,illustration3 ,cover art ,frontispiece3 #a4 ,a ,camp ,kitchen4 #b4 ,lumber ,jacks in the ,bush4 ,,trail-,,tales ,,of ,,western ,,canada ,,by ,f4 ,a4 ,,robinson1 ,b4,a4 ,,marshall ,,brothers1 ,,ltd41 ,,london1 ,,edinburgh ,,new ,,york ,,to ,,the ,,reverend ,,robert ,,johnston1 ,d4,d41 ,,minister ,,of ,,the ,,american ,,presbyterian ,,church1 ,,montreal1 ,,and ,,to ,,friends ,,in ,,his ,,congregation ,,whose ,,unfailing ,,interest ,,and ,,kindness ,,have ,,for ,,years ,,been ,,an ,,inspiration ,,in ,,the ,,writer',s ,,life-,,work4 ,,introduction ,this book has this virtue among others1 that it is a true rescript of events that have happened in the author's personal experience4 ,it is made up of human documents that deal with matters of surpassing interest4 ,the book tells in simple and vivid style the story1 always fascinating and thrilling1 of the triumph of the ,gospel in the souls of men4 ,it is a heartening book and a moving4 ,it will bring courage and hope to those who read it1 and awaken in their hearts a deeper passion to share in ,god's great mission to men4 ,the new west is full of the broken driftwood of humanity1 showing the marks of the attrition of time and conflict and defeat--good stuff it is1 but waste and lost4 ,this book tells of its salvage to the infinite joy of men1 and to the glory of ,god4 ,the author has the further distinction of having seen himself a large part of the events he describes4 ,the book will do good wherever it goes4 ,,charles ,w4 ,,gordon4 7,ralph ,connor47 ,,winnipeg1 ,,canada4 ,october #eth1 #aiad4 ,,contents ,old ,ken's ,round-up ,charl ,the ,banner ,mines ,the ,hop ,thy ,touch has still its ,ancient ,power ,if a ,man be ,overtaken ,the ,superintendent's ,visit ,the ,cookee ,the ,regeneration of ,bill ,sanders ,the ,snake-room ,the ,bush ,fire ,ruth and the ,prodigal ,the ,cord of ,love ,nell's ,home-going ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,,frontispiece4 ,a camp kitchen4 ,lower half1 ,lumber ,jacks in the ,bush4 ,,facing ,,page #db4 #a4 ,a young miner before his dark and dingy cabin4 #b4 ,a mine and bunk-house4 #c4 ,they buried her half a mile from the camp 7see page #dh74 ,,facing ,,page #dc4 #a4 ,company house in a mountain mining town4 #b4 ,he said he was ,the only gentleman in the place 7see page #cd74 #c4 ,an open-air meeting in ,british ,columbia mining camp1 between shifts4 #d4 ,miners at entrance to a ,british ,columbia mine4 ,,facing ,,page #ij4 #a4 ,a prairie shack4 #b4 ,a copper miner's shack4 #c4 ,a bachelor's shack4 #d4 ,a shack on the hillside4 #e4 ,a mountain-side shack4 ,,facing ,,page #abh4 #a4 ,a western lumber camp4 #b4 ,lumber camp group in ,sunday attire4 #c4 ,the day's work ended4 #d4 ,a typical bar-room4 ,,facing ,,page #aef4 #a4 ,part of a town site after being swept by bush fires4 #b4 ,a bush fire getting under way4 ,,facing ,,page #aeg4 #a4 ,improvised dwellings2 cover districts into which people have fled for safety4 #b4 ,the long line of coke ovens 7see page #ahc74 #c4 ,the fire rapidly approaching4 ,,facing ,,page #bjd4 #a4 ,british ,columbia miners off shift4 #b4 ,wrecked through a wash-out4 #c4 ,a section of a mountain mining town4 ,,facing ,,page #bje4 #a4 ,an exhausted prospector4 #b4 ,a miner's washing day4 #c4 ,ready to start for the hills to inspect a mine4 #d4 ,miners off to their daily toil4 ,,trail-,,tales ,,of ,,western ,,canada ,,old ,,ken',s ,,round-,,up ,old ,ken was down on his luck4 ,for well-nigh fifty years he had gone the pace in a district where certain men say glibly1 there's no ,god west of the ,rockies4 ,the old prospector had been1 according to those who knew him best1 in one of three conditions for some years4 ,he was either getting drunk1 drunk1 or sobering up4 ,and yet in spite of his weakness and sin1 and in spite of the curses he got1 there was no more popular man in the whole camp than ,old ,ken1 although likely he was not conscious of it4 ,one of the miners had once expressed a conviction about ,ken that was dangerously popular4 ,it was at the time ,frank ,stacey's mother died1 in the ,east1 and ,frank had not two bits to his credit4 ,as might have been expected1 it was ,old ,ken who started the hat to wire that ,frank was leaving on the next train1 and to see that he had enough of the needful to do the decent thing4 ,it's his last chance1 boys1 said ,ken1 as he made the rounds during the noon hour4 ,i got twenty-two dollars since eleven o'clock1 so ,i guess1 with what you fellers is a-going to do1 the old camp's on the job1 as usual1 when a chap like ,frank wants to pay his last respects4 ,there was some mystery about those twenty-two dollars until ,andy the bar-tender told how ,old ,ken had got it out of the boss on the solemn promise that for two weeks he would work like a ,texas steer without touching a cent until the debt of thirty dollars1 minus eight for board1 was discharged4 ,then it was that one of the boys expressed himself thus about ,ken3 ,by gosh1 fellers1 he's white clear through1 that same old soak is1 when there's any trouble on4 ,he's a pile decenter than his thirsty old carcase 'll let him be4 ,on a particular morning some months ago the old prospector stood at the little station a mile or so away from the camp centre4 ,the mixed was winding her way slowly around the curves of the summit of the ,rockies4 ,from the windows of the solitary passenger car a young man looked somewhat anxiously across the valley below4 ,a few shacks nestled among the poplar brush1 and in the distance an unpainted building stood1 with distinct outline1 towering against the dark background of the mountain range opposite4 ,the young man knew well enough1 from his work among the miners and loggers1 that yonder building was as a moral cancer eating out the best life of the community4 ,the outlook was not bright1 but he was on the ,king's ,business1 and he knew that he had in his care the mightiest thing1 and the greatest remedy1 the world knows of4 ,alone he stepped off the train1 and being the only arrival he received the entire benefit of ,old ,ken's curious but not unfriendly gaze4 ,the new-comer1 who was conducting special services at selected mining and lumbering camps that were considered especially needy1 looked around for a district missionary who was expected to act as his pilot for a few days4 ,no one but ,old ,ken and the station agent were in sight1 so after friendly greetings to the former the young preacher made known the purpose of his visit4 ,old ,ken listened courteously4 ,well1 stranger1 you've hit the right spot alright2 we kin stand the gospel in big doses here for sure2 most of us is whiskey soaks or bums1 and some of us is both4 ,i wish you luck1 partner1 but ,i'm feared most of us is incurable4 ,yes1 partner1 ,i'm feared you've come too late1 too late4 ,the ,frenchman who was hotel-keeper1 professional gambler1 lumberman and mine-owner1 was not enthusiastic about allowing the sky-pilot to board in his notorious hotel and gambling den1 but eventually accommodation was secured4 ,the dance-hall was procured for the services1 and ,ken volunteered the information that the preacher wouldn't likely be disturbed1 because there were only four women left in the camp1 and he added1 two of 'em can dance like elephants and one's got ingrowing toenails or something else1 so there's only one on duty1 and that ain't enough variety for a good hop4 ,a few days after the services commenced1 ,old ,ken managed to replenish his treasury by the fortunate desire on the part of two men to get a haircut4 ,the old man boasted that he knew how to do most things4 ,i'm never idle1 preacher1 he said with a wink2 when ,i ain't doing something ,i'm a-doing nothin'1 so ,i'm always a-doing something you see4 ,no sooner were the locks shorn than the old man made his way to the bar-room4 ,he was emerging from his favourite haunt when the preacher met him4 ',taint no use pretending ,i'm what ,i ain't1 preacher1 he said after a few minutes' conversation4 ,i'm an old fool and ,i know it1 but what does it matter8 ,who cares8 ,it matters a good deal to you1 ,ken1 the preacher replied quietly1 and there are some of us who care4 ,ken1 if you would give ,god as big a place in your life as you've given whiskey there wouldn't be room for the things that have made you call yourself an old fool4 ,i know ,he could make a mighty good man of you1 ,ken4 ,thank you kindly1 preacher1 but you don't know me3 ,i'm the hardest old guy in this country2 the fellers around here think they can go it some1 but let 'em all get as full as they kin hold and ,i'll take as much as any one of 'em and then put twelve glasses more on top of that to keep it kind of settled1 and then pile the whole gang under the table and walk out like a gentleman4 ,yes1 sir1 ,i kin do it2 and if a feller's as big as a house ,i'll whittle him down to my size and lick him4 ,yer intentions are good1 partner1 but you're about fifty years late on this job4 ,the days allotted to the mission were rapidly passing away1 and while not a few had given evidence of seeing the vision splendid1 there were some after whom the little preacher1 as he had come to be generally spoken of in the camp1 greatly longed4 ,coming down the stairs one day he saw ,old ,ken standing with his back to the stair rail4 ,putting his hand on the old man's shoulder he entered into conversation4 ,ken1 you haven't been to one of the services yet1 and ,i want you to come to-night4 ,lord bless you1 preacher1 if ,i went to a religious meeting the roof 'ud fall in for sure1 and ,i don't want to bust up the dance-hall4 ,but the little preacher was not in a mood to be jollied that day4 ,ken1 he continued1 ,i'd like you to give ,god a chance4 ,do you know1 ,i like the look of you1 and---- ,the old prospector cut the sentence short1 straightened up1 and gazed appreciatively into the speaker's eyes4 ,what's that you said1 preacher8 ,what's that you said8 ,you like the look o' me6 ,well1 siree1 that's the decentest thing that's been said to me in thirty years6 ,yes1 sir1 it is3 ,i'm treated like a yaller dog around here2 but you speak decently to a yaller dog1 he'll wag his tail4 ,he likes it1 you know4 ,say1 preacher1 when you need me just you whistle and ,i'm on the job6 ,i take your offer1 old man1 said the preacher4 ,i've been here for some time and ,i've heard a good deal that ,i didn't want to hear4 ,some of you fellows have been cursing pretty nearly day and night since ,i came4 ,i didn't want to hear it1 but ,i couldn't get away from it4 ,i've heard the boys2 it's only fair they should hear me4 ,ken1 you round them up and bring them to the dance-hall4 ,ken's hand was extended4 ,here's my hand on it1 preacher2 ,i'm yer man4 ,if the boys ain't there you'll see my head in a sling in the morning4 ,at #g4cj ,ken organized himself into an ,invitation ,committee4 ,there were rumours that he even brushed his coat4 ,at any rate1 at #g4de he stood at the door of the gambling den1 and with an air of unusual importance he succeeded in getting silence long enough to tell the boys that there was a religious show on in the dance-hall4 ,the procession will form in ten minutes1 he continued1 and every ---- man in this place has got to be in it4 ,a few laughed2 some cursed at the interruption1 and others were so engrossed in their game that they appeared not to have heard4 ,in a few minutes ,ken entered the barroom and started his round-up4 ,after telling one or two quietly that it was up to him to get the boys to the religious show1 he made his proclamation4 ,come out of this1 you ---- fellers1 and come up to the ---- dance-hall and give the ---- little preacher a fair show1 or ,i'll kick the ---- hide off you4 ,the writer has no apology to make for blasphemy either in the ,east or ,west1 but like classical music1 to some ears1 ,old ,ken's blasphemous language was not so bad as it sounded4 ,after the old man had brought into use all his remarkable reserve of ,western mining camp vocabulary1 there was only one man besides the bar-tender who failed to join the procession4 ,the services had become well advertised throughout the entire district by this time1 so that when ,old ,ken arrived with his company the little hall was fairly well filled4 ,but the old man was going to see this thing through1 and so1 despite the protestations that almost upset the gravity of the preacher conducting the preliminary song service1 the gang was coaxed and forced to the front seats4 ,ken directed the seating operations in a way that suggested his ownership of the entire place4 ,in a stage whisper he instructed the boys to get a squint at the preacher's hair4 ,with pride he continued1 mighty good cut that1 ,i performed the operation this afternoon4 ,at the close of the service he came to the platform4 ,say1 preacher1 that was a great bunch4 ,there ain't a ---- 7excuse me1 preacher1 ,i forgot you don't swear71 but say1 there ain't a man of 'em but's done time4 ,i'll tell you1 preacher1 we'll run this show together4 ,i'll round 'em up and you hit 'em2 then with a swing of his big arm he added1 and hit 'em hard4 ,see here1 preacher1 you take a tip from me2 us old sinners don't want to listen to none of yer stroke-'em-down-easy preachers2 we wants a feller what 'll tell us we're d---- fools to be hoodwinked by hitting the pace1 and what'll help us to get up after he shows us we're down4 ,a few nights later the preacher had ,ken's bunch particularly in view as he delivered his message4 ,near the close he asked during one of those times of reverent silence that may be felt but not described3 ,are not some of you men tired of going the pace8 ,you know it doesn't pay4 ,many a time you curse yourselves for being fools1 and yet you go back to the old ways that blast your life4 ,men6 ,god knows how some of you are tempted1 and ,he is ready to help4 ,his ,son came into the world to save sinners4 ,he stood in the face of the fiercest temptations1 and with the command of a conqueror ,he said1 ',get thee behind ,me4' ,and1 ,men6 ,he is ready to stand alongside of every passion-torn man to-day and to help him to overcome4 ,isn't there some man here to-night who wants to do the decent thing1 and who will accept ,his offer of help in the biggest fight any man has8 ,the words were simple and commonplace enough1 but the ,one who uses stumbling lips was present that night4 ,unexpectedly one man arose1 pulling himself up by the back of the seat in front of him--a sin-marred man1 trembling as a result of daily dissipation--and said in a muffled voice1 ,i want to do the decent4 ,a confirmed gambler not far away stood up and merely said1 ,me too1 ,bob4 ,another1 in a tone of despair1 cried1 ,god and me knows there's nothing in this kind of life6 ,oh the d----1 d---- whiskey1 it's ruined me4 ,late into the night the preacher walked along the trail with one of these sin-wrecked men2 but the transformation of that life and other lives must constitute a separate story4 ,a few days before the mission closed ,old ,ken came to the preacher and announced his intended departure from the camp4 ,you see1 stranger1 the camp's pretty quiet1 and ,i ain't a-making enough money to buy a dress for a humming-bird4 ,i ain't got the wherewithal for a ticket1 but if ,i strike the right kind of conductor ,i guess ,i'll make the grade4 ,you see they can't put a feller off between stations in this country4 ,so ,i'll get one station along anyway1 and if they chuck me off ,i'll wait for the next train1 and a few chucks and ,i'll get to ,n---- anyway4 ,the following morning prospector and preacher walked together down the railway track to the little station4 ,a farewell word was spoken1 and a farewell token slipped into the big hard hand4 ,old ,ken stood a moment or two on the steps of the car4 ,there was a far-away look in the old man's eyes as he gazed in the direction of the distant ,cascade range4 ,good-bye1 preacher4 ,yes1 maybe1 maybe we'll strike the main trail that leads home4 ,i hope so--,god knows--maybe it ain't too late for me yet4 ,i kinder think lately that ,god wants ,old ,ken4 ,good-bye1 preacher2 ,god bless you4 ,three months later the little preacher received a letter from a ,british ,columbia miner4 ,one paragraph may be quoted here3 ,poor ,old ,ken was burned to death in a hotel fire in ,s---- three weeks ago4 ,he was the kindest old man ,i ever met1 and as long as ,i live ,i shall thank ,god for the night he rounded us up and brought us to your meeting in the dance-hall4 ,,charl ,when ,charlie ,rayson passed out of the dance-hall in the little mountain mining town a few nights after ,old ,ken's round-up1 he was on the border-line between despair and hope4 ,was there any chance8 ,for years he had apparently worked with the logging gang only that he might give full rein to the lusts that devoured him2 and if he remained in the bush the whole winter it was with an impatience for the days to pass so that the spring might bring him to the bar-rooms and dens of vice1 where the awful monotony might be relieved in a spring-long spree4 ,nobody had any particular interest in ,charlie1 and no one knew from whence he came4 ,and yet there seemed to be some slight ray of hope to-night4 ,he had listened for the first time since boyhood to the pearl of the parables1 and then ,old ,ken had asked the preacher to sing that there ,wandering ,boy piece4 ,charlie knew not if his mother still lived1 but the words1 ,oh6 could ,i see you now1 my boy1 as fair as in olden times1 came like his mother's call through the sin-stained past4 ,for thirteen years he had cut himself entirely off1 so far as his whereabouts was concerned1 from that one who had never ceased to love him4 ,in a few minutes after the close of the service ,charlie and the preacher were alone on the mountain trail4 ,suddenly ,charlie stopped and said1 ,good ,god1 preacher1 you can't1 you don't understand what ,i'm up against4 ,for nineteen years ,i've been in the hands of the doctor or the policeman--my passions rip me to pieces--men can't help me2 ,i wonder if ,god can8 ,i want to believe what you said to-night is true1 but ,i've always wanted to do the thing that damns me1 worse than ,i have wanted to do anything else1 and yet ,i never do it without something saying 'don't4' ,in the silence of the lonely hills the two men stood1 while one asked ,him who is the ,help of the helpless to be the ,refuge of the passion-pursued man4 ,poor ,charlie could utter but few words3 ,god1 oh1 ,god1 he sobbed1 ,i'm like that prodigal1 and ,i'm sick of it all4 ,oh1 ,god1 can you help me8 ,i want to see my old mother4 ,with the mention of the word mother the man burst into a passion of weeping4 ,for several minutes no word was uttered1 as the preacher steadied the trembling man4 ,it was no easy task for ,charlie to do what he was counselled to do after he had made the ,great ,decision4 ,but that night he read1 from the ,testament given him1 a portion of the third chapter of ,st4 ,john's ,gospel1 and knelt by his bunk and asked for strength sufficient4 ,to kneel down and pray in certain ,western mining camp bunk-houses is a man's job1 but ,charlie had realized that only ,one was able to deliver from the passions that rend1 and to that ,one he appealed4 ,a fortnight later an old woman in a far-away ,ontario village received a letter bearing a ,british ,columbia postmark4 ,she was a poor1 lonely1 half-crippled individual1 but the message of that letter enriched and cheered her and quickened her footsteps as nothing had done in years4 ,to everybody she knew1 and to a good many people she did not know1 she told of her new joy4 ,in her trembling old hands she held the precious letter4 ,do you know1 ,i've got a letter from my ,charl4 ,i thought he was dead4 ,i haven't heard from him in thirteen years1 but he's in ,british ,columbia1 and he says he's a ,christian man now1 and he wants to see his mother--and he's going to save up so's he can come home1 and till he comes he's going to write every week--and he sent me some money4 ,oh1 how good ,god is to give me back my ,charl6 ,the poor old soul seemed raised as if by a miracle from her invalidism4 ,charlie toiled on in the logging gang1 and when pay-day came the hotel-keeper reaped the usual harvest from most of the men1 and was hoping that ,charlie and ,bill ,davis1 two of his best customers1 would be coaxed back to their old habits4 ,bill had been known as the little devil of ,primeau's gang1 and his professed change of heart was a thing incredible to the entire community4 ,but ,charlie and ,bill had been a good deal together of late1 and the latter had told ,charlie all he purposed to do and be with ,god's help1 and so the two men became mutually helpful4 ,five months passed1 and besides having purchased new clothes1 ,charlie ,rayson had one hundred and fifty dollars in the savings bank at ,brandon ,falls4 ,and so at last the home journey was to be made4 ,it would be hard to say who was the more excited1 ,charlie or his loyal friend ,bill ,davis4 ,for some time ,bill thought he would pull out when ,charlie went1 but later he decided to stay on his job a few months longer4 ,nothing would do but that ,charlie should take just a little remembrance of #be from ,bill to the aged mother4 ,on ,saturday afternoon the final arrangements were made1 and ,bill did a score of things to make ,charlie's get-away easier and pleasanter4 ,while ,bill was purchasing a few little necessities at the company store1 ,charlie stepped across the threshold of the bar-room for the first time in months4 ,he wanted to say good-bye to ,andy the bar-tender4 ,a number of ,charlie's old pals were sitting or lounging around1 some of them well on the way to their terrible monthly debauch4 ,numerous hands were extended and not a few glasses offered to ,charlie4 ,not for me1 boys--,i've cut it out for good1 thanks all the same1 was ,charlie's firm response4 ,oh1 come off1 cried one1 you ain't a-going back on your old pals just 'cause you've got a new suit o' clothes4 ,numerous sallies followed this1 but to each one ,charlie gave a similar reply1 and backed towards the door4 ,it has always been supposed that it was ,primeau himself who tripped ,charlie1 but be that as it may1 somehow ,charlie stumbled backwards to the bar-room floor2 and when ,bill ,davis was returning through the hall some of the men were holding ,charlie while others were pouring whiskey through his lips1 just to give him a lesson in sociability4 ,bill ,davis could scarcely believe that the boys had tried to make ,charlie drink1 but when he realized what had happened1 his indignation prompted the profanity that had become a life habit4 ,he checked the words1 however1 and shouted at the scoffing group to leave ,charlie alone or somebody would get a headache4 ,there was a laugh from one and a muttered mind your own d---- business from another4 ,and then ,bill took a hand in the affair4 ,the following day the affray was being generally discussed4 ,one or two men who were participants in it were careful to keep out of the public gaze4 ,bill had not selected places where they should fall when he was defending ,charlie4 ,to a little group in the bar-room ,andy gave the information that ,there was something doing alright1 when ,bill started in to look after ,charlie4 ,say6 the feathers was a-flying4 ,bill ain't such a blamed good ,christian that he's forgot how to fight4 ,the taste of whiskey had aroused the old craving in ,charlie1 and long after the east-bound train had pulled out he was fighting his battle with ,bill by his side4 ,never had the two men felt more alone1 and never had they more needed a friend than now4 ,all ,charlie's confidence in his ability to stand firm seemed to be shaken4 ,bill6 he said1 ,i swallowed some1 and it seems like it was running all through me to find some more to keep it company4 ,bill6 for ,god's sake don't leave me4 ,i feel as if ,i was going to lose the game4 ,bill hardly knew what to say or do4 ,the fight in ,charlie's behalf and the disappointment over the delayed journey had left a great depression4 ,neither of the men went down to the evening meal4 ,to pass the bar-room door and to face the men again seemed more than ,charlie dare undertake4 ,the next train for the ,east passed through at #c a4m41 and after thinking over the events of the afternoon1 ,bill made up his mind that they would flag ,number #ef1 and that he would journey a hundred miles or so with his sorely-tempted chum4 ,in the darkness of midnight1 the two men passed quietly out of the building and along the trail to the railway station4 ,at last they were really on the train1 and having found an empty double seat the men made themselves as comfortable as possible1 and were soon1 like their fellow-passengers1 getting such fitful sleep as one may obtain on the average local4 ,it was the season of the year when washouts make journeying dangerous1 and frequently in ,western ,canada trains are delayed many hours1 and sometimes days1 by the swelling of the mountain streams which in their onward rush sometimes carry culverts and ballast from beneath ties and track4 ,the train had pulled out of ,sinclair1 and was making her usual time through the eastern section of the ,pass1 when passengers were suddenly thrown from their seats by a terrific jolt4 ,lamp glasses crashed to the aisle1 and baggage was dislodged from the racks4 ,charlie pulled himself to his feet almost instantaneously1 despite the knocks he had received4 ,the lamps were flickering and smoking1 but fortunately there appeared no danger of fire4 ,the brakeman1 hatless and with a bleeding face1 came rushing through the cars seeking to allay the fears4 ,stay in the cars1 please--there's no danger of fire4 ,you're better here than outside4 ,doctors will be here soon4 ,bill had not escaped serious injury4 ,he found it impossible to rise1 and as tenderly as he knew how1 ,charlie pillowed his head and stooped beside him as he lay in the aisle4 ,i'm feared ,i'm pretty badly hurted1 pardner1 groaned ,bill4 ,there was something kind o' crushed inside4 ,guess ,i'll just lie here for a bit4 ,the engine had plunged through an undermined piece of track1 and engineer and fireman were terribly cut and scalded1 while the baggage-man had been pinned beneath some heavy trunks that had shot forward and downward when the engine crashed into the washout4 ,it's the hospital for you1 my man1 said the doctor kindly1 after a hurried examination of ,bill's injuries4 ,we'll make you as comfortable as we can before the 'special' pulls out1 but you need a little attention that you can't get in the camp even if you were able to stand the journey4 ,charlie got permission to accompany his pal1 and for ,bill's sake he kept a brave heart1 although the events of the past twenty-four hours robbed him of the lightheartedness that had been his in anticipation of the home-going4 ,two days later ,charlie decided to continue his journey eastward4 ,the doctors were still anxious about ,bill1 but there was nothing ,charlie could do1 and he knew the old mother was waiting for her boy4 ,it was a touching farewell as the sick man's hand was clasped4 ,a score of times ,charlie had expressed his sorrow that he had ever let ,bill accompany him1 and yet each time in his own way he thanked ,bill for standing by him when he was near bowled out4 ,bill tried to say that he was glad ,charlie was going home1 but his tone and look revealed his sense of loss and loneliness at the prospect of his pal's departure1 and ,charlie's eyes needed a good deal of attention1 which they received surreptitiously4 ,motioning for ,charlie to come nearer1 the sick man whispered3 ,you're a brick1 old pard1 to stay by me this long4 ,i guess she's getting anxious for yer4 ,say1 ,charlie1 when yer away down there ,i'll be kind er lonely2 how would it be if yer made a bit of a prayer once in a while for me8 ,then with a last pressure on the still clasped hand1 he added1 ,good-bye1 old pal1 ,god bless yer2 maybe we'll hit the trail together again some day1 but say1 ,charlie6 7the voice was throbbing with emotion1 and the eyes reflected well-nigh a mother's tenderness7--say1 ,charlie6 we'll stay by it1 won't we8 ,if the whole world goes back on ,jesus ,christ we two'll stick to him1 'cause we know what ,he can do2 don't we1 ,charlie8 ,thus they parted4 ,inside of three days the one was clasped in a mother's arms and there was great joy in the little village home2 and almost at the same hour the other reached his ,father's ,home1 and there1 too1 was great joy4 ,,the ,,banner ,,mines ,charlie ,rayson was the man who first suggested the holding of special services at the ,banner4 ,oh6 boys1 but it's a hard spot4 ,i mind when ,old ,ken hit the trail to get a job there4 ,somebody brought word they was paying six bits an hour for rough carpentering1 and next morning ,ken took over the mountain with his pack4 ,he never stopped even long enough to get on a spree4 ,in about a week he was back at the old spot4 ,that night he was in the bar-room telling the boys about his trip4 ,i mind he told 'em they could judge what it was like when he was 'the only gentleman in the place4' ,those who knew ,ken needed no further report of conditions at the ,banner ,mines4 ,when the ,district ,superintendent heard that the men were planning to go to the ,banner1 he wrote to tell them not to be too much discouraged if it took a week's hard work to get half a dozen hearers4 ,the spot is known to many as the 'hell-hole of the ,province1' and the ,church does not begin to figure in importance with the corner grocery1 but with two special workers and the amount of earnest prayer that is everywhere being offered4 ,i am hopeful that the heartrending indifference may be overcome4 ,and so on a certain ,monday morning the missioners made their way to the ,junction1 and then took the dirty work-train up the gulch to the camp4 ,in a community where men have for years read anti-church1 anti-religious literature1 and where parasite is hissed under the breath every time a minister of the ,gospel is seen1 it could scarcely be expected that anything approaching a welcome would be given the new-comers4 ,inside of an hour the work of getting acquainted was commenced4 ,on the trail1 along the railway track1 at the tipple1 at the entrance to the mines1 in the washroom1 wherever men could be met1 the missioners sought to enter into conversation with the miners4 ,some answered civilly1 a few were almost cordial1 many were surly1 and many others either absolutely indifferent and silent1 or openly antagonistic4 ,dave ,clements1 a disabled miner1 who looked after the wash-room1 expressed himself thus3 ,religion ain't no good here2 most of the mine-owners is supposed to hev got it1 and so the rest of us don't want it4 ,look at the houses what they make us live in--my missus has been sick most all winter--jest frozen1 that's why6 ,we pays eighteen dollars a month for the ---- places4 ,the company owns everything around here3 land1 houses1 stores1 train--even the air belongs to 