the ragged trousered philanthropists-第124章

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e　not　on　the　list；　he　was　sure　Santa　Claus　would　not　object　…　he　had　probably　meant　them　to　have　them；　but　had　forgotten　to　put　them　down。



Chapter　54

The　End


The　following　evening　Barrington　called　at　Owen's　place。　　He　said　he　was　going　home　for　the　holidays　and　had　come　to　say　goodbye　for　a　time。

Owen　had　not　been　doing　very　well　during　these　last　few　months；　although　he　was　one　of　the　few　lucky　ones　who　had　had　some　small　share　of　work。　　Most　of　the　money　he　earned　went　for　rent；　to　pay　which　they　often　had　to　go　short　of　food。　　Lately　his　chest　had　become　so　bad　that　the　slightest　exertion　brought　on　fits　of　coughing　and　breathlessness；　which　made　it　almost　impossible　to　work　even　when　he　had　the　opportunity；　often　it　was　only　by　an　almost　superhuman　effort　of　will　that　he　was　able　to　continue　working　at　all。　　He　contrived　to　keep　up　appearances　to　a　certain　extent　before　Rushton；　who；　although　he　knew　that　Owen　was　not　so　strong　as　the　other　men；　was　inclined　to　overlook　it　so　long　as　he　was　able　to　do　his　share　of　work；　for　Owen　was　a　very　useful　hand　when　things　were　busy。　　But　lately　some　of　the　men　with　whom　he　worked　began　to　manifest　dissatisfaction　at　having　him　for　a　mate。　　When　two　men　are　working　together；　the　master　expects　to　see　two　men's　work　done；　and　if　one　of　the　two　is　not　able　to　do　his　share　it　makes　it　all　the　harder　for　the　other。

He　never　had　the　money　to　go　to　a　doctor　to　get　advice；　but　earlier　in　the　winter　he　had　obtained　from　Rushton　a　ticket　for　the　local　hospital。　　Every　Saturday　throughout　the　year　when　the　men　were　paid　they　were　expected　to　put　a　penny　or　twopence　in　the　hospital　box。　Contributions　were　obtained　in　this　way　from　every　firm　and　workshop　in　the　town。　　The　masters　periodically　handed　these　boxes　over　to　the　hospital　authorities　and　received　in　return　some　tickets　which　they　gave　to　anyone　who　needed　and　asked　for　them。　　The　employer　had　to　fill　in　the　ticket　or　application　form　with　the　name　and　address　of　the　applicant；　and　to　certify　that　in　his　opinion　the　individual　was　a　deserving　case；　‘suitable　to　receive　this　charity'。　　In　common　with　the　majority　of　workmen；　Owen　had　a　sort　of　horror　of　going　for　advice　to　this　hospital；　but　he　was　so　ill　that　he　stifled　his　pride　and　went。　　It　happened　that　it　turned　out　to　be　more　expensive　than　going　to　a　private　doctor；　for　he　had　to　be　at　the　hospital　at　a　certain　hour　on　a　particular　morning。　　To　do　this　he　had　to　stay　away　from　work。　　The　medicine　they　prescribed　and　which　he　had　to　buy　did　him　no　good；　for　the　truth　was　that　it　was　not　medicine　that　he　…　like　thousands　of　others　…　needed；　but　proper　conditions　of　life　and　proper　food；　things　that　had　been　for　years　past　as　much　out　of　his　reach　as　if　he　had　been　dying　alone　in　the　middle　of　a　desert。

Occasionally　Nora　contrived　…　by　going　without　some　other　necessary　…　to　buy　him　a　bottle　of　one　of　the　many　much…advertised　medicines；　but　although　some　of　these　things　were　good　she　was　not　able　to　buy　enough　for　him　to　derive　any　benefit　from　them。

Although　he　was　often　seized　with　a　kind　of　terror　of　the　future　…　of　being　unable　to　work　…　he　fought　against　these　feelings　and　tried　to　believe　that　when　the　weather　became　warmer　he　would　be　all　right　once　more。

When　Barrington　came　in　Owen　was　sitting　in　a　deck…chair　by　the　fire　in　the　sitting…room。　He　had　been　to　work　that　day　with　Harlow；　washing　off　the　ceilings　and　stripping　the　old　paper　from　the　walls　of　two　rooms　in　Rushton's　home；　and　he　looked　very　haggard　and　exhausted。

