the man from glengarry-第41节

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through　the　hearts　of　the　people。　　The　minister　advised　letting　him
alone；　but　Mrs。　Murray　was　anxiously　waiting　for　the　time　when
Ranald　would　come　to　her。　　That　time　came；　but　not　until　long
months　of　weary　waiting　on　her　part；　and　of　painful　struggle　on
his；　had　passed。

From　the　very　first　of　the　great　movement　his　father　threw　himself
into　it　with　all　the　earnest　intensity　of　his　nature；　but　at　the
same　time　with　a　humility　that　gave　token　that　the　memory　of　the
wild　days　of　his　youth　and　early　manhood　were　never　far　away　from
him。　　He　was　eager　to　serve　in　the　work；　and　was　a　constant　source
of　wonder　to　all　who　had　known　him　in　his　youth　and　early　manhood。
At　all　the　different　meetings　he　was　present。　　Nothing　could　keep
him　away。　　〃Night　cometh；〃　he　said　to　his　brother；　who　was
remonstrating　with　him。　　His　day's　work　was　drawing　to　its　close。

But　Ranald　would　not　let　himself　see　the　failing　of　his　father's
health；　and　when；　in　the　harvest；　the　slightest　work　in　the　fields
would　send　his　father　panting　to　the　shade；　Ranald　would　say；　〃It
is　the　hot　weather；　father。　　When　the　cool　days　come　you　will　be
better。　　And　why　should　you　be　bothering　yourself　with　the　work；
anyway？　　Surely　Yankee　and　I　can　look　after　that。〃　　And　indeed　they
seemed　to　be　quite　fit　to　take　off　the　harvest。

Day　by　day　Ranald　swung　his　cradle　after　Yankee　with　all　a　man's
steadiness　till　all　the　grain　was　cut；　and　by　the　time　the　harvest
was　over；　Ranald　had　developed　a　strength　of　muscle　and　a　skill　in
the　harvest　work　that　made　him　equal　of　almost　any　man　in　the
country。　　He　was　all　the　more　eager　to　have　the　harvest　work　done
in　time；　that　his　father　might　not　fret　over　his　own　inability　to
help。　　For　Ranald　could　not　bear　to　see　the　look　of　disappointment
that　sometimes　showed　itself　in　his　father's　face　when　weakness
drove　him　from　the　field；　and　it　was　this　that　made　him　throw
himself　into　the　work　as　he　did。　　He　was　careful　also　to　consult
with　his　father　in　regard　to　all　the　details　of　the　management　of
the　farm；　and　to　tell　him　all　that　he　was　planning　to　do　as　well　as
all　that　was　done。　　His　father　had　always　been　a　kind　of　hero　to
Ranald；　who　admired　him　for　his　prowess　with　the　gun　and　the　ax；
as　well　as　for　his　great　strength　and　courage。　　But　ever　since
calamity　had　befallen　him；　the　boy's　heart　had　gone　out　to　his
father　in　a　new　tenderness；　and　the　last　months　had　drawn　the　two
very　close　together。　　It　was　a　dark　day　for　Ranald　when　he　was
forced　to　face　the　fact　that　his　father　was　growing　daily　weaker。
It　was　his　uncle；　Macdonald　Bhain；　who　finally　made　him　see　it。

〃Your　father　is　failing；　Ranald；〃　he　said　one　day　toward　the　close
of　harvest。

〃It　is　the　hot　weather；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃He　will　be　better　in　the
fall。〃

〃Ranald；　my　boy；〃　said　his　uncle；　gravely；　〃your　father　will　fade
with　the　leaf；　and　the　first　snow　will　lie　upon　him。〃

