black rock-第12节

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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