Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-10-12
90 80 80 80 90 80 ca
." -" q. .. =. -.
- THE MAN :;
8. WHO GOULD TORR :: $:
g: MIRACLES. g
~~szE--
.. BY II. G. WELLS. =.
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> CorYW.uT, I.s-. ~ II. G. wEIIs. 90

TEN of aSsvrtiVe SkcpticiSm, Ia which
| have already alluded. was now very
much shaken. The tenor of the ser
mon threw an entirely new light on
these novel gifts. and he suddenly de-
cidcd to consult Mr. Maydig imme-
diatrly after the service. SO soon as
that was determined he found himself
wondering why be had not done SO
before.
Mr. Maydig n lean, excitable man
with quite remarkably long wrists and
neck, was gratilicd nj the request for Il
private conversation from a young
man whose carelcSSneSS in religious
matters was matter for general re-
mark in the town. After few nee
essary delays, he conducted him to the
study of the Mansc, which was con.
tiguous to the chapel, seated him COM
fortably, and. standing in front of a
cheerful lirc-his legs threw Rhodian
arch of shadow on the opposite wall
requested Mr.. Fotheringay to state his
business.
At first Mr. Fotheringay was n little
abashed, and found some difficulty in
opening the matter. You will scarce
ly believe me, Mr. Maydig, am
afraid" and so forth for some time.
lie tried a question at last and asked
Mr.. Maydg his opinion of miracles.
Mr. Maydig was still saying "Well''
in an extremely judicial tone. when
Mr.. Fothcringay interrupted again.
You don't believe, suppose, that
some common sort of person-like my
self, for instance-as it might be sit
ting here now, might have some sort of
twist inside him that made him able
to do things 10y his will"
ITS possible" said Mr.. Maydig.
"Somcthing Of the sort, perhaps, is
possible"
'lf | might make free with some
thing here, think | might show you
by a sort of experiment." said Mr.
Fotherngay. Now, take that tobac-
co jar on the table, for instance. What
| want to know is whether what am
going to do with it is a miracle or not
Just half Il minute, Mr.. Maydig,
please"
He knitted his brows, pointed to the
tobacco jar and said. "Be a bowl Of
violets."
The tobacco jar did as it was or
dercd.
Mr.. Maydig started violently at the
change and stood looking from the
~ M OF to hn Ipyyl Of flo,
He said nothing. Presently he ven
tured to lean over the table and smell
the violets; they were fresh picked and
very fine ones. Then he stared at Mr.
Fotheringay again.
How did you do that?" he asked.
Mr.. Fotheringay pulled his mustache
"Just told it, and there you are. Is
that a miracle, or is it black art, or
what is it? And what do you think
the matter with me? That's what |
want to ask"
ITS a most extraordinary occur
renee"
"And this day last week knew nc
more that | could do things like that
than you did. 1t came quite sudden
It's something odd about my will.
see.'
rs that-the only thing? Could you
do other things with that"
Lord, yes" said Mr.. Fotheringay.
Gust anything" He thought and
suddenly recalled a conjuring enter.
tainment he had seen. Here" He
pointed. Change into a bowl Of fish
no, not that-change into glass
bowl full Of water with goldfish swim.
ming in it. That's better! You see
that, Mr.. Maydig"
ITS astonishing. It's incredible.
You are either a most extraordinary
But no.
81 could change it into anything"
said Mr.. Fotheringay, Just anything
Here! Be pigeon, will you?"
In another moment blue pigeon
was tlutterng round the room and
making Mr.. Maydig duck every time it
came near hiE. Stop there, will you"
said Mr.. Fotheringay, and the pigeon
hung motionless in the air. Il could
change it back to a bowl Of flowers"
he said and after replacing the pigeon
on the table worked that miracle. II
expect you will want your pipe pres
emily" he said and restored the tobac
co jar.
Mr.. Maydig had followed all these
later changes in sort of ejaculatory
silence. He stared at Mr.. Fotherin-
gay fearfully and in a very gingerly
manner picked up the tobacco jar, ex-
amined it, replaced it on the table.
"Well!' was the only expression of his
feelings.
"Now, after that it's easier to ex.
plain what | came about" said Mr..
Fotheringay and proceeded to a
lengthy and involved narrative of his
strange experiences, beginning with
the affair of the lamp in the Long
Dragon and complicated by persistent
illusions to Winch. AS he went on
the transient pride Mr., Maydig's con-
sternatlon had caused passed away.
lie became the very ordinary Mr.. Foth.
eringay Of everyday intercourse again.
MI Alaydig listened intently, the to-
bacco jar in his hand, and his bearing
changed also with the course of the
narrative. Presently, while Mr.. F'oth-
erlngay was dealing with the miracle
OF the third egg, the minister inter-
rupted with q futterng extended
hand.
1t is possible" he said. ut is credi-
bic 1t is amazing, Of course, but it
reconcilcs a number of amazing diff
culties. The power to work miracles
is gift, peculiar quality. like genius
or second sight Hitherto it has come
very rarely and to exceptional peo-
pie. But in this caSe--I haya nlMnus