the ragged trousered philanthropists-第47章

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　　　　　　　　‘An　infant　crying　in　the　night；　　　　　　　　　An　infant　crying　for　the　light　　　　　　　　　And　with　no　language　but　a　cry。'

All　the　same；　it　did　not　follow；　because　one　could　not　explain　the　mystery　oneself；　that　it　was　right　to　try　to　believe　an　unreasonable　explanation　offered　by　someone　else。

But　although　he　reasoned　like　this；　Owen　could　not　help　longing　for　something　to　believe；　for　some　hope　for　the　future；　something　to　compensate　for　the　unhappiness　of　the　present。　　In　one　sense；　he　thought；　how　good　it　would　be　if　Christianity　were　true；　and　after　all　the　sorrow　there　was　to　be　an　eternity　of　happiness　such　as　it　had　never　entered　into　the　heart　of　man　to　conceive？　　If　only　that　were　true；　nothing　else　would　matter。　How　contemptible　and　insignificant　the　very　worst　that　could　happen　here　would　be　if　one　knew　that　this　life　was　only　a　short　journey　that　was　to　terminate　at　the　beginning　of　an　eternity　of　joy？　　But　no　one　really　believed　this；　and　as　for　those　who　pretended　to　do　so　…　their　lives　showed　that　they　did　not　believe　it　at　all。　　Their　greed　and　inhumanity　…　their　ferocious　determination　to　secure　for　themselves　the　good　things　of　THIS　world　…　were　conclusive　proofs　of　their　hypocrisy　and　infidelity。

‘Dad；'　said　Frankie；　suddenly；　'let's　go　over　and　hear　what　that　man's　saying。　'　He　pointed　across　the　way　to　where　…　a　little　distance　back　from　the　main　road；　just　round　the　corner　of　a　side　street　…　a　group　of　people　were　standing　encircling　a　large　lantern　fixed　on　the　top　of　a　pole　about　seven　feet　high；　which　was　being　held　by　one　of　the　men。　A　bright　light　was　burning　inside　this　lantern　and　on　the　pane　of　white；　obscured　glass　which　formed　the　sides；　visible　from　where　Owen　and　Frankie　were　standing；　was　written　in　bold　plain　letters　that　were　readable　even　at　that　distance；　the　text：

　　　　　　　　‘Be　not　deceived：　God　is　not　mocked！'

The　man　whose　voice　had　attracted　Frankie's　attention　was　reading　out　a　verse　of　a　hymn：

　　　　　　　　‘I　heard　the　voice　of　Jesus　say；　　　　　　　　　Behold；　I　freely　give；　　　　　　　　　The　living　water；　thirsty　one；　　　　　　　　　Stoop　down　and　drink；　and　live。　　　　　　　　　I　came　to　Jesus　and　I　drank　　　　　　　　　Of　that　life　giving　stream；　　　　　　　　　My　thirst　was　quenched；　　　　　　　　　My　soul　revived；　　　　　　　　　And　now　I　live　in　Him。'

The　individual　who　gave　out　this　hymn　was　a　tall；　thin　man　whose　clothes　hung　loosely　on　the　angles　of　his　round…shouldered；　bony　form。　His　long；　thin　legs　…　about　which　the　baggy　trousers　hung　in　ungraceful　folds　…　were　slightly　knock…kneed；　and　terminated　in　large；　fiat　feet。　　His　arms　were　very　long　even　for　such　a　tall　man；　and　the　huge；　bony　hands　were　gnarled　and　knotted。　　Regardless　of　the　season；　he　had　removed　his　bowler　hat；　revealing　his　forehead；　which　was　high；　flat　and　narrow。　　His　nose　was　a　large；　fleshy；　hawklike　beak；　and　from　the　side　of　each　nostril　a　deep　indentation　extended　downwards　until　it　disappeared　in　the　drooping　moustache　that　concealed　his　mouth　when　he　was　not　speaking；　but　the　vast　extent　of　which　was　perceptible　now　as　he　opened　it　to　call　out　the　words　of　the　hymn。　His　chin　was　large　and　extraordinarily　long：　the　eyes　were　pale　blue；　very　small　and　close　together；　surmounted　by　spare；　light…coloured；　almost　invisible　eyebrows　with　a　deep　vertical　cleft　between　them　over　the　nose。　　His　head　…　covered　with　thick；　coarse　brown　hair　…　was　very　large；　especially　at　the　back；　the　ears　were　small　and　laid　close　to　the　head。　　If　one　were　to　make　a　full…face　drawing　of　his　cadaverous　visage；　it　would　be　found　that　the　outline　resembled　that　of　the　lid　of　a　coffin。

As　Owen　and　Frankie　drew　near；　the　boy　tugged　at　his　father's　hand　and　whispered：　‘Dad！　that's　the　teacher　at　the　Sunday　School　where　I　went　that　day　with　Charley　and　Elsie。'