And　then　Ranald　fairly　faced　the　fact　that　before　long　he　would　be
alone　in　the　world。　　Without　any　exchange　of　words；　he　and　his
father　came　to　understand　each　other；　and　they　both　knew　that　they
were　spending　their　last　days　on　earth　together。　　On　the　son's
side；　they　were　days　of　deepening　sorrow；　but　with　the　father；
every　day　seemed　to　bring　him　a　greater　peace　of　mind　and　a　clearer
shining　of　the　light　that　never　fades。　　To　his　son；　Macdonald　Dubh
never　spoke　of　the　death　that　he　felt　to　be　drawing　nearer；　but　he
often　spoke　to　him　of　the　life　he　would　like　his　son　to　live。　　His
only　other　confidant　in　these　matters　was　the　minister's　wife。　　To
her　Macdonald　Dubh　opened　up　his　heart；　and　to　her；　more　than　to
any　one　else；　he　owed　his　growing　peace　and　light；　and　it　was
touching　to　see　the　devotion　and　the　tenderness　that　he　showed　to
her　as　often　as　she　came　to　see　him。　　With　his　brother；　Macdonald
Bhain；　he　made　all　the　arrangements　necessary　for　the　disposal　of
the　farm　and　the　payment　of　the　mortgage。

Ranald　had　no　desire　to　be　a　farmer；　and　indeed；　when　the　mortgage
was　paid　there　would　not　be　much　left。

〃He　will　be　my　son；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain　to　his　brother；　〃and　my
home　will　be　his　while　I　live。〃

So　in　every　way　there　was　quiet　preparation　for　Macdonald　Dubh's
going；　and　when　at　last　the　day　came；　there　was　no　haste　or　fear。

It　was　in　the　afternoon　of　a　bright　September　day；　as　the　sun　was
nearing　the　tops　of　the　pine…trees　in　the　west。　　His　brother　was
supporting　him　in　his　strong　arms；　while　Ranald　knelt　by　the
bedside。　　Near　him　sat　the　minister's　wife；　and　at　a　little
distance　Kirsty。

〃Lift　me　up；　Tonal；〃　said　the　dying　man；　〃I　will　be　wanting　to　see
the　sun　again；　and　then　I　will　be　going。　　I　will　be　going　to　the
land　where　they　will　not　need　the　light　of　the　sun。　　Tonal；
bhodaich；　it　is　the　good　brother　you　have　been　to　me；　and　many's
the　good　day　we　have　had　together。〃

〃Och；　Hugh；　man。　　Are　you　going　from　me？〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；
with　great　sorrow　in　his　voice。

〃Aye；　Tonal；　for　a　little。〃　　Then　he　looked　for　a　few　moments　at
Kirsty；　who　was　standing　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。

〃Come　near　me；　Kirsty；〃　he　said；　and　Kirsty　came　to　the　bedside。

〃You　have　always　been　kind　to　me　and　mine；　and　you　were　kind　to　HER
as　well；　and　the　reward　will　come　to　you。〃　　Then　he　turned　to　Mrs。
Murray；　and　said；　with　a　great　light　of　joy　in　his　eyes：　　〃It　is
you　that　came　to　me　as　the　angel　of　God　with　a　word　of　salvation；
and　forever　more　I　will　be　blessing　you。〃　　And　then　he　added；　in　a
voice　full　of　tenderness；　〃I　will　be　telling　her　about　you。〃　　He
took　Mrs。　Murray's　hand　and　tremblingly　lifted　it　to　his　lips。

〃It　has　been　a　great　joy　to　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　with　difficulty
steadying　her　voice；　〃to　see　you　come　to　your　Saviour；　Mr。
Macdonald。〃

〃Aye；　I　know　it　well；〃　he　said；　and　then　he　added；　in　a　voice　that
sank　almost　to　a　whisper；　〃Now　you　will　be　reading　the　prayer。〃
And　Mrs。　Murray；　opening　her　Gaelic　Bible；　repeated　in　her　clear；
soft　voice；　the　words　of　the　Lord's　Prayer。　　Through　all　the
petitions　he　followed　her；　until　he　came　to　the　words；　〃Forgive　us
our　debts。〃　　There　he　paused。