‘I　have　never　told　you　before；'　said　Barrington；　after　they　had　been　talking　for　a　while；　‘but　I　suppose　you　have　guessed　that　I　did　not　work　for　Rushton　because　I　needed　to　do　so　in　order　to　live。　　I　just　wanted　to　see　things　for　myself；　to　see　life　as　it　is　lived　by　the　majority。　　My　father　is　a　wealthy　man。　　He　doesn't　approve　of　my　opinions；　but　at　same　time　he　does　not　interfere　with　me　for　holding　them；　and　I　have　a　fairly　liberal　allowance　which　I　spent　in　my　own　way。　　I'm　going　to　pass　Christmas　with　my　own　people；　but　in　the　spring　I　intend　to　fit　out　a　Socialist　Van；　and　then　I　shall　come　back　here。　　We'll　have　some　of　the　best　speakers　in　the　movement；　we'll　hold　meetings　every　night；　we'll　drench　the　town　with　literature；　and　we'll　start　a　branch　of　the　party。'

Owen's　eye　kindled　and　his　pale　face　flushed。

‘I　shall　be　able　to　do　something　to　advertise　the　meetings；'　he　said。　For　instance；　I　could　paint　some　posters　and　placards。'

‘And　I　can　help　to　give　away　handbills；'　chimed　in　Frankie；　looking　up　from　the　floor；　where　he　was　seated　working　the　railway。　　‘I　know　a　lot　of　boys　who'll　come　along　with　me　to　put　'em　under　the　doors　as　well。'

They　were　in　the　sitting…room　and　the　door　was　shut。　　Mrs　Owen　was　in　the　next　room　with　Ruth　。　While　the　two　men　were　talking　the　front…door　bell　was　heard　to　ring　and　Frankie　ran　out　to　see　who　it　was；　closing　the　door　after　him。　　Barrington　and　Owen　continued　their　conversation；　and　from　time　to　time　they　could　hear　a　low　murmur　of　voices　from　the　adjoining　room。　　After　a　little　while　they　heard　some　one　go　out　by　the　front　door；　and　almost　immediately　afterward　Frankie　…　wild　with　excitement；　burst　into　the　room；　crying　out：

‘Dad　and　Mr　Barrington！　　Three　cheers！'　　And　he　began　capering　gleefully　about　the　room；　evidently　transported　with　joy。

‘What　are　the　cheers　to　be　for？'　inquired　Barrington；　rather　mystified　by　this　extraordinary　conduct。

‘Mr　Easton　came　with　Freddie　to　see　Mrs　Easton；　and　she's　gone　home　again　with　them；'　replied　Freddie；　‘and　…　she's　given　the　baby　to　us　for　a　Christmas　box！'

Barrington　was　already　familiar　with　the　fact　of　Easton's　separation　from　his　wife；　and　Owen　now　told　him　the　Story　of　their　reconciliation。

Barrington　took　his　leave　shortly　afterwards。　　His　train　left　at　eight；　it　was　already　nearly　half　past　seven；　and　he　said　he　had　a　letter　to　write。　　Nora　brought　the　baby　in　to　show　him　before　he　went；　and　then　she　helped　Frankie　to　put　on　his　overcoat；　for　Barrington　had　requested　that　the　boy　might　be　permitted　to　go　a　little　way　with　him。

There　was　a　stationer's　shop　at　the　end　of　the　street。　　He　went　in　here　and　bought　a　sheet　of　notepaper　and　an　envelope；　and；　having　borrowed　the　pen　and　ink；　wrote　a　letter　which　he　enclosed　in　the　envelope　with　the　two　other　pieces　that　he　took　out　of　his　pocketbook。　Having　addressed　the　letter　he　came　out　of　the　shop；　Frankie　was　waiting　for　him　outside。　He　gave　the　letter　to　the　boy。

‘I　want　you　to　take　this　straight　home　and　give　it　to　your　dad。　　I　don't　want　you　to　stop　to　play　or　even　to　speak　to　anyone　till　you　get　home。'

‘All　right；'　replied　Frankie。　　‘I　won't　stop　running　all　the　way。'

Barrington　hesitated　and　looked　at　his　watch。　　‘I　think　I　have　time　to　go　back　with　you　as　far　as　your　front　door；'　he　said；　‘then　I　shall　be　quite　sure　you　haven't　lost　it。'

They　accordingly　retraced　their　steps　and　in　a　few　minutes　reached　the　entrance　to　the　house。　　Barrington　opened　the　door　and　stood　for　a　moment　in　the　hall　watching　Frankie　ascend　the　stairs。

‘Will　your　train　cross　over　the　bridge？'　inquired　the　boy；　pausing　and　looking　over　the　banisters。

‘Yes。　　Why？'

‘Because　we　can　see　the　bridge　from　our　front…room　window；　and　if　you　were　to　wave　your　handkerchief　as　your　train　goes　over　the　bridge；　we　could　wave　back。'

‘All　right。　　I'll　do　so。　　Goodbye。'

‘Goodbye。'

Barrington　waited　till　he　heard　Frankie　open　and　close　the　door　of　Owen's　fiat；　and　then　he　hurried　away。　　When　he　gained　the　main　road　he　heard　the　sound　of　singing　and　saw　a　crowd　at　the　corner　of　one　of　the　side…streets。　　As　he　drew　near　he　perceived　that　it　was　a　religious　meeting。

