The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-03-07
rusion were increasing. A dght Of

rusion were increasing. A fight Of
some kind was already in progress in
the band stand. Figures swayed back
and forth there. The police force of
Champion was meager at any time. and
II was as powerless to manage such
crowd as this as II 1t had been com.
posed OF little children.
Suddenly across all the other sounds
In the square. rising over them. was
heard the beat of drum. 1t was no
feeble rattle Of sticks. but deter
mined. vigorous. muscular onslaught on
bass drum by strong right arm.
And around the corner by the Iron
Cliffs company's office came squad Of
men and women. not more than dozen
In all. bearing flag and shouting as
they came:
Our bark is sailing DER lifc's to land beyond
the h"e:
were going to the promised land long with the
chosen few.
Aboard the bark there still is room for many.
many more:
So come aboard and with US 20 to yonder happy
shore.
Our bark is laden down with wealth, with pleas
ures rich and rare;
There's naught like them upon the earth, and we
all may have a share.
Just leave behind all worldly dross and come to
Gods own store,
Receive your gifts and with them cross to yonder
happy shore.
Straight across the street the Saliva
ton Army marched, singing this hymn
to the tune of 80 a the ARTS the winds
can blaw." and as they reached the
side of the square peculiar thing hap
pened.
The miners on that side opened up a
could pass into the square. Acting on
the impulse given by mobs at times
the miners began to crowd back on
both sides and the army kept advanc
ing, singing its song and marching in
what seemed almost like n triumphal
procession right down through the cen
ter Of the square directly toward the
church steps. The great heavy crowd
seemed to part like magic. and down
the avenue thus voluntarily provided
the squad marched. beating its drum.
The leader was young woman, whose
pale face possessed Il prCmaturcly aged
look. but there was not Il particle Of
self consciousness to he seen upon il
and she marched at the front as proud
ly and with rs quccnly a bearing rs il!
her following was composed of the
picked archangcls of heavens hosts.
High above the shrill treble and tn"
hoarse bass of the others her voice
went Out as sweet as any that Stuart
had ever heard. and lie wondered
where such Il voice had been concealed
in Champion that he had never heard
| ii before. 1t sang rs if the words were
| sacred to the heart:
Just leave behind all worldly dross and come to
| Gods own store;
Receive your gifts and with them cross to yondcl
happy shore.
Close at the foot Of the church steps
| the band halted. Here the crowd was
very dense. 1t seemed Il natural van.
tage ground fo- testimony and appeal.
! The miners for the time appeared to
! yield to the influence of this attraction
\ Stuart said to himself, perhaps Eric
will not be needed after.all." The scene
had an intense interest for him now
| He forgot all about Burke and the
strike and his relations to 1t as the wO.
man raised her hand rs signal for
the drum to cease and then made an.
other signal for the little company tc
|
| of the church she kneclrd, just below
| Stuart. and with the others knccling
| about her almost swallowed up in I'll,
mass of men who surgrd around she
offered n prayer. the memory of which
| fingered in Stuart's heart all his life.