Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-15
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The book doesn't say priest or any
yourself, you see?"
"Non; das so, sure huff. Ahv' AS If
a light broke in upon him. "You go in
your own self. You make one leetle
prayer. You say, lie bon Fadder, oh, I
want come back, so tire, so hongree.
so sorreeY He say, Come right long
All, das fuss rate! Nelson, you make
one leetle prayer for Sandy and me"
Nelson lifted up his face and said:
"Father, we're all gone far away; we
have spent all; we are poor; we are
tired of 1t all; we want to feel differ
ent, to be different; we want to come
back. Jesus came to save us from our
sins, and he said If we came he
wouldn't cast us out, no matter how
bad we were, If we only came to him.
o Jesus Christ" and his old iron face
began to work, and two big tears slow
ly came from under his eyelids, 1--WE
are poor lot, and Pm the worst Of the
lot, and we are trying to find the way.
Show us how to get back. Amen"
"Bony' said Baptiste. "Das fetch
him surew
Graeme pulled me away, and with
out word we went into the Office and
drew up to the little stove. Graeme
was greatly annoyed.
"Did you ever see anything like
that?" he asked-.'old Nelson, the hard
est, savagest, toughest old sinner in the
camp, on his knees before lot of
men!'
Before God,'' I could not help say
ing, for the thing seemed very real to
me. The old man evidently felt himself
talking tos some one.
Eyes, suppose you're right" said
Graeme doubtfully, "but there's lot
of stuff can't swallow"
when you take medicine, you don't
swallow the BOTTLE" replied, for his
trouble was not mine.
IF were sure of the medicine, I
wouldn't mind the bottle, and yet 1t
| acts we'll enough" he went on. II don't
mind Lachlan. He's highland mystic
| and has visions. And Sandy's almost
as bad, and Baptiste is an impulsive
little chap. Those don't count much.
But old man Nelson is a cool blooded,
level headed old fellow; has seen a lot
] of life too. And then there's Craig. He
has better head than have and Is as
| hot blooded, and yet he is living and
Shaving away in that hole and really
enjoys it. There must be something in
it."
ooh, look here, Graemew burst out
impatiently. Whats the use of your
talking like that? OF course there's
something in 1t. There's everything in
it. The trouble with me is I can't face
the music. 1t calls for life where a
fellow must go in for straight, steady
work, self denial and that sort Of thing,
and I'm too bohemian for that, and too
lazy. But that fellow Craig makes one
feel horribly uncomfortable"
/ Graeme put his head on one side and
examined me curiously.
II believe you're right about your.
self. You always were luxurious beg
\ gar. But that's not where it catches
me-"
j We sat and smoked and talked Of
other things for an hour and then turn
ed in. AS l was dropping off was
reused by Graeme's voice:
i "Are you going to the preparatory
service on Friday night?"
i Don't know replied rather sleep
lily.
~ say, do you remember the prepare
tory service at homer There wal
something in his voice that set me wild,
awake.
Eyes. Rather terrific, wasn't it? Blu
/ always felt better after it." I replied
J, ''To me"-he was sitting up in bee
!, now-''to nae it was like call to arms
or, rather, like a call for forlor1
hope-none but volunteers wanted. d.
you remember the thrill in the old gov
ernor's voice as he dared any but thu
right stuff to come on?"S
well go in on Friday night" said
And SO we did. Sandy took load o
men with his team, and Graeme and
drove in the light sleigh.
The meeting was In the church, an,
over a hundred men were present
There was some singing Of familia
hymns at first, and then Mr.. Graf
read the same story as we had hear,
= in the stable, that most perfect of al
parallels, the prodigal son. Baptist
! nudged Sandy in delight and whisper
! ed something, but Sandy held his fac
SO absolutely expressionless tina
Graeme was moved to say:
: "Look at Sandy! Did you ever Sc
such craven image? Something ha
hit him hard"
The men were held fast by the story
The voice of the reader, low, earnes
and thrilling with the tender Patio
of the tale, carried the words to GU
hearts, while glance, gesture,
! movement of the body, gave US th
= vision of 1t all as he was seeing 1t.
Then, in simplest Of words, he toll
us what the story meant holding U
= the while with eyes and voice and gel
+ ture.
r He compelled us to scorn the ga.
IL heartless selfshness of the young fet
e setting forth SO jauntily from the br'