remember the alamo-第51部分

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out　their　arms　to　him。　　The　magnetic　chain　of　sympathy　was
complete。　　The　hearts　of　his　listeners　were　an　instrument；　on
which　he　played　the　noblest；　most　inspiring；　the　sweetest　of
melodies。　　He　kindled　them　as　flame　kindles　dry　grass。　
He　showed　them　their　future　with　a　prophet's　eye；　and　touched
them　also　with　the　glad　diviner's　rapture。　　They　aspired；
they　rejoiced　at　his　bidding；　and　at　the　moment　of　their
highest　enthusiasm；　he　cried　out：

〃Whatever　State　gave　us　birth；　we　have　one　native　land　and　we
have　one　flag！〃　　Instantly　from　the　grim；　blood…stained　walls
of　the　fortress；　the　blessed　Stars　and　Stripes　flew　out；　and
in　a　moment　a　thousand　smaller　flags；　from　every　high　place；
gave　it　salutation。　　Then　the　thunder　of　cannon　was　answered
by　the　thunder　of　voices。　　Cannon　may　thunder　and　make　no
impression；　but　the　shout　of　humanity！　　It　stirs　and　troubles
the　deepest　heart…stream。　　It　is　a　cry　that　cannot　be
resisted。　　It　sets　the　gates　of　feeling　wide　open。　　And　it　was
while　men　were　in　this　mood　that　Houston　said　his　last　words：

〃I　look　in　this　glorious　sunshine　upon　the　bloody　walls　of　the
Alamo。　　I　remember　Goliad。　　I　carry　my　memory　back　over　the
long　struggle　of　thirty　years。　　Do　you　think　the　young；　brave
souls；　fired　with　the　love　of　liberty；　who　fell　in　this　long
conflict　have　forgotten　it？　　No！　　No！　　No！　　Wherever　in　God's
Eternity　they　are　this　day；　I　believe　they　are　permitted　to
know　that　Texas　has　become　part　of　their　country；　and
rests　forever　under　the　flag　they　loved。　　The　shouting
thousands；　the　booming　cannon；　that　greeted　this　flag　were　not
all　the　sounds　I　heard！　　Far　off；　far　off；　yet　louder　than　any
noise　of　earth；　I　heard　from　the　dead　years；　and　the　dead
heroes　of　these　years；　the　hurrahing　of　ghostly　voices　and　the
clapping　of　unseen　hands！〃

〃It　was　like　Houston　to　call　the　dead　to　the　triumph；〃　said
the　doctor；　as　he　stood　with　the　Senora　in　her　room。　　He　was
unbuttoning　her　gloves；　and　her　tears　dropped　down　upon　his
hands。

〃He　is　a　man　by　himself；　and　none　like　him。　　I　thought　that　I
should　never　forgive　him　for　sparing　the　life　of　that
monsterSanta　Anna；　but　to…day　I　forgive　him　even　that。　　I　am
so　happy　that　I　shall　ask　Holy　Maria　to　excuse　me　the　feeling；
for　it　is　not　good　to　permit　one's　self　to　be　too　happy；　it
brings　trouble。　　But　indeed；　when　I　looked　at　Thomas；　I
thought　how　wisely　he　has　married。　　It　is　seldom　a　mother　can
approve　of　her　daughter…in…law；　but　Abbie　has　many
excellenciesgood　manners；　and　a　good　heart；　and　a　fortune
which　is　quite　respectable。〃

〃And　strong　principles　also；　Maria。　　She　will　bring　up　her
children　to　know　right　and　wrong；　and　to　do　right。〃

〃THAT　of　course。　　Every　good　mother　does　that。　　I　am　sure
it　is　a　sight　for　the　angels　to　see　Isabel　teaching　her
children　their　prayers。　　Did　you　observe　also　how　great　a
favorite　Luis　is？　　He　lifted　his　hat　to　this　one　and　that　one；
and　it　is　certain　that　the　next　election　will　be　in　his　hand。〃

〃PerhapsI　wish　Lopez　would　take　more　interest　in　politics。　
He　is　a　dreamer。〃

〃But；　then；　a　very　happy　dreamer。〃　　Perhaps　to　dream　well　and
pleasantly　is　to　live　a　better　life。　　Antonia　is　devoted　to
him。　　She　has　a　blessed　lot。　　Once　I　did　not　think　she　would
be　so　fortunate。〃

〃Lopez　was　prudent　and　patient。〃

〃Prudent！　　Patient！　　It　is　a　miracle　to　me！　　I　assure　you；
they　even　talk　together　of　young　Senor　Grant！　　It　is
satisfactory；　but　extremely　strange。〃

〃You　had　better　sleep　a　little；　Maria。　　General　Houston　is
coming　to　dinner。〃

〃That　is　understood。　　When　I　spoke　last　to　him；　I　was　a　woman
broken…hearted。　　To…night　I　will　thank　him　for　all　that
he　has　done。　　Ah；　Roberto！　　His　words　to…day　went　to　my；
soulI　thought　of　my　JuanI　thought　of　the　vision　he　showed
meI　wondered　if　he　knewif　he　sawand　heard〃　she　leaned
her　head　upon　her　husband's　breast；　and　he　kissed　away　the
sorrowful　rain。

〃He　was　so　sweet！　so　beautiful！　　Oh；　Roberto！〃

〃He　was　God's　greatest　gift　to　us。　　Maria！　dear。　　Maria！　　I
love　you　for；　all　the　children　you　have　given　me；　BUT　MOST
OF　ALL；　FOR　JUAN！〃




End