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！
49
… Page 50…
THE FRIENDLY ROAD
uncomfortable。 But the minister； with the fine； high humility of those
whose passion is for great or true things； was quite oblivious to the harsh
words。 Borne along by an irresistible enthusiasm； he told in glowing terms
what his plan would mean to the community； how the people needed a
new social and civic spirita 〃neighbourhood religious feeling〃 he called
it。 And as he talked his face flushed； and his eyes shone with the pure fire
of a great purpose。 But I could see that all this enthusiasm impressed the
practical Mr。 Nash as mere moonshine。 He grew more and more uneasy。
Finally he brought his hand down with a resounding thwack upon his knee；
and said in a high； cutting voice：
〃I don't believe in any such newfangled nonsense。 It ain't none of a
parson's business what the community does。 You're hired； ain't you； an'
paid to run the church？ That's the end of it。 We ain't goin' to have any
mixin' of religion an' farmin' in THIS neighbourhood。〃
My eyes were on the pale man of God。 I felt as though a human soul
were being weighed in the balance。 What would he do now？ What was he
worth REALLY as a man as well as a minister？
He paused a moment with downcast eyes。 I saw little Mrs。 Minister
glance at himoncewistfully。 He rose from his place； drew himself up to
his full heightI shall not soon forget the look on his faceand uttered
these amazing words：
〃Martha； bring the ginger…jar。〃
Mrs。 Minister； without a word； went to a little cupboard on the farther
side of the room and took down a brown earthenware jar； which she
brought over and placed on the table； Mr。 Nash following her movements
with astonished eyes。 No one spoke。
The minister took the jar in his hands as he might the communion…cup
just before saying the prayer of the sacrament。
〃Mr。 Nash；〃 said he in a loud voice； 〃I've decided to hold that farmers'
meeting。〃
Before Mr。 Nash could reply the minister seated himself and was
pouring out the contents of the jar upon the tablea clatter of dimes；
nickels； pennies； a few quarters and half dollars； and a very few bills。
50
… Page 51…
THE FRIENDLY ROAD
〃Martha； just how much money is there？〃
〃Twenty…four dollars and sixteen cents。〃
The minister put his hand into his pocket and； after counting out
certain coins； said：
〃Here's one dollar and eighty…four cents more。 That makes twenty…six
dollars。 Now； Mr。 Nash； you're the largest contributor to my salary in this
neighbourhood。 You gave twenty…six dollars last yearfifty cents a week。
It is a generous contribution； but I cannot take it any longer。 It is fortunate
that my wife has saved up this money to buy a sewing…machine； so that we
can pay back your contribution in full。〃
He paused； no one of us spoke a word。
〃Mr。 Nash；〃 he continued； and his face was good to see； 〃I am the
minister here。 I am convinced that what the community needs is more of a
religious and social spirit； and I am going about getting it in the way the
Lord leads me。〃
At this I saw Mrs。 Minister look up at her husband with such a light in
her eyes as any man might well barter his life forI could not keep my
own eyes from pure beauty of it。
I knew too what this defiance meant。 It meant that this little family
was placing its all upon the altareven the pitiful coins for which they had
skimped and saved for months for a particular purpose。 Talk of the
heroism of the men who charged with Pickett at Gettysburg！ Here was a
courage higher and whiter than that； here was a courage that dared to fight
alone。
As for Mr。 Nash； the face of that Chief Pharisee was a study。 Nothing
is so paralyzing to a rich man as to find suddenly that his money will no
longer command him any advantage。 Like all hard…shelled； practical
people； Mr。 Nash could only dominate in a world which recognized the
same material supremacy that he recognized。 Any one who insisted upon
flying was lost to Mr。 Nash。
The minister pushed the little pile of coins toward him。 〃Take it； Mr。
Nash；〃 said he。
At that Mr。 Nash rose hastily。
51
… Page 52…
THE FRIENDLY ROAD
〃I will not；〃 he said gruffly。
He paused； and looked at the minister with a strange expression in his
small round eyeswas it anger； or was it fear； or could it have been
admiration？
〃If you want to waste your time on fiddlin' farmers' meetingsa man
that knows as little of farmin' as you dowhy go ahead for all o' me。 But
don't count me in。〃
He turned； reached for his hat； and then went out of the door into the
darkness。
For a moment we all sat perfectly silent； then the minister rose； and
said solemnly：
〃Martha； let's sing something。〃
Martha crossed the room to the cottage organ and seated herself on the
stool。
〃What shall we sing？〃 said she。
〃Something with fight in it； Martha；〃 he responded； 〃something with
plenty of fight in it。〃
So we sang 〃Onward； Christian Soldier； Marching as to War；〃 and
followed up with：
Awake； my soul； stretch every nerve And press with rigour on； A
heavenly race demands thy zeal And an immortal crown。
When we had finished； and as Martha rose from her seat； the minister
impulsively put his hands on her shoulders； and said：
〃Martha； this is the greatest night of my life。〃
He took a turn up and down the room； and then with an exultant
boyish laugh said：
〃We'll go to town to…morrow and pick out that sewing…machine！〃
I remained with them that night and part of the following day； taking
a hand with them in the garden； but of the events of that day I shall speak
in another chapter。
52
… Page 53…
THE FRIENDLY ROAD
CHAPTER V。 I PLAY THE PART
OF A SPECTACLE PEDDLER
Yesterday was exactly the sort of a day I love besta spicy； unexpected；
amusing daycrowned with a droll adventure。
I cannot account for it； but it seems to me I take the road each morning
with a livelier mind and keener curiosity。 If you were to watch me
narrowly these days you would see I am slowly shedding my years。 I
suspect that some one of the clear hill streams from which I have been
drinking （lying prone on my face） was in reality the fountain of eternal
youth。 I shall not go back to see。
It seems to me； when I feel like this； that in every least thing upon the
roadside； or upon the hill； lurks the stuff of adventure。 What a world it is！
A mile south of here I shall find all that Stanley found in the jungles of
Africa； a mile north I am Peary at the Pole！
You there； brown…clad farmer on the tall seat of your wagon； driving
townward with a red heifer for sale； I can show you that life your lifeis
not all a gray smudge； as you think it is； but crammed； packed； loaded with
miraculous things。 I can show you wonders past belief in your own soul。 I
can easily convince you that you are in reality a poet； a hero； a true lover； a
saint。
It is because we are not humble enough in the presence of the divine
daily fact that adventure knocks so rarely at our door。 A thousand times I
have had to learn this truth （what lesson so hard to learn as the lesson o
humility！） and I suppose I shall have to learn it a thousand times more。
This very day； straining my eyes to see the distant wonders of the
mountains； I nearly missed a miracle by the roadside。
Soon after leaving the minister and his familyI worked with them in
their garden with great delight most of the forenoonI came； within a
mileto the wide white turnpikethe Great Road。
Now； I usually prefer the little roads； the little； unexpected； curving；
53
… Page 54…