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eternal story of the angels and the shepherds and the Babe。 And as
he read； a slight motion of the hand or a glance of an eye made us
see； as he was seeing； that whole radiant drama。 The wonder； the
timid joy； the tenderness； the mystery of it all； were borne in
upon us with overpowering effect。 He closed the book； and in the
same low； clear voice went on to tell us how； in his home years
ago； he used to stand on Christmas Eve listening in thrilling
delight to his mother telling him the story； and how she used to
make him see the shepherds and hear the sheep bleating near by； and
how the sudden burst of glory used to make his heart jump。
'I used to be a little afraid of the angels； because a boy told me
they were ghosts； but my mother told me better； and I didn't fear
them any more。 And the Baby； the dear little Babywe all love a
baby。' There was a quick； dry sob； it was from Nelson。 'I used to
peek through under to see the little one in the straw； and wonder
what things swaddling clothes were。 Oh； it was all so real and so
beautiful！' He paused； and I could hear the men breathing。
'But one Christmas Eve；' he went on； in a lower； sweeter tone；
'there was no one to tell me the story； and I grew to forget it；
and went away to college； and learned to think that it was only a
child's tale and was not for men。 Then bad days came to me and
worse； and I began to lose my grip of myself； of life； of hope； of
goodness； till one black Christmas； in the slums of a faraway city；
when I had given up all； and the devil's arms were about me； I
heard the story again。 And as I listened； with a bitter ache in my
heart； for I had put it all behind me； I suddenly found myself
peeking under the shepherds' arms with a child's wonder at the Baby
in the straw。 Then it came over me like great waves； that His name
was Jesus； because it was He that should save men from their sins。
Save！ Save！ The waves kept beating upon my ears； and before I
knew； I had called out； 〃Oh！ can He save me？〃 It was in a little
mission meeting on one of the side streets； and they seemed to be
used to that sort of thing there； for no one was surprised； and a
young fellow leaned across the aisle to me and said； 〃Why！ you just
bet He can！〃 His surprise that I should doubt； his bright face and
confident tone； gave me hope that perhaps it might be so。 I held
to that hope with all my soul； and'stretching up his arms； and
with a quick glow in his face and a little break in his voice； 'He
hasn't failed me yet； not once； not once！'
He stopped quite short； and I felt a good deal like making a fool
of myself； for in those days I had not made up my mind about these
things。 Graeme； poor old chap； was gazing at him with a sad
yearning in his dark eyes； big Sandy was sitting very stiff； and
staring harder than ever into the fire； Baptiste was trembling with
excitement； Blaney was openly wiping the tears away。 But the face
that held my eyes was that of old man Nelson。 It was white；
fierce； hungry…looking； his sunken eyes burning； his lips parted as
if to cry。
The minister went on。 'I didn't mean to tell you this； men； it all
came over me with a rush； but it is true； every word； and not a
word will I take back。 And； what's more； I can tell you this； what
He did for me He can do for any man； and it doesn't make any
difference what's behind him； and'leaning slightly forward； and
with a little thrill of pathos vibrating in his voice'O boys； why
don't you give Him a chance at you？ Without Him you'll never be
the men you want to be； and you'll never get the better of that
that's keeping some of you now from going back home。 You know
you'll never go back till you're the men you want to be。' Then；
lifting up his face and throwing back his head； he said； as if to
himself； 'Jesus！ He shall save His people from their sins；' and
then； 'Let us pray。'
Graeme leaned forward with his face in his hands； Baptiste and
Blaney dropped on their knees； Sandy； the Campbells； and some
others； stood up。 Old man Nelson held his eyes steadily on the
minister。
Only once before had I seen that look on a human face。 A young
fellow had broken through the ice on the river at home； and as the
black water was dragging his fingers one by one from the slippery
edges； there came over his face that same look。 I used to wake up
for many a night after in a sweat of horror； seeing the white face
with its parting lips； and its piteous； dumb appeal； and the black
water slowly sucking it down。
