the man from glengarry-第34章

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father　came　to　understand　each　other；　and　they　both　knew　that　they
were　spending　their　last　days　on　earth　together。　　On　the　son's
side；　they　were　days　of　deepening　sorrow；　but　with　the　father；
every　day　seemed　to　bring　him　a　greater　peace　of　mind　and　a　clearer
shining　of　the　light　that　never　fades。　　To　his　son；　Macdonald　Dubh
never　spoke　of　the　death　that　he　felt　to　be　drawing　nearer；　but　he
often　spoke　to　him　of　the　life　he　would　like　his　son　to　live。　　His
only　other　confidant　in　these　matters　was　the　minister's　wife。　　To
her　Macdonald　Dubh　opened　up　his　heart；　and　to　her；　more　than　to
any　one　else；　he　owed　his　growing　peace　and　light；　and　it　was
touching　to　see　the　devotion　and　the　tenderness　that　he　showed　to
her　as　often　as　she　came　to　see　him。　　With　his　brother；　Macdonald
Bhain；　he　made　all　the　arrangements　necessary　for　the　disposal　of
the　farm　and　the　payment　of　the　mortgage。

Ranald　had　no　desire　to　be　a　farmer；　and　indeed；　when　the　mortgage
was　paid　there　would　not　be　much　left。

〃He　will　be　my　son；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain　to　his　brother；　〃and　my
home　will　be　his　while　I　live。〃

So　in　every　way　there　was　quiet　preparation　for　Macdonald　Dubh's
going；　and　when　at　last　the　day　came；　there　was　no　haste　or　fear。

It　was　in　the　afternoon　of　a　bright　September　day；　as　the　sun　was
nearing　the　tops　of　the　pine…trees　in　the　west。　　His　brother　was
supporting　him　in　his　strong　arms；　while　Ranald　knelt　by　the
bedside。　　Near　him　sat　the　minister's　wife；　and　at　a　little
distance　Kirsty。

〃Lift　me　up；　Tonal；〃　said　the　dying　man；　〃I　will　be　wanting　to　see
the　sun　again；　and　then　I　will　be　going。　　I　will　be　going　to　the
land　where　they　will　not　need　the　light　of　the　sun。　　Tonal；
bhodaich；　it　is　the　good　brother　you　have　been　to　me；　and　many's
the　good　day　we　have　had　together。〃

〃Och；　Hugh；　man。　　Are　you　going　from　me？〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；
with　great　sorrow　in　his　voice。

〃Aye；　Tonal；　for　a　little。〃　　Then　he　looked　for　a　few　moments　at
Kirsty；　who　was　standing　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。

〃Come　near　me；　Kirsty；〃　he　said；　and　Kirsty　came　to　the　bedside。

〃You　have　always　been　kind　to　me　and　mine；　and　you　were　kind　to　HER
as　well；　and　the　reward　will　come　to　you。〃　　Then　he　turned　to　Mrs。
Murray；　and　said；　with　a　great　light　of　joy　in　his　eyes：　　〃It　is
you　that　came　to　me　as　the　angel　of　God　with　a　word　of　salvation；
and　forever　more　I　will　be　blessing　you。〃　　And　then　he　added；　in　a
voice　full　of　tenderness；　〃I　will　be　telling　her　about　you。〃　　He
took　Mrs。　Murray's　hand　and　tremblingly　lifted　it　to　his　lips。

〃It　has　been　a　great　joy　to　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　with　difficulty
steadying　her　voice；　〃to　see　you　come　to　your　Saviour；　Mr。
Macdonald。〃

〃Aye；　I　know　it　well；〃　he　said；　and　then　he　added；　in　a　voice　that
sank　almost　to　a　whisper；　〃Now　you　will　be　reading　the　prayer。〃
And　Mrs。　Murray；　opening　her　Gaelic　Bible；　repeated　in　her　clear；
soft　voice；　the　words　of　the　Lord's　Prayer。　　Through　all　the
petitions　he　followed　her；　until　he　came　to　the　words；　〃Forgive　us
our　debts。〃　　There　he　paused。

〃Ranald；　my　man；〃　he　said；　raising　his　hand　with　difficulty　and
laying　it　upon　the　boy's　head；　〃you　will　listen　to　me　now。　　Some
day　you　will　find　the　man　that　brought　me　to　this；　and　you　will　say
to　him　that　your　father　forgave　him　freely；　and　wished　him　all　the
blessing　of　God。　　You　will　promise　me　this；　Ranald？〃　said　Macdonald
Dubh。

〃Yes；　father；〃　said　Ranald；　lifting　his　head；　and　looking　into　his
father's　face。

〃And；　Ranald；　you；　too；　will　be　forgiving　him？〃　　But　to　this　there
was　no　reply。　　Ranald's　head　was　buried　in　the　bed。

〃Ah；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　with　difficulty；　〃you　are　your　father's
son；　but　you　will　not　be　laying　this　bitterness　upon　me　now。　　You
will　be　forgiving　him；　Ranald？〃