'em1 'cause it's full of their coal-dust4 ,we has to pay about three times the proper price for things2 but1 then1 that's what helps 'em to be religious2 that's what gives 'em the front seats in the synagogue1 you bet2 we fellers sweat to buy church organs and plush cushions1 and then the parasite parsons pat the mine-owners on the pate and give thanks for such generous brethren4 ,if anybody needs revivalling1 stranger1 it's that gang of hypocrites back yonder what makes us poor devils raise the wind to blow their glory trumpets4 ,yet even ,dave was compelled to say of ,him whom the missioners sought to exalt1 ,i find no fault in this man4 ,in response to an invitation to attend an evening service one miner replied3 ,meeting1 eh8 ,any booze going8 ,no8 ,any dance after8 ,something better than that8 ,gee6 it must be swell6 ,then the tone was contemptuous3 ,no1 siree2 you couldn't get me into a religious meeting with a couple of ,c4,p4,r4 engines4 ,yet the daily conversations and invitations were not all in vain1 for when there is a real concern on the part of ,christians for non-,christians1 that concern is likely to be imparted to those whom they seek to win4 ,moses ,evans1 a ,welsh miner1 listened somewhat impatiently to the missioner's words1 as he stood leaning against a telephone pole4 ,then with apparent weariness he answered1 ,look here1 young fellow1 there ain't a ---- man in this country can live a ,christian life in this camp4 ,i've tried it2 you ain't4 ,i know2 you don't4 ,i used to be a ,christian in ,wales--leastwise1 ,i think ,i was--but you can't be here4 ,the interview ended1 however1 with a promise on ,moses' part to be present on the following night4 ,three nights later he knelt1 at the close of the service1 behind the old piano1 and brokenly asked ,god to make him different again4 ,forgive my sins1 he continued1 and help me like ,you did in ,wales4 ,near the end of the week the missioners planned to hold an open-air service a mile and a half down the gulch1 at a spot called ,spanish ,camp1 where nearly two hundred miners lived4 ,it was hoped that by arranging the meeting between shifts a number might hear the ,gospel message1 who had not previously been reached4 ,every tent and shack was visited twice preceding the meeting1 and hand-printed signs were posted wherever likely to arrest attention4 ,at the time for the meeting to commence there were five children and eight dogs present4 ,it was not a dignified course to pursue1 and probably merited the disapproval of the church fathers1 but one of the missioners1 yearning to get a hearing for his message1 got possession of a large tin can from a nearby rubbish heap1 and with the aid of a club succeeded in getting considerable noise from its emptiness4 ,the people may have appreciated his advertising ability1 or it may be they preferred to hear the ,gospel rather than the noise that was coming from the tin can2 but1 at any rate1 in a few minutes a circle of thirty or forty gathered around the speakers4 ,a few minutes after the meeting had commenced the limping figure of ,moses ,evans might have been seen on the mountain-side near ,no4 #c ,mine4 ,hurrying down the trail he crossed the rustic bridge over the little mountain stream1 and came to where the crowd had gathered4 ,without any hesitation he pushed through the circle and stood in the centre4 ,reverently removing his miner's cap1 he said1 ,i'd like to pray4 ,a few faces expressed a sneer1 but ,moses clasped his hands and uttered his petition1 which was written down immediately thereafter4 ,oh1 ,god1 you know as how the devil has been at me all day1 saying as ,i dasn't stand out in the public air and confess ,thee4 ,you know1 oh1 my ,god6 that ,i want to be a good man again4 ,you know ,i can't read nor write in ,english1 but ,you've put words in my mouth2 put them into my heart1 and keep it clean1 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,moses ,evans and other men1 who with him made open confession of ,jesus ,christ1 were again and again spat upon and cursed1 as they passed along the entry at their daily toil in the mine4 ,but it's a great thing1 wrote the school-teacher1 that these men can be by tongue damned higher and damned lower than anything else in this world1 and yet stand firm4 ,increase the number of such men1 and you have a leaven of righteousness that will eventually permeate this whole mining community4 ,this is our only hope of rescue from the mire of sensuality and vice into which many of our miners have sunk4 ,moses says to please tell you that the words of the hymn you used to sing are true in his own experience3-- ',through days of toil1 when heart doth fail ,god will take care of you2 ,when dangers fierce your path assail1 ,god will take care of you4' ,,the ,,hop ,it was the acceptance of the challenge to attend the ,hop at the ,bonanza ,camp that popularized the services at the ,banner ,mines4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,a ,young ,miner before his dark and dingy cabin4 #b4 ,a ,mine and ,bunk-house4 #c4 ,they buried her half a mile from the camp4 7see page #dh74 ,after the open-air meeting a number of men lounged around one of the shacks discussing the question of religion4 ,when one of the preachers approached the group to invite them to the meeting in the ,hall1 ,smut ,ludlow at once began to air his grievances against the ,church1 and to inform the preacher that there were more ---- rascals in the ,church than in any other organization on earth4 ,then ,frank ,stacy contributed his bit of condemnation3 ,see here1 preacher6 ,the last time ,i was back ,east1 ,i thought ,i'd see what sort of a show they was still running in yer ,house o' ,god1 and so ,i went in4 ,just over the archway inside was a fine piece of writing1 something about 'the rich and the poor meeting together1 and going snooks4' ,i thought it sounded pretty good1 so ,i made myself as comfortable as ,i could in one of them soft seats4 ,after a while some dude started to play the organ1 and folks dressed up fit to kill strutted into their seats and bobbed their heads down and pretended to say their prayers4 ,then ,i watched an old guy trying to get his overcoat off3 ,i mind how his other coat well-nigh come off with it2 he sure was scared when he saw his shirt sleeve1 and he hustled both his coats on again like he'd been caught stealing4 ,just then somebody tapped me on the shoulder1 and a coon with a silk tile in his hand told me to sit at the back where the seats weren't rented4 ,i went back looking like a fool1 but you bet ,i didn't stop for a back seat3 ,i decided ,i'd take an outside berth1 and it'll be a few hundred years before this chicken gets caught again4 ,rich and poor meet together1 and go snooks6 ,it looked like it1 didn't it8 ,see here1 preacher1 ain't it about time you fellers stopped talking one thing and serving up another8 ,the whole thing is tommy-rot1 that's what ,i say4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,company ,houses in a ,mountain ,mining ,town4 #b4 ,he said he was ,the only gentleman in the place 7see page #cd74 #c4 ,an ,open-air ,meeting in ,british ,columbia ,mining ,camp1 between shifts4 #d4 ,miners at entrance to a ,british ,columbia ,mine4 ,hal ,rinnell was not antagonistic1 but objected to an illustration that the preacher had used4 ,say1 preacher1 warn't that there story about the ,bishop and the silver candlesticks a bit fishy8 ,you mind you said about the feller swiping 'em after the ,bishop had give him a bed1 and then he got away with 'em through the night2 and when the p'liceman saw him with 'em next morning1 and know'd they belonged to the ,bishop1 they jest nabbed him and brought him back4 ,and you mind you said the ,bishop told 'em the man didn't swipe the candlesticks1 but got 'em from him as a present4 ,then when the p'lice was gone1 the ,bishop called the thief 'brother1' and made him keep his haul and promise to be square from that on4 ,now that ain't reasonable3 it ain't human nature4 ,i'd like to see the pumpkin-head what would swipe my candlesticks1 if ,i had any1 arter ,i'd give him a decent bed4 ,he'd hev his next breakfast in ,hades1 you bet4 ,some o' you preachers ain't reasonable2 you kinder get yer wires crossed4 ,the cross-firing ended by a proposition from ,smut4 ,there's going to be a hot old time to-morrow night at the ,bonanza1 preacher4 ,i'll make a deal with you4 ,you don't like our style2 we don't like your hot air4 ,you attend the ball at ,bonanza1 we'll attend your show1 providing you start when we start1 and leave when we leave1 and get home as soon as we do4 ,how's that1 boys8 ,the boys trusted ,smut's judgment1 and knew by his wink that the proposition was safe1 hence their unanimity to make it a go4 ,none of them dreamed that the proposal would be accepted1 but after a moment's conference with his fellow-worker the preacher agreed2 and in order that there should be no misunderstanding1 he repeated ,smut's proposition4 ,the following evening the six-mile walk to the ,bonanza was commenced1 and the second party to the contract followed the leaders4 ,the first mile of trail was familiar to the preacher1 then the way led over rarely-travelled paths4 ,carefully he took his bearings when that was possible1 for few landmarks existed4 ,he observed the whisperings and smiles when the way was wide enough for two or three of the men to walk together1 and surmised that he was the subject of the conversation4 ,at last the ,bonanza was reached1 and already the gaudily-decorated dining-room of the boarding-house resounded with laughter and shouting from well-nigh a hundred guests4 ,from all corners of the district they had gathered1 for where social opportunities are so rare the camp ball is a great event4 ,the band consisted of violin1 cornet1 and horn1 accompanied by the rhythmic pounding of the performers' feet4 ,women were scarce in the district1 and most of the men desired to dance with every woman present1 so that the periods of rest were few and short4 ,liquor was dispensed freely1 and some of the dancers became hilarious and others quarrelsome4 ,only once was there anything approaching a fight4 ,nell ,webster1 a notorious character1 who was once well known in the crime colony of an ,american city because of her more than ordinary attractiveness1 had passed through many degrading experiences1 and had eventually taken up her abode at the ,bonanza4 ,excessive use of drugs and liquor had wrecked her attractiveness1 but a dance was considered incomplete without her1 and when excited by intoxicants she could hold the floor with any of them4 ,it was through one miner attempting to monopolize ,nell's dances that the quarrel arose4 ,heated words1 then curses and threats1 created an ugly situation1 until a few of the more sober managed to separate the angered ones4 ,it was the last night they would quarrel over ,nell4 ,her mad race was ended4 ,the girl of beauty had let sin become her taskmaster1 and now for years her cup of pleasure had contained only the dregs4 ,step by step the progress had been downward4 ,once1 respectable men with refined brutality had made her think she was their valued companion1 and then1 like an orange from which the sweetness had been extracted1 they had cast her off4 ,for a time she gained notoriety by being the wife of ,len ,walsh1 counterfeiter1 burglar1 confidence-man1 and all-round crook4 ,at that time she was known as ,len ,walsh's woman1 but when ,len lapsed from clever crime to simple drunkenness1 she left him and took another name4 ,and now for years her associates had been drunks and crooks4 ,once during the revelry1 as an opportunity presented itself1 the preacher spoke a few words to her about her terrible mode of living4 ,he thought there was a shadow of remorse as1 with a forced smile1 she replied1 ,i don't give a d---- now2 better try it on somebody younger4 ,two days later the preacher was asked to return to the ,bonanza and make a last prayer over ,nell4 ,they had found her lifeless body the morning following the camp ball4 ,her grimy shack was littered with bottles and glasses1 and there were evidences of a fracas--sin-marred1 sin-mauled ,nell lay on the filthy floor in the dress she had worn at the dance4 ,they buried her half a mile from the camp1 and one of the boys crudely carved the word ,nell on a cedar post1 and placed it at the head of the solitary grave amid the lonely mountains4 ,few sadder moments has the preacher ever spent than the ones occupied in the burial of ,nell4 ,again and again were her last words to him recalled--words that have since become an appeal in behalf of the wandering3 ,i don't give a d---- now2 better try it on somebody younger4 ,but to return to the dance4 ,it was long past midnight when the ,banner contingent started for home4 ,there was something of interest that ,smut had to confidentially communicate to each man4 ,then there was a hurried shout1 ,all right1 boys1 and the crowd immediately disappeared in the darkness4 ,thus far the preacher had kept his part in the agreement1 but ,smut ,ludlow was planning that on the homeward journey the rest of the contract must be made impossible4 ,the miners struck a furious pace1 and the preacher was for a few minutes unable to see the winding way1 but he stumbled along as rapidly as the hindmost of his fellow-travellers4 ,very soon he realized that many of the men could not maintain that pace for long1 and so1 refraining from conversation1 he held himself well in reserve1 being content to take his pace from the slowest in the line4 ,for half an hour no change in position took place4 ,the foremost men were chuckling to themselves over shaking the preacher1 and were wondering how far back on the trail he was1 and whether he would spend the next few hours in the woods waiting for daylight4 ,but their mirth was short-lived4 ,the preacher decided that it was his move next4 ,he could hear the panting of the men immediately ahead of him1 and at a favourable opportunity he increased the length and speed of his stride1 and passed two of the boys4 ,at each widening of the trail he performed the same feat1 until only ,smut remained ahead4 ,smut was mightily amazed when he discovered who was his nearest fellow-traveller1 and an oath escaped him4 ,with vigorously swinging arms he made every effort to keep the lead1 trying for a while to do a jog-trot1 but his feet began to drag heavily1 and once or twice he stumbled4 ,no word was exchanged1 for ,smut was being pressed to the utmost expenditure of his strength1 and the other contestant had never more longed for victory4 ,more than once he had received the cheers of the thousands when he was the favourite on ,mc,gill's field-day1 but somehow he felt to-night larger issues were at stake than the athletic glory of a college4 ,he was still comparatively fresh1 for he had been only an onlooker at the dance1 and had no alcohol in his system4 ,narrating his final contest to his fellow-worker1 he said1 ,if ever ,i prayed ,samson's prayer with all my heart it was right then3 ',strengthen me1 ,i pray ,thee1 only this once1 ,o ,god4' ,at last the two men were side by side1 but only for a few seconds4 ,with the enthusiasm of a victor the preacher quickly lengthened the distance1 and managed to spare enough breath to call back1 ,come on1 boys2 it's no use hanging around here all night4 ,at the first winding of the trail he broke into a run1 and kept it up until he reached the bunk-house4 ,with all possible speed he unlaced his boots1 threw off his coat1 made himself as comfortable as possible1 and when the boys filed in he was sitting alongside of the dining-table with his feet on a box and a book in his hand1 looking as though he had been having a quiet night of reading4 ,poor ,smut6 ,if ever a man had it rubbed in1 it was ,smut ,ludlow4 ,even before the camp was reached the attack commenced4 ,smut1 you're a ---- fool1 and you've made ---- fools of every ---- man in the camp1 started ,frank ,stacey4 ,but with characteristic ,western fair-play the preacher's stock went up rapidly4 ,that sky pilot ain't no slouch4 ,gee6 whiz6 you should have seen him give ,smut the go-by when he was plunging around like a whale in shallow water1 and puffing like the 'dummy' when she's trying to make the grade with too big a haul4 ,many similar expressions went the round the next day1 and the preacher was no longer regarded as the under-dog4 ,say1 pilot1 said ,frank at the noon hour1 where d'you learn that gait you struck last night8 ,with a smile came the quiet reply1 ,i was brought up on the farm1 and used to drive the calves to the water4 ,as ,frank walked away he remarked1 ,yer guv'nor must have raised blamed good calves4 ,the most annoying result of the whole incident1 so far as the men were concerned1 lay in the fact that they were in honour bound to attend the evangelistic meeting4 ,to some it was so exasperating that they suggested the violation of the contract4 ,but that was not to be thought of in the opinion of the majority4 ,we was licked1 and we'll take our medicine1 though it's ---- hard to swaller1 said ,hal ,rinnell4 ,for the meeting that night the hand-printed signs gave the information that a series of lantern slides would be exhibited at the commencement of the service4 ,a few minutes after the opening1 and while a popular ,gospel hymn was being sung1 about a dozen men availed themselves of the mercifulness of the semi-darkness1 and slipped into back seats4 ,by the time the lights were turned up they had become accustomed to their surroundings1 and bore with fair grace the suggestive glances that were directed towards them4 ,the appeal was based on the words3 ,i find no fault in this ,man4 ,all the controversial weaknesses of the ,church were dismissed1 and the great problems of heart and life were dealt with in a manly1 sympathetic manner1 and men's thoughts were directed to that ,one whose name still occupies its splendid solitary pre-eminence4 ,before any person left the building1 the speaker was in his accustomed place at the door to speak a personal word and give a handshake4 ,frank ,stacey clasped the proffered hand with genuine cordiality1 and in a voice that was heard by all1 said1 ,you're playing a bully good game1 preacher4 ,you hit as good a pace to-night as last night1 and if you keep it up you'll lick us to a finish before your innings is out4 ,smut ,ludlow was not in good humour1 and as the boys sat around the bunk-house stove having their last smoke for the day1 he was clearly disgusted and maddened at the changed attitude of the camp toward the preacher4 ,once he expressed himself after ,frank had praised the preacher for his grit4 ,you're a ---- lot of turncoats2 things are in a ---- of a mess if you fellows can be bamboozled by one of these ---- parasites4 ,well6 we ain't the only ones what were bamboozled1 ,smut4 ,he sure put it all over you last night1 and if you had enough brains to fill a thimble you'd keep your fool mouth shut4 ,never in their long acquaintance had ,frank opposed ,smut to the extent of this deliverance1 but there was no question but that the preacher had overcome ,frank's opposition and aroused his admiration4 ,anyhow1 he continued1 that chap's a different brand to most of 'em1 and ,i kinder think he can put up the genuine goods4 ,frank threw his clothes over the line and clambered into his untidy bunk1 and long after the heavy breathing of wearied men had become general he lay with strangely new thoughts4 ,he agreed with the preacher that it wasn't a square deal to find no fault in this ,man1 and then to deliver ,him to be crucified4 ,and that night the preacher had1 by numerous illustrations1 compelled the worst of men to pay their tribute to ,him who was the highest that humanity has known2 and yet were they any squarer to ,him than ,pilate was8 ,had they not much more evidence than ,pilate had1 and yet1 in the face of an absolutely unanimous verdict of not guilty1 they pronounced what was equal to the death penalty4 ,again and again ,frank said to himself ,that ain't square4 ,there was not a seat to spare in the dance-hall during the subsequent nights4 ,frank ,stacey missed no service1 and when1 at the mission's close1 a meeting was called of those interested in the organization of a ,church and the erection of a building1 he was one of the little company4 ,when six months later they were ready to occupy the new church1 ,frank was insistent that ,mr4 ----1 the man who showed ,smut where to get off1 should be the preacher for the day4 ,impossible1 said a number2 it would cost over thirty dollars for railway fare alone4 ,impossible nothing6 was ,frank's response2 and twenty-four hours later he handed fifty dollars to the ,treasurer for railway fare and pulpit supply1 and after two weeks of correspondence the announcement was made that the desired speaker was coming4 ,no one enjoyed the day of the opening more than ,frank4 ,the building of the church had absorbed all his interest1 and now the effort was crowned with success4 ,for several nights a dozen ,welsh and ,english miners had practised the hymns to give the thing a good send-off4 ,they sat in the corner near the reading-desk1 and led the music with increasing confidence as the day's services progressed4 ,i guess the devil over-reached himself when he tried to make a fool of the preacher the night of the dance1 said ,frank1 as a group stood outside at the close of the afternoon's ,communion service4 ',tain't often he gets as hard hit in the neck by his friends as he was that night4 ,the ,church at the ,banner has had its ups and downs during the past three years4 ,one of the mines has closed1 and many shacks are now unoccupied4 ,frank ,stacey has gone over to ,vancouver ,island1 and some of the charter members have ceased their earthly labours2 but each ,sabbath-day a few faithful ones1 the salt of the earth1 gather for worship in the ,church that ,smut ,ludlow unwittingly caused to be built4 ,,thy ,,touch ,,has ,,still ,,its ,,ancient ,,power ,jack ,roande was on one of his periodical sprees4 ,for eight years he had been going the pace4 ,they had been long1 weary years to the one whom ,jack had vowed to love and cherish4 ,night after night1 through these long years1 she had listened for the awful home-coming4 ,there were few in the little mining town but had often seen her eyes reddened by weeping1 and all knew of the ,eastern home she had left4 ,among those who had joined in the send-off1 nearly fifteen years ago1 were two men whose names are still honoured household words throughout the ,dominion4 ,there was no note of sadness that day1 for ,jack was a model young man1 and every one agreed that there was no finer girl than ,nell4 ,jack blamed his downfall to dabbling in politics4 ,politics are rotten in this province1 said he1 as he endeavoured to excuse his condition2 but perhaps1 as a chum of ,jack's said1 he only blamed politics 'cause a fellow generally tries to find a soft place to fall4 ,whatever the cause1 at least the fact was plain to all in the town that ,jack was down and out4 ,the business men said so1 and agreed with the authorities that ,jack was a nuisance to the town4 ,some of those who had assisted in his downfall spoke of him as a dirty loafer1 and even the bar-rooms1 where he had spent all1 tolerated his presence only when the cruel pity of some patron called him in for a treat1 or when he could exhibit some coin4 ,it was through the tender mercies of the wicked to ,jack that there were three empty stockings in the ,roande home on the recent ,christmas ,eve4 ,for the children's sake1 there had been a tearful plea that the husband would be home ,christmas ,eve and ,christmas ,day4 ,with glad expectancy the meagre resources of the pantry were combined by loving hands to give the nearest possible approach to a feast4 ,from the near-by woods the children had brought cedar and pine for decorative purposes1 and these1 with stray bits of brightly-coloured tissue paper1 had done much to give the home a ,christmas appearance4 ,the usual notes had been written to ,santa ,claus1 and the mother-heart had lovingly suggested a curtailment of such requests as ,santa might find it difficult to grant4 ,the little ones had thrown their letters into the fire1 and watched some of the gauzy ashes carried up the chimney to the mysterious but generous friend of the children1 who would soon be loading his sleigh somewhere in the far north4 ,jack appeared to respond to his wife's pleadings1 and so on account of her many home duties she confided to him some of the requests the children had made1 and how the much-coveted toys were parcelled and waiting to be called for at one of the down-town stores4 ,no word was spoken of the sacrifice the purchases had involved1 nor of the sting love had endured when for the children's sake she began to take in sewing4 ,it was therefore agreed that ,jack should bring the parcel home shortly before tea on ,christmas ,eve1 and in the darkness it could be hidden away until the little ones were asleep4 ,jack was true to his word1 and started for home with the precious toys under his arm1 in ample time for the evening meal4 ,merry ,christmas1 ,jack1 called a voice as ,jack was rounding the saloon corner2 come on in and have one4 ,guess ,i'd better get home1 was the hesitating reply4 ,it needed little persuasion1 however1 to get ,jack inside1 and after a second treat he lost all anxiety to reach home1 and was ready for a night's debauch4 ,during the tea-hour the bar patrons became fewer1 and ,jack's chances for further drinks were far apart4 ,in response to a request to chalk up a couple of whiskeys1 he received an emphatic not on your life from the bar-tender4 ,there was a momentary conflict within ,jack1 and then the beast became lord over the man4 ,going to the corner he brought his parcel from the bench and placed it on the bar4 ,how much can ,i draw on for that8 ,there was a wild determination in the voice4 ,unwrapping the parcel beneath the bar1 the bar-tender at once knew what the contents meant4 ,i don't want 'em1 ,jack3 you better get home to your kids4 ,but ,jack was insistent1 and gradually the other weakened4 ,well1 it's your property1 and if you're going to sell 'em ,i guess ,i may as well buy 'em as anybody else4 ,i'll chalk you fifty cents4 ,the articles were worth three times the amount offered1 but ,jack was being consumed with that hellish thirst that he had developed through many years1 and he at once started to use up his credit4 ,a mile away an anxious wife awaited ,jack's return4 ,cheerfully she had gone about her work until the hour for the evening meal1 but with the passing moments the husband's absence caused her fears to increase4 ,with forced smiles she did her best to bring into the home the gladness that belongs to ,christmas ,eve1 but the heart was heavy1 and the little ones saw now and again the tears that could not be suppressed4 ,bedtime was prolonged to two hours beyond the customary time1 but still there was no sign of the father4 ,once the mother expressed the fears that were in her heart when she suggested that sometimes ,santa ,claus did not get to homes when the father was away1 at which suggestion there were tearful little eyes and oft-expressed wishes that daddy would come home4 ,bravely the mother gathered the three children around her chair for their good-night sing4 ,favourite hymns of the ,sabbath ,school were sung1 and all the time four pairs of ears were alert for the sound of ,jack's return4 ,it was while ,grace's favourite hymn1 ,i am so glad that our ,father in ,heaven1 was being sung1 that footsteps were heard at the door4 ,instantly the little ones ceased their singing1 as ,grace joyously shouted1 ,it's daddy2 ,santa ,claus will come now1 won't he1 mother8 ,for a minute or two before ,grace's glad shout two men had stood an the darkness outside the ,roande home4 ,after he had been turned out of the ,kelby ,house1 ,jack had staggered and stumbled around the streets for some time1 and at last lay prostrate in the snow not far from the home of one who had often befriended him4 ,a woman hurrying along the street suddenly saw the dark form on the snow1 and with a cry of fear ran to the near-by house4 ,the minister who resided there1 at once recognizing poor ,jack1 dragged him into the house1 and after securing a neighbour's sleigh and a driver1 started for ,jack's home4 ,from the sleigh to the house he managed to conduct ,jack safely1 but when the strains of ,i am so glad from childish voices reached his ears1 he stood still for a moment4 ,how could he take such a father home at such a time6 ,yet it was impossible for him to remain long outside with ,jack as he was1 and so he guided the poor drunken father onward4 ,jack stumbled and fell heavily against the door just as ,grace's glad shout silenced the hymn-singing4 ,the minister was dragged almost to the floor as the door sprang open and ,jack lurched into the room4 ,few words were spoken1 for all hearts were sad as the stupefied man almost immediately fell asleep on the floor of the sitting-room1 and filled the air with the drunkard's stench4 ,the little ones were tenderly told to go to their beds4 ,had he a parcel when you found him8 whispered the mother as soon as she could control her voice4 ,then followed the narration of her plans to fill the three stockings that had already been hung up at the back of the stove4 ,and now it was too late to find out what had happened to the parcel4 ,the minister looked into the mother's face1 and then at the three empty stockings with their mute appeal for a visit from ,santa ,claus4 ,i could bear this1 hard as it is1 she continued1 glancing at the drunken sleeper1 but the poor children----4 ,the head dropped on her arms which were resting on the table1 and quietly she wept over the bitter disappointment the little ones must bear on ,christmas morning4 ,mrs4 ,roande--a hand touched her shoulder lightly--if you are not too wearied to wait up ,i'll do my best to locate the parcel4 ,the look from the grateful mother was all that was needed to send the minister forth on his errand of love4 ,the store from which the toys were secured was closed1 but the proprietor had not yet retired1 and was able to reassure the midnight visitor that ,jack had procured the parcel shortly before supper-time4 ,it was not long before the clue led the minister to the home of the bar-tender4 ,wearied1 but with mingled sorrow and anger1 he rang the door bell4 ,the man he was looking for came downstairs partly disrobed1 and was manifestly surprised at a pastoral call1 especially at such an hour4 ,the minister stepped unasked into the hall4 ,mr4 ,klint1 ,i apologize for disturbing you1 but ,mr4 ,roande left a parcel somewhere that ,i must find to-night1 and ,i understand he was in your bar-room4 ,do you know anything about it8 ,the answer not being satisfactory1 a further question was put4 ,no1 sir1 he left nothing2 we had a square deal1 but that's nobody's