black rock-第11章

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agoin'　to　saigh　it。

'Parson；　'ee　says　is　it　wisky　or　no　wisky　in　this　'ere　club？　　If　ye
hask　me；　wich　（which）　ye　don't；　then　no　wisky；　says　oi；　and　if　ye
hask　why？look　at　me！　　Once　oi　could　mine　more　coal　than　hany　man
in　the　camp；　now　oi　hain't　fit　to　be　a　sorter。　　Once　oi　'ad　some
pride　and　hambition；　now　oi　'angs　round　awaitin'　for　some　one　to
saigh；　〃Ere；　Billy；　'ave　summat。〃　　Once　oi　made　good　paigh　（pay）；
and　sent　it　'ome　regular　to　my　poor　old　mother　（she's　in　the　wukus
now；　she　is）；　oi　hain't　sent　'er　hany　for　a　year　and　a　'alf。　　Once
Billy　was　a　good　fellow　and　'ad　plenty　o'　friends；　now　Slavin
'isself　kicks　un　hout；　'ee　does。　　Why？　why？'　　His　voice　rose　to　a
shriek。　　'Because　when　Billy　'ad　money　in　'is　pocket；　hevery　man　in
this　bloomin'　camp　as　meets　un　at　hevery　corner　says；　〃'Ello；
Billy；　wat'll　ye　'ave？〃　　And　there's　wisky　at　Slavin's；　and　there's
wisky　in　the　shacks；　and　hevery　'oliday　and　hevery　Sunday　there's
wisky；　and　w'en　ye　feel　bad　it's　wisky；　and　w'en　ye　feel　good　it's
wisky；　and　heverywhere　and　halways　it's　wisky；　wisky；　wisky！　　And
now　ye're　goin'　to　stop　it；　and　'ow？　　T'　manager；　'ee　says　picters
and　magazines。　　'Ee　takes　'is　wine　and　'is　beer　like　a　gentleman；
'ee　does；　and　'ee　don't　'ave　no　use　for　Billy　Breen。　　Billy；　'ee's
a　beast；　and　t'　manager；　'ee　kicks　un　hout。　　But　supposin'　Billy
wants　to　stop　bein'　a　beast；　and　starts　a…tryin'　to　be　a　man　again；
and　w'en　'ee　gets　good　an'　dry；　along　comes　some　un　and　says；
〃'Ello；　Billy；　'ave　a　smile；〃　it　hain't　picters　nor　magazines　'ud
stop　un　then。　　Picters　and　magazines！　　Gawd　'elp　the　man　as　hain't
nothin'　but　picters　and　magazines　to　'elp　un　w'en　'ee's　got　a　devil
hinside　and　a　devil　houtside　a…shovin'　and　a…drawin'　of　un　down　to
'ell。　　And　that's　w'ere　oi'm　a…goin'　straight；　and　yer　bloomin'
League；　wisky　or　no　wisky；　can't　help　me。　　But；'　and　he　lifted　his
trembling　hands　above　his　head；　'if　ye　stop　the　wisky　a…flowin'
round　this　camp；　ye'll　stop　some　of　these　lads　that's　a…followin'
me　'ard。　　Yes；　you！　and　you！　and　you！'　and　his　voice　rose　to　a　wild
scream　as　he　shook　a　trembling　finger　at　one　and　another。

'Man；　it's　fair　gruesome　tae　hear　him；'　said　Geordie；　'he's　no'
canny'；　and　reaching　out　for　Billy　as　he　went　stumbling　past；　he
pulled　him　down　to　a　seat　beside　him；　saying；　'Sit　doon；　lad；　sit
doon。　　We'll　mak　a　man　o'　ye　yet。'　　Then　he　rose　and；　using　many
r's；　said；　'Maister　Chairman；　a'　doot　we'll　juist　hae　to　gie　it
up。'

'Give　it　up？'　called　out　Nixon。　　'Give　up　the　League？'

