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speeches we want。 We've got somethin' to do； and what we want to
know is how to do it。 And to be right plain； we want to know how
to drive this cursed whisky out of Black Rock。 You all know what
it's doing for usat least for some of us。 And it's time to stop
it now； or for some of us it'll mighty soon be too late。 And the
only way to stop its work is to quit drinkin' it and help others to
quit。 I hear some talk of a League； and what I say is； if it's a
League out and out against whisky； a Total Abstinence right to the
ground； then I'm with itthat's my talkI move we make that kind
of League。'
Nixon sat down amid cheers and a chorus of remarks； 'Good man！'
'That's the talk！' 'Stay with it！' but he waited for the smile and
the glance that came to him from the beautiful face in the corner；
and with that he seemed content。
Again there was silence。 Then the secretary rose with a slight
flush upon his handsome； delicate face； and seconded the motion。
If they would pardon a personal reference he would give them his
reasons。 He had come to this country to make his fortune； now he
was anxious to make enough to enable him to go home with some
degree of honour。 His home held everything that was dear to him。
Between him and that home； between him and all that was good and
beautiful and honourable； stood whisky。 'I am ashamed to confess；'
and the flush deepened on his cheek； and his lips grew thinner；
'that I feel the need of some such league。' His handsome face； his
perfect style of address； learned possibly in the 'Union；' but；
more than all； his show of nervefor these men knew how to value
thatmade a strong impression on his audience； but there were no
following cheers。
Mr。 Craig appeared hopeful； but on Mrs。 Mavor's face there was a
look of wistful； tender pity； for she knew how much the words had
cost the lad。
Then up rose a sturdy； hard…featured man； with a burr in his voice
that proclaimed his birth。 His name was George Crawford； I
afterwards learned； but every one called him Geordie。 He was a
character in his way； fond of his glass； but though he was never
known to refuse a drink； he was never known to be drunk。 He took
his drink； for the most part； with bread and cheese in his own
shack； or with a friend or two in a sober； respectable way； but
never could be induced to join the wild carousals in Slavin's
saloon。 He made the highest wages； but was far too true a Scot to
spend his money recklessly。 Every one waited eagerly to hear
Geordie's mind。 He spoke solemnly； as befitted a Scotsman
expressing a deliberate opinion； and carefully； as if choosing his
best English； for when Geordie became excited no one in Black Rock
could understand him。
'Maister Chairman；' said Geordie； 'I'm aye for temperance in a'
things。' There was a shout of laughter； at which Geordie gazed
round in pained surprise。 'I'll no' deny；' he went on in an
explanatory tone； 'that I tak ma mornin'； an' maybe a nip at noon；
an' a wee drap aifter wark in the evenin'； an' whiles a sip o'
toddy wi' a freen thae cauld nichts。 But I'm no' a guzzler； an' I
dinna gang in wi' thae loons flingin' aboot guid money。'
'And that's thrue for you； me bye；' interrupted a rich Irish
brogue； to the delight of the crowd and the amazement of Geordie；
who went calmly on
'An' I canna bide yon saloon whaur they sell sic awfu'…like stuff
it's mair like lye nor guid whisky；and whaur ye're never sure o'
yer richt change。 It's an awfu'…like place； man！'and Geordie
began to warm up'ye can juist smell the sulphur when ye gang in。
But I dinna care aboot thae Temperance Soceeities； wi' their
pledges an' havers； an' I canna see what hairm can come till a man
by takin' a bottle o' guid Glenlivet hame wi' him。 I canna bide
thae teetotal buddies。'
Geordie's speech was followed by loud applause； partly appreciative
of Geordie himself； but largely sympathetic with his position。
Two or three men followed in the same strain advocating a league
for mutual improvement and social purposes； but without the
teetotal pledge； they were against the saloon； but didn't see why
they should not take a drink now and then。
Finally the manager rose to support his 'friend； Mistahah
Cwafoad；' ridiculing the idea of a total abstinence pledge as
fanatical and indeed 'absuad。' He was opposed to the saloon； and
would like to see a club formed； with a comfortable club…room；
books； magazines； pictures； games； anything； 'dontcheknow； to make
the time pass pleasantly'； but it was 'absuad to ask men to abstain
