diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14895-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 94702 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14895-h/14895-h.htm | 6067 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14895.txt | 5044 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14895.zip | bin | 0 -> 92322 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
7 files changed, 11127 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14895-h.zip b/14895-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c07f865 --- /dev/null +++ b/14895-h.zip diff --git a/14895-h/14895-h.htm b/14895-h/14895-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a36ba04 --- /dev/null +++ b/14895-h/14895-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6067 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<meta content="pg2html (binary v0.17)" + name="generator" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + All He Knew, + by John Habberton +</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + p { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + h1 { text-align: center; + margin-top: 6em; + margin-bottom: 2em ;} + h2 { text-align: center; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 2em; } + h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 85%; } + .poem { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left; } + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + .poem p { margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em; } + .poem p.i2 { margin-left: 1em; } + .poem p.i4 { margin-left: 2em; } + .poem p.i6 { margin-left: 3em; } + .poem p.i8 { margin-left: 4em; } + .poem p.i10 { margin-left: 5em; } + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + .ctr {text-align: center;} +/*]]>*/ + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of All He Knew, by John Habberton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: All He Knew + A Story + +Author: John Habberton + +Release Date: February 4, 2005 [EBook #14895] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL HE KNEW *** + + + + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Diane Monico and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1> + ALL HE KNEW +</h1> +<h3> +A Story +</h3> +<h4> +BY +</h4> +<h3> +JOHN HABBERTON +</h3> +<p class="ctr"> +AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES," "BRUETON'S BAYOU," ETC. +</p> +<p class="ctr"> +MEADVILLE PENN'A<br /> +FLOOD AND VINCENT<br /> +Chautauqua=Century Press<br /> +</p> +<h3> +1890 +</h3> +<h4> +MATTHEWS, NORTHRUP & CO., ART-PRINTING WORKS, BUFFALO AND NEW YORK. +</h4> + + + + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> +<div class="ctr"> +<table summary="Chapter Links" cellspacing="5"> +<colgroup span="4" align="left"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0001"> +CHAPTER I. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0011"> +CHAPTER XI. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0002"> +CHAPTER II. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0012"> +CHAPTER XII. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0003"> +CHAPTER III. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0013"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0004"> +CHAPTER IV. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0014"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0005"> +CHAPTER V. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0015"> +CHAPTER XV. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0006"> +CHAPTER VI. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0016"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0007"> +CHAPTER VII. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0017"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0008"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0018"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0009"> +CHAPTER IX. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0019"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#2HCH0010"> +CHAPTER X. +</a></td> +<td><a href="#2HCH0020"> +CHAPTER XX. +</a></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr /> + +<h1> + ALL HE KNEW. +</h1> + +<h2><a name="2HCH0001"></a> + CHAPTER I. +</h2> + +<p> +As the Capital Express train dashed into the village of Bruceton one +bright afternoon, a brakeman passing through a car was touched on the +shoulder by a man, who said,— +</p> +<p> +"The man that left this in the seat in front got out three stations +back. You don't s'pose he'll want it again an' send back for it, do +you?" +</p> +<p> +The brakeman looked at an object which the speaker held up as he spoke: +it was a small fig-box, such as train-boys sometimes succeed in +imposing upon the traveling public, and it still contained several +figs. +</p> +<p> +"Want it again?" said the brakeman, with a scornful curl of the lip +that gave his black moustache a Mephistophelian twist, "of course not. +He left it there so's to get rid of it, like most of 'em do. I wouldn't +buy one of them boxes of—" +</p> +<p> +The brakeman suddenly ceased talking, and put both hands on the +passenger's shoulders with the movement peculiar to train-men whose +duty it is to rouse sleeping passengers, the effect always being to +make the victim throw his head slightly backward. Then the brakeman +looked a moment into the face before him,—it was small, weak-eyed, and +characterless,—and continued,— +</p> +<p> +"Why, Sam Kimper, I didn't know you from Adam! That broad-brimmed low +hat makes you look like somebody else. When did you get out?" +</p> +<p> +"This mornin'," said the passenger, dropping his eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Did, eh? Well, you needn't feel so bad about it, old man. Anybody's +likely to get in trouble once in a while, you know. You got catched; +some other folks 'most always don't; that's about the difference. Let's +see; how long was you—how long have you been away?" +</p> +<p> +"I was <i>sent</i> for two years an' a half," said the passenger, raising +his head again and looking almost manly, "but, Mr. Briggs, I got all +the shortenin' of time that's allowed for good conduct,—ev'ry day of +it. If you don't believe it, I'll prove it to you. My term begun on the +11th of August, eighteen hundred an'—" +</p> +<p> +"Never mind the figures, old man: I'll take your word for it." +</p> +<p> +"But I wanted you to be sure; I thought mebbe you'd tell other folks +about it, seein' you're a good-hearted feller, an' know ev'rybody, an' +I never done you no harm." +</p> +<p> +"I'll tell 'em anyway," said the brakeman, cheerily; "I ain't no saint, +but I'm always ready to help a fellow up when he's down. I've got to +get to the rear now, to uncouple a car we have to leave here. S'long, +Sam." +</p> +<p> +"Say, Mr. Briggs," said the passenger, hurrying along behind the +brakeman, "you don't s'pose there's any chance for me to get a job in +the railroad-company's yard, do you?" +</p> +<p> +The brakeman turned with a sharp look which speedily softened as he saw +an earnest appeal in the little man's face. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Sam," he replied, his words dragging slowly along, "the yard's +always full, an' men a-waitin'. You'd have to give bonds for good +behavior, an' honesty, an'—" +</p> +<p> +"Never mind the rest, Mr. Briggs," said the ex-convict, shrinking an +inch or two in stature. "I didn't know about that, indeed I didn't, or +I—" +</p> +<p> +"Well, you needn't be a-Mr.-Briggs-in' me, anyhow," said the brakeman. +"I was only Jim before—you left town, Sam, an' I want you to go on +callin' me Jim, just the same. Do you understand that, confound you?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Mr.—Jim, I do; an' may God bless you for sayin' it!" +</p> +<p> +"Here we are; good luck by the car-load to you, Sam." Then the brakeman +looked back into the car and roared,— +</p> +<p> +"Bruceton." +</p> +<p> +The discharged prisoner consumed a great deal of time and distributed +many furtive glances as he alighted, though he got off the train on the +side opposite the little station. The train remained so long that when +finally it started there was no one on the station platform but the +agent, whose face was not familiar to the last passenger. +</p> +<p> +A gust of wind brought to the platform a scrap of a circus-poster which +had been loosened by recent rain from a fence opposite the station. The +agent kicked the paper from the platform; Sam picked it up and looked +at it; it bore a picture of a gorgeously-colored monkey and the head +and shoulders of an elephant. +</p> +<p> +"Ain't you goin' to put it back?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"Not much," said the agent. "I don't rent that fence to the circus, or +menagerie, or whatever it is." +</p> +<p> +"Can I have it?" +</p> +<p> +"Findings are keepings," said the agent, "especially when they ain't +worth looking for; that's railroad rule, and I guess circus-companies +haven't got a better one." +</p> +<p> +The finder sat down on the platform, took a knife from his pocket, and +carefully cut the monkey and the elephant's head from the paper. Then +he walked to the end of the platform and looked cautiously in the +direction of the town. A broad road, crossed by a narrow street, led +from the station; into the street the little man hurried, believing +himself secure from observation, but just then the door of a coal-yard +office opened, and Judge Prency, who had been county judge, and Deacon +Quickset emerged. Both saw the new arrival, who tried to pass them +without being recognized. But the deacon was too quick for him; +planting himself in the middle of the sidewalk, which was as narrow as +the deacon was broad, he stopped the wayfarer and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Samuel, I hope you're not going back to your old ways +again,—fighting, drinking, loafing, and stealing?" +</p> +<p> +"No, deacon, I ain't. I'm a changed man." +</p> +<p> +"That's what they all say, Samuel," the deacon replied, not unkindly, +"but saying isn't doing. Human nature's pretty weak when it don't lean +on a stronger one." +</p> +<p> +"That's how I'm leanin', deacon." +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad to hear it, Samuel," said the deacon, offering his hand, +though in a rather conservative manner. +</p> +<p> +"Sam," said the judge, "I sentenced you, but I don't want you to think +hard of me and take it out of my orchard and chicken-coop. It wasn't +your first offence, you know." +</p> +<p> +"Nor the tenth, judge. You did just right. I hope 'twas a warnin' to +others." +</p> +<p> +"I think it was," said the judge, thrusting both hands into his pockets +and studying the wall of the station as if it were the record of his +own court. "I think it was; and here's my hand, Sam, and my best wishes +for a square start in life." +</p> +<p> +As the judge withdrew his hand he left behind a little wad of paper +which Sam recognized by sense of touch as the customary American +substitute for the coin of the realm. The poor fellow did not know what +to say: so he said nothing. +</p> +<p> +"Hurry along to your family, Sam. I hope you'll find them all well. +I've told my wife to see to it that they didn't suffer while you were +away, and I guess she's done it: she's that kind of woman." +</p> +<p> +Sam hurried away. The deacon followed him with his eyes, and finally +said,— +</p> +<p> +"I wonder how much truth there was in him—about leaning on a higher +power?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, about as much as in the rest of us, I suppose." +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean?" The deacon snapped out this question; his words +sounded like a saw-file at work. +</p> +<p> +"Merely what I say," the judge replied. "We all trust to our religion +while things go to suit us, but as soon as there's something unusual to +be done—in the way of business—we fall back on our old friend the +Devil, just as Sam Kimper used to do." +</p> +<p> +"Speak for yourself, judge, and for Sam, if you want to," said the +deacon with fine dignity, "but don't include me among 'the rest of us.' +Good-morning, judge." +</p> +<p> +"Good-morning, deacon. No offence meant." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps not; but some men give it without meaning to. Good-morning." +</p> +<p> +"I guess the coat fits him," murmured the judge to himself, as he +sauntered homeward. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0002"></a> + CHAPTER II. +</h2> +<p> +Sam Kimper hurried through a new street, sparsely settled, crossed a +large vacant lot, tramped over the grounds of an unused foundry, and +finally went through a vacancy in a fence on which there were only +enough boards to show what the original plan had been. A heap of ashes, +a dilapidated chicken-coop, and a forest of tall dingy weeds were the +principal contents of the garden, which had for background a small +unpainted house in which were several windows which had been repaired +with old hats and masses of newspaper. As he neared the house he saw in +a cove in the weeds a barrel lying on its side, and seated in the mouth +of the barrel was a child with a thin, sallow, dirty, precocious face +and with a cat in her arms. The child stared at the intruder, who +stopped and pushed his hat to the back of his head. +</p> +<p> +"Pop!" exclaimed the child, suddenly, without moving. +</p> +<p> +"Mary!" exclaimed the man, dropping upon his knees and kissing the +dirty face again and again. "What are you doin' here?" +</p> +<p> +"Playin' house," said the child, as impassively as if to have had her +father absent two years was so common an experience that his return did +not call for any manifestation of surprise or affection. +</p> +<p> +"Stand up a minute, dear, and let me look at you. Let's see,—you're +twelve years old now, ain't you? You don't seem to have growed a bit. +How's the rest?" +</p> +<p> +"Mam's crosser an' crosser," said the child; "Joe's run away, 'cause +the constable was after him for stealin' meat from—" +</p> +<p> +"My boy a thief! Oh, Lord!" +</p> +<p> +"Well, we didn't have nothin' to eat; he had to do it." +</p> +<p> +The father dropped his head and shuddered. The child continued: +"Billy's goin' to school now; Jane's servant-gal at the hotel; Tom +plays hookey all the time, an' the baby squalls so much that nobody +likes her but Billy." +</p> +<p> +The man looked sad, then thoughtful; finally he put his arm around his +child, and said, as he kissed and caressed her,— +</p> +<p> +"You're to have a better dad after this, darlin'; then maybe the +mother'll feel pleasanter, an' the baby'll be happier, an' Tom'll be a +good boy, an' we'll get Joe back somehow." +</p> +<p> +"How's you goin' to be better?" asked the child. +</p> +<p> +"Goin' to give us money to buy candy an' go to all the circuses?" +</p> +<p> +"Maybe," said the father. "I must go see the mother now." +</p> +<p> +The child followed her father to the house; there was not much +excitement in the life of the Kimper family, except when there was a +quarrel, and Mary seemed to anticipate some now, for she drawled, as +she walked along,— +</p> +<p> +"Mam's got it in for you; I heerd her say so many a time sence you war +took away." +</p> +<p> +"The poor thing's had reason enough to say it, the Lord knows," said +the man. "An'," he continued, after a moment, "I guess I've learned to +take whatever I'm deservin' of." +</p> +<p> +As Sam entered his house, a shabbily dressed, unkempt, forlorn looking +woman sat at a bare pine table, handling some dirty cards. When she +looked up, startled by the heavy tread upon the floor, she exclaimed,— +</p> +<p> +"I declare! I didn't expect you till—" +</p> +<p> +"Wife!" shouted Sam, snatching the woman into his arms and covering her +face with kisses. "Wife," he murmured, bursting into tears and pressing +the unsightly head to his breast,—"wife, wife, wife, I'm goin' to make +you proud of bein' my wife, now that I'm a man once more." +</p> +<p> +The woman did not return any of the caresses that had been showered +upon her; neither did she repel them. Finally she said,— +</p> +<p> +"You <i>do</i> appear to think somethin' of me, Sam." +</p> +<p> +"Think somethin' of you? I always did, Nan, though I didn't show it +like I ought. I've had lots of time to think since then, though, an' +I've had somethin' else, too, that I want to tell you about. Things is +goin' to be different, the Lord willin', Nan, dear—wife." +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper was human; she was a woman, and she finally rose to the +occasion to the extent of kissing her husband, though immediately +afterward she said, apparently by way of apology,— +</p> +<p> +"I don't know how I come to do that." +</p> +<p> +"Neither do I, Nan; I don't know how you can do anythin' but hate me. +But you ain't goin' to have no new reason for doin' it. I'm goin' to be +different ev'ry way from what I was." +</p> +<p> +"I hope so," said Mrs. Kimper, releasing herself from her husband's +arms and taking up the cards again. "I was just tellin' my fortune by +the keerds, havin' nothin' else to do, an' they showed a new man an' +some money,—though not much." +</p> +<p> +"They showed right both times, though keerds ain't been friends to this +family, confound 'em, when I've fooled with 'em at the saloon. Where's +the baby, though, that I ain't ever seen?" +</p> +<p> +"There," said the woman, pointing to a corner of the room. Sam looked, +and saw on the floor a bundle of dingy clothes from one end of which +protruded a head of which the face, eyes, and hair were of the same +tint as the clothing. The little object was regarding the new arrival +in a listless way, and she howled and averted her head as her father +stooped to pick her up. +</p> +<p> +"She's afraid you're goin' to hit her, like most ev'ry one does when +they go nigh her," said the mother. "If I'd knowed you was comin' +to-day, I'd have washed her, I guess." +</p> +<p> +"I'll do it myself now," said the father, "I've got the time." +</p> +<p> +"Why, you ain't ever done such a thing in your life, Sam!" said Mrs. +Kimper, with a feeble giggle. +</p> +<p> +"More's the shame to me; but it's never too late to mend. When'll Billy +get home, an' Tom?" +</p> +<p> +"Goodness knows; Billy gets kep' in so much, an' Tom plays hookey so +often, that I don't ever expect either of 'em much 'fore supper-time. +They talk of sendin' Tom to the Reform School if he don't stop." +</p> +<p> +"I'll have to stop him, then. I'll try it, anyway." +</p> +<p> +"It needs somebody that can wollup him harder'n I can; he's gettin' too +big for my stren'th. Well, if here they don't both come! I don't know +when I've seen them two boys together before, 'less they was fightin'. +I wonder what's got into 'em to-day." +</p> +<p> +The two boys came through the back yard, eying the house curiously, +Billy with wide open eyes, and Tom with a hang-dog leer from under the +brim of his hat. Their father met them at the door and put his arms +around both. +</p> +<p> +"Don't do that," said Tom, twitching away, "that sort o' thing's for +women, an' gals an' babies." +</p> +<p> +"But I'm your dad, boy." +</p> +<p> +"Needn't make a baby of me, if you be," growled the cub. +</p> +<p> +"I'd give a good deal, old as I am, if I had a dad to make a baby of me +that way, if 'twas only for a minute." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, don't be an old fool," said Tom. +</p> +<p> +"I heerd in the village you'd been let out," said Billy, "an' so I +found Tom an' told him, an' he said I lied, an' so we come home to see. +Did you bring us anythin'?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said the father, his face brightening, as he thrust his hand +into his pocket and took out the fig box. "Here," as he gave a fig to +each of the children and one to his wife, "how do you like that?" +</p> +<p> +"Good enough," growled Tom, "only I don't care for 'em unless I have a +whole box. I lift one out of a train-boy's basket at the station once +in a while." +</p> +<p> +"Don't ever do it again," said the father. "If you want 'em any time so +bad you can't do without 'em, let me know, an' I'll find some way to +get 'em for you." +</p> +<p> +"An' get sent up again for more'n two year?" sneered the boy. +</p> +<p> +"I don't mean to get 'em that way" said the father. "But I've got +somethin' else for you." Here he took the circus pictures from his +breast, where they had been much flattened during the several +demonstrations of family affection in which they had been involved. +"Here's a picture for each of you." +</p> +<p> +Billy seemed to approve of the monkey, but Tom scowled and said,— +</p> +<p> +"What do I care for an elephant's head, when I seen the whole animal at +the show, an' everythin' else besides?" +</p> +<p> +"S'pose I might as well get supper, though there ain't much to get," +said the wife. "There's nothin' in the house but corn-meal, so I'll +bile some mush. An'," she continued, with a peculiar look at her +husband, "there ain't anythin' else for breakfast, though Deacon +Quickset's got lots of hens layin' eggs ev'ry day. I've told the boys +about it again an' again, but they're worth less than nothin' at +helpin' things along. The deacon don't keep no dog. Now you've got +home, I hope we'll have somethin'." +</p> +<p> +"Not if we have to get it that way," said Sam, gently. "No more +stealin'; I'll die first." +</p> +<p> +"I guess we'll all die, then," moaned Mrs. Kimper. "I didn't s'pose +bein' sent up was goin' to skeer all the spirit out of you." +</p> +<p> +"It didn't, Nan, but it's been the puttin' of a new kind of spirit into +me. I've been converted, Nan." +</p> +<p> +"What?" gasped Mrs. Kimper. +</p> +<p> +"Thunder!" exclaimed Tom, after a hard laugh. "You goin' to be a +shoutin' Methodist? Won't that be bully to tell the fellers in the +village?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm not goin' to shout, or be anythin' I know of, except an honest +man: you can tell that to all the fellers you like." +</p> +<p> +"An' be told I'm a blamed liar? Not much." +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper seemed to be in a mournful revery, and when finally she +spoke it was in the voice of a woman talking to herself, as she said,— +</p> +<p> +"After all I've been layin' up in my mind about places where there was +potatoes an' chickens an' pigs an' even turkeys that could be got an' +nobody'd be any the wiser! How will we ever get along through the +winter?" +</p> +<p> +"The Lord will provide," croaked Tom, who had often sat under the +church window during a revival meeting. +</p> +<p> +"If He don't, we'll do without," said Sam, "but I guess we won't suffer +while I can work." +</p> +<p> +"Dad converted!" muttered Tom. "Dad converted! d'ye hear that?" said +he, hitting his brother to attract attention. "I must go down to the +hotel an' tell Jane; she'll steal me a glass of beer for it. Converted! +I'll be ashamed to look the boys in the face." +</p> + + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0003"></a> + CHAPTER III. +</h2> +<p> +The Kimper family thinned out, numerically, as soon as the frugal +evening meal was despatched. Tom and Billy disappeared separately +without remark; Mary put on a small felt hat which added a rakish air +to her precocious face, and said she was going to the hotel to see if +sister Jane had any news. Half an hour later, the cook, all the +chamber-maids, waiters, bar-keepers, and stable-boys at the hostelry +were laughing and jeering, in which they were led by Jane, as Mary told +of her father's announcement that he had been converted and would have +no more stealing done in the interest of the family larder. The fun +became so fast and furious that it was obliged to end in sheer +exhaustion; so when Tom came in an hour later, he was unable to revive +it sufficiently to secure the stolen glass of beer which he had +coveted. +</p> +<p> +Sam Kimper did not seem to notice the disappearance of the more active +portion of the family. Taking the baby in his arms, he sat with closed +eyes while his wife cleared the table. Finally he said,— +</p> +<p> +"Nan, ain't you got nothin' else to do?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothin', that I know of," said the wife. +</p> +<p> +"Come an' set down alongside o' me, then, an' let me tell you about +somethin' that come about while I was in the penitentiary. Nan, a man +that used to come there Sundays found me a-cryin' in my cell one +Sunday; I couldn't help it, I felt so forlorn an' kind o' gone like. +I'd felt that way lots o' times before, when I was out an' around, but +then I could get over it by takin' a drink. There's always ways of +gettin' a drink,—sweepin' out a saloon, or cuttin' wood agin' winter, +when the saloon'll need it. But there wasn't no chance to get a drink +in jail, an' I was feelin' as if the under-pinnin' of me was gone. +</p> +<p> +"Well, the man said he knowed a friend that would stand by me an' cheer +me up. His name was Jesus. I told him I'd heerd of Him before, 'cause +I'd been to revival meetin's an' been preached to lots by one man an' +another. He said that wasn't exactly the way he wanted me to think +about Him,—said Jesus used to be alive and go around bein' sorry for +folks that was in trouble, an' He once comforted a thief that was bein' +killed in a most uncomfortable way, though Jesus was havin' a hard time +of it Himself about that time. +</p> +<p> +"That hit me where I lived, for I—well, you know what I was sent up +for. He said Jesus was God, but he came here to show men how to live, +an' he wanted me to think about Him only as a man, while I was in +trouble. He said the worse off a man was, the more sorry Jesus was for +him: so I said,— +</p> +<p> +"'I wish He was here now, then.' +</p> +<p> +"'He <i>is</i> here, my friend,' said the man. 'He's here, though you can't +see Him. He ain't got nothin' to make out of you: neither have I: so +you needn't be afraid to take my word for it. I'll tell you some of the +things he said.' Then he read me a lot of things that did make me feel +lots better. Why, Nan, that man Jesus was so sorry for men in jail that +He went back on some high-toned folks that didn't visit 'em: just think +of that! +</p> +<p> +"After a while the man said, 'You seem to be feelin' better.' +</p> +<p> +"'So I am,' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'Then believe in him,' says he, 'an' you'll feel better always.' +</p> +<p> +"'I've been told that before,' says I, 'but I don't know how.' +</p> +<p> +"The man looked kind o' puzzled like, an' at last says he,— +</p> +<p> +"'What's yer politics?' +</p> +<p> +"'I'm a Jackson Democrat,' says I. +</p> +<p> +"'All right,' says he, 'but Andrew Jackson's dead, ain't he?' +</p> +<p> +"'So I've heerd,' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'But you still believe in him?' says he. +</p> +<p> +"'Of course,' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'Well,' says he, 'just believe in Jesus like you do in Andrew Jackson, +and you'll be all right in the course of time. Believe that what He +said was true, an' get your mind full of what He said, an' keep it +full, remindin' yourself over an' over again for fear you forget it or +other things'll put it out of your mind, an' you'll be happier while +you're in jail, an' you won't get back here again, nor in any other +jail, after you've been let out.' +</p> +<p> +"Well, that was encouragin', for I didn't want to get in no jails no +more. When the man went away he left me a little book that didn't have +nothin' in it but things Jesus Himself said. I read it lots; some of it +I didn't understand, an' I can't get it through my head yet, but what I +did get done me so much good that I found myself kind o' changin' like, +an' I've been changin' ever since. Nan, I want you to read it too, an' +see if it don't do you good. We ain't been what we ought to be; it's +all my fault. The children ain't had no show; that's all my fault too, +but it'll take all that two of us can do to catch up with 'em. I want +you to be always 'side o' me, Nan." +</p> +<p> +"We can't let 'em starve," said the wife; "an' if what you're +believin' is goin' to keep you from pickin' up a livin' for 'em when +you get a chance, what are we goin' to do?