black rock-第7章

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brute　of　Slavin's　crowd　quiet。'

There　were　deep　growls　of　approval　all　over　the　church。　　I　could
have　hugged　Shaw　then　and　there。　　Mr。　Craig　went　to　Mrs。　Mavor；　and
after　a　word　with　her　came　back　and　said

'Mrs。　Mavor；　wishes　me　to　thank　her　dear　friend　Mr。　Shaw；　but　says
she　would　like　to　sing。'

The　response　was　perfect　stillness。　　Mr。　Craig　sat　down　to　the
organ　and　played　the　opening　bars　of　the　touching　melody；　'Oft　in
the　Stilly　Night。'　　Mrs。　Mavor　came　to　the　front；　and；　with　a　smile
of　exquisite　sweetness　upon　her　sad　face；　and　looking　straight　at
us　with　her　glorious　eyes；　began　to　sing。

Her　voice；　a　rich　soprano；　even　and　true；　rose　and　fell；　now　soft；
now　strong；　but　always　filling　the　building；　pouring　around　us
floods　of　music。　　I　had　heard　Patti's　'Home；　sweet　Home；'　and　of
all　singing　that　alone　affected　me　as　did　this。

At　the　end　of　the　first　verse　the　few　women　in　the　church　and　some
men　were　weeping　quietly；　but　when　she　began　the　words


　　　　　'When　I　remember　all
　　　　　　The　friends　once　linked　together；'


sobs　came　on　every　side　from　these　tender…hearted　fellows；　and　Shaw
quite　lost　his　grip。　　But　she　sang　steadily　on；　the　tone　clearer
and　sweeter　and　fuller　at　every　note；　and　when　the　sound　of　her
voice　died　away；　she　stood　looking　at　the　men　as　if　in　wonder　that
they　should　weep。　　No　one　moved。　　Mr。　Craig　played　softly　on；　and；
wandering　through　many　variations；　arrived　at　last　at


　　　　　'Jesus；　lover　of　my　soul。'


As　she　sang　the　appealing　words；　her　face　was　lifted　up；　and　she
saw　none　of　us；　but　she　must　have　seen　some　one；　for　the　cry　in　her
voice　could　only　come　from　one　who　could　see　and　feel　help　close　at
hand。　　On　and　on　went　the　glorious　voice；　searching　my　soul's
depths；　but　when　she　came　to　the　words


　　　　　'Thou；　O　Christ；　art　all　I　want；'


she　stretched　up　her　armsshe　had　quite　forgotten　us；　her　voice
had　borne　her　to　other　worldsand　sang　with　such　a　passion　of
'abandon'　that　my　soul　was　ready　to　surrender　anything；　everything。

Again　Mr。　Craig　wandered　on　through　his　changing　chords　till　again
he　came　to　familiar　ground；　and　the　voice　began；　in　low；　thrilling
tones；　Bernard's　great　song　of　home


　　　　　'Jerusalem　the　golden。'


Every　word；　with　all　its　weight　of　meaning；　came　winging　to　our
souls；　till　we　found　ourselves　gazing　afar　into　those　stately　halls
of　Zion；　with　their　daylight　serene　and　their　jubilant　throngs。
When　the　singer　came　to　the　last　verse　there　was　a　pause。　　Again
Mr。　Craig　softly　played　the　interlude；　but　still　there　was　no
voice。　　I　looked　up。　　She　was　very　white；　and　her　eyes　were　glowing
with　their　deep　light。　　Mr。　Craig　looked　quickly　about；　saw　her；
stopped；　and　half　rose；　as　if　to　go　to　her；　when；　in　a　voice　that
seemed　to　come　from　a　far…off　land；　she　went　on


　　　　　'O　sweet　and　blessed　country！'


The　longing；　the　yearning；　in　the　second　'O'　were　indescribable。
Again　and　again；　as　she　held　that　word；　and　then　dropped　down　with
the　cadence　in　the　music；　my　heart　ached　for　I　knew　not　what。

The　audience　were　sitting　as　in　a　trance。　　The　grimy　faces　of　the
miners；　for　they　never　get　quite　white；　were　furrowed　with　the
tear…courses。　　Shaw；　by　this　time；　had　his　face　too　lifted　high；
his　eyes　gazing　far　above　the　singer's　head；　and　I　knew　by　the
rapture　in　his　face　that　he　was　seeing；　as　she　saw；　the　thronging
stately　halls　and　the　white…robed　conquerors。　　He　had　felt；　and　was
still　feeling；　all　the　stress　of　the　fight；　and　to　him　the　vision
of　the　conquerors　in　their　glory　was　soul…drawing　and　soul…
stirring。　　And　Nixon；　toohe　had　his　vision；　but　what　he　saw　was
the　face　of　the　singer；　with　the　shining　eyes；　and；　by　the　look　of
him；　that　was　vision　enough。