'Na！　na！　lad；　but　juist　the　wee　drap　whusky。　　It's　nae　that　guid
onyway；　and　it's　a　terrible　price。　　Man；　gin　ye　gang　tae
Henderson's　in　Buchanan　Street；　in　Gleska；　ye　ken；　ye'll　get　mair
for　three…an'…saxpence　than　ye　wull　at　Slavin's　for　five　dollars。
An'　it'll　no'　pit　ye　mad　like　yon　stuff；　but　it　gangs　doon　smooth
an'　saft…like。　　But'　（regretfully）　'ye'll　no'　can　get　it　here；　an'
a'm　thinkin'　a'll　juist　sign　yon　teetotal　thing。'　　And　up　he　strode
to　the　table　and　put　his　name　down　in　the　book　Craig　had　ready。
Then　to　Billy　he　said；　'Come'　awa；　lad！　pit　yer　name　doon；　an'
we'll　stan'　by　ye。'

Poor　Billy　looked　around　helplessly；　his　nerve　all　gone；　and　sat
still。　　There　was　a　swift　rustle　of　garments；　and　Mrs。　Mavor　was
beside　him；　and；　in　a　voice　that　only　Billy　and　I　could　hear；　said；
'You'll　sign　with；　me；　Billy？'

Billy　gazed　at　her　with　a　hopeless　look　in　his　eyes；　and　shook　his
little；　head。　　She　leaned　slightly　toward　him；　smiling　brightly；
and；　touching　his　arm　gently；　said

'Come；　Billy；　there's　no　fear；'　and　in　a　lower　voice；　'God　will
help　you。'

As　Billy　went　up；　following　Mrs。　Mavor　close；　a　hush　fell　on　the
men　until　he　had　put　his　name　to　the　pledge；　then　they　came　up；　man
by　man；　and　signed。　　But　Craig　sat　with　his　head　down　till　I
touched　his　shoulder。　　He　took　my　hand　and　held　it　fast；　saying
over　and　over；　under　his　breath；　'Thank　God；　thank　God！'

And　so　the　League　was　made。


CHAPTER　VI

BLACK　ROCK　RELIGION


When　I　grow　weary　with　the　conventions　of　religion；　and　sick　in　my
soul　from　feeding　upon　husks；　that　the　churches　too　often　offer　me；
in　the　shape　of　elaborate　service　and　eloquent　discourses；　so　that
in　my　sickness　I　doubt　and　doubt；　then　I　go　back　to　the　communion
in　Black　Rock　and　the　days　preceding　it；　and　the　fever　and　the
weariness　leave　me；　and　I　grow　humble　and　strong。　　The　simplicity
and　rugged　grandeur　of　the　faith；　the　humble　gratitude　of　the　rough
men　I　see　about　the　table；　and　the　calm　radiance　of　one　saintly
face；　rest　and　recall　me。

Not　its　most　enthusiastic　apologist　would　call　Black　Rock　a
religious　community；　but　it　possessed　in　a　marked　degree　that
eminent　Christian　virtue　of　tolerance。　　All　creeds；　all　shades　of
religious　opinion；　were　allowed；　and　it　was　generally　conceded　that
one　was　as　good　as　another。　　It　is　fair　to　say；　however；　that　Black
Rock's　catholicity　was　negative　rather　than　positive。　　The　only
religion　objectionable　was　that　insisted　upon　as　a　necessity。　　It
never　occurred　to　any　one　to　consider　religion　other　than　as　a
respectable；　if　not　ornamental；　addition　to　life　in　older　lands。

