Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-23
He announced the HYMN. Gust as !

on: "There you are, men, every man OF
YOU somewhere on the road. Some OF
you are too lazy'-here Graeme nudged
me-"and some of you haven't got
enough yet of the far country to come
back. May there be a chance for you
when you want to come. Men, you all
want to go back home, and when you
go you'll want to put on your soft
clothes, and you won't go till you can go
in good style. But where did the prodi-
gal get his good clothes?
Quick came the answer in Baptiste's
shrill voice:
"From de old fadderr'
! No one was surprised, and the minis
| ter went on:
! Eyes, and that's where we must get
the good. clean heart-the good, clean,
/ brave heart-from our Father. Don't
wait; but. just are you are, come.
Sing"
They sang not loud, as they would
"Stand up or even 1.-THE Sweet By
and By" but in voices sGbdued, hold
ing down the power in them.
After the singing Craig stood a mo-
ment gazing down at the men and then
said quietly:
"Any man want to come? You all
might come. We all must come"
Then, sweeping his arm over the au-
dience and turning half round as if to
move off, he cried in voice that thrill
ed to the hearts core:
ooh, come on! let's go backv'
The effect was overpowering. 1t
seemed to me that the whole company
half rose to their feet. Of the prayer
that Immediately followed l only
caught the opening sentence, Father,
we are coming back for my attention
was suddenly absorbed by Abe, the
stage driver who was sitting next me.
I could hear him swearing approval
and admiration, saying to himself:
"Ain't he clinker? I'll be gee whiz-
ely goP busted if he amt malleable
iron, double back action, self adjusting
corn cracker"
And the prayer continued, to be
punctuated with like admiring and
even more sulphurous explosives. 1t
was an incongruous medley. The ear
nest, revereat prayer and the earnest,
ones ideas of religious propriety. The
feelings in both were akin, the method
of expression somewhat widely di-
verse.
After prayer Craig's tone changed
. utterly. In a quiet matter of fact,
businesslike way he stated his plan of
, organization and called for all who
wished to join to remain after the ben
ediction. Some fifty men were left,
among them Nelson, Sandy, Lachlan
, Campbell, Baptiste Shaw, Nixon,
) Georde and Billy Breen, who tried to
| get out, but was held fast by Geordie.
= Graeme was passing out, but l signed
l him to remain, saying that l wished
'to see the thing out" Abe sat still
t beside me, swearing disgustedly at the
r fellows who were goin' back on the
S preacher" Craig appeared amazed al
l the number of men remaining and
g seemed to fear that something was
4 wrong. He put before them the terms
Y of discipleship, as the Maker put then
. to the eager scribe, and he did MOI
D make them easy. He pictured the kline
e of work to be done and the kind OF
d grew uneasy as the minister went OF
to describe the completeness of the sur
: render, the intensity of the loyalty de
= manded.
s THAT knocks me out, l reckon" b.
muttered in a disappointed tone. &c
# amt up to that grade" And as Crai
l. described the heroism called for. tn
s magnificence of the fight, the worth O
it and the outcome of it all Abe groun
v out, "I'll be BANKED if | wouldn't lik
to take a hand, but l guess I'm not il
y it."
Craig finished by saying:
l. 81 want to put this quite fairly 1t
Is not any league of mine. You're no
lie joining my company. 1t is no cas-
business, and it is for your whole life
1t What do you say? Do l put it fairly
L. What do you say. Nelson?"
d Nelson rose slowly and with difficult
S, began:
n II may be all wrong, but you made
70 easier for me, Mr.. Craig You said b
v would see me through, or should neN
le er have risked it. Perhaps | al
wrong" And the old man locke
d. troubled.
Of Craig sprang up.
1 mo, no! Thank God, no! He wi
see every man through who will trus
i'd his life to him-every man, no matte
It. how tough he is, no matter how brt
mr. ken"
ig Then Nelson Strengthened himself u
rd and said:
Ill ''Well, sir, l believe lot of the me
tie would go in for this if they were dea
r. sure they would get through"
ce Get through said Craig. ''Neve
at a fear of it. 1t is hard fight, a Ion
fight, glorious fight" throwing up b
ee head, "but every man who SQUARED
as trusts him and takes him as Lord al
Master comes out victor!''
". Bon said Baptiste. .Das me. YC