Immediately　after　her　last　note　Mrs。　Mavor　stretched　out　her　hands
to　her　little　girl；　who　was　sitting　on　my　knee；　caught　her　up；　and；
holding　her　close　to　her　breast；　walked　quickly　behind　the　curtain。
Not　a　sound　followed　the　singing：　no　one　moved　till　she　had
disappeared；　and　then　Mr。　Craig　came　to　the　front；　and；　motioning
to　me　to　follow　Mrs。　Mavor；　began　in　a　low；　distinct　voice

'Gentlemen；　it　was　not　easy　for　Mrs。　Mavor　to　sing　for　us；　and　you
know　she　sang　because　she　is　a　miner's　wife；　and　her　heart　is　with
the　miners。　　But　she　sang；　too；　because　her　heart　is　His　who　came
to　earth　this　day　so　many　years　ago　to　save　us　all；　and　she　would
make　you　love　Him　too。　　For　in　loving　Him　you　are　saved　from　all
base　loves；　and　you　know　what　I　mean。

'And　before　we　say　good…night；　men；　I　want　to　know　if　the　time　is
not　come　when　all　of　you　who　mean　to　be　better　than　you　are　should
join　in　putting　from　us　this　thing　that　has　brought　sorrow　and
shame　to　us　and　to　those　we　love？　　You　know　what　I　mean。　　Some　of
you　are　strong；　will　you　stand　by　and　see　weaker　men　robbed　of　the
money　they　save　for　those　far　away；　and　robbed　of　the　manhood　that
no　money　can　buy　or　restore？

'Will　the　strong　men　help？　　Shall　we　all　join　hands　in　this？　　What
do　you　say？　　In　this　town　we　have　often　seen　hell；　and　just　a
moment　ago　we　were　all　looking　into　heaven；　〃the　sweet　and　blessed
country。〃　　O　men！'　and　his　voice　rang　in　an　agony　through　the
building'O　men！　which　shall　be　ours？　　For　Heaven's　dear　sake；　let
us　help　one　another！　　Who　will？'

I　was　looking　out　through　a　slit　in　the　curtain。　　The　men；　already
wrought　to　intense　feeling　by　the　music；　were　listening　with　set
faces　and　gleaming　eyes；　and　as　at　the　appeal　'Who　will？'　Craig
raised　high　his　hand；　Shaw；　Nixon；　and　a　hundred　men　sprang　to
their　feet　and　held　high　their　hands。

I　have　witnessed　some　thrilling　scenes　in　my　life；　but　never
anything　to　equal　that：　the　one　man　on　the　platform　standing　at
full　height；　with　his　hand　thrown　up　to　heaven；　and　the　hundred　men
below　standing　straight；　with　arms　up　at　full　length；　silent；　and
almost　motionless。

For　a　moment　Craig　held　them　so；　and　again　his　voice　rang　out；
louder；　sterner　than　before

'All　who　mean　it；　say；　〃By　God's　help　I　will。〃'　　And　back　from　a
hundred　throats　came　deep　and　strong　the　words；　'By　God's　help；　I
will。'

At　this　point　Mrs。　Mavor；　whom　I　had　quite　forgotten；　put　her　hand
on　my　arm。　　'Go　and　tell　him；'　she　panted；　'I　want　them　to　come　on
Thursday　night；　as　they　used　to　in　the　other　daysgoquick；'　and
she　almost　pushed　me　out。　　I　gave　Craig　her　message。　　He　held　up
his　hand　for　silence。

'Mrs。　Mavor　wishes　me　to　say　that　she　will　be　glad　to　see　you　all；
as　in　the　old　days；　on　Thursday　evening；　and　I　can　think　of　no
better　place　to　give　formal　expression　to　our　pledge　of　this　night'

There　was　a　shout　of　acceptance；　and　then；　at　some　one's　call；　the
long　pent…up　feelings　of　the　crowd　found　vent　in　three　mighty
cheers　for　Mrs。　Mavor。

'Now　for　our　old　hymn；'　called　out　Mr。　Craig；　'and　Mrs。　Mavor　will
lead　us。'

He　sat　down　at　the　organ；　played　a　few　bars　of　'The　Sweet　By　and
By；'　and　then　Mrs。　Mavor　began。　　But　not　a　soul　joined　till　the
refrain　was　reached；　and　then　they　sang　as　only　men　with　their
hearts　on　fire　can　sing。　　But　after　the　last　refrain　Mr。　Craig　made
a　sign　to　Mrs。　Mavor；　and　she　sang　alone；　slowly　and　softly；　and
with　eyes　looking　far　away


　　　　　'In　the　sweet　by　and　by；
　　　　　　We　shall　meet　on　that　beautiful　shore。'


