the ragged trousered philanthropists-第46章

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few　minutes　Frankie　felt　quite　at　home。

When　Hunter　noticed　how　well　cared　for　and　well　dressed　he　was　he　thought　the　child　must　belong　to　well…to…do；　respectable　parents。　Frankie　did　not　pay　much　attention　to　the　lesson；　for　he　was　too　much　interested　in　the　pictures　on　the　walls　and　in　looking　at　the　other　children。　　He　also　noticed　a　very　fat　man　who　was　not　teaching　at　all；　but　drifted　aimlessly　about　he　room　from　one　class　to　another。　　After　a　time　he　came　and　stood　by　the　class　where　Frankie　was；　and；　after　nodding　to　Hunter；　remained　near；　listening　and　smiling　patronizingly　at　the　children。　　He　was　arrayed　in　a　long　garment　of　costly　black　cloth；　a　sort　of　frock　coat；　and　by　the　rotundity　of　his　figure　he　seemed　to　be　one　of　those　accustomed　to　sit　in　the　chief　places　at　feasts。　　This　was　the　Rev。　Mr　Belcher；　minister　of　the　Shining　Light　Chapel。　　His　short；　thick　neck　was　surrounded　by　a　studless　collar；　and　apparently　buttonless；　being　fastened　n　some　mysterious　way　known　only　to　himself；　and　he　showed　no　shirt　front。

The　long　garment　beforementioned　was　unbuttoned　and　through　the　opening　there　protruded　a　vast　expanse　of　waistcoat　and　trousers；　distended　almost　to　bursting　by　the　huge　globe　of　flesh　they　contained。　　A　gold　watch…chain　with　a　locket　extended　partly　across　the　visible　portion　of　the　envelope　of　the　globe。　　He　had　very　large　feet　which　were　carefully　encased　in　soft　calfskin　boots。　　If　he　had　removed　the　long　garment；　this　individual　would　have　resembled　a　balloon：　the　feet　representing　the　car　and　the　small　head　that　surmounted　the　globe；　the　safety　valve；　as　it　was　it　did　actually　serve　the　purpose　of　a　safety　valve；　the　owner　being；　in　consequence　of　gross　overfeeding　and　lack　of　natural　exercise；　afflicted　with　chronic　flatulence；　which　manifested　itself　in　frequent　belchings　forth　through　the　mouth　of　the　foul　gases　generated　in　the　stomach　by　the　decomposition　of　the　foods　with　which　it　was　generally　loaded。　But　as　the　Rev。　Mr　Belcher　had　never　been　seen　with　his　coat　off；　no　one　ever　noticed　the　resemblance。　　It　was　not　necessary　for　him　to　take　his　coat　off：　his　part　in　life　was　not　to　help　to　produce；　but　to　help　to　devour　the　produce　of　the　labour　of　others。

After　exchanging　a　few　words　and　grins　with　Hunter；　he　moved　on　to　another　class；　and　presently　Frankie　with　a　feeling　of　awe　noticed　that　the　confused　murmuring　sound　that　had　hitherto　pervaded　the　place　was　hushed。　　The　time　allotted　for　lessons　had　expired；　and　the　teachers　were　quietly　distributing　hymn…books　to　the　children。　Meanwhile　the　balloon　had　drifted　up　to　the　end　of　the　hall　and　had　ascended　the　platform；　where　it　remained　stationary　by　the　side　of　the　table；　occasionally　emitting　puffs　of　gas　through　the　safety　valve。　On　the　table　were　several　books；　and　also　a　pile　of　folded　cards。　These　latter　were　about　six　inches　by　three　inches；　there　was　some　printing　on　the　outside：　one　of　them　was　lying　open　on　the　table；　showing　the　inside；　which　was　ruled　and　had　money　columns。

Presently　Mr　Belcher　reached　out　a　flabby　white　hand　and；　taking　up　one　of　the　folded　cards；　he　looked　around　upon　the　under…fed；　ill…clad　children　with　a　large；　sweet；　benevolent；　fatherly　smile；　and　then　in　a　drawling　voice　occasionally　broken　by　explosions　of　flatulence；　he　said：

‘My　dear　children。　　This　afternoon　as　I　was　standing　near　Brother　Hunter's　class　I　heard　him　telling　them　of　the　wanderings　of　the　Children　of　Israel　in　the　wilderness；　and　of　all　the　wonderful　things　that　were　done　for　them；　and　I　thought　how　sad　it　was　that　they　were　so　ungrateful。

‘Now　those　ungrateful　Israelites　had　received　many　things；　but　we　have　even　more　cause　to　be　grateful　than　they　had；　for　we　have　received　even　more　abundantly　than　they　did。'　　（Here　the　good　man's　voice　was　stilled　by　a　succession　of　explosions。）　　‘And　I　am　sure；'　he　resumed；　‘that　none　of　you　would　like　to　be　even　as　those　Israelites；　ungrateful　for　all　the　good　things　you　have　received。　　Oh；　how　thankful　you　should　be　for　having　been　made　happy　English　children。　Now；　I　am　sure　that　you　are　grateful　and　that　you　will　all　be　very　glad　of　an　opportunity　of　showing　your　gratitude　by　doing　something　in　return。

