Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-08-18

MIN make commonplace remarks, tC
witness a faltering in knowledge-one
expects these men to know everything
and to experience respectful kindness
at his handsv'
"What of the younger menu" l asked
''Bright. keen, generous fellows-ir
things theoretical omniscient, 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 whether they could pul
them into English. Some of them ]
coveted for the mountains, men with
clear heads and big hearts and bull,
after Sandy McNaughton's model. II
does seem a sinful waste of Gods good
human stuff to see these fellows potter
away their lives among theories, living
and dead, and end UP by producing
book. They are all either making OF
going to make a book. A good thing
we haven't to read them. But here
and there among them is some quie1
chap who will make a book that mel
will tumble over each other to read"
1Heu we pduSeu dAu lOOhSu d. SdCl
other.
''Well?" l said.
He understood me.
eyes," he answered slowly, "doins
great work. Every one worships hel
just as we do, and she is making them
all do something worth while, as she
used to make u.s."
a oh f1111 nd w
he were repeating lesson well learn
ed. but he could not humbug me. j
felt the heartache in the cheerful tone.
'Tell me about her." | said, for ]
knew that if he would talk it would dc
him good, and talk he did, often forget
ting me, till, as l listened, found my
self looking again into the fathomless
searching voice. | saw her go in anC
out of the little red tiled cottages anC
down the narrow back lanes of the vii
lage; heard her voice in a sweet, low
song by the bed Of dying child OF
pouring forth foods of music in the
great new hall of the factory town
near by, but / could not see, though
cious lady receiving the country folk
in her home. He did not linger. over
that scene, but went back again to the
gate cottage where she had taken hin
one day to see Billy Breen's mother.
81 found the old woman knew all
about me-" he said simply enough, "but
there were many things about Billy
she had never heard, and l was glad
to put her right on some points, though
Mrs. Mavor would not hear it,"
He sat silent for little, looking into
the Goals, then went on in soft, quiet
voice:
''It brought back the mountains and
the old days to hear again Billy's tones
in his mothers voice and to see heI
sitting there in the very dress she wore
the night of the league, you remember
some soft stuff with black lace about
t-and to hear her sing as she did for
Billy. All! Ahw
His voice unexpectedly broke, but in
d moment he was master of himself
and begged me to forgive his weak
ness. / am afraid I said words that
should not be said, thing never do
except when suddenly and utterly up
set.
81 am getting selfish and weak" he
said. II must get to work. l am glad
to get to work. There is much to do,
and it is worth while, if only to keep
one from getting useless and lazy"
Useless and lazyv' 1 said to myself,
thinking of my life beside his and try
ing to get command of my voice. so as
not to make quite a fool Of myself,
md for many day those words goad-
ed me to work and to the exercise of
some mild self denial. But, more than
all else, after Craig had gone back to
the mountains Graeme's letters from
the railway construction camp stirred
one to do unpleasant duty long post
poned and rendered uncomfortable my
hours of most luxurious ease. Many
of the old gang were with him, both
Of lumbermen and miners, and Craig
was their minister, and the letters told
of how he labored by day and by night
along the line of construction, carry.
ing his tent and kit with him, preach
ing straight sermons, watching by sicE
men, writing their letters and winning
their hearts, making strong their lives
and helping them to die we'll wher
their hour came.
One day these letters proved toe
much for me, and / packed away m!
paints and brushes and made my vow
unto the Lord that would be "useles!
and lazy" no longer, but would d.
something with myself. In consequence
, found myself within three week
walking the London hospitals, fnishin:
my course. that l might join that bant
of men who were doing something witt
life or, if throwing it away, were no
losing it for nothing. l had fnishe,
!. being fool hoped, at least fool o
the useless and luxurious kind. Th
letter that came from Graeme in repl
to my request for position on his stat
/