business but mine and his4 ,may ,i then ask if a parcel containing toys had any place in that deal8 ,no answer being given1 the minister said with quiet firmness1 ,i must have an answer to that question before ,i leave this house4 ,mr4 ,klint1 this is ,christmas ,eve6 ,there are three empty stockings hanging in the room where ,jack ,roande lies drunk1 and the things intended for those stockings must be there before morning4 ,i'm not obliged to tell you or anybody else anything about my business1 answered ,klint surlily2 but if you are so anxious to know1 then ,i can tell you that ,i bought that parcel to oblige ,jack1 and it was his deal1 not yours4 ,this is not the time for much talking4 ,be good enough to tell me where the parcel is now1 and what you paid for it4 ,again there was hesitancy1 and again there was pressure4 ,at last the information was elicited that the toys were beneath the roof that sheltered them1 and that the price paid was fifty cents4 ,be good enough for the children's sake1 if not for your own1 to take back your fifty cents and let me take the parcel4 ,eventually the deal was consummated4 ,when the toys were safely in his possession the minister said1 ,mr4 ,klint1 if you were dealt with as you deserve1 you would spend ,christmas day1 not in your own comfortable home1 but in the hospital or in jail3 ,i only hope you are not as contemptible as your deed4 ,i shall see you again1 some other day4 ,the hand-clasp from the thankful mother was ample repayment for the midnight search1 and in the early morning the exclamations of delight from her little ones in turn lifted something of the burden from her trouble-worn life4 ,thus had it been1 sorrow after sorrow1 for poor ,nell ,roande for over eight years1 and at times she felt there was little hope of any change1 but the new day was soon to come1 and the night of weeping was to be turned into the morn of song4 ,on the ,tuesday night following the commencement of special services1 as a little group of young men were leaving the ,pool-room adjoining the ,opera ,house1 ,jack ,roande came stumbling along4 ,it was a great joke1 so ,bill ,thornton thought1 to jolly ,jack into believing that there was a free show in the ,opera ,house1 with pretty girls and swell dancing4 ,within a few minutes ,jack was sitting with eyes as wide open as he could get them1 ready to take in the swell dancing4 ,he quickly realized that he had been fooled1 and catching the word religion he shook his fist as he departed saying1 ,religion6 it's all d----d rot4 ,there's nothing in it4 ,the missioner was down the aisle in a few seconds1 and as ,jack was passing through the swinging doors a kindly hand was laid upon his shoulder1 and a voice1 made tender by acquaintance with the ,friend of sinners1 said ,good-night1 friend2 you have the marks of a gentleman although you have made a slip to-night4 ,i hope you will come again4 ,returning to the platform he continued his message1 but it was easy to see that the speaker's heart was out in the night whereever ,jack was4 ,was it that yearning that brought ,jack back again in less than half an hour8 ,be that as it may1 the man who had left with a curse1 staggered in again before the closing hymn1 and made not the slightest disturbance after he reached a seat4 ,at the close he conversed in as intelligent a way as his intoxication permitted4 ,the conversation need not be recorded4 ,it was one of several4 ,five nights later1 twenty minutes after the clock had made its lengthiest strike1 a subdued knock was heard at the door of the home in which the missioner was being entertained4 ,the burner of midnight oil hurried downstairs4 ,jack stood in the doorway4 ,mr4 ,williams1 ,i've got to settle it1 and ,i've got to do it now4 ,two souls tarried in the upper room1 and while they tarried ,he came4 ,at last the broken cry ascended1 ,my ,father1 ,i want to get back to ,thee4 ,help me to walk in the paths of righteousness1 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,it was a great night for the fisher of men4 ,like the wearied disciples of old1 he said ,it is the ,lord4 ,the following night1 ,jack ,jr41 ,mamie and ,grace accompanied their father to the service1 and happily united their voices in the service of praise4 ,grace--they called her ,gay1 for that was the best pronunciation wee ,jean1 now departed1 could once give--told several of her schoolmates confidentially in her mother's words1 that she had a new daddy4 ,and the subsequent days have proven the truth of her assertion4 ,the closing night arrived4 ,the ,opera ,house was crowded1 and from the opening words1 ,our ,father1 until the ,and now ,i commend you to ,god1 every one present seemed to feel that this was no ordinary religious gathering4 ,an opportunity was given for a word from new converts4 ,tenderly1 prayerfully1 these were urged to in some way publicly confess their new-found ,lord4 ,there was a hush as ,jack stood erect4 ,in a low1 clear voice he addressed himself particularly to the half-hundred young men at the back4 ,i do not need to tell you what ,i was4 ,two weeks ago it would have been inconceivable to you and to me that the change ,i have experienced could take place4 ,there is only ,one who could do it1 and ,he has done it4 ,i cannot say more now1 but if you want to know all about it1 come to me at the close of this service1 or come to my home4 ,the eyes of the wife at his side were red again1 but the tears were tears of joy4 ,it is very wonderful3 we are all so happy4 ,oh1 how glad ,i am that these services have been held1 were her farewell words4 ,jack's hand was the last one the missioner clasped4 ,jack1 you will be ,god's man4 ,i go1 but ,he remains4 ,this change is all ,his doing1 and ,he will hold you fast if you only trust ,him4 ,many a day ,i'll pray for you1 ,jack4 ,remember that your feelings may change1 but your purposes must endure4 ,good-bye4 ,good-bye1 ,mr4 ,williams2 ,god helping me ,i won't fail4 ,it'll be no easy business1 but ,i'm not in the fight alone2 ,god's in it too4 ,good-bye4 ,and the years that have passed since these words were spoken have shown clearly enough that ,jack is not fighting alone4 ,once again prayerful hearts are returning thanks for the touch that has still its ancient power4 ,,if ,a ,,man ,,be ,,overtaken ,george fell--all the people knew that was what would happen4 ,when he told in the church that he was going1 with ,god's help1 to be a ,christian and act the square1 there was only one at the close of the meeting to say an encouraging word to him2 the rest left him alone4 ,on the whole1 they did not believe in results from ,special ,services1 and1 despite the ,pastor's frequent appeals for their unprejudiced and whole-hearted support1 none were enthusiastic over the effort being put forth1 and many were antagonistic4 ,in the opinion of the majority the regular1 well-ordered ,sabbath services gave ample opportunity for those who wanted to lead different lives1 and so far as reaching the outsiders was concerned1 the endeavour to invite personally the non-churchgoers was quite unnecessary--all such knew they were welcome1 because the fact had been on the announcement board outside the church for over ten years4 ,the missioner was told on all sides what a notoriously untrustworthy man ,george was3 ,you see1 we know his past1 and you have been here only two weeks1 or you'd know better than to put any faith in what he did and said last night4 ,it was just a passing emotion1 and it won't mean anything4 ,so ,george fulfilled their expectations when he returned from the city uproariously drunk one night three weeks after the mission closed4 ,the morning following the outbreak the minister's wife made a special trip down street4 ,the door of the carpenter's shop was fortunately open1 and ,george was leaning against his bench looking1 as he felt1 far from happy4 ,pleasantly the little woman greeted him1 and passed on4 ,then1 with an exquisite piece of deception1 she appeared to have a sudden after-thought1 and turning quickly1 she said1 ,oh1 ,george1 the doors in the pantry cupboard are so swollen that ,i cannot close them4 ,could you fix them for me8 ,the carpenter looked wearily at her4 ,i ain't feeling much like fixing anything1 ,mrs4 ,lamb1 but ,i'd try to do most anything for you4 ,thank you1 ,george1 was the reply1 ,i believe you would2 come as soon as you can4 ,george had said what was true2 he believed in ,mrs4 ,lamb1 and what was still better1 he felt that she believed in him4 ,when1 on the night of his confession1 she took his hand and said1 ,i'm so glad1 ,george1 he valued her word and tone1 and look and hand-clasp1 as only the friendless man can4 ,but ,george was thoroughly disheartened to-day4 ,everybody knew what he had said in the meeting1 and by now they would know that he had failed4 ,yet no one would blame him more than he blamed himself4 ,he called himself a fool for going to the city4 ,the business could have been done equally well by correspondence4 ,from the time he decided to go he feared that he would return home intoxicated4 ,he was quite aware of a terrible craving1 that he knew only too well made it dangerous for him to frequent the old haunts so soon1 but in spite of inner warnings he made up his mind to go1 so that the battle was lost before the temptation was actually met4 ,twice that afternoon ,george took up a few tools to go to the ,manse in response to ,mrs4 ,lamb's request1 and twice he put them down again4 ,the prison cell would have been entered with less fear than the ,manse that day4 ,he felt he had betrayed one of the best friends he ever had4 ,and so night came1 and the pantry doors were untouched4 ,family prayers were about to be conducted at the ,manse4 ,baby ,jean was on mother's knee1 and ,harold's chair was close to father's4 ,just before kneeling the good wife said quietly3 ,please remember ,george1 papa4 ,there were tears in her eyes when the petition was offered for those who have failed1 and a whispered ,amen followed each clause that was uttered in behalf of ,george4 ,the following morning ,george made his way to the ,manse and attended to the pantry doors4 ,when the work was finished1 ,mrs4 ,lamb led the way through the dining-room to the front door4 ,her hand rested on the door-knob1 and she seemed in no hurry to let ,george out4 ,it was evident she wanted to say something1 but the words did not easily come4 ,at last ,george broke the silence1 and his voice quivered with penitence as he looked for a moment into ,mrs4 ,lamb's sympathetic eyes4 ,i suppose you've heard all about it1 ,mrs4 ,lamb1 and the mess ,i've made of things8 ,yes1 ,george1 ,i know1 and ,i'm so sorry2 but you are going to win yet3 ,god's going to help you win4 ,perhaps1 ,george1 you trusted too much in your own strength1 and you forget how weak we all are when we stand alone4 ,you know the hymn that says--',christ will hold me fast'8 ,you cannot get along without ,him1 ,george4 ,tell ,him all about it1 when you and ,he are alone1 and ask forgiveness1 and1 ,george1 ,i know ,god can and will make you a good1 strong1 true man2 ,he loves you1 and we love you4 ,you are going to win yet1 and ,he loves you1 and we love you1 were sentences that gave the man1 overtaken in a fault1 new hope4 ,deep yearnings were in his heart as he walked back to the shop4 ,he believed his better moments were his truest moments1 and yet it seemed to him that no one except ,mrs4 ,lamb credited him with noble aspirations4 ,he knew very well that there were ,christian people who were suspicious and unsympathetic toward him1 and so his better nature seemed to retire in their presence4 ,later on he told how he used to feel like saying1 ,why won't you believe in me1 and stand by me1 and give me a fighting chance8 ,often he felt like a man who had been injured1 and who needed support until he could reach a place of safety2 and yet few did more than look with disgust on him1 and think it unlikely that he could make the journey without falling4 ,but1 despite his weakness and his sin1 ,george believed there were possibilities of noble living even for him4 ,the following ,sabbath he was back in his place in church1 a humble1 penitent man4 ,the sermon that day was different from the ones the people were used to hearing2 not that it was better1 for all ,mr4 ,lamb's sermons were of a high order1 but it had an element that was unusual1 an element of great tenderness4 ,the text was3 ,go1 tell ,his disciples and ,peter4 ,peter's past1 traitorous conduct was graphically pointed out1 but so also was his weeping4 ,we cannot think too harshly of our sins1 said the preacher1 but we may think too exclusively of them4 ,peter thought of his sins1 but he also thought of ,his ,saviour1 and when he saw his ,risen ,lord1 the erring but penitent disciple said3 ',thou knowest that ,i love ,thee1' and the ,master forgave all and sent him out to service4 ,the ,god whom the ,minister was accustomed to preach about was a splendid1 strong1 but rather pitiless ,being2 now they heard of a loving1 pitiful ,father who was ever seeking those who had turned from ,him1 and who was more than ready to receive them as they turned again home4 ,all ,he wanted was to hear from their own lips1 ,father1 ,i have sinned4 ,that confession opened ,heaven's wardrobe for the man made disreputable by wandering4 ,at the close of the evening service ,george accepted ,mrs4 ,lamb's invitation to slip in and have a cup of cocoa4 ,just the three of us1 she added4 ,you know the way2 walk right in4 ,hurriedly she passed on to give kindly greetings to a few strangers she had noticed4 ,for nearly two hours ,george and the ,minister sat in the glow of the firelight4 ,it was a great relief to the disheartened man to be with those who knew all1 and who yet loved him1 and who1 by their faith in him1 gave him a little more faith in himself and in ,god4 ,referring to his drinking habit1 he said1 ,sometimes ,i feel ,i'd rather drop dead in my tracks than touch it again2 and then there are other days when it seems as if some slumbering devil had awakened within me1 and ,i'm so crazy for it that ,i'd give the whole of ,canada1 if ,i had it1 for another drink4 ,then1 after a pause1 he continued1 ,i suppose a man shouldn't try to blame his sin on others1 but one of the earliest things ,i can remember1 ,mr4 ,lamb1 is being held in my mother's arms and putting my hands around the beer jug while she gave me a drink4 ,many a night1 when ,i was 'knee-high to a grasshopper' as we say1 ,i have clung to her skirt1 as she dragged me from bar to bar1 around ,high ,street and ,george ,street in old ,glasgow4 ,i guess my father and mother were drunk every ,saturday night for five years4 ,one night ,i can remember as clear as if it was only yesterday4 ,it was the time of the ,glasgow ,fair1 and ,i was wishing they'd go home4 ,i must have been about six years old1 and my sister ,janet was two years younger1 and then there was a baby they called ,bobbie4 ,mother had ,bobbie fastened around her with an old shawl4 ,she and father had been on a spree all the evening4 ,father was leaning against a lamp-post1 just drunk enough to say the fool things that amuse some of them folks who don't think anything about the big price somebody is paying for that kind of fun4 ,maybe you think it's queer of me to talk that way1 when ,god knows ,i've been guilty enough myself4 ,well6 let me finish my story1 anyway4 ,my mother was dead drunk1 sitting on the curbstone near him1 and maybe ,bobbie was stupefied with liquor like ,i had been many a time4 ,once in a while she'd rouse up1 and press her hands against her maddened head and shriek all kinds of curses4 ,police6 why1 ,mr4 ,lamb1 the ,glasgow police couldn't have handled the crowds that was drunk them days4 ,i've seen hundreds of drunken men and women in one night around ,rotten ,row and ,shuffle ,lane1 and other streets near the corner of ,george and ,high ,streets3 so long as they didn't get too awful bad the police let them alone4 ,mother was a very devil when she got fighting4 ,i've heard father brag about what she could do in that line4 ,when she used to roll up her sleeves for a fight1 she was like a maddened beast4 ,i tell you1 there isn't much in the fighting line ,i haven't seen2 but it makes me kind of shudder yet when ,i think of how she'd punch1 and kick1 and scratch1 and all the time she'd be using language that would make a decent man's blood run cold4 ,you were saying something about 'sacred memories around the word mother' in one of your sermons1 but that was the kind of mother ,i had1 ,mr4 ,lamb4 ,it must have been near ,sunday morning when somebody helped to get us home4 ,janet and me had been sleeping in the gutter1 and ,i can remember the time they had getting father and mother up the stairs in the ',close4' ,somebody slipped near the top1 and there was a heap of us jammed against the wall at the turning of the stairs4 ,but we children were used to bruises1 and we learned to keep quiet1 or we'd only get more for our trouble4 ,i likely cried myself to sleep on the rotten old floor1 and ,i suppose ,i'd never have remembered any more about it if it hadn't been for ,bobbie4 ,in the morning the poor wee chap was dead4 ,he must have died through neglect2 pretty close to murder ,i call it4 ,did the death make any difference to the parents8 ,not likely6 ,at least ,i never remember them any different4 ,i was ten years old when my mother died1 and she died through stumbling in a drunken fight2 her head struck the curb-stone1 and she never spoke again4 ,after her death ,i was taken care of in one of the ,orphanages until ,i was sent to ,canada1 ,but what ,i often wonder about1 ,mr4 ,lamb1 is whether ,god will be hard on those of us who've had parents like that1 and who've been brought up where we didn't get a fair chance4 ,god only knows what we kids had to see and hear and suffer4 ,people don't make any allowance for bad blood1 and bad food1 and bad treatment1 except in cattle4 ,i wonder if ,god does8 ,yes1 ,i know ,i'm having a chance now1 and yet ,god must pity even me when ,he knows how ,i've been handicapped for these years2 but some of those boys live and die right there1 and they don't get even the chance ,i've had4 ,it's easy for folks who know nothing about it to say the people should get out of such places2 but some of them are like heathen1 they don't know there's anything better4 ,what did ,i know about a different kind of life8 ,where could ,i have gone8 ,who would have wanted me8 ,how could a street youngster get out of the place1 where a good many of his meals were picked off the streets and out of the ash-barrels1 and he never had two coppers ahead8 ,and there were thousands like ,i was4 ,i think about these things once in a while1 when ,i'm alone in the shop1 and ,i've sometimes thought it was well-nigh a crime to allow children to be born in such hell-like places4 ,and there are some people have no right to be fathers and mothers at all4 ,it was only rarely that ,george unburdened his mind to such an extent2 but ,mr4 ,lamb gave him right-of-way that night1 and many perplexities were expressed with a candour that gave the ,minister a larger sympathy with the handicapped man1 and a resolve to deal more tenderly with men of ,george's type who had such terrific battles to keep the body under4 ,at the close of the conversation the evening prayer especially commended ,george to the ,father's care1 and while the encouraged man was walking back to his dwelling-place with thankful heart1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,lamb were kneeling together1 and in earnest petition were placing their home and all they might ever possess at the service of the ,one in whose hands things commonplace may be mighty with blessing4 ,the missioner has been permitted to visit again the ,manse where ,george did a bit of carpentering4 ,it was a great pleasure to find that ,george was one of those invited to the evening meal4 ,during the after-supper conversation he spoke confidentially to the visitor of the mistress of the ,manse4 ,she's the greatest little woman in this country4 ,god knows ,i'd have still been on the down-grade but for her2 she never let me go4 ,she told me one night how she'd told ,god that she couldn't go to heaven and leave me outside1 and thank ,god ,he's taking her at her word4 ,the midnight chat which ministers are accustomed to have on such occasions revealed the story of ,george's many and sore temptations and hard battles1 and of how the unfailing faith and patience of one in the ,manse had heartened the discouraged man1 had led him into active service1 and had brought a new sense of responsibility and possibility to many of the church members who were beginning to practise ,paul's injunction3 ,if a man be overtaken in a fault1 ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness1 considering thyself1 lest thou also be tempted4 ,,the ,,superintendent',s ,,visit ,hope to visit your field ,wednesday1 ,february nineteenth--arrive ,m---- ,station midnight1 eighteenth4 ,andrew ,ransom4 ,the ,western minister had been house-cleaning his study1 and in separating the valued from the useless he ran across the above telegram1 which had been buried away for several years4 ,he handled it almost reverently and then put it away in his ,home ,mission folder for future reference4 ,the story connected with it was told one night as the missioner sat after the evening's service in the quiet of the prairie manse1 exchanging reminiscences of one of the greatest and best loved men that ever crossed the prairie provinces--,andrew ,ransom1 the great ,home ,missionary ,superintendent4 ,within fifteen minutes from the time the student missionary received the above message1 the people in ,mc,lean's general store1 in ,stevenson's boarding-house1 and in ,mallagh's blacksmith's shop had heard the good news1 and all knew that ,wednesday the nineteenth would be a great day for those whose homes the old ,doctor could visit1 and for the people who could get into the little church at night4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,a ,prairie ,shack4 #b4 ,a ,copper ,miner's ,shack4 #c4 ,a ,bachelor's ,shack4 #d4 ,a ,shack on the ,hillside4 #e4 ,a ,mountain-side ,shack4 ,those who had met and heard ,dr4 ,ransom before1 vied with each other in recalling events connected with his former visits4 ,they remembered his appeal for their fair share of money to help build the little church4 ,everybody said the amount could not be raised until ,dr4 ,ransom came1 but after he had painted his word-picture of their glorious heritage--after he had pleaded that that heritage should never become the wild and woolly ,west--after he had shown the ,gospel as the antiseptic influence in the life of the great ,westland--after he told them what they got their land for and what it was worth that day1 and after that strong voice1 with its downright sincerity1 had been lifted in prayer1 everybody in the dining-room of the boarding-house knew the amount was raised4 ,and then that hand-clasp1 and that identification of himself with the poorest settler's problems1 and sorrows--who could forget these things8 ,d'ye mind1 said ,dick ,mc,nabb1 the time he was here just after ,alex4 ,mc,laren's son was killed on the railway8 ,well1 sir1 ,i'll never forget seeing them two old men standing with hands clasped4 ,the ,doctor looked as if it might 'a been his own boy what was killed4 ,mc,laren1 he said1 ,i'm sorry for you4 ,i once lost a boy1 and ,i know what it means2 then he whispered something1 and ,alex4 wiped away the tears as he still clung to the old ,doctor's hand1 and ,i guess they stood that way for two or three minutes4 ,well1 sir1 you bet ,grant ,sinclair won't miss ,wednesday night1 put in ,dan ,mc,lean from behind the counter4 ,d'ye mind when ,dr4 ,ransom was here1 ,grant couldn't walk at all6 ,say6 will ,i ever forget that day in the ,fall when he fell off the fence on to the scythe he was carrying8 ,the gash was a foot long1 and there was no doctor within thirty miles1 and the road wasn't as good as it is now1 and it ain't anything to write home about even yet4 ,bill ,grayson was the only one who had the grit to sew the gash up1 and it was fourteen hours before the doctor got here4 ,nobody thought ,grant would get over it2 he lost so much blood4 ,he'd been on his back about two months1 ,i mind1 when ,dr4 ,ransom came4 ,it was one of them dirty days when it don't know whether to snow or rain1 but the old ,doctor had heard about ,grant and was bound to get out there4 ,the folks said he did him more good than the regular doctor did4 ,jim ,sinclair and the boys had rigged up a pair of crutches so's to get ,grant a-moving around1 but they didn't make a very swell job of it4 ,well1 sir1 about three weeks later the slickest pair of crutches you ever set eyes on come out here with some express of mine4 ,they was addressed to ,grant and marked ',rush4' ,mind you1 they come from ,toronto1 and they fitted ,grant as if he'd been measured for them4 ,jimmy said after they got the crutches he remembered the old ,doctor kind o' spanning the quilt along ,grant's side while he was talking1 but he never paid no particular attention to it1 but he says that's how he must 'a got the measure4 ,the days between the thirteenth and the nineteenth were spent by ,mr4 ,stewart1 the student missionary1 in covering the district1 so that all the scattered settlers should know of ,dr4 ,ransom's visit4 ,on ,tuesday morning he borrowed an extra robe1 and1 hitching up his team of bronchos1 started on his journey to ,m---- ,station4 ,the roads were heavy1 and twenty-five miles was a hard journey through the unpacked snow4 ,by mid-afternoon he reached the railway1 and soon had his ponies comfortably stabled in a near-by barn4 ,about midnight he tramped through the deep snow to the dimly-lighted station4 ,the night operator reported the train as an hour late1 with the additional information that she would probably lose a little more time on the grade which lay about ten miles away4 ,shortly before two o'clock the welcome whistle was heard1 and in a minute or two the midnight express slowed down for ,m----4 ,the tall figure of the ,superintendent was behind the brakeman1 on the steps of the day-coach1 and there was a wave of recognition before the cordial hand-clasp and words of greeting could be given4 ,we'll just wait till she pulls out1 said the ,superintendent1 as ,mr4 ,stewart started to move away after the exchange of greetings4 ,yon operator has the tongue4 ,his duties performed at the baggage car1 the operator returned to the office dragging a heavy trunk along the plank platform4 ,man6 but that's a great muscle you have1 said the ,doctor genially1 and in less than a five-minute conversation he knew the man's name1 ,old ,land home1 length of time in ,canada1 and church relationship4 ,as he gripped the hand in bidding good-night1 he got in a message that the operator has never forgotten4 ,in recalling the visit to the writer many months later1 he said1 ,he's a gran' man that3 he'd be a wechty man gin he lived in ,edinburgh4 ,he mak's you think4 ,well1 ,doctor1 said ,mr4 ,stewart as they neared the place where a bed had been prepared1 you'll be glad enough to get right to rest4 ,how far are we from your field1 ,mr4 ,stewart8 ,about twenty-five miles1 was the reply4 ,well1 then1 if your team is fit1 ,i think we'll not bother about bed just now1 but get out there4 ,despite the protests that were made in the ,doctor's interests1 there was a kindly insistence that resulted in the bronchos being immediately harnessed for the return journey4 ,in the month of ,february1 with deep snow and zero weather1 a twenty-five mile drive between #c and #h a4m4 is by no means a pleasure trip4 ,as the little animals ploughed their way through the drifts1 the ,superintendent every now and again raised his mouth above his coat collar to express his admiration4 ,a gr-reat team that--a gr-reat team4 ,the day was dawning as on ,wednesday the #ajth the student missionary and the eagerly-looked-for visitor1 frost-covered and shivering1 drove up to ,mackenzie's barn4 ,mackenzie and his wife were just getting on the fires1 and were not a little surprised at the early arrival of their distinguished guest4 ,embarrassment could not1 however1 remain long in any home where ,dr4 ,ransom entered4 ,everybody but the indolent admired and loved him1 and there seemed to be no circumstance or combination of circumstances but he could adapt himself to4 ,after breakfast ,mr4 ,stewart was ready enough to get a few hours' rest1 and having conferred with ,mrs4 ,mackenzie regarding the readiness of the spare room for the ,superintendent1 he invited the latter to retire4 ,did you think ,i came out here to get a sleep1 my boy8 ,when would we visit the field8 ,no6 no6 thank you4 ,protests were again futile4 ,i have to meet two ,committees on ,saturday1 in ,winnipeg1 and you must get me back to ,m---- ,station in time for the #aa4cj to-morrow morning4 ,what about a horse8 ,can we get right away8 ,ain't the old ,doctor a horse to work1 said ,mac,kenzie to ,stewart while hitching up his best driver4 ,hurried but helpful and purposeful calls were made until it was time to return for the evening service4 ,the visit that stands out most clearly in the ,missionary's memory was one made at the noon-hour4 ,alex4 ,mc,donald's place was the one spot in the whole district where no man who had any respect for his stomach would ever dream of dining4 ,few1 indeed1 cared even to enter the dirty little shack4 ,and so it was not to be wondered at that the ,missionary was planning to pass ,mc,donald's on the up trip1 and to reach one of those bright1 clean centres of hospitality that are usually to be found in even the most isolated district4 ,but the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley4 ,who lives in the shack on the hillside8 asked the ,superintendent4 ,a family named ,mc,donald1 was the reply1 but they never enter a church---they live like pigs1 and ,i think we had better leave calling there until we see how our time holds out4 ,we'll go there for dinner1 was the almost brusque response of the ,superintendent4 ,stewart laughed incredulously4 ,i don't think you could swallow a homoeopathic pill in that shack1 ,doctor4 ,we'll go there for dinner1 ,mr4 ,stewart4 ,it'll do them good4 ,no finer missionary stands in shoe-leather than ,caven ,stewart was a testimony that all who knew him heartily agreed with1 but ,stewart had an absolute horror of dirt1 and it was with feelings of distressful anticipation that he dragged open ,mc,donald's rickety apology for a gate1 and drove across the rough swamp to the dilapidated shack on the hillside4 ,the barking of the dog brought faces to the little four-paned window4 ,drive slowly6 ,give them time1 give them time1 said the ,superintendent1 as the faces quickly disappeared4 ,a few fowls fluttered from within the shack1 and a family pet in the shape of a pig grunted