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this atmosphere！ They send their young bloods here to reform。
Here！ in this devil's camp…ground； where a man's lust is his only
law； and when； from sheer monotony； a man must betake himself to
the only excitement of the placethat offered by the saloon。 Good
people in the east hold up holy hands of horror at these godless
miners； but I tell you it's asking these boys a good deal to keep
straight and clean in a place like this。 I take my excitement in
fighting the devil and doing my work generally； and that gives me
enough； but these poor chapshard worked； homeless； with no break
or changeGod help them and me！' and his voice sank low。
'Well；' I persisted； 'did Mavor reform？'
Again he roused himself。 'Reform？ Not exactly。 In six…months he
had broken through all restraint； and； mind you； not the miners'
faultnot a miner helped him down。 It was a sight to make angels
weep when Mrs。 Mavor would come to the saloon door for her husband。
Every miner would vanish； they could not look upon her shame； and
they would send Mavor forth in the charge of Billy Breen； a queer
little chap； who had belonged to the Mavors in some way in the old
country； and between them they would get him home。 How she stood
it puzzles me to this day； but she never made any sign； and her
courage never failed。 It was always a bright； brave； proud face
she held up to the worldexcept in church； there it was different。
I used to preach my sermons； I believe； mostly for herbut never
so that she could suspectas bravely and as cheerily as I could。
And as she listened； and especially as she sanghow she used to
sing in those days！there was no touch of pride in her face；
though the courage never died out； but appeal； appeal！ I could
have cursed aloud the cause of her misery； or wept for the pity of
it。 Before her baby was born he seemed to pull himself together；
for he was quite mad about her； and from the day the baby came
talk about miracles！from that day he never drank a drop。 She
gave the baby over to him； and the baby simply absorbed him。
'He was a new man。 He could not drink whisky and kiss his baby。
And the minersit was really absurd if it were not so pathetic。
It was the first baby in Black Rock； and they used to crowd Mavor's
shop and peep into the room at the back of itI forgot to tell you
that when he lost his position as manager he opened a hardware
shop； for his people chucked him； and he was too proud to write
home for moneyjust for a chance to be asked in to see the baby。
I came upon Nixon standing at the back of the shop after he had
seen the baby for the first time； sobbing hard； and to my question
he replied： 〃It's just like my own。〃 You can't understand this。
But to men who have lived so long in the mountains that they have
forgotten what a baby looks like； who have had experience of
humanity only in its roughest； foulest form； this little mite；
sweet and clean； was like an angel fresh from heaven； the one link
in all that black camp that bound them to what was purest and best
in their past。
'And to see the mother and her baby handle the miners！
'Oh； it was all beautiful beyond words！ I shall never forget the
shock I got one night when I found 〃Old Ricketts〃 nursing the baby。
A drunken old beast he was； but there he was sitting； sober enough；
making extraordinary faces at the baby； who was grabbing at his
nose and whiskers and cooing in blissful delight。 Poor 〃Old
Ricketts〃 looked as if he had been caught stealing； and muttering
something about having to go； gazed wildly round for some place in
which to lay the baby； when in came the mother； saying in her own
sweet； frank way： 〃O Mr。 Ricketts〃 （she didn't find out till
afterwards his name was Shaw）； 〃would you mind keeping her just a
little longer？I shall be back in a few minutes。〃 And 〃Old
Ricketts〃 guessed he could wait。
'But in six months mother and baby； between them； transformed 〃Old
Ricketts〃 into Mr。 Shaw； fire…boss of the mines。 And then in the
evenings； when she would be singing her baby to sleep； the little
shop would be full of miners； listening in dead silence to the
baby…songs； and the English songs； and the Scotch songs she poured
forth without stint； for she sang more for them than for her baby。
No wonder they adored her。 She was so bright； so gay； she brought
light with her when she went into the camp； into the pitsfor she
went down to see the men workor into a sick miner's shack； and
many a man； lonely and sick for home or wife； or baby or mother；
