按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
from the feast； which were much appreciated as a welcome change from the bread and dripping or margarine that constituted Mrs White's and Bert's usual fare。
There were several advantages attached to the position： the caretaker became acquainted with the leading members and their wives； some of who； out of charity； occasionally gave her a day's work as charwoman； the wages being on about the same generous scale as those she earned at the Chapel； sometimes supplemented by a parcel of broken victuals or some castoff clothing。
An evil…minded； worldly or unconverted person might possibly sum up the matter thus： these people required this work done： they employed this woman to do it； taking advantage of her poverty to impose upon her conditions of price and labour that they would not have liked to endure themselves。 Although she worked very hard； early and late； the money they paid her as wages was insufficient to enable her to provide herself with the bare necessaries of life。 Then her employers； being good； kind； generous； Christian people； came to the rescue and bestowed charity； in the form of cast…off clothing and broken victuals。
Should any such evil…minded； worldly or unconverted persons happen to read these lines； it is a sufficient answer to their impious and malicious criticisms to say that no such thoughts ever entered the simple mind of Mrs White herself： on the contrary； this very afternoon as she knelt in the Chapel； wearing an old mantle that some years previously had adorned the obese person of the saintly Mrs Starvem； her heart was filled with gratitude towards her generous benefactors。
During the prayer the door was softly opened： a gentleman in clerical dress entered on tiptoe and knelt down next to Mr Didlum。 He came in very softly； but all the same most of those present heard him and lifted their heads or peeped through their fingers to see who it was； and when they recognized him a sound like a sigh swept through the hall。
At the end of the prayer； amid groans and cries of 'Amen'； the balloon slowly descended from the platform； and collapsed into one of the seats； and everyone rose up from the floor。 When all were seated and the shuffling； coughing and blowing of noses had ceased Mr Didlum stood up and said：
‘Before we sing the closin' 'ymn； the gentleman hon my left； the Rev。 Mr John Starr； will say a few words。'
An expectant murmur rippled through the hall。 The ladies lifted their eyebrows and nodded； smiled and whispered to each other； the gentlemen assumed various attitudes and expressions； the children were very quiet。 Everyone was in a state of suppressed excitement as John Starr rose from his seat and； stepping up on to the platform； stood by the side of the table； facing them。
He was about twenty…six years of age； tall and slenderly built。 His clean…cut； intellectual face； with its lofty forehead； and his air of refinement and culture were in striking contrast to the coarse appearance of the other adults in the room： the vulgar； ignorant； uncultivated crowd of profit…mongers and hucksters in front of him。 But it was not merely his air of good breeding and the general comeliness of his exterior that attracted and held one。 There was an indefinable something about him … an atmosphere of gentleness and love that seemed to radiate from his whole being； almost compelling confidence and affection from all those with whom he came in contact。 As he stood there facing the others with an inexpressibly winning smile upon his comely face； it seemed impossible that there could be any fellowship between him and them。
There was nothing in his appearance to give anyone even an inkling of the truth； which was： that he was there for the purpose of bolstering up the characters of the despicable crew of sweaters and slave…drivers who paid his wages。
He did not give a very long address this afternoon … only just a Few Words but they were very precious； original and illuminating。 He told them of certain Thoughts that had occurred to his mind on his way there that afternoon； and as they listened； Sweater； Rushton； Didlum； Hunter； and the other disciples exchanged significant looks and gestures。 Was it not magnificent！ Such power！ Such reasoning！ In fact； as they afterwards modestly admitted to each other； it was so profound that even they experienced great difficulty in fathoming the speaker's meaning。
As for the ladies； they were motionless and dumb with admiration。 They sat with flushed faces； shining eyes and palpitating hearts； looking hungrily at the dear man as he proceeded：
‘Unfortunately； our time this afternoon does not permit us to dwell at length upon these Thoughts。 Perhaps at some future date we may have the blessed privilege of so doing； but this afternoon I have been asked to say a Few Words on another subject。 The failing health of your dear minister has for some time past engaged the anxious attention of the congregation。'
Sympathetic glances were directed towards the interesting invalid； the ladies murmured； ‘Poor dear！' and other expressions of anxious concern。
‘Although naturally robust；' continued Starr； ‘long； continued Overwork； the loving solicitude for Others that often prevented him taking even necessary repose； and a too rigorous devotion to the practice of Self…denial have at last brought about the inevitable Breakdown； and rendered a period of Rest absolutely imperative。'
The orator paused to take breath； and the silence that ensued was disturbed only by faint rumblings in the interior of the ascetic victim of overwork。
‘With this laudable object；' proceeded Start； ‘a Subscription List was quietly opened about a month ago； and those dear children who had cards and assisted in the good work of collecting donations will be pleased to hear that altogether a goodly sum was gathered； but as it was not quite enough； the committee voted a further amount out of the General Fund； and at a special meeting held last Friday evening； your dear Shepherd was presented with an illuminated address； and a purse of gold sufficient to defray the expenses of a month's holiday in the South of France。
‘Although； of course； he regrets being separated from you even for such a brief period he feels that in going he is choosing the lesser of two evils。 It is better to go to the South of France for a month than to continue Working in spite of the warnings of exhausted nature and perhaps be taken away from you altogether … by Heaven。'
‘God forbid！' fervently ejaculated several disciples； and a ghastly pallor overspread the features of the object of their prayers。
‘Even as it is there is a certain amount of danger。 Let us hope and pray for the best； but if the worst should happen and he is called upon to Ascend； there will be some satisfaction in knowing that you have done what you could to avert the dreadful calamity。'
Here； probably as a precaution against the possibility of an involuntary ascent； a large quantity of gas was permitted to escape through the safety valve of the balloon。
‘He sets out on his pilgrimage tomorrow；' concluded Starr； ‘and I am sure he will be followed by the good wishes and prayers of all the members of his flock。'
The reverend gentleman resumed his seat； and almost immediately it became evident from the oscillations of the balloon that Mr Belcher was desirous of rising to say a Few Words in acknowledgement； but he was restrained by the entreaties of those near him； who besought him not to exhaust himself。 He afterwards said that he would not have been able to say much even if they had permitted him to speak； because he felt too full。
‘During the absence of our beloved pastor；' said Brother Didlum； who now rose to give out the closing hymn； ‘his flock will not be left hentirely without a shepherd； for we 'ave arranged with Mr Starr to come and say a Few Words to us hevery Sunday。'
From the manner in which they constantly referred to themselves； it might have been thought that they were a flock of sheep instead of being what they really were … a pack of wolves。
When they heard Brother Didlum's announcement a murmur of intense rapture rose from the ladies； and Mr Starr rolled his eyes and smiled sweetly。 Brother Didlum did not mention the details of the ‘arrangement'； to have done so at that time would have been most unseemly； but the following extract from the accounts of the chapel will not be out of place here： ‘Paid to Rev。 John Starr for Sunday； Nov。 14 … ？。4。0 per the treasurer。' It was not a large sum considering the great services rendered by Mr Starr； but； small as it was； it is to be feared that many worldly； unconverted persons will think it was far too much to pay for a Few Words； even such wise words as Mr John Starr's admittedly always were。 But the Labourer is worthy of his hire。
After the ‘service' was over； most of the children； including Charley and Frankie； remained to get collecting cards。 Mr Starr was surrounded by a crowd of admirers； and a little later； when he rode away with Mr Belcher and Mr Sweater in the latter's motor car； the ladies looked hungrily after that conveyance； listening to the melancholy ‘pip； pip' of its hooter and trying to console themselves with the reflection that they w