disapproval at being forced to take an outside berth4 ,for fully three minutes there was such a house-cleaning as the old shack had not known for many a month4 ,alex4 ,mc,donald1 pulling a dirty corduroy coat around him1 sauntered over to where the visitors were getting out of the cutter4 ,he guessed that the ,superintendent and the student could find accommodation for their horse1 and a bite for themselves during the noon hour4 ,we ha'ena got much of a place1 he said1 as the ,superintendent lowered his head to enter the miserable shack4 ,each member of the family received a cheery greeting from the magnetic superintendent1 who never seemed at a loss to say the fitting word4 ,mrs4 ,mc,donald was profuse in explanations and apologies4 ,we wesna expectin' onybody1 and these dark mornings it seems to be noon afore you can get turned round4 ,the visitors entered sympathetically into the various reasons why things wesna just straight4 ,to this day ,caven ,stewart remembers the deepened convictions that came to him of the ,superintendent's possibilities1 as he watched him enjoy his dinner4 ,by various excuses ,stewart had reduced his own portion to the minimum when the pork and potatoes were dished up1 and even then more food went to his pocket than to his mouth4 ,but not so with the ,superintendent4 ,not only did he have a liberal first supply1 but actually passed back his plate for more1 meantime complimenting ,mc,donald on the gr-reat potatoes he grew and the fine pork he raised1 and incidentally remarking that the best potatoes and the finest pork were easily spoiled in the hands of an incompetent cook4 ,when he told ,mrs4 ,mc,donald that the dinner was just as he liked it--well-cooked and plain--his place in her highest esteem was fixed4 ,that he was a man of excellent judgment she had no doubt4 ,mc,donald's ,old ,land home was well-known to the ,superintendent1 and as scenes familiar to both were recalled1 geniality prevailed4 ,at the close of the meal the ,doctor asked for ,the ,book4 ,anxious looks were exchanged by the occupants of the shack1 and ere long three members of the family were uniting in the search4 ,when at last1 to the great relief of the searchers1 a dusty but unworn ,bible was produced1 the ,superintendent held it reverently in his outstretched hand4 ,looking squarely at the head of the home1 he said with a yearning that no man could miss1 ,eh1 mon1 but ,i'm sorry--sorry it's not worn more4 ,it's the best piece of furniture you have in the house4 ,if any man ought to have a well-worn ,bible it's a ,highland ,scotsman4 ,a few verses were impressively read1 and then for the first time in its history the miserable shack contained a group kneeling in the attitude of prayer4 ,there were no meaningless pleasantries when the little company arose4 ,it seemed as though the place was hallowed ground4 ,a man and his ,maker had been in communion4 ,the invitation to cast thy burden upon the ,lord had been heeded1 and with an exquisite tenderness the anxieties1 the problems1 the hopes and the fears of the little home were brought to the ,great ,burden ,bearer4 ,the parting was little short of affectionate4 ,the last hand-clasp was ,mc,donald's4 ,mc,donald1 ,i can scarcely believe you've never darkened the kirk door1 and you an ,aberfeldy man4 ,i want you to give me your word for it that next ,sabbath morning you and the good wife and the bairns will make a new start and be found worshipping ,god4 ,six months from now ,i expect to hear from ,mr4 ,stewart that you've been regular in attendance at the house of ,god4 ,mc,donald6 give me your word that you'll not disappoint me--nor ,him6 ,no words came from ,mc,donald's lips1 but there were moistened eyes and a lingering hand-clasp that made the ,superintendent's heart glad4 ,when1 nine months later1 ,stewart was leaving the field for college1 and was reporting conditions to the ,superintendent1 he wrote as follows3 ,you will remember the visit ,i did not want to make at the ,mc,donalds4 ,may ,god forgive me for my lack of interest and of faith6 ,since last ,february ,mc,donald1 with some of his children1 has never missed a service4 ,at the ,communion in ,june1 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,rowatt came over from the ,fort and welcomed seven new members1 ,john ,mc,donald1 his wife1 and their son ,bruce being among the number4 ,the ,bible you helped them to resurrect has been much 'thumbed' since then4 ,i am thankful ,i stayed the year on this field4 ,to have seen the change that has taken place in the shack on the hillside has done more for me than the whole year's course in ,apologetics4 ,,the ,,cookee ,it had been a bitterly cold drive across what was known as ,the ,plains1 and the student missionary was thankful when his pony reached the shelter of the jack-pines4 ,after a few miles of bush a small clearance was reached4 ,the low-roofed shack standing at the back of it never looked more inviting than to-day2 but though twenty-five miles from the highway of commerce1 there were homes still more remote that had been expecting a visit from the little preacher for some time1 and so1 despite his pony's protest against driving by even poor shelter in weather like this1 he had regretfully to tell her she might not turn in that road to-day4 ,as was the missionary's custom in passing any dwellings1 he waved his greeting in the direction of the humble shack4 ,before he had gone many yards the good-natured pioneer farmer was outside shouting his halloos1 and1 on being heard1 signalled for the preacher to stop4 ,making his way through the snow1 he said1 ,ain't you going to give us a call to-day8 ,better come in and get thawed out2 soon be grubbing time4 ,not to-day1 ,mac1 thanks1 was the reply4 ,i've been to your place pretty often1 and ,i thought ,i ought to make the end of this road to-day4 ,well1 if you won't come in1 ,i'll tell you what ,i was a-wanting to ask you4 ,there's a fellow ,i'd like you to see awful well4 ,say6 do you call on anybody else except ,protestants8 ,you do1 eh8 ,well1 ,i wish you'd see ,jimmy ,hayson4 ,he's in a bad fix4 ,they shipped him home from the camp4 ,he was cookee there1 and ,i guess he couldn't stand that kind of life4 ,his stummick's gone on a holiday4 ,anyway1 he's most all in4 ,it ain't much of a trail to follow1 but after you pass ,marston's you'll see a wood road1 and then1 if you keep your eyes skinned1 on the north side you'll see1 about forty rod along1 a foot track--,jimmy ain't got any team--just follow the track1 and you'll stumble into his shack4 ,the second stop that afternoon was at ,hayson's4 ,it was a poor place for a sick man to be in4 ,the entire furnishings of the home would not have been a bargain at five dollars4 ,the wife was most grateful for the visit1 and before the missionary had spoken to the invalid1 she said1 ,you are the only preacher ever in our house2 and will you make a bit of a prayer for ,jimmy8 ,a few flour sacks had been made into a curtain1 and the faithful wife pulled them aside and gazed lovingly at the sick man1 and then questioningly at the missionary4 ,the missionary felt that not many prayers would have to be made for ,jimmy1 and perhaps there was an increased tenderness in the voice as it was lifted to the ,friend of the weary and heavy-laden4 ,the five children were not very clear as to what was going on1 and during the devotions the dog kept up a low growl of distrust at the whole procedure1 but the wasted form of poor ,jimmy1 and the subdued sobs of the wife1 overshadowed minor disturbances4 ,it was the first of almost a dozen calls during the next two months4 ,a round trip of thirty-two miles once a week meant something over unbeaten tracks2 but ,jimmy was in need1 and there was only ,one ,helper3 other helpers had failed1 and ,jimmy was pathetically eager for something he had not hitherto received4 ,on the occasion of the fourth visit1 the wife called the visitor as far away from the sick bed as the dimensions of the little shack permitted4 ,would you--the voice was agitated--would you----4 ,oh6 please1 you won't mind me asking1 but would you stay for dinner2 we've never had a minister take a bite in our house1 and ,jimmy'd be so pleased8 ,the invitation was most gladly accepted4 ,what a time ensued6 ,how the poor soul exerted herself to prepare that meal6 ,it was over an hour before the bite was ready1 and in that hour one child had gone over two miles4 ,the preacher saw her fluttering rags as she ran across the snow4 ,he saw her come back with a little newspaper package4 ,it contained a knife and fork--two miles1 that the preacher might have a knife and fork6 ,the meal was not appetizing1 but after the trouble it had cost1 no man with a heart could leave a morsel which it was possible to dispose of4 ,day by day ,jimmy weakened1 and it was evident that he needed attention and quiet1 such as was not possible in the one-roomed shack4 ,could he gain entrance to the distant hospital1 and was it possible to provide anything like a satisfactory conveyance in which the sick man could safely make the journey from that pioneer district8 ,these possibilities especially occupied the mind of the missionary on a subsequent visit4 ,he talked to the now worn-out wife about the matter4 ,prejudices against hospitals were very real in that remote district1 and it was some time before she could be convinced that such a course would be in the interest of the family4 ,the few neighbours did much coming and going for the next two days1 and such blankets and wrappings as the community afforded were provided for the cold journey4 ,bricks and hardwood sticks were to be heated and placed around ,jimmy to keep him as warm as possible4 ,henry ,wallis was to make the trip the day before to arrange for the replenishing of these1 and for some nourishment for the sick man1 at three selected stopping-places4 ,it was late in the evening when the sleigh pulled up in front of the hospital4 ,the sufferer had stood the journey better than was expected4 ,the ,sisters soon had ,jimmy in the most comfortable bed that he had occupied for years4 ,two days later the missionary called at the hospital as early in the morning as he was permitted to4 ,jimmy knew his end was not far distant4 ,he could speak but little1 and in order to hear the feeble whisper it was necessary to put an ear close to the patient's lips4 ,very slowly the words came3 ,say--about--,shepherd4 ,once more the ,shepherd ,psalm was repeated with its message for those whose lives are overshadowed4 ,jimmy's eyes spoke his thanks1 and tenderly the student wiped the tears off the sunken cheeks4 ,something else was wanted4 ,again the whisper was with difficulty understood3 ,tell--about--rest4 ,it was the words that only the publican ,matthew has recorded that ,jimmy wanted to hear4 ,slowly they were repeated3 ,come unto ,me1 all ye that labour and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,once again the parched lips moved3 ,if--,i--could--see children--that's all4 ,the eyes were so irresistibly pleading that the student could only reply1 ,i'll try1 ,jimmy4 ,a few words were spoken to the nurse4 ,how long would ,jimmy be here8 ,she thought he might go that night4 ,certainly within three days the end would come4 ,it was no small undertaking to bring a family such as the ,haysons into town4 ,clothing had to be procured in order that the little ones might be protected on the longest journey any of them had ever taken4 ,their own scanty attire would afford little protection from the cold wind4 ,and so hurried visits were made to a few homes1 and to the stores of one or two merchants4 ,the case was briefly stated1 and a dozen hearts instantly kindled into kindness for the needy ones in the lonely home4 ,a wardrobe1 such as the ,hayson family had never dreamed of1 was soon stowed away on the missionary's jumper4 ,inside of two hours the long1 cold drive was commenced4 ,at each shanty and shack word was given as to the sick man's condition1 and what the present journey was for4 ,within five miles of the lonely home1 which would soon be the abode of the fatherless and widow1 the missionary stopped for the night4 ,in the dimly-lighted shack of ,sandy ,mac,gregor ,jimmy's last request was made known4 ,mac,gregor rose from a nail-keg on which he was sitting1 and said slowly and emphatically1 ,well1 if ,jimmy wants to see the children1 he's a-going to see 'em4 ,the student grasped the roughened hand of the speaker gratefully4 ,i knew ,i could count on you1 ,mac4 ,thanks4 ,i'm tired1 so ,i'll say good-night4 ,i can sleep now that that's settled4 ,before the missionary appeared the next morning1 ,mac had everything ready for driving ,jimmy's family into the town where the husband and father was rapidly nearing his end4 ,the horses were driven as hard as was consistent with mercy4 ,jimmy was still alive1 the ,sister told them as they stood in the hall4 ,in a moment they were beside the bed4 ,it was one of those scenes that live in the memory4 ,the sobbing wife1 kissing again and again the poor1 wan face4 ,the little ones weeping1 perhaps more in sympathy with the mother than on account of their own realization of the coming sorrow4 ,quietly the large screen was placed around the group at the bedside1 and for a few moments the family was left alone4 ,the journey had been accomplished just in time4 ,in less than an hour ,jimmy was gone4 ,his last request was for the passages of ,scripture mentioned above4 ,yes1 that's it1 he whispered1 rest--rest4 ,the wasted arm was raised a little as if he would put it around the missionary's shoulder1 but the poor ,cookee's strength had departed4 ,they saw he would say something more1 and ears were alert to catch his every word4 ,i--think---- ,then there was a long pause1 and the sunken eyes turned from face to face as though seeking to tell them what the tongue refused to utter4 ,they waited with tear-bedimmed gaze1 but no other word was uttered4 ,ere long there was a rattling in the throat1 and the death-pallor increased2 a few short and long-separated gasps and the ,cookee had finished his course4 ,they laid him away in the quiet little cemetery during an almost blinding snowstorm4 ,with less than five dollars in cash1 and a rough bit of land heavily mortgaged1 the mother went back to the lonely shack to toil through weary days to provide for her five little children4 ,with occasional help from other settlers1 the struggle for existence was made a little less severe4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ten years have passed away4 ,the poverty-stricken pioneers of earlier days have cleared large sections of land1 and the earth has brought forth her fruit4 ,prosperity abounds4 ,where ,jimmy ,hayson's shack stood is an attractive modern farm-house4 ,a mother looks proudly at her farmer son as she introduces him to a city pastor who is visiting the mission field of his student ministry4 ,a few hours later1 in the quiet of eventide1 she stands with the visitor exchanging incidents of bygone days4 ,it's been a pretty hard road to travel1 sir1 but the neighbours were just as good as they could be after ,jimmy went4 ,but ,i often say to my boy ,allan that there is only ,one who can help us in such times as ,i passed through then4 ,,the ,,regeneration ,,of ,,bill ,,sanders ,a severe snow-storm had raged for over twelve hours1 and the home missionary was twenty miles away from head-quarters4 ,his little ,indian pony was all grit1 as one of the settlers said1 but with darkness only two hours away1 the preacher began to reconsider his decision to make ,the ,valley and home that night4 ,not a few days ,queenie and her driver had travelled fifty miles1 but to-day the drifting snow almost blinded man and beast1 and with eleven miles of unbeaten path on the storm-swept plain immediately before him1 the missionary hesitated4 ,at best it would be dark before he reached the bush1 and he had not forgotten a former experience1 when anxious hours were spent in a similar storm seeking to find the rarely-travelled road that led from the plain through the bush to ,the ,valley4 ,one reason out of several that made him anxious to get home was the fact that ,widow ,nairn's wood-pile needed replenishing4 ,she was a poor friendless old woman1 who had remained on a plot of ground to which she had only squatter's rights1 and while the few scattered neighbours were kindness itself1 the widow was1 as ,grayson said1 so blamed peculiar that it was hard to know how to do anything for her without making her mad4 ,perhaps she could get along for one more day1 and the missionary resolved to drive directly to her shack the next morning4 ,the decision being made1 he spoke cheerily to his pony1 and after a little manoeuvring1 the cutter was turned around and ,queenie was headed towards the spot where two solitary pines rose like sentinels from the underbush4 ,the road to ,pearson's was not far beyond these landmarks1 and the home was one of the few he knew in this rarely-visited district4 ,an hour later he peered anxiously through the storm4 ,the snow melting around his eyes made seeing difficult1 and he began to fear he had taken a wood-path instead of the one intended4 ,pulling up his pony1 he listened for the jingle of bells1 the bark of a dog1 the call of a settler1 or anything that might help him to locate some abode1 but no sound except that made by the winter wind reached him4 ,tying his pony to a poplar1 he plunged ahead in an endeavour to find out something about the road he was on4 ,in a few minutes he saw that the trees closed together again1 and knew that the pony had taken the wrong track4 ,once more the cutter was turned around with considerable difficulty4 ,it was a hard return journey2 every sign of their own recently-made track was gone1 and the snow was still falling4 ,no more welcome sound had been heard by any ears that day than when distinct1 though somewhat distant1 the tired traveller heard the bark of a dog4 ,stopping his pony1 he engaged in a barking contest1 until he was sure of the direction from which the sound came4 ,we are all right now1 thank ,god1 he said aloud4 ,through the trees a light flickered a few minutes later1 and soon a pioneer's home came into view4 ,the little clearance with its low-roofed log-house was not one the missionary had seen before1 but where there was a house there was hospitality on a night like this4 ,bill ,sanders was soon assisting the traveller to unhitch1 and with the aid of a bug99 ,queenie was crowded into the roughly constructed stable4 ,there were times when it would have been both difficult and dangerous to have put her into such quarters1 but that night she seemed to understand1 and behaved herself accordingly4 99 ,a tin lard pail fixed to hold a candle and to serve as a lantern4 ,the occupants of the little home consisted of father1 mother1 two boys and two girls4 ,when the missionary introduced himself there was manifest embarrassment on the part of the wife1 and the children gazed in wonderment from the room door2 they were unwilling to run any risks through getting too close to this human novelty until they saw how he acted4 ,you see1 sir1 we don't have many people here1 and they aren't used to strangers3 ,i guess you are the first minister that's been in this house2 and then1 as the husband went to bring in a fresh supply of firewood1 she added half apologetically1 but ,i was praying all week that ,god might send somebody in here that loved ,him4 ,when ,i used to work for ,home ,missions in ,ontario1 ,i never thought how much ,i'd long for the visit of a missionary myself some day2 it's very lonesome sometimes4 ,before the missionary retired to his allotted space on the floor1 he asked permission to read a few verses of ,scripture4 ,there was no response from the father3 the mother said1 ,yes1 please4 ,the ,scripture and prayer were for the encouragement of the heavy laden1 and tears were wiped away from the mother's eyes as the little group arose from kneeling4 ,when prayers were mentioned after breakfast the next morning1 ,bill ,sanders deliberately left the shack4 ,two doses of religion within twelve hours were too many for him1 as he often said in after years when recalling the missionary's visit4 ,we've a lot to be thankful for1 said the much-tried wife1 as the visitor spoke a few words of encouragement4 ,the missionary glanced at the mud floor1 at the roughly-hewn table1 at the round blocks used for chairs1 at the newspaper curtains1 at the flour-sacks that partitioned off the bedroom1 at the miscellaneous and damaged collection of dishes and tins that rested on the coverless table1 and wondered wherein the lot to be thankful for lay4 ,we don't get along well with the farm2 somehow ,bill don't----4 ,the words were checked1 and nothing suggestive of complaint at the husband was uttered4 ,the children are well1 she continued1 and they are obedient1 and then1 with a fine reticence that cannot be written1 she added slowly1 ,i am trying to teach them about ,god2 and ,i often tell them that if the shack isn't a credit to us1 we must try to be a credit to it4 ,you see1 sir1 ,i'm not strong1 and with the little ones to look after1 ,i can't work outside as much as a settler's wife ought2 but anyhow1 ,i'd rather leave my children a good character than anything else4 ,yes1 ,god knows ,i would4 ,late in the morning the storm was over1 and with a promise on the part of the missionary to return again as soon as possible1 and on the part of the children to come to a ,sunday ,school being started in the four-mile-distant schoolhouse1 good-byes were said4 ,many weeks passed before the missionary could visit again the lonely little home4 ,this time the mother1 pale and trembling1 was struggling from the stable with a pail of milk4 ,inside the house lay a four-days'-old baby boy4 ,the missionary's heart was heavy4 ,since his last visit he had heard of the faithfulness and goodness of the wife and mother1 and of the brutality of the husband and father1 but he found it hard to believe that any man would compel his wife to do what this poor creature had been made to do in such a physical condition4 ,at first there was fight in the missionary's heart1 but when the lazy1 cruel husband returned from his rabbit-snaring1 the fighting spirit had been replaced by a great yearning for this man's salvation4 ,to angrily rebuke ,bill might only add to the wife's burden1 while the soul of all improvement is the improvement of the soul4 ,bill's need was of a changed heart4 ,a prayer for guidance was breathed forth as he walked to meet one who1 a few years ago1 had promised to protect and love the wife whose spirit was crushed and whose heart was well-nigh broken by neglect and abuse4 ,the two men stood talking for some time on the evening of that now memorable day4 ,often the pale face of an anxious1 prayerful wife looked out through the tiny window4 ,perhaps the prayer within was mightier than the simple message spoken without1 but at any rate new desires and purposes were awakened in ,bill's heart that night4 ,there was no sudden light of glory1 or ecstatic condition1 but during the next few weeks it was evident that this man was being changed4 ,when the missionary suggested getting his pony hitched1 ,bill urged him to remain overnight4 ,at retiring time1 it was the father who handed a much-soiled ,bible to the preacher4 ,strange that so simple an act as that should cause the wife to weep1 but at that hour she saw the dawning of a new day4 ,three weeks later the scattered settlers visiting outside the schoolhouse on ,sunday afternoon were amazed to see ,bill ,sanders bringing his wife to church on the jumper4 ,the singing in the little service was usually more hearty than harmonious4 ,for two or three years it had been an unsettled and vexed question as to whether ,sam ,gadsley or ,martha ,mc,leod was the finer singer4 ,one faction deemed the matter settled beyond all controversy when a late arrival at the service confided to a few friends at the close that he could hear ,sam1 good1 clear across the concession1 while he couldn't have told whether ,martha was there at all1 at all4 ,martha's friends felt keenly the consequent verdict of the community1 deposing their champion4 ,to-day the missionary broke all his own previous records in the singing of ,praise ,god from whom all blessings flow4 ,people said it was a great sermon that the little parson preached that day4 ,although the congregation may not have known it1 the preacher almost broke down in prayer1 his heart was so filled with gratitude4 ,when he shook hands with ,bill1 there was a grip that thrilled new-comer and preacher alike4 ,to the wife he managed to say1 ,i'm so glad1 and the now happy woman looked as though the opening doxology had become a large part of her very self4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the visit of the ,home ,mission ,superintendent is always a great day in these isolated places1 and when on his next visit he welcomed the new members into full communion1 and took father1 mother1 and two children from the little log-house1 not a few felt it was the greatest day the schoolhouse had seen4 ,during the subsequent days of the missionary's term of service1 whenever there was work to be done1 ,bill ,sanders could be counted on4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the summer of #aiab1 after a lapse of ten years1 the missionary stood once more in ,the ,valley4 ,as is true of most ,western communities1 everything was changed4 ,a little city had arisen--the old schoolhouse was no more1 and the once well-known places could no longer be located4 ,but there stands a beautiful little church not far from where the old schoolhouse once stood1 and one of the honoured elders bears the name of ,william ,sanders4 ,two of his daughters teach in the ,sabbath ,school1 and of the five children1 a well-known business man said1 ,why1 you'd just be proud of every one of them1 if they were your own4 ,in the churchyard a marble slab bears the name1 ,mary ,perry ,sanders1 and near the base1 ,she hath done what she could4 ,as was her desire in the days of struggle and isolation1 the patient1 faithful mother had left the precious legacy of a good character to her children4 ,thus had the seed sown brought forth its fruit after many days4 ,among hallowed memories1 few are so precious to the missionary as that of the day when his now old friend ,queenie took the wrong road4 ,and whenever on lonely prairie1 in quiet hamlet1 or noisy city1 he hears a congregation sing ,cowper's hymn1 ,god moves in a mysterious way1 ,his wonders to perform1 he thinks of that distant1 stormy winter day when a barking dog led him to a home that is now transformed1 and to a darkened life that was in ,god's goodness guided into that light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day4 ,,the ,,snake-,,room ,the hotels in the town on the boundary99 were crowded4 ,for several days the men had been returning from the bush after the winter's cut1 until over a thousand lumber-jacks from the various camps in the immediate vicinity had taken possession of the place4 ,for most of these men the bar-room was the only social centre1 and the arrival of each gang meant the recognition of old friends and the celebration thereof in a call for drinks all round4 99 ,boundary line between ,u4,s4 and ,canada4 ,in a hallway adjoining a popular bar-room the missioner stood sadly watching the procession of hard toilers losing at the one time their winter's earnings and the control of their faculties4 ,it seemed useless to plead with the men either collectively or individually4 ,it's the only way we've got to let off steam1 boss--it's a fool way1 you bet1 but here goes4 ,the speaker was a man of not over thirty years of age4 ,with unsteady step he entered the bar-room again1 and pushed his way to the double line that kept the bar-tenders perspiring as they sought to respond to the sometimes cursing demands for more rapid service4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,a ,western ,lumber ,camp4 #b4 ,lumber ,camp ,group in ,sunday ,attire4 #c4 ,the ,day's ,work ,ended4 #d4 ,a ,typical ,bar-room ,in some districts fully #ge of shanty men's earnings goes over the bar4 ,one bank paid out #ch1jjj dollars in wages4 ,within a week a near-by bar-room deposited #bb1jjj dollars4 ,along the hallway were men in various stages of intoxication1 and the missioner knew from past experiences that some of the men were only at the beginning of a debauch that would last for several days1 perhaps weeks4 ,much had been done by the lumber companies to improve the conditions in camp and to brighten and turn to good account the long winter evenings4 ,then1 in order to protect the earnings of the men at paytime1 arrangements were made to furnish immediate facilities for banking or for remitting home2 yet everything proved ineffective in the case of some4 ,the open bar with its foolish and dangerous treating system had led to what had become known around town as the lumber-jacks' annual spring spree4 ,the cashier of one of the companies sauntered through the crowd1 and the missioner entered into conversation with him1 questioning him about the men thronging the bar-room4 ,yes1 ,reverend1 ,i know most of the boys2 ,i make out pay-checks for over two hundred of them1 and in my time ,i've run across thousands1 and most of them are splendid fellows if you can only keep the booze away from them4 ,they look pretty well damaged just now1 eh8 ,and they'll be worse yet4 ,when they get started you can't stop them till they're at the end of their tether4 ,see that fellow lighting his cigar in ,ern4 ,dean's pipe8 ,wait till he turns round a bit--there6 now6 his ear's half gone1 see8 ,he's some fighter1 believe me6 ,a year ago last month somebody got a few bottles of whiskey into the camp on the q4t4 ,we try to keep it out1 but you might as well try to keep out mosquitoes in ,june4 ,well1 sir1 that night ,bill got into a fight with a chap called ,frenchy1 and in about ten minutes ,frenchy needed an identification label on him4 ,bill was clean plump crazy1 and as ,frenchy had been looking for a scrap for weeks the boys let them have their innings for a while4 ,just before the boys prised them apart1 the two of them took a deuce of a tumble to the bunkhouse floor1 and somehow ,frenchy got his teeth on ,bill's ear4 ,we couldn't patch the thing together1 so ,bill had to foot it nearly thirty miles to the nearest town1 and you see what the crossbones had to do to trim off his receiving apparatus8 ,bill gets ninety dollars a month--,i handed him a check for four hundred and fifty last ,saturday1 and it would be safe to bet the whiskies he hasn't fifty dollars left right this minute4 ,he doesn't know what he's done with it--quite likely a pile of it has been swiped when he was dead to the world4 ,between ourselves1 ,reverend1 there's lots of dope served out right here1 and when the boys come to1 a good part of