the ragged trousered philanthropists-第47章

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　Bert　White's　mother。　　When　her　husband　died；　the　committee　of　the　Chapel；　out　of　charity；　gave　her　this　work；　for　which　they　paid　her　six　shillings　a　week。　　Of　course；　they　could　not　offer　her　full　employment；　the　idea　was　that　she　could　get　other　work　as　well；　charing　and　things　of　that　kind；　and　do　the　Chapel　work　in　between。　There　wasn't　much　to　do：　just　the　heating　furnace　to　light　when　necessary；　the　Chapel；　committee　rooms；　classrooms　and　Sunday　School　to　sweep　and　scrub　out　occasionally；　the　hymn…books　to　collect；　etc。　Whenever　they　had　a　tea　meeting　…　which　was　on　an　average　about　twice　a　week　…　there　were　the　trestle　tables　to　fix　up；　the　chairs　to　arrange；　the　table　to　set　out；　and　then；　supervised　by　Miss　Didlum　or　some　other　lady；　the　tea　to　make。　　There　was　rather　a　lot　to　do　on　the　days　following　these　functions：　the　washing　up；　the　tables　and　chairs　to　put　away；　the　floor　to　sweep；　and　so　on；　but　the　extra　work　was　supposed　to　be　compensated　by　the　cakes　and　broken　victuals　generally　left　over　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　r