Owen　looked　quickly　and　saw　that　it　was　Hunter。

As　Hunter　ceased　reading　out　the　words　of　the　hymn；　the　little　company　of　evangelists　began　to　sing；　accompanied　by　the　strains　of　a　small　but　peculiarly　sweet…toned　organ。　　A　few　persons　in　the　crowd　joined　in；　the　words　being　familiar　to　them。　　During　the　singing　their　faces　were　a　study；　they　all　looked　so　profoundly　solemn　and　miserable；　as　if　they　were　a　gang　of　condemned　criminals　waiting　to　be　led　forth　to　execution。　　The　great　number　of　the　people　standing　around　appeared　to　be　listening　more　out　of　idle　curiosity　than　anything　else；　and　two　well…dressed　young　men　…　evidently　strangers　and　visitors　to　the　town　…　amused　themselves　by　making　audible　remarks　about　the　texts　on　the　lantern。　　There　was　also　a　shabbily　dressed；　semi…drunken　man　in　a　battered　bowler　hat　who　stood　on　the　inner　edge　of　the　crowd；　almost　in　the　ring　itself；　with　folded　arms　and　an　expression　of　scorn。　　He　had　a　very　thin；　pale　face　with　a　large；　high…bridged　nose；　and　bore　a　striking　resemblance　to　the　First　Duke　of　Wellington。

As　the　singing　proceeded；　the　scornful　expression　faded　from　the　visage　of　the　Semi…drunk；　and　he　not　only　joined　in；　but　unfolded　his　arms　and　began　waving　them　about　as　if　he　were　conducting　the　music。

By　the　time　the　singing　was　over　a　considerable　crowd　had　gathered；　and　then　one　of　the　evangelists；　the　same　man　who　had　given　out　the　hymn；　stepped　into　the　middle　of　the　ring。　　He　had　evidently　been　offended　by　the　unseemly　conduct　of　the　two　well…dressed　young　men；　for　after　a　preliminary　glance　round　upon　the　crowd；　he　fixed　his　gaze　upon　the　pair；　and　immediately　launched　out　upon　a　long　tirade　against　what　he　called　‘Infidelity'。　　Then；　having　heartily　denounced　all　those　who　…　as　he　put　it　…　‘refused'　to　believe；　he　proceeded　to　ridicule　those　half…and…half　believers；　who；　while　professing　to　believe　the　Bible；　rejected　the　doctrine　of　Hell。　　That　the　existence　of　a　place　of　eternal　torture　is　taught　in　the　Bible；　he　tried　to　prove　by　a　long　succession　of　texts。　　As　he　proceeded　he　became　very　excited；　and　the　contemptuous　laughter　of　the　two　unbelievers　seemed　to　make　him　worse。　　He　shouted　and　raved；　literally　foaming　at　the　mouth　and　glaring　in　a　frenzied　manner　around　upon　the　faces　of　the　crowd。

‘There　is　a　Hell！'　he　shouted。　　‘And　understand　this　clearly　…　〃The　wicked　shall　be　turned　into　hell〃　…　〃He　that　believeth　not　shall　be　damned。〃'

‘Well；　then；　you'll　stand　a　very　good　chance　of　being　damned　also；'　exclaimed　one　of　the　two　young　men。

‘'Ow　do　you　make　it　out？'　demanded　the　preacher；　wiping　the　froth　from　his　lips　and　the　perspiration　from　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief。

‘Why；　because　you　don't　believe　the　Bible　yourselves。'

Nimrod　and　the　other　evangelists　laughed；　and　looked　pityingly　at　the　young　man。

‘Ah；　my　dear　brother；'　said　Misery。　　‘That's　your　delusion。　　I　thank　God　I　do　believe　it；　every　word！'

‘Amen；'　fervently　ejaculated　Slyme　and　several　of　the　other　disciples。

‘Oh　no；　you　don't；'　replied　the　other。　　‘And　I　can　prove　you　don't。'

‘Prove　it；　then；'　said　Nimrod。

‘Read　out　the　17th　and　18th　verses　of　the　XVIth　chapter　of　Mark；'　said　the　disturber　of　the　meeting。　　The　crowd　began　to　close　in　on　the　centre；　the　better　to　hear　the　dispute。　　Misery；　standing　close　to　the　lantern；　found　the　verse　mentioned　and　read　aloud　as　follows：

‘And　these　signs　shall　follow　them　that　believe。　　In　my　name　shall　they　cast　out　devils：　they　shall　speak　with　new　tongues。　　They　shall　take　up　serpents；　and　if　they　drink　any　deadly　thing　it　shall　not　hurt　them：　they　shall　lay　hands　on　the　sick；　and　they　shall　recover。'