their boodle is gone4 ,just the other day ,dick ,booth was yelling blue murder around here1 and ,bertois came from the office and hooked his arm into ,dick's and said1 ',come on1 ,dick1 and have one on me4' ,in less than five minutes there wasn't so much as a chirp from ,dick1 and he looked like the dickens for a few seconds1 and then he slid down the wall to the floor1 and ,bertois and ,sam carried him into the snake-room4 ,you bet ,bertois fixed ,dick's drink alright4 ,the trouble comes between season when the boys are off a few weeks4 ,they come into town to kill time1 but it works the other way round4 ,two days later the missioner was sitting writing at the hotel table when ,bill1 blear-eyed1 unshaven and dirty1 came staggering toward him4 ,the voice was almost terrifying in its intensity of appeal1 ,for ,god's sake give me something to eat2 ,i've had nothing but that stuff 7pointing toward the bar-room7 for three days4 ,before anything more could be said1 ,bertois1 the proprietor1 hurried from behind his desk1 and grabbing ,bill by the shoulder1 uttered an oath1 and dragged him to a door at the end of the hall4 ,unfastening the door with his latch-key he gave ,bill a vigorous shove1 and the intoxicated man1 stumbling over some object1 fell heavily to the floor4 ,banging the door1 ,bertois turned to the basement stairway just around the corner1 and in a sharp voice called ,sam4 ,sam immediately responded to the call4 ,how in the ---- did ,bill ,bird get out of there4 ,didn't know 'e was out1 sir1 was the reply4 ,did you give anybody your key8 ,hi did not1 sir4 ,well1 then1 you must have left the door unlocked2 mind you don't let any more of them d---- fools out4 ,as calmly as was possible the missioner protested against the treatment ,bill received4 ,what would you do with them8 ,would you want them around the house8 was the gruff reply4 ,give them a bed8 ,not much6 ,we don't keep beds for that brand4 ,the only thing you can do is to kick 'em into the snake-room4 ,you don't know anything about ,bill's kind4 ,he's seeing life2 them fellows have been counting on this blow-out for months4 ,an hour or so later the missioner found ,sam alone in the basement4 ,the old man was worthy of a better job than the doing of the dirtiest and most objectionable work around a lumber-town hotel1 but times had gone hard with him of late years1 and his few relatives were on the other side of the ,atlantic4 ,no1 sir1 hit ain't the kind of place hi expected to be in at my hage1 but beggars mustn't be choosers1 you know1 sir1 and after hi cut me foot half off with a hax ,i ad to take wot ,i could get1 especially as me rheumatiz bothered me a lot4 ,wot's the snake-room like1 did you say8 ,hit just depends oo's hin it4 ,hit's chuck full these days1 ,i'm sorry to say1 and it hain't a sight yer reverence would like to see4 ,you want a peep hin1 eh8 ,well1 hi don't know as how you'd be allowed2 the boss is rather perticlar about who sees 'is customers hin the snake-room4 ,it hain't a very good hadvertisement1 hin my opinion4 ,nevertheless ,sam agreed1 if the territory was clear1 to show the missioner the snake-room4 ,by way of apology1 the old man explained that he had often told his boss that it was a shame to put men into such a place without any kind of bed1 with no food1 and frequently1 in decidedly cold weather1 without any heat4 ,when the opportunity afforded itself1 ,sam and the missioner went quietly upstairs and1 unseen1 entered the snake-room4 ,accustomed as he had been to see the effects of alcohol and evil-living1 the scene before the visitor was a fresh and terrible revelation of their destructive power4 ,the room was probably fifteen feet square4 ,its furnishings consisted of one table and two framed pictures--the latter being advertisements of popular brands of whiskies1 which were said to have stood the test for nearly one hundred years4 ,some results of the test were upon the floor4 ,in order to get inside1 ,sam had pushed hard against the door1 crowding back the feet of the man nearest4 ,there was scarcely more floor space than the two men needed to stand on4 ,curses1 snores and groans came from the filthy1 stench-laden mass of men that covered the floor4 ,several boards in the wainscotting were spattered with human blood4 ,one man with a recently made gash across his forehead was lying on his side1 and with eyes closed1 kept striking out with his fist1 sometimes hitting the leg of an old man who seemed absolutely paralysed with liquor1 and sometimes hitting the partition4 ,every blow was accompanied by profanity4 ,partly under the table lay two camp cooks4 ,one of them1 ,heinrich ,lietzmann1 was a most generous individual1 and a great favourite with his fellow-workers4 ,because of his appearance he was dubbed ,roly-,poly ,lietzmann4 ,his broken ,english was very attractive1 and nothing pleased the younger men better than to get him going on international politics4 ,judging from his terribly bruised face1 he had either fallen heavily or been in a fight4 ,poor ,heinrich made several attempts to raise himself to a sitting posture1 each time falling back with a disturbing effect on the men nearest him1 and receiving therefore their muttered curses1 which he returned in full measure4 ,along the table1 on his back1 lay ,chris4 ,rogers4 ,nobody knew the history of ,chris4 although1 because of a remarkable gift of speech which he manifested when excited by liquor1 the report that he had once been a ,shyster lawyer in a ,western ,state was generally believed4 ,he was far above the average lumber-jack in knowledge1 but far below in vice4 ,after the discovery of an unusually mean trick1 ,bill ,bird had1 in the opinion of the camp1 fittingly described ,chris1 when he said1 ,that dirty rascal is so near mongrel dog1 that if he had a bit more hair on him he'd start running rabbits4 ,just why ,chris4 had been given charge of the camp stores was a mystery1 but for nearly two years he had held the position4 ,he was a slender1 wiry man with a singularly repulsive face4 ,his teeth were gone1 and his long pointed moustache drooped alongside of the hard mouth that was continually stained with tobacco juice4 ,his coat and vest were plastered with grease from careless eating and his whole appearance suggested a dirty demon-possessed man4 ,bill ,bird1 the fighter1 had managed to get into a corner1 and was sitting with arms on knees and drooping head--a picture of wretchedness4 ,once he managed to look up1 and for a moment gazed in a dazed way at the missioner3 ,by ,god6 ,i wish ,i was dead3 then there was a prolonged cry on the word ,oh1 as of a man in great agony4 ,a few of the stupefied men roused themselves enough to utter a curse in ,bill's direction4 ,gazing once more at the missioner1 ,bill cried out3 ,oh6 oh6 the devil's got me for sure4 ,sam laid his hand on the missioner's arm2 ,we'd better slip out now1 sir1 or there might be trouble4 ,with a sigh and a heavy heart the missioner passed into the hall and up to the room he had been occupying for ten days4 ,with a whispered cry1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 how long8 he fell on his knees at his bedside1 and then in silence he pleaded with his ,god that at least ,bill ,bird might be released from the grip of the ,evil ,one4 ,after the regular service that night1 a few ,christian people met for prayer4 ,the missioner confided in those present1 and with sadness told of his visit with ,sam to the snake-room4 ,what are we doing1 he asked1 either as a church or as individuals1 for these men8 ,has ,satan any opposition from us as he enslaves our fellow-countrymen8 ,surely it is not a matter of indifference to us when these men are wrecking their own and other lives1 in dens of vice that have been allowed to plant themselves in this town1 and that can only thrive as manhood and womanhood are debased8 ,several lumbermen in this district say that in the past fifteen years there has been a steady deterioration in the men employed in the woods4 ,after every pay-day1 by their debauchery1 seventy-five per cent4 unfit themselves for the work to be done1 and take from two to eight weeks to get back to normal condition4 ,there is much that may and must be done along social lines if we are going to arrest these degrading influences1 but in the meantime is it not possible for us as individuals to get into personal touch with some of these boys1 and throw around them the protection of our ,christian friendship and hospitality8 ,preaching is not the only means for advancing the ,kingdom4 ,so much may be done if ,christian people will put themselves and their possessions at the service of humanity1 and learn to love the lowest as well as the best of the race4 ,some of these lumber-jacks might go back to camp changed men if we gave ,god a fair chance to use us4 ,perhaps some of you business men1 or some of you ranchers1 could get alongside of at least one poor fellow from that snake-room1 and live for his reclamation4 ,there are many ways of keeping in touch with these men1 even when they return to the bush1 and1 in this land of investments1 you would find nothing yield such a dividend as the investment of your time in the attractive presentation of the love and power of ,jesus ,christ4 ,will you at least make the effort1 and leave the results to your ,master8 ,the words were spoken and the question asked with an earnestness that had been intensified by the heart-rending appeal of the broken manhood that the speaker knew was represented by what he had looked upon in the snake-room4 ,in the prayerful atmosphere and the silence that followed the question1 one man said in his heart1 ,i will4 ,that man was ,george ,clarke4 ,george ,clarke had a small ranch a short distance from the town4 ,he was one of the most industrious men in the ,province1 but his industry had not resulted in the prosperity that most of his neighbours enjoyed4 ,he had met with enough reverses to absolutely dishearten the average man1 but he had borne them all bravely1 keeping his disposition unsoured1 and his character clean4 ,his extreme reticence1 however1 often led strangers to misjudge him1 and to underestimate his worth4 ,in public affairs he treated himself as though he had no right to anything but the most inferior position1 and to have given expression to his own opinion before even a small audience would1 in his own judgment1 have resulted fatally4 ,once1 under great pressure1 he had consented to pass the collection plate at a church service1 but after getting on his feet1 everything was a blur4 ,the boys at the rear vowed that he stumbled against every bench-end but one1 and that by the time he was half way down the aisle he didn't know which side of the plate should be up4 ,in replacing the plate on the organ1 to the great surprise of the organist1 he unceremoniously deposited most of the offering in her lap1 and was too much overcome with embarrassment to assist her in replacing it4 ,during the closing hymn he made his escape to a quiet spot in the bush1 where he could wipe his profusely perspiring brow and where he could solemnly promise himself not to be entrapped again4 ,but despite his reticence he was an exceptionally intelligent man1 and when any individual could get ,george to express himself on questions of importance1 it was not long before this is what ,george ,clarke thinks1 was passed from mouth to mouth throughout the community4 ,all through the years he had resided in the ,west he had been absolutely upright in his dealings and conduct1 and though his reticence prevented him from taking an aggressive part in certain moral reforms that were advocated from time to time1 yet there was never a shadow of a doubt as to which side he would be on4 ,the cynical individual who stated that every man has his price1 was compelled to make an exception in the case of ,george ,clarke4 ,and so it will not be deemed irreverent if we say that when ,george ,clarke said in his heart ,i will1 ,god knew he could trust him4 ,very thoughtfully ,george passed1 with his wife1 from the meeting out into the darkness4 ,i'm going to look for ,bill ,bird1 ,mary1 and if ,i get him ,i'll bring him home--how would it do if you go on with the ,frasers8 ,the suggestion was all that ,mrs4 ,clarke needed1 and her neighbours1 without any questioning1 cheerfully made room for her in their democrat4 ,george halted several times on his way to the hotel shed where his horse and buggy had been left--he was wondering how best to carry out his resolve4 ,that resolve was to do his utmost to help ,bill ,bird to a new life4 ,years ago in the ,east he had been on very friendly terms with the ,bird family1 and though he had once or twice tried to show ,bill a kindness1 yet he knew he had not measured up to his opportunities and he felt condemned4 ,quietly he walked down the roadway to the rear of the ,imperial ,hotel4 ,the shouts and oaths of the drinking and the drunken1 and the clatter of glassware reached his ears as he passed along4 ,was ,bill still inside1 and if so1 how could he get hold of him8 ,a side door opened1 and ,george stepped back into the deep shadow of the building4 ,bertois1 the proprietor1 and some man whom ,george did not know1 came to the step and stood in the light for a moment4 ,then the door was pulled to1 and the men stood silent as if listening to assure themselves they were alone4 ,under ordinary circumstances ,george would have spoken to ,bertois1 but this night he deemed it wiser to remain unobserved4 ,the men conversed in low tones at first1 but after a while ,bertois' words reached him3 ,don't play too swift a game for a start3 give 'em plenty of bait2 they'll keep on biting till we land 'em4 ,we can easily clear five hundred from those three suckers if you watch yourself4 ,dick knows the drinks to dish out4 ,here's for luck6 ,come on4 ,re-entering they closed the door quietly1 and ,george still waited1 hoping that ,sam would come out1 and that the old man might be persuaded to get ,bill ,bird into the yard4 ,many times during the next fifteen minutes the door opened1 and each time ,george ,clarke got1 in some form or other1 information of the hell that was inside4 ,the hour was late1 yet he felt he must remain longer4 ,bill ,bird was in his keeping1 for like those near the blind beggar of old1 ,george had heard the call from the ,great ,physician1 ,bring him hither to ,me4 ,to face the crowd of men he knew would be inside the hotel was more than he felt equal to1 and he knew that in all probability any attempt to get ,bill out under such circumstances would fail4 ,once more the side door opened--this time slowly and unsteadily4 ,a man leaned against the jamb for a few seconds as if needing support4 ,then some one from within slammed the door against him1 and he slipped heavily down to the narrow platform4 ,there was a curse and a drunken hiccough1 and then the words the missioner had heard were uttered again1 ,by ,god1 ,i wish ,i was dead4 ,george ,clarke did not immediately recognize the voice1 but he did immediately step near to his needy brother-man1 and said sympathetically1 ,what's the matter1 mate8 ,taken by surprise the man asked1 ,who in the ---- are you8 ,george recognized the voice and the form and said1 ,i'm ,george ,clarke1 and ,i'm your friend1 ,bill ,bird4 ,his hand was laid upon the shoulder of the sickened man1 and in a kindly voice he persuaded him to accompany him to his home4 ,the place here is crowded1 and we've got lots of room at our place and can give you a comfortable bunk for the night3 come along1 ,bill1 for old time's sake4 ,linking his arm in ,bill's1 he led the staggering man to the drive-shed1 and after some difficulty and a few arguments1 got him safely into his buggy1 and not a soul in the place was the wiser4 ,mrs4 ,clarke was a worthy helpmeet for ,george1 and though her household cares were many1 she grudged no extra labour that would please her husband and help a fellow-being4 ,and so everything necessary for the comfort of the fallen man had been done4 ,a supper had been prepared1 and the guest-room made ready4 ,bill ate as freely as his condition would allow1 and then very willingly acted on the suggestion that he should creep in4 ,george gave the dirty1 tired1 whiskey-soaked man such assistance as he felt would be advisable4 ,once ,bill raised his heavy eyelids and appeared to be trying to understand the why of things4 ,this is no place for me1 ,george ,clarke--by ,god1 no6 ,the body wobbled wearily1 and ,bill could think and talk no more4 ,and so with most of his clothes on1 filthy from his stay in the snake-room1 ,bill ,bird was placed in the best bed in the best room of one of the truest homes with which the district was blessed4 ,before retiring himself1 ,george ,clarke went to a wicker-basket in the parlour1 and searched through the family collection of photographs4 ,at last he found the one he sought4 ,it was of the ,bird family1 and was taken shortly before the oldest boys went ,west4 ,george took it out to his wife1 who was still working in the kitchen4 ,pointing to the face of a bright manly boy who stood with hand upon his mother's shoulder1 he said to his wife1 ,if ,bertois and his gang changed a boy's face as terribly as ,bill's has been changed1 and did it in a few minutes1 they would be sent to the 'pen' for five years1 and yet we let that same gang take their time on the job1 and do it in hundred lots1 and scarcely raise so much as a finger to stop it--and ,i'm as guilty as the rest of them4 ,poor ,bill6 he used to be as decent a little chap as you could find in the ,county of ,addington4 ,the photograph was returned to the parlour1 and dropped somewhat carelessly upon the table1 but the unthinking1 and yet perhaps not unguided act was the first of many influences that brought better days to ,bill ,bird4 ,long into the morning the occupant of the guest-room slept on4 ,george ,clarke had opened the door quietly at breakfast time1 but the heavy breathing caused him to leave the wearied man undisturbed4 ,about the middle of the forenoon1 after much yawning and stretching1 ,bill's consciousness slowly returned4 ,he pushed back the white coverlets and gazed around the room4 ,many times he had awakened in a drive-shed1 twice in the police cell1 more than once in the snake-room4 ,but this morning everything was different4 ,what had happened8 ,was he dreaming8 ,the room was the most attractively furnished of any he had slept in for years1 and his soiled clothes on the chair at the bedside were strangely out of harmony with the surroundings4 ,he had confused memories of events since he came out of the camp1 but he knew he had spent his money in the way most of his earnings had gone for the last few years1 and he condemned himself for having been a fool again4 ,with a half-consciousness of some one being near1 he looked to the opposite side of the room4 ,the bedroom door had been quietly opened and a bright good-morning greeted him4 ,there need be no hurry1 he was told1 but whenever he was ready he might just as well have a bite of breakfast4 ,no word was spoken in explanation of his presence1 nor in regard to the trouble ,george had had in getting him away from the ,imperial the night before4 ,slowly and with mingled feelings of embarrassment and disgust1 ,bill attempted to clean himself up a little4 ,he knew he was in ,george ,clarke's home1 and in his own words1 felt like a fool and looked the part to perfection4 ,it was not easy to face those he knew had befriended him1 for sin had not yet lost its shame to ,bill ,bird4 ,his bedroom door opened into the parlour1 and he stood alone for a few seconds4 ,then his eyes fell on the old photograph4 ,his hands trembled as he held it and gazed into the faces of mother and brothers and sister4 ,pictures of the old home and of happy family relationships of past years crowded themselves upon his memory4 ,he remembered how his widowed mother had toiled and struggled to bring up her six boys aright and give them the best equipment possible for the battle of life4 ,he recalled his own setting out from home--from the home to which he had never returned1 and to which he had rarely written4 ,the ,western fever had gripped him in his early twenties1 and nothing could induce him to stay on the ,homestead4 ,and so ere long the property had to pass into other hands1 because there were no boys left to work the place4 ,the mother's sorrow over the parting with her ,willie had rested very lightly on him the morning he started ,westward4 ,yet to-day he viewed it in a different light1 and he lived the parting over again with very different feelings4 ,the last breakfast had been prepared in silence by the one who had never ceased to love him4 ,more than once she had tried to speak1 but the lump in the throat prevented4 ,at last they stood in the hall1 and her words were uttered with sobs as she clung to her baby boy4 ,good-bye1 my ,willie1 and remember1 that as long as your mother has breath she will pray every day for her boy1 and ask ,god to take care of him4 ,he had assured her he could take care of himself4 ,he remembered the last flutter of the handkerchief as she stood on the milk-stand watching the buggy disappear from the sideroad on to the gravel4 ,he had taken care of himself1 and a mighty poor job he had made of it1 and there seemed little chance of any improvement4 ,while he was in the midst of such thoughts1 ,george ,clarke entered4 ,bill was still holding the photograph4 ,with moistened eyes he looked into the face of his hospitable friend4 ,george ,clarke1 he commenced1 it takes a man a long time to own up that he has made a botch of things2 it's too late now to make a fresh start1 but ,i've been looking at this picture1 and ,god knows ,i'd like to have as good a character as ,i had when that was taken4 ,that woman is as good a mother as any boys ever had1 and ,i haven't shown her the gratitude of a dog4 ,to this day1 ,george ,clarke feels that he never made a poorer attempt at trying to speak a helpful word to a discouraged man than on the morning when ,bill ,bird stood in his little parlour on the old ranch4 ,one result of the conversation1 however1 was the decision on ,bill's part to accept the invitation to remain at the ,clarke ranch for at least a few weeks1 and during those weeks he saw demonstrated the best type of ,christian living with which he had ever come in contact4 ,on several occasions he accompanied ,george to the hall in which the special services were being held4 ,rather to the surprise of the ,clarkes1 he made no response to the appeals from the missioner1 which seemed to them so powerful4 ,one ,sabbath evening1 however1 as they sat around the stove1 ,bill expressed himself in such a way as to bring a thrill of joy to the hearts of those who were greatly concerned in seeing him make the ,choice of the ,highest4 ,george ,clarke1 said ,bill1 ,i haven't taken much stock in religion1 but if there's a kind that makes a man do what you and your missus did for me when ,i wasn't fit company for a pig1 ,i guess ,i ought to go in for it4 ,then in a lower and subdued tone he added1 ,for anybody to take an interest in me is a stunner1 the dirty tough that ,i was4 ,it was ,bill's own opinion that for him life in the bush was no longer safe1 and so1 until his future was fully decided1 he agreed to assist the ,clarkes with the work on the ranch4 ,when a few months later1 through the death of a brother in the ,east1 ,george ,clarke decided to make his home in ,nova ,scotia1 ,bill ,bird said in effect1 ,where thou goest1 ,i will go4 ,and it so happens that to-day1 down by the ,eastern sea1 the former lumberjack is building a home1 a business and a character4 ,he has not again returned ,west1 but he has often told intimate friends that there is a rancher's small home in the distant province which he never forgets2 and he thanks ,god for those who valued a dirty1 wrecked1 but ,god-loved man more than furniture and carpets1 and whose hospitality and service awakened desires that have transformed a life4 ,but it was not to ,bill ,bird alone that an uplift came4 ,let ,george ,clarke speak for himself4 ,his words were spoken as he renewed his acquaintance with the missioner two years later4 ,the audience had dispersed1 and ,george and the speaker walked down the street of the little fishing village4 ,bill ,bird was the main subject of their conversation4 ,for a long time they stood in the darkness as ,george narrated all that had transpired after the missioner's departure from the ,western town4 ,when his story was ended1 the missioner clasped his hand and said1 ,god bless you1 ,clarke1 for what you did in ,bill's behalf4 ,if only we could multiply that kind of effort we could redeem this dominion4 ,george clung to the extended hand as he said1 ,you are very good1 sir1 to say that to me1 but ,i tell you honestly1 when ,i tried to do that little bit for ,bill ,bird1 ,i did a deal more for ,george ,clarke4 ,i have had my ups and downs as you know4 ,since ,i've been in the ,east ,i've done pretty well on the whole1 but honestly1 sir1 the palmiest days ,i've ever had1 and the best returns my bank-book ever showed1 are as nothing in value compared to the satisfaction that came to me and my wife when we saw ,bill ,bird solidly on his feet as a ,christian man4 ,if you're going back by the ,intercolonial1 try to stop over at ,c----4 ,bill would be mighty glad to see you1 and you'll see what the ,lord can do with a man who has gone even as far as the snake-room4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,part of a ,town ,site after being swept by ,bush ,fires4 #b4 ,a ,bush ,fire getting under way4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,improvised ,dwellings3 cover districts into which people have fled for safety4 #b4 ,the long line of ,coke ,ovens4 7,see page #ahc47 #c4 ,the ,fire rapidly approaching4 ,,the ,,bush ,,fire4 ,bush fires are said to be raging throughout the vicinity of ,lundville4 ,this bulletin was one of several occupying the boards in front of ,the ,journal building in ,carlton ,mines--a ,british ,columbia mining town4 ,as ,lundville was thirty miles south-west1 no unusual anxiety was felt by those who read the brief announcement about noon-tide on an ,august day4 ,the atmosphere had been heavy with smoke for the past forty-eight hours2 but that was not at all uncommon during that month4 ,by nightfall1 however1 the town was enveloped in a dense cloud of smoke2 and from the roofs of high buildings on the outskirts the atmosphere seemed to be penetrated by the lurid glow of the raging fires which now extended for several miles4 ,telephone communication with ,lundville had been impossible since noon1 and from ,burnt ,river1 only fifteen miles away1 the last message received told of the whole population being engaged in a desperate effort to effectively check the fire which threatened to wipe out the village4 ,from ,burnt ,river to ,carlton ,mines there were unbroken timber lands1 a fact which caused deep anxiety to many of the inhabitants of the mining town4 ,not a few retired that night with forebodings that made anything but fitful and troubled sleep impossible4 ,many were the fervent hopes that ere morning the heavens might open and send forth an abundance of rain upon the sapless woods and withered grasses4 ,nothing but a heavy downpour of several hours' duration would penetrate the parched earth far enough to quench the fire which was well into the root-filled soil4 ,fire rangers1 assisted by many citizens1 including nearly a hundred miners1 spent the night in the woods at the edge of the town1 cutting down as much bush as was possible1 and clearing it away from such points as were considered dangerous connecting links with ,carlton ,mines4 ,by dawn it was felt that the night's hard toil and the precautions taken had left the town fairly secure4 ,shortly after daylight1 however1 the rough trail into ,carlton ,mines was dotted for miles with settlers hurrying distractedly1 they scarcely knew where1 before the cruel flames that had driven them from their homes1 and that had by this time destroyed those homes and many other results of several years of hard labour4 ,all sorts of vehicles1 from home-made toy wagons to dump-carts and ranch-wagons were loaded with household effects1 some of which had to be left behind1 when a few hours later1 all that most people could hope to save was life itself4 ,by six o'clock1 fire1 church1 and school-bells clanged out their general alarm1 calling every available citizen to the fire-fighting1 that perchance united effort might save the town4 ,already huge sparks were raining upon the south-west section1 but fortunately in that section the shacks and buildings were few and far between4 ,yet it was soon apparent that the fire-fighters could not hold their position1 even there1 but would have to take up a fresh stand nearer the town's centre4 ,every household was on guard2 tubs1 barrels1 pails1 milkcans and kitchen utensils were filled with water1 and for a time the falling sparks were quenched almost as quickly as they fell4 ,straddle-legged on the ridge of the roofs in the fire zone1 boys and men with dampened clothes were kept busy extinguishing the sparks that would so easily ignite shingles upon which no rain had fallen for five weeks4 ,throughout these long anxious hours1 when men were toiling side by side for the protection of their town and their homes1 no man had acquitted himself more worthily than the stalwart minister of ,st4 ,paul's ,church4 ,until that night no one knew how he could make the chips fly from the tree trunk1 and when the most needed work was the turning over of sods to arrest the fire running through the dry grass1 no hands were readier than those of the ,reverend ,walter ,nicholson1 and when his palms began to blister and to peel1 no one knew of it except himself4 ,when1 after the general alarm1 reinforcements arrived1 he felt he could no longer leave his loved ones without some word of the probable and immediate danger4 ,stopping at only one or two homes on the way1 he hastened to the manse4 ,despite the seriousness of the situation1 ,mrs4 ,nicholson could not restrain her laughter1 as her husband stood1 coatless and vestless1 at the door of the dining-room4 ,pieces of coarse string had been substituted for certain important buttons which had been lost in his strenuous activity at the fire-fighting4 ,the all-night's toil in the dirt and the smoke1 amidst falling ashes1 had transformed the immaculately clean husband into a dirt-begrimed labourer4 ,it looks as if the town was doomed1 ,jess1 he commenced4 ,the brewery's gone 7though that's no particular loss71 and a number of shacks are already burnt down4 ,i must get right back with the men1 but in the meantime you'd better get what you value most into a couple of valises4 ,you'll need a few extra clothes for the youngsters and yourself4 ,put my marginal bible and my black suit in if you can4 ,it's of no use