-khàu.

"Lí m̄-bián hoân-ló he, sió-chiá," lēng-gōa hit-lâng kóng. "Só͘-ū hoat-kéng lóng kā ka-tī hām hoān-lâng khàu chò-hóe, bián-tit in thau-cháu. Easton Ss tùi i ê gia̍p-bū chin lāi-hâng."

"Goán chin-kín ē-tàng koh tī Washington khòaⁿ tio̍h lí bô?" ko͘-niû mn̄g.

"Góa siūⁿ, bē chin kín," Easton kóng. "Góa ê ia̍h-á ji̍t-chí í-keng kòe-khì ah, khióng-kiaⁿ sī án-ne."

"Góa kah-ì Se-pō͘," ko͘-niû kóng chi̍t-kù bô koan-hē ê ōe. Yi ê ba̍k-chiu jiû-jiû siám-sih. Yi khòaⁿ tùi chhia-thang gōa-kháu khì. Yi khai-sí kóng chin-chêng, tan-sûn ê ōe, bô kek jīm-hô hong-keh a̍h kí-chí. "Mama hām góa tī Denver tō͘-kòe joa̍h-thiⁿ. Chi̍t lé-pài chêng yi chiah tńg-chhù, in-ūi lāu-pē sió-khóa bô tú-hó. Góa ē-sái tòa Se-pō͘ kòe hēng-hok ê seng-oa̍h. Góa jīn-ûi, chia ê khong-khì kap góa ē ha̍h. Kim-chîⁿ m̄-sī bān-lêng. M̄-koh lâng chóng-sī gō͘-kái tāi-chì, iáu-sī gû-gōng..."

"Heh, Kéng-koaⁿ Ss," hit-ê bīn iu-iu ê lâng hoah-siaⁿ. "Án-ne bô kong-pêng. Góa su-iàu lim--chi̍t-poe, koh kui-kang bô pok-hun ah. Lín kóng liáu ū-kàu bōe? Taⁿ, chhōa góa khì pok-hun-sek, ē-sái bô? Góa hah hun hah kah boeh sí ah."

Sio-pa̍k ê nn̄g-ê lí-kheh khiā khí-lâi, Easton ê bīn kòa kāng-khoán hit-ê ûn-ûn ê bî-bî-á chhiò.

"Góa bē-tàng kī-choa̍t hun-chháu ê chhéng-kiû," i tām-tām kóng. "He sī put-hēng chiá ê ûi-it pêng-iú. Chài-hōe lah, Fairchild Sc. Jīm-bū chāi sin, che lí chai lah." I chhun-chhiú kò-pia̍t.

"Chin khó-sioh, lí bô boeh khì Tang-pō͘," yi kóng, kō͘ iu-ngá ê chu-thài kā saⁿ koh chhēng khí-lâi. "M̄-koh, lí tio̍h kè-sio̍k óng Leavenworth khì, góa siūⁿ sī án-ne."

"Sī lah," Easton kóng, "Góa tio̍h kè-sio̍k óng Leavenworth khì."

Hit nn̄g-lâng khi-sin iân kòe-tō khì pok-hun-sek.

Piⁿ-á chē-ūi ê nn̄g-ê lí-kheh ū thiaⁿ tio̍h tōa pō͘-hūn ê tùi-ōe. Kî-tiong chi̍t-lâng kóng: "Hit-ê hoat-kéng sī chi̍t-ê bē-bái ê kioh-siàu. Chiah-ê Se-pō͘ lâng lóng chin gī-khì."

"Chiah siàu-liân tō tam-jīm hit-chióng chit-bū, i kám m̄-sī?" lēng-gōa hit-ê mn̄g.

"Siàu-liân!" thâu-seng kóng-ōe hit-ê hoah siaⁿ kóng, "ai-ah... Oh! lí khòaⁿ bē-chhut sioh? Tō sī kóng... Lí kám bat thiaⁿ-kòe, kéng-koaⁿ kám ē kā hoān-lâng ê chhiú pa̍k tī ka-tī ê chiàⁿ-chhiú?"

--

Tī Denver 站, 濟濟乘客上往東 ê B&M 特快車廂. 其中一个車廂, 坐一位真媠 ê 少年查某, 穿插優雅, 隨身扎 ê, mā 是老經驗旅行者 ê 博爽裝備. 新上車 ê 旅客當中, 有兩个少年人: 一个外表緣投, 表情和舉止端正, 誠懇; 另外彼人目頭結結, 面憂憂, 生做大漢草, 穿粗布衫. 彼兩人 ê 手, 銬做伙.