〃Oh；　father！〃　cried　Ranald；　with　a　breaking　voice；　〃how　can　I
forgive　him？　　How　can　I　forgive　the　man　who　has　taken　you　away　from
me？〃

〃It　is　no　man；〃　replied　his　father；　〃but　the　Lord　himself；　the　Lord
who　has　forgiven　your　father　much。　　I　am　waiting　to　hear　you；
Ranald。〃

Then；　with　a　great　sob；　Ranald　broke　forth：　　〃Oh；　father；　I　will
forgive　him；〃　and　immediately　became　quiet；　and　so　continued　to　the
end。

After　some　moments　of　silence；　Macdonald　Dubh　looked　once　more
toward　the　minister's　wife；　and　a　radiant　smile　spread　over　his
face。

〃You　will　be　finishing；〃　he　said。

Her　face　was　wet　with　tears；　and　for　a　few　moments　she　could　not
speak。　　But　it　was　no　time　to　fail　in　duty；　so；　commanding　her
tears；　with　a　clear；　unwavering　voice　she　went　on　to　the　end　of　the
prayer

〃For　thine　is　the　kingdom　and　the　power　and　the　glory；　forever　and
ever。　　Amen。〃

〃Glory！〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh　after　her。　　〃Aye；　the　Glory。　　Ranald；
my　boy；　where　are　you？　　You　will　be　following　me；　lad；　to　the
Glory。　　SHE　will　be　asking　me　about　you。　　You　will　be　following　me；
lad？〃

The　anxious　note　in　his　voice　struck　Ranald　to　the　heart。

〃Oh；　father；　it　is　what　I　want；〃　he　replied；　brokenly。　　〃I　will
try。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　〃and　you　will　come。　　I　will　be　telling
HER。　　Now　lay　me　down；　Tonal；　I　will　be　going。〃

Macdonald　Bhain　laid　him　quietly　back　on　his　pillow；　and　for　a
moment　he　lay　with　his　eyes　closed。

Once　more　he　opened　his　eyes；　and　with　a　troubled　look　upon　his
face；　and　in　a　voice　of　doubt　and　fear；　he　cried：　　〃It　is　a　sinful
man；　O　Lord；　a　sinful　man。〃

His　eyes　wandered　till　they　fell　on　Mrs。　Murray's　face；　and　then
the　trouble　and　fear　passed　out　of　them；　and　in　a　gentler　voice　he
said：　　〃Forgive　us　our　debts。〃　　Then；　feeling　with　his　hand　till　it
rested　on　his　son's　head；　Macdonald　Dubh　passed　away；　at　peace　with
men　and　with　God。

There　was　little　sadness　and　no　bitter　grief　at　Macdonald　Dubh's
funeral。　　The　tone　all　through　was　one　of　triumph；　for　they　all
knew　his　life；　and　how　sore　the　fight　had　been；　and　how　he　had　won
his　victory。　　His　humility　and　his　gentleness　during　the　last　few
weeks　of　his　life　had　removed　all　the　distance　that　had　separated
him　from　the　people；　and　had　drawn　their　hearts　toward　him；　and　now
in　his　final　triumph　they　could　not　find　it　in　their　hearts　to
mourn。

But　to　Ranald　the　sadness　was　more　than　the　triumph。　　Through　the
wild；　ungoverned　years　of　his　boyhood　his　father　had　been　more　than
a　father　to　him。　　He　had　been　a　friend；　sharing　a　common　lot；　and
without　much　show　of　tenderness；　understanding　and　sympathizing
with　him；　and　now　that　his　father　had　gone　from　him；　a　great
loneliness　fell　upon　the　lad。

The　farm　and　its　belongings　were　sold。　　Kirsty　brought　with　her　the
big　box　of　blankets　and　linen　that　had　belonged　to　Ranald's　mother。
Ranald　took　his　mother's　Gaelic　Bible；　his　father's　gun　and　ax；　and
with　the　great　deerhound；　Bugle；　and　his　colt；　Lisette；　left　the
home　of　his　childhood　behind　him；　and　with　his　Aunt　Kirsty；　went　to
live　with　his　uncle。

Throughout　the　autumn　months　he　was　busy　helping　his　uncle　with　the
plowing；　the　potatoes；　and　the　fall　work。　　Soon　the　air　began　to
nip；　and　the　night's　frost　to　last　throughout　the　shortening　day；
and　then　Macdonald　Bhain　began　to　prepare　wood　for　the　winter；　and
to　make　all　things　snug　about　the　house　and　barn；　and　when　the
first　fall　of　snow　fell　softly；　he　took　down　his　broad…ax；　and　then
Ranald　knew　that　the　gang　would　soon　be　off　again　for　the　shanties。
That　night　his　uncle　talked　long　with　him　about　his　future。