trying to take much1 as we may have to foot it for quite a distance4 ,the ',eastbound' hasn't come in yet1 and it's hard to get any information because the wires are down1 but it looks as if some of the bridges had been burned1 so there isn't much hope of getting out by rail4 ,you can count on me being back in about half an hour4 ,mrs4 ,nicholson1 as a bride1 had brought to her ,western home the handiwork of three busy years1 and when the furnishing had been completed and her extras tastefully arranged1 the minister and his young wife had looked with grateful pride upon the attractiveness of the manse4 ,during the ten subsequent years her enthusiasm in keeping that home orderly1 clean and cosy1 had never failed4 ,and now she had less than half an hour in which to select what she most desired from that home that had become endeared by ten years of effort to keep it1 as it had been kept1 a radiant centre of helpfulness--and that selection from their entire earthly possessions must fit the narrow compass of two valises4 ,the reader who is able to imagine ,mrs4 ,nicholson's feelings on that memorable nineteenth day of ,august will readily believe that a few minutes were lost in the feeling of helplessness as to what was best to select4 ,a glance through the window at the smoke-filled street1 and occasional sparks1 put an end to her hesitancy4 ,whatever was to be done must be done quickly4 ,her husband's request was first complied with1 then such clothing as she and the children might need was included1 and a small supply of food for immediate needs4 ,within a few minutes she had gathered together the few articles of jewellery she possessed1 a package of business papers1 a bit of silverware1 one or two photographs1 and an encyclopdic scrapbook which contained1 among many other interesting items1 several newspaper clippings of the work and doings of the ,rev4 ,w4 ,nicholson4 ,from her much-prized secretary1 a ,christmas gift from the children in her ,sunday ,school class1 she took a locket in which was a small curl of hair--her mother's hair4 ,in her hurried packing she had not forgotten that at least two things must be included from her box of relics and sentimental treasures in the attic4 ,the first pair of baby shoes ever worn in the manse were among ,mrs4 ,nicholson's most valued reminders of the happy days spent in caring for ,baby ,dorothy--now a bright girl of eight years4 ,whenever a visit had been made to the box in the attic1 the little shoes were always taken out and looked upon with a loving smile4 ,there were many other articles of much greater value than what was ,mrs4 ,nicholson's final selection1 but she could not leave dear little ,hugh's favourite toy4 ,how he had loved that little horse6 ,even after the terrible accident that had left the gee gee noseless1 nothing could ever displace it in his affections4 ,for at least a year it had shared his bed without one night's exception1 and though it was usually taken from his arms after the little lad had fallen asleep1 it was always placed on the chair at the bed-side1 so that on awakening he might immediately find his valued wooden friend4 ,and when1 during his long and fatal illness1 he was unable to take an interest in any other toys1 the wasted hand would rest for hours across the back of the broken toy-horse4 ,and so the noseless little animal1 with its stand minus two wheels1 found a place among the most valued things that were chosen from the well-furnished manse when but a brief half-hour was given in which to make a final choice4 ,the thirty minutes had not fully elapsed when ,mr4 ,nicholson came rushing in to say there was not a moment to lose4 ,the wind by this time had increased well-nigh to a hurricane1 and no force of men could have protected the buildings from the fiery embers that were being hurled in large quantities in all directions4 ,walter ,nicholson went forth with the two valises strapped over his shoulders1 while on his left arm he carried his eighteen months old baby boy4 ,close behind him came his wife with a few extra wraps thrown over one arm1 and her free hand clasping that of the trembling little ,dorothy4 ,thus the ,nicholson family departed from the manse1 that twelve hours later was nothing but a heap of smouldering ashes4 ,the streets were filled with terror-stricken people laden with such of their worldly possessions as their strength would allow4 ,the fierce wind hastened them on in their frenzied race for life4 ,shouts1 shrieks1 agonized cries and prayers greeted the ears of the minister and his wife as they joined the homeless throng on the streets of ,carlton ,mines4 ,every house in ,freeman's ,terrace is burning4 ,the ,methodist ,church is ablaze4 ,the ,opera ,house was on fire when we came by4 ,oh1 my ,god6 what'll we all do8 ,there won't be a house left in town4 ,god have mercy on us6 ,such were the cries from scores of voices in the terrified crowd4 ,here and there aged and sick folk were being borne in the arms of loved ones or neighbours1 although each one rendering such willing service knew that the delay involved was imperilling his own life4 ,perhaps the saddest sight in the whole sad procession was that of a poor ,italian woman1 whose little girl had died the previous morning4 ,the father was working in a construction gang several miles away1 and the word of the child's death had not yet reached him4 ,when the fire had spread to the humble dwelling1 the distracted and sorrow-stricken mother could not endure the thought of leaving her darling to the devouring flames4 ,tenderly lifting the little one from the casket1 she wrapped a shawl around the lifeless form and struggled with her burden alongside of some who knew not what she carried4 ,cries and prayers in her native tongue were intermingled with her broken ,english4 ,walter ,nicholson had forgotten for the moment that the previous afternoon he had heard of the poor woman's sorrow and had fully intended to at least call and offer such sympathy and help as was possible4 ,but the call to the fire-fighting had caused everything else to be put aside4 ,when1 however1 he heard the pathetic wail1 ,oh1 ma ,annetta1 ma leetle ,annetta1 and glanced at the strange-looking bundle the ,italian woman was carrying1 he at once surmised the meaning of it all4 ,burdened and anxious though he was1 he walked alongside of the lonely mother that he might share her burden also4 ,the sad-eyed woman looked into his face1 and in an appealing tone said1 ,please not mak' her go from me--ma dear leetle ,annetta4 ,da father1 he no come yet4 ,oh6 he must come first6 ,walter ,nicholson hurriedly readjusted his baggage and then held his baby boy so as to leave his right arm free to give the poor ,italian woman such support as was possible4 ,the assistance given was only slight1 but his sympathetic words and the touch of his hand soothed a little the aching heart of one who felt that day the loneliness of a bereaved stranger in a strange land4 ,information was passed through the fleeing crowd that the work-train was taking the people out of danger as rapidly as possible1 and that the best course to pursue was to make for the railway station4 ,in any case1 the railway track eastward would be the safest highway down the ,pass1 as the mountain stream two miles away might be reached on foot if necessary4 ,a place of at least temporary protection would be found there4 ,before the station-house was reached1 another member was added to the ,nicholson party4 ,a lad of not more than five years had either wandered away from his home before his friends had felt the necessity to leave1 or had become separated from them on the way4 ,at any rate1 he was doing his very best to make everybody acquainted with the fact that he was lost4 ,to attempt to locate his friends was out of the question4 ,mrs4 ,nicholson bent over him for a moment1 and her words and looks produced a quieting effect on the little lad1 who at once did as he was bidden1 and clung to one of the wraps on the arm of his newly-found guardian4 ,by the time the railway station was reached the fire had made such headway that it would have been impossible to make a safe return as far as the manse1 which had been left less than fifteen minutes before4 ,the frame buildings of which most of the town was composed made the onrush of the flames the more rapid4 ,the station platform was packed with an impatient crowd awaiting the return of the work-train which had already made two trips as far as the coke-ovens at ,twyford4 ,the line was single track1 and the only rolling-stock available consisted of an antiquated engine and two dingy passenger cars with rough board seats lengthwise beneath the windows4 ,the morning of the fire there had been added to these cars a few open coal trucks4 ,the old engine could not make the grades with anything but a light train1 so that it was seen by many how improbable it was that all those then waiting could find transportation before the buildings around them would be licked up by the approaching fire4 ,surrounding roofs had been saturated by the station fire-hose1 but the gauge-ball on the water-tank was rapidly lowering1 and the engineer at the pump-house had been compelled to leave his post half an hour before1 so that at best their protection by water was a matter of only an hour or so4 ,yet it needed no small amount of courage to isolate oneself from the throng and to pass out of sight in that heavy cloud of smoke which prevented one seeing more than a short distance ahead4 ,the fire now seemed to have gained headway in other directions1 so that even if they went forth they might soon find themselves in a position where advance and retreat were alike impossible4 ,frequent explosions and loudly crackling timbers added to the anxiety of those who awaited the return of the work-train4 ,the ,rev4 ,walter ,nicholson was soon surrounded by a group of those anxious to hear any suggestion he had to make4 ,the ,station ,agent assured him that even if the track remained clear1 at least two additional trips would need to be made before all on the platform could be removed to a place of safety4 ,then the wires are dead1 ,mr4 ,nicholson1 and we've no news of any other train being on the way1 so there isn't a minute to spare4 ,he explained that the station-yard might be a comparatively safe place for a while1 yet1 in view of the extent of the fire1 those remaining might find themselves hemmed in and have difficulty in getting over the burned and burning earth for many hours4 ,several buildings west of the station had already collapsed1 blocking certain portions of the road-bed4 ,a number decided to follow the minister's lead and start on the journey along the eastward track4 ,mrs4 ,nicholson refused to remain for the train1 preferring to share the fortunes or misfortunes of her husband1 while the poor ,italian woman1 still clinging to her precious burden1 followed every move her sympathizer made4 ,would she not wait and try to get on the train8 ,oh1 no1 please me walk wid you4 ,i will be so strong6 ,even the little lad refused to be transferred to the care of others1 and as none were particularly anxious to add to their responsibilities1 there was nothing for it but to take him along4 ,it was no easy task that the ,nicholsons had undertaken4 ,the usual heat of mid-,august was intensified by many miles of burning bush1 while the smoke added greatly to the discomfort4 ,then the poorly ballasted track made walking exceedingly tiresome4 ,yet no complaints were uttered3 even the children realized that every effort must be made to reach the stream before the resistless enemy overtook them4 ,little more than half a mile had been covered when the whistle and rumble of the work-train announced that it was returning for its third load of passengers4 ,a glance at the cars as the train passed was sufficient to show that fire had broken out further east1 at some point between the pedestrians and ,twyford4 ,the old paint was covered with blisters1 and many of the windows were badly cracked through intense heat4 ,a few minutes later the train returned with every foot of space occupied1 even to the steps of cars and engine4 ,a number of passengers tried to let their slower fellow-travellers know that the station-house was in flames1 but the noise from the train drowned most of their words4 ,the inhabitants of ,carlton ,mines who had not driven or walked out earlier in the day or been conveyed on the railway were now hastening to the limit of their powers in the direction of ,twyford4 ,fortunately for the almost exhausted pastor1 the last half-mile of his journey was made a trifle easier by the voluntary assistance of a rugged ,galician girl who had been well known at the manse4 ,one small coarse bag contained her few belongings1 and accustomed as she had been to long walks and heavy loads when she had lived on the ,saskatchewan prairie1 the carrying of the baby boy would make small difference to her4 ,and so at last the mountain stream was reached1 and after crossing the bridge the wearied refugees laid down their burdens on the pebbly bed at the water's edge4 ,at that point the width of the open space between the stream-divided bush was only about a hundred feet1 so that in case the fire continued its course the danger would still be very great4 ,already they had seen showers of sparks carried much farther than the short distance that separated the banks between which they stood1 and there was every probability that the timber on each side of the stream would be ablaze simultaneously4 ,but to continue their flight through the thick bush that lined both sides of the track for miles might be to place themselves in a much worse plight4 ,where they now stood was an abundance of water1 and fortunately it was shallow enough to make it safe for all to stand in the centre when that time became necessary4 ,it would then be a matter of endurance against the stifling heat4 ,within five minutes the number of those seeking refuge at the stream side was considerably over a hundred4 ,the ,station ,agent was the last one to arrive1 and reported that when the third train-load was leaving1 the railway yards and the station-house was seen to be on fire1 everyone had immediately set out on foot4 ,he had kept in the rear to be sure that no one was missing4 ,except for an attempt on the part of some to safeguard certain belongings by burying them in the gravel1 there was nothing to do but wait--and to many the moments seemed as hours4 ,it was a race between old ,dave ,minehan1 the driver on the antiquated engine from the ,east1 and the devouring elements from the south-west4 ,which would reach them first8 ,a few men acted as sentinels1 and paced the track to discover the progress of the fire4 ,the wind had dropped a little1 but the flames were still making rapid headway1 and very soon no report was needed from the outposts--the fire's own voice could be heard only too plainly4 ,the agent figured out that the work-train had been due over ten minutes--something must have happened6 ,surely the train-crew realized the need of the courageous ones who had voluntarily walked1 and of the others for whom no accommodation was possible4 ,flames were now visible to all who were close to the bridge1 and the scorching heat1 the stifling smoke1 and the ash-laden wind combined to make waiting almost unendurable4 ,brows of fainting ones were being bathed in the merciful stream1 and the strongest were becoming fearful4 ,thank ,god1 she's coming6 ,the shout was from the throat of the ,station ,agent who had been down the track listening for the return of the work-train4 ,the words had scarcely ended when the shrill whistle from the little engine confirmed the statement4 ,when a few days later a number of men were discussing the disaster1 one of them spoke for each individual at the stream when he said1 ,say6 ,i used to hate that blooming raspy whistle1 but that day it was the finest bit of music ,i ever heard4 ,dave ,minehan slowed up as he neared the bridge1 and the ,agent signalled him to stop1 and at once scrambled aboard to let him know that everybody had reached the bridge and that there was no need to try to go farther4 ,old ,dave was trembling with excitement and irritation1 but just then he had no time to tell of the fretful delay over a hot box1 and all the trouble entailed in putting in a new brass at ,twyford--and neither then nor later did he tell of the terrible strain that he had endured in taking his train through a piece of blazing bush three miles down4 ,the eager1 frightened people were rushing up the banks1 but ,dave kept his train moving until it was about midway on the bridge4 ,from the cab he shouted to them to keep off4 ,the moment he brought his train to a standstill he leaped from his engine and again thundered the same prohibition4 ,sharply he yelled to the men to line up and form a bucket-brigade4 ,the fireman passed a dozen buckets from the tender1 and ,dave1 with harsh and hasty commands1 got the men on their job4 ,for about five minutes1 with a rapidity that would have done credit to a trained brigade1 the double line passed the buckets and old ,dave dashed the water over such portions of the cars as in his judgment needed the protection4 ,in the meantime he had ordered the rest of the men to soak a few camp blankets that he had taken the precaution to bring along4 ,there's one bad spot where you'll maybe need to cover yourselves a bit3 it'll be raining fire by when we get back--better give your coats and hats a dip too1 boys6 ,get a move on6 ,it was no longer possible to remain on the bridge4 ,the old engineer shouted ,all aboard1 and hurried back to his engine4 ,the women and children were rushed into the passenger car4 ,at one end stood the ,nicholsons1 while in the corner the bereaved ,italian mother sat with her lifeless child4 ,more than once had the minister felt that he must insist on her leaving her burden behind1 but each time that he glanced at the sad face and saw the passionate pleading of her eyes1 and observed the tender clasp of the mother arms1 his courage deserted him4 ,the last foot was scarcely off the ground when old ,dave reversed the lever and opened the throttle1 and with a jerk the train started once more4 ,let the brakeman tell the story of the return trip1 as we heard it from his lips months after in one of the temporary buildings that had arisen among the ash-heaps of ,carlton ,mines4 ,yes1 siree1 you just bet it kept me firing that morning4 ,the west-bound express was away late1 or it could have got the whole crowd out in two trips4 ,i never thought ,old #ih would stand the gait she did that day4 ,on that last trip we hit a clip both ways that would make your hair stand4 ,davie was bound to get them people to ,twyford4 ,we got a scorching on the up-trip let me tell you4 ,gosh6 it seemed like we was running through ,nebuchadnezzar's furnace4 ,i wondered if ,davie would face the return trip1 'cause the blaze was getting worse every minute4 ,i moved over to him and asked him if he was going to try it4 ,whew6 ,i wish you could have seen him6 ,he hadn't cooled off from the mad he had on at ,twyford4 ,we had to put a 'brass' on the front car1 and when the boys down there couldn't find their jackscrews1 ,davie got rip-tearing mad1 'cause he knew what the rest of the crowd at ,carlton was up against1 and he was scared he might be too late4 ,well1 sir1 he dumped all the bad language what was in his system on me4 ,it was the kind you don't put in mother's letter4 ,he finished up with the sickliest kind of smile ,i ever set eyes on1 and yelled1 ',you fool3 do you think ,i'm up here on a ,sunday ,school picnic8' ,but ,davie knew what was what when we reached the bridge4 ,he lined up the bosses and parsons and the rest of that crowd like he was a ,british ,general4 ,and he got his orders obeyed in double-quick time too4 ,but it was that last down-trip that this child won't need a diary to remember by6 ,gee6 you know that curve about a mile and a half below the bridge8 ,well1 we'd got most all the head on we could carry1 and ,i was feeling about as safe as if ,i was having a smoke on a can of dynamite4 ,i was watching for ,dave to slow up for the curve1 but blame me if he didn't open the throttle another notch4 ,as ,billy ,s---- would say1 ',religion isn't my long suit1' but ,i got ready to say my prayers2 ,i backed up a bit into the coal-bunker1 and gripped the side of the tender1 and ,i told the ,almighty ,i hadn't bothered ,him much for a long time1 but that if ,he'd keep the cars on the track around the curve ,i'd be much obliged4 ,seemed to me like some of them cars jumped clean off the rails1 and ,i thought we were on the home stretch to ,kingdom-come1 but ,davie brought us through ,o4,k4 ,did we pass through much fire8 ,well1 ,i should say6 ,there wasn't a rail or post for half a mile that wasn't burning4 ,if it hadn't been for the way ,davie soused them cars1 and got the fellows to fix their coats and the blankets1 we'd never have made it4 ,did you see the watch they gave ,davie8 ,get him to show it to you6 ,it's a dandy--solid gold--got a whole lot of writing on the back--something about 'a tribute to ,mr4 ,dave ,minehan's courage and skill in the face of grave danger and difficulty4' ,he don't say much1 but he's as tickled about it as the fellow what got a ,christmas-box of sealskin underclothes4 ,davie's alright1 you bet4 ,i'd rather fire for him on ',old #ih' than for any guy ,i know on a big ,mogul4 ,he's a bit rough-like sometimes1 but if he can help anybody he's on the job2 he'd break his neck to do somebody a good turn4 ,such was the brakeman's narration of ,dave ,minehan's final race on ,old #ih1 on the day that ,carlton ,mines was levelled by the bush fire4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the shadows of evening had fallen over ,twyford on what is still regarded in ,carlton ,mines as disaster day4 ,the afternoon had been a busy one for the inhabitants of the almost verdureless village that is known chiefly for its long lines of coke-ovens4 ,generous hearts had made shacks and homes have an expansive hospitality that would have seemed incredible before the homeless throng arrived4 ,but after every available lodging device had been resorted to there were many people unprovided for4 ,and so the coke-ovens were the best accommodation that could be offered those still unhoused4 ,in one of these unusual lodging-houses a candle cast its dim light over the figures of two men and a woman who were kneeling in the attitude of prayer4 ,in one corner a black box rested on two backless chairs4 ,it had been made an hour or two before by the local carpenter1 and covered with black cloth by the kindly hands of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,nicholson4 ,little ,annette was to be laid away in the early morning1 and this was the best that loving hearts could devise in that place and under those circumstances4 ,the manse valises had made their contribution to the final robing of little ,annette1 and the weeping mother1 looking upon what ,christ-like friends had done1 clasped and kissed the hands that had dealt so kindly with her and her leetle ,annetta4 ,for nearly eight hours the father had walked seeking his wife1 and now they were kneeling together in the presence of their dead child4 ,walter ,nicholson's voice was tremulous with sympathy as he commended the sorrow-stricken strangers to the all-pitying ,father4 ,the mourners did not understand all that was uttered1 but they understood the spirit that was manifested and were deeply grateful4 ,a few words of comfort were spoken1 and the minister passed out into the darkness to another oven in which his own loved ones were awaiting his return4 ,mrs4 ,nicholson was sitting on a box with ,dorothy on her knee4 ,angus and the five-year-old stranger had fallen asleep on the ashy floor4 ,no trace had been discovered of the lad's friends4 ,he could give little information beyond the fact that his name was ,hans ,kuyper1 and that he was losted4 ,mrs4 ,nicholson had quieted the wee chap's fears1 by assuring him that his mother would come soon1 and though1 with darkness at hand and no sign of mother1 a few tears had been shed1 it was not long before the wearied and worn child was asleep4 ,the husband and father sat alongside of his loved ones in sympathetic silence for a few minutes4 ,the all-night's toil1 the hours of solicitude for others1 the heat of the day1 the burdens carried1 the sympathy extended and the discomforts endured1 had combined to produce a feeling of depression4 ,we have lost everything1 ,jess3 maybe ,i'll feel better by morning1 but to-night ,i've lost my courage as well as everything else1 and ,i can scarcely bear to think of the future4 ,little ,dorothy placed herself between her father's knees1 and looking lovingly into eyes where the unbidden tears had forced themselves1 said quietly1 ,isn't it a good thing1 daddy1 that you haven't lost mamma and ,angus and me8 ,walter ,nicholson enfolded the child in his big arms and kissed the curl-encircled face4 ,yes6 ,god bless you1 little sunbeam1 that is a good thing1 and maybe daddy was forgetting4 ,now let us say the twenty-third ,psalm and have our good-night prayer4 ,with sometimes unsteady voices the three repeated the ,psalm they had so often joined in at home under such different circumstances4 ,then father1 mother and child knelt beside the box1 and a prayer of thanksgiving and a cry for strength came from a thankful but needy heart4 ,walter ,nicholson's arm rested on ,dorothy's shoulder1 and his voice quivered again as he thought of the little black box in the near-by oven2 and prayed for those to whom the past hours had brought a double sorrow that had left them homeless and childless4 ,as was her custom1 ,dorothy offered up her own prayer at her mother's knee4 ,a sweet confidence in religious matters had always existed between child and mother1 and there was never any restraint in the expression of the little one's thought toward ,god4 ,tired though she was1 her poetry prayers1 as she called them1 were said in full1 and then her own additions followed4 ,thank you for taking care of us all1 and we are glad that papa and mamma and ,angus and ,dorothy are all here4 ,help the little boy's mamma to find him1 and please to take care of the poor ,italian woman now that her little girl is gone to heaven4 ,bless papa and mamma and ,angus1 and make me a good girl1 and please help us to get another home soon1 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,the fire had almost spent itself by nightfall1 and with the dawn the long-wished-for rain began to fall4 ,by the middle of the forenoon the danger of any further outbreak was past4 ,the construction gang from the ,east1 and a number of section men from the ,west1 were immediately put to work at clearing the track and repairing culverts and bridges4 ,by the middle of the afternoon a number of men who had fled from the burning town were able to make the return trip4 ,for four or five miles the outlook from the car-windows was a very dreary one4 ,the underbrush had been entirely burned up1 and of the standing timber little but charred1 jagged remnants of tree-trunks remained4 ,only here and there had a telegraph pole escaped1 and even the protruding ends of many of the railway ties had smouldered to the ballast4 ,the entire business section of ,carlton ,mines was destroyed4 ,a few isolated buildings in the residential portion north-west1 and a few in the north-east had escaped1 but all the rest had been reduced to ashes4 ,what could be done under such circumstances8 ,who would have the courage to attempt a fresh start and face all the difficulties arising out of such a disaster8 ,who8 ,every man who that afternoon stood gazing at those ash-heaps4 ,with that inextinguishable optimism that has its headquarters in ,western ,canada1 they began then and there to formulate their plans4 ,several contracts for rebuilding were signed before night1 and ere the ashes were cold1 men started to rear a new and better town4 ,the preacher1 with the rest of the impoverished ones1 went back to his job4 ,not only did he assist in clearing away the debris1 in preparation for a new church and manse1 but many a lift did he give to others who were busily engaged in getting a roof over their heads4 ,during the months of rebuilding he preached successfully in the open-air1 in shack-restaurant1 sawmill1 hotel1 opera-house1 and finally1 after many disappointments and discouragements1 in the new church4 ,among the interesting contributions received by ,mr4 ,nicholson for the ,building ,fund1 was one from the mother of the boy who was losted4 ,when on the morning of the fire she was compelled to hastily leave her dwelling1 she felt quite sure her little lad was with some of his playmates in a neighbour's home4 ,on the way she discovered that her friends had already departed1 but she was still hopeful that her boy was in their care4 ,and so she had very gladly accepted a ride in one of the last vehicles leaving the town1 and1 after a rough and rapid drive1 had reached a mining camp a mile or two south of ,twyford4 ,her friends had gone in a different direction1 and it was over twenty-four hours before she found them4 ,they could give her no news of her lost boy1 and she began to fear that he had never left the town4 ,two days later1 without having received any word of his whereabouts1 she suddenly saw him1 riding pickaback with arms twined around the neck of the ,rev4 ,walter ,nicholson4 ,mr4 ,nicholson still delights to tell how the mother and child were unexpectedly brought face to face as he was turning the corner of a building4 ,he professes to have confused memories of certain details1 but states that before he had a chance to get the lad from his shoulders or extricate himself1 he was the centre of the most vigorous hugging and kissing imaginable4 ,when the overjoyed mother learned all that had taken place1 her gratitude to those who had befriended her boy was simply unbounded4 ,for some months after the fire she struggled along in a small shack several miles away from ,carlton ,mines4 ,the following letter from her to ,mr4 ,nicholson is reproduced exactly as written1 except for corrections in spelling3 ,,dear ,,sir1--,i shall thank you very much for what you have done to me4 ,never will ,i not forget it4 ,it is sorry for me that ,i not can write much ,english4 ,dear ,sir1 ,i am well here1 but the work is very still and so we not can get money4 ,i went to the church on all the ,sunday4 ,i am glad to be a better woman4 ,i wish you my blessing and ,hans do it too4 ,after #beth ,i will send you #a4jj for your another church4--,g4 ,,kuyper4 ,the one dollar arrived in due time1 and knowing the sacrifice it involved1 it was valued out of all proportion to the amount4 ,walter ,nicholson's courage in facing the future did not fail4 ,he stayed at his post until his work was completed4 ,to preach