There　was　no　benedictionthere　seemed　no　need；　and　the　men　went
quietly　out。　　But　over　and　over　again　the　voice　kept　singing　in　my
ears　and　in　my　heart；　'We　shall　meet　on　that　beautiful　shore。'　　And
after　the　sleigh…loads　of　men　had　gone　and　left　the　street　empty；
as　I　stood　with　Craig　in　the　radiant　moonlight　that　made　the　great
mountains　about　come　near　us；　from　Sandy's　sleigh　we　heard　in　the
distance　Baptiste's　French…English　song；　but　the　song　that　floated
down　with　the　sound　of　the　bells　from　the　miners'　sleigh　was


　　　　　'We　shall　meet　on　that　beautiful　shore。'


'Poor　old　Shaw！'　said　Craig　softly。

When　the　last　sound　had　died　away　I　turned　to　him　and　said

'You　have　won　your　fight。'

'We　have　won　our　fight；　I　was　beaten；'　he　replied　quickly；　offering
me　his　hand。　　Then；　taking　off　his　cap；　and　looking　up　beyond　the
mountain…tops　and　the　silent　stars；　he　added　softly；　'Our　fight；
but　His　victory。'

And；　thinking　it　all　over；　I　could　not　say　but　perhaps　he　was
right。


CHAPTER　IV

MRS。　MAVOR'S　STORY


The　days　that　followed　the　Black　Rock　Christmas　were　anxious　days
and　weary；　but　not　for　the　brightest　of　my　life　would　I　change　them
now；　for；　as　after　the　burning　heat　or　rocking　storm　the　dying　day
lies　beautiful　in　the　tender　glow　of　the　evening；　so　these　days
have　lost　their　weariness　and　lie　bathed　in　a　misty　glory。　The
years　that　bring　us　many　ills；　and　that　pass　so　stormfully　over　us；
bear　away　with　them　the　ugliness；　the　weariness；　the　pain　that　are
theirs；　but　the　beauty；　the　sweetness；　the　rest　they　leave　untouched；
for　these　are　eternal。　　As　the　mountains；　that　near　at　hand　stand
jagged　and　scarred；　in　the　far　distance　repose　in　their　soft　robes
of　purple　haze；　so　the　rough　present　fades　into　the　past；　soft　and
sweet　and　beautiful。

I　have　set　myself　to　recall　the　pain　and　anxiety　of　those　days　and
nights　when　we　waited　in　fear　for　the　turn　of　the　fever；　but　I　can
only　think　of　the　patience　and　gentleness　and　courage　of　her　who
stood　beside　me；　bearing　more　than　half　my　burden。　　And　while　I　can
see　the　face　of　Leslie　Graeme；　ghastly　or　flushed；　and　hear　his　low
moaning　or　the　broken　words　of　his　delirium；　I　think　chiefly　of　the
bright　face　bending　over　him；　and　of　the　cool；　firm；　swift…moving
hands　that　soothed　and　smoothed　and　rested；　and　the　voice；　like　the
soft　song　of　a　bird　in　the　twilight；　that　never　failed　to　bring
peace。

Mrs。　Mavor　and　I　were　much　together　during　those　days。　　I　made　my
home　in　Mr。　Craig's　shack；　but　most　of　my　time　was　spent　beside　my
friend。　　We　did　not　see　much　of　Craig；　for　he　was　heart…deep　with
the　miners；　laying　plans　for　the　making　of　the　League　the　following
Thursday；　and　though　he　shared　our　anxiety　and　was　ever　ready　to
relieve　us；　his　thought　and　his　talk　had　mostly　to　do　with　the
League。

Mrs。　Mavor's　evenings　were　given　to　the　miners；　but　her　afternoons
mostly　to　Graeme　and　to　me；　and　then　it　was　I　saw　another　side　of
her　character。　　We　would　sit　in　her　little　dining…room；　where　the
pictures　on　the　walls；　the　quaint　old　silver；　and　bits　of　curiously
cut　glass；　all　spoke　of　other　and　different　days；　and　thence　we
would　roam　the　world　of　literature　and　art。　　Keenly　sensitive　to
all　the　good　and　beautiful　in　these；　she　had　her　favourites　among
the　masters；　for　whom　she　was　ready　to　do　battle；　and　when　her
argument；　instinct　with　fancy　and　vivid　imagination；　failed；　she
swept　away　all　opposing　opinion　with　the　swift　rush　of　her
enthusiasm；　so　that；　though　I　felt　she　was　beaten；　I　was　left
without　words　to　reply。　　Shakespeare　and　Tennyson　and　Burns　she
loved；　but　not　Shelley；　nor　Byron；　nor　even　Wordsworth。　　Browning
she　knew　not；　and　therefore　could　not　rank　him　with　her　noblest
three；　but　when　I　read　to　her　'A　Death　in　the　Desert；'　and；　came　to
the　noble　words　at　the　end　of　the　tale


　　　　　'For　all　was　as　I　say；　and　now　the　man
　　　　　　Lies　as　he　once　lay；　breast　to　breast　with　God；'


the　light　shone　i