〃I　have　no　son；　Ranald；〃　he　said；　as　they　sat　talking；　〃and；　for
your　father's　sake　and　for　your　own；　it　is　my　desire　that　you
should　become　a　son　to　me；　and　there　is　no　one　but　yourself　to　whom
the　farm　would　go。　　And　glad　will　I　be　if　you　will　stay　with　me。
But；　stay　or　not；　all　that　I　have　will　be　yours；　if　it　please　the
Lord　to　spare　you。〃

〃I　would　want　nothing　better；〃　said　Ranald；　〃than　to　stay　with　you
and　work　with　you；　but　I　do　not　draw　toward　the　farm。〃

〃And　what　else　would　you　do；　Ranald？〃

〃Indeed；　I　know　not；〃　said　Ranald；　〃but　something　else　than　farming。
But　meantime　I　should　like　to　go　to　the　shanties　with　you　this
winter。〃

And　so；　when　the　Macdonald　gang　went　to　the　woods　that　winter；
Ranald；　taking　his　father's　ax；　went　with　them。　　And　so　clever　did
the　boy　prove　himself　that　by　the　time　they　brought　down　their　raft
in　the　spring　there　was　not　a　man　in　all　the　gang　that　Macdonald
Bhain　would　sooner　have　at　his　back　in　a　tight　place　than　his
nephew　Ranald。　　And；　indeed；　those　months　in　the　woods　made　a　man
out　of　the　long；　lanky　boy；　so　that；　on　the　first　Sabbath　after　the
shantymen　came　home；　not　many　in　the　church　that　day　would　have
recognized　the　dark…faced；　stalwart　youth　had　it　not　been　that　he
sat　in　the　pew　beside　Macdonald　Bhain。　　It　was　with　no　small
difficulty　that　the　minister's　wife　could　keep　her　little　boy　quiet
in　the　back　seat；　so　full　of　pride　and　joy　was　he　at　the　appearance
of　his　hero；　but　after　the　service　was　over；　Hughie　could　be　no
longer　restrained。　　Pushing　his　way　eagerly　through　the　crowd；　he
seized　upon　Ranald　and　dragged　him　to　his　mother。

〃Here　he　is；　mother！〃　he　exclaimed；　to　Ranald's　great　confusion；
and　to　the　amusement　of　all　about　him。　　〃Isn't　he　splendid？〃

And　as　Ranald　greeted　Mrs。　Murray　with　quiet；　grave　courtesy；　she
felt　that　his　winter　in　the　woods　and　on　the　river　had　forever　put
behind　him　his　boyhood；　and　that　henceforth　he　would　take　his　place
among　the　men。　　And　looking　at　his　strong；　composed；　grave　face；
she　felt　that　that　place　ought　not　to　be　an　unworthy　one。



CHAPTER　XVII

LENOIR'S　NEW　MASTER


The　shantymen　came　back　home　to　find　the　revival　still　going　on。
Not　a　home　but　had　felt　its　mighty　power；　and　not　a　man；　woman；　or
even　child　but　had　come　more　or　less　under　its　influence。　　Indeed；
so　universal　was　that　power　that　Yankee　was　heard　to　say；　〃The　boys
wouldn't　go　in　swimmin'　without　their　New　Testaments〃not　but　that
Yankee　was　in　very　fullest　sympathy　with　the　movement。　　He　was
regular　in　his　attendance　upon　the　meetings　all　through　spring　and
summer；　but　his　whole　previous　history　made　it　difficult　for　him　to
fully　appreciate　the　intensity　and　depth　of　the　religious　feeling
that　was　everywhere　throbbing　through　the　community。

〃Don't　see　what　the　excitement's　for；〃　he　said　to　Macdonald　Bhain
one　night　after　meeting。　　〃Seems　to　me　the　Almighty　just　wants　a
feller　to　do　the　right　thing　by　his　neighbor　and　not　be　too
independent；　but　go　'long　kind　o'　humble　like　and　keep　clean。
Somethin'　wrong　with　me；　perhaps；　but　I　don't　seem　to　be　able　to
work　up　no　excitement　about　it。　　I'd　like　to；　but　somehow　it　ain't
in　me。〃

When　Macdonald　Bhain　reported　this　difficulty　of　Yankee's　to　Mrs。
Murray；　she　only　said：　　〃'What　doth　the　Lord　require　of　thee；　but
to　do　justly；　and　to　love　mercy；　and　to　walk　humbly　with　thy　God？'〃
And　with　this　Macdonald　Bhain　was　content；　and　when　he　told　Yankee；
the　latter　came　as　near　to　excitement　as　he　ever　allowed　himself。
He　chewed　vigorously　for　a　few　moments；　then；　slapping　his　thigh；
he　exclaimed：　　〃By　jings！　　That's　great。　　She's　all　right；　ain't
she？　　We　ain't　all　built　the　same　way；　but　I'm　blamed　if　I　don't
like　her　model。〃

But　the　shantymen　noticed　that　the　revival　had　swept　into　the
church；　during　the　winter　months；　a　great