During　the　weeks　following　the　making　of　the　League；　however；　this
negative　attitude　towards　things　religious　gave　place　to　one　of
keen　investigation　and　criticism。　　The　indifference　passed　away；
and　with　it；　in　a　large　measure；　the　tolerance。　　Mr。　Craig　was
responsible　for　the　former　of　these　changes；　but　hardly；　in
fairness；　could　he　be　held　responsible　for　the　latter。　　If　any　one；
more　than　another；　was　to　be　blamed　for　the　rise　of　intolerance　in
the　village；　that　man　was　Geordie　Crawford。　　He　had　his　'lines'
from　the　Established　Kirk　of　Scotland；　and　when　Mr。　Craig　announced
his　intention　of　having　the　Sacrament　of　the　Lord's　Supper
observed；　Geordie　produced　his　'lines'　and　promptly　handed　them　in。
As　no　other　man　in　the　village　was　equipped　with　like　spiritual
credentials；　Geordie　constituted　himself　a　kind　of　kirk…session；
charged　with　the　double　duty　of　guarding　the　entrance　to　the　Lord's
Table；　and　of　keeping　an　eye　upon　the　theological　opinions　of　the
community；　and　more　particularly　upon　such　members　of　it　as　gave
evidence　of　possessing　any　opinions　definite　enough　for　statement。

It　came　to　be　Mr。　Craig's　habit　to　drop　into　the　League…room；　and
toward　the　close　of　the　evening　to　have　a　short　Scripture　lesson
from　the　Gospels。　　Geordie's　opportunity　came　after　the　meeting　was
over　and　Mr。　Craig　had　gone　away。　　The　men　would　hang　about　and
talk　the　lesson　over；　expressing　opinions　favourable　or　unfavourable
as　appeared　to　them　good。　　Then　it　was　that　all　sorts　of　views；
religious　and　otherwise；　were　aired　and　examined。　　The　originality
of　the　ideas；　the　absolute　disregard　of　the　authority　of　church　or
creed；　the　frankness　with　which　opinions　were　stated；　and　the
forcefulness　of　the　language　in　which　they　were　expressed；　combined
to　make　the　discussions　altogether　marvellous。　　The　passage　between
Abe　Baker；　the　stage…driver；　and　Geordie　was　particularly　rich。　　It
followed　upon　a　very　telling　lesson　on　the　parable　of　the　Pharisee
and　the　Publican。

The　chief　actors　in　that　wonderful　story　were　transferred　to　the
Black　Rock　stage；　and　were　presented　in　miner's　costume。　　Abe　was
particularly　well　pleased　with　the　scoring　of　the　'blanked　old
rooster　who　crowed　so　blanked　high；'　and　somewhat　incensed　at　the
quiet　remark　interjected　by　Geordie；　'that　it　was　nae　credit　till　a
man　tae　be　a　sinner'；　and　when　Geordie　went　on　to　urge　the
importance　of　right　conduct　and　respectability；　Abe　was　led　to　pour
forth　vials　of　contemptuous　wrath　upon　the　Pharisees　and　hypocrites
who　thought　themselves　better　than　other　people。　　But　Geordie　was
quite　unruffled；　and　lamented　the　ignorance　of　men　who；　brought　up
in　'Epeescopawlyun　or　Methody'　churches；　could　hardly　be　expected
to　detect　the　Antinomian　or　Arminian　heresies。

'Aunty　Nomyun　or　Uncle　Nomyun；'　replied　Abe；　boiling　hot；　'my
mother　was　a　Methodist；　and　I'll　back　any　blanked　Methodist
against　any　blankety　blank　long…faced；　lantern…jawed；　skinflint
Presbyterian；'　and　this　he　was　eager　to　maintain　to　any　man's
satisfaction　if　he　would　step　outside。

Geordie　was　quite　unmoved；　but　hastened　to　assure　Abe　that　he　meant
no　disrespect　to　his　mother；　who　he　had　'nae　doot　was　a　clever
enough　buddie；　tae　judge　by　her　son。'　　Abe　was　speedily　appeased；
and　offered　to　set　up　the　drinks　all　round。　　But　Geordie；　with
evident　reluctance；　had　to　decline；　saying；　'Na；　na；　lad；　I'm　a
League　man　ye　ken；'　and　I　was　sure　that　Geordie　at　that　moment　felt
that　membership　in　the　League　had　its　drawbacks。