to a procession1 as the work in some districts has frequently been described1 to face an appalling indifference on the part of some1 and a cynical antagonism on the part of others1 and to struggle along with an inadequate income1 constitutes a task that only the bravest can face year after year1 yet in the face of all this he said cheerfully1 ,i've seen a lot of preachers come and go1 but ,i think ,god wants me here1 and the need is call enough for any man1 so here ,i stay as long as ,he wills4 ,i've had many rewards1 and ,i thank ,god ,i've had the chance to do my bit in this great ,westland4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,the ,,prodigal ,,the ,,prodigal ,isn't he awful looking1 ,mother8 ,why does daddy let him come in so much8 ,i don't like the way the study smells after he's been in4 ,little ,ruth1 of a village manse1 made many other observations1 and asked many other questions as a poor1 wretched-looking man shuffled across the lawn in the early evening of an autumn day4 ,the mother's smile changed quickly to a look of sadness1 and giving the wee girl a kiss1 she said1 ,mother will tell ,ruthie all about it at story-time to-night4 ,from the ,children's ,bible ,story ,book that night the mother read of the ,prodigal ,son4 ,there were a number of interruptions from the occupant of the little bed3 ,why didn't he go home before he got so dreadful hungry1 ,mother8 ,where was his mother8 ,why did his father run so far8 ,after answering many questions the mother continued3 ,there are lots and lots of prodigal sons still living2 men who have been bad1 and who then1 like some little children who have been naughty1 run away from those who love them best4 ,and all the time those who love them are wishing so much that they would come back1 and say they are sorry and that they will try to be better4 ,god is our ,father1 and ,he loves everybody2 you know what we often say when daddy has prayers3 ',for ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth on ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4' ,well1 darling1 you wanted to know why daddy let poor ,mr4 ,gage come in so often8 ,he lets him come because ,god would let him come4 ,the poor man thinks that ,god doesn't want him because he's been so bad1 and because he's gone1 oh6 so far away1 and daddy is trying to tell him that ,god does want him1 and that ,god will take care of him if he will only love ,him and trust ,him1 like you trust daddy and mother to take care of you4 ,mr4 ,gage is awful looking because sin is awful1 and he has let sin be his master instead of ,god4 ,but mother's darling will be nice and kind to him1 because ,god loves him1 and we must love those whom ,god loves4 ,perhaps some day you will see him look as much different as the ,prodigal ,son looked after he came back home4 ,ruth did not altogether forget her mother's words1 and when the half-drunken man was brought to the ,manse for a meal a little later on in the week1 she somewhat timorously handed him two or three asters that she had picked from the garden4 ,john ,gage looked a little embarrassed1 and at first seemed inclined to leave them in ,ruth's possession1 but the little hand remained outstretched1 and with sweet winsomeness the child told him she had picked them for him4 ,picked them for me6 ,well1 well6 then ,i guess ,i'll take them4 ,thank you4 ,on several occasions1 as he sauntered around the village1 his attention was arrested by a childish voice calling him by name1 so that he came to feel he had a friend in the minister's little girl4 ,there were many head-shakings among the village wiseacres regarding the minister's interest in ,john ,gage4 ,it was generally agreed that while the preacher was well meaning enough1 his knowledge of human nature was not very keen4 ,the village constable knew ,john so well that he felt able to speak authoritatively on the matter4 ',tain't no use1 young man1 he said to the preacher4 ,we wus talking about him the other day in ,cyrus ,haag's blacksmith shop1 and every man says the same as ,i do4 ,he's just a-bleeding you1 that's all4 ,five years' hard labour is what he needs2 s'long as you'll take care of him when he's drunk1 and feed him when he's broke1 he'll just bum around4 ,don't ,i know the whole bunch8 ,didn't me and the county constable arrest his father when he pretty nigh murdered ,sam ,collins8 ,ain't his brother in ,kingston ,penitentiary this very minute8 ,the only way to improve them fellers is to hang 'em4 ,the authoritative information having been given the preacher1 there was no further need of sympathy for him if he wilfully rejected the constable's gratuitous1 labour-and-money-saving counsel4 ,and the passing of the weeks seemed to confirm the 'tain't-no-use judgment4 ,people living near the ,manse reported everything that happened1 and a good deal that did not happen1 in connection with the visits of ,john ,gage and others of his type1 for it was generally known that the preacher was easy4 ,but the preacher went on with his work1 and whatever the results of his efforts might be1 nobody ever doubted his belief in the ,gospel he preached4 ,every ,sabbath evening1 in some form or other1 he dealt with the ,fact of ,sin and its ,soul-destroying power4 ,he knew that sin and punishment go through the world with their heads tied together1 but he knew also1 and he preached it as a fact that for him was beyond all controversy1 that by immediate act of ,god salvation might come1 and had come1 delivering the life from the gripping1 enslaving1 murderous power of sin4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the year was drawing to its close4 ,the little village had its share of ,christmas festivities1 and family reunions were taking place4 ,there were men from the ,east1 and men from the ,west1 back in the old haunts for the holiday season4 ,wonderful stories of material success were told as the boys from the ,west expounded the opportunities of the prairie provinces4 ,as is too often the case1 the bar-room was the main social centre of week-day life in the village1 and ,john ,gage was always ready to fall into line when the prosperous ones gave the all-inclusive invitation1 ,come on1 boys4 ,and so long as ,john helped to swell the receipts1 his drunken presence was tolerated around the bar4 ,scores of times did he join in the greeting ,a ,merry ,christmas1 and the merrier it seemed to be to the frequenters of the ,derby ,house bar1 the sadder it really was to the homes from which they came4 ,,the ,,prodigal',s ,,delirium ,weeks of drinking1 followed by the revelry of ,christmas1 brought ,john to such a condition that when the bar-room closed on ,saturday night he was turned out of the house1 and a little later dragged out of a corner of the drive-shed1 and told to get clean away from the premises4 ,there was a strange look about the man on this particular ,saturday night--a wild1 almost savage appearance4 ,he stood a moment on the sidewalk as if uncertain of his whereabouts1 and then turned and walked in the direction of the ,manse4 ,the minister answered the door-bell1 and without a word ,john walked right in and through the hall to the study4 ,at last he spoke4 ,you--told--me--to--come--any--time4 ,i--want--to--stay--here--to-night4 ,then1 with body bent1 and as if in pain1 with arms crossed1 he rocked himself to and fro4 ,oh1 ,god6 but ,i'm sick2 three days nothing but whiskey3 ,i've got it to-night for sure4 ,after much persuading the minister had the man in bed4 ,the mistress of the ,manse had prepared strong coffee as fast as her trembling body would let her4 ,once before she had passed through a night such as she feared this would be1 and the prospect might well make her timorous4 ,but the ,manse and its furniture had three years ago been pledged to ,his service1 and she murmured not4 ,the doctor had been sent for1 but he was on a country call1 and was not expected back until eleven4 ,at one end of the bedroom the minister sat watching ,john ,gage4 ,in some way the drink-inflamed man had placed under his pillow an old revolver and a short stiletto4 ,after a time the hands clasped these with a vice-like grip4 ,suddenly standing out on the carpet he looked at the preacher1 and said1 ,why in the devil don't you go home8 ,d'you want a fight8 ,say6 ,i could rip you so's they'd have to pick you up in baskets4 ,a little later he imagined he was once more on the ,south ,african battle-field4 ,with a sickening shudder he pointed to where his deluded eyes saw again the wounded and bleeding4 ,my ,god6 see that poor devil with his leg nearly off6 ,look6 ain't that awful4 ,see that one squirming6--him yonder with his head half open6 ,then straightening himself1 he said1 as if addressing some audience1 ,friends1 ,i say1 and ,i know1 war is hell6 ,from time to time1 under persuasion1 he would return to his bed4 ,once he imagined he was driving down the old concession road near his grandfather's farm as in boyhood days4 ,the sheets were jerked and handled as if reins4 ,well1 now1 this is a slow horse4 ,it will1 ladies and gentlemen1 be quite appropriate to sing we won't get home till morning4' ,i tell you what ,i'll do--,i'll put the horse in the rig1 and ,i'll get in the shafts1 and then there'll be a horse in the buggy and an ass in the shafts1 but we'll make better time4 ,then followed a weird burst of laughter4 ,the doctor arrived about midnight4 ,for a couple of hours he watched the effect of his treatment1 but rest would not come to the occupant of the guest-room4 ,the eyes would appear to be closing in sleep1 and then would suddenly open wide as if their owner were in terror of some impending disaster4 ,then the danger spot seemed to have been located1 and with a series of jerks the head was raised higher and higher until ,john was sitting up in bed4 ,never once did the gaze leave the corner of the room4 ,with the utmost stealth1 first one foot and then the other was pushed from under the bedclothes to the floor4 ,very slowly and noiselessly1 with knife still gripped1 the demon-possessed man glided toward the corner4 ,with great caution1 as if measuring the distance1 he bent the left knee1 and at the same time lifted the right hand ready to strike4 ,then with blasphemous exclamations he stabbed the imaginary monstrosities4 ,again and again he seemed hurled back as by some real enemy in the fight4 ,at last the knife went deep into the floor1 and he seemed to have conquered4 ,never once taking his gaze from where the knife stood he backed slowly toward the bed4 ,ah6 ,i got him that time6 ,see him6 see him6 ,then followed a blood-chilling burst of profanity at the wriggling object of his delirium4 ,but he can't get up6 ,no6 no6 no6 it's through his neck4 ,and so the long night wore on1 and the wearied preacher1 looking upon what drink could do with ,god's ,masterpiece1 vowed anew to fight the cursed traffic in intoxicants as long as life lasted1 and never knowingly to have his home defiled by such a life-blasting beverage4 ,it was nearly seven o'clock on ,sabbath morning when ,john ,gage fell asleep4 ,at ten o'clock the bell of the adjoining church awakened him4 ,the minister had anticipated the awakening1 and was at the bedside4 ,john seemed dazed for a time1 but in a little while conversed with the one who had befriended him4 ,he was urged to remain quietly in bed1 and after a few words the minister clasped the hand of the outcast man1 and kneeling at the bedside1 laid the burden of his heart upon the ,one who is mighty to save4 ,as the ,amen was uttered ,ruth approached the door4 ,alright1 little one1 come and see your friend ,john1 were her father's words4 ,ruth was ready for church1 and with garments and face alike attractive1 laid her little hand in the big hand of the sin-wrecked man4 ,who can understand the power of the touch of a child's hand8 ,closing his fingers over the dainty1 wee hand1 ,john ,gage turned his face to the wall and sobbed aloud4 ,little ,ruth hardly knew what to do4 ,gently she placed the other hand on the dirty1 unshaven cheek1 and merely said sympathetically1 ,don't cry4 ,john turned his head back again long enough to say brokenly1 ,god bless you1 little gal4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,british ,columbia ,miners off shift4 #b4 ,wrecked through a wash-out4 #c4 ,a section of a ,mountain ,mining ,town4 ,leading ,ruth out the room1 the minister gathered up his books and went to the morning service4 ,when he returned ,john ,gage had departed4 ,early ,monday morning ,allan ,short1 a near-by farmer1 called to tell him that ,john was out at his place cutting away at the winter's wood-pile4 ,allan promised to do what he could for ,john1 but incidentally remarked that he did not see why a man couldn't take a glass of beer without making a fool of himself4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,an ,exhausted ,prospector4 #b4 ,a ,miner's ,washing ,day4 #c4 ,ready to start for the hills to inspect a mine4 #d4 ,miners off to their daily toil4 ,a day or two later the minister drove by the ,short homestead1 presumably to make a call at the ,meen's farm1 where he had several faithful church-goers4 ,as he passed1 he recognised ,john at the saw-horse1 and waved a greeting as to a friend4 ,on his return he drove up the road to the ,short ,farm1 and ,john at once came forward1 with the customary ,canadian courtesy1 to tie up or unhitch the horse1 according to the visitor's wish4 ,after a few pleasantries the minister went to the house and made a call on such members of the ,short family as were home1 and then returned to where his horse was tied4 ,hesitating a moment1 he turned and walked to the wood-pile1 and after complimenting ,john on his ability to swing the axe1 spoke a few encouraging words4 ,for a moment the hand rested on ,john's shoulder as he said1 ,you will be one of ,god's good men yet1 ,john4 ,i know it's a terrible fight1 but ,god knows all about it1 and with ,him you can conquer4 ,come and see us any time you are in1 but for the life of you don't loiter around the village1 and do keep clear of the men who would be likely to make it easy for you to get what you know is ruinous to you4 ,and don't forget we are your friends always1 always4 ,as he turned the corner of the side road1 he met ,allan ,short returning from a trip to the village4 ,referring to ,john ,gage the farmer said1 ,he's been as straight as a ,british ,columbia pine since he came out2 but1 say6 it's kind o' pitiful1 after all1 the way he craves for whiskey4 ,me and the ,missus watched him yesterday4 ,she's been keeping her eyes open4 ,well6 ,john was taking a breathing spell1 after he had done a fine lot of splitting 7and he's no greenhorn with the axe1 let me tell you671 when all of a sudden he went to the fence-post where his coat was hanging1 and putting it on as he walked1 he made down the road4 ,he got about ten rod and then stopped like as if he'd forgotten something1 and then he started back1 took off his coat1 and pitched into that wood-pile as if it was sure death if he didn't get it finished by night4 ,the missus says he's done the same thing three times to her knowledge1 and once he went so far she was sure he was gone for good4 ,but she says he sure did 'lambaste' them blocks when he got back4 ,,ruth',s ,,illness ,the following ,sunday morning little ,ruth was missing from the ,manse pew1 and her absence from that service was so unusual as to cause many inquiries4 ,nothing serious1 said the mother4 ,just a little throat trouble1 and as she seemed somewhat feverish we thought we had better leave her at home4 ,lizzie is taking care of her4 ,but on ,monday morning the doctor looked very anxious after an examination of ,ruth's throat1 and in departing advised the minister to keep out of the child's room until an examination a few hours later4 ,on ,tuesday morning it was a bit of village news that was passed from mouth to mouth1 that the minister's little girl had diphtheria1 and that the house was placarded4 ,the occupants of the ,manse were deeply touched during the following days by that spontaneous expression of practical sympathy that is characteristic of village life4 ,but perhaps no one stirred the deepest emotions as did ,john ,gage4 ,darkness had fallen over the village on ,tuesday before he had heard of ,ruth's sickness4 ,there was some look of solicitation on ,mrs4 ,short's face when ,john guessed he would stroll to the village4 ,he answered the look by saying almost curtly1 ,i'm going to the ,manse4 ,the little patient's symptoms showed severe infection1 and a second doctor was in consultation when the minister heard a very gentle rap on the door4 ,sorry ,i can't ask you in1 ,john1 he said1 as he saw ,john standing on the verandah4 ,how is she8 asked the caller1 in a tone that revealed a great concern4 ,she is a very sick little girl1 ,john4 ,dr4 ,dodds is with ,dr4 ,burnett just now4 ,we can only give her the best care possible1 and hope and pray4 ,it is good of you to call1 and when the wee girl is better she will be pleased to know you came4 ,the poor little soul has been restless and feverish all the afternoon4 ,poor little gal6 ,tell her ,john hopes she'll soon be alright4 ,i ain't much of a friend1 ,god knows1 but all the same ,i've been that lonesome like1 since ,i heard she was sick1 ,i don't feel as if ,i want to do anything1 but just wait around4 ,if there's any job ,i can do to help1 ,i give you my word ,i'll be in trim to do it as long as the little gal needs me4 ,for two weeks ,john's little gal caused anxious days and nights--some of them days and nights when tearful prayers were sobbed out in the solitariness of study or bedroom--times when the physicians found no hopeful signs1 and the little life seemed to be passing beyond human reach4 ,it was on one such night that ,john brought a few delicacies from the farm for the minister's household1 and waited for the report from the sick-room4 ,the doctor has been with her an hour1 ,john1 and the wee girl is alive1 and that's all we can say4 ,the voice broke into a sob as the last words were spoken4 ,the two men stood in silent sympathy for a few minutes1 and then ,john broke the silence4 ,she was friendly to me1 sir1 and ,i'll never forget it4 ,lots of folks what thinks they're big toads in the puddle treats me as if ,i was dirt1 but the little gal is the biggest ,christian of the lot1 and she's done me more good than the whole gang of 'em4 ,say6 the way she put her little hand on my face that ,sunday morning was better'n any sermon ,i ever heard4 ,queer1 ain't it1 but it broke me all up4 ,then in response to a request from the minister ,john continued1 ,i'm afeared it wouldn't count much if ,i tried to pray1 sir2 but there ain't anything ,i wouldn't try my hand at for her4 ,the following day there was better news1 and two days later the little sufferer was able to smile in response to the tokens of love that were showered upon her4 ,the physicians' faces relaxed1 and they were delighted that professionally they were winning the battle1 and the big-hearted senior physician rejoiced for other reasons4 ,by the way1 he said that night in the ,manse study1 ,i have met that fellow ,john ,gage several times lately1 and his interest in ,ruthie is really remarkable4 ,i didn't think it was in the man to care for anybody4 ,and stranger still1 he was sober each time4 ,the little girl may yet be the salvation of the poor chap1 and do what no one else has been able to do4 ,shortly before ,st4 ,valentine's ,day the ,manse was thoroughly fumigated1 and the placard removed4 ,ruth was amusing herself cutting out the kindergarten suggestions for ,valentines1 and sending them to selected friends4 ,on a crudely shaped heart in poorly fashioned letters that she had learned to print1 were the words1 ,ruth loves ,john4 ,on ,february the #adth1 ,john ,gage received the tiny envelope containing his ,valentine4 ,nothing he had received in years pleased him quite so much4 ,now1 ain't that great1 he confided to ,mrs4 ,short1 'tain't worth a cent1 ,i suppose1 but just this very minute they're ain't enough money in the whole village to buy it4 ,,the ,,preparatory ,,service ,the quarterly communion service was about to be conducted in ,st4 ,andrew's ,church4 ,the usual invitations had been given from the pulpit1 and a few had called at the ,manse to discuss the question of membership4 ,it was always a time of prayerful concern on the part of the minister lest any should take the step without realizing its obligations and privileges4 ,at the minister's invitation1 ,john ,gage had spent over an hour in the study4 ,nothing less than an out and out surrender will do1 ,john4 ,you have had your way1 and the devil has had his way1 now you must be willing to let ,god have full control4 ,there must be an entire breaking away from past associations1 and you must take the step that can never mean retreat4 ,unless you do that the path back to the old ways will be too attractive1 and too easy4 ,once again the two men read passages from well-thumbed pages in the study ,bible1 and again the shepherd of souls called on the ,one who is ,mighty to ,save1 and then ,john prayed1 and as the long silence was broken and a wanderer in a far country turned his face to his ,father and uttered penitent words1 the minister's tears of joy could no longer be restrained4 ,as they rose from their knees1 hands were clasped1 and those feelings1 too deep for words1 found expression in the pressure of a protecting and a trusting hand4 ,in the eyes of the majority of the ,kirk ,session1 there was little risk in receiving into membership the well-to-do respectable sinner1 but when the minister narrated the conversations he had had with ,john ,gage1 and suggested his name as a candidate for membership1 eyebrows were raised and heads shook ominously4 ,wad it no' be better to put him off for a few months to see whether he could stan' alone first8 was the question of ,john ,mc,nair1 the senior elder4 ,colonel ,monteith1 who was greatly burdened with the responsibility for maintaining the dignity of the ,presbyterian ,church1 wondered whether this rather disreputable man ,gage would not find more congenial associates down in the ,free ,methodist ,hall4 ,tom ,rollins didn't know how the people would take it4 ,murray ,meiklejohn1 characterized by his reticence and good common sense1 moved that ,john ,gage be received1 and stammeringly added that so far as leaving ,john to stand alone was concerned1 he guessed they had been doing that ever since he came to town1 ten years ago4 ,and so with some misgivings1 and with some wounded pride1 the ,session included ,john ,gage in its reception list4 ,on ,friday night1 an hour before the time for preparatory service1 ,john called at the ,manse4 ,i'm a-trembling all through1 he said to the minister1 and ,i was half-minded not to come4 ,if it hadn't been for what you said about the hospital being a place for sick folks1 ,i wouldn't had the courage to face it4 ,the preparatory service of that night is still spoken of in the quiet village4 ,perhaps the atmosphere was created by one who had prayed much that day that the congregation might receive a new vision of the ,redeemer1 through the words of one for whom not an individual in the entire congregation had any hope six weeks before4 ,the sermon over1 the minister and elders extended the right hand of fellowship to the little company occupying the front seats4 ,to-night1 said the minister1 as he returned to the platform1 ,i have asked my friend ,mr4 ,john ,gage to say a few words4 ,the lecture-hall had probably never known stiller moments than those immediately following the announcement4 ,john ,gage1 pale and trembling1 not daring to look at his audience1 stood facing the platform4 ,in a low voice he said1 ,well1 friends1 ,i have been a bad man--that's no news to anybody1 but ,god helping me ,i'm going to be better4 ,seems like a miracle1 don't it1 that ,john ,gage has been sober for five weeks8 ,as he sat down1 the ,let us pray of the minister preceded a petition for our brother1 that made most hearts tender and prayerful4 ,it's a new day for ,st4 ,andrew's1 said ,murray ,meiklejohn1 as he shook the hand of the minister after the benediction4 ,nothing like to-night's meeting in my memory4 ,looks as if we were going to stop singing ',rescue the ,perishing' and get on the job4 ,it is no easy task for the average ,presbyterian elder to utter a fervent ,god bless you1 but that night hearts were stirred and tongues were loosened1 and ,john ,gage felt that after all the world was not so unfriendly as he had imagined4 ,hand after hand was extended in genuine welcome4 ,but the finest thing of all1 as the minister said a little later1 was the way the ,colonel warmed up to ,john4 ,he had never been seen to manifest the same cordiality in the ,church before4 ,a manly step to take1 sir--a manly step--needs courage to fight that kind of a battle4 ,personally ,i am glad to welcome you to ,st4 ,andrew's4 ,when story-time came at the ,manse on the following evening1 ,ruth was all attention as her mother told of the homecoming of another prodigal1 and of all it might mean4 ,ruth's prayer had two additional words that night4 ,the closing part was uttered more deliberately than usual1 as if in anticipation of the seriousness of the added petition4 ,bless daddy and mamma1 and--all--the--friends--,i--love--and ,john1 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,,the ,,temptation ,john ,gage secured temporary work in the village delivering freight for a local carter4 ,whenever opportunity afforded1 the habitus of the bar-rooms did not spare him their sneers and jeers4 ,folks say you're a hell of a good preacher1 ,john4 ,when are you going to wear the starched dog-collar1 ,john8 ,calling him to a little group on the sidewalk1 one of his former chums said1 with mock solemnity1 ,let us pray4 ,a roar of laughter followed1 as ,john1 crimson-faced1 walked away4 ,there were days when the sting in some of the taunts was hard to bear--days when only ,one knows the conflict in that will that had become enfeebled by sin4 ,but ,john ,gage was steadily gaining the victory1 and the visits to the ,manse and the new friends around the church were displacing the former associations4 ,signs of a material prosperity that ,john had never before known were gradually appearing4 ,the village tailor took particular pride one morning in showing the minister a piece of blue serge1 as fine a bit of goods as is imported4 ,i'm cutting a suit out of it for ,john ,gage1 and it will be as good as ,i can make it4 ,did you ever think how much the tailor can co-operate with ,god in fixing a man up8 ,but not all the villagers were desirous of co-operating with ,god in the reformation of ,john ,gage4 ,a little crowd had gathered one night in ,mc,kee's barber shop1 and the minister of ,st4 ,andrew's was being harshly criticized for his frequent attacks on the liquor traffic4 ,the proprietor of the pool-room1 who attended ,st4 ,andrew's at the time of the ,lodge annual parade1 announced his intention of absenting himself unless the minister minded his own business4 ,others made similar threats1 which in the aggregate might bring the minister to the proper frame of mind which became one who received his bread and butter from some of the very people he had been abusing4 ,then the case of ,john ,gage was discussed1 and uncomplimentary terms were freely applied4 ,mc,kee thought it would be a d----d good joke on the ,presbyterian preacher if ,john could be made as full as a goat1 and then sent to the ,manse4 ,to the lasting disgrace of the barber1 he attempted to perpetrate the joke4 ,bud ,jenks was a willing tool of anybody who would reward him with a whiskey1 and when ,mc,kee offered him all he could take at one standing if he got ,gage to take a drink1 he was ready to at least make the attempt4 ,and so on a day when ,john had shovelled coal from car to waggon and waggon to cellar for eight hours1 and was warm1 tired and thirsty1 ,bud appeared with a little pail1 as if coming from the town pump4 ,john was at the grating tramping the coal further into the cellar1 and his head was about on a level with the sidewalk4 ,good-day1 ,bud1 he called up as ,bud stood for a moment4 ,good-day1 ,john2 warm job1 eh8 ,you bet it's warm1 was the reply1 as the coal-begrimed brow was wiped4 ,take a drink o' water8 asked ,bud4 ,sure ,i will1 and thank you1 answered the thirsty toiler with hand extended to the pail1 which was placed on the sidewalk4 ,quickly ,bud removed the lid1 and gave the pail a tilt as the rim came near ,john's face4 ,just a touch of froth from the lager beer was carried to ,john's lips1 but instantly he pushed back the pail with an exclamation almost of pain4 ,at the same moment he slid further into the cellar1 and kneeling on the coal1 with hands clasped against the wall1 cried out again and again1 ,oh1 my ,god1 help me1 help me1 help me6 ,bud peered into the darkness and called several times to ,john4 ,at last ,john approached the grating again4 ,bud1 he said quietly1 for ,god's sake go away and leave me alone2 ,i'd rather drop dead than put another drop of that to my lips4 ,bud did not immediately depart1 despite the pleading of the man in the cellar1 and not until a passer-by had entered into conversation with him1 and the two had moved off together1 did ,john pull himself to the sidewalk and drive away4 ,oh1 the smell of it near drove me mad for a few minutes1 he said1 as he confided the occurrence to his friends at the ,manse4 ,if it wasn't for the little gal1 and coming up here1 ,i'd get far enough away from this place1 so's ,i wouldn't have the same temptations4 ,temptation is not a matter of locality1 ,john1 and you would not escape it by crossing a continent1 and besides1 we need you right here4 ,if you win out and give ,god the glory1 you will do more to prove ,his power than a year of sermons could4 ,,the ,,colonel',s ,,outbreak ,bully for ,colonel ,monteith6 ,he's a brick1 by jinks he is6 ,the words were uttered in an excited voice by the young minister on his return from one of his daily trips to the ,post ,office4 ,why1 daddy1 exclaimed the wife1 ,i'll report you to the ,session for using bad language4 ,but what has happened anyway8 ,it was several minutes before the cause of the bad language could be satisfactorily narrated4 ,the conversation in ,mc,kee's barber shop was related1 and the indignation of the mistress of the ,manse was all that could be desired4 ,well1 continued the minister1 somebody who heard it happened casually to tell ,colonel ,monteith4 ,within half an hour1 the ,colonel was in the shop4 ,mc,kee was lathering ,lawyer ,taskey1 but that didn't seem an important matter to the ,colonel1 for without waiting until he was through he at once faced him with what he had heard1 and asked if it was true4 ,at first ,mc,kee tried to evade the question1 but the ,colonel pressed for an answer4 ',well1 suppose ,i did4 ,is it any of your