the ragged trousered philanthropists-第34章

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Presently　Mr　Belcher　reached　out　a　flabby　white　hand　and；　taking　up　one　of　the　folded　cards；　he　looked　around　upon　the　under…fed；　ill…clad　children　with　a　large；　sweet；　benevolent；　fatherly　smile；　and　then　in　a　drawling　voice　occasionally　broken　by　explosions　of　flatulence；　he　said：

‘My　dear　children。　　This　afternoon　as　I　was　standing　near　Brother　Hunter's　class　I　heard　him　telling　them　of　the　wanderings　of　the　Children　of　Israel　in　the　wilderness；　and　of　all　the　wonderful　things　that　were　done　for　them；　and　I　thought　how　sad　it　was　that　they　were　so　ungrateful。

‘Now　those　ungrateful　Israelites　had　received　many　things；　but　we　have　even　more　cause　to　be　grateful　than　they　had；　for　we　have　received　even　more　abundantly　than　they　did。'　　（Here　the　good　man's　voice　was　stilled　by　a　succession　of　explosions。）　　‘And　I　am　sure；'　he　resumed；　‘that　none　of　you　would　like　to　be　even　as　those　Israelites；　ungrateful　for　all　the　good　things　you　have　received。　　Oh；　how　thankful　you　should　be　for　having　been　made　happy　English　children。　Now；　I　am　sure　that　you　are　grateful　and　that　you　will　all　be　very　glad　of　an　opportunity　of　showing　your　gratitude　by　doing　something　in　return。

‘Doubtless　some　of　you　have　noticed　the　unseemly　condition　of　the　interior　of　our　Chapel。　　The　flooring　is　broken　in　countless　places。　the　walls　are　sadly　in　need　of　cleansing　and　distempering。　and　they　also　need　cementing　externally　to　keep　out　the　draught。　　The　seats　and　benches　and　the　chairs　are　also　in　a　most　unseemly　condition　and　need　varnishing。

‘Now；　therefore；　after　much　earnest　meditation　and　prayer；　it　has　been　decided　to　open　a　Subscription　List；　and　although　times　are　very　hard　just　now；　we　believe　we　shall　succeed　in　getting　enough　to　have　the　work　done；　so　I　want　each　one　of　you　to　take　one　of　these　cards　and　go　round　to　all　your　friends　to　see　how　much　you　can　collect。　　It　doesn't　matter　how　trifling　the　amounts　are；　because　the　smallest　donations　will　be　thankfully　received。

‘Now；　I　hope　you　will　all　do　your　very　best。　　Ask　everyone　you　know；　do　not　refrain　from　asking　people　because　you　think　that　they　are　too　poor　to　give　a　donation；　but　remind　them　that　if　they　cannot　give　their　thousands　they　can　give　the　widow's　mite。　　Ask　Everyone！　　First　of　all　ask　those　whom　you　feel　certain　will　give：　then　ask　all　those　whom　you　think　may　possibly　give：　and；　finally；　ask　all　those　whom　you　feel　certain　will　not　give：　and　you　will　be　surprised　to　find　that　many　of　these　last　will　donate　abundantly。

‘If　your　friends　are　very　poor　and　unable　to　give　a　large　donation　at　one　time；　a　good　plan　would　be　to　arrange　to　call　upon　them　every　Saturday　afternoon　with　your　card　to　collect　their　donations。　　And　while　you　are　asking　others；　do　not　forget　to　give　what　you　can　yourselves。　　Just　a　little　self…denial；　and　those　pennies　and　half…pennies　which　you　so　often　spend　on　sweets　and　other　unnecessary　things　might　be　given　…　as　a　donation　…　to　the　good　cause。'

Here　the　holy　man　paused　again；　and　there　was　a　rumbling；　gurgling　noise　in　the　interior　of　the　balloon；　followed　by　several　escapes　of　gas　through　the　safety　valve。　　The　paroxysm　over；　the　apostle　of　self…denial　continued：

‘All　those　who　wish　to　collect　donations　will　stay　behind　for　a　few　minutes　after　school；　when　Brother　Hunter　…　who　has　kindly　consented　to　act　as　secretary　to　the　fund　…　will　issue　the　cards。

‘I　would　like　here　to　say　a　few　words　of　thanks　to　Brother　Hunter　for　the　great　interest　he　has　displayed　in　this　matter；　and　for　all　the　trouble　he　is　taking　to　help　us　to　gather　in　the　donations。'

This　tribute　was　well　deserved；　Hunter　in　fact　had　originated　the　whole　scheme　in　the　hope　of　securing　the　job　for　Rushton　&　Co。；　and　two…and…a…half　per　cent　of　the　profits　for　himself。