〃Ranald；　my　man；〃　he　said；　raising　his　hand　with　difficulty　and
laying　it　upon　the　boy's　head；　〃you　will　listen　to　me　now。　　Some
day　you　will　find　the　man　that　brought　me　to　this；　and　you　will　say
to　him　that　your　father　forgave　him　freely；　and　wished　him　all　the
blessing　of　God。　　You　will　promise　me　this；　Ranald？〃　said　Macdonald
Dubh。

〃Yes；　father；〃　said　Ranald；　lifting　his　head；　and　looking　into　his
father's　face。

〃And；　Ranald；　you；　too；　will　be　forgiving　him？〃　　But　to　this　there
was　no　reply。　　Ranald's　head　was　buried　in　the　bed。

〃Ah；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　with　difficulty；　〃you　are　your　father's
son；　but　you　will　not　be　laying　this　bitterness　upon　me　now。　　You
will　be　forgiving　him；　Ranald？〃

〃Oh；　father！〃　cried　Ranald；　with　a　breaking　voice；　〃how　can　I
forgive　him？　　How　can　I　forgive　the　man　who　has　taken　you　away　from
me？〃

〃It　is　no　man；〃　replied　his　father；　〃but　the　Lord　himself；　the　Lord
who　has　forgiven　your　father　much。　　I　am　waiting　to　hear　you；
Ranald。〃

Then；　with　a　great　sob；　Ranald　broke　forth：　　〃Oh；　father；　I　will
forgive　him；〃　and　immediately　became　quiet；　and　so　continued　to　the
end。

After　some　moments　of　silence；　Macdonald　Dubh　looked　once　more
toward　the　minister's　wife；　and　a　radiant　smile　spread　over　his
face。

〃You　will　be　finishing；〃　he　said。

Her　face　was　wet　with　tears；　and　for　a　few　moments　she　could　not
speak。　　But　it　was　no　time　to　fail　in　duty；　so；　commanding　her
tears；　with　a　clear；　unwavering　voice　she　went　on　to　the　end　of　the
prayer

〃For　thine　is　the　kingdom　and　the　power　and　the　glory；　forever　and
ever。　　Amen。〃

〃Glory！〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh　after　her。　　〃Aye；　the　Glory。　　Ranald；
my　boy；　where　are　you？　　You　will　be　following　me；　lad；　to　the
Glory。　　SHE　will　be　asking　me　about　you。　　You　will　be　following　me；
lad？〃

The　anxious　note　in　his　voice　struck　Ranald　to　the　heart。

〃Oh；　father；　it　is　what　I　want；〃　he　replied；　brokenly。　　〃I　will
try。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　〃and　you　will　come。　　I　will　be　telling
HER。　　Now　lay　me　down；　Tonal；　I　will　be　going。〃

Macdonald　Bhain　laid　him　quietly　back　on　his　pillow；　and　for　a
moment　he　lay　with　his　eyes　closed。

Once　more　he　opened　his　eyes；　and　with　a　troubled　look　upon　his
face；　and　in　a　voice　of　doubt　and　fear；　he　cried：　　〃It　is　a　sinful
man；　O　Lord；　a　sinful　man。〃

His　eyes　wandered　till　they　fell　on　Mrs。　Murray's　face；　and　then
the　trouble　and　fear　passed　out　of　them；　and　in　a　gentler　voice　he
said：　　〃Forgive　us　our　debts。〃　　Then；　feeling　with　his　hand　till　it
rested　on　his　son's　head；　Macdonald　Dubh　passed　away；　at　peace　with
men　and　with　God。

There　was　little　sadness　and　no　bitter　grief　at　Macdonald　Dubh's
funeral。　　The　tone　all　through　was　one　of　triumph；　for　they　all
knew　his　life；　and　how　sore　the　fight　had　been；　and　how　he　had　won
his　victory。　　His　humility　and　his　gentleness　during　the　last　few
weeks　of　his　life　had　removed　all　the　distance　that　had　separated
him　from　the　people；　and　had　drawn　their　hearts　toward　him；　and　now
in　his　final　triumph　they　could　not　find　it　in　their　hearts　to
mourn。

But　to　Ranald　the　sadness　was