Timothy S. Arthur ( b. 1809, d. 1885 ) was born near Newburgh, N.Y., but passed most of his life at Baltimore and Philadelphia. His opportunities for good schooling were quite limited, and he may be considered a self-educated man. He was the author of more than a hundred volumes, principally novels of a domestic and moral tone, and of many shorter tales—magazine articles, etc. "Ten Nights in a Barroom," and "Three Years in a Mantrap," are among his best known works.

When and where it matters not now to relate—but once upon a time, as I was passing through a thinly peopled district of country, night came down upon me almost unawares. Being on foot, I could not hope to gain the village toward which my steps were directed, until a late hour; and I therefore preferred seeking shelter and a night's lodging at the first humble dwelling that presented itself.

Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows, when I found myself in the vicinity of a dwelling, from the small uncurtained windows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of good cheer and comfort. The house stood within an inclosure, and a short distance from the road along which I was moving with wearied feet.

Turning aside, and passing through the ill-hung gate, I approached the dwelling. Slowly the gate swung on its wooden hinges, and the rattle of its latch, in closing, did not disturb the air until I had nearly reached the porch in front of the house, in which a slender girl, who had noticed my entrance, stood awaiting my arrival.

A deep, quick bark answered, almost like an echo, the sound of the shutting gate, and, sudden as an apparition, the form of an immense dog loomed in the doorway. At the instant when he was about to spring, a light hand was laid upon his shaggy neck, and a low word spoken.

"Go in, Tiger," said the girl, not in a voice of authority, yet in her gentle tones was the consciousness that she would be obeyed; and, as she spoke, she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand, and he turned away and disappeared within the dwelling.

"Who's that?" A rough voice asked the question; and now a heavy-looking man took the dog's place in the door.

"How far is it to G—?" I asked, not deeming it best to say, in the beginning, that I sought a resting place for the night.

"To G—!" growled the man, but not so harshly as at first. "It's good six miles from here."

"A long distance; and I'm a stranger and on foot," said I. "If you can make room for me until morning, I will be very thankful."

I saw the girl's hand move quickly up his arm, until it rested on his shoulder, and now she leaned to him still closer.

"Come in. We'll try what can be done for you." There was a change in the man's voice that made me wonder. I entered a large room, in which blazed a brisk fire. Before the fire sat two stout lads, who turned upon me their heavy eyes, with no very welcome greeting. A middle-aged woman was standing at a table, and two children were amusing themselves with a kitten on the floor.

"A stranger, mother," said the man who had given me so rude a greeting at the door; "and he wants us to let him stay all night."

The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments, and then replied coldly, "We don't keep a public house."

"I'm aware of that, ma'am," said I; "but night has overtaken me, and it's a long way yet to G—."

"Too far for a tired man to go on foot," said the master of the house, kindly, "so it's no use talking about it, mother; we must give him a bed."

So unobtrusively that I scarce noticed the movement, the girl had drawn to her mother's side. What she said to her I did not hear, for the brief words were uttered in a low voice; but I noticed, as she spoke, one small, fair hand rested on the woman's hand.

Was there magic in that touch? The woman's repulsive aspect changed into one of kindly welcome, and she said, "Yes, it's a long way to G—. I guess we can find a place for him."

Many times more during that evening, did I observe the magic power of that hand and voice—the one gentle yet potent as the other. On the next morning, breakfast being over, I was preparing to take my departure when my host informed me that if I would wait for half an hour he would give me a ride in his wagon to G—, as business required him to go there. I was very well pleased to accept of the invitation.

In due time, the farmer's wagon was driven into the road before the house, and I was invited to get in. I noticed the horse as a rough-looking Canadian pony, with a certain air of stubborn endurance. As the farmer took his seat by my side, the family came to the door to see us off.

"Dick!" said the farmer in a peremptory voice, giving the rein a quick jerk as he spoke. But Dick moved not a step. "Dick! you vagabond! get up." And the farmer's whip cracked sharply by the pony's ear.

It availed not, however, this second appeal. Dick stood firmly disobedient. Next the whip was brought down upon him with an impatient hand; but the pony only reared up a little. Fast and sharp the strokes were next dealt to the number of half a dozen. The man might as well have beaten the wagon, for all his end was gained.

A stout lad now came out into the road, and, catching Dick by the bridle, jerked him forward, using, at the same time, the customary language on such occasions, but Dick met this new ally with increased stubbornness, planting his fore feet more firmly and at a sharper angle with the ground.

The impatient boy now struck the pony on the side of the head with his clinched hand, and jerked cruelly at his bridle. It availed nothing, however; Dick was not to be wrought upon by any such arguments.

"Don't do so, John!" I turned my head as the maiden's sweet voice reached my ear. She was passing through the gate into the road, and in the next moment had taken hold of the lad and drawn him away from the animal. No strength was exerted in this; she took hold of his arm, and he obeyed her wish as readily as if he had no thought beyond her gratification.

And now that soft hand was laid gently on the pony's neck, and a single low word spoken. How instantly were the tense muscles relaxed—how quickly the stubborn air vanished!

