按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
On my cosy hearth…stane；
My heart loups sae licht
I scarce ken't for my ain；'
there was a feeling of tears in the flowing song； and we knew the
words had brought her a picture of the fireside that would always
seem empty。 I felt the tears in my eyes； and； wondering at myself；
I cast a stealthy glance at the men about me； and I saw that they；
too； were looking through their hearts' windows upon firesides and
ingle…neuks that gleamed from far。
And then she sang 'The Auld Hoose；' and Geordie； giving me another
poke； said； 'That's ma ain sang；' and when I asked him what he
meant； he whispered fiercely； 'Wheesht； man！' and I did； for his
face looked dangerous。
In a pause between the verses I heard Geordie saying to himself；
'Ay； I maun gie it up； I doot。'
'What？' I ventured。
'Naething ava。' And then he added impatiently； 'Man； but ye're an
inqueesitive buddie；' after which I subsided into silence。
Immediately upon the meeting being called to order； Mr。 Craig made
his speech； and it was a fine bit of work。 Beginning with a clear
statement of the object in view； he set in contrast the two kinds
of leagues proposed。 One； a league of men who would take whisky in
moderation； the other； a league of men who were pledged to drink
none themselves； and to prevent in every honourable way others from
drinking。 There was no long argument； but he spoke at white heat；
and as he appealed to the men to think； each not of himself alone；
but of the others as well； the yearning； born of his long months of
desire and of toil； vibrated in his voice and reached to the heart。
Many men looked uncomfortable and uncertain； and even the manager
looked none too cheerful。
At this critical moment the crowd got a shock。 Billy Breen
shuffled out to the front； and； in a voice shaking with nervousness
and emotion； began to speak； his large； coarse hands wandering
tremulously about。
'Oi hain't no bloomin' temperance horator； and mayhap oi hain't no
right to speak 'ere； but oi got somethin' to saigh （say） and oi'm
agoin' to saigh it。
'Parson； 'ee says is it wisky or no wisky in this 'ere club？ If ye
hask me； wich （which） ye don't； then no wisky； says oi； and if ye
hask why？look at me！ Once oi could mine more coal than hany man
in the camp； now oi hain't fit to be a sorter。 Once oi 'ad some
pride and hambition； now oi 'angs round awaitin' for some one to
saigh； 〃Ere； Billy； 'ave summat。〃 Once oi made good paigh （pay）；
and sent it 'ome regular to my poor old mother （she's in the wukus
now； she is）； oi hain't sent 'er hany for a year and a 'alf。 Once
Billy was a good fellow and 'ad plenty o' friends； now Slavin
'isself kicks un hout； 'ee does。 Why？ why？' His voice rose to a
shriek。 'Because when Billy 'ad money in 'is pocket； hevery man in
this bloomin' camp as meets un at hevery corner says； 〃'Ello；
Billy； wat'll ye 'ave？〃 And there's wisky at Slavin's； and there's
wisky in the shacks； and hevery 'oliday and hevery Sunday there's
wisky； and w'en ye feel bad it's wisky； and w'en ye feel good it's
wisky； and heverywhere and halways it's wisky； wisky； wisky！ And
now ye're goin' to stop it； and 'ow？ T' manager； 'ee says picters
and magazines。 'Ee takes 'is wine and 'is beer like a gentleman；
'ee does； and 'ee don't 'ave no use for Billy Breen。 Billy； 'ee's
a beast； and t' manager； 'ee kicks un hout。 But supposin' Billy
wants to stop bein' a beast； and starts a…tryin' to be a man again；
and w'en 'ee gets good an' dry； along comes some un and says；
〃'Ello； Billy； 'ave a smile；〃 it hain't picters nor magazines 'ud
stop un then。 Picters and magazines！ Gawd 'elp the man as hain't
nothin' but picters and magazines to 'elp un w'en 'ee's got a devil
hinside and a devil houtside a…shovin' and a…drawin' of un down to
'ell。 And that's w'ere oi'm a…goin' straight； and yer bloomin'
League； wisky or no wisky； can't help me。 But；' and he lifted his
trembling hands above his head； 'if ye stop the wisky a…flowin'
round this camp； ye'll stop some of these lads that's a…followin'
me 'ard。 Yes； you！ and you！ and you！' and his voice rose to a wild
scream as he shook a trembling finger at one and another。
'Man； it's fair gruesome tae hear him；' said Geordie； 'he's no'
canny'； and reaching out for Billy as he went stumbling past； he
pulled him down to a seat beside him； saying； 'Sit doon； lad； sit
doon。 We'll mak a man o' ye yet。' Then he rose and； using many
r's； said； 'Maister Chairman； a' doot we'll juist hae to gie it
up。'
'Give it up？' called out Nixon。 'Give up the League？'
