The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-08-21

angry, and hc looks ut one with Sucn
faraway expression in his face that in
striving TO persuade him one feels
earthly and even fiendish. At least
this was my experience with Craig.
He spent a week with me just before
he sailed for the old land for the pur.
pose, as he said. of getting some of the
coal dust and other CRIME out Of him.
He made me angry the last night Of
his stay and all the more that he re-
maincd quite sweetly unmOved II
was strategic mistake OF mine to tell
him how Nelson came home to us and
how Graeme stood up before the var
sity chaps at my supper and made his
roufcsSiun and confused Rattray's easy
stepping profanity and started his OVID
fve year league. for all this stirred In
Craig the hero. and he was ready for
NIL sorts of hyroic nonsense. as I called
1t. We talked of everything but the
one thing. and about that we said not
a word ill. bending low to poke my
Gre and to hide my face, plunged:
You will see her. of course
He made NO pyct"use of not under
standing. but answered:
"Of course"
"Thcrc's really no sense in her stay
Ing over there" | suggested.
and yet she is a wise woman" he
said, as if carefully considering the
question.
"IIcaps Of landlords never see their
tenants, and they are none the worse"
"Thc landlords"
"No. the tenants"
"Probably. having such landlords"
"And as for the old lady, there must
be some one in the connection to whom
II would be n godSend TO care for her"
"Now, Connor," he said quietly,
"don't. We have gone over all there
is to be said. Nothing new has come.
Don't turn it all up again"
Then played the heather and ragged,
as Graeme would have said, till Craig
smiled Il little wcarily and said:
you exhaust yourself, old chap.
Have n pipe-do." And after pause
lie added in his own way: What
would you have? The path lies straight
from my feet. Should | quit it?
could not SO disappoint you-and all
Of them"
And | knew he WAS thinking OF
Graeme and the lads in the mountains
lie had taught to be true men. Ii did
not help my rage, but it checked my
speech, SO | smoked in silence TIL he
was moved to say:
And after all. you know. oil, chGp.
there are great compensatiOnS for all
losses, but for the loss Of a good con
science toward God what can make
up:"
But, all the same hoped for some
better result from his v.sit to Britain.
1t seemed TO me that something must
turn up TO change such an unbearable
situation.
The year passed. however and when
looked into Craig's face again knew
that nothing had been changed and
that he had come back to take up
hopeful than ever.
But the year had left its mark upon
him too. He was 4 broader and deep
or mau. He had been living and think
ing with men of larger IDEAS and rich
or culture. and he was far too quick
in sympathy with lie to remain un-
touched 10y his surroundings. He was
more tolerant of opinions other than
his own, but more uurclcnting in his
fidelity to conscience and more impa-
tient OF half hcarteducss and self in
dulgencc. lie was full of reverence
for the great scholars and the great
leaders Of men he had come to know.
Great. noble fellows they are and
extraordinarily modest" he said-'that
is, the really great are modest There
are plenty Of the other sort, neither
great nor modest. And the books TO
be read. am quite hopeless about
my reading. II gave me a queer sensa-
ton 10 shake hands with a man who
had written great book. To hear
him make commonplace remarks, TO
witness a fatcring in knowledge-one
expects these men to know everything
and 10 experience respectful kindness
at his hands"
"What Of the younger men: | asked.
bright keen, generous fellows-in
things theoretical omniscicnt, but in
things practical quite helpless. They
toss about great IDEAS as the miners
Jumps Of coal. They can call them by
their book names easily enough, but
often wonder wAn,hyr they could put
them into English Some OF them |
coveted for the mountains, men with
clear heads and BIZ hearts and built
after sandy McNaugLtons model. 1t
does seem sinful waste OF Gods good
human stun TO see these fellows potter
away Their lives among theories, living
and dead, and end up by producing a
book. They are al. either making or
going 10 make book. \ good thing
we haven't 10 read them. But here
and there among hem IS some quiet
chap who will make a book that men
will tumble over each other 10 read"
Then we paused nd looked at each
other
"Wpllf" [ said