fwom a pwopah use ofawnouwishing dwinks；' because some men made
beasts of themselves。 He concluded by offering 50。00 towards the
support of such a club。
The current of feeling was setting strongly against the total
abstinence idea； and Craig's face was hard and his eyes gleamed
like coals。 Then he did a bit of generalship。 He proposed that
since they had the two plans clearly before them they should take a
few minutes' intermission in which to make up their minds； and he
was sure they would be glad to have Mrs。 Mavor sing。 In the
interval the men talked in groups； eagerly； even fiercely； hampered
seriously in the forceful expression of their opinion by the
presence of Mrs。 Mavor； who glided from group to group； dropping a
word here and a smile there。 She reminded me of a general riding
along the ranks； bracing his men for the coming battle。 She paused
beside Geordie； spoke earnestly for a few moments； while Geordie
gazed solemnly at her； and then she came back to Billy in the
corner near me。 What she was saying I could not hear； but poor
Billy was protesting； spreading his hands out aimlessly before him；
but gazing at her the while in dumb admiration。 Then she came to
me。 'Poor Billy； he was good to my husband；' she said softly； 'and
he has a good heart。'
'He's not much to look at；' I could not help saying。
'The oyster hides its pearl；' she answered； a little reproachfully。
'The shell is apparent enough；' I replied； for the mischief was in
me。
'Ah yes；' she replied softly； 'but it is the pearl we love。'
I moved over beside Billy； whose eyes were following Mrs。 Mavor as
she went to speak to Mr。 Craig。 'Well；' I said； 'you all seem to
have a high opinion of her。'
'An 'igh hopinion；' he replied； in deep scorn。 'An 'igh hopinion；
you calls it。'
'What would you call it？' I asked； wishing to draw him out。
'Oi don't call it nothink；' he replied； spreading out his rough
hands。
'She seems very nice；' I said indifferently。
He drew his eyes away from Mrs。 Mavor； and gave attention to me for
the first time。
'Nice！' he repeated with fine contempt； and then he added
impressively； 'Them as don't know shouldn't say nothink。'
'You are right；' I answered earnestly； 'and I am quite of your
opinion。'
He gave me a quick glance out of his little； deep…set； dark…blue
eyes； and opened his heart to me。 He told me； in his quaint
speech； how again and again she had taken him in and nursed him；
and encouraged him； and sent him out with a new heart for his
battle； until； for very shame's sake at his own miserable weakness；
he had kept out of her way for many months； going steadily down。
'Now； oi hain't got no grip； but when she says to me to…night； says
she； 〃Oh； Billy〃she calls me Billy to myself' （this with a touch
of pride）'〃oh； Billy；〃 says she； 〃we must 'ave a total
habstinence league to…night； and oi want you to 'elp！〃 and she
keeps a…lookin' at me with those heyes o' hern till； if you believe
me； sir；' lowering his voice to an emphatic whisper； 'though oi
knowed oi couldn't 'elp none； afore oi knowed oi promised 'er oi
would。 It's 'er heyes。 When them heyes says 〃do；〃 hup you steps
and 〃does。〃'
I remembered my first look into her eyes； and I could quite
understand Billy's submission。 Just as she began to sing I went
over to Geordie and took my seat beside him。 She began with an
English slumber song； 'Sleep； Baby； Sleep'one of Barry
Cornwall's； I think；and then sang a love…song with the refrain；
'Love once again'； but no thrills came to me； and I began to wonder
if her spell over me was broken。 Geordie； who had been listening
somewhat indifferently； encouraged me； however； by saying； 'She's
just pittin' aff time with thae feckless sangs； man； there's nae
grup till them。' But when； after a few minutes' pause； she began
'My Ain Fireside；' Geordie gave a sigh of satisfaction。 'Ay；
that's somethin' like；' and when she finished the first verse he
gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow that took my breath away；
saying in a whisper； 'Man； hear till yon； wull ye？' And again I
found the spell upon me。 It was not the voice after all； but the
great soul behind that thrilled and compelled。 She was seeing；
feeling； living what she sang； and her voice showed us her heart。
The cosy fireside； with its bonnie； blithe blink； where no care
could abide； but only peace and love； was vividly present to her；
and as she sang we saw it too。 When she came to the last verse
'When I draw in my stool
On my cosy hearth…stane；
My heart loups sae licht
I scarce ken't for my ain；'
there was a feeling of tea