海倫奇妙的西部之旅結束了。
她 9/16/1938 4:15pm 離開LAMY。 聖塔飛鐵路公司。101車底鋪6號
禮拜六,9/17/1938:旅途中。列車上早,午,晚餐
禮拜天,9/18/1938:6:46pm 到達芝加哥。10:15離開。
賓夕法尼亞鐵路。“GOTHAM LTD”544車上鋪2號
禮拜一,9/19/1938:3:48pm 回費城(北站) 。
出發之前,我們用了西部讚歌開始描述她對西部的向往和憧憬。
結束之際,再用一個著名的詠歎西部大詩歌結尾:
此處為天堂
HR Merrill, 1930's 作
。。。就讓我處身於
西部荒涼之地
的這些山峰之中
。。。當我最後告別的時候
我的精神就留在了
西部。
。。。上帝啊, 此處應為天堂
Oh, God, let this be heaven—
I do not ask for golden streets
Or long for jasper walls
Nor do I sigh for pearly shores
Where twilight never falls
Just leave me here beside these peaks
In this rough western land,
I love this dear old world of thine—
Dear God, You understand.
Oh, God, let this be heaven—
I do not crave white, stainless robes
I’ll keep these marked by toil.
Instead of straight and narrow walks
I love trails soft with soil;
I have been healed by crystal streams,
But these from snow-crowned peaks
Where dawn burns incense to the day
And paints the sky in streaks.
Dear God, let this be heaven—
I do not ask for angel wings
Just leave that old peak there
And let me climb ‘til comes the night—
I want no golden stair
Then when I say my last adieu
And all farewells are given
Just leave my spirit here somewhere
Oh, God, let this be heaven!
~HR Merrill, 1930s
Wildwood cabin resident
海倫還會被西部的精神吸引,再度回來嗎?? (待續)