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voices of all kinds； of men； of women； and of children … of those
who could sing and of those who could not … a thousand voices all
joined； and all joined heartily； no voice of all the multitude was
silent save mine。 The crowd consisted entirely of the lower
classes； labourers and mechanics； and their wives and children …
dusty people； unwashed people； people of no account whatever； and
yet they did not look a mob。 And when that hymn was over … and
here let me observe that； strange as it sounded； I have recalled
that hymn to mind； and it has seemed to tingle in my ears on
occasions when all that pomp and art could do to enhance religious
solemnity was being done … in the Sistine Chapel； what time the
papal band was in full play； and the choicest choristers of Italy
poured forth their mellowest tones in presence of Batuschca and his
cardinals … on the ice of the Neva； what time the long train of
stately priests； with their noble beards and their flowing robes of
crimson and gold； with their ebony and ivory staves； stalked along；
chanting their Sclavonian litanies in advance of the mighty Emperor
of the North and his Priberjensky guard of giants； towards the
orifice through which the river； running below in its swiftness； is
to receive the baptismal lymph： … when the hymn was over； another
man in the wagon proceeded to address the people； he was a much
younger man than the last speaker； somewhat square built and about
the middle height； his face was rather broad； but expressive of
much intelligence； and with a peculiar calm and serious look； the
accent in which he spoke indicated that he was not of these parts；
but from some distant district。 The subject of his address was
faith； and how it could remove mountains。 It was a plain address；
without any attempt at ornament； and delivered in a tone which was
neither loud nor vehement。 The speaker was evidently not a
practised one … once or twice he hesitated as if for words to
express his meaning； but still he held on； talking of faith； and
how it could remove mountains： 'It is the only thing we want；
brethren； in this world； if we have that； we are indeed rich； as it
will enable us to do our duty under all circumstances； and to bear
our lot； however hard it may be … and the lot of all mankind is
hard … the lot of the poor is hard； brethren … and who knows more
of the poor than I？ … a poor man myself； and the son of a poor man：
but are the rich better off？ not so； brethren； for God is just。
The rich have their trials too： I am not rich myself； but I have
seen the rich with careworn countenances； I have also seen them in
madhouses； from which you may learn； brethren； that the lot of all
mankind is hard； that is； till we lay hold of faith； which makes us
comfortable under all circumstances； whether we ride in gilded
chariots or walk barefooted in quest of bread； whether we be
ignorant； whether we be wise … for riches and poverty； ignorance
and wisdom； brethren； each brings with it its peculiar temptations。
Well； under all these troubles； the thing which I would recommend
you to seek is one and the same … faith； faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ； who made us and allotted to each his station。 Each has
something to do； brethren。 Do it； therefore； but always in faith；
without faith we shall find ourselves sometimes at fault； but with
faith never … for faith can remove the difficulty。 It will teach
us to love life； brethren； when life is becoming bitter； and to
prize the blessings around us； for as every man has his cares；
brethren； so has each man his blessings。 It will likewise teach us
not to love life over much； seeing that we must one day part with
it。 It will teach us to face death with resignation； and will
preserve us from sinking amidst the swelling of the river Jordan。'
And when he had concluded his address； he said； 'Let us sing a
hymn； one composed by Master Charles Wesley … he was my countryman；
brethren。
'Jesus； I cast my soul on Thee；
Mighty and merciful to save；
Thou shalt to death go down with me；
And lay me gently in the grave。
This body then shall rest in hope；
This body which the worms destroy；
For Thou shalt surely raise me up
To glorious life and endless joy。'
Farewell； preacher with the plain coat and the calm serious look！
I saw thee once again； and that was lately … only the other day。
It was near a fishing hamlet； by the sea…side； that I saw the
preacher again。 He stood on the top of a steep monticle； used by
pilots as a look…out for vessels approaching that coast； a
dangerous one； abounding in rocks and quick…sands。 There he stood
on the monticle； preaching to weather…worn fishermen and mariners
gathered below upon the sand。 'Who is he？' said I to an old
fisherman who stood beside me with a book of hymns in his hand； but
the old man put his hand to his lips； and that was the only answer
I received。 Not a sound was heard but the voice of the preacher
and the roaring of the waves； but the voice was heard loud above
the roaring of the sea； for the preacher now spoke with power； and
his voice was not that of one who hesitates。 There he stood … no
longer a young man； for his black locks were become gray； even like
my own； but there was the intelligent face； and the calm serious
look which had struck me of yore。 There stood the preacher； one of
those men … and； thank God； their number is not few … who； animated
by the spirit of Christ； amidst much poverty； and； alas！ much
contempt； persist in carrying the light of the Gospel amidst the
dark parishes of what； but for their instrumentality； would
scarcely be Christian England。 I would have waited till he had
concluded； in order that I might speak to him； and endeavour to
bring back the ancient scene to his recollection； but suddenly a
man came hurrying towards the monticle； mounted on a speedy horse；
and holding by the bridle one yet more speedy； and he whispered to
me； 'Why loiterest thou here？ … knowest thou not all that is to be
done before midnight？' and he flung me the bridle； and I mounted on
the horse of great speed； and I followed the other； who had already
galloped off。 And as I departed； I waved my hand to him on the
monticle； and I shouted； 'Farewell； brother！ the seed came up at
last； after a long period！' and then I gave the speedy horse his
way； and leaning over the shoulder of the galloping horse； I said；
'Would that my life had been like his … even like that man's！'
I now wandered along the heath； till I came to a place where；
beside a thick furze； sat a man； his eyes fixed intently on the red
ball of the setting sun。
'That's not you； Jasper？'
'Indeed； brother！'
'I've not seen you for years。'
'How should you； brother？'
'What brings you here？'
'The fight； brother。'
'Where are the tents？'
'On the old spot； brother。'
'Any news since we parted？'
'Two deaths； brother。'
'Who are dead； Jasper？'
'Father and mother； brother。'
'Where did they die？'
'Where they were sent； brother。'
'And Mrs。 Herne？'
'She's alive； brother。'
'Where is she now？'
'In Yorkshire； brother。'
'What is your opinion of death； Mr。 Petulengro？' said I； as I sat
down beside him。
'My opinion of death； brother； is much the same as that in the old
song of Pharaoh； which I have heard my grandam sing …
Cana marel o manus chivios ande puv；
Ta rovel pa leste o chavo ta romi。
When a man dies； he is cast into the earth； and his wife and child
sorrow over him。 If he has neither wife nor child； then his father
and mother； I suppose； and if he is quite alone in the world； why；
then； he is cast into the earth； and there is an end of the
matter。'
'And do you think that is the end of a man？'
'There's an end of him； brother； more's the pity。'
'Why do you say so？'
'Life is sweet； brother。'
'Do you think so？'
'Think so！ … There's night and day； brother； both sweet things；
sun； moon； and stars； brother； all sweet things； there's likewise a
wind on the heath。 Life is very sweet； brother； who would wish to
die？'
'I would wish to die … '
'You talk like a gorgio … which is the same as talking like a fool
… were you a Rommany Chal you would talk wiser。 Wish to die；
indeed！ … A Rommany Chal would wish to live for ever！'
'In sickness； Jasper？'
'There's the sun and stars； brother。'
'In blindness； Jasper？'
'There's the wind on the heath； brother； if I could only feel that；
I would gladly live for ever。 Dosta； we'll now go to the tents and
put on the gloves； and I'll try to make you feel what a sweet thing
it is to be alive； brother！'
CHAPTER XXVI
The flower of the grass … Days of pugilism … The rendezvous