Mr　Belcher　now　replaced　the　collecting　card　on　the　table　and；　taking　up　one　of　the　hymn…books；　gave　out　the　words　and　afterwards　conducted　the　singing；　nourishing　one　fat；　flabby　white　hand　in　the　air　and　holding　the　book　in　the　other。

As　the　last　strains　of　the　music　died　away；　he　closed　his　eyes　and　a　sweet　smile　widened　his　mouth　as　he　stretched　forth　his　right　hand；　open；　palm　down；　with　the　fingers　close　together；　and　said：

‘Let　us　pray。'

With　much　shuffling　of　feet　everyone　knelt　down。　　Hunter's　lanky　form　was　distributed　over　a　very　large　area；　his　body　lay　along　one　of　the　benches；　his　legs　and　feet　sprawled　over　the　floor；　and　his　huge　hands　clasped　the　sides　of　the　seat。　　His　eyes　were　tightly　closed　and　an　expression　of　the　most　intense　misery　pervaded　his　long　face。

Mrs　Starvem；　being　so　fat　that　she　knew　if　she　once　knelt　down　she　would　never　be　able　to　get　up　again；　compromised　by　sitting　on　the　extreme　edge　of　her　chair；　resting　her　elbows　on　the　back　of　the　seat　in　front　of　her；　and　burying　her　face　in　her　hands。　　It　was　a　very　large　face；　but　her　hands　were　capacious　enough　to　receive　it。

In　a　seat　at　the　back　of　the　hall　knelt　a　pale…faced；　weary…looking　little　woman　about　thirty…six　years　of　age；　very　shabbily　dressed；　who　had　come　in　during　the　singing。　　This　was　Mrs　White；　the　caretaker；　Bert　White's　mother。　　When　her　husband　died；　the　committee　of　the　Chapel；　out　of　charity；　gave　her　this　work；　for　which　they　paid　her　six　shillings　a　week。　　Of　course；　they　could　not　offer　her　full　employment；　the　idea　was　that　she　could　get　other　work　as　well；　charing　and　things　of　that　kind；　and　do　the　Chapel　work　in　between。　There　wasn't　much　to　do：　just　the　heating　furnace　to　light　when　necessary；　the　Chapel；　committee　rooms；　classrooms　and　Sunday　School　to　sweep　and　scrub　out　occasionally；　the　hymn…books　to　collect；　etc。　Whenever　they　had　a　tea　meeting　…　which　was　on　an　average　about　twice　a　week　…　there　were　the　trestle　tables　to　fix　up；　the　chairs　to　arrange；　the　table　to　set　out；　and　then；　supervised　by　Miss　Didlum　or　some　other　lady；　the　tea　to　make。　　There　was　rather　a　lot　to　do　on　the　days　following　these　functions：　the　washing　up；　the　tables　and　chairs　to　put　away；　the　floor　to　sweep；　and　so　on；　but　the　extra　work　was　supposed　to　be　compensated　by　the　cakes　and　broken　victuals　generally　left　over　from　the　feast；　which　were　much　appreciated　as　a　welcome　change　from　the　bread　and　dripping　or　margarine　that　constituted　Mrs　White's　and　Bert's　usual　fare。

There　were　several　advantages　attached　to　the　position：　the　caretaker　became　acquainted　with　the　leading　members　and　their　wives；　some　of　who；　out　of　charity；　occasionally　gave　her　a　day's　work　as　charwoman；　the　wages　being　on　about　the　same　generous　scale　as　those　she　earned　at　the　Chapel；　sometimes　supplemented　by　a　parcel　of　broken　victuals　or　some　castoff　clothing。

An　evil…minded；　worldly　or　unconverted　person　might　possibly　sum　up　the　matter　thus：　these　people　required　this　work　done：　they　employed　this　woman　to　do　it；　taking　advantage　of　her　poverty　to　impose　upon　her　conditions　of　price　and　labour　that　they　would　not　have　liked　to　endure　themselves。　　Although　she　worked　very　hard；　early　and　late；　the　money　they　paid　her　as　wages　was　insufficient　to　enable　her　to　provide　herself　with　the　bare　necessaries　of　life。　　Then　her　employers；　being　good；　kind；　generous；　Christian　people；　came　to　the　rescue　and　bestowed　charity；　in　the　form　of　cast…off　clothing　and　broken　victuals。

Should　any　such　evil…minded；　worldly　or　unconverted　persons　happen　to　read　these　lines；　it　is　a　sufficient　answer　to　their　impious　and　malicious　criticisms　to　say　that　no　such　thoughts　ever　entered　the　simple　mind　of　Mrs　White　herself：　on　the　contrary；　this　very　afternoon　as　she　knelt　in　the　Chapel；　wearing　an　old　mantle　that　some　years　previously　had　adorned　the　obese　person　of　the　saintly　Mrs　Starvem；　her　heart　was　filled　with　gratitude　towards　her　generous　benefactors。