Nor　was　Geordie　too　sure　of　Craig's　orthodoxy；　while　as　to　Mrs。
Mavor；　whose　slave　he　was；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　lamenting　her
doctrinal　condition

'She's　a　fine　wumman；　nae　doot；　but；　puir　cratur；　she's　fair
carried　awa　wi'　the　errors　o'　thae　Epeescopawlyuns。'

It　fell　to　Geordie；　therefore；　as　a　sacred　duty；　in　view　of　the
laxity　of　those　who　seemed　to　be　the　pillars　of　the　Church；　to　be
all　the　more　watchful　and　unyielding。　　But　he　was　delightfully
inconsistent　when　confronted　with　particulars。　　In　conversation
with　him　one　night　after　one　of　the　meetings；　when　he　had　been
specially　hard　upon　the　ignorant　and　godless；　I　innocently　changed
the　subject　to　Billy　Breen；　whom　Geordie　had　taken　to　his　shack
since　the　night　of　the　League。　　He　was　very　proud　of　Billy's
success　in　the　fight　against　whisky；　the　credit　of　which　he　divided
unevenly　between　Mrs。　Mavor　and　himself。

'He's　fair　daft　aboot　her；'　he　explained　to　me；　'an'　I'll　no'　deny
but　she's　a　great　help；　ay；　a　verra　conseederable　asseestance；　but；
man；　she　doesna　ken　the　whusky；　an'　the　inside　o'　a　man　that's
wantin'　it。　　Ay；　puir　buddie；　she　diz　her　pairt；　an'　when　ye're　a
bit　restless　an　thrawn　aifter　yer　day's　wark；　it's　like　a　walk　in　a
bonnie　glen　on　a　simmer　eve；　with　the　birds　liltin'　aboot；　tae　sit
in　yon　roomie　and　hear　her　sing；　but　when　the　night　is　on；　an'　ye
canna　sleep；　but　wauken　wi'　an'　awfu'　thurst　and　wi'　dreams　o'　cosy
firesides；　and　the　bonnie　sparklin'　glosses；　as　it　is　wi'　puir
Billy；　ay；　it's　then　ye　need　a　man　wi'　a　guid　grup　beside　ye。'

'What　do　you　do　then；　Geordie？'　I　asked。

'Oo　ay；　I　juist　gang　for　a　bit　walk　wi'　the　lad；　and　then　pits　the
kettle　on　an'　maks　a　cup　o'　tea　or　coffee；　an'　aff　he　gangs　tae
sleep　like　a　bairn。'

'Poor　Billy；'　I　said　pityingly；　'there's　no　hope　for　him　in　the
future；　I　fear。'

'Hoot　awa；　man；'　said　Geordie　quickly。　　'Ye　wadna　keep　oot　a　puir
cratur　frae　creepin'　in；　that's　daein'　his　best？'

'But；　Geordie；'　I　remonstrated；　'he　doesn't　know　anything　of　the
doctrines。　　I　don't　believe　he　could　give　us　〃The　Chief　End　of
Man。〃'

'An'　wha's　tae　blame　for　that？'　said　Geordie；　with　fine
indignation。　　'An'　maybe　you　remember　the　prood　Pharisee　and　the
puir　wumman　that　cam'　creepin'　in　ahint　the　Maister。'

The　mingled　tenderness　and　indignation　in　Geordie's　face　were
beautiful　to　see；　so　I　meekly　answered；　'Well；　I　hope　Mr。　Craig
won't　be　too　strict　with　the　boys。'

Geordie　shot　a　suspicious　glance　at　me；　but　I　kept　my　face　like　a
summer　morn；　and　he　replied　cautiously

'Ay；　he's　no'　that　streect：