found in that back room cheer and comfort and courage； and to many
a poor broken wretch that room became； as one miner put it； 〃the
anteroom to heaven。〃'
Mr。 Craig paused； and I waited。 Then he went on slowly
'For a year and a half that was the happiest home in all the world；
till one day'
He put his face in his hands； and shuddered。
'I don't think I can ever forget the awful horror of that bright
fall afternoon； when 〃Old Ricketts〃 came breathless to me and
gasped； 〃Come！ for the dear Lord's sake；〃 and I rushed after him。
At the mouth of the shaft lay three men dead。 One was Lewis Mavor。
He had gone down to superintend the running of a new drift； the two
men； half drunk with Slavin's whisky； set off a shot prematurely；
to their own and Mavor's destruction。 They were badly burned； but
his face was untouched。 A miner was sponging off the bloody froth
oozing from his lips。 The others were standing about waiting for
me to speak。 But I could find no word； for my heart was sick；
thinking； as they were； of the young mother and her baby waiting at
home。 So I stood； looking stupidly from one to the other； trying
to find some reasoncoward that I waswhy another should bear the
news rather than I。 And while we stood there； looking at one
another in fear； there broke upon us the sound of a voice mounting
high above the birch tops； singing
〃Will ye no' come back again？
Will ye no' come back again？
Better lo'ed ye canna be；
Will ye no' come back again？〃
'A strange terror seized us。 Instinctively the men closed up in
front of the body； and stood in silence。 Nearer and nearer came
the clear； sweet voice； ringing like a silver bell up the steep
〃Sweet the lav'rock's note and lang；
Liltin' wildly up the glen；
But aye tae me he sings ae sang；
Will ye no' come back again？〃
'Before the verse was finished 〃Old Ricketts〃 had dropped on his
knees； sobbing out brokenly； 〃O God！ O God！ have pity； have pity；
have pity！〃and every man took off his hat。 And still the voice
came nearer； singing so brightly the refrain；
'〃Will ye no' come back again？'
'It became unbearable。 〃Old Ricketts〃 sprang suddenly to his feet；
and； gripping me by the arm； said piteously； 〃Oh； go to her！ for
Heaven's sake； go to her！〃 I next remember standing in her path
and seeing her holding out her hands full of red lilies； crying
out； 〃Are they not lovely？ Lewis is so fond of them！〃 With the
promise of much finer ones I turned her down a path toward the
river； talking I know not what folly； till her great eyes grew
grave； then anxious； and my tongue stammered and became silent。
Then； laying her hand upon my arm； she said with gentle sweetness；
〃Tell me your trouble； Mr。 Craig；〃 and I knew my agony had come；
and I burst out； 〃Oh； if it were only mine！〃 She turned quite
white； and with her deep eyesyou've noticed her eyesdrawing the
truth out of mine； she said； 〃Is it mine； Mr。 Craig； and my
baby's？〃 I waited； thinking with what words to begin。 She put one
hand to her heart； and with the other caught a little poplar…tree
that shivered under her grasp； and said with white lips； but even
more gently； 〃Tell me。〃 I wondered at my voice being so steady as
I said； 〃Mrs。 Mavor； God will help you and your baby。 There has
been an accidentand it is all over。〃
'She was a miner's wife； and there was no need for more。 I could
see the pattern of the sunlight falling through the trees upon the
grass。 I could hear the murmur of the river； and the cry of the
cat…bird in the bushes； but we seemed to be in a strange and unreal
world。 Suddenly she stretched out her hands to me； and with a
little moan said； 〃Take me to him。〃
'〃Sit down for a moment or two；〃 I entreated。
'〃No； no！ I am quite ready。 See；〃 she added quietly； 〃I am quite
strong。〃
'I set off by a short cut leading to her home； hoping the men would
be there before us； but； passing me； she walked swiftly through the
trees； and I followed in fear。 As we came near the main path I
heard the sound of feet； and I tried to stop her； but she； too； had
heard and knew。 〃Oh； let me go！〃 she said piteously； 〃you need not
fear。〃 And I had not the heart to stop her。 In a little opening
among the pines we met the bearers。 When the men saw her； they
laid their burden gently down upon the carpet of yellow pine…
needles； and then； for they had the hearts of true men in them；
they went away into the bushes and left her alone with her dead。
She went swiftly to his side； making no cry； but kneeling beside
him she stroked his face and hands； and touched his curls with her
fingers； murmuring all t