'Na！ na！ lad； but juist the wee drap whusky。 It's nae that guid
onyway； and it's a terrible price。 Man； gin ye gang tae
Henderson's in Buchanan Street； in Gleska； ye ken； ye'll get mair
for three…an'…saxpence than ye wull at Slavin's for five dollars。
An' it'll no' pit ye mad like yon stuff； but it gangs doon smooth
an' saft…like。 But' （regretfully） 'ye'll no' can get it here； an'
a'm thinkin' a'll juist sign yon teetotal thing。' And up he strode
to the table and put his name down in the book Craig had ready。
Then to Billy he said； 'Come' awa； lad！ pit yer name doon； an'
we'll stan' by ye。'
Poor Billy looked around helplessly； his nerve all gone； and sat
still。 There was a swift rustle of garments； and Mrs。 Mavor was
beside him； and； in a voice that only Billy and I could hear； said；
'You'll sign with； me； Billy？'
Billy gazed at her with a hopeless look in his eyes； and shook his
little； head。 She leaned slightly toward him； smiling brightly；
and； touching his arm gently； said
'Come； Billy； there's no fear；' and in a lower voice； 'God will
help you。'
As Billy went up； following Mrs。 Mavor close； a hush fell on the
men until he had put his name to the pledge； then they came up； man
by man； and signed。 But Craig sat with his head down till I
touched his shoulder。 He took my hand and held it fast； saying
over and over； under his breath； 'Thank God； thank God！'
And so the League was made。
CHAPTER VI
BLACK ROCK RELIGION
When I grow weary with the conventions of religion； and sick in my
soul from feeding upon husks； that the churches too often offer me；
in the shape of elaborate service and eloquent discourses； so that
in my sickness I doubt and doubt； then I go back to the communion
in Black Rock and the days preceding it； and the fever and the
weariness leave me； and I grow humble and strong。 The simplicity
and rugged grandeur of the faith； the humble gratitude of the rough
men I see about the table； and the calm radiance of one saintly
face； rest and recall me。
Not its most enthusiastic apologist would call Black Rock a
religious community； but it possessed in a marked degree that
eminent Christian virtue of tolerance。 All creeds； all shades of
religious opinion； were allowed； and it was generally conceded that
one was as good as another。 It is fair to say； however； that Black
Rock's catholicity was negative rather than positive。 The only
religion objectionable was that insisted upon as a necessity。 It
never occurred to any one to consider religion other than as a
respectable； if not ornamental； addition to life in older lands。
During the weeks following the making of the League； however； this
negative attitude towards things religious gave place to one of
keen investigation and criticism。 The indifference passed away；
and with it； in a large measure； the tolerance。 Mr。 Craig was
responsible for the former of these changes； but hardly； in
fairness； could he be held responsible for the latter。 If any one；
more than another； was to be blamed for the rise of intolerance in
the village； that man was Geordie Crawford。 He had his 'lines'
from the Established Kirk of Scotland； and when Mr。 Craig announced
his intention of having the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
observed； Geordie produced his 'lines' and promptly handed them in。
As no other man in the village was equipped with like spiritual
credentials； Geordie constituted himself a kind of kirk…session；
charged with the double duty of guarding the entrance to the Lord's
Table； and of keeping an eye upon the theological opinions of the
community； and more particularly upon such members of it as gave
evidence of possessing any opinions definite enough for statement。
It came to be Mr。 Craig's habit to drop into the League…room； and
toward the close of the evening to have a short Scripture lesson
from the Gospels。 Geordie's opportunity came after the meeting was
over and Mr。 Craig had gone away。 The men would hang about and
talk the lesson over； expressing opinions favourable or unfavourable
as appeared to them good。 Then it was that all sorts of views；
religious and otherwise； were aired and examined。 The originality
of the ideas； the absolute disregard of the authority of church or
creed； the frankness with which opinions were stated； and the
forcefulness of the language in which they were expressed； combined
to make the discussions altogether marvellous。 The passage between
Abe Baker； the stage…driver； and Geordie was particularly rich。 It
followed upon a very telling lesson on the parable of the Pharisee
and the Public