black rock-第13节

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　　　　　　　　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