During　the　prayer　the　door　was　softly　opened：　a　gentleman　in　clerical　dress　entered　on　tiptoe　and　knelt　down　next　to　Mr　Didlum。　　He　came　in　very　softly；　but　all　the　same　most　of　those　present　heard　him　and　lifted　their　heads　or　peeped　through　their　fingers　to　see　who　it　was；　and　when　they　recognized　him　a　sound　like　a　sigh　swept　through　the　hall。

At　the　end　of　the　prayer；　amid　groans　and　cries　of　'Amen'；　the　balloon　slowly　descended　from　the　platform；　and　collapsed　into　one　of　the　seats；　and　everyone　rose　up　from　the　floor。　　When　all　were　seated　and　the　shuffling；　coughing　and　blowing　of　noses　had　ceased　Mr　Didlum　stood　up　and　said：

‘Before　we　sing　the　closin'　'ymn；　the　gentleman　hon　my　left；　the　Rev。　Mr　John　Starr；　will　say　a　few　words。'

An　expectant　murmur　rippled　through　the　hall。　　The　ladies　lifted　their　eyebrows　and　nodded；　smiled　and　whispered　to　each　other；　the　gentlemen　assumed　various　attitudes　and　expressions；　the　children　were　very　quiet。　　Everyone　was　in　a　state　of　suppressed　excitement　as　John　Starr　rose　from　his　seat　and；　stepping　up　on　to　the　platform；　stood　by　the　side　of　the　table；　facing　them。

He　was　about　twenty…six　years　of　age；　tall　and　slenderly　built。　　His　clean…cut；　intellectual　face；　with　its　lofty　forehead；　and　his　air　of　refinement　and　culture　were　in　striking　contrast　to　the　coarse　appearance　of　the　other　adults　in　the　room：　the　vulgar；　ignorant；　uncultivated　crowd　of　profit…mongers　and　hucksters　in　front　of　him。　But　it　was　not　merely　his　air　of　good　breeding　and　the　general　comeliness　of　his　exterior　that　attracted　and　held　one。　　There　was　an　indefinable　something　about　him　…　an　atmosphere　of　gentleness　and　love　that　seemed　to　radiate　from　his　whole　being；　almost　compelling　confidence　and　affection　from　all　those　with　whom　he　came　in　contact。　As　he　stood　there　facing　the　others　with　an　inexpressibly　winning　smile　upon　his　comely　face；　it　seemed　impossible　that　there　could　be　any　fellowship　between　him　and　them。

There　was　nothing　in　his　appearance　to　give　anyone　even　an　inkling　of　the　truth；　which　was：　that　he　was　there　for　the　purpose　of　bolstering　up　the　characters　of　the　despicable　crew　of　sweaters　and　slave…drivers　who　paid　his　wages。

He　did　not　give　a　very　long　address　this　afternoon　…　only　just　a　Few　Words　but　they　were　very　precious；　original　and　illuminating。　　He　told　them　of　certain　Thoughts　that　had　occurred　to　his　mind　on　his　way　there　that　afternoon；　and　as　they　listened；　Sweater；　Rushton；　Didlum；　Hunter；　and　the　other　disciples　exchanged　significant　looks　and　gestures。　　Was　it　not　magnificent！　　Such　power！　　Such　reasoning！　　In　fact；　as　they　afterwards　modestly　admitted　to　each　other；　it　was　so　profound　that　even　they　experienced　great　difficulty　in　fathoming　the　speaker's　meaning。

As　for　the　ladies；　they　were　motionless　and　dumb　with　admiration。　They　sat　with　flushed　faces；　shining　eyes　and　palpitating　hearts；　looking　hungrily　at　the　dear　man　as　he　proceeded：

‘Unfortunately；　our　time　this　afternoon　does　not　permit　us　to　dwell　at　length　upon　these　Thoughts。　　Perhaps　at　some　future　date　we　may　have　the　blessed　privilege　of　so　doing；　but　this　afternoon　I　have　been　asked　to　say　a　Few　Words　on　another　subject。　　The　failing　health　of　your　dear　minister　has　for　some　time　past　engaged　the　anxious　attention　of　the　congregation。'

Sympathetic　glances　were　directed　towards　the　interesting　invalid；　the　ladies　murmured；　‘Poor　dear！'　and　other　expressions　of　anxious　concern。

‘Although　naturally　robust；'　continued　Starr；　‘long；