business8' replied ,mc,kee4 ,then with a sneer he added1 ',and anyhow1 ,i didn't know that you and ,mister ,john ,gage were such bosom friends4' ',look here1 ,mc,kee1' and the voice of the ,colonel trembled with emotion1 ',i hold no brief for this man ,gage any more than ,i do for any other man in the village1 but when a fellow puts up a fight like he has for the last two months--a fellow1 as you know very well1 with veins full of bad blood--it is in the highest degree reprehensible for any man to be even a party to such a devilish scheme as you tried to work out by making a poor sot like ,bud ,jenks your catspaw4 ,and nobody1 sir--,i say1 sir1 nobody but a contemptible cur would attempt such a dastardly act4' ,and then the barber got impudent and told the dignified elder to go on a long trip4 ,moving nearer to him the ,colonel said1 ',before ,i go there1 ,mc,kee1 there's a place ,i wish to accompany you1' and quick as a flash he grabbed ,mc,kee and tried to drag him to the back of the shop4 ,mc,kee didn't know what was going to happen1 and naturally objected some1 but ,jim ,morton1 who saw it1 says the ,colonel was 'mad from the toes up1' and after laming a few chairs1 and damaging a mirror in the scuffle1 he got the rear door open and pulled ,mc,kee after him down the bank to the creek4 ,the barber likely surmised what was the next item on the programme1 and not caring for cold baths in ,march1 he did some furious scuffling1 but though the ,colonel's hat and a few buttons had disappeared1 he was able to report progress4 ,jim says the language of ,mc,kee as he got near the water has never been surpassed in ,emsdale4 ,lawyer ,taskey felt like going to ,mc,kee's rescue1 as he doubtless earnestly desired to have his shave finished1 but when he got his hat on and started down the bank the ,colonel thundered something at him that caused him to decide it would be pleasanter to remain in the shop4 ,unfortunately the ,colonel could not part company with ,mc,kee at the critical moment1 and the two of them fell into the water together4 ,the ,colonel stood the shock well enough to have sufficient presence of mind to immediately grab the barber and duck him thoroughly1 and then the two of them scrambled out1 and the air is still blue around ,mc,kee's place2 but taking a conjunct view of the entire affair1 the ,colonel appeared satisfied4 ,jim says that the ,colonel's language was not what would be expected from an elder1 and that when there was the final scuffle at the edge of the creek1 he heard him call ,mc,kee 'a blawsted skunk4' ,i suppose that's terrible in a member of ,st4 ,andrew's ,session1 but ,i'm sinner enough to be glad that ,mc,kee got a small percentage of his deserts1 and my backbone feels stiffer and ,i shall carry my head a little higher because ,colonel ,monteith's on my ,session4 ,the minister jumped to his feet1 and swinging his arm in a circle above his head shouted1 ,bully for ,colonel ,monteith1 the man who turned ,mc,kee's 'joke' into a boomerang4 ,the eyes of the minister's wife had sparkled with interest as she listened to what had happened to ,mc,kee1 and the minister was satisfied when at the conclusion of the incident she said quietly1 ,i am so sorry ,colonel ,monteith fell in the creek4 ,ask him up for dinner to-morrow1 or some day soon4 ,i'll do my very best to show my appreciation of his well-meaning defence of our ,john4 ,,the ,,valentine ,some weeks later ,john procured a position in a distant city4 ,ruth and her father went to the station to bid him farewell1 the latter assuring him of the unfailing interest of his friends at the ,manse1 and uttering a few words of counsel1 now that distance would prevent the frequent visits of the past4 ,for a while all went well1 and encouraging reports reached the village ,manse4 ,sometimes the letter was addressed to the ,minister1 but oftener to ,ruth1 and all of them revealed the strong hold the little one had upon the reforming man4 ,then came word of dull times and scarcity of work and loneliness4 ,it was after a letter that revealed unusual despondency1 that an urgent invitation was sent for ,john to return to the village and spend a few weeks at the ,manse until labour conditions improved4 ,no answer came to this invitation1 but two weeks later a letter came from ,john's boarding-house1 which read as follows3-- ,dear ,sir1--,i take the liberty of writing you1 because there is a ,mr4 ,gage boarding at my place1 and he is real sick and don't seem to have no friends near here1 and ,i can't take care of him no longer4 ,he says you are his best friend1 and so ,i thought you would tell me what to do1 as he hasn't got no money1 and ,i am a hard-working woman and can't afford to do without it4 ,he ought to go to the ,hospital1 ,i guess1 but he don't take to the notion4 ,please do something right away4--,mrs4 ,,john ,mc,c,a,u,l1 #ad1 ,st4 ,lawrence ,lane4 ,the following morning the minister started for the city1 and late that afternoon stood at the door of ,no4 #ad1 ,st4 ,lawrence ,lane4 ,the lane consisted of a long1 monotonous row of dingy little houses on the one side1 and a miscellaneous group of stables and sheds on the other4 ,factory buildings1 with their insolent towers that sprawl to the sky1 overtowered the whole1 shutting out much light1 and pouring forth from their immense chimneys the smoke that usually hung like a pall over the narrow lane4 ,mrs4 ,mc,caul was greatly relieved by the presence of the minister1 and as they sat in the ventilation-proof parlour she told him of ,john's hard luck1 interspersing most of her family history in the narration4 ,he's terrible discouraged1 she added1 and the doctor says he'd oughter be in some more cheerfuller place1 although ,i'm doing the best ,i can4 ,it was a poorly furnished dark bedroom into which the minister was ushered1 and the surroundings of the whole place reminded him of a popular description of certain ,american city boarding-houses1 which are said to furnish all the facilities for dying4 ,john clasped the extended hand with gratitude1 and the visitor's presence did much that medicine had failed to do4 ,as he stood talking to the sick man1 his eyes rested a moment on a little red ,valentine that had been inserted between the glass and the frame of the tinselled mirror4 ,i see you're looking at me ,valentine1 said ,john4 ,yes6 ,i did notice it4 ,well1 sir1 many a day the last few weeks ,i've wondered whether ,i could hold out4 ,when a fellow ain't got a job1 and money and friends is scarce1 it seems like it's easier for the devil to get th' inside track4 ,there was some days when it seemed as if all the devils in hell was after me a-trying to get me back to the old life1 and ,i used to come up here and look at me ,valentine4 ,i've stood before that there glass a good many times lately1 and looked at the red heart what ,ruthie cut out1 and said1 ',god help me to be faithful to the little gal4' ,after a good deal of persuasion ,john consented to go to the hospital1 so that he might receive proper care4 ,for seven weeks the disease1 which was a part of the wages of sin1 held sway4 ,once ,john thought the end was near1 and that probably1 ere many days1 he must pass away4 ,he expressed his fears in a broken voice to the nurse1 and then asked for the ,valentine4 ,tears filled his eyes as he gazed at the trifling token of a child's love4 ,with an effort he controlled his voice and said huskily3 ,if anything happens1 nurse1 ,i want to have that ,valentine with me4 ,you know what ,i mean1 don't you8 ,the nurse nodded her head4 ,you see1 nurse1 it was sent me by a little gal--the minister's little gal4 ,i was pretty far gone a year ago1 and if ever ,god sent an angel into this world to help lift up a poor wretch of a man1 it was when that little gal started to be my friend4 ,and when them little hands cut out the heart for my ,valentine and sent it to me1 and ,i read ',ruth loves ,john1' ,i felt as good as if ,i'd been sent a fortune4 ,the news of ,john's sickness had its effect on ,ruth's nightly prayer3 ,please1 ,god1 make ,john better1 because he's very sick4 ,for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,john's sickness was not unto death4 ,slowly he regained health and courage1 and as soon as he was able to work he secured a position in a city factory4 ,much of his leisure is being given to ,city ,mission ,work4 ,he has often been seen on a street corner joining in an open-air service4 ,not long ago he was telling a crowd of men what the ,gospel had done for him4 ,say1 fellows1 when ,i think of it--think of what ,i was--,i just know ,he's able for anything4 ,i'm ashamed of myself1 but ,i'm proud of ,him4 ,as he finished his testimony a workman in the same factory1 who was standing at the rear of the crowd1 called out1 ,yes1 and ,john's the decentest feller in the factory1 so he is4 ,the red heart has faded almost to a brown4 ,it no longer occupies its place on the mirror4 ,a stranger picking up ,john ,gage's ,bible might wonder why a soiled and worn bit of paper in the shape of a heart should be pasted on the front inside page2 but often a tired workman1 reading his verses for the night1 turns first of all to the front inside page1 and reads three words that light and time and dirt have almost effaced--,ruth loves ,john4 ,sometimes the gaze is long1 and sometimes the fading words are still further dimmed by tears1 but the faded ,valentine is fragrant with precious memories of a child's love that resulted in the homecoming of the prodigal4 ,,the ,,cord ,,of ,,love ,a transcontinental express was speeding across the prairies to its ,pacific ,coast terminus4 ,two hours before it shrieked its approach to a foothill city1 the local police received a message which1 being interpreted1 read3 ,detain ,lavina ,berson1 travelling on ,no4 #if2 age about fifteen1 black hair1 very attractive4 ,travelling in company of two men when train left ,b----4 ,when ,no4 #if pulled into the dept1 two plain-clothes officers boarded the train and soon located the girl wanted4 ,at first the flashing black eyes looked defiantly into the face of ,staff-,inspector ,kenney as he requested her to accompany him4 ,but the law must be obeyed1 and on being shown a detective's badge the little runaway passed with her escort comparatively unnoticed into the city street4 ,at the police-station she sat in the ante-room with the matron1 while the inspector1 the staff-inspector and the plain-clothes detective discussed the case4 ,the girl's youthfulness and attractiveness appealed to their sympathies4 ,it's too blamed bad to send a pretty youngster like that to the cells1 said one4 ,why not send her to that new ,rescue ,home till we get more particulars8 ,they'll take care of her4 ,there's a woman there that knows her job alright4 ,and so to the ,redemptive ,home ,lavina was sent1 the authorities giving the usual instructions governing such a case4 ,for a few hours the new-comer was silent1 but few girls could long be silent in the presence of the big-hearted1 winsome ,superintendent of that ,home4 ,it was a new experience for ,lavina2 the only kindness she had known was the traitorous type1 and it was hard for her to believe that there was such a thing as unselfish love4 ,forty-eight hours from the time she crossed the threshold of the ,home1 the hand that was almost ready to strike any one who seemed to have co-operated in checking her reckless career was slipped along the forearm of the ,superintendent4 ,everybody thinks ,i'm bad1 and ,i guess ,i am1 but ,i believe if ,i had lived with you ,i might have wanted to be good4 ,the words did not come easily1 but when the ,superintendent stroked the black hair and put an arm around the wanderer1 drawing the head to her shoulder1 she realized that love had won its first battle in that misguided life4 ,the following morning a young man rang the door-bell of the ,home in an impatient manner4 ,when the ,superintendent appeared he said1 ,is this where ,lavina ,berson is8 ,yes1 was the reply4 ,well1 ,i want her1 and ,i want her d----d quick4 ,she's a d----d nuisance4 ,she's never been any good4 ,nobody can do anything with her4 ,then1 drawing a rope from his pocket1 he said1 ,i'll bind the little devil with this1 and if that won't do ,i've something else in here 7putting his hand over his hip-pocket7 that will settle her4 ,his face was red with passion1 and his eyes flashed with anger4 ,oh6 you needn't tell me1 he continued4 ,i know all about her2 ,i'm her brother4 ,i'm sick of getting her out of difficulties4 ,i say she's a d----d nuisance1 and ,i ain't going to let her forget this trip ,i've had to take1 not on your bottom dollar ,i ain't4 ,i've got something else to do than to be chasing over the country after her4 ,you cannot get possession of your sister to-day1 answered the ,superintendent4 ,even if ,i were not under obligation to the authorities to detain her1 pending their instructions1 ,i could not let her go with you just now4 ,she is a friend of mine1 and ,i love her4 ,she has told me her story2 she is only just sixteen4 ,ropes and pistols and policemen are not the remedy1 sir2 she needs a brother--a real brother4 ,if you call in the morning ,i shall be glad to have a quiet talk with you4 ,ten days later1 in her own town1 the court-room was crowded when the case of ,lavina ,berson was called4 ,the trial resulted in a mass of evidence to show that she was bad4 ,there seemed no other course open to the ,judge but to send her to a reformatory4 ,she had associated with the fastest boys and girls1 and with the most lawless men and women her town had known4 ,the policeman1 giving evidence1 made it clear that the town would be well rid of her4 ,not one witness1 even to the girl's mother1 had any hopeful word to speak4 ,in the face of such evidence there seemed only one course open4 ,when the word reformatory reached the girl's ear she broke into a passion of weeping1 so that the ,judge hesitated a moment4 ,then there was some movement and whispering near the witness-box4 ,the ,superintendent mentioned had journeyed ,eastward to be present at the trial1 and she was now conferring with the ,morality ,inspector4 ,the weeping girl looked appealingly through her tears at the one who had befriended her4 ,oh1 please1 she whispered1 in a voice broken with sobs1 don't let them send me to that awful place4 ,it'll only make me worse2 take me with you4 ,i'll do anything you tell me2 please1 oh6 please1 ,miss ,moffatt4 ,turning to the ,judge the ,superintendent said1 ,your ,honour1 ,i am a stranger to you1 but as a representative of the ,women's ,council of the ---- ,church in ,canada may ,i say a few words8 ,the ,judge nodded assent1 and with a heart full of love for the wayward1 ,miss ,moffatt made one of the most impassioned appeals conceivable4 ,in closing1 she said1 ,i ask your ,honour to give this girl into my charge for one year4 ,in view of the evidence given1 may ,i be allowed to say that she has been brutally sinned against4 ,no man who has spoken has referred to her partners in sin1 nor has any man suggested that the stronger sex has any responsibility to be a brother and protector of girls4 ,the evidence reveals the fact that plenty of men co-operated in her downfall2 apparently not one made any effort to uplift4 ,some of her betrayers are still counted as respectable men1 while she receives all the blame and the shame4 ,one remedy does not seem to have been tried1 and in the name of the ,one who long ago said1 ',neither do ,i condemn thee2 go1 and sin no more1' ,i ask you to be gracious enough to allow me to try a corrective which ,i believe will be more effective than what has been suggested4 ,the ,judge caught the light in those eyes1 and with manifest emotion addressed the accused3 ,lavina1 you have found a friend2 so long as you are true to her you will not again be called to appear before this ,court4 ,may ,heaven's blessing rest upon such women as the one who has spoken in your behalf6 ,the case is dismissed4 ,once again ,lavina journeyed ,westward4 ,once again she was on ,no4 #if1 but no longer with betrayers4 ,by her side was the ,superintendent with her sweet1 sheltering influence4 ,and so life began again for ,lavina in the ,redemptive ,home4 ,in view of her past life1 it was worth crossing a continent to see the gladness in her eyes when one day ,miss ,moffatt put her hand upon her shoulder and said playfully1 ,lavina is my right-hand girl2 ,i think she'll soon be ,assistant ,superintendent4 ,as one of the workers was passing along the hallway upstairs some months later she was arrested by the sound of a pleading voice--some one was offering a prayer4 ,noiselessly she drew near the room from which the voice came4 ,the last petition was being uttered1 ,o ,god1 please help the other girls to be good like ,you helped me1 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,the little dark-eyed girl was kneeling by the bedside with arm around the shoulder of a young ,hungarian maiden who had been rescued from a life of shame4 ,it developed later that these two rescued ones were daily praying for others who were being sheltered in the ,home4 ,how it all reminds one of that far-away scene6 ,no man could bind him2 no1 not with chains2 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains1 and the chains had been plucked asunder by him1 and the fetters broken in pieces3 neither could any man tame him4444 ,jesus said unto him1 ,come out of the man1 thou unclean spirit4 ,and the modern evil spirit and its rebuke is like unto that4 ,nobody can do anything with her2 ,i've got this rope to bind the little devil with4 ,and then this3 ,o ,god1 please help the other girls to be good like ,you helped me1 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,on the heels of the failure of all others ,jesus comes and reveals ,himself to-day1 as of old1 as the master of demons4 ,what the future days hold for ,lavina ,berson we know not1 but the height of her ambition to-day is that she be accepted for training1 so that some day she may work among those of the class to which she once belonged4 ,,nell',s ,,home-,,going ,st4 ,andrew's ,church was losing its respectability4 ,it was one of the oldest in the ,province1 and the town in which it was situated had for some years prided itself in being a ,society town4 ,the select few who had for so long been undisturbed by the common people were having to endure the presence1 in near-by pews1 of some who had no entrance into the best social circles--and the shocking part of it was that the new minister1 who was reported to have come from one of the best families in ,montreal1 rather gloried in this condition of affairs4 ,two families had already withdrawn from the membership of ,st4 ,andrew's--two of the wealthiest and gayest--and that within six months of the minister's induction4 ,the withdrawal of the ,farsees and ,shunums happened on this wise4 ,a few ,sabbath evenings previous to the interview that ,mrs4 ,farsee had had with the minister1 a young woman of unsavory reputation had dared to enter ,st4 ,andrew's4 ,perhaps the minister was not aware of what he did1 but there was no denying the fact that he shook hands with the said young woman1 and hoped she would always feel welcome at ,st4 ,andrew's4 ,after seeing1 with her own eyes1 a second and a third visit1 and a second and a third welcome1 ,mrs4 ,farsee1 with the moral backing of ,mrs4 ,shunum1 had her now much-talked-of interview with the ,rev4 ,thomas ,fearnon4 ,mr4 ,fearnon1 she commenced in an agitated tone1 there is a matter that so greatly affects our church that1 although it is rather a delicate subject1 ,i felt ,i must be frank enough to speak with you about it4 ,do you know--but of course you don't know--the character of the young woman who has been sitting in ,mrs4 ,greatheart's seat for the past three ,sunday evenings1 and to whom you have given three distinct welcomes to ,st4 ,andrew's8 ,yes1 was the reply1 ,i think ,i know something of her character and past1 and it is very sad4 ,but1 ,mr4 ,fearnon1 exclaimed ,mrs4 ,farsee1 you surely cannot sanction her attendance at our church6 ,what will people say8 ,mrs4 ,farsee1 was the quiet rejoinder1 ,i wonder what my ,master would say if ,i did not sanction the presence of any for whom ,he died4 ,for whom are our services1 if not for the sinful8 ,yes1 but1 ,mr4 ,fearnon1 that kind of person should go to some other place--for instance1 there's the ,salvation ,army4 ,thank ,god there is the ,salvation ,army1 but so long as ,thomas ,fearnon is pastor of this church1 yonder doors shall never be too narrow to admit the sin-burdened4 ,thomas ,fearnon's voice thrilled with emotion as he uttered these words4 ,well1 ,i suppose it's no use saying anything more1 said ,mrs4 ,farsee with an injured air1 but it's hard to hear people sneer at one's church1 and twice lately ,i've heard people--and prominent society people too--say that our church was getting to be a ',house of ,refuge1' and ,i tell you that kind of thing goes hard with people who have taken the pride we have in ,st4 ,andrew's ,church4 ,to me1 said ,mr4 ,fearnon1 that report is encouraging1 and ,i covet that intended sneer as a permanent tribute to any church of which ,i may be pastor--a ,house of ,refuge is what ,i want ,st4 ,andrew's to be4 ,surely the young woman you have named needs a place of refuge8 ,then ,i understand you will still allow her to attend our church1 despite the wishes of two of the most loyal and best-giving families you have1 ,mr4 ,fearnon8 ,mrs4 ,farsee placed an unmistakable emphasis on best giving4 ,your understanding is quite correct1 ,mrs4 ,farsee1 and if ever ,st4 ,andrew's ,church closes its doors on any man or woman1 in like circumstances to the one you refer to1 ,i care not how sinworn and wretched1 it closes them at the same time on ,thomas ,fearnon--we go out together4 ,if that is your decision1 replied ,mrs4 ,farsee haughtily1 please remove the names of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,m4 ,t4 ,farsee and ,miss ,lucy ,farsee from the membership roll1 and ,i am also authorized by ,mrs4 ,shunum to tell you that all the ,shunums withdraw from the church for the same reason4 ,thomas ,fearnon retired that night sad at heart--not that the loss of these two families from the membership roll gave him much concern1 for to tell the truth he was more concerned to know how they ever came to be put on the roll1 but he was concerned to find that kind of spirit among the membership of the congregation to which he had come with such high hopes1 fresh from college4 ,so far as losing members was concerned1 he reminded himself that1 in ,god's arithmetic1 subtraction often produced an increase4 ,perhaps of his congregation the words of ,scripture were true1 ,the people are yet too many4 ,nevertheless1 the offended families needed ,his ,saviour and the ministry of the church as much as1 perhaps more1 than the poor creature whose very presence they thought defiled their heretofore select congregation4 ,the following ,sabbath morning the text was ,luke xix4 #aj1 ,for the ,son of ,man is come to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,those who had attended ,mrs4 ,farsee's afternoon bridge on the preceding ,thursday knew that the sermon was the outgrowth of the interview4 ,none of them used their favourite adjective lovely of ,thomas ,fearnon's sermon that morning2 the mission of the ,master and the consequent mission of ,his church was presented with a clearness and an earnestness that made not a few decidedly uncomfortable4 ,i charge you1 my fellow workers1 he pleaded1 never to degenerate into dilettante church parlour triflers1 but strike out for ,god in hard work to recover the lost4 ,there are those whose life's roses are turned to ashes1 those who have almost forgotten how to smile1 those from whose hearts all music has fled4 ,what an incomparable joy to tell them of1 and seek to lead them to1 the ,one who with divine delicacy said1 ',neither do ,i condemn thee2 go1 and sin no more4' ,that welcoming ,saviour would speak through us to those whom too often we1 professedly ,his followers1 would cast out4 ,if every individual in this world treated the fallen as you do1 my friend1 would it be easy or hard for that one to get into the ,kingdom of ,god8 ,where shall the wanderers be welcome if not in the ,father's ,house8 ,where shall those whom ,he created and for whom ,he died find friendship and help1 if not in that company of worshippers who cry ',our ,father'8 ,to not a few the message of that morning seemed intensely personal4 ,in that inner judgment hall1 where the prisoner and the judge are one1 some verdicts were arrived at1 and the verdicts were guilty4 ,if every individual in this world treated the fallen as you do1 would it be easy or hard for that one to get into the ,kingdom of ,god8 ,thomas ,fearnon had asked that question with an intensity of feeling that revealed itself in the whispered words1 and that produced a profound silence throughout the sanctuary4 ,and it was not in vain that he had put his best into prayer and preparation for that morning's message4 ,at least one in the congregation asked to be forgiven for passing by1 like priest and ,levite1 needy ones to whom there should and could have been a ministry of mercy4 ,jessie ,buchanan saw the vision splendid that morning1 and no longer could she be satisfied with her life of elegant ease4 ,from that very hour her life and all the trappings of life were promised fully to her rightful ,lord--no longer would she hope to have ,him as ,saviour but reject ,him as ,lord4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a peaceful ,sabbath day's services had closed1 and in the quiet of her beautiful and cosy little den ,jessie ,buchanan sat talking to a friend before the flickering embers in the fireplace4 ,three months had passed away since ,thomas ,fearnon's sermon on ,luke xix4 #aj3 three months of sometimes perplexing but always joyous service to ,jessie ,buchanan4 ,already several lives had been gladdened and helped by the radiating influence of her consecrated life4 ,the ,buchanan home on the hillcrest had gladly opened its doors during these three months to some who had never expected to cross its threshold4 ,and so to-night1 for the third time1 the young woman who had unknowingly caused the departure of two families from ,st4 ,andrew's ,church1 sat in the fire-light with her new-found friend4 ,wisely and unostentatiously ,jessie ,buchanan had made her acquaintance1 and their meetings had been invariably away from the public eye4 ,but into the broken life was coming the conquering power of an unselfish love4 ,to-night1 as the flames diminished1 the young woman unfolded a little of her life4 ,please don't hate me for it--,i had to tell some one4 ,oh6 if only some one like you had helped me when ,i first went to the city2 but it was my own fault4 ,still1 if you do wrong1 there seem so many more to help you to keep on in the same way than there are to help you back4 ,for some minutes she talked on1 and then ,jessie ,buchanan moved her chair a little closer and laid a hand sympathetically upon the girl's shoulder4 ,you think my name is ,flossie1 don't you1 ,miss ,buchanan8 the girl asked slowly4 ,well1 it isn't4 ,nobody here knows either of my right names1 but ,i'm going to tell you3 my right name is ,nellie ,gillard2 and ,miss ,buchanan1 ,i want to be good again1 and maybe get back home soon--only1 ,i am afraid1 for ,i haven't even written for nearly a year4 ,tears were wiped away as the memory of the old home was revived in the light of new desires4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another week was nearing its close1 and ,jessie ,buchanan was as usual making her plans for a hospitable ,sunday4 ,glancing down the driveway1 she was surprised to see ,nellie ,gillard approaching the house4 ,this was the first daylight visit ,nellie had made1 and ,saturday morning was so unusual a time that ,jessie ,buchanan was at the door before the bell-handle could be pulled4 ,a cordial greeting and ,nellie was accompanied to the now familiar den4 ,as the door closed the visitor at once made known the purpose of her visit4 ,miss ,buchanan1 ,i'd like to go home1 but ,i cannot--,i dare not go alone4 ,oh6 ,i'm so glad you have decided4 ,how soon do you wish to go1 dear8 ,jessie ,buchanan's voice and face revealed her joy and thankfulness4 ,i'd like to go right away was the reply4 ,within a few hours ,nellie and her new-found friend were on their way to the railway station4 ,the local was nearly three hours late when almost at midnight it pulled into a little flag station in ,north-,western ,ontario4 ,it was over two miles to the ,gillards' home1 and ,jessie ,buchanan suggested the desirability of getting the station agent to assist them in procuring a vehicle and driver4 ,the night was clear and bright1 and ,nellie urged that if it was not too tiring for her companion she would much rather walk4 ,i know every step of the way1 and--and--well you are the only one ,i want with me just now4 ,in the moonlight of that early ,october night two young women might have been seen walking along the fifth concession4 ,at a turn of the road ,nellie pointed to a little building3 ,there is the schoolhouse ,i attended4 ,when a church spire stood out clear against the sky1 there was a sob in the voice1 ,i used to teach in that ,sunday ,school and sing in the choir4 ,the gate of the old homestead was reached at last4 ,the wanderer's hand clung for a moment to the top rail and the head rested on her forearm4 ,i wonder--,i wonder if ,father will let me in2 ,i don't deserve it1 but ,i believe he will4 ,and she was not mistaken4 ,at the side of the old roughcast dwelling1 two bedroom windows had been raised a few inches4 ,beneath these the only daughter of the home called out in a trembling voice1 ,father4 ,there was no response4 ,could anything have happened8 ,a second time on the silent night the voice anxiously uttered the same word4 ,immediately thereafter they heard a movement and a man's head appeared at the window4 ,father6 it's ,nell3 ,i want to be your ,nell again4 ,will you let me come home8 ,let you come home8 ,you bet ,i will1 ,nell--you bet ,i will4 ,the last words were re-uttered after the head had disappeared4 ,the only other words they heard were1 ,ma6 ,ma6 uttered in a voice trembling with joy4 ,no pen can adequately describe that home-coming4 ,jessie ,buchanan was forgotten for the moment1 but as she saw the daughter's head resting first on father's and then on mother's shoulder1 and heard the old man say again and again1 ,my ,nell3 oh6 my ,nell1 her cup of joy was full4 ,it was not what one could call a praying home1 but on that early ,sabbath morning four people knelt in the little sitting-room1 and ,jessie ,buchanan's first audible prayer was offered in thanksgiving for the home-coming of the wanderer4 ,and to-day1 in the little church in the grove1 one of the regular worshippers is ,nellie ,gillard4