In kiâⁿ 過道過來 ê 時, 車廂內賰 ê 坐位, 干焦是對號位, tī 彼个迷人少年查某 ê 對面. 彼兩个相連 ê 人 tō tī hia 坐落. 少年查某攑目睭, 冷 koh 緊掠 in 凊彩看一下; 然後, 她 ê 面展開可愛 ê 笑容, 幼 mī-mī ê 喙䫌出現溫柔 ê 粉紅, 她伸出一支細細, 掛手套 ê 手. 她講話 ê 時, 聲音飽滇, 好聽, koh 妥當, 可見她慣勢講話, koh 有人聽.

"Hmh, Easton Ss [先生], 你若愛我先講, 我想我著講. 到西部, 拄著老朋友, 你敢 tō 袂認得 ah?"

少年家聽著她 ê 聲, 忽 leh 攑頭, ká-ná 小可歹勢愣一下, 毋過隨 tō 回神, tō kō͘ 伊 ê 倒手去握她 ê 指頭仔.

"是 Fairchild Sc [小姐]," 伊笑笑講. "我著請你原諒我猶一支手; 今伊 teh 無利便."

伊 kā 正手小可攑一下, 手目 kō͘ 一个金 sih-sih ê "手環" 結到 in 同伴 ê 倒手. 姑娘目睭 ê 歡喜眼神, 慢慢轉變做一種困惑 ê 驚惶. 她面頂 ê 神彩消失. 她 ê 喙唇開開, 有一種不明, 放鬆 ê 掛心. Easton 小可笑笑, ká-ná 感覺心適, 拄欲 koh 開喙 ê 時, 去予另外彼人 kā 搶話. 彼个面憂憂 ê 人一直 kō͘ 熱切, 精明 ê 目睭暗中觀察姑娘 ê 表情.

"請原諒我講話, 小姐, 毋過我看, 你有熟似這位警官. 你若叫伊 tī 阮到監 ê 時為我講話, 伊會 án-ne 做, án-ne 我 tī hia ê 代誌 tō 會較 khùiⁿ-oa̍h. 伊欲和我去 Leavenworth 監獄. 為著造假, 著 7 年."

"Oh!" 姑娘講, 深深欶一下氣, 回復面色. "所以, 這 tō 是你 tī chia ê 穡頭? 一个法警!"

"我親愛 ê Fairchild Sc," Easton 平靜講, "我總著做代誌. 有錢 tō ná 有翼, 你知 lah, tī Washington, 著愛有錢才綴會著陣. Tī 西部, 我看著這个機會, iá... hmh, 法警 ê 地位無大使 hiah 懸, m̄-koh..."

"大使," 姑娘熱情講, "m̄-bat koh 敲電話. 伊根本 mā 無需要 án-ne 做. 這你應該 mā 知. Iá 今, 你是一个飄撇 ê 西部英雄, 騎馬, 磅銃, 出入種種危險. 這和 Washington ê 生活無仝. 老朋友伴已經 teh 思念你 ah lah."

姑娘 ê 目睭好玄, 小可展大一下, koh 徙轉看 he 金 sih-sih ê 手銬.

"你毋免煩惱彼, 小姐," 另外彼人講. "所有法警 lóng kā 家己和犯人銬做伙, 免得 in 偷走. Easton Ss 對伊 ê 業務真內行."

"阮真緊會當 koh tī Washington 看著你無?" 姑娘問.

"我想, 袂真緊," Easton 講. "我 ê 蝶仔日子已經過去 ah, 恐驚是 án-ne."

"我佮意西部," 姑娘講一句無關係 ê 話. 她 ê 目睭柔柔閃爍. 她看對車窗外口去. 她開始講真情, 單純 ê 話, 無激任何風格 a̍h 舉止. "Mama 和我 tī Denver 度過熱天. 一禮拜前她才轉厝, 因為老爸小可無拄好. 我會使蹛西部過幸福 ê 生活. 我認為, chia ê 空氣 kap 我 ē 合. 金錢毋是萬能. 毋過人總是誤解代誌, 猶是愚戇..."

"Heh, 警官 Ss," 彼个面憂憂 ê 人喝聲. "Án-ne 無公平. 我需要啉--一杯, koh 規工無噗薰 ah. 恁講了有夠未? 今, chhōa 我去噗薰室, 會使無? 我哈薰哈甲欲死 ah."

相縛 ê 兩个旅客徛起來, Easton ê 面掛仝款彼个勻勻 ê 微微仔笑.

