Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-15

TOT tncv never get quite Wnlte, were
furrowed with the tear courses. Shaw
by this time had his face, too. lifted
high, his eyes gazing far above the
singers head, and knew by the rap
ture In his face that he was seeing, as
she saw, the thronging, stately halls
and the white robcd conquerors. He
had felt and was still feeling all the
stress of the fight, and to him the
vision of the conquerors in their glory
was soul drawing and soul stirring.
And Nixon, too-he had his vision, but
what he saw was the face of the singer
with the shining eyes, and. by the look
Of him, that was vision enough.
Immediately after her last note Mrs.
Mavor stretched out her hands to her
little girl. who was sitting on my knee,
caught her up and, holding her close to
her breast, walked quickly behind the
curtain. Not sound followed the
singing. No one moved till she had dis
appeared, and then Mr.. Craig came to
the front and, motioning to me to fol-
low Mrs. Mavor, began in a low, dis
tinct voice:
"Gentlcmen, It was not easy for Mrs.
Mavor TO sing for us, and you know
she sang because she is a miners wife
and her heart is with the miners. But
she sang, too because her heart is his
who came TO earth this day so many
years ago to save us all, and she
would make you love him, too, for in
loving him you are saved from all base
loves, and you know what mean.
"And before we say good night, men,
! want to know if the time is not come
when all of you who mean to be bet
ter than you are should join In putting
from us this thing that has brought
sorrow and shame to us and to those
we love? You know what mean.
Some Of you are strong. Will you
stand by and see weaker men robbed
of the money they have for those far
away and robbed Of the manhood that
no money can buy or restore?
"Will the strong men help2 Shall
we join hands in this? What do you
say? In this town we have often seen
hell. and just a moment ago we were
oil looking into heaven, the sweet and
blessed country. Oh. men," and his
voice rang in an agony through the
| buiding-"oh, men. which shall be
ours? For heavens dear sake, let us
help one another! Who WHIP"
was looking out through a slit in
the curtain. The men. already wrought
to intense feeling by the music, were
| listening with set faces and cleaning
eyes, and as at the appeal ''Who wili?'
| Craig raised high his hand Shaw. Nix
on and hundred men sprang to their
feet and held high their hands.
| have witnessed some thrilling scents
In my life. but never anything to equal
that, the one man on the platform
| standing at full height, with his hand
thrown up to heaven. and the hundred
men below standing straight, with
most motiOnless.
For moment Craig held them so
and again his voice rang out, louder
sterner than before:
"All who mean it say. BY Gods help
| will"
And back from a hundred Threats
came deep and strong the words. by
Gods help. | will"
At this point Mrs. Mavor. whom
had quite forgotten, put her hand on
my arm. go and tell him." she pant
ed, Il want them TO come on Thurs
days-go-quick" And she almos
pushed me out. gave Craig her mes
sage. He held up his hand for silence
Mrs. Mayor wishes me to say tina
she will be glad TO see you all, rs in the
old days. on Thursday evening. and
can Twink of no better place to give
formal expression to our pledge of thi.
night"
There was a shout of acceptance. ant
then, at some ones call the long pcut
up feelings Of the crowd found vent
in three mighty cheers for Mrs. Mavor
Nov for our old hymn" called out
Mr. Craig, land Mrs Mavor will leat
US"
He sat down at the organ, played 6
few bars Of "Ihe Sweet BY and By
and then Mrs. Mavor began. But no
Il soul Joined till the refrain was reach
ed, and then they sang as only mer
with their hearts on fire can sing. Ru
after the last refrain Mr. Craig made
a sign to Mrs. Mayor and she sans
alone, slowly and softly and with eyes
looking far away:
"In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
There was no hencdiction - there
seemed no need-and the men wen
quietly out. But over and over agar
the voice kept singing in my ears anC
in my heart I'VE shall meet on tina
beautiful shore" And after the Slci n
loads of mon had gone and left the
street empty, as | stood with Craig il
the radiant moonlight that made til,
great mountains about come near us
from Sandy's sleigh we heard in tn,
distance Baptiste's French Englisl
song, but the song that toated dow
with the sound of the bells from the
miners sleigh was:
1--WE shall meet on that beautiful shore"
"Poor old Shaw" said Craig softly.
When the last sound had died away
l turned to him ana said:
you have won your fight"
Eve have won our fight. wa
beaten" he replied quickly, offering nj
his hand. Then, taking off his cal
| and looking nm boyOn1 the mountn il