There　was　a　lighted　lamp　on　a　standard　in　the　centre　of　the　crowd　and　on　the　glass　of　this　lamp　was　painted：　‘Be　not　deceived：　God　is　not　mocked。'

Mr　Rushton　was　preaching　in　the　centre　of　the　ring。　　He　said　that　they　had　come　hout　there　that　evening　to　tell　the　Glad　Tidings　of　Great　Joy　to　hall　those　dear　people　that　he　saw　standing　around。　　The　members　of　the　Shining　Light　Chapel　…　to　which　he　himself　belonged　…　was　the　organizers　of　that　meeting　but　it　was　not　a　sectarian　meeting；　for　he　was　'appy　to　say　that　several　members　of　other　denominations　was　there　co…operating　with　them　in　the　good　work。　　As　he　continued　his　address；　Rushton　repeatedly　referred　to　the　individuals　who　composed　the　crowd　as　his　‘Brothers　and　Sisters'　and；　strange　to　say；　nobody　laughed。

Barrington　looked　round　upon　the　‘Brothers'：　Mr　Sweater；　resplendent　in　a　new　silk　hat　of　the　latest　fashion；　and　a　fur…trimmed　overcoat。　The　Rev。　Mr　Bosher；　Vicar　of　the　Church　of　the　Whited　Sepulchre；　Mr　Grinder　…　one　of　the　churchwardens　at　the　same　place　of　alleged　worship　…　both　dressed　in　broadcloth　and　fine　linen　and　glossy　silk　hats；　while　their　general　appearance　testified　to　the　fact　that　they　had　fared　sumptuously　for　many　days。　　Mr　Didlum；　Mrs　Starvem；　Mr　Dauber；　Mr　Botchit；　Mr　Smeeriton；　and　Mr　Leavit。

And　in　the　midst　was　the　Rev。　John　Starr；　doing　the　work　for　which　he　was　paid。

As　he　stood　there　in　the　forefront　of　this　company；　there　was　nothing　in　his　refined　and　comely　exterior　to　indicate　that　his　real　function　was　to　pander　to　and　flatter　them；　to　invest　with　an　air　of　respectability　and　rectitude　the　abominably　selfish　lives　of　the　gang　of　swindlers；　slave…drivers　and　petty　tyrants　who　formed　the　majority　of　the　congregation　of　the　Shining　Light　Chapel。

He　was　doing　the　work　for　which　he　was　paid。　　By　the　mere　fact　of　his　presence　there；　condoning　and　justifying　the　crimes　of　these　typical　representatives　of　that　despicable　class　whose　greed　and　inhumanity　have　made　the　earth　into　a　hell。

There　was　also　a　number　of　‘respectable'；　well…dressed　people　who　looked　as　if　they　could　do　with　a　good　meal；　and　a　couple　of　shabbily　dressed；　poverty…stricken…looking　individuals　who　seemed　rather　out　of　place　in　the　glittering　throng。

The　remainder　of　the　Brothers　consisted　of　half…starved；　pale…faced　working　men　and　women；　most　of　them　dressed　in　other　people's　cast…off　clothing；　and　with　broken；　patched…up；　leaky　boots　on　their　feet。

Rushton　having　concluded　his　address；　Didlum　stepped　forward　to　give　out　the　words　of　the　hymn　the　former　had　quoted　at　the　conclusion　of　his　remarks：


　　　　　　　　‘Oh；　come　and　jine　this　'oly　band；　　　　　　　　　And　hon　to　glory　go。'

Strange　and　incredible　as　it　may　appear　to　the　reader；　although　none　of　them　ever　did　any　of　the　things　Jesus　said；　the　people　who　were　conducting　this　meeting　had　the　effrontery　to　claim　to　be　followers　of　Christ　…　Christians！

Jesus　said：　‘Lay　not　up　for　yourselves　treasure　upon　earth'；　‘Love　not　the　world　nor　the　things　of　the　world'；　‘Woe　unto　you　that　are　rich　…　it　is　easier　for　a　camel　to　go　through　the　eye　of　a　needle　than　for　a　rich　man　to　enter　the　kingdom　of　heaven。'　　Yet　all　these　self…styled　‘Followers'　of　Christ　made　the　accumulation　of　money　the　principal　business　of　their　lives。

Jesus　said：　‘Be　ye　not　called　masters；　for　they　bind　heavy　burdens　and　grievous　to　be　borne；　and　lay　them　on　men's　shoulders；　but　they　themselves　will　not　touch　them　with　one　of　their　fingers。　　For　one　is　your　master；　even　Christ；　and　ye　are　all　brethren。'　　But　near