"Poor Dick!" said the maiden, as she stroked his neck lightly, or softly patted it with a childlike hand. "Now, go along, you provoking fellow!" she added, in a half-chiding, yet affectionate voice, as she drew up the bridle.

The pony turned toward her, and rubbed his head against her arm for an instant or two; then, pricking up his ears, he started off at a light, cheerful trot, and went on his way as freely as if no silly crotchet had ever entered his stubborn brain.

"What a wonderful power that hand possesses!" said I, speaking to my companion, as we rode away.

He looked at me for a moment, as if my remark had occasioned surprise. Then a light came into his countenance, and he said briefly, "She's good! Everybody and everything loves her."

Was that, indeed, the secret of her power? Was the quality of her soul perceived in the impression of her hand, even by brute beasts! The father's explanation was doubtless the true one. Yet have I ever since wondered, and still do wonder, at the potency which lay in that maiden's magic touch. I have seen something of the same power, showing itself in the loving and the good, but never to the extent as instanced in her, whom, for want of a better name, I must still call "Gentle Hand."

提莫迪.S.亞瑟（1809～1885年）出生于紐約的紐堡附近，但是他一生中的大部分時(shí)間是在巴爾蒂摩和費(fèi)城度過(guò)的。他雖沒(méi)有接受過(guò)什么良好的教育，但卻是一個(gè)自學(xué)成才的人。他創(chuàng)作了100多部作品，其中大部分是描寫(xiě)家庭和道德的小說(shuō)，也有很多是發(fā)表在雜志上的短篇寓言故事?！毒瓢衫锏氖畟€(gè)夜晚》和《陷阱中的三年》是他最出名的作品。

這件事是在什么地方、什么時(shí)間發(fā)生的也許并不重要了。曾經(jīng)有一天，當(dāng)我走過(guò)一個(gè)人煙稀少的村子時(shí)，不知不覺(jué)天快黑了。由于是步行，我估計(jì)還需至少一個(gè)小時(shí)才能到達(dá)要去的村子，所以我決定在第一個(gè)出現(xiàn)的房子里歇腳。

暮色使地上的影子越來(lái)越深，這時(shí)我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己走到了一所房子附近，房子的窗戶上沒(méi)有窗簾，燈光從窗戶中照了出來(lái)，讓人感到愉快而舒適。那所房子坐落在一個(gè)院子里，離我站的道路不遠(yuǎn)。

我拐到一邊，穿過(guò)歪斜的大門(mén)，向小屋走去。大門(mén)晃來(lái)晃去，我進(jìn)去之后，門(mén)栓鎖上了，不過(guò)我沒(méi)注意這些。直直地走到房前的走廊，我看見(jiàn)那兒站著一個(gè)瘦弱的女孩兒，她聽(tīng)到門(mén)口的響動(dòng)，就站在那兒等我。

關(guān)門(mén)聲剛落，一串低沉、急促的狗叫聲就像大門(mén)關(guān)上時(shí)的回聲一樣響起了。一只大狗像幽靈一樣突然出現(xiàn)在門(mén)口。就在它要跳起的時(shí)候，一只手輕輕撫在它蓬松的脖頸上，同時(shí)，一個(gè)聲音輕聲響起。

“進(jìn)去，老虎?！迸⒄f(shuō)道，不是用命令的口氣，但是她溫柔的音調(diào)卻非常堅(jiān)定，似乎知道它一定會(huì)服從命令。她一邊說(shuō)一邊用手輕輕壓了壓這只狗。它轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)頭，從房間里消失了。

“你是誰(shuí)？”一個(gè)沙啞的聲音問(wèn)道，這時(shí)一個(gè)看起來(lái)很結(jié)實(shí)的男子出現(xiàn)在門(mén)口。

“這里離G城有多遠(yuǎn)？”我問(wèn)道，我想找個(gè)地方過(guò)夜，所以開(kāi)始時(shí)還是不要說(shuō)太多。

“去G城！”男子低哼一聲，但是語(yǔ)氣不像開(kāi)始那么嚴(yán)厲，“離這兒還有整整6英里。”

“還有那么遠(yuǎn)！我以前沒(méi)來(lái)過(guò)這兒，而且我是步行來(lái)的，”我說(shuō)道，“您看我能不能在這兒住一夜，如果可以的話，我會(huì)不勝感激的?！?

我看到那個(gè)女孩的手很快移向他的手臂，伏在他的肩膀上。女孩緊緊地靠在他的身邊。

“進(jìn)來(lái)吧，我們會(huì)盡力幫你的?！蹦凶拥穆曇糇兞耍@讓我感到很奇怪。

我走進(jìn)一間大房子，房間里燃著一團(tuán)火?；鸲亚白鴥蓚€(gè)粗壯的小伙子，他們睡眼朦朧地看著我，并沒(méi)表示歡迎。一位中年婦女站在桌子旁，兩個(gè)孩子在和地板上的小貓玩。

“媽媽，是一個(gè)陌生人?！痹陂T(mén)口很粗魯?shù)馗艺f(shuō)話的男子說(shuō)道，“他希望今晚可以在這兒過(guò)夜。”

那位婦女用懷疑的目光看了我一會(huì)兒，然后冷冷地回答：“我們這里又不是旅店?！?

