black rock-第3节

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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