‘Doubtless　some　of　you　have　noticed　the　unseemly　condition　of　the　interior　of　our　Chapel。　　The　flooring　is　broken　in　countless　places。　the　walls　are　sadly　in　need　of　cleansing　and　distempering。　and　they　also　need　cementing　externally　to　keep　out　the　draught。　　The　seats　and　benches　and　the　chairs　are　also　in　a　most　unseemly　condition　and　need　varnishing。

‘Now；　therefore；　after　much　earnest　meditation　and　prayer；　it　has　been　decided　to　open　a　Subscription　List；　and　although　times　are　very　hard　just　now；　we　believe　we　shall　succeed　in　getting　enough　to　have　the　work　done；　so　I　want　each　one　of　you　to　take　one　of　these　cards　and　go　round　to　all　your　friends　to　see　how　much　you　can　collect。　　It　doesn't　matter　how　trifling　the　amounts　are；　because　the　smallest　donations　will　be　thankfully　received。

‘Now；　I　hope　you　will　all　do　your　very　best。　　Ask　everyone　you　know；　do　not　refrain　from　asking　people　because　you　think　that　they　are　too　poor　to　give　a　donation；　but　remind　them　that　if　they　cannot　give　their　thousands　they　can　give　the　widow's　mite。　　Ask　Everyone！　　First　of　all　ask　those　whom　you　feel　certain　will　give：　then　ask　all　those　whom　you　think　may　possibly　give：　and；　finally；　ask　all　those　whom　you　feel　certain　will　not　give：　and　you　will　be　surprised　to　find　that　many　of　these　last　will　donate　abundantly。

‘If　your　friends　are　very　poor　and　unable　to　give　a　large　donation　at　one　time；　a　good　plan　would　be　to　arrange　to　call　upon　them　every　Saturday　afternoon　with　your　card　to　collect　their　donations。　　And　while　you　are　asking　others；　do　not　forget　to　give　what　you　can　yourselves。　　Just　a　little　self…denial；　and　those　pennies　and　half…pennies　which　you　so　often　spend　on　sweets　and　other　unnecessary　things　might　be　given　…　as　a　donation　…　to　the　good　cause。'

Here　the　holy　man　paused　again；　and　there　was　a　rumbling；　gurgling　noise　in　the　interior　of　the　balloon；　followed　by　several　escapes　of　gas　through　the　safety　valve。　　The　paroxysm　over；　the　apostle　of　self…denial　continued：

‘All　those　who　wish　to　collect　donations　will　stay　behind　for　a　few　minutes　after　school；　when　Brother　Hunter　…　who　has　kindly　consented　to　act　as　secretary　to　the　fund　…　will　issue　the　cards。

‘I　would　like　here　to　say　a　few　words　of　thanks　to　Brother　Hunter　for　the　great　interest　he　has　displayed　in　this　matter；　and　for　all　the　trouble　he　is　taking　to　help　us　to　gather　in　the　donations。'

This　tribute　was　well　deserved；　Hunter　in　fact　had　originated　the　whole　scheme　in　the　hope　of　securing　the　job　for　Rushton　&　Co。；　and　two…and…a…half　per　cent　of　the　profits　for　himself。

Mr　Belcher　now　replaced　the　collecting　card　on　the　table　and；　taking　up　one　of　the　hymn…books；　gave　out　the　words　and　afterwards　conducted　the　singing；　nourishing　one　fat；　flabby　white　hand　in　the　air　and　holding　the　book　in　the　other。

As　the　last　strains　of　the　music　died　away；　he　closed　his　eyes　and　a　sweet　smile　widened　his　mouth　as　he　stretched　forth　his　right　hand；　open；　palm　down；　with　the　fingers　close　together；　and　said：

‘Let　us　pray。'

With　much　shuffling　of　feet　everyone　knelt　down。　　Hunter's　lanky　form　was　distributed　over　a　very　large　area；　his　body　lay　along　one　of　the　benches；　his　legs　and　feet　sprawled　over　the　floor；　and　his　huge　hands　clasped　the　sides　of　the　seat。　　His　eyes　were　tightly　closed　and　an　expression　of　the　most　intense　misery　pervaded　his　long　face。

Mrs　Starvem；　being　so　fat　that　she　knew　if　she　once　knelt　down　she　would　never　be　able　to　get　up　again；　compromised　by　sitting　on　the　extreme　edge　of　her　chair；　resting　her　elbows　on　the　back　of　the　seat　in　front　of　her；　and　burying　her　face　in　her　hands。　　It　was　a　very　large　face；　but　her　hands　were　capacious　enough　to　receive　it。

In　a　seat　at　the　back　of　the　hall　knelt　a　pale…faced；　weary…looking　little　woman　about　thirty…six　years　of　age；　very　shabbily　dressed；　who　had　come　in　during　the　singing。　　This　was　Mrs　White；　the　caretaker；　Bert　White's　mother。　　When　her　husband　died；　the　committee　of　the　Chapel；　out　of　charity；　gave　her