“我知道，夫人，”我說(shuō)道，“今天天太黑了，而且這里離G城還很遠(yuǎn)?！?

“他很疲憊，而且步行，這兒離G城又太遠(yuǎn)，”主人溫和地說(shuō)道，“所以，媽媽，我們別再猶豫了，就留他住一晚吧！”

我都沒(méi)注意到，那個(gè)女孩已經(jīng)悄悄地走到她母親的身邊。她低聲向母親說(shuō)了些什么，我沒(méi)有聽(tīng)到，只是注意到，她在說(shuō)話時(shí)把小小的、白皙的手放在母親的手上。這一觸摸是不是有什么魔法？婦女的態(tài)度瞬間從排斥轉(zhuǎn)向歡迎，她說(shuō)：“是的，離那兒太遠(yuǎn)了，我想我們可以留他住一宿?！?

那天晚上，我?guī)状味甲⒁獾竭@只手和這個(gè)有的魔力聲音——雖然輕微但對(duì)對(duì)方卻強(qiáng)有力。第二天早上，吃過(guò)早飯后，我正準(zhǔn)備離開(kāi)，這時(shí)主人告訴我，如果我再等半個(gè)小時(shí)，就可以搭他的馬車去G城，因?yàn)樗舱糜惺乱ツ莾?。我非常高興地接受了他的邀請(qǐng)。

半個(gè)小時(shí)后，農(nóng)夫駕著馬車來(lái)到屋前的路上，并請(qǐng)我上去。我注意到拉車的馬是一匹暴烈的加拿大矮種馬，它看上去非常耐用。農(nóng)夫坐到我身邊，家里人都出來(lái)跟我們告別。

“迪克！”主人專橫地吼了一聲，同時(shí)迅速將韁繩拉了一下。但是迪克站著沒(méi)動(dòng)。“迪克，你這個(gè)無(wú)賴，走??！”主人的鞭子抽在小馬的耳朵上，發(fā)出響亮的聲音。

盡管又喊了一聲，迪克還是不動(dòng)，它站在那兒，毫不馴服。農(nóng)夫又不耐煩地抽了它一鞭子，可迪克只是跳了跳。主人氣急敗壞地連著抽打了六七下，他的力氣幾乎用完了，可迪克仍站著不動(dòng)。

這時(shí)，一個(gè)粗壯的小伙站在路上，他抓住迪克的籠頭，將它往前拉，還對(duì)著迪克粗魯?shù)厝轮?，可這會(huì)兒迪克更加倔強(qiáng)，它的前蹄貼著地面，站得更穩(wěn)了。

失去耐心的小伙子攥起拳頭敲打著小馬的頭部，然而這也無(wú)濟(jì)于事，看樣子迪克是不會(huì)被這些方法屈服的。

“不要這樣，約翰！”當(dāng)女孩甜美的聲音傳到我的耳朵時(shí)，我情不自禁地扭過(guò)頭看她。她穿過(guò)大門(mén)，走到馬路上，拉住小伙子，把他拖到一邊，但她并沒(méi)用力，只是握著小伙子的胳膊，小伙子非常順從，他似乎只想滿足她的愿望而不再多想什么。

這會(huì)兒，那雙柔軟的手正撫摸著小馬的脖子，并對(duì)它低聲說(shuō)著什么，馬兒緊繃的肌肉似乎突然放松了，它那頑固的脾氣也立刻消失得無(wú)影無(wú)蹤?！翱蓱z的迪克！”她說(shuō)，一會(huì)兒撫摸著馬兒的脖子，一會(huì)兒又像孩子一樣輕拍著迪克。“現(xiàn)在，出發(fā)吧，你這個(gè)惹人惱的家伙?！彼テ痦\繩，半責(zé)備半憐愛(ài)地說(shuō)。

小馬轉(zhuǎn)頭看著女孩兒，它一遍又一遍地用頭蹭著她的胳膊。然后，它豎起耳朵，輕快地小跑起來(lái)，就像從來(lái)沒(méi)有過(guò)叛逆的情緒。

“那雙手擁有的力量真神奇！”路上我對(duì)同伴說(shuō)。

他看著我，似乎我的話讓他感到很驚訝。他的眼睛一亮，然后簡(jiǎn)單地說(shuō)了句：“她是個(gè)好孩子，我們都喜歡她?！?

這就是她那神奇力量的秘密嗎？她那雙纖弱的小手所表現(xiàn)出來(lái)的精神力量，甚至可以感化粗野的牲畜。主人的解釋毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)是正確的，然而自始至終，我都被少女的魔力深深地感動(dòng)著。我曾經(jīng)見(jiàn)過(guò)同樣的，充滿愛(ài)意的東西，但它們都不如女孩的手那么神奇，我想不到更好的名字，就只能叫它“溫柔之手”。