‘Well；　you　can't　heal　the　sick；　neither　can　you　speak　new　languages　or　cast　out　devils：　but　perhaps　you　can　drink　deadly　things　without　suffering　harm。'　　The　speaker　here　suddenly　drew　from　his　waistcoat　pocket　a　small　glass　bottle　and　held　it　out　towards　Misery；　who　shrank　from　it　with　horror　as　he　continued：　‘I　have　here　a　most　deadly　poison。　　There　is　in　this　bottle　sufficient　strychnine　to　kill　a　dozen　unbelievers。　　Drink　it！　　And　if　it　doesn't　harm　you；　we'll　know　that　you　really　are　a　believer　and　that　what　you　believe　is　the　truth！'

‘'Ear；　'ear！'　said　the　Semi…drunk；　who　had　listened　to　the　progress　of　the　argument　with　great　interest。　　‘'Ear；　'ear！　　That's　fair　enough。　Git　it　acrost　yer　chest。'

Some　of　the　people　in　the　crowd　began　to　laugh；　and　voices　were　heard　from　several　quarters　calling　upon　Misery　to　drink　the　strychnine。

‘Now；　if　you'll　allow　me；　I'll　explain　to　you　what　that　there　verse　means；'　said　Hunter。　　‘If　you　read　it　carefully　…　WITH　the　context　…'

‘I　don't　want　you　to　tell　me　what　it　means；'　interrupted　the　other。　‘I　am　able　to　read　for　myself。　　Whatever　you　may　say；　or　pretend　to　think　it　means；　I　know　what　it　says。'

‘Hear；　Hear；'　shouted　several　voices；　and　angry　cries　of　‘Why　don't　you　drink　the　poison？'　began　to　be　heard　from　the　outskirts　of　the　crowd。

‘Are　you　going　to　drink　it　or　not？'　demanded　the　man　with　the　bottle。

‘No！　　I'm　not　such　a　fool！'　retorted　Misery；　fiercely；　and　a　loud　shout　of　laughter　broke　from　the　crowd。'

‘P'haps　some　of　the　other　〃believers〃　would　like　to；'　said　the　young　man　sneeringly；　looking　round　upon　the　disciples。　　As　no　one　seemed　desirous　of　availing　himself　of　this　offer；　the　man　returned　the　bottle　regretfully　to　his　pocket。

‘I　suppose；'　said　Misery；　regarding　the　owner　of　the　strychnine　with　a　sneer；　‘I　suppose　you're　one　of　them　there　hired　critics　wot's　goin'　about　the　country　doin'　the　Devil's　work？'

‘Wot　I　wants　to　know　is　this　'ere；'　said　the　Semi…drunk；　suddenly　advancing　into　the　middle　of　the　ring　and　speaking　in　a　loud　voice。　‘Where　did　Cain　get　'is　wife　from？'

‘Don't　answer　'im；　Brother　'Unter；'　said　Mr　Didlum；　one　of　the　disciples。　　This　was　rather　an　unnecessary　piece　of　advice；　because　Misery　did　not　know　the　answer。

An　individual　in　a　long　black　garment　…　the　‘minister'　…　now　whispered　something　to　Miss　Didlum；　who　was　seated　at　the　organ；　whereupon　she　began　to　play；　and　the　‘believers'　began　to　sing；　as　loud　as　they　could　so　as　to　drown　the　voices　of　the　disturbers　of　the　meeting；　a　song　called　‘Oh；　that　will　be　Glory　for　me！'

After　this　hymn　the　‘minister'　invited　a　shabbily　dressed　‘brother'　…　a　working…man　member　of　the　PSA；　to　say　a　‘few　words'；　and　the　latter　accordingly　stepped　into　the　centre　of　the　ring　and　held　forth　as　follows：

‘My　dear　frens；　I　thank　Gord　tonight　that　I　can　stand　'ere　tonight；　hout　in　the　hopen　hair　and　tell　hall　you　dear　people　tonight　of　hall　wot's　been　done　for　ME。　　Ho　my　dear　frens　hi　ham　so　glad　tonight　as　I　can　stand　'ere　tonight　and　say　as　hall　my　sins　is　hunder　the　blood　tonight　and　wot　'E's　done　for　me　'E　can　do　for　you　tonight。　　If　you'll　honly　do　as　I　done　and　just　acknowledge　yourself　a　lost　sinner　…'

‘Yes！　that's　the　honly　way！'　shouted　Nimrod。

‘Amen；'　cried　all　the　other　believers。

‘…　If　you'll　honly　come　to　'im　tonight　in　the　same　way　as　I　done　you'll　see　wot　'E's　done　for　me　'E　can　do　for　you。　　Ho　my　dear　frens；　don't　go　puttin'　it　orf　from　day　to　day　like　a　door　turnin'　on　its　'inges；　don't　put　orf　to　some　more　convenient　time　because　you　may　never　'ave　another　chance。　　'Im　that　bein'　orfen　reproved　'ardeneth　'is　neck　shall　be　suddenly　cut　orf　and　that　without　remedy。　　Ho　come　to　'im　tonight；　for　'Is　name's　sake　and　to　'Im　we'll　give　hall　the　glory。　　Amen。'

‘Amen；'　said　the　believers；　fervently；　and　then　the　man　who　was　dressed　in