Nelson's face brought it all back； but during the prayer the face
changed； and seemed to settle into resolve of some sort； stern；
almost gloomy； as of a man with his last chance before him。
After the prayer Mr。 Craig invited the men to a Christmas dinner
next day in Black Rock。 'And because you are an independent lot；
we'll charge you half a dollar for dinner and the evening show。'
Then leaving a bundle of magazines and illustrated papers on the
tablea godsend to the menhe said good…bye and went out。
I was to go with the minister； so I jumped into the sleigh first；
and waited while he said good…bye to Graeme； who had been hard hit
by the whole service； and seemed to want to say something。 I heard
Mr。 Craig say cheerfully and confidently； 'It's a true bill： try
Him。'
Sandy； who had been steadying Dandy while that interesting broncho
was attempting with great success to balance himself on his hind
legs； came to say good…bye。 'Come and see me first thing； Sandy。'
'Ay！ I know； I'll see ye； Mr。 Craig；' said Sandy earnestly； as
Dandy dashed off at a full gallop across the clearing and over the
bridge； steadying down when he reached the hill。
'Steady； you idiot！'
This was to Dandy； who had taken a sudden side spring into the deep
snow； almost upsetting us。 A man stepped out from the shadow。 It
was old man Nelson。 He came straight to the sleigh； and； ignoring
my presence completely； said
'Mr。 Craig； are you dead sure of this？ Will it work？'
'Do you mean；' said Craig； taking him up promptly； 'can Jesus
Christ save you from your sins and make a man of you？'
The old man nodded； keeping his hungry eyes on the other's face。
'Well； here's His message to you： 〃The Son of Man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost。〃'
'To me？ To me？' said the old man eagerly。
'Listen； this； too； is His Word： 〃Him that cometh unto Me I will in
no wise cast out。〃 That's for you； for here you are； coming。'
'You don't know me； Mr。 Craig。 I left my baby fifteen years ago
because'
'Stop！' said the minister。 'Don't tell me； at least not to…night；
perhaps never。 Tell Him who knows it all now； and who never
betrays a secret。 Have it out with Him。 Don't be afraid to trust
Him。'
Nelson looked at him； with his face quivering； and said in a husky
voice； 'If this is no good； it's hell for me。'
'If it is no good；' replied Craig； almost sternly； 'it's hell for
all of us。'
The old man straightened himself up； looked up at the stars； then
back at Mr。 Craig； then at me； and； drawing a deep breath； said；
'I'll try Him。' As he was turning away the minister touched him on
the arm； and said quietly； 'Keep an eye on Sandy to…morrow。'
Nelson nodded； and we went on； but before we took the next turn I
looked back and saw what brought a lump into my throat。 It was old
man Nelson on his knees in the snow； with his hands spread upward
to the stars； and I wondered if there was any One above the stars；
and nearer than the stars； who could see。 And then the trees hid
him from my sight
CHAPTER II
THE BLACK ROCK CHRISTMAS
Many strange Christmas Days have I seen； but that wild Black Rock
Christmas stands out strangest of all。 While I was revelling in my
delicious second morning sleep； just awake enough to enjoy it； Mr。
Craig came abruptly； announcing breakfast and adding； 'Hope you are
in good shape； for we have our work before us this day。'
'Hello！' I replied； still half asleep； and anxious to hide from the
minister that I was trying to gain a few more moments of snoozing
delight； 'what's abroad？'。
'The devil；' he answered shortly； and with such emphasis that I sat
bolt upright； looking anxiously about。
'Oh！ no need for alarm。 He's not after you particularlyat least
not to…day；' said Craig； with a shadow of a smile。 'But he is
going about in good style； I can tell you。'
By this time I was quite awake。 'Well； what particular style does
His Majesty affect this morning？'
He pulled out a showbill。 'Peculiarly gaudy and effective； is it
not？'
The items announced were sufficiently attractive。 The 'Frisco
Opera Company were to produce the 'screaming farce；' 'The Gay and
Giddy Dude'； after which there was to be a 'Grand Ball；' during
which the 'Kalifornia Female Kickers' were to do some fancy
figures； the whole to be followed by a 'big supper' with 'two free
drinks to every man and one to the lady；' and all for the
insignificant sum of two dollars。
'Can't you go one better？' I said。
He looked inquiringly and a little disgustedly at me。
'What can you do against free drinks and a dance； not to speak of
the 〃High Kickers〃？' he groaned。
'No！' he con