"我袂當拒絕薰草 ê 請求," 伊淡淡講. "彼是不幸者 ê 唯一朋友. 再會 lah, Fairchild Sc. 任務在身, 這你知 lah." 伊伸手告別.

"真可惜, 你無欲去東部," 她講, kō͘ 優雅 ê 姿態 kā 衫 koh 穿起來. "毋過, 你著繼續往 Leavenworth 去, 我想是 án-ne."

"是 lah," Easton 講, "我著繼續往 Leavenworth 去."

彼兩人敧身沿過道去噗薰室.

邊仔坐位 ê 兩个旅客有聽著大部份 ê 對話. 其中一人講: "彼个法警是一个袂䆀 ê 腳數. Chiah-ê 西部人 lóng 真義氣."

"Chiah 少年 tō 擔任彼種職務, 伊敢毋是?" 另外彼个問.

"少年!" 頭先講話彼个喝聲講, "ai-ah... Oh! 你看袂出 sioh? Tō 是講... 你敢 bat 聽過, 警官敢 ē kā 犯人 ê 手縛 tī 家己 ê 正手?"

--

At Denver there was an influx of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B. & M. Express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveler. Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed together.

As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only vacant seat offered was a reversed one facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves. The young woman's glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile brightening her countenance and a tender pink tingeing her rounded cheeks, she held out a little gray-gloved hand. When she spoke her voice, full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaimed that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.

"Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don't you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?"

The younger man roused himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.

"It's Miss Fairchild," he said, with a smile. "I'll ask you to excuse the other hand; it's otherwise engaged just at present."

He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining "bracelet" to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl's eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror. The glow faded from her cheeks. Her lips parted in a vague, relaxing distress. Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was about to speak again when the other forestalled him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl's countenance with veiled glances from his keen, shrewd eyes.

"You'll excuse me for speaking, miss, but, I see you're acquainted with the marshal here. If you'll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the pen he'll do it, and it'll make things easier for me there. He's taking me to Leavenworth prison. It's seven years for counterfeiting."

"Oh!" said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. "So that is what you are doing out here? A marshal!"

"My dear Miss Fairchild," said Easton, calmly, "I had to do something. Money has a way of taking wings unto itself, and you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the West, and--well, a marshalship isn't quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but--"

"The ambassador," said the girl, warmly, "doesn't call any more. He needn't ever have done so. You ought to know that. And so now you are one of these dashing Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That's different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd."

The girl's eyes, fascinated, went back, widening a little, to rest upon the glittering handcuffs.

"Don't you worry about them, miss," said the other man. "All marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business."

"Will we see you again soon in Washington?" asked the girl.

"Not soon, I think," said Easton. "My butterfly days are over, I fear."

"I love the West," said the girl irrelevantly. Her eyes were shining softly. She looked away out the car window. She began to speak truly and simply without the gloss of style and manner: "Mamma and I spent the summer in Denver. She went home a week ago because father was slightly ill. I could live and be happy in the West. I think the air here agrees with me. Money isn't everything. But people always misunderstand things and remain stupid--"

"Say, Mr. Marshal," growled the glum-faced man. "This isn't quite fair. I'm needing a drink, and haven't had a smoke all day. Haven't you talked long enough? Take me in the smoker now, won't you? I'm half dead for a pipe."

The bound travelers rose to their feet, Easton with the same slow smile on his face.

"I can't deny a petition for tobacco," he said, lightly. "It's the one friend of the unfortunate. Good-bye, Miss Fairchild. Duty calls, you know." He held out his hand for a farewell.

"It's too bad you are not going East," she said, reclothing herself with manner and style. "But you must go on to Leavenworth, I suppose?"

"Yes," said Easton, "I must go on to Leavenworth."

The two men sidled down the aisle into the smoker.

The two passengers in a seat near by had heard most of the conversation. Said one of them: "That marshal's a good sort of chap. Some of these Western fellows are all right."

"Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn't he?" asked the other.

"Young!" exclaimed the first speaker, "why--Oh! didn't you catch on? Say--did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?"

--

// 2022-7-12

Hearts and Hands was originally published under his pseudonym, Sidney Porter, in 1902. The story is full of twists and wordplay, as was O.Henry's own life. He was sentenced to serve five years in federal prison for embezzlement of $854.08, after fleeing to Honduras, then returning to Austin to be with his sick wife, where he turned himself in. O. Henry was released shortly before this story was published, which makes its unexpected sources of compassion particularly poignant. This story is featured in The Unreliable Narrator.