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm goin' to work," said Sam. +</p> +<p> +"Sho! You never done three days' work hand-runnin' in your life." Then +Mrs. Kimper gave a hard laugh. +</p> +<p> +"I've done it over two years now, an' I guess I can keep on, if I get +the chance. I can stick to it if you'll back me up, Nan." +</p> +<p> +"There ain't much to me nowaday," said Mrs. Kimper, after a moment or +two of blank staring as she held her chin in her hands and rested her +elbows on her knees. "Once I had an idee I was about as lively as they +make 'em, but things has knocked it out of me,—a good many kind of +things." +</p> +<p> +"I know it, poor gal," said Sam; "I know it: I feel a good deal the +same way myself sometimes; but it helps me along an' stren'thens me up, +like, to know that Him that the visitor in jail told me about didn't +have no home a good deal of the time, an' not overmuch to eat, an' yet +was cheerful like, an' always on His nerve. It braces a fellow up to +think somebody's who's been as bad off as himself has pulled through, +an' not stole nothin', nor fit with nobody, nor got drunk, but always +was lookin' out for other folks. Say, Nan, 'pears to me it's gettin' +dark all of a sudden—oh!" +</p> +<p> +The exclamation was called out by the cause of the sudden darkness, +which was no other than Deacon Quickset, who had reached the door-way +without being heard. The deacon's proportions were generous; those of +the door were not. +</p> +<p> +"Samuel," said the deacon, "you said this afternoon that you were a +changed man, and that you were leaning on a strength greater than your +own. I want to see you make a new start and a fair one; and, as there's +a prayer- and experience-meeting around at the church to-night, I +thought I'd come around and tell you that 'twould be a sensible thing +to go there and tell what the Lord's done for you. It will put you on +record, and make you some friends; and you need them, you know." +</p> +<p> +Sam was pallid by nature, more so through long confinement, but he +looked yet more pale as he stammered,— +</p> +<p> +"Me—speak—in meetin'? Before folks that—that's always b'longed to +the church?" +</p> +<p> +"You must acknowledge Him, Samuel, if you expect Him to bless you." +</p> +<p> +"I hain't no objections to acknowledgin' Him, deacon, only—I'm not the +man to talk out much before them that I know is my betters. I ain't got +the gift o' gab. I couldn't never say much to the fellers in the +saloon along around about election-times, though I b'lieved in the +party with all my might." +</p> +<p> +"It doesn't take any gift to tell the plain truth," said the deacon. +"Come along. Mrs. Kimper, you come too, so Samuel will have no excuse +to stay home." +</p> +<p> +"Me?" gasped Mrs. Kimper. "Me?—in meetin'? Goodness, deacon, it gives +me the conniptions to think of it! Besides,"—here she dragged her +scanty clothing about her more closely,—"I ain't fit to be seen among +decent folks." +</p> +<p> +"Clothes don't count for anything in the house of the Lord," said the +deacon, stoutly, though he knew he was lying. "Meeting begins at +half-past seven, and the sun's down now." +</p> +<p> +"Nan," whispered Sam, "come along. You can slip in a back seat an' +nobody'll see nothin' but your face. Stand by me, Nan: I'm your +husband. Stand by me, so I can stand by my only friend." +</p> +<p> +"Deacon ain't no friend o' yourn," whispered the trembling woman in +reply. +</p> +<p> +"I'm not talkin' about the deacon, Nan. Don't, go back on me. You're my +wife, Nan; you don't know what that means to me now,—you reelly +don't." +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper stared, then she almost smiled. +</p> +<p> +"I mean it, Nan," whispered the man. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper rummaged for a moment in the drawers of a dilapidated +bureau, and finally folded a red handkerchief and tied it over her +head. +</p> +<p> +"Good!" said the deacon, who had been watching the couple closely. +"We'll go around by the back way, so nobody'll see either of you, if +you don't want them to. I'll take Samuel along with me, and you can +drop in wherever you think best, Mrs. Kimper. I'm not going back on any +man who is going to turn over a new leaf. Come along." +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0004"></a> + CHAPTER IV. +</h2> +<p> +The church at which Deacon Quickset worshipped was not large, nor was +it ever well filled when prayer and experience were the only +attractions. When Sam Kimper entered, however, the place seemed so +immense and the throng so great that nothing but the bulk of the +deacon, which had been prudently placed in the rear of the new convert, +kept him from turning about and escaping into the darkness. Even when +placed in a seat the outer end of which was occupied by the deacon, the +frightened man cast his eyes appealingly towards his keeper,—for such +was the relation he felt the deacon bore towards him. Finally he +slipped slowly along the seat and whispered,— +</p> +<p> +"Deacon, I can't speak; I can't think of a word to say. It's a shame to +have a fellow like me talkin' to good church-members about what they +know more about than him." +</p> +<p> +"You'll have to acknowledge Him before men, Samuel, if you expect Him +to acknowledge you." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I hain't any objections to ownin' up to ev'rybody I know. Didn't +I tell you an' the judge? Didn't I tell Nan and the children? I ain't +seen anybody else yet, or I'd told them too. But I can't say nothin' to +a crowd like this; I don't know how." +</p> +<p> +"He'll give you words, Samuel, if you've got the right heart in you." +</p> +<p> +"Is that a dead-sure thing?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly." +</p> +<p> +Further argument and protest were ended by the formal opening of the +meeting. It appeared to the deacon that the first hymn was sung with +more sound and spirit than usual, and on looking around he saw the +cause: it was literally a "packed house,"—the first one the church had +ever known on a prayer-meeting night. The deacon immediately let his +own voice out a little more, for he felt personally complimented by the +large attendance. He had told a number of persons of Sam's conversion +and of his own intention to have the man "put himself on record" before +a number of witnesses; evidently this word had gone about and caused +the great gathering. +</p> +<p> +Prayers, hymns, and short speeches and confessions succeeded one +another for a little while, and the deacon, glancing aside frequently, +saw his charge look more and more uncomfortable, helpless, and +insignificant as the exercises continued. This would not do; should +the fellow become thoroughly frightened, he might not be able to say +anything; this would be disappointing to the assemblage, and somewhat +humiliating to him who had announced the special attraction of the +evening. Sam's opportunity must come at once; he, the deacon, did not +doubt that his own long experience in introducing people to the public +in his capacity of chairman of the local lecture committee would enable +him to present Sam in a manner which would strengthen the weak knees +and lift up the feeble heart. +</p> +<p> +"Brethren," said the deacon, arising during the closing cadence of a +hymn, "the consolations of our blessed religion often reach a man in +most unexpected ways, and we have among us to-night a living example of +it. One of our fellow-citizens who left us, against his will, I may +say, about two years ago, found the pearl of great price in the cell of +a prison. He has come here to-night to testify to the hope that is +within him. He feels that he is weak and halting of speech, but, +blessed be the spirit of our Master, that makes all of us brothers, it +does not take eloquence or superfluity of words to let out anything +that the heart is full of. I ask the attention and sympathy of all +present for our brother Samuel Kimper." +</p> +<p> +As the deacon sat down he put his powerful arm under the shoulder of +his companion, and Sam Kimper found himself upon his feet. The +frightened man looked down at the cushion of the seat in front of him; +then he tried to look around, but there was so much hard curiosity in +each face upon which his eyes fell that he speedily looked down again +and leaned heavily upon the back of the bench upon which his hands +rested. Finally he cleared his throat and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Ladies an' gentlemen, I've been in State prison nearly two years. I +deserved it. Lots of folks talked kind to me before I went; some of +'em's here to-night, an' I thank 'em for what they done. A good many of +'em talked religion to me, but the more they talked the less I +understood 'em. I guess 'twas my fault; I never had much head-piece, +while some of them had. But when I was in the prison a man come along +that talked to me about Jesus like I never was talked to before. +Somehow I could understand what he was drivin' at. He made me feel that +I had a friend that I could foller, even if I didn't keep up with him +all the time, owin' to things in the road that I hadn't knowed about. +He told me if I'd b'lieve in Jesus as I b'lieved in Andrew Jackson, I'd +pull through in the course of time. I've been tryin' to do it, an' +while I was in the jail I got lots of new idees of how I ort to behave +myself, all from a little book that man left me, that didn't have +nothin' in it but Jesus' own words. I'm a-goin' to keep on at it, an' +if I can't live that way I'm goin' to die a-tryin'. I b'lieve that's +all I've got to say, ladies and gentlemen." +</p> +<p> +There was an awkward silence for a moment after Sam sat down. The +minister in charge of the meeting said afterwards that the remarks were +not exactly what he had expected, and he did not know, at such short +notice, how to answer them. Suddenly a hymn was started by a voice +which every one knew, though they seldom heard it in prayer-meeting. It +belonged to Judge Prency's wife, who for years had been the mainstay of +every musical entertainment which had been dependent upon local talent. +The hymn began,— +</p> +<pre> + Am I a soldier of the cross, +</pre> +<p> +and the assemblage sang it with great force and spirit. The meeting was +closed soon afterwards; and as Sam, in spite of an occasional kind +greeting, was endeavoring to escape from the hard stare of curious +eyes, Mrs. Judge Prency, who was the handsomest and most distinguished +woman in the village, stopped him, grasped his hand, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper, you gave the most sensible speech I ever heard in an +experience meeting. I'm going to believe in you thoroughly." +</p> +<p> +Deacon Quickset, who was closely following his new charge, listened +with fixed countenance to the lady's remark. He followed Sam from the +church, snatched him away from the wife who had joined him, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Samuel, that experience of yours rather disappointed me. It wasn't all +there. There was something left out,—a good deal left out." +</p> +<p> +"I guess not, deacon. I said all I knowed." +</p> +<p> +"Then you ought to know a good deal more. You've only got at the +beginning of things. No church'll take you into membership if you don't +believe more than that." +</p> +<p> +"Maybe I'll know it in the course of time, deacon, if I keep on +a-learnin'." +</p> +<p> +"Maybe you will,—if you do keep on. But you didn't say anything about +your hope of salvation, nor the atonement, nor your being nothing +through your own strength." +</p> +<p> +"I couldn't say it if I didn't know about it," Sam replied. "All my +troubles an' wrong doin's have come of not livin' right: so right +livin' is all I've had time to think about an' study up." +</p> +<p> +"You need to think about dying as well as living," said the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"Him that took care of another thief that was dyin' 'll take care of me +if I get in that fix, I guess, if I hang on to Him tight." +</p> +<p> +"Not unless you hang on in the right way," said the deacon. "You must +believe what all Christians believe, if you want to be saved. You don't +feel that you're prepared to die, do you?" +</p> +<p> +"I felt it a good many times, deacon, when I was in that jail; an' +sometimes I half wished I could die right away." +</p> +<p> +"Pshaw!" muttered the deacon. "You don't understand. You're groping in +darkness. You don't understand." +</p> +<p> +"That's so, deacon, if you mean I don't understand what you're drivin' +at." +</p> +<p> +"Don't you feel Christ in you the hope of glory?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know what you mean, deacon?" +</p> +<p> +"Don't you feel that a sacrifice has been made to atone for your sins?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't follow you, deacon." +</p> +<p> +"I thought not. You haven't got things right at all. You haven't been +converted: that's what's the matter with you." +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean, Deacon," said Sam, after a moment, "that what I'm +believin' about Jesus is all wrong an' there ain't nothin' in it?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, no; I can't say that," the deacon replied, "but—but you've +begun wrong end first. What a sinner needs most of all is to know about +his hereafter." +</p> +<p> +"It's what's goin' on now, from day to day, that weighs hardest on me, +deacon. There's nothin' hard about dyin'; leastways, you'd think so if +you was built like me, an' felt like I have to feel sometimes." +</p> +<p> +"You're all wrong," said the deacon. "If you can't understand these +things for yourself, you ought to take the word of wiser men for it." +</p> +<p> +"S'posin' I was to do that about everythin': then when Judge Prency, +who's a square man an' a good deal smarter than I be, talks politics to +me, I ought to be a Republican instead of a Jackson Democrat." +</p> +<p> +"No," said the deacon, sharply, for he was a Jackson Democrat himself. +"I'll have to talk more to you about this, Samuel. Good night." +</p> +<p> +"Good night, deacon." +</p> +<p> +"He knows more'n you do about religion," said Mrs. Kimper, who had +followed closely behind, and who rejoined her husband as soon as the +deacon departed. +</p> +<p> +"He ought to, seein' his head-piece an' chances; an' yet I've heerd +some pooty hard things said about him." +</p> +<p> +When the couple reached home, Sam looked at the long heap of straw and +rags on which his children should have been sleeping, but which was +without occupant except the baby. Then, by the light of the coals still +remaining in the fire-place, he looked through some leaves of the +little book which the prison visitor had given him. When he arose from +the floor, he said to himself,— +</p> +<p> +"I'll stick to Him yet, deacon or no deacon,—stick to Him as if He was +Andrew Jackson." +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0005"></a> + CHAPTER V. +</h2> +<p> +Sam Kimper spent several days in looking about his native town for +work. He found many sympathetic assurances, some promises, and no work +at all. Everybody explained to everybody else that they were sorry for +the poor wretch, but they couldn't afford to have a jail-bird around. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, Sam's stock of money, accumulated by overwork in the State +prison, and augmented by Judge Prency's present, was running low. He +kept his family expenses as low as possible, buying only the plainest +of food-material and hesitating long to break a bill, though it were +only of the denomination of one dollar. Nevertheless the little wad of +paper money in his pocket grew noticeably thinner to his touch. +</p> +<p> +His efforts to save the little he had in his possession were not +assisted by his family. His wife, thanks and perhaps blame to the +wifely sense of dependence upon her husband, had fallen back upon him +entirely after what he had said about his intention as to the future of +the family, and she not only accepted his assurances as bearing upon +the material requirements of several mouths from day to day, but she +also built some air-castles which he was under the unpleasant necessity +of knocking down. The poor woman was not to blame. She never had seen a +ten-dollar bill since the day of her marriage, when, in a spasm of +drunken enthusiasm, her husband gave a ten-dollar Treasury note to the +clergyman who officiated on that joyous occasion. +</p> +<p> +One evening Sam took his small change from his pocket to give his son +Tom money enough to buy a half-bushel of corn-meal in the village. As +he held a few pieces of silver in one hand, touching them rapidly with +the forefinger of the other, his son Tom exclaimed,— +</p> +<p> +"You're just overloaded with money, old man! Say, gi' me a quarter to +go to the ball game with? I'm in trainin', kind o' like, an' I ain't +afeard to say that mebbe I'll turn out a first-class pitcher one of +these days." +</p> +<p> +"Tom," said his father, trying to straighten his feeble frame, as his +eyes brightened a little, "I wish I could: I'd like you to go into +anything that makes muscle. But I can't afford it. You know I'm not +workin' yet, an' until I do work the only hope of this family is in the +little bit of money I've got in my pocket." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Tom, thrusting out his lower lip, slouching across the +room, and returning again, "I don't think a quarter's enough to trouble +anybody's mind about what'll happen to his family afterwards. I've +heard a good deal from the mother about you bein' converted, and +changin' into a different sort of a man, but I don't think much of any +kind of converted dad that don't care enough for his boy to give him a +quarter to go to a ball game." +</p> +<p> +"Food before fun, Tom," said the father, resolutely closing his hand +upon such remaining silver as he had, and then thrusting the fistful +into his pocket,—"food before fun. Ball isn't business to this family +just now, an' money means business ev'ry time. When I was away an' +couldn't help it, things mebbe didn't go as they ort to have gone, but +now that I'm back again, there shan't be any trouble if I know how to +stand in the way of it." +</p> +<p> +This expression of principle and opinion did not seem to impress +favorably the eldest male member of the second generation. Master Tom +thrust out his lower lip again, glared at his father, took his hat, and +abruptly departed. There was no dinner at the Kimper table that day, +except for such members of the family as could endure slices of cold +boiled pork with very little lean to it. Late in the afternoon, +however, Tom returned, with an air of bravado, indulged in a number of +reminiscences of the ball game, and at last asked why supper was not +ready. +</p> +<p> +"Tom," asked the father, "why didn't you come back to-day with what I +gave you money to buy?" +</p> +<p> +"Well," said the young man, dipping his spoon deeply into a mixture of +hasty pudding, milk, and molasses, "I met some of the boys on the +street, an' they told me about the game, an' it seemed to me that I +wouldn't 'pear half a man to 'em if I didn't go 'long, so I made up my +mind that you an' the mother would get along some way, an' I went +anyhow. From what's in front of me, I guess you got along, didn't you?" +</p> +<p> +"Tom," said the father, leaving his seat at the table and going around +to his son's chair, on the top bar of which he leaned,—"Tom, of course +we got along; there'll be somethin' to eat here ev'ry day just as long +as I have any money or can get any work. But, Tom, you're pretty well +grown up now; you're almost a man; I s'pose the fellers in town think +you <i>are</i> a man, don't they? An' you think you're one yourself too, +don't you?" +</p> +<p> +The young man's face brightened, and he engulfed several spoonfuls of +the evening meal before he replied,— +</p> +<p> +"Well, I guess I am somebody now'days. The time you was in jail, I +thought the family had a mighty slim chance o' countin'; but I tumbled +into base-ball, an' I was pretty strong in my arms an' pretty spry on +my feet, an' little by little I kind o' came to give the family a +standin'." +</p> +<p> +"I s'pose that's all right," said the father; "but I want you to +understan' one thing, an' understan' it so plain that you can't ever +make any mistake about it afterwards. When I put any money into your +hands to be used for anythin', it don't matter what, you must spend it +for that, or you must get an awful thrashin' when you come back home +again. Do you understan' me?" +</p> +<p> +The feeding motions of the eldest male of the Kimper collection of +children stopped for an instant, and Master Tom leered at his father as +he said,— +</p> +<p> +"Who's goin' to give the thrashin'?" +</p> +<p> +"I am, Tom,—your father is,—an' don't make any mistake about it. +He'll do it good an' brown, too, if he's to die used up right away +afterwards. This family is goin' to be decent from this time on; there +ain't to be no more thieves in it, an' any member of it that tries to +make it diff'rent is goin' to feel so bad that he'll wish he'd never +been born. Do you understan'? Don't go to thinkin' I'm ugly: I'm only +talkin' sense." +</p> +<p> +The cub of the family looked upward at his father from the corners of +his eyes, and then he clinched his fists and turned slightly in the +chair. Before he could do more, his parent had him by both shoulders, +had shaken him out of the chair, thrown him upon the floor, and was +resting upon him with both knees. +</p> +<p> +"Tom," said Sam to his astonished son, "you was the first boy I ever +had, an' I'd give away my right hand rather than have any real harm +come to you, but you've got to mind me now, an' you've got to do it +until you're of age, an' if you don't promise to do it now, right +straight along, from this time forth, I'll give you the thrashin' now. +That ain't all, either, you've got to be man enough to stand by your +dad an' say somethin to the fellers, an' explain that you're goin' to +stop bein' a town loafer, an' are goin' into decent ways." +</p> +<p> +Tom was so astonished by this demonstration of spirit that he made all +the desired promises at once, and was released. +</p> +<p> +But Tom was not the only juvenile member of the family who was in need +of reformation. Mary, little Mary, not far beyond twelve years of age, +demanded money to replenish her own wardrobe. +</p> +<p> +"Mary," said her father, "we're poor; we can't afford fancy fixin's. +This ain't very cold weather. You've good enough clothes on you to +keep you warm: what d'you want o' somethin' else?" +</p> +<p> +"What do I want o' somethin' else?" echoed the child, going to the door +and tossing an imitation doll into the ash-heap, "why, I want better +clothes, so't the fellers about town'll pay some 'tention to me, like +they do to sister Jane." +</p> +<p> +The slight, bent form of the father straightened up, as he asked, +quickly,— +</p> +<p> +"Does the fellers around town pay attention to your sister Jane?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, of course they do," said little Mary, entirely unable to +translate the gaze which her father bent upon her. "Jane never gets +through her work at the hotel before there's a lot o' fellers hangin' +round the door an' wantin' to see her, an' takin' her out to get +ice-cream or sody-water, or to go to the circus if there's one in town, +or to go to the dramatic representation,—that's what they call it on +the bills,—if there happens to be one in the village that night." +</p> +<p> +"Wife," said Sam, turning to his helpmate, "what wages does Jane get?" +</p> +<p> +"Six dollars a month," said the wife. +</p> +<p> +"Does she bring any of it home? Does the family get the good of any of +it?" +</p> +<p> +"Not one cent," said Mrs. Kimper, with a pitiful whine. "She says she +has to wear decent clothes at the hotel or they won't keep her there +any more." +</p> +<p> +Sam Kimper stayed awake all that night, although his manners to his +family next morning were those of a staid and respectable citizen who +had nothing upon his mind but the ordinary duties of the day. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, he was out and about soon after breakfast, and he +wandered through every street of the village in which any business was +being done. Again and again he asked for work, and as often the offer +was refused or declined or relegated into the uncertain future for a +decision. The surplus in his pocket had grown lamentably small. As he +made his way homeward in a physical and mental condition which made it +impossible for him either to argue to himself or to express a sense of +hope to any extent, he passed the shop of Larry Highgetty. Larry was a +shoemaker. Sam had worked at shoemaking while he was in State prison. +He felt, although Larry might have been offended at the imputation, +that there ought to be a fellow-feeling between them; so he ventured +into the shop. Larry was sitting at his bench with a lady's shoe in one +hand and with his head leaning against the wall of the room. From the +stertorous noise which escaped his nostrils, it was quite evident that +he was asleep, and an odor which filled the room left the visitor in +no doubt as to the nature of the opiate which had induced Larry's +mid-day nap. +</p> +<p> +"You seem to be takin' business very easy, Mr. Highgetty," said Sam, +with an apologetic air, as he closed the door behind him, and Larry +awoke. "Pay must be gettin' better?" +</p> +<p> +"Better?" said Larry, rubbing his eyes. "I don't want it to be any +better than it is now. Besides, people's comin' in all the time faster +than I can tend to 'em; ev'rybody wants his work done first an' is +willin' to pay extra price to get it. Better, is it? Well, yes; I +should say that no such luck had struck shoemakers in this town in a +long while." +</p> +<p> +"You haven't half finished what you're on now, Larry," said Sam, taking +the shoe from the cobbler's hand and looking at it. +</p> +<p> +"That isn't all of it," said the cobbler, with a maudlin wink at his +visitor. "I don't know when I'll have it finished, if I keep on feelin' +as I do now. It's pretty tough, too, bekase that shoe belongs to Mrs. +Judge Prency, an' she's comin' for it this afternoon; but I'm that +sleepy that—" Larry's head gently sought the wall again. +</p> +<p> +"An' a very good woman she is, Larry. Brace up, my boy, why don't you, +an' finish your work?" +</p> +<p> +"Eh? Say 'Brace up' to somebody that's not got anythin' in him to +brace him down. She kin wait for her shoe while I'm havin' my aise an' +forgettin' all about work." +</p> +<p> +"When did you promise the shoe to her?" asked Sam. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, sometime this afternoon," said Larry, "an' she hasn't come in here +yet. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, ye know the good book +says, Sam. Maybe she won't come in till to-morrow; she's a busy woman; +nobody knows where she's goin' or what she's doin' throughout the day, +an', to tell ye the truth, I thought to myself I'd shut up the shop an' +go home, so if she came there'd not be anybody here to tell a loie +about it." +</p> +<p> +"Well, Larry, wouldn't it do just as well if there was somebody here to +tell the truth about it?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, there, now, Sam," said the shoemaker, rallying himself for an +instant; "they tould me that you was converted in jail, an' that sounds +a good deal like it. Now, Sam, I want to tell ye if ye want to argy on +the subject of the truth, or any other of the moral sintiments, with +any man whatsoever, ye don't want to come to a shoemaker's shop an' +find a fellow who's just had three drinks in him at somebody else's +expense. Now go 'way; come 'round here to-morrow when I'm sober, an' +I'll own up to everything you say, no matter what it is." +</p> +<p> +"That won't get Mrs. Prency her shoes," said Sam. "Go home an' go to +bed, an' let me finish that shoe in your hand, an' if she comes here +it'll be ready for her, an' if she don't you won't have anything on +your conscience,—not so far as she's concerned." +</p> +<p> +The cobbler took possession of himself with a tremendous effort, and +looked sharply from his bleared eyes for an instant as he said,— +</p> +<p> +"An' what do you know about shoemakin'?" +</p> +<p> +"As much as two years in State prison could learn me, Larry; though I +don't think you need to have asked me." +</p> +<p> +"It's all right, me boy; I take it back; an' if ever I'm sent to State +prison myself you may ask it of me ten times over; that's the Bible +rule, I belave. Now I'll go home to my wife an' family, an' if you +choose to finish that shoe an' stay here until Mrs. Judge Prency comes +in to get it, why, you're quite welcome to do the work an' keep the +pay; I tould her fifty cints." +</p> +<p> +Sam began work upon the bit of repairing which he had taken from the +shoemaker's hands, and although it was not of the routine nature which +all of his jail-work had placed in his hands, he knew enough of the +requirements of an ordinary shoe to do what was necessary. While he was +working, the room suddenly darkened, and as he looked up he saw Mrs. +Judge Prency herself. +</p> +<p> +"Why it's Mr. Kimper! Are you working here?" +</p> +<p> +"Only to finish a job that was promised for this afternoon, Mrs. +Prency." +</p> +<p> +"Where's Larry?" +</p> +<p> +"He felt very badly," said Sam, "an' he wanted to go home, an' I +promised to finish his work for him. I believe this is your job, +ma'am?" said he, holding the shoe in the air for an instant. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said the judge's wife. "I will sit down for a moment, if you +will allow me, while you finish it." +</p> +<p> +"Certainly, ma'am," said Sam, plying the needle and awl vigorously. He +looked up only for a second at a time during the next few moments, but +what he saw impressed him very favorably. Mrs. Prency was not a young +woman, but apparently she had a clear conscience and a good digestion, +for she sat with an entirely satisfied and cheerful air, with her +shoulders against the back of the chair, as if it were a real pleasure +to rest against something, while her cheeks flushed, probably from the +exertion of a rapid walk from some other portion of the town. Like any +other woman of good health, good character, and good principles, she +was a pleasing object to look upon, and the ex-convict looked at her +as often as he dared, with undisguised and respectful admiration. But +suddenly the uplifting of his eyes was stopped by a remark from the +lady herself, as she said,— +</p> +<p> +"Sam—Mr. Kimper, I've heard some remarks about your speech at the +experience-meeting the other night. You know I was there myself; you +remember I spoke to you as you came out?" +</p> +<p> +"Mrs. Prency, I know it; an' that isn't all; I'll remember it just as +long as I live. I'd rather have been the dyin' thief on the cross than +said what I said in that church that night, but I was asked to do it, +an' the more I thought about it the more I thought I couldn't say no. +But I didn't know what else to say." +</p> +<p> +"You did quite right, Mr. Kimper: you spoke like a real, true, honest +man. If it's any comfort to know it, I can tell you that my husband, +the judge, thinks as I do. I told him what you said,—I remembered it +all, word for word,—and he said to me,—these are exactly his +words,—'I believe that is an honest man, and that he is going to +remain an honest man.'" +</p> +<p> +Sam bent over the shoe a little closer, and said, in a faint voice, as +if he were talking to himself,— +</p> +<p> +"What Judge Prency says about human natur ort to be true. If there's +any other man in this county that's had more opportunities of knowin' +all about it, I don't know who he can be." +</p> +<p> +There was silence for a moment or two. Sam quickened his labors upon +the shoe, and the lady bent her gaze closely upon the shoemaker. At +last she said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper, don't mistake the meaning of what I am going to ask you. I +am a member of the church, myself, and I have as hearty an interest in +you and sympathy for you as the best friend you have. But I want to ask +you one thing, merely out of curiosity. Has any one questioned you, +since, about what you said that evening?" +</p> +<p> +"Nobody but Deacon Quickset, ma'am." +</p> +<p> +"Ah? Deacon Quickset? Did he say anything that annoyed you in any way?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't say that he did, ma'am; though he kind o' filled my mind with +doubts an' gave me a sort o' sleepless evenin'." +</p> +<p> +"I'm very sorry for that. There's some one else who may trouble you +somewhat, and I'm sorry to say that if he does I shall be to blame for +it. He is a young lawyer. His name is Reynolds Bartram." +</p> +<p> +"I know him, ma'am; at least, I know him by sight. He's of very good +stock, ma'am. His folks have been in this county a longtime, from what +I've heerd, off an' on." +</p> +<p> +"Very true," replied Mrs. Prency; "but he has peculiar views, and when +he hears of any one who believes—believes in religion as you do, he is +quite likely to visit him and to ask a great many questions." +</p> +<p> +"Well, ma'am, if he comes in on me anywhere, an' asks any questions, +an' they're on the subject I talked about that night at the church +meetin', why, I'll say anythin' I know an' everythin' I believe, an' if +he says anythin' on the other side, why, all I've got to say is, he +can't change my mind the least bit." +</p> +<p> +"I'm very glad to hear you say so," said Mrs. Prency. "Ah, is the shoe +done, entirely done? Good. Very much obliged. It's quite as good as Mr. +Highgetty himself could have made it. Fifty cents, I believe? Is that +satisfactory?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite satisfact'ry, ma'am," said the substitute, as he rose from his +bench and removed his hat, which had been on his head during the +interview. Mrs. Prency started towards the door, but stopped suddenly +and turned back. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper, the young man, Mr. Bartram, of whom I spoke to you,—I +really believe he is inclined to come and talk to you, and perhaps talk +a great deal, about what you seem to believe very sincerely and what he +doesn't believe at all. I hope you won't change your mind through +anything that can be said to you by a person of that kind, or by any +person whatever?" +</p> +<p> +"Mrs. Prency," said the cobbler's substitute, taking his hat from the +bench on which he had placed it and circling it in his hand as if he +were endeavoring to stimulate his mental faculties, "whatever I believe +on that subject I'm goin' to stick to, an' nobody, not even if he is +the best lawyer in the county, or your husband himself, or the judge of +the biggest court in the United States, is goin' to change my mind +about it." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you, Mr. Kimper. I might have known as much from what I heard +during your remarks the other night. I only wanted to say to you that +Mr. Bartram is a very smart talker and very quick to see whatever +mistakes any one else may make." +</p> +<p> +"If I make any mistakes," said Sam, "it's because of somebody who's a +great deal smarter than I am, who don't back me up as much as I need +for the time-bein'." +</p> +<p> +"Good-day, Mr Kimper," said the lady. +</p> +<p> +"Good-day, ma'am," said the ex-convict. +</p> +<p> +He stood in the dingy shop looking out of the window at the retreating +form of the lady, and then at the gathering clouds over the evening +sunset, and at the houses on the opposite side of the street, +apparently that he might divert his mind from something. Then he +looked at the coin which he had received for the work, as if it were an +amulet or a charm. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly his attention was distracted by the appearance, on the other +side of the street, of a very pretty young woman, accompanied by a +young man in good attire and of fine bearing. +</p> +<p> +"Well, well," said the ex-convict, "I wonder if that's what it means? +That's Bartram himself, as sure as I'm born, an' with him is Mrs. +Prency's only daughter an' only child. Well, well!" +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0006"></a> + CHAPTER VI. +</h2> +<p> +As the summer lengthened into early autumn, Sam Kimper became more and +more troubled by the necessities of his family. He had been working day +after day in the shop of his acquaintance the shoemaker, when there was +work enough for two, and earned enough to pay for the plainest food. +But casual pay was not sufficient to all the necessities of a family as +large as that for which Sam was responsible, particularly as the return +of the head of the family had reminded every one, from the mother down +to the youngest child except the baby, of a number of needs of which no +one seemed to have thought before. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper herself, who was a feeble creature at best, shivered at +every wind that penetrated the broken windows, and insisted that unless +she had some warm clothing very soon she would fall into a decline. +Tom, who had not yet got his growth, was protruding physically from the +ends of his shirts and trousers, and assured his father that he never +again could get into his last winter's jacket without subjecting +himself to a series of remarks by the boys in the town, which would +make him feel very uncomfortable. Billy, who had gone barefooted all +summer, as was the custom with the boys in town, came home late one +evening and announced triumphantly,— +</p> +<p> +"Dad, you needn't bother yourself about me any more about shoes. I've +got a pair. See here!" +</p> +<p> +The head of the family took the new shoes into his hand and examined +them. Then he dropped them with a sort of shiver, for they were of a +well-remembered pattern,—that upon which he had worked for two years +in the penitentiary. +</p> +<p> +"How did you get 'em, Billy?" the father asked, at length. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I found 'em," said the boy, with a wink at his elder brother,—a +wink which was returned to him in the shape of an evil leer. +</p> +<p> +"Found 'em! Where? Tell me all about it," said the father, very sharply +and sternly, for he remembered a time when he had "found" things +himself. +</p> +<p> +Billy looked appealingly at his brother Tom, but the elder brother put +on a hang-dog look and sauntered out of the room and was afterwards +seen disappearing rapidly through the back yard. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Billy, at last, with the air of one who was entirely +unbosoming himself, "I'll tell you how it was, dad. Down at Price's +store there's a long string of shoes out at the door. They use 'em as a +sign, don't you know?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said the father carelessly; "I've seen such signs. Go on." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I need shoes awfully, you know, an' I've been tellin' the mother +about it for a week or ten days, an' she said she was tellin' you. But +my feet gets awful cold late at nights and early in the mornin's. An' I +didn't want to bother you, knowin' that you hadn't any money to spare, +'cause the mother told me 'bout that too, an' cried about it. Well, it +blowed like ev'rythin' this afternoon as I was goin' towards Price's, +an' that string of shoes just whirled around like a kite-tail, an' at +last the bottom pair flew off into the street. An' I picked 'em up." +</p> +<p> +"Findin's is keepin's," said Mrs. Kimper. +</p> +<p> +"Give me them shoes, my boy," said the ex-convict. +</p> +<p> +"You're goin' to take 'em away from me? Have I got to have cold feet +some more?" said Billy, appealingly. +</p> +<p> +Sam thrust his hand into his trousers-pocket, took out a very thin wad +of green paper, looked at it, and finally said, "No, I s'pose not." +Nevertheless he and the shoes disappeared from the house. +</p> +<p> +In a short time Mr. Price, the owner of one of the village stores, +received a call from the ex-convict, who said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Price, one o' my boys found a pair o' shoes in the street in front +o' your store this afternoon durin' the hard blow, an', as they just +fitted him, I came around to pay you for them. How much are they?" +</p> +<p> +Several men were standing about the stove in Price's store, the fire +having just started for the autumn and winter season, and, as they +heard Sam's remark, one of them uttered a long combination of word and +whistle that sounded very much like "Whew-w?" Sam turned quickly, +recognized the man as one whom he knew to be not over-honest, and +said,— +</p> +<p> +"When <i>you</i> pay for ev'rythin' you get it'll be time to make fun of +somebody else. But, Mr. Price, what I asked you was, what's the price +o' them shoes?" +</p> +<p> +The storekeeper was so astonished at such a question from a member of +the Kimper family that, looking at shoes of the same quality which were +lying in a box behind the counter, he actually mistook the cost-mark +for the selling-price, and replied, "Only a dollar and a quarter, Mr. +Kimper." +</p> +<p> +Sam laid down the money, received some change, and departed, while the +men who were lounging about the store began an active conversation as +to whether that man was the fool he looked or whether he was not +perhaps a regular sharper whose natural abilities and inclinations had +been cultivated during the two years he was in State prison. They +understood, those evening loafers, that prisons were nominally for the +purpose of reforming criminals, but they had known a great many +criminals themselves, and their astonishment at seeing one who +apparently desired to do better than in his past life, and to make +amends for the misdeeds of his family, was so great that the +conversation which ensued after the exit of the ex-convict was very +fragmentary and not at all to the point. +</p> +<p> +The next morning Sam appeared bright and early at the shoe-shop of +Larry Highgetty. He had made an arrangement with the cobbler to do +whatever work might be assigned him and to accept as full payment +one-half the money which would be charged, most of it being for +repairs. As nearly as he could discover by a close questioning of the +proprietor of the establishment, the entire receipts did not exceed two +dollars per day, and the owner had so few responsibilities and so much +surplus that he would be quite glad if he might lounge at one or other +of the local places of entertainment while some one else should do the +work and keep the establishment open. Consequently Sam went at the work +with great energy, and little by little nearly all the work came to be +done by him. +</p> +<p> +He had hammered away for a few minutes on a sole to be placed on the +bottom of a well-worn shoe belonging to a workingman, when a new +customer entered the shop. Sam looked up at him and saw Reynolds +Bartram. He offered a short, spasmodic, disjointed prayer to heaven, +for he remembered what the judge's wife had said, and he had known +Reynolds Bartram as a young man of keen wit and high standing as a +debater before Sam's enforced retirement; now, he knew, Bartram had +become a lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Sam," said Bartram, as he seated himself in the only chair and +proceeded to eye the new cobbler, while the blows of the hammer struck +the sole more rapidly and vigorously than before,—"well, Sam, I +understand that you have been turning things upside down, and instead +of coming out of the penitentiary a great deal worse man than when you +went in, as most other men do, you have been converted." +</p> +<p> +"That's my understandin' of it, Mr. Bartram," said the ex-convict, +continuing his inflictions upon the bit of leather. +</p> +<p> +"Sam," said Bartram, "I am a man of business, and I suppose you are +from what I see you doing. I wish to make you a proposition: I will pay +you cash for two or three hours' time if you will tell me—so that I +can understand it—what being converted really amounts to." +</p> +<p> +The new cobbler did not cease an instant his attention to the work in +his hand. He merely said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Bartram, you're a very smart man, an' I'm a very stupid one. If +there's a stupider man in town the Democratic local committee has never +yet been able to find him. You want to know what bein' converted means? +You'd better go to Deacon Quickset, or the minister of some one of the +churches hereabouts. I can't explain anythin', I don't know anythin' +but what I feel myself, an' the more I feel it the more I don't know +how to talk about it. Deacon Quickset says it don't 'mount to much. I +s'pose it don't—to him, he bein' so much smarter than me. But, so far +as it goes, I can't be paid for talkin' about it, for it didn't cost me +nothin'." +</p> +<p> +This was not what the visitor had expected; nevertheless, it is a +lawyer's business to know more than one way of putting a thing. +</p> +<p> +"See here, Sam; I need a new pair of shoes,—soft leather, thin soles, +good cut; do you suppose you know how to measure me for them?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, I guess I've found out that much, Mr. Bartram." +</p> +<p> +"Go ahead, then; don't let me interfere with the measurement; but I +want to ask you some questions; tell me what you can as you go along. +You've been converted, they say, and you say so too." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," said Sam, dropping the tape-line for a moment; "what other +people say I'm not responsible for, but I say it myself that I'm a +different man. That's all I can say, Mr. Bartram; an', as I said +before, if you want to know more, you'd better ask somebody that's been +in that sort o' life longer than I have." +</p> +<p> +"Nonsense, Sam! you are too modest. As they say in churches, the newest +convert has the strongest opinions. Now, you know what my business is. +Strong opinions amount to everything in the legal business, and so I +have come to you, just as squarely as I could go to any man in the +world about anything else that he understood, to ask you plainly what +you know about this new life that you are said to be leading now. Tell +it to me, out and out. Don't be afraid to keep back anything. Take all +the time you like at it. If you can't say just what you want to, try to +put it as clearly as you can. I didn't come in to worry you. Remember +that I really want some distinct information on the subject." +</p> +<p> +Sam looked up keenly, and said, "Mr. Bartram, are you in earnest?" +</p> +<p> +"Sam Kimper," said the young lawyer, "if I were not in earnest do you +suppose I'd come into this shop during the business hours of the day +and ask questions of this kind, when there are plenty of other people I +could go to and get the information I want, and perhaps a good deal +more? No, sir; I have come here to ask you because I thought that +whatever you could say you would say in the fewest possible words and +say it right to the point." +</p> +<p> +"But, Mr. Bartram, I'm not used to talkin' to lawyers. I never talked +to any but once, you know, an' then I don't think they had very much +respect for what I said. I wasn't in a fix where anybody could have any +respect for me." +</p> +<p> +"This hasn't anything to do with those times, Sam," said the lawyer. "A +friend of yours, who is a friend of mine, has told me that you talked +very straightforward and honestly on this subject a few nights ago. +That's more than I have been able to find anybody do in this town in a +long time. I don't mind saying to you that, according to what the +people who are the most prominent in the church say, I'm a pretty hard +character. Therefore whatever you have to say you needn't be afraid to +put very plainly. I simply want to know about myself; that's all." +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler, "as I've already said, you had a good +deal better talked to somebody else. But, seem' you've come to me, I've +only this to say to you, an' I hope you can make somethin' out of it, +because I give you my word I've made more out of it than ever I did out +of anythin' else on the face of the earth. I went to jail for stealin'. +I hadn't ever been an honest man in my life. The only reason I hadn't +been in jail all my life was that I hadn't been caught. At last I was +caught, an' I was sent up, an' I don't mind sayin' that I think my +sentence was mighty light, considerin' all the heavy mischief that I'd +done durin' my life. While I was in jail I was talked to by a man that +used to come through there to talk to the prisoners on Sundays. An' +about all he said to me was to read me a lot o' things that Jesus +Christ said when He was alive in this world, an' told me to go ahead +an' do all them things just as well as I knowed how to, an' if I did +'em all well as far as I could I'd find out a good deal more in the +course of time." +</p> +<p> +"Go on," said the lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"I haven't anything to go on with, Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler, +"except that I took his advice, an' ain't ever been sorry for it, an' I +wish I'd got it a good deal sooner. I'm just the same old +two-an'-sixpence that I was before I went away. That is, I'm always +tired an' always poor an' always wishin' I didn't have to do any work. +But when there comes a time when I get a chance to do somethin' wrong +an' make somethin' by it, I don't do it, although there was a time when +I would have done it. I don't keep from doin' it for anything that I +can make, 'cause I always go home a good deal worse off than I might +have been. I hope you get something out of what I'm tellin' you, Mr. +Bartram?" +</p> +<p> +"But, Sam, my dear fellow," said the young man, "all this doesn't mean +anything; that is, so far as religion goes. You are simply trying to +live right, whereas you used to live wrong. Haven't you learned any +more than that?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, Mr. Bartram," said Sam, ceasing to jot down measurements, and +looking at his stubby pencil as if he had a question to ask, "that's +all I've learned. An' I s'pose you bein' the kind o' man you are,—that +is, well born an' well brought up, plenty o' money an' never done +nothin' wrong that you know of,—I s'pose that don't seem much to you; +but I tell you, Mr. Bartram, it's a complete upset to my old life, an' +it's such a big one that I've not been able to get any further since, +an' I don't mind talkin' honestly to any fellow-man that talks about it +to me. I don't mind sayin' honestly that it's so much more than I'm +equal to livin' up to yet that I haven't had any time to think about +goin' any further along. See here, Mr. Bartram, can you tell me +somethin' I can do besides that?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, Sam," said the lawyer, "that's an odd question to ask me. I have +seen you in church frequently since you were first a young man, ten +years older than I. You have been told frequently what else you ought +to do; and what I came in particular to ask you was as to how far +you've done it, or been able to do it, or were trying to do it." +</p> +<p> +"You come to the wrong shop, then, Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler. +"When a man's been livin' wrong all his life an' has had somethin' put +into him to make him feel like turnin' round an' livin' right, the +change that's gone on in him is so big that it'll take him about half a +lifetime to get to where he can think about anythin' else." +</p> +<p> +"Pshaw!" said the lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"You said you wanted these shoes made out of soft leather an' with +pretty thin soles, Mr. Bartram?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes; make them any way you please." +</p> +<p> +Then the lawyer left the room and closed the door with a crash that +caused the new cobbler to look up apprehensively. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0007"></a> + CHAPTER VII. +</h2> +<p> +Little by little the Kimper family was made more comfortable and put in +better condition for the coming winter. Broken window-panes were +mended, though frequently only with bits of board closely wedged, +cracks in the wall were stuffed with dried grass and plastered with +mud, and clean straw replaced the dirty substitutes for beds and +mattresses. The head of the family worked hard at the cobbler's shop, +yet did not cease working when he reached home. +</p> +<p> +Yet week by week Sam looked better than in old times. Conrad Weitz, the +manager of the most popular drinking-place in the town, predicted that +there would soon have to be a change for the worse. +</p> +<p> +"He ain't drinkin' noding," said Conrad; "and a feller dat's been +drinkin' all his life can't get along midout it afterwards." +</p> +<p> +The vender of stimulants said this to Deacon Quickset, for the two men +were incessantly arguing over the liquor question, and never lost an +opportunity of bringing up a new point about it when they met by any +chance. Weitz was a public-spirited and intelligent citizen, and the +deacon believed that if his opinions about the moral nature of his +business could be changed there would be a great gain for the +temperance cause in Bruceton. Besides, Weitz was a well-to-do man and +saved a great deal of money, some of which the deacon had invested for +him, and all of which the deacon desired to handle, for he was a man of +many enterprises, and, like most other men of the kind, always had more +ways than money. +</p> +<p> +"You're all wrong about that, Weitz," said the deacon, sitting upon an +empty beer-barrel in front of the liquor-store. The deacon was +accustomed to say, with a grim smile, that he was one of the very few +men in business whose reputation would allow him to sit upon a +beer-barrel without giving rise to any suspicions. +</p> +<p> +"Deacon," said the liquor-dealer, "you hadn't ought to talk about vat +you don't understand. How long since you stopped drinkin'?" +</p> +<p> +"Now, see here, Weitz, what do you mean, to ask me a question like +that? You ought to know well enough that I never drank in my life. If I +haven't told you so again and again, I should think other people could +have done it." +</p> +<p> +"Never drank anyding, eh? never in your life? Vell, vell!" said the +proprietor, caressing the beer-shop cat for a moment, "dat explains a +good many dings about you dat I never understood before. I tell you vat +I tink, deacon: if you'd been brought up in my country, mit all de +brains you've got in your head, and yoost could'a'had a lot of German +beer put inside of you besides, you'd been about de finest man in de +United States now. Den, besides dat, of course, you ought to belong to +my shurch, too." +</p> +<p> +"Your church!" sneered the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"Come, now, deacon," said the shopkeeper, abruptly dropping the cat, +"you can turn up your nose at my ideas all you vant, but you mustn't +turn it up at my shurch. I don't do dat to you, and don't you forget +it, eider." +</p> +<p> +"That's all right, Conrad; I didn't mean to do it. Of course, every man +will believe the way he is brought up. But I hope you won't go to +telling anybody else in this town that that poor convict ought to be +drinking and will have to do it again; because it might get to his +ears, you know, and if it did it might break him down, and then he'd go +to lying and stealing and loafing and fighting again, and there is no +knowing whose chicken-coops and wood-piles would have to suffer. Yours +might be one of the first of the lot." +</p> +<p> +"Vell," said the German, "is dat de vay you look at the question?" +</p> +<p> +"It's a fact, isn't it?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I s'pose it is. But I didn't tink dat vas de first ding for a man +like you to tink about ven you vas talkin' about a feller dat has broke +off all his bad habits and is tryin' to be yoost right." +</p> +<p> +The deacon felt awkward for a moment. He did not like to be reminded of +any of his faults by a neighbor, much less by one who belonged to a +church so widely different from his own. +</p> +<p> +"Why, of course not," said he; "of course, I am thinking about the +man's eternal salvation and about his future; but, to tell you the +truth, I haven't got much faith in his professions. A man that don't +get any further than he has done, and that don't seem willing to learn +from them that's his betters and has gone into such things a good deal +deeper than he has, ain't very likely to hold out. And the last +condition of that man will be worse than the first." +</p> +<p> +"Vell," said the shop-keeper, "a good deal depends on dat. You vas a +member of von shurch and I vas a member of anoder, deacon, and we can +talk togeder like brudders,—a little vay, anyhow. Now, I tell you vat +it is: dere's a good many men in dis town dat's behavin' very decent +dat don't belong to any shurch at all, and you'd yoost as lief discount +deir notes as you vould any oder man's, and you'd go into business mit +dem yoost as qvick, and you'd take deir word for anyding yoost as +qvick. If dat's de vay mit dem men, vy isn't it true dat Sam Kimper is +a good deal better off mit vat he's got dan he vould be midout anyding +at all in de vay of religion?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Conrad," said the deacon, "you were brought up in darkness and +error! You don't understand. I've got that Sam Kimper on my mind so +much that I'm just keeping our minister after him all the time." +</p> +<p> +"Vell," said the shopkeeper, "I tell you vat I'll do, deacon. You let +your minister do all he can mit him, and ven he finds he can't do +noding yoost you come an' tell me, an' den I'll send our priest after +him. He's a good man. You can't say noding against him; you know you +can't. Neider can anybody else in dis town." +</p> +<p> +"No," said the deacon, "I don't mind saying, for I've said it a good +many times before, that if Father Black belonged to my church, instead +of the one he does, I couldn't find a single thing to say or think +against him. He is certainly a very good man, and doing a great deal of +good among a lot of people that I didn't suppose ever could be kept out +of mischief; but—" +</p> +<p> +"But he didn't keep 'em out of mischief in your vay. Dat's de trouble, +isn't it? Come now, own up, like an honest man, and I von't go tell +nobody else about vat you say. Own up, now; isn't dat de trouble? Dem +people dat you talk about as behavin' demselves is a good deal better +dan some dat's smarter and has got more money an' more advantages an' +more friends, an' dey don't make nobody any trouble, an' yet you ain't +satisfied mit 'em; an' mit deir shurch, yoost because dey don't do +everyding your vay." +</p> +<p> +"Conrad," said the deacon, putting on a lofty air, "you're a good man +to do business with; you're a respectable citizen, except that you sell +rum. But there's some things you can't understand, and it's no use for +me to waste time talking to you about them. If your mind was clearer, +if it had been enlightened in the true way, you would not be selling +rum, for instance." +</p> +<p> +"Vouldn't I, dough? Vell, I yoost vant you to understand dere's no +better business in dis town dan I am a-doin' right in dis shop. But if +I didn't tink it vas right, I vouldn't be doin' it at all. You talk in +dis country as if de rum-sellers vas de very vorst people in de vorld. +I vant you to understand over in my country, dat's a good deal older +dan dis, and vere de peoples has had a good deal more experience, a man +don't get no right to sell liquor unless he is a first-class citizen in +every respect. It's a sign dat a man is honest an' sensible an' knows +how to manage oder men, if he gets de right to sell liquor. Dat's more +dan you can say about <i>your</i> business, Deacon Quickset. Any rascal can +go in de business dat you is doin' now." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said the deacon, beginning to feel that he was on dangerous +ground, "this wasn't what we were talking about, anyhow. We began to +talk about Sam Kimper; and I want you to promise me that you won't talk +to anybody else about his needing liquor, and about his breaking down +in the course of time unless he gets it." +</p> +<p> +"Of course I von't talk about it, deacon. Do you s'pose I'm a fool? Do +you s'pose I vant to see people get drunk? No, sir; people dat gets +drunk don't come to my shop. Dey know dey couldn't get anyding if dey +did." +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile Sam Kimper went on, after the humble manner in which he had +begun, to try to bring his family to his new standard of +respectability. He introduced family prayers, much to the disgust of +his son Tom and the amusement of his daughter Mary. The privacy of +family affairs was not entirely respected by the Kimper family, for Sam +soon heard remarks from street loafers, as he passed along, which +indicated that the devotional exercises of the family had been +reported, evidently by his own children, and he heard quotations from +some of his weak and halting prayers pass from mouth to mouth and +elicit peals of coarse laughter. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless he found some encouragement. His son Tom was not quite so +much of a cub at home as he had been, and actually took to trying, in a +desultory way, to find work, although his father's offer to teach him +the trade which had been learned in the penitentiary was declined very +sharply and without any thanks whatever. Billy, the younger boy, had an +affectionate streak in his nature, which his father succeeded in +touching to such an extent that complaints of Billy's truancy were +nowhere near so numerous as they had been just after his father's +return. Mary, the youngest daughter, was a less promising subject. Her +precocity was of a very unpleasant order, and caused her father a great +deal of annoyance. +</p> +<p> +When everything else failed him, Sam had the baby for consolation. The +little wretch had been so utterly uncared for since its appearance that +it seemed surprised for some time by its father's demonstrations of +affection, but finally the meaning of this seemed made known to it, +probably in the way the same meanings are translated to babies +everywhere else, and from being a forlorn and fretful child it +gradually became so cheerful that its own mother began to display some +interest in it and make a plaything of it, to her own manifest +advantage. +</p> +<p> +But Jane, the elder daughter, who was a woman in stature and already +knew more of the world than is good for women in general, was a +constant source of anxiety to Sam. Many a night the unhappy father +lingered in the neighborhood of the hotel, seeking for an opportunity +to see his daughter and talk with her; not that he had much to say, but +that he hoped by his presence to keep more congenial company away from +her. When he heard any village gossip in the house, he always could +trace it to his daughter Jane. Whenever Mary broke out with some new +and wild expression of longing, he understood who put it into her mind. +Whenever his wife complained that she was not so well dressed as some +other women whose husbands were plain workmen, and expressed a wish for +some tawdry bit of finery, Sam could trace the desire, by very little +questioning, back to his daughter Jane. +</p> +<p> +He prayed about it, thought about it, groaned over it, wept over it, +and still saw no means within his power to bring the girl back to an +interest in her family and to bring her up so that she should not +disgrace the name which he was trying to rehabilitate. But the more +thought and effort he gave to the subject, the less seemed his chance +of success. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0008"></a> + + CHAPTER VIII. +</h2> +<p> +Eleanor Prency was the handsomest girl in all Bruceton. Indeed, she so +far distanced all other girls in brilliancy and manners, as well as in +good looks, that no other young woman thought of being jealous of her. +Among her sex she occupied the position of a peerless horse or athlete +among sporting men; she was "barred" whenever comparisons were made. +</p> +<p> +As she was an only child, she was especially dear to her parents, who +had bestowed upon her every advantage which their means, intelligence, +and social standing could supply, and she had availed herself of all of +them apparently to the fullest extent. She was not lacking in +affection, sense, self-control, and a number of virtues which some +girls entirely satisfactory to their parents possessed in less measure. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless the judge and his wife were deeply anxious about their +daughter's future. She was good—as girls go; she attended regularly +the church of which the family, including herself, were members; she +had no bad habits or bad tastes; her associates were carefully +selected; and yet the judge and his wife spent many hours, which should +have been devoted to sleep, in endeavoring to forecast her future. +</p> +<p> +It was all a matter of heredity. At middle age the judge and his wife +were fully deserving of the high esteem in which they were held by the +entire community. They were an honest, honorable, Christian couple, +living fully up to the professions they made. In their youthful days +they had been different—in some respects. Well off, handsome, and +brilliant, they had both been among the most persistent and successful +of pleasure-seekers. Reviewing those days, Mrs. Prency could say that +utter selfishness and self-love had been her deepest sins. Her husband, +looking back at his own life, could truthfully say the same, but the +details were different. He had looked upon the wine-cup and every other +receptacle in which stimulants were ever served. He had tried every +game of chance and gone through all other operations collectively known +as "sowing one's wild oats." Respect for his wife caused him to break +from all his bad habits and associations, at first haltingly and with +many relapses, but afterwards by joining the church and conforming his +life to his faith. But the inheritance of the child was from her +parents, as they were, not as they afterwards became. +</p> +<p> +Therefore the couple became anxious anew when they discovered that +their daughter had become very fond of Reynolds Bartram, for the young +man forcibly reminded both of them of the judge himself in his early +days, yet without Prency's strong and natural basis of character, while +the daughter was entirely devoted to the pleasures of the day. If +Bartram were to remain as he was, and his self-satisfaction to continue +so strong as to be manifest upon all occasions and in all circumstances +they foresaw a miserable life for their daughter. Hence Mrs. Prency's +solicitude about young Bartram. +</p> +<p> +One day Mrs. Prency made a business excuse to call again on the +cobbler's assistant. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper," said she after leaving a dainty boot with some +instructions about repairs, "Reynolds Bartram came to see you, I +suppose, as I warned you he would?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, ma'am, he came," said the cobbler, selecting some buttons from a +box and beginning to affix them to one of the lady's boots. +</p> +<p> +"Did he talk with you on the subject that I supposed he would." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Sam, "he did; quite a long time." +</p> +<p> +"Did you change your views at all under his arguments?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no, ma'am," said the man, looking up with an eager expression of +countenance. "How could I?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm so glad," murmured the woman. "Well, what did he say?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't repeat all his words, Mrs. Prency, because he talks a good +deal better than I do, you know, an' maybe I wouldn't give them the +sense that they had,—the way that he meant them." +</p> +<p> +"How did he seem to take what you said to him?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm afraid, ma'am," said Sam, "that what I said didn't entirely suit +him; because when I got through all he said was, 'Pshaw!'" +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Prency looked at the shoe through which the needle was rapidly +passing back and forth, and finally said,— +</p> +<p> +"He hasn't come again, I suppose?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes, ma'am, he has,—several times. I never knew any other man to +be so much interested in the makin' of one pair of shoes as he has been +about them that he ordered of me that day. He says they're not in any +hurry, an' yet he comes in every day or two to talk about them." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed!" said Mrs. Prency, her face brightening. "Doesn't he talk of +anything but his shoes?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, ma'am," sighed Sam; "he comes back to the old subject always; +an' it does seem to me as if the one thing he was thinkin' about an' +tryin' to do was to break me down in what I've learned to believe. It +don't seem, ma'am, to me that it's very big business for a smart feller +like him to be in, when he knows what a common sort of a feller I am, +an' what little I've got, an' how much I need all that I've got, if I'm +goin' to keep straight any more." +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper," said the lady, "try not to look at it in that way. He is +not trying to break you down; he is trying to satisfy himself. Don't +give way, and he dare not. If he did not believe a great deal of what +you have been saying to him, he would not keep up his interest in it. +Mr. Kimper, it may not seem possible to you, but there is a chance of +your doing better work in the missionary cause for that young man than +anybody and everybody else in this town has yet been able to do." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, nonsense, Mrs. Prency!" said the cobbler, dropping the shoe and +looking up incredulously. "He's got a thousand times as much head-piece +as I have, an' if he can't learn what he wants to from other people +there ain't the slightest likelihood of my ever learnin' him anythin'." +</p> +<p> +"Sam," said Mrs. Prency, earnestly, "in the book that you have been +reading so industriously, from which you have learned so much, and from +which I hope you will continue to learn a great deal, don't you +remember something that is said about the Lord having selected the +feeble ones of this world to confound the wise?" +</p> +<p> +Sam looked down meditatively at the dropped shoe, and replied in a +moment,— +</p> +<p> +"Well, now you speak of it, ma'am, I think I do." +</p> +<p> +"You certainly will believe that as much as everything else you have +read there?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, of course; I'll have to." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, then; apply it to yourself, and try to be patient the next +time that young man comes to annoy you." +</p> +<p> +Sam rested his elbows on his knees and dropped the shoe again for a +moment, and at last, resuming his work, said,— +</p> +<p> +"Well, I'll take your word for it, ma'am: you know a good deal more +about such things than I do." +</p> +<p> +Gradually the cobbler's face began to contract. His needle and thread +moved more and more rapidly through the buttons and the leather. At +last he laid the shoe aside with an air of desperation, looked up +defiantly, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mrs. Prency, I don't mean no offence, an' I ain't the kind of person +that meddles with other people's business, an' I hope you won't feel +hurt or angry at anythin' that I'm goin' to say to you, because there +is somethin' behind it. So I hope you won't think I'm meddlin' with +your affairs, if you'll listen to me just a little while. I—I—" +</p> +<p> +"Well?" said the lady, for Sam seemed to be hesitating about what he +wanted to say. +</p> +<p> +"I don't hardly know how to say it, ma'am, an' I'm awfully afraid to +say it at all; but—well, there, Mrs. Prency, I guess I know why you +are so very much interested in the religious welfare of that young +lawyer." +</p> +<p> +The judge's wife had naturally a very good complexion, but her face +flushed deeper as she looked inquiringly at the cobbler but said +nothing. +</p> +<p> +"I've seen him," said Sam,—"I can't help seein' things when I'm goin' +along in the street, you know, or happen to look out through the +windows,—I've seen him in company once in a while with that daughter +of yours, Mrs. Prency,—with that young lady that seems to me to be too +good to talk to any young man that lives in this town. He is very fond +of her, though; nobody can help seein' that." +</p> +<p> +"I suppose he is," said Mrs. Prency, with an embarrassed manner. "Young +men have very quick perceptions and correct tastes in matters of that +kind, you know." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, ma'am," said the cobbler, "and they don't differ much from young +women. Seems to me your daughter, ma'am, seems to think a good deal of +him, too. Well, I don't wonder at it, for he's the finest lookin' young +feller anywhere about here; an' if they go to thinkin' more and more of +each other as they go on, you would like him to be a good deal better +man than he is." +</p> +<p> +The judge's wife dropped her eyes and seemed in doubt for an instant as +to whether to be angry or only amused. Finally she looked up frankly +and said, +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper, you're a parent and so am I. I see you have been putting +yourself in my place. It is quite natural that you should do so, and it +is very creditable to you that you have done it in the way you have. +You are quite right in your surmise; but may I ask why you have spoken +to me about it in this way?" +</p> +<p> +"That's just what I was comin' to, ma'am," said the cobbler. "I've got +a daughter, too. I suppose you think she ain't fit to be mentioned in +the same day with that glorious gal of yours." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Mr. Kimper!" murmured the lady. +</p> +<p> +"Well if you don't, I don't see how you can help doin' it; that's all. +Your daughter is a lady. She shows in her everythin' that there is in +her father and mother, an' everybody knows that they're the finest +people hereabouts. My child is the daughter of a thief an' a brawler +an' a loafer, an' she's a servant in a common hotel, which is about as +low down, I s'pose, as any gal can get in this town that don't go to +the bad entirely. Mrs. Prency, that gal has broke my heart. I don't +have no influence over her at all. You want me to help you out about +your daughter. I am goin' to do it just as far as heaven will give me +the strength to do it. Now I want to throw myself right at your feet +an' beg you, for the love of God, to try to do somethin' for <i>my</i> +child." +</p> +<p> +"Why, Mr. Kimper, certainly," said the judge's wife. "I am very glad +you spoke to me about her. But, really, I have tried to do a great deal +for her. While you were away I used to send clothing to your wife for +her, so that the child might be able always to make a proper appearance +at school." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, ma'am, so you did," said the cobbler, "an' it's a shame that I +should ask anythin' else of you, for I know you're generous-hearted, +an' the Lord knows there's enough other poor an' wretched people in +this town that needs lookin' after, an' I know you're doin' a good deal +for all of 'em. But this ain't a matter of poverty, Mrs. Prency; it +goes a good deal deeper than that. I'm not thinkin' about her +appearance; she's better dressed now than she ort to be, though I don't +think she shows much good taste in what she buys to put on her. But I +want to have somebody take some interest in her that'll make her change +her thoughts an' feelin's about the way she's livin' an' the kind o' +company she's keepin'." +</p> +<p> +The judge's wife looked thoughtful, and Sam contemplated her with +wistful eyes. There was a long silence. When at last Mrs. Prency spoke +she said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper, I think I know what you mean, but I am puzzled as to what +I can do and how I can do it. Can you suggest anything?" +</p> +<p> +"That's just the trouble, ma'am," said Sam; "I can't; I don't know how. +I've thought an' cried an' prayed about that gal more than anybody'd +ever believe, I s'pose,—anybody that knows me an' knows her too. But I +can't get no light nor no sense about it. But I'm only a man, Mrs. +Prency, an' you're a woman. She's a woman too, an' it did seem to me +that maybe you, with all you're good sense an' all your +good-heartedness, could think of somethin', some way, that would bring +that gal back to what she ort to be before she goes an' does what her +mother done—marry some worthless fool before she's old enough to +marry at all, an' then be helpless and downcast all the rest of her +life." +</p> +<p> +"I might," said the lady, after musing a little while, "I might +possibly make her a place among my own servants, but I imagine she +would not care for such a position, for I have always discovered that +the servants who have been in hotels are dissatisfied with any other +sort of service. Besides, you probably do not wish her to associate +with the servant class, and it would be far better for her if she did +not." +</p> +<p> +"She'd have to go, ma'am, if you was willin' to take her," said the +cobbler, "but, as you say, whether she'd stay or not is a question. Oh, +Mrs. Prency," said he, resuming his work again with violent energy, +"it's the hardest question that ever come up to me in all my life. It's +harder than bein' in jail or breakin' off drinkin' or anythin' else +that I ever tried. It's even harder than goin' to work; I give you my +word it is." +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper," said the lady, "I'll tell you what I'll do. I give you my +word that I will think earnestly on the subject, and do it at once, and +give myself no rest until I have devised some plan to do what you have +asked me." +</p> +<p> +"God bless you, ma'am! God bless you!" said the cobbler, dropping a +tear upon one of the grimy hands at work upon the shoe. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0009"></a> + CHAPTER IX. +</h2> +<p> +Reynolds Bartram was greatly annoyed by the results of the several +interviews he had imposed upon the new assistant cobbler at Bruceton. +He had silenced, if not conquered, all the other religious +controversialists of the town, and found the weak spots in the armor of +many good people not given to controversy, whom he had beguiled into +talking on religious themes. Why he should want to converse at all upon +such subjects puzzled the people of the town, all of whom had known him +from boyhood as a member of a family so entirely satisfied with itself +that it never desired any aid from other people, to say nothing of +higher powers. Sometimes the Bartrams went to church for social +purposes, but always with an air of conferring a favor upon the power +in whose honor the edifice was erected. +</p> +<p> +But Bartram had good enough reasons for his sudden interest in +religion. He was in love with Eleanor Prency, and, after the manner of +his family regarding everything that interested them, he was +tremendously in earnest with his wooing. Like a judicious lawyer, he +had endeavored to make his way easier by prepossessing the girl's +parents in his favor; but when he began to pass the lines of pleasing +civility, within which he had long known the judge and his wife, he was +surprised to find an undercurrent of seriousness, the existence of +which in the Prency family he never had suspected. The judge appeared +to estimate everything from the stand-point of religion and +righteousness; so did his wife; so, though in less measure, did the +daughter. +</p> +<p> +Such nonsense, as the self-sufficient youth regarded it, was annoying. +To visit a pleasant family with the intention of making a general +conquest and find himself confronted by a line of obstacles which he +always had regarded as trifling, yet which he was unable to overcome, +and to be told that religion was a reality because it had changed Sam +Kimper, one of the most insignificant wretches in town, from a lazy, +thievish drunkard to an honest, sober, industrious citizen,—all this +was to make war upon Reynolds Bartram's constitutional opinions as to +the fitness of things. +</p> +<p> +A change of opinion somewhere was necessary: so it must occur in the +Prency family, and as soon as it could be brought about. This was +Bartram's first conclusion, after an hour of deep thought. He had +started upon a love-making enterprise, and he objected to a +complication of interests. If the Prencys chose to talk theology in the +privacy of their family life, they were welcome to do so, but he wished +none of it, and, unless his head had lost its cunning, he believed he +could devise a method of preventing further inflictions of it. +</p> +<p> +He convinced himself that his best method would be to discover and +expose the weakness, perhaps hypocrisy, of the wretched cobbler's +professions. Maybe Kimper meant all he said, and thought he believed +something which was essential to religion; but had not scores of other +common fellows in the town done likewise, during "revivals" and other +seasons of special religious effort, only to fall back into their old +ways soon afterwards? It was all a matter of birth and training, argued +Bartram to himself: the feeblest and most excitable intellects, the +world over, were the first to be impressed by whatever seemed +supernatural, whether it were called religion, spiritualism, mesmerism, +or anything else. It was merely a matter of mental excitement: the +stronger the attack, the sooner the relapse. Sam Kimper would lose +faith in his fancies sooner or later; it might be somewhat cruel to +hasten this result, but what was a little more or less of the life of +such a fellow, compared with the lifelong happiness of one of the +Bartrams,—the last of the family, and, as the young man fully +believed, the best? Should the cobbler's fall be hastened, Bartram +would make it right; indeed, he would volunteer in his defense the +first time he should again be arrested for fighting or stealing. +</p> +<p> +But his plan did not work. Day after day he had made excuses to drop +into the cobbler's shop and worry the ex-convict into a discussion, but +not once did he depart without a sense of defeat. As he said to +himself,— +</p> +<p> +"What can be done with a man who only believes, and won't argue or go +to the bottom of things? It's confoundedly ridiculous." +</p> +<p> +During his last visit, he said,— +</p> +<p> +"Sam, if the power you profess to believe in can really work such a +change as you think He has done in you, He ought to be able to do +almost anything else. Don't you think so?" +</p> +<p> +"That I do," said the cobbler, working away. +</p> +<p> +"You believe He has power to any extent, I suppose?" +</p> +<p> +"You're right again, Mr. Bartram." +</p> +<p> +"Of course you think he loves you dearly?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm ashamed to think it,—that any such bein' should love a +good-for-nothin' feller like me. But what else can I think, Mr. +Bartram, after all that's gone on in me, an' what He's said Himself?" +</p> +<p> +"Very well; then, if He is so powerful and cares so much for you, I +suppose He brings you more work and better prices than any one else in +your business?" +</p> +<p> +Sam did not reply to this at once, but after a while he said,— +</p> +<p> +"It amounts to the same thing: He makes me work harder than I ever +knowed how to do before. That brings me more money an' gives me a hope +of gettin' along better after a while." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, well, you have a family,—quite a large family, I believe. Does He +do as much for your wife and children as for you?" +</p> +<p> +"Whatever He's doin' for me is done for all of us, Mr. Bartram." +</p> +<p> +"Just so. But do you mean to say that what you're making enables you to +do for your family all that you should?" +</p> +<p> +The cobbler's face contracted, under the shade he wore over his eyes. +An evil smile overspread the lawyer's countenance. A little time +passed; the discussion was becoming sport,—such sport as the angler +feels when a wounded fish, a hundred times smaller than he, is +struggling and writhing in agony on his hook. +</p> +<p> +"You don't seem certain about it, Sam," the tormentor finally said. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Bartram," the cobbler answered in a little while, "what He done +for me came about so quiet an' unknown like that I don't know what he +may be doin' for the wife an' children. God knows they need it; an', as +He came to look after them that was needy, I don't believe He can make +a mistake an' pass by my house." +</p> +<p> +"But I should think you would be sure about it. You're so sure about +your own affairs, you know,—what are called your spiritual affairs." +</p> +<p> +"I don't know, though," said Sam, simply. +</p> +<p> +"Have all the children got good shoes and stockings and warm clothes? +Winter is almost here, you know." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, they haven't," Sam sharply replied. +</p> +<p> +The lawyer quickly caught the change of tone, and made haste to +explain: +</p> +<p> +"I didn't mean to disturb your peace of mind, Sam; I asked only in +order to learn how much foundation there was to your faith. They +haven't them, you say. How will they get them?" +</p> +<p> +"I'll earn 'em," said the cobbler, with a savage dash of his awl which +one of his fingers barely escaped. +</p> +<p> +"But suppose you can't; suppose trade slackens, or Larry takes a notion +to a new helper." +</p> +<p> +"Then I'll beg, rather than have 'em suffer." +</p> +<p> +"And if folks won't give?" +</p> +<p> +"Then my folks'll have to go without." +</p> +<p> +"In spite of your new, loving, strong friend,—your Saviour? If He's +all you take Him to be, aren't you sure He'll look out for your +family?" +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler, resting for a moment, and +straightening his weary back, "if I was in trouble,—been doin' +somethin' wrong, for instance, an' was hauled into court, an' had you +for my lawyer,—though of course I couldn't expect to have so smart a +man,—I'd ort to believe that you'd do everythin' that could be done +an' ort to be done, ortn't I?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly, Sam, certainly," said the lawyer, with his customary +professional look of assurance. +</p> +<p> +"But I wouldn't know all about it in advance, would I? Even if you was +to tell me all you meant to do an' how you'd do it, I couldn't take it +in. If I could, I'd be just as smart as you,—the idee!—an' wouldn't +need you at all." +</p> +<p> +Both suppositions were so wildly improbable that the lawyer indulged in +a sarcastic smile. +</p> +<p> +"Well, then," continued Sam, "here's somebody helpin' me more than any +man ever could,—somebody that's smarter than any lawyer livin'. I +s'pose you'll own up to that?" +</p> +<p> +The idea that any being, natural or supernatural, could be wiser than +one of the Bartrams was not pleasing to the lawyer, when suggested so +abruptly, but it was conceded, after a moment of thought, by a +condescending nod of the head. +</p> +<p> +"Then," Sam continued, "how am I goin' to be supposed to know all that +He's doin' an' not doin' for me, an' when He's goin' to do somethin' +else, or whether He's goin' to do it at all. If I was as smart as a +lawyer, I wouldn't need one; if I was as smart an' good as Him that's +lookin' after me, there wouldn't need to be any God or Saviour, would +there?" +</p> +<p> +"Then you are satisfied He is God and Saviour, eh? Some wiser men have +believed differently." +</p> +<p> +"I only know what I was told an' what I've read for myself, sir. The +man that put me up to it told me not to try to believe everythin' that +everybody else did, but to believe as much as I could an' live up to +it, bein' extra particular about the livin' up." +</p> +<p> +"But you ought to know something—have some distinct idea—as to whom +you're believing in. What do you know about Him, after all?" +</p> +<p> +"I know," said the cobbler, "just what I've told you before, when +you've asked me the same question. I know He was once in the world, an' +didn't do anybody any harm, an' done a good deal of good, an' taught +folks to do right an' how to do it. Everybody believes that, don't +they?" +</p> +<p> +"I suppose it's safe to admit that much." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, I'm tryin' to foller Him an' learn of Him. I'm believin' in +Him just like I believe in old Andrew Jackson." +</p> +<p> +"Is that all?" +</p> +<p> +"That's enough,—as far as I've got. You're a good deal smarter than I +be, sir: won't you tell me how to go further?" +</p> +<p> +The lawyer shook his head and departed. The cobbler fell on his knees +and buried his face in his hands. The lawyer, chancing to look in the +window, saw the movement; then he drew his hat down over his eyes and +sauntered off. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0010"></a> + CHAPTER X. +</h2> +<p> +The genuineness of the change which had come over Sam Kimper slowly +became the subject of general conversation in Bruceton. Judge Prency +frequently spoke of it; so did his wife; and, as the Prencys were +leaders of village society, whatever interested them became the +fashion. People with shoes which needed repairing visited the new +cobbler in great numbers, each prompted as much by curiosity as by +business, for they seldom haggled about prices. +</p> +<p> +Sam's family, too, began to receive some attention. Mrs. Prency, having +first secured a promise from Sam that the children should go to +Sunday-school if they could be decently clad, interested several ladies +to the extent of bestowing some old clothing, which she hired a sewing +woman to make over into becoming garments for Billy and Mary. Mrs. +Kimper, too, was enabled to dress well enough to appear in church, +though she stipulated that she should go only to evening services. +</p> +<p> +"I don't 'mount to much, Mrs. Prency," said she to the family's +benefactor; "there ain't much left of me as I once was, but I ain't +goin' to have people look at me the way they do, any more than I can +help." +</p> +<p> +"The feeling does you credit, Mrs. Kimper," said the lady, "but you +won't long be troubled that way. The oftener you let people see you, +the less curious they'll be." +</p> +<p> +Sam's new way of life, too, began to be discussed where men most +congregated. Loungers at stores, the railway station, and the +post-office talked of the town's only ex-convict who had not yet gone +back to his old ways. Most of the men who talked of him did it in about +the manner of spectators of the gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome: +they admired the endurance and courage of the man, but seldom did it +occur to them to stretch out a hand to help him. There were exceptions +to this rule, however. An old farmer who had brought a load of wheat to +the station listened to the tale, asked a great many questions about +the case, and said, finally,— +</p> +<p> +"I s'pose you're all doin' all you can to help him along?" +</p> +<p> +The by-standers looked at one another, but no one answered in the +affirmative. One man at last found words to say, "Why, he's tryin' to +help hisself along, and we're watchin' to see how he'll succeed. Now, I +was along by his place this mornin', an' seen him carryin' in the last +wood from his wood-pile. 'Sam,' I hollered, 'don't you want to buy a +load of wood? I've got some I want to sell.' 'I need it,' said Sam, +'but I ain't got a cent.' Well, mebbe I'd have trusted him for a load +if he'd asked me, but it occurred to me to stand off an' see how he'd +manage it. It's cold weather now, an' if he don't get it some way, his +family'll go cold. I went by there again at noon-time, but he hadn't +got none yit." +</p> +<p> +"He's as independent like," said another, "as if he hadn't never been +in jail." +</p> +<p> +"You're a pack of heartless hogs!" roared the farmer, getting into his +wagon and driving off. +</p> +<p> +"Can't see that he's any different from the rest of us," muttered one +of the by-standers. +</p> +<p> +Could the group have known the trouble in the new cobbler's heart, as +he bent all day over his work and thought of the needed wood, their +interest in the subject would have been enhanced. Sam's wife was a +cold-blooded creature; the baby was somewhat ailing; it would not do +for the fire to go out, yet the fuel he had carried in at morn could +not more than last until evening. The little money that had come into +the shop during the day would barely purchase some plain food, of which +there was never in the house a day's supply. He had not the courage to +ask credit for wood; his occasional attempts to "get trusted" had all +failed, no matter how small the article wanted. He looked for Larry +Highgetty, his employer, to beg a small loan, but Larry, though he came +into the shop every morning for his share of the previous day's +earnings, could not be found that afternoon. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly, when the sun was almost down, Sam remembered that a house was +being built several squares away. Carpenters always left many scraps +behind them, which village custom allowed anyone to pick up. The +cobbler devoutly thanked heaven for the thought, closed the shop, and +hurried away to the new building. The men were still at work, and there +was a great deal of waste lying about. +</p> +<p> +"May I have some of these leavin's?" asked Sam of the master builder. +</p> +<p> +The man looked down from the scaffolding on which he stood, recognized +the questioner, turned again to his work, and at last answered, with a +scowl,— +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I suppose so. It would be all the same, I guess, if I didn't say +so. You'd come after dark and help yourself." +</p> +<p> +Sam pocketed the insult, though the weight of it was heavy. So was that +of the bits of board he gathered; but he knew that such thin wood +burned rapidly, so he took a load that made him stagger. As he entered +the yard behind his house, he saw, through the dusk which was beginning +to gather, a man rapidly tossing cord-wood from a wagon to a large pile +which already lay on the ground. +</p> +<p> +"My friend," gasped Sam, dropping his own load and panting from his +exertion, "I guess—you've made a—mistake. I ain't ordered a load of +wood from nobody. Guess you've come to the wrong house." +</p> +<p> +"Guess not," replied the man, who was the farmer that had freed his +mind at the railway station during the afternoon. +</p> +<p> +"This is Sam Kimper's," explained the cobbler. +</p> +<p> +"Just where I was told to come," said the farmer, tossing out the last +sticks and stretching his arms to rest upon them. +</p> +<p> +"Who was it told you to bring it?" asked the resident. +</p> +<p> +The farmer stooped and took a large package from the front of the wagon +and threw it on the ground; then he threw another. +</p> +<p> +"Won't you tell me who sent it?" Sam asked again. +</p> +<p> +The farmer turned his head and shouted,— +</p> +<p> +"God Almighty, if you must know; and He told me to bring that bag of +flour and shoulder of bacon, too." +</p> +<p> +Then the farmer drove off, at a gait quite unusual in farm-teams. +</p> +<p> +The cobbler burst into tears and fell upon his knees. When he arose he +looked in the direction from which came the rattle of the retreating +wheels, and said to himself,— +</p> +<p> +"I wonder if that man was converted in the penitentiary?" +</p> +<p> +The story, when Sam told it in the house, amazed the family, though +little Mary giggled long on hearing the name of the supposed giver. No +sooner was supper ended than the child slipped out of the house and +hurried to the hotel to tell her sister Jane all about it. Within half +an hour the story had passed, through the usual channels, to all +lounging-places that were open, and at one of them—the post-office—it +was heard by Deacon Quickset. It troubled the good man a great deal, +and he said,— +</p> +<p> +"There's no knowing how much harm'll be done the fellow by that speech. +If he thinks the Lord is going to take care of him in such unexpected +ways, he'll go to loafing and then get back into his old ways." +</p> +<p> +"Didn't the Lord ever help you in any unexpected way, deacon?" asked +Judge Prency, who nearly every evening spent a few moments in the +post-office lobby. +</p> +<p> +"Why, yes,—of course; but, judge, Sam and I aren't exactly the same +kind of men, I think you'll allow." +</p> +<p> +"Quite right," said the judge. "You're a man of sense and character. +But when Jesus was on earth did He give much attention to men of your +general character and standing? According to my memory of the +record,—and I've re-read it several times since Sam Kimper's +return,—He confined His attentions quite closely to the poor and +wretched, apparently to the helpless, worthless class to whom the +Kimper family would have belonged had it lived at that time. 'They that +are whole need no physician,'—you remember?—'but they that are +sick.'" +</p> +<p> +"According to the way you seem to be thinking, Judge Prency," said the +deacon, coldly, "them that's most deserving are to be passed by for +them that's most shiftless." +</p> +<p> +"Those who deserve most are those who need most, aren't they, +deacon?—that is, if anyone is really 'deserving,' as we use the word." +</p> +<p> +"Your notions would break up business entirely, if they were carried +out," asserted the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"Not at all; though I've never discovered that business is the first +interest of the Almighty." +</p> +<p> +"You mean to say that because I work hard and get a little fore-handed +I ought to take a lot of shiftless folks and teach them to be lazy and +dependent on me?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly not, deacon. How you do jump at conclusions! There aren't a +lot of shiftless people in this town; there are very few; and even they +might be helped, and shamed into taking care of themselves, if you and +I and some more fore-handed people were to follow our Master's +example." +</p> +<p> +"I've spoken to every unbeliever in this town about his soul's +salvation," said the deacon; "I've always made it a matter of duty. +Christ came to preach salvation, and I'm following His example, in my +humble way." +</p> +<p> +"Didn't He do anything else?" asked the judge. "You remember what +answer He sent to John in prison, when the Baptist seemed to have lost +heart and wondered whether Jesus were really He who should come? He +said that to the poor the gospel was preached, but He gave half a dozen +other proofs, each of them showing special care for men's bodies." +</p> +<p> +"Judge, you're talking materialism," said the deacon. "It's a spirit +that's getting too common everywhere." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no, I'm not; I'm talking the words of Jesus Himself. Aren't they +good enough for you? or are you like children at the table who will +take only what suits them, and ignore everything else?" +</p> +<p> +"Such talks never do any good, judge," said the deacon, buttoning his +overcoat and turning up the collar. "I've spent a good deal of my life +thinking about sacred subjects and trying to lead my fellow-men in the +right way. You're not going to make me believe at my time of life that +I've been all wrong, and that Jesus Christ came on earth only to start +a charity society." +</p> +<p> +"Nor to teach people to live right?" +</p> +<p> +"He wants them first to know how to die right. I should think, judge, +that Sam Kimper had been converting you over again and doing it +backwards. That fellow has only got hold of one end of the +Scripture—one little jag end of it." +</p> +<p> +"Too small an end to be worthy of your attention, I suppose, deacon?" +</p> +<p> +"This is all wasted time and idle talk, Judge Prency," said the deacon, +leaving the place so quickly that he forgot to ask for his letters. +</p> + +<h2><a name="2HCH0011"></a> + CHAPTER XI. +</h2> +<p> +One bright, breezy October afternoon, Sam Kimper's daughter Jane got +"an hour off" from her duties at the hotel, and proceeded to devote it +to her highest ideal of possible enjoyment. There were many other +pleasures for which she longed, but, as they were unattainable just +then, she made the most of that which was within her reach for the time +being. It was to array herself in her best and saunter to and fro in +the principal streets, look into shop windows, and exchange winks and +rude remarks with young men and women with whom she was acquainted. +</p> +<p> +Although her attire was about what one would expect of a drunkard's +child who had spent her later years in the kitchen and corridors of a +hotel, Jane was not an unsightly creature. There must have been good +physical quality in one side or other of her family, in past +generations, which was trying to reappear, for Jane had a fine figure, +expressive eyes, and a good complexion. Had any one followed her during +her afternoon stroll, and observed her closely during her successive +chance meetings with young men and women of her acquaintance, he would +have seen hard lines, coarse lines, ugly lines, in her face; yet when +in repose the same face was neither unwomanly nor without an occasional +suggestion of soul. It was a face like many others that one may see on +the streets,—entirely human, yet entirely under the control of +whatever influence might be about it for the time being,—the face of a +nature untrained and untaught, which would have followed either Jesus +or Satan, or both by turns, had both appeared before it in visible +shape. +</p> +<p> +During a moment or two of her afternoon out, Jane found herself +approaching Mrs. Prency and Eleanor, those ladies being out on one of +those serious errands known collectively as "shopping." +</p> +<p> +"Do see that dreadfully dowdy girl!" exclaimed Miss Eleanor, whose +attire was always selected with correct taste. +</p> +<p> +"She has never had any one to teach her to dress properly, my dear," +suggested the mother. +</p> +<p> +"She might have some one who cared enough for her to keep her from +appearing in public in red hair and a blue ribbon," said the daughter. +</p> +<p> +"Such girls have no one to keep them from doing anything they like, my +dear. Let us try to be sorry for them, instead of being disgusted." +</p> +<p> +"But, mother—" +</p> +<p> +"Sh-h! she'll hear you. I'm going to bow to her; I wish you'd do the +same." +</p> +<p> +"Mother!" +</p> +<p> +"To oblige me; I'll explain afterwards." +</p> +<p> +The couple were now within several steps of Jane, who, with an odd +mixture of wistfulness and scare, had been studying Eleanor's attire. +When she saw both women looking at her, she began to take a defiant +attitude, but the toss of her head was met by one of Mrs. Prency's +heartiest smiles, accompanied by a similar recognition from Eleanor. +Short as was the time that could elapse before the couple had passed +her, it was long enough to show a change in Jane's face,—a change so +notable that Eleanor whispered,— +</p> +<p> +"Did you ever see any one alter looks so quickly?" +</p> +<p> +"Never; but I sha'n't lose any opportunity to see it again," said Mrs. +Prency. +</p> +<p> +"Mother, dear," said Eleanor, "I hope you're not suddenly going to +recognize every common person you may meet on the street. You're so +enthusiastic." +</p> +<p> +"And so different from my daughter in that respect,—eh, dear?" +</p> +<p> +"But, mother, you've always been so careful and fastidious about your +associations and mine. I remember the time, only a year or two ago, +while I was at school, when you would have been horrified if I'd had +anything to do with a creature like that." +</p> +<p> +"You were a child then, my dear; you're a woman now. That girl is the +daughter of the poor fellow—" +</p> +<p> +"Sam Kimper?—that you and father talk of so frequently? Yes, I know; +she was a horrid little thing in school, two classes below me. But, +mother, I don't see why we ought to recognize her just because her +father has been in the penitentiary and behaved himself since he came +back." +</p> +<p> +"Because she <i>needs</i> recognition, dear child; because she gets it from +plenty of people of her own class, and if she has it from no others she +never will be any better than she is; perhaps she will become worse." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, mother!" exclaimed Eleanor, with a toss of her handsome head, +"such people never change. There were plenty of such girls in the same +class with me in the public school, and they've all gone off and +married common low fellows. Some of them were real pretty girls while +they were young, too." +</p> +<p> +"All the more reason why others of the same kind should have some +encouragement to do better, my child." +</p> +<p> +"But, mother," persisted Eleanor, "what possible good will it do that +Kimper girl for us merely to recognize her in the street?" +</p> +<p> +"You may do as much more for her as you choose, if you think mere +courtesy is not enough. Eleanor, you are a healthy, happy girl; you +know—and I remember—all a girl's natural fancies and longings. Do you +imagine that being badly born and reared can keep that girl from having +the same feelings? She probably wishes she could dress as well as the +best, attract attention, be respected, have a real fine fellow fall in +love with her—" +</p> +<p> +"The idea!" exclaimed Eleanor, laughing merrily. "But suppose it were +all true; how can mere notice from us help her? I'm sure the minute we +passed her she made a face and envied me my better clothes." +</p> +<p> +"You will think differently when you have more experience, my dear. +When I was as young as you, I thought—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, mother, there she is again," said Eleanor, "crossing the street; +she's turning right towards us. And," murmured the young lady, after +assuring herself that it was really the same combination of red hair +and blue ribbon, "how different she looks!" +</p> +<p> +"Because two women of some standing and position chanced to notice +her. Let's help the good work along, daughter." Then, before Miss +Eleanor had time to object, and just as the cobbler's daughter was in +front of them, Mrs. Prency stopped, extended her neatly gloved hand, +and said, with a pleasant smile,— +</p> +<p> +"How these girls do grow! You were little Jane only a year or two ago, +Miss Kimper." +</p> +<p> +Never before had Jane Kimper been addressed as "Miss." The appellation +sent color flying into her face and brightness into her eyes as she +stammered out something about growing being natural. +</p> +<p> +"You haven't grown fast enough, though, to neglect good looks," +continued Mrs. Prency, while Eleanor, endeavoring to act according to +her mother's injunctions, drawled,— +</p> +<p> +"No, indeed!" +</p> +<p> +Then the cobbler's daughter flushed deeper and looked grateful, almost +modest, for girls read girls pretty fairly, and Jane saw that Eleanor +was regarding her face with real admiration. +</p> +<p> +"You girls of the new generation can't imagine how much interest we +women who used to be girls have in you," said the judge's wife. "I'm +afraid you'd be vain if you knew how much Eleanor and I have looked at +you and talked about you." +</p> +<p> +"I didn't s'pose any lady that was anybody ever thought anything about +girls like me," Jane finally managed to say. +</p> +<p> +"You're greatly mistaken, my dear girl," said the lady. "Nearly every +one in this world talks a good deal about every one else whom they know +by sight. You really can't imagine how much good it does me to see you +looking so well and pretty. Keep right on looking so, won't you? The +girls of to-day must be our women a few years hence; that's what I keep +impressing upon my daughter day by day,—don't I, dear." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed you do, mother." Eleanor said it with a look at Jane which was +almost a signal for sympathy: the cobbler's daughter was greatly +mystified by it. +</p> +<p> +"I don't see," said Jane, after standing awkwardly for a moment in +meditation, "how a girl's goin' to be much of a woman that amounts to +anything one of these days if she's nothin' to do now but dirty work at +a hotel." +</p> +<p> +"Maybe she could change her work," suggested the lady. +</p> +<p> +Jane's lips parted into some hard and ugly lines, and she replied,— +</p> +<p> +"Some things is easier sayin' than doin'." +</p> +<p> +"Should you like a different position?" asked Mrs. Prency. "I'm sure it +could be had if people knew you wanted it. For instance, I need some +one every day for weeks to come to help my daughter and me with our +sewing and fitting. There are always so many things to be done as +winter approaches. I sometimes feel as if I were chained to my +sewing-machine, and have so much to do. But I'm afraid such work would +seem very stupid to you. It would mean sitting still all day, you know, +with no one to talk to but Eleanor and me." +</p> +<p> +Jane looked wonderingly at the two women before her. No one but them to +talk to! She never had imagined an opportunity to talk to such people +at all. She supposed all such women regarded her as part of the scum of +the earth, yet here they were speaking pleasantly to her,—Mrs. Prency, +a woman who naturally would fill the eye of an impulsive animal like +Jane,—Eleanor, the belle of the town,—two women whom no one could +look at without admiration. No one but them to talk to! All her +associates faded from Jane's mind like a fleck of mist under a +sunburst, as she answered,— +</p> +<p> +"If there's anything you want done that I can do, Mrs. Prency, I'd +rather work for you for nothin' than for anybody else for any money." +</p> +<p> +"Come to my house as soon as you like, then, and we'll promise to keep +you busy: won't we, daughter?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, indeed," murmured Eleanor, who saw, in her mind's eye, a great +deal of her work being done without effort of her own. +</p> +<p> +"You sha'n't do it for nothing, however; you shall earn fully as much +as you do now. Good day," Mrs. Prency said, as she passed on, and +Eleanor gave Jane a nod and a smile. +</p> +<p> +The hotel drudge stood still and looked after the couple with wondering +eyes. The judge's wife dropped something as she walked. Jane hurried +after her and picked it up. It was a glove. The girl pressed it to her +lips again and again, hurried along for a few steps to return it, +stopped suddenly, thrust it into her breast, and then, passing the back +of her ungloved hand across her eyes, returned to the hotel, her eyes +cast down and her ears deaf to occasional remarks intended specially +for them. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0012"></a> + CHAPTER XII. +</h2> +<p> +Deacon Quickset was entirely truthful when he said to the keeper of the +beer saloon that he had worried his pastor again and again to call on +the repentant thief and try to bring him into the fold of the church; +but he probably did not know that the said pastor had opinions of his +own as to the time and manner in which such work should be done. Dr. +Guide, under whose spiritual ministrations the deacon had sat every +Sunday for many years, was a man of large experience in church work of +all kinds, and, although he was extremely orthodox, to the extent of +believing that those who already had united with his church were on the +proper road to heaven, he nevertheless realized, as a practical man, +that frequently there is more trouble with sheep in the road than with +those who are straying about. +</p> +<p> +He had devoted no little of his time since he had been settled over the +Bruceton church to the reclamation of doubtful characters of all kinds, +but he frequently confided to his wife that one of the most +satisfactory proofs to him of the divine origin of the church was that +those already inside it were those most in need of spiritual +ministrations. He had reclaimed some sad sinners of the baser sort from +time to time with very little effort, but people concerning whom he +frequently lay awake nights were men and women who were nominally in +good standing in his own denomination and in the particular flock over +which he was shepherd. +</p> +<p> +He had therefore made no particular haste to call on Sam Kimper, being +entirely satisfied, as he told his wife, his only confidante, that so +long as the man was following the course which he was reported to have +laid down for himself he was not likely to go far astray, whereas a +number of members of the congregation, men of far more influence in the +community, seemed determined to break from the straight and narrow way +at very slight provocation, and among these, the reverend doctor sadly +informed his wife, he feared Deacon Quickset was the principal. The +deacon was a persistent man in business,—"diligent in business" was +the deacon's own expression in justification of whatever neglect his +own wife might chance to charge him with,—but it seemed to some +business-men of the town, as well as to his own pastor, that the +deacon's diligence was overdoing itself, and that, in the language of +one of the store-keepers, he had picked up a great deal more than he +could carry. He was a director in a bank, agent for several insurance +companies, manager of a land-improvement company, general speculator in +real estate, and a man who had been charged with the care of a great +deal of property which had belonged to old acquaintances now deceased. +That he should be very busy was quite natural, but that his promises +sometimes failed of fulfilment was none the less annoying, and once in +a while unpleasant rumors were heard in the town about the deacon's +financial standing and about his manner of doing business. Still, Dr. +Guide did not drop Sam Kimper from his mind, and one day when he +chanced to be in the vicinity of Larry Highgetty's shop he opened the +door, bowed courteously to the figure at the bench, accepted a chair, +and sat for a moment wondering what he should say to the man whom he +was expected by the deacon to bring into his own church. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Kimper," said the reverend gentleman, finally, "I trust you are +getting along satisfactorily in the very good way in which I am told +you have started." +</p> +<p> +"I can't say that I've any fault to find, sir," said the shoemaker, +"though I've no doubt that a man of your learnin' an' brains could see +a great deal wrong in me." +</p> +<p> +"Don't trouble yourself about that, my good fellow," said the +minister: "you will not be judged by my learning or brains or those of +any one else except yourself. I merely called to say that at any time +that you are puzzled about any matter of belief, or feel that you +should go further than you already have done, I would be very glad to +be of any service to you if I can. You are quite welcome to call upon +me at my home at almost any time, and of course you know where I can +always be found on Sundays." +</p> +<p> +"I am very much obliged to you, sir," said the cobbler, "but somehow +when I go to thinkin' much about such things I don't feel so much like +askin' other people questions or about learnin' anythin' else as I do +about askin' if it isn't a most wonderful thing, after all, that I've +been able to change about as I have, an' that I haven't tumbled +backwards again into any of my old ways. You don't know what those ways +is, I s'pose, Dr. Guide, do you?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, no," said the minister, "I can't say that my personal experience +has taught me very much about them." +</p> +<p> +"Of course not, sir; that I might know. Of course I didn't mean +anything of that kind. But I sometimes wonder whether gentlemen like +you, that was born respectable an' always was decent, an' has had the +best of company all your lives, an' never had any bad habits, can know +what an awful hole some of us poor common fellows sometimes get down +into, an' don't seem to know how to get out of. I s'pose, sir, there +must have been lots of folks of that kind when Jesus was around on the +world alive: don't you think so?" +</p> +<p> +"No doubt, no doubt," said the minister, looking into his hat as if +with his eyes he was trying to make some notes for remarks on the +succeeding Sunday. +</p> +<p> +"You know, sir, that in what's written about Him they have a good deal +to say about the lots of attention that He gave to the poor. I s'pose, +if poor folks was then like they are now, most of them was that way +through some faults of their own; because every body in this town that +behaves himself an' always behaved himself manages to get along well +enough. It does seem to me, sir, that He must have gone about among +folks a good deal like me." +</p> +<p> +"That view of the matter never occurred to me," said the reverend +gentleman, "and yet possibly there is a great deal to it. You know, Mr. +Kimper, that was a long time ago. There was very little education in +those times, and the people among whom He moved were captives of a +stronger nation, and they seem to have been in a destitute and troubled +condition." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Sam, interrupting the speaker, "an' I guess a good many of +them were as bad off as me, because, if you remember, He said a good +deal about them that was in prison an' that was visited there. Now, +sir, it kind o' seems to me in this town—I think I know a good deal +about it, because I've never been able to associate with anybody except +folks like myself—it seems to me that sort of people don't get any +sort of attention nowadays." +</p> +<p> +The minister assumed his conventional air of dignity, and replied, +quickly,— +</p> +<p> +"I assure you, you are very much mistaken, so far as I am concerned. I +think I know them all by name, and have made special visits to all of +them, and tried to make them feel assured of the sympathy of those who +by nature or education or circumstance chance to be better off than +they." +</p> +<p> +"That ain't exactly what I meant, sir," said the cobbler. "Such folks +get kind words pretty often, but somehow nobody ever takes hold of them +an' pulls them out of the hole they are in, like Jesus used to seem to +do. I s'pose ministers an' deacons an' such folks can't work miracles +like He did, an' if they haven't got it in 'em to pull 'em out, why, I +s'pose they can't do it. But I do assure you, sir, that there's a good +deal of chance to do that kind of work in this town, an' if there had +been any of it done when I was a boy, I don't believe I'd ever have +got into the penitentiary." +</p> +<p> +Just then Dr. Brice, one of the village physicians, dropped into the +shop, and the minister, somewhat confused, arose, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Well, Mr. Kimper, I am very much obliged to you for your views. I +assure you that I shall give them careful thought. Good day, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Sam," said Dr. Brice, who was a slight, nervous, excitable man, "I'm +not your regular medical attendant, and I don't know that it's any of +my business, but I've come in here in a friendly way to say to you +that, if all I hear about your working all day and most of the night +too, is true, you are going to break down. You can't stand it, my boy: +human nature isn't made in that way. You have got a wife and family, +and you seem to be trying real hard to take care of them. But you can't +burn the candle at both ends without having the fire flicker out in the +middle all of a sudden, and perhaps just when you can least afford it. +Now, do take better care of yourself. You have made a splendid start, +and there are more people than you know of in this town who are looking +at you with a great deal of respect. They want to see you succeed, and +if you want any help at it I am sure you can get it; but don't kill the +goose that lays the golden egg. Don't break yourself up, or there +won't be anybody to help. Don't you see?" +</p> +<p> +The shoemaker looked up at the good-natured doctor with a quick +expression, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Doctor, I'm not doin' any more than I have to, to keep soul and body +together in the family. If I stop any of it, I've got to stop carryin' +things home." +</p> +<p> +"Oh well," said the doctor, "that may be, that may be. But I'm simply +warning you, as a fellow-man, that you must look out for yourself. It's +all right to trust the Lord, but the Lord isn't going to give any one +man strength enough to do two men's work. I have been in medical +practice forty years, and I have never seen a case of that kind yet. +That's all. I'm in a hurry,—got half a dozen people to see. Don't feel +offended at anything I've said to you. It's all for your good, you +know. Good day." +</p> +<p> +The doctor departed as rapidly as he had entered, and the cobbler stole +a moment or two from his work to think. How his thoughts ran he could +scarcely have told afterwards, for again the door opened, and the room +darkened slightly, for the person who was entering was Father Black, +the Catholic priest, a man whose frame was as big as his heart, he +being reputed to be one of the largest-hearted men in all Bruceton. +Everybody respected him. The best proof of it was that no one in any of +the other churches ever attempted to do any proselyting in Father +Black's flock. +</p> +<p> +"My son," said the priest, seating himself in the chair and spreading a +friendly smile over his large, expressive features, "I have heard a +great deal of you since you came back from your unfortunate absence, +and I merely dropped in to say to you that if it's any comfort to you +to know that every day you have whatever assistance there can be in the +prayers of an old man who has been in this world long enough to love +most those who need most, you may be sure that you have them." +</p> +<p> +"God bless you, sir! God bless you!" said the cobbler, quickly. +</p> +<p> +"Have you connected yourself with any church here as yet?" asked the +priest. +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," sighed the cobbler: "one an' another has been pullin' an' +haulin' at me one way an' another, tellin' me that it was my duty to go +into a church. But how can I do it, sir, when I'm expected to say that +I believe this an' that, that I don't know nothin' about? Some of 'em +has been very good tryin' to teach me what they seem to understand very +well, but I don't know much more than when they begun, an' sometimes it +seems to me that I know a good deal less, for, with what one tells me +in one way, an' another tells me in another way, my mind—and there's +not very much of it, sir—my mind gets so mixed up that I don't know +nothin' at all." +</p> +<p> +"Ah, my son," said the good old priest, "if you could only understand, +as a good many millions of your fellow-men do, that it's the business +of some men to understand and of others to faithfully follow them, you +would not have such trouble." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir," said the cobbler, "that's just what Larry's been sayin' to +me here in the shop once in a while in the mornin', before he started +out to get full; an' there's a good deal of sense in what he says, I've +no doubt. But what I ask him is this,—an' he can't tell me, an' +perhaps you can, sir. It's only this: while my heart's so full that it +seems as if it couldn't hold the little that I already believe an' am +tryin' to live up to, where's the sense of my tryin' to believe some +more?" +</p> +<p> +Father Black was so unprepared to answer the question put thus +abruptly, accompanied as it was with a look of the deepest earnestness, +that there ensued an embarrassing silence in the shop for a moment or +two. +</p> +<p> +"My son," said the priest, at last, "do you fully believe all that you +have read in the good book that I am told you were taught to read while +you were in prison?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course I do, sir; I can't do anything else." +</p> +<p> +"You believe it all?" +</p> +<p> +"Indeed I do, sir." +</p> +<p> +"And are you trying to live according to it?" +</p> +<p> +"That I am, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Then, my son," said the priest, rising, "God bless you and keep you in +your way! Far be it from me to try to unsettle your mind or lead you +any further until you feel that you need leading. If ever you want to +come to me, you are welcome at any time of the day or night, and what +you cannot understand of what I tell you I won't expect you to believe. +Remember, my son, the Father of us all knows us just as we are, and +asks no more of any of us than we can do and be. Good day, my son, and +again—God bless you!" +</p> +<p> +When the priest went out, Sam rested again for a moment, and then +murmured to himself,— +</p> +<p> +"Two ministers an' one doctor, all good people, tryin' to show me the +way I should go, an' to tell me what I should do, an' me a-makin' only +about a dollar a day! I s'pose it's all right, or they wouldn't do it." +</p> + +<h2><a name="2HCH0013"></a> + CHAPTER XIII. +</h2> +<p> +Reynolds Bartram and Eleanor Prency rapidly became so fond of each +other that the people of the village predicted an early engagement. The +young man had become quite a regular attendant at church,—not that he +had any religious feeling whatever, but that it enabled him to look at +his sweetheart for an hour and a half every Sunday morning and walk +home with her afterwards. Although he had considerable legal practice, +it was somehow always his fortune to be on the street when the young +lady chanced to be out shopping, and after he joined her there +generally ensued a walk which had nothing whatever to do with shopping +or anything else except an opportunity for two young people to talk to +each other for a long time on subjects which seemed extremely +interesting to both. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, there were occasional clouds upon their sky. The young +man who loves his sweetheart better than he loves himself occasionally +appears in novels, but in real life he seems to be an unknown quantity, +and young Bartram was no exception to the general rule. In like +manner, the young woman who loses sight of her own will, even when in +the society of the man whom she thinks the most adorable in the world, +is not easy to discover in any ordinary circle of acquaintances. +</p> +<p> +Bartram and Eleanor met one afternoon, in their customary manner, on +the principal street of the village, and walked along side by side for +quite a way, finally turning and sauntering through several residence +streets, talking with each other on a number of subjects, probably of +no great consequence, but apparently very interesting to both of them. +Suddenly, however, it was the young man's misfortune to see the two +Kimper boys on the opposite side of the street, and as he eyed them, +his lip curled, and he said,— +</p> +<p> +"Isn't it somewhat strange that your estimable parents are so greatly +interested in the father of those wretched scamps?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothing that my father and mother do, Mr. Bartram," said Miss Prency, +"is at all strange. They are quite as intelligent as anyone of my +acquaintance, I am sure, and more so than most people whom I know, and +I have no doubt that their interest in the poor fellow has very good +grounds." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps so," said the young man, with another curl of his lip, which +exasperated his companion. "I sometimes wonder, however, whether men +and women, when they reach middle life and have been reasonably +successful and happy in their own affairs, are not likely to allow +their sympathies to run away with their intelligence." +</p> +<p> +"It may be so," said Eleanor, "among people of your acquaintance, as a +class, but I wish you distinctly to except my parents from the rule." +</p> +<p> +"But, my dear girl," said the young man, "your parents are exactly the +people to whom I am alluding." +</p> +<p> +"Then do me the favor to change the subject of conversation," said the +young lady proudly: "I never allow my parents to be criticised in my +hearing by anyone but myself." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, well," said the young man, "if you choose to take my remarks in +that way, I presume you are at liberty to do so; but I am sure you are +misunderstanding me." +</p> +<p> +"I don't see how it is possible to misunderstand anything that is said +so very distinctly: you lawyers have a faculty, Mr. Bartram, of saying +exactly what you mean—when you choose to." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I can't deny that I meant exactly what I said." +</p> +<p> +"But you can at least change the subject, can't you?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly, if you insist upon it; but the subject has been +interesting me considerably of late, and I am really wondering whether +my estimable friend, the judge, and his no less estimable wife may not +be making a mistake which their daughter would be the most effective +person in rectifying." +</p> +<p> +"You do me altogether too much honor, sir. Suppose you attempt to +rectify their mistakes yourself, since you seem so positive about their +existence. To give you an opportunity of preparing yourself to do so, I +will bid you good day." Saying which, the young woman abruptly turned +into the residence of an acquaintance to make an afternoon call, +leaving the young man rather more disconcerted than he would have liked +to admit to any of his acquaintances. +</p> +<p> +He retraced his steps, moodily muttering to himself, and apparently +arguing also, for the forefinger of one hand was occasionally touching +the palm of the other, and, apparently without knowing in what +direction he was walking, he found himself opposite the shop of the +shoemaker who had been the indirect cause of his quarrel with his +sweetheart. +</p> +<p> +"Confound that fellow!" muttered Bartram, "he's in my way wherever I +move. I've heard too much of him in the stores and the courts and +everywhere else that I have been obliged to go. I have to hear of him +at the residence of my own sweetheart whenever I call there, and now I +find Eleanor herself, who has never been able to endure any of the +commoner specimens of humanity, apparently taking up the cudgels in his +defence. I wish I could understand the fascination that fellow exerts +over a number of people so much better than himself. Hang it! I am +going to find out. He is a fool, if ever there was one, and I am not. +If I can't get at the secret of it, it will be the first time that I +have ever been beaten in examining and cross-examining such a common +specimen of humanity." +</p> +<p> +Thus speaking, the lawyer crossed the street and entered the shop, but, +to his disgust, found both the cobbler's sons there with their father. +The boys, with a curiosity common to all very young people, and +particularly intense among the classes who have nothing in particular +to think of, stared at him so fixedly that he finally rose abruptly and +departed without saying a word. The boys went out soon after, and Billy +remarked to Tom, as the two sauntered homeward,— +</p> +<p> +"Tom, what do you s'pose is the reason that feller comes in to see dad +so much?" +</p> +<p> +"Gettin' a pair of shoes made, I s'pose," said Tom, sulkily, for he had +just failed in an attempt to extract a quarter of a dollar from his +father. +</p> +<p> +"The shoes that dad was makin' for him," said Billy, "was done two or +three weeks ago, 'cause I took 'em to his office myself. But he comes +to the shop over an' over again, 'cause I've seen him there, an' +whenever he comes he manages to get talkin' with dad about religion. He +always begins it, too, 'cause dad never says nothin' about it unless +the lawyer starts it first." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Tom, "seems to me that if he wants to know anythin' on +that subject he could go to some of the preachers, that ought to know a +good deal more about it than dad does." +</p> +<p> +"Can't tell so much about that sort o' thing," said Billy. "There's +lots of men in this town that don't know much about some things that +knows a good deal about some others. You know when that dog we stole +last summer got sick, there was nobody in town could do anythin' for +him except that old lame nigger down in the holler." +</p> +<p> +"Well, you're a sweet one, ain't you?" said Tom. "What's dogs got to do +with religion, I'd like to know? You ought to be ashamed o' yourself, +even if you ain't never been to church." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Billy, "what I was meanin' is, some folks seem to know a +good deal about things without bein' learned, that other folks will +give their whole time to, an' don't know very much about. Every place +that I go to, somebody says somethin' to me about dad an' religion. +Say, Tom, do you know dad's mighty different to what he used to be +before he got took up?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course I do. He's always wantin' folks to work, an' always findin' +fault with everythin' we do that ain't right. He didn't use to pay no +attention to nothin'; we could do anythin' we wanted to; and here I am, +a good deal bigger, an' just about as good as a man, an' he pays more +attention to me than he ever did, an' fusses at me as if I was little +bit of a kid. An' I don't like it, either." +</p> +<p> +"Well, as he said to me t'other day, Tom, he's got to be pretty lively +to make up for lost time." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I wish, then," said Tom, meditatively, "that he hadn't never +lost no time, 'cause it's takin' all the spirit out o' me to be +hammered at all the time in the way he's a-doin'. I just tell you what +it is, Billy," said Tom, stopping short and smiting the palm of one +hand with the fist of the other, "I've half a mind, off and on, to go +to steady work of some kind, an' I'll be darned if I don't do it, if +dad don't let me alone." +</p> +<p> +"Mis' Prency was talkin' to me the other day about dad," said Billy, +"an' she asked me whether he wasn't workin' awful hard at home after he +left the shop, an' I said, 'Yes,' an' she said, 'I hope you all do all +you can to help him?' an' I kind o' felt ashamed, an' all I could say +was that I didn't see nothin' I could help him about, an' she said she +guessed if I'd think a little while I could find out. Say, Tom, let's +go to work a-thinkin', an' see if there ain't some way to give dad a +lift. Seems to me he's doin' everythin' for us all the whole time, an' +we ain't doin' nothin' at all for him." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, now, quit your preachin'," said the elder brother, contemptuously. +"If you don't, I'll lamm you." +</p> +<p> +The younger brother prudently lapsed into entire silence, and the +couple soon reached home. Tom strolled about the room, his lower lip +hanging down, bestowing glares of different intensity upon every +individual and object present, and even making a threatening motion +with his foot towards the baby, who had crawled about the floor until +it was weary and fretful and was uttering plaintive cries from time to +time. His mother was out of the house somewhere, and the baby continued +to protest against its physical discomforts until Tom indulged in a +violent expletive, which had the effect of temporarily silencing the +child and causing it to look up at him with wondering eyes. Tom +returned the infant's stare for a moment or two, and then, moved by +some spirit which he was not able to identify, he stooped and picked +up the infant and sat down in a chair. When his mother returned, she +was so astonished at what she saw that she hurried out of the house, +down to the shop, and dragged her husband away and back to his home. +When the door was opened, Sam Kimper was almost paralyzed to see his +big son rocking the youngest member of the family to and fro over the +rough floor, and singing, in a hoarse and apparently ecstatic voice,— +</p> +<p class="ctr"> + "I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines." +</p> + +<h2><a name="2HCH0014"></a> + CHAPTER XIV. +</h2> +<p> +"Well, doctor," said Deacon Quickset to his pastor one morning, "I hope +you have persuaded that wretched shoemaker to come into the ark of +safety and to lay hold of the horns of the altar." +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir," said Dr. Guide to his deacon, "the conversation I had +with that rather unusual character has led me to believe that he is +quite as safe at present as any of the members of my own congregation." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, doctor, doctor!" groaned the deacon, "that will never do! What is +the church to come to if everybody is to be allowed to believe just +what he wants to, and stop just when he gets ready, and not go any +further unless he understands everything before him? I don't need to +tell you, a minister of the gospel and a doctor of divinity, that we +have to live by faith and not by sight. I don't have to go over all the +points of belief to a man of your character to show you what a mistake +you are making, thinking that way about a poor common fellow that's +only got one idea in his head,—one that might be shaken out of it very +easily." +</p> +<p> +"Deacon," said the minister, "I am strongly of the impression that any +belief of any member of my congregation could be as easily shaken as +the one article of faith to which that poor fellow has bound himself. I +don't propose to disturb his mind any further. 'Milk for babes,' you +know the apostle says, 'and strong meat for men.' After he has proved +himself to be equal to meat, there will be ample time to experiment +with some of the dry bones which you seem anxious that I should force +upon him." +</p> +<p> +"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, with considerable dignity, "I didn't +expect this kind of talk from you. I have been sitting under your +ministrations a good many years, and, though sometimes I didn't think +you were as sharp-set as you ought to be, still I knew you were a man +of level head and good education and knew everything that was essential +to salvation; otherwise, why did the best college of our own +denomination make you a doctor of divinity? But I've got to let out +what is in my heart, doctor, and it is this, that there is no +stopping-place for any one that begins to walk the straight and narrow +way; he has got to keep on as long as he lives, and if he don't he is +going to be crowded off to one side." +</p> +<p> +"You are quite right, deacon," said the minister; "and therefore I +object to putting any stumbling-blocks in any such person's way." +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean to say, Dr. Guide," asked the deacon, earnestly, "that all +the articles of faith that you have always taught us were essential to +salvation are to be looked at as stumbling-blocks when they are offered +to somebody like that poor dying sinner?" +</p> +<p> +"I mean exactly that, deacon," said the minister, "and I mean still +more, and I mean to preach earnestly on the subject in a short time, +and at considerable length, that they have been stumbling-blocks to a +great many members of my congregation who should by this time be better +men and women than they are. For instance, deacon," said the minister, +suddenly, looking very stern and judicial, "Mrs. Poynter has been to me +several times to explain that the reason that she does not pay her +subscription to the last collection for the Missionary Association is +that she cannot get the interest on the mortgage that you have been +holding for her for a long time, and which, she says, you have +collected." +</p> +<p> +"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, icily, "religion is religion, and +business is business. You understand religion—to a certain extent; +though I must own that I don't think you understand it as far as I once +thought you did. But about business, you must excuse me if I say you +don't know anything, especially if it's business that somebody else has +to carry on. If Mrs. Poynter don't like the way I'm doing business for +her, she knows a way to get rid of me, and she can do it easily +enough." +</p> +<p> +"Deacon," said the minister, "I don't wish to offend you, but matters +of this sort may develop into a scandal, and injure the cause for which +both of us profess to be working with all our hearts. And, by the way, +the Browning children are likely to be sent away from the academy at +which they are boarding, because their expenses are not paid, according +to the terms of the trust reposed in you by their father. I have been +written to several times by the principal, who is an old friend of +mine. Can't the matter be arranged in some way so that I shall not hear +any more about it? I have no possible method of replying in a manner +that will satisfy the principal." +</p> +<p> +"Tell him to write to me, doctor; tell him to write to me. He has no +business to put such affairs before anybody else. He will get his +money. If he didn't believe it, he wouldn't have taken the children in +the first place. But I will see that you don't hear any more about +either of these matters, and, as I am pretty busy and don't get a +chance to see you as often as I'd like, I want to say that it seems to +me that now is just the time to get up a warmer feeling in the church. +It's getting cold weather, and folks are glad to get together in a warm +room where there's anything going on. Now, if you will just announce +next Sunday that there's going to be a series of special meetings to +awaken religious interest in this town, I think you will do a good deal +more good among those who need it than by worrying members of your own +congregation about things that you don't understand. I don't mean any +offence, and I hope you won't take any; but when a man is trying to do +business for a dozen other folks and they are all at him at once, there +are many things happening that he can't very well explain." +</p> +<p> +"I already had determined on a special effort at an early date," said +the pastor. "And still more: after two or three conversations with the +man whom you were so desirous that I should call upon, I have +determined to invite him to assist me in the conduct of the meetings." +</p> +<p> +"What?" exclaimed the deacon, "bring in that thief and drunkard and +ignorant fellow, that is only just out of jail, to teach the way of +life to people that need to know it? Why, Dr. Guide, you must be losing +your mind!" +</p> +<p> +"As you intimated about your own business affairs, deacon, that is a +subject upon which I am better qualified to judge than you. The +meetings will be held, and Mr. Kimper will be asked to assist. In fact, +I already have asked him. I trust that his presence will not cause us +to lose such valuable assistance as you yourself may be able to give." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I never!" exclaimed the deacon; "I never did! It beats all! Why, +if there was another church of our denomination in this town, I believe +I'd take my letters and go to it. I really would!" +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, the special meetings were immediately announced, and they +began directly afterwards, and, according to the pastor's announcement, +the ex-convict was asked to assist. His assistance did not seem to +amount to much to those who came through curiosity to listen. But after +he had made a speech, which, at the suggestion of Dr. Guide, had been +carefully prepared, but which was merely a rehearsal of what he already +had said to numerous individual questioners, there was impressive +silence in the lecture-room, in which the meetings were to be +conducted. +</p> +<p> +"My friends," said the pastor, rising soon afterwards, "when our Lord +was on earth, He once raised His eyes to heaven and said, 'I thank +thee, Father, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent +and revealed them unto babes.' I confess to you that I never was able +to understand the full meaning of this expression; but, as I have +become more and more acquainted with our friend who has just spoken to +you, and have learned how fully his faith is grounded, and how entirely +his life has been changed by what seems to us the mere beginnings of a +religious belief, I am constrained to feel that I have yet a great deal +to learn about my own profession and my own duty as a minister. What +has just been said to you contains the essence of everything which I +have tried to preach from my pulpit in twenty years. I wish it were in +my power to re-state it all as clearly as you have heard it this +evening, but I confess it is not. I fear to add anything to what you +have already heard, for I do not see how in any way I could make this +important subject any more clear to your comprehension. I will +therefore say no more, but ask, as is the custom, that anyone here +present who desires to change his life and wishes the assistance of the +prayers of God's people will please rise." +</p> +<p> +As is usual in all such meetings, there was a general turning of heads +from one side to the other. In an instant a single figure in the midst +of the little congregation arose, and a second later a hoarse voice +from one of the back seats, a voice which most persons present could +identify as that of Sam Kimper's son Tom, exclaimed,— +</p> +<p> +"Great Lord! it's Reynolds Bartram!" +</p> + +<h2><a name="2HCH0015"></a> + CHAPTER XV. +</h2> +<p> +The story that Reynolds Bartram had "stood up for prayers" went through +Bruceton and the surrounding country like wildfire. Scarcely anyone +believed it, no matter by whom he was told: the informer might be a +person of undoubted character, but the information was simply +incredible. People would not believe such a thing unless they could see +it with their own eyes and hear it with their own ears: so the special +meetings became at once so largely attended that they were held in the +body of the church instead of the little basement called the +"lecture-room." +</p> +<p> +The most entirely amazed person in the town was Deacon Quickset. Never +before had he been absent, unless sick, from any special effort of his +church to persuade the sinners to flee from the wrath to come; but when +Dr. Guide announced that he should ask Sam Kimper to assist him in the +special meetings, the deacon's conscience bade him halt and consider. +Dr. Guide was wrong,—there could be no doubt of that: would it be +right, then, merely for the sake of apparent peace and unity, for him, +the deacon, to seem to agree with his pastor's peculiar views? The +deacon made it a matter of prayer, and the result was that he remained +at home. +</p> +<p> +That Reynolds Bartram had been the first-fruits of the new special +effort was a statement which the deacon denied as soon as he heard it. +Frequent repetition of the annoying story soon began to impress him +with its probability, and finally a brother deacon, who had been +present, set all doubt at rest by the assertion that Bartram had not +only been converted, but was assisting at the meetings. When, however, +the attending deacon went on to inform his absentee brother that +Bartram had attributed his awakening and conversion to the influence of +Sam Kimper, Deacon Quickset lost his temper, and exclaimed,— +</p> +<p> +"It's all a confounded lie! It's a put-up job!" +</p> +<p> +"Brother Quickset!" exclaimed the astonished associate, with a most +reproving look. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I don't mean that <i>you lie</i>," explained the angry defender of the +faith. "If you heard Bartram say it, he <i>did</i> say it, of course. But +there's something wrong somewhere. The minister's rather lost his head +over Sam Kimper, just because the wretch isn't back in his old ways +again, and he's got a new notion in his head about how the gospel ought +to be preached. New notions have been plenty enough ever since true +religion started; there's always some man or men thinking out things +for themselves and forgetting everything else on account of them. There +were meddlers of that kind back to the days of the apostles, and +goodness knows the history of the church is full of them. They've been +so set in their ways that no sort of discipline would cure them; +they've even had to be hanged or burned, to save the faith from being +knocked to pieces." +</p> +<p> +"But, brother Quickset," pleaded the other deacon, "every one knows our +pastor isn't that sort of a person. He is an intelligent, thoughtful, +unexcitable man, that—" +</p> +<p> +"That's just the kind that always makes the worst heretics," roared the +deacon. "Wasn't Servetus that kind of a person? And didn't Calvin have +to burn him at the stake? I tell you, deacon, it takes a good deal of +the horror out of those times when you have a case of the kind come +right up before your eyes." +</p> +<p> +"What? Somebody being burned?" exclaimed the other deacon, raising his +hands in horror. +</p> +<p> +"No, no," testily replied the defender of the faith. "Only somebody +that ought to be." +</p> +<p> +"But where does the lying come in, that you were talking about?" +</p> +<p> +"I tell you just what I believe," said Deacon Quickset, dropping his +voice and drawing closer to his associate; "I believe Dr. Guide +believes just what he says,—of course nobody's going to doubt that +he's sincere,—but when it's come to the pinch he's felt a little +shaky. What does any other man do when he finds himself shaky about an +important matter of opinion? Why, he consults a lawyer, and gets +himself pulled through." +</p> +<p> +"But you don't mean to say that you think Dr. Guide would go to a rank, +persistent disbeliever in anything—but himself—like Ray Bartram, do +you, in a matter of this kind?" +</p> +<p> +"Why not? Ministers have often got lawyers to help them when they've +been muddled on points of orthodoxy. What the lawyer believes or don't +believe hasn't got anything to do with it: it's his business to believe +as his client does, and make other folks believe so, too. Ray Bartram +is just the sort of a fellow a man would want in such a case. He's got +that way of looking as if he knew everything, just like his father had +before him, that makes folks give in to him in spite of themselves. +Besides, he'll say or do anything to carry his point." +</p> +<p> +"Isn't that putting it rather strong, Brother Quickset?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course it isn't. Don't I know, I should like to ask? Don't I +always hire him myself?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh!" That was the only word the other deacon spoke, but his eyes +danced, and he twisted his lips into an odd grin. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, get out!" exclaimed the pillar of orthodoxy. "You needn't take it +that way. Of course what I ask him to do is only right: if I didn't +think so, I wouldn't ask him." +</p> +<p> +"Of course not, brother. But think a moment: do you really believe that +any form of professional pride would persuade that young man—proud as +Lucifer, and just as conceited and headstrong, a young man who always +has argued against religion and against every belief you and I hold +dear—to rise for prayers in an inquiry meeting, and afterwards say it +was the Christian life of Sam Kimper,—a man whom a high-born fellow +like Bartram must believe as near the animals as humanity ever is,—to +say it was the Christian life of Sam Kimper that convinced him of the +supernatural origin and saving power of Christianity?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't believe he put it that way: there must be something else +behind it. I'm going to find out for myself and do it at once, too. +This sort of nonsense must be stopped. Why, if men go to taking +everything Jesus Christ said just as He said it, everything in the +world in the way of business is going to be turned upside down." +</p> +<p> +Away went Deacon Quickset to Bartram's office, and was so fortunate as +to find the lawyer in. He went right at his subject: +</p> +<p> +"Well, young man, you've been in nice business, haven't you?—trying to +go up to the throne of grace right behind a jail-bird, while the +leaders and teachers whom the Lord has selected have been spurned by +you for years!" +</p> +<p> +Reynolds Bartram was too new a convert to have changed his old self and +manner to any great extent: so he flushed angrily, and retorted,— +</p> +<p> +"One thief is about as good as another, Deacon Quickset." +</p> +<p> +Then it was the deacon's turn to look angry. The two men faced each +other for a moment with flashing eyes, lowering brows, and hard-set +jaws. The deacon was the first to recover himself: he took a chair, and +said,— +</p> +<p> +"Maybe I haven't heard the story rightly. What I came around for was to +get it from first hands. Would you mind telling me?" +</p> +<p> +"I suppose you allude to my conversion?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said the deacon, with a look of doubt, "I suppose that's what we +will have to call it, for want of a better word." +</p> +<p> +"It is a very short story," said Bartram, now entirely calm, as he +leaned against his desk and folded his arms. "Like every other man with +any brains, I've always been interested in religion, intellectually, +and have had to believe that if it was right, as I heard it talked, it +had sometimes got away from its Founder in a manner for which there +seemed to be no excuse. Everything was being taught by the servants, +nothing by the Master. When I want to know your wishes, deacon, about +any matter in which we are mutually interested, I do not go to your +back door and inquire of your servants: I go to you, direct. But when +people—you among the number—have talked to me about religion, they've +always talked Peter and Paul and James and John,—never Jesus." +</p> +<p> +"The Apostle Paul—" began the deacon, but the lawyer snatched the +words from his lips, and continued: +</p> +<p> +"The Apostle Paul was the ablest lawyer that ever lived. I've studied +him a good deal, in past days, for style." +</p> +<p> +"Awful!" groaned the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"Not in the least," said the lawyer, with fine earnestness. "He was +just the man for his place and his time; 'twas his business to explain +the new order of things to the hard-headed Jews, of whom he had been +so notable a representative, that to convert him it was necessary that +he should be knocked senseless and remain so for the space of three +days: you remember the circumstance? He was just the man, too, to +explain the new religion to the heathens and pagans of his day, for +those Greeks and Romans were a brainy lot of people. But why should he +have been quoted to me, or any other man in the community? We don't +have to be convinced that Jesus lived: we believe it already. The +belief has been born in us; it has run through our blood for hundreds +of years. Do you know what I've honestly believed for years about a lot +of religious men in this town, you among the number? I've believed that +Jesus was so good that you've all been making hypocritical excuses, +through your theology, to get away from this!" +</p> +<p> +"Get away from my Saviour!" gasped the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no; you wanted enough of Him to be saved by,—enough to die by; +but when it comes to living by him—well, you know perfectly well that +you don't." +</p> +<p> +"Awful!" again groaned the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"When I heard of that wretched convict taking his Saviour as an +exemplar of daily life and conduct, it seemed ridiculous. If better men +couldn't do it, how could he? I had no doubt that while he was under +lock and key, with no temptations about him, and nothing to resist, he +had succeeded; but that he could do it in the face of all his old +influences I did not for an instant believe. I began to study him, as I +would any other criminal, and when he did not break down as soon as I +had expected, I was mean enough—God forgive me!—to try to shake his +faith. The honest truth is, I did not want to be a Christian myself, +and had resisted all the arguments I had heard; but I was helpless when +dear friends told me that nothing was impossible to me that was being +accomplished by a common fellow like Sam Kimper." +</p> +<p> +"Nothing is impossible to him that believes," said the deacon, finding +his tongue for a moment. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I believe; there was no trouble about that: 'the devils also +believe,'—you remember that passage, I suppose? Finally, I began to +watch Sam closely, to see if perhaps he wasn't as much of a hypocrite, +on the sly, as some other people I know. He can't make much money on +the terms he has with Larry, no matter how much work reaches the shop. +I've passed his shop scores of times, early and late, and found him +always at work, except once or twice when I've seen him on his knees. +I've hung about his wretched home nights, to see if he did not sneak +out on thieving expeditions; I've asked store-keepers what he bought, +and have found that his family lived on the plainest food. That man is +a Christian, deacon. When I heard that he was to make an exhortation at +the meeting, I went there to listen—only for that purpose. But as he +talked I could not help recalling his mean, little, insignificant face +as I'd seen it again and again when I was a younger man, dropping into +justices' courts for a chance to get practice at pleading, and he was +up for fighting or stealing. It was the same face: nothing can ever +make his forehead any higher or broader, or put a chin where nature +left one off. But the expression of countenance was so different—so +honest, so good—that I got from it my first clear idea of what was +possible to the man who took our Saviour for a model of daily life. It +took such hold of me that when the pastor asked those who wanted the +prayers of God's people to rise, I was on my feet in an instant; I +couldn't keep my seat." +</p> +<p> +"Then you do admit that there are some God's people besides Sam +Kimper?" sneered the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"I never doubted it," replied the lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, well," said the deacon, "if you'll go on, now you've begun, you'll +see you've only made a beginning. By the way, have you got that Bittles +mortgage ready yet?" +</p> +<p> +"No," said the lawyer, "and I won't have it ready, either. To draw a +mortgage in that way, so the property will fall into your hands quickly +and Bittles will lose everything, is simple rascality, and I'll have +nothing to do with it." +</p> +<p> +"It's all right if he's willing to sign it, isn't it?" asked the +deacon, with an ugly frown. "His signature is put on by his own free +will, isn't it?" +</p> +<p> +"You know perfectly well, Deacon Quickset," said the lawyer, "that +fellows like Bittles will sign anything without looking at it, if they +can get a little money to put into some new notion. A man's home should +be the most jealously guarded bit of property in the world: I'm not +going to deceive any man into losing it." +</p> +<p> +"I didn't suppose," said the deacon, "that getting religious would take +away your respect for the law, and make you above the law." +</p> +<p> +"It doesn't: it makes me resolve that the law shan't be used for +purposes of the devil." +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean to call me the devil?" screamed the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"I'm not calling you anything: I'm speaking of the unrighteous act you +want done. I won't do it for you; and, further, I'll put Bittles on his +guard against any one else who may try it." +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Bartram," said the deacon, rising, "I guess I'll have to take all +my law-business to somebody else. Good-morning." +</p> +<p> +"I didn't suppose I should have to suffer for my principles so soon," +said the lawyer, as the deacon started; "but when <i>you</i> want to be +converted, come see me and you'll learn I bear you no grudge. Indeed, +you'll be obliged to come to me, as you'll learn after you think over +all your affairs a little while." +</p> +<p> +The deacon stopped: the two men stood face to face a moment, and then +parted in silence. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0016"></a> + CHAPTER XVI. +</h2> +<p> +When Eleanor Prency heard that her lover had not only been converted +but was taking an active part in the special religious meetings, she +found herself in what the old women of the vicinity called a "state of +mind." She did not object to young men becoming very good; that is, she +did object to any young man of whom she happened to be very fond +becoming very bad. But it seemed to her that there was a place where +the line should be drawn, and that Reynolds Bartram had overstepped it. +That he might sometime join the church was a possibility to which she +had previously looked forward with some pleasurable sense of +anticipation. She belonged to the church herself, so did her father and +mother, and she had long been of the opinion that a little religion was +a very good thing for a young man who was in business and subject to +temptation. But, as she regarded the events of the past few evenings as +reported by people who had been to the meetings, she became more than +ever of the opinion that a little religion would go a long way, and +that Reynolds Bartram had more than was necessary. +</p> +<p> +To add to her annoyance, some of her intimate acquaintances who knew +that if the two young people were not engaged they certainly were very +fond of each other, and who regarded the match as a matter of course in +the near future, began to twit her on the possibility of her lover +becoming a minister should he go on in his present earnest course of +trying to save lost souls. The more they talked about her, in her +presence, as a minister's wife, the less she enjoyed the prospect. +Minister's wives in Bruceton were sometimes pretty, but they never +dressed very well, and Miss Eleanor was sure, from what she saw of +their lives, that they never had any good times. +</p> +<p> +Fuel was added to the fire of her discontent when her mother announced +one morning that Jane Kimper had arrived and would assist the couple at +their sewing. To Eleanor, Jane represented the Kimper family, the head +of which was the cause of Reynolds Bartram's extraordinary course. +Eleanor blamed Sam for all the discomfort to which she had been +subjected on account of Bartram's religious aspirations, and she was +inclined to visit upon the new seamstress the blame for all the +annoyances from which she had suffered. +</p> +<p> +Like a great many other girls who are quite affectionate daughters, she +neglected to make a confidante of her mother; and Mrs. Prency was +therefore very much surprised, on entering the room after a short +shopping-tour, to discover the two young women in utter silence, +Eleanor looking greatly vexed and the new sewing-woman very much +distressed about something. The older lady endeavored to engage the +couple in conversation. After waiting a little while for the situation +to make itself manifest, but getting only very short replies, she left +the room and made an excuse to call her daughter after her. +</p> +<p> +"My dear child, what is the matter? Doesn't Jane know how to sew?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Eleanor, "I suppose so; but she knows how to talk, too, and +she has done it so industriously and made me feel so uncomfortable that +I have not had any opportunity to examine her sewing." +</p> +<p> +"My daughter, what can she have said to annoy you so much?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh," exclaimed Eleanor, savagely snatching to pieces a bit of delicate +silk she held in her hand, "what every one else is talking about. What +does any one in this town have to talk about just now, I wonder, except +Reynolds Bartram and the church? Why is it that they all think it +necessary to come and talk to me about it? I am sure I am not specially +interested in church work, and I don't believe any one who has talked +to me about it is, but I hear nothing else from morning till night +when any visitor comes in. I was congratulating myself that I had an +excuse to-day, so that I need not see any one who might call, but that +dreadful girl is worse than all the rest put together. She seems to +think, as her folks at home haven't anything else to talk about, and as +her father is so delighted at the 'blessed change,' as she expresses +it, that has come over Bartram, that I should feel just as happy about +it." +</p> +<p> +"Well, daughter, don't you?" +</p> +<p> +"No, mother, I don't. I suppose it's perfectly dreadful in me to say +so, but I don't feel anything of the kind. It's just horrid; and I wish +you and father would take me away for a little while, or else let me go +off on a visit. People talk as if Ray belonged entirely to me,—as if I +had something to do about it; and you know perfectly well I haven't." +</p> +<p> +"Well, dear, is that any reason why you should be jealous of poor Sam +Kimper?" +</p> +<p> +"Jealous!" exclaimed Eleanor, her eyes flashing: "he is the worst enemy +I ever had. I haven't had so much annoyance and trouble in all my life +as have come to me during the past two or three days through that +wretched man. I wish him almost any harm. I even wish he had never gone +to the penitentiary" +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Prency burst out laughing. The young woman saw the blunder she +had committed, and continued, quickly,— +</p> +<p> +"I mean that I wish he had never got out again. The idea of a fellow +like that coming back to this town and talking and working on people's +sympathies in such a way as to carry intelligent people right off their +feet! Here you and father have been talking about him at the table +almost every day for a long time!" +</p> +<p> +"Well, daughter, you seemed interested in everything we said, and +thought he might do a great deal of good if he were sincere and +remained true to his professions." +</p> +<p> +"Great deal of good? Yes; but, of course, I supposed he'd do it among +his own set of people. I had no idea that he was going to invade the +upper classes of society and make a guy out of the very young man +that—" +</p> +<p> +Then Eleanor burst into tears. +</p> +<p> +"My dear child," said the mother, "you are making altogether too much +of very little. Of course, it's impossible that everybody in the town +sha'n't be surprised at the sudden change that has come over Mr. +Bartram, but it ought to comfort you to know that all the better people +in the town are very glad to learn of it, and that his example is +making them very much ashamed of themselves, and that, instead of the +meetings being conducted almost entirely by him and Sam Kimper, +hereafter—" +</p> +<p> +"Him and Sam Kimper! Mother! the idea of mentioning the two persons in +the same day!—in the same breath! How can you?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, dear, they will no longer manage the meetings by themselves, but +a number of the older citizens, who have generally held aloof from such +affairs, have resolved that it is time for them to do something, so +Reynolds will very soon be a less prominent figure, and I trust you +will hear less about him. But don't—I beg of you, don't visit your +displeasure on that poor girl. You can't imagine that she had anything +to do with her father's conversion, can you, still less with that of +Mr. Bartram? Now, do dry your eyes and try to come back to your work +and be cheerful. If you can't do more, you at least can be human. Don't +disgrace your parentage, my dear. <i>She</i> has not even done that as yet." +</p> +<p> +Then Mrs. Prency returned to the sewing-room and chatted a little while +with the new seamstress about the work in hand. Eleanor joined them in +a few moments, and the mental condition of the atmosphere became +somewhat less cloudy than before, when suddenly a stupid servant, who +had only just been engaged and did not entirely know the ways of the +house, ushered directly into the sewing-room Mr. Reynolds Bartram. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor sprang to her feet, spreading dress-goods, and needles, and +spools of silk, and thread, and scissors, and thimbles, all over the +floor. Jane looked up timidly for an instant, and bent her head lower +over her work. But Mrs. Prency received him as graciously as if she +were the Queen of England sitting upon her throne, with her royal robes +upon her. +</p> +<p> +"I merely dropped in to see the judge, Mrs. Prency. I beg pardon for +intruding upon the business of the day." +</p> +<p> +"I don't suppose he is at home," said the lady. "You have been at the +office?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and I was assured he was here. I was anxious to see him at once. +I suspect I have a very heavy case on my hands, Mrs. Prency. What do +you suppose I have agreed to do? I have promised, actually promised, to +persuade him to come down to the church this evening and take part in +the meetings." +</p> +<p> +Eleanor, who had just reseated herself, flashed an indignant look at +him. The young man saw it; but if the spirit of regeneration had worked +upon him to a sufficient extent to make him properly sensitive to the +looks and manners of estimable young women, he showed no sign of it at +the moment. +</p> +<p> +"I am sure I wish you well in your effort," said the judge's wife; +"and, if it is of any comfort to you, I promise that I will do all in +my power to assist you." +</p> +<p> +Then Eleanor's eyes flashed again, as she said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mother, the idea of father—" +</p> +<p> +"Well?" +</p> +<p> +"The idea of father taking part in such work!" +</p> +<p> +"Do you know of any one, daughter, whose character more fully justifies +him in doing so? If you do, I shall not hesitate to ask Mr. Bartram to +act as substitute until some one else can be found." +</p> +<p> +Then Eleanor's eyes took a very different expression, and she began to +devote herself intensely to her sewing. +</p> +<p> +"If you are very sure," said Bartram, "that your husband is not at +home, I must seek him elsewhere, I suppose. Good day! Ah, I beg pardon. +I did not notice—I was not aware that it was you, Miss Kimper. I hope +if you see your father to-day you will tell him that the good work that +he began is progressing finely, and that you saw me in search to-day of +Judge Prency to help him on with his efforts down at the church." +</p> +<p> +And then, with another bow, Bartram left the room. +</p> +<p> +If poor Jane could have been conscious of the look that Eleanor bent +upon her at that instant, she certainly would have been inclined to +leave the room and never enter it again. But she knew nothing of it, +and the work went on amid oppressive silence. Mrs. Prency had occasion +to leave the room for an instant soon after, and Jane lifted her head +and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Who would have thought, Miss, that that young man was going to be so +good, and all of a sudden, too?" +</p> +<p> +"He always was good," said Eleanor, "that is, until now." +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry I mentioned it, ma'am, but I s'pose he won't be as wild as +he and some of the young men about this town have been." +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean by wild? Do you mean to say that he ever was wild in +any way?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, perhaps not," said the unfortunate sewing-girl, wishing herself +anywhere else as she tried to find some method of escaping from the +unfortunate remark. +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean, then? Tell me: can't you speak?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, only you know, ma'am, some of the nicest young men in town come +down to the hotel nights to chat, and they take a glass of wine once in +a while, and smoke, and have a good time, and—" +</p> +<p> +Eleanor looked at Jane very sharply, but the sewing-girl's face was +averted, so that questioning looks could elicit no answers. Eleanor's +gaze, however, continued to be fixed. She was obliged to admit to +herself, as she had said to her mother several days before, that Jane +had a not unsightly face and quite a fine figure. She had heard that +there were sometimes "great larks," as the young men called them, at +the village hotel, and she wondered how much the underlings of the +establishment could know about them, and what stories they could tell. +Jane suddenly became to her more interesting than she had yet been. She +wondered what further questions to ask, and could not think of any that +she could put into words. Finally, she left the room, sought her +mother, and exclaimed,— +</p> +<p> +"Mother, I'm not going to marry Reynolds Bartram. If hotel servants +know all about his goings-on evenings, what stories may they not tell +if they choose? That sort of people will say anything they can of him. +I don't suppose they know the difference between the truth and a lie; +at least they never do when we hire them." +</p> +<p> +The mother looked at the daughter tenderly and shrewdly. Then she +smiled, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Daughter, I can see but one way for you to relieve your mind on that +subject." +</p> +<p> +"What is that?" asked the daughter. +</p> +<p> +"It is only this: convert Jane." +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0017"></a> + CHAPTER XVII. +</h2> +<p> +As the special meetings at the church went on, Deacon Quickset began to +fear that he had made a mistake. He had taken an active part in all +previous meetings of the same kind for more than twenty-five years. The +results of some of them had been very satisfactory, and the deacon +modestly but nevertheless with much self-gratulation had recounted his +own services in all of them. +</p> +<p> +"Whoso converteth a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul +from death and cover a multitude of sins; that is what the good book +says," said the deacon to himself one day, as he walked from his house +to his place of business; "and considering the number of people that I +have helped to snatch as brands from the burning, it does seem to me +that I must have covered a good many sins of my own,—such as they are. +I'm only a human being, and a poor, weak, and sinful creature, but +there's certainly a good many folks in this town that would not have +started in the right way when they did if it hadn't been for what I +said to them. Now, here's the biggest movement of the kind going on +that ever was known in this town, and I'm out of it. What for? Just +because I don't agree with Sam Kimper. I mean, just because Sam Kimper +don't agree with me. I don't suppose the thing would have come to +anything, anyhow, if it hadn't been for that fool of a young lawyer +setting his foot in it in the way he did. Everybody likes excitement, +and it's a bigger thing for him to have gone into this protracted +meeting than it would be for a circus to come to town with four new +elephants. It's rough." +</p> +<p> +The deacon took a few papers from his pocket, looked them over, his +face changing from grave to puzzled and from puzzled to angry and back +again through a whole gamut of facial expressions. Finally, he thrust +the entire collection back into his pocket, and said to himself,— +</p> +<p> +"If he keeps on at that work, I may have as much trouble as he let on +that I would. I don't see how some of these things are going to be +settled unless I have him to help me; and if he's going to be as +particular as he makes out, or as he did make out the other day, +there's going to be trouble, just as sure as both of us are alive. Of +course, the more prominent he is before the public, the less he'll want +to be in any case in court that takes hard fighting, particularly when +he don't think he's on the popular side. And there's that Mrs. Poynter +that's been bothering me to death about the interest on her mortgage: I +keep hearing that she's at the meetings every night, and that she never +lets an evening pass without speaking to Bartram. Maybe all she's +talking about is some sinner or other that she wants to have saved; but +if she acts with him as she does with me, I'm awfully afraid that she's +consulting him about that interest. +</p> +<p> +"I didn't think it was the right time of the year to start special +meetings, anyhow; and I don't know what our minister did it for without +consulting the deacons. He never did such a thing in his life before. +It does seem to me that once in a while everything goes crosswise, and +it all happens just when I need most of all to have things go along +straight and smooth. Gracious! if some of these papers in my pocket +don't work the way they ought to, I don't know how things are going to +come out." +</p> +<p> +The deacon had almost reached the business street as this soliloquy +went on, but he seemed inclined to carry on his conversation with +himself: so he deliberately turned about and slowly paced the way +backward towards his home. +</p> +<p> +"I shouldn't wonder," said he, after a few moments of silence, in +which his mind seemed busily occupied,—"I shouldn't wonder if that was +the best way out, after all. I do believe I'll do it. Yes, I will do +it. I'll go and buy out that shoe-shop of Larry Highgetty's, and I'll +let Sam Kimper have it at just what it costs, and trust him for all the +purchase-money. I don't believe the good-will of the place and all the +stock that is in it will cost over a couple of hundred dollars; and +Larry would take my note at six months almost as quick as he'd take +anybody else's money. If things go right I can pay the note, and if +they don't he can get the property back. But in the meantime folks +won't be able to say anything against me. They can't say then that I'm +down on Sam, like some of them say now, and if anybody talks about +Bartram and the upper-crust folks that have been helping the meetings +along, I can just remind them that talk is cheap and that it's money +that tells. I'll do it, as sure as my name's Quickset; and the quicker +I do it the better it will be for me, if I'm not mistaken." +</p> +<p> +The deacon hurried off to the shoe-store. As usual, the only occupant +of the shop was Sam. +</p> +<p> +"Where's Larry, Sam?" asked the deacon, briskly. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know, sir," said Sam, "but I'm afraid he's at Weitz's +beer-shop." +</p> +<p> +"Well, Sam," said the deacon, trying to be pleasant, though his mouth +was very severely set, "while you're in the converting line,—which I +hear you're doing wonders at, and I'm very glad to hear it,—why don't +you begin at home and bring about a change in Larry?" +</p> +<p> +"Do you know, deacon," said Sam, "I was thinkin' about the same thing? +and I'm goin' to see that priest of his about—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Sam!" groaned the deacon. "The idea of going to see a Catholic +priest about a fellow-man's salvation, when there's a special meeting +running in our own church and you've taken such an interest in it!" +</p> +<p> +"Every man for his own, deacon," said Sam. "I don't believe Larry cares +anythin' about the church that you belong to, an' that I've been goin' +to for some little time, an' I know he thinks a good deal of Father +Black. I've found out myself, after a good deal of trouble in this +world, that it makes a good deal of difference who talks to you about +such things. Now, he thinks Father Black is the best man there is in +the world. I don't know anythin' about that, though I don't know of +anybody in this town I ever talked to that left me feelin' more +comfortable an' looked more like a good man himself than that old +priest did one day when he come in here an' talked to me very kindly. +Why, deacon, he didn't put on any airs at all. He talked just as if he +was a good brother of mine, an' he left me feelin' that if I wasn't +good I was a brother of his anyhow. That's more than I can say most +other folks in this town ever did, deacon." +</p> +<p> +The deacon was so horrified at this unexpected turn of the conversation +that for a little while he entirely forgot the purpose for which he had +come. But he was recalled to his senses by the entrance of Reynolds +Bartram. His eyes met the lawyer's, and at once the deacon looked +defiant. Then he pulled himself together, and, with a mighty effort, +remarked,— +</p> +<p> +"Sam, some folks say I am down on you, and that I don't sympathize with +you. Some folks talk a good deal for you, and to you, and don't do +anything for you. But I just came in this morning for the sole purpose +of saying this: You've had a hard row to hoe, and you've worked at it +first rate ever since you got out of jail. I've been watching you, +though perhaps you don't know it, and I came here to say that I believe +so much in your having had a change—though I do insist you haven't +gone far enough—I came around to say that I was going to buy out this +place from Larry, and give it to you at your own terms, so that you can +make all the money that comes in." +</p> +<p> +Sam looked up in astonishment at the lawyer. The lawyer looked down +smilingly at the deacon, who was seated on a very low bench, and +said,— +</p> +<p> +"Deacon, we're all a good, deal alike in this world in one respect: our +best thoughts come too late. I don't hesitate to say that some good +thoughts, which I have heard you urge upon other people but which you +never mentioned to me, have come to me a deal later than they should. +But, on the other hand, this matter of making Sam the master of this +shop has already been attended to. I've bought it for him myself, and +made him a free and clear present of it last night in token of the +immense amount of good which he has done me by personal example." +</p> +<p> +"Bless my soul!" exclaimed the deacon. +</p> +<p> +"I don't mind saying," continued the lawyer, "that if <i>you</i> will go to +work and do me half as much good, I will buy just as much property and +make you a free and clear present of it. I am open to all possible +benefits of that kind nowadays, and willing to pay for them, so far as +money will go, to the full extent of my income and capital." The deacon +arose and looked about him in a dazed sort of fashion. Then he looked +at the lawyer inquiringly, put his hand in his pocket, drew forth a +mass of business papers, shuffled them over once more, looked again at +the lawyer, and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Bartram, I've got some particular business with you that I would +like to talk about at once. Would you mind coming to my office, or +taking me around to yours?" +</p> +<p> +"Not at all. Good luck, Sam," said the lawyer. "Good day." +</p> +<p> +The two men went out together. No sooner were they outside the shop +than the deacon said, rapidly,— +</p> +<p> +"Reynolds Bartram, my business affairs are in the worst possible +condition. You know more about them than anybody else. You have done as +much as anybody else to put them in the muddle that they're in now. You +helped me into them, and now, church or no church, religion or no +religion, you've got to help me out of them, or I've got to go to the +devil. Now, what are you going to do about it?" +</p> +<p> +"Is it as bad as that?" murmured the lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, it's as bad as that, and I could put it a good deal stronger if +it was necessary. Everything has been going wrong. That walnut timber +tract over on the creek, that I expected to get about five thousand +dollars out of, isn't worth five thousand cents. Since the last time I +was over there some rascal stole every log that was worth taking, and +the place wouldn't bring under the hammer half what I gave for it. I +have been trying to sell it, but somehow everybody that wanted it +before has found out what has been going on. This is an awfully mean +world on business-men that don't look out for themselves all the time." +</p> +<p> +"I should not think you had ever any right to complain of it, deacon," +said the lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, now," said the deacon, "I'm not in any condition to be +tormented to-day, Reynolds,—I really ain't. I'm almost crazy. I +suppose old Mrs. Poynter has been at you to get her interest-money out +of me, hasn't she?" +</p> +<p> +"Hasn't spoken a word to me about it," said the lawyer. +</p> +<p> +"Well, I heard she was after you every night in the meeting—" +</p> +<p> +"She was after me, talking about one sinner or another of her +acquaintance, but she didn't mention you, deacon. It's a sad mistake, +perhaps, but in a big town like this a person can't think of everybody +at once, you know." +</p> +<p> +"For heaven's sake, Bartram, shut up, and tell me what I have to do. +Time is passing. I must have a lot of ready cash to-day, somehow, and +here are all these securities; the minute I try to sell them people go +to asking questions, and you're the only man they can come to. Now, +you know perfectly well what the arrangements and understandings were +when these papers were drawn, because you drew them all yourself. Now, +if people come to you I want you to promise me that you're not going to +go back on me." +</p> +<p> +The deacon still held the papers in his hand, gesticulating with them. +As he spoke, the lawyer took them, looked at them, and finally said,— +</p> +<p> +"Deacon, how much money do you need?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't get through," said the deacon, "with less than nine hundred +dollars ready cash, or first-class checks and notes, this very day." +</p> +<p> +"Humph!" said the lawyer, still handling the papers. "Deacon, I'll make +you a straightforward proposition concerning that money. If you will +agree that I shall be agent of both parties in any settlement of these +agreements which I hold in my hand, and that you will accept me as sole +and final arbitrator in any differences of opinion between you and the +signers, I will agree personally to lend you the amount you need, on +your simple note of hand, renewable from time to time until you are +ready to pay it." +</p> +<p> +"Ray Bartram," exclaimed the deacon, stopping short and looking the +lawyer full in the face, "what on earth has got into you?" +</p> +<p> +"Religion, I guess, deacon," said the lawyer. "Try it yourself: it'll +do you good." +</p> +<p> +The lawyer walked off briskly, and left the deacon standing alone in +the street. As the deacon afterwards explained the matter to his wife, +he felt like a stuck pig. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0018"></a> + CHAPTER XVIII. +</h2> +<p> +"Tom," said Sam Kimper to his eldest son one morning after breakfast, +"I wish you'd walk along to the shop with me. There's somethin' I want +to talk about." +</p> +<p> +Tom wanted to go somewhere else; what boy doesn't, when his parents +have anything for him to do? Nevertheless, the young man finally obeyed +his father, and the two left the house together. +</p> +<p> +"Tom," said the father, as soon as the back door had closed behind +them, "Tom, I'm bein' made a good deal more of than I deserve, but +'tain't any of my doin's, and men that ort to know keep tellin' me that +I'm doin' a lot o' good in town. Once in a while, though, somebody +laughs at me,—laughs at somethin' I say. It's been hurtin' me, an' I +told Judge Prency so the other day; but he said, 'Sam, it isn't what +you say, but the way you say it.' You see, I never had no eddication; I +was sent to school, but I played hookey most of the time." +</p> +<p> +"Did you, though?" asked Tom, with some inflections that caused the +cobbler to look up in time to see that his son was looking at him +admiringly; there could be no doubt about it. Sam had never been looked +at that way before by his big boy, and the consequence was an entirely +new and pleasurable sensation. After thinking it over a moment, he +replied,— +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I did, an' any fun that was to be found I looked after in them +days. I don't mind tellin' you that I don't think I found enough to pay +for the trouble; but things was as they was. Now I wish I'd done +diff'rent; but it's too late to get back what I missed by dodgin' +lessons. Tom, if I could talk better, it would be a good thing for me; +but I ain't got no time to go to school. You've been to school a lot: +why can't you come to the shop with me, an' sit down an' tell me where +an' how I don't talk like other folks?" +</p> +<p> +Tom indulged in a long and convulsive chuckle. +</p> +<p> +"When you've done laughin' at your father, Tom," continued Sam, "he'll +be glad to have you say somethin' that'll show him that you ain't as +mean an' low down as some folks think you be." +</p> +<p> +"I ain't no school-teacher," said Tom, "an' I ain't learned no fancy +ways of talkin'!" +</p> +<p> +"I don't expect you to tell me mor'n you know," said the parent, "but +if you've got the same flesh an' blood as me, you'll stand by me when +I'm bothered. The puppies of a dog would do that much for their parent +in trouble." +</p> +<p> +Tom did not answer; he sulked a little while, but finally entered the +shop with his father and sat down, searched his mind a few moments, and +then recalled and repeated two injunctions which his last teacher had +most persistently urged upon her pupils,—that they should not drop +letters from the ends of words, nor say "ain't" or "hain't." Then Sam +devoted himself to practice by talking aloud, and Tom became so amused +by the changes in his father's intonation that he finally was obliged +to go home and tell his mother and Mary. +</p> +<p> +"Stop that,—right away!" exclaimed Mrs. Kimper, as soon as Tom got +fairly into his story. "Your father ain't goin' to be laughed at in his +own house, by his own family, while I'm around to stand up for him." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, stuff!" exclaimed Tom, in amazement. Then he laughed as he +reverted to his father's efforts at correct pronunciation, and +continued his story. Suddenly he was startled by seeing his mother +snatch a stump of a fire-shovel from the hearth and brandish it over +his head. +</p> +<p> +"You give up that talk right away!" exclaimed the woman. "Your father +is astonishin' the life out of me ev'ry day by the new way he's talkin' +an' livin'. He's the best man in this town; I don't care if he <i>has</i> +been in the penitentiary, I'm not goin' to hear a bit of fun made of +him, not even by one of his own young ones." +</p> +<p> +All the brute in Tom's nature came to the surface in an instant, yet +his amazement kept him silent and staring. It was such a slight, +feeble, contemptible figure, that of the woman who was threatening to +punish him,—him, Tom Kimper, whom few men in town would care to meet +in a trial of strength. It set Tom to thinking; he said afterwards the +spectacle was enough to make a brickbat wake up and think. At last he +exclaimed, tenderly,— +</p> +<p> +"Mother!" +</p> +<p> +The woman dropped her weapon and burst into tears, sobbing aloud,— +</p> +<p> +"You never said it that way before." +</p> +<p> +Tom was so astonished by what he saw and heard that he shuffled up to +his mother and awkwardly placed his clumsy hand upon her cheek. In an +instant his mother's arms were around his neck so tight that Tom feared +he was being strangled. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Tom, Tom! what's got into me? What's got into both of us? +Ev'rythin's diff'rent to what it used to be. It's carryin' me right off +my feet sometimes. I don't know how to stand it all, an' yet I +wouldn't have it no other way for nothin'." +</p> +<p> +Tom could not explain, but he did something a great deal better; for +the first time since he ceased being a baby and his mother began to +tire of him, he acted affectionately to the woman who was leaning upon +him. He put his strong arm around her, and repeated the single word +"Mother" often and earnestly. As for Mrs. Kimper, no further +explanation seemed necessary. +</p> +<p> +After mother and son had become entirely in accord, through methods +which only Heaven and mothers understand, Mrs. Kimper began to make +preparations for the family's mid-day meal. While she worked, her +daughter Jane appeared, and threw cold water upon a warm affectional +glow by announcing,— +</p> +<p> +"I'm fired." +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean, child?" asked her mother. +</p> +<p> +"Just what I say. That young Ray Bartram, that's the Prency gal's +feller, has been comin' to the house almost ev'ry day while I've been +workin' there, an' he's been awful polite to me. He never used to be +that way when him an' the other young fellers in town used to come down +to the hotel an' drink in the big room behind the saloon. Miss Prency +got to askin' me questions about him this morning, an' the less I told +her the madder she got, an' at last she said somethin' that made me get +up an' leave." +</p> +<p> +"What's <i>he</i> ever had to do with <i>you</i>?" asked Mrs. Kimper, after a +long, wondering stare. +</p> +<p> +"Nothin', except to talk impudent. Mother, what's the reason a poor gal +that don't ever look for any company above her always keeps findin' it +when she don't want it?" +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper got the question so mixed with her culinary preparations +that she was unable to answer, or to remember that she already had +salted the stew which she was preparing for dinner. As she wondered and +worked, her husband came in. +</p> +<p> +"Wife," said Sam, "everything seems turning upside down. Deacon +Quickset came into the shop a while ago. What do you suppose he wanted? +Wanted me to pray for him! I said I would, and I did; but I was so took +aback by it that I had to talk to somebody, so I came home." +</p> +<p> +"Why didn't you go talk to the preacher or Ray Bartram?" asked Mrs. +Kimper, after the natural expressions of astonishment had been made. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Sam, "I suppose it was because I wanted to talk to +somebody that I was better acquainted with." +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimper looked at her husband in astonishment. Sam returned his +wife's gaze, but with a placid expression of countenance. +</p> +<p> +"I don't amount to much, Sam," Mrs. Kimper finally sighed, with a +helpless look. +</p> +<p> +"You're my wife; that's much—to me. Some day I hope it will be the +same to you." +</p> +<p> +There was a knock at the door, and as soon as Sam shouted "Come in!" +Judge Prency entered. +</p> +<p> +"Sam," said he, "ever since I saw you were in earnest about living a +new life, I've been trying to arrange matters so that your boy Joe—I +suppose you know why he ran away—could come back without getting into +trouble. It was not easy, for the man from whom he—took something +seemed to feel very ugly. But he has promised not to prosecute." +</p> +<p> +"Thank God!" exclaimed Sam. "If now I knew where the boy was—" +</p> +<p> +"I've attended to that, too. I've had him looked up and found and +placed in good hands for two or three weeks, and I don't believe you +will be ashamed of him when he returns." +</p> +<p> +Sam Kimper lapsed into silence, and the judge felt uncomfortable. At +last Sam exclaimed,— +</p> +<p> +"I feel as if it would take a big prayer and thanksgiving meeting to +tell all that's in my mind." +</p> +<p> +"A very good idea," said the judge; "and, as you have the very people +present who should take part in it, I will make haste to remove all +outside influence." So saying, the judge bowed in his most courtly +manner to Mrs. Kimper and Jane, and departed. +</p> +<p> +"Let us all pray," said Sam, dropping upon his knees. +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0019"></a> + CHAPTER XIX. +</h2> +<p> +Eleanor Prency was a miserable young woman during most of the great +revival season which followed the special meetings at Dr. Guide's +church. She did not see Ray Bartram as much as of old, for the young +man spent most of his evenings at the church, assisting in the work. He +sang no wild hymns, nor did he make any ecstatic speeches; nevertheless +his influence was great among his old acquaintances and upon the young +men of the town. To "stand up for prayers" was to the latter class the +supreme indication of courage or conviction; and any of them would have +preferred to face death itself, at the muzzle of a gun, to taking such +a step. But that was not all; Bartram had for some years been the +leader of the unbelievers in the town; the logic of a young man who was +smart enough to convince judges on the bench in matters of law was good +enough for the general crowd when it was brought to bear upon religion. +As one lounger at Weitz's saloon expressed himself,— +</p> +<p> +"None of the preachers or deacons or class-leaders was ever able to +down that young feller before, but now he's just the same as gone and +hollered 'enough.' It's no use for the rest of us to put on airs after +that; nobody'll believe us, and like as not he'll be the first man to +tell us what fools we be. I'm thinkin' a good deal of risin' for +prayers myself, if it's only to get through before he gives me a +talkin' to." +</p> +<p> +When, however, the entire membership of the church aroused to the fact +that work was to be done, and Judge Prency and other solid citizens +began to take part in the church work, Bartram rested from his efforts +and began again to spend his evenings at the home of the young woman +whom he most admired. A change seemed to have come over others as well +as himself. Mrs. Prency greeted him more kindly than ever, but Eleanor +seemed different. She was not as merry, as defiant, or as sympathetic +as of old. Sometimes there was a suggestion of old times in her manner, +but suddenly the young woman would again become reserved and distant. +</p> +<p> +One evening, when she had begun to rally him about something, and +quickly lapsed into a different and languid manner, Bartram said,— +</p> +<p> +"Eleanor, nothing seems as it used to be between you and me. I wish I +knew what was wrong in me." +</p> +<p> +The girl suddenly interested herself in the contents of an antiquated +photograph album. +</p> +<p> +"I must have become dreadfully uninteresting," he continued, "if you +prefer the faces in that album, of which I've heard you make fun time +and again. Won't you tell me what it is? Don't be afraid to talk +plainly: I can stand anything—from you." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, nothing," said Eleanor, continuing to pretend interest in the +pictures. +</p> +<p> +"'Nothing' said in that tone always means something—and a great deal +of it. Have I said or done anything to offend you?" +</p> +<p> +"No," said Eleanor, with a sigh, closing the book and folding her +hands, "only—I didn't suppose you ever could become a prosy, poky old +church-member." +</p> +<p> +The reply was a laugh, so merry, hearty, and long that Eleanor looked +indignant, until she saw a roguish twinkle in Bartram's eyes; then she +blushed and looked confused. +</p> +<p> +"Please tell me what I have said or done that was poky or prosy," asked +Bartram. "We lawyers have a habit of asking for proof as well as +charges. I give you my word, my dear girl, that never in all my +previous life did I feel so entirely cheerful and good-natured as I do +nowadays. I have nothing now to trouble my conscience, or spoil my +temper, or put me out of my own control, as used frequently to happen. +I never before knew how sweet and delightful it was to live and meet my +fellow-beings,—particularly those I love. I can laugh at the slightest +provocation now, instead of sometimes feeling ugly and saying sharp +things. Every good and pleasant thing in life I enjoy more than ever; +and as you, personally, are the very best thing in life, you seem a +thousand times dearer and sweeter to me than ever before. Perhaps you +will laugh at me for saying so, but do you know that I, who have +heretofore considered myself a little better than any one else in the +village, am now organizing a new base-ball club and a gymnasium +association, and also am trying to get enough subscribers to build a +toboggan slide? I never was in such high spirits and in such humor for +fun." +</p> +<p> +Eleanor looked amazed, but she relieved her mind by replying,— +</p> +<p> +"I never saw religion work that way on other people." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed! Where have your blessed eyes been? Hasn't your own father been +a religious man for many years, and is there any one in town who knows +better how to enjoy himself when he is not at work?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes; but father is different from most people." +</p> +<p> +"Quite true; he must be, else how could he be the parent of the one +incomparable young woman—" +</p> +<p> +"Ray!" +</p> +<p> +"Don't try to play hypocrite, please, for you're too honest. You know +you agree with me." +</p> +<p> +"About father? Certainly; but—" +</p> +<p> +"'About father?' More hypocrisy. You know very well what I mean. Dear +little girl, listen to me. I suppose there are people scared into +religion through fear of the wrath to come, who may become dull and +uninteresting. It is a matter of nature, in a great many cases. I +suppose whatever is done for selfish reasons, even in the religious +life, may make people uncertain and fearful, and sometimes miserable. +But when a man suddenly determines to model his life after that of the +one and only perfect man and gentleman the world ever knew, he does not +find anything to make him dull and wretched. We hear so much of Jesus +the Saviour that we lose sight of Jesus the man. He who died for us was +also He whose whole recorded life was in conformity with the tastes and +sympathies of people of His day. Do you imagine for an instant that if +He had been of solemn, doleful visage, any woman would ever have +pressed through a crowd to touch the hem of His garment, that she might +be made well? Do you suppose the woman of Samaria would have lingered +one instant at the well of Jacob, had Jesus been a man with a face +like—well, suppose I say Deacon Quickset? Do you think mothers would +have brought their children to Him that He might bless them? Do you +imagine any one who had not a great, warm heart could have wept at the +grave of his friend Lazarus, whom He knew He had the power to raise +from the dead? Didn't He go to the marriage jollification at Cana, and +take so much interest in the affair that He made up for the deficiency +in the host's wine-cellar? Weren't all His parables about matters that +showed a sympathetic interest in the affairs which were nearest to the +hearts of the people around Him? If all these things were possible to +one who had His inner heart full of tremendous responsibilities, what +should not His followers be in the world,—so far as all human cheer +and interest go?" +</p> +<p> +"I've never heard him spoken of in that way before," said Eleanor, +speaking as if she were in a brown study. +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad—selfishly—that you hear it the first time from me, then. +Never again will I do anything of which I think He would disapprove; +but, my dear girl, I give you my word that although occasionally—too +often—I have been lawless in word and action, I never until now have +known the sensation of entire liberty and happiness. You never again +will see me moody, or obstinate, or selfish. I'm going to be a +gentleman in life, as well as by birth. You believe me?" +</p> +<p> +"I must believe you, Ray; I can't help believing whatever you say. But +I never saw conversion act that way upon any one else, and I don't +understand it." +</p> +<p> +Bartram looked quizzically at the girl a moment, and then replied,— +</p> +<p> +"Try it yourself; I'm sure it will affect you just as it does me." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Ray, no; I never can bring myself to stand up in church to be +prayed for." +</p> +<p> +"Don't do it, then. Pray for yourself. I don't know of any one to whom +Heaven would sooner listen. But you can't avoid being prayed for by one +repentant sinner: have the kindness to remember that." +</p> +<p> +"Ray!" murmured Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +"And," continued Bartram, rising and placing an arm around Eleanor's +shoulders, "the sooner our prayers can rise together, the sooner you +will understand me, believe me, and trust me. My darling,—the only +woman whom I ever loved,—the only woman of whom I ever was fond,—the +only one to whom I ever gave an affectionate word or caress—" +</p> +<p> +There are conversations which reach a stage where they should be known +only to those who conduct them. When Bartram started to depart, his +love-life was unclouded. +</p> +<p> +"Ray," said Eleanor, at the door, "will you oblige me by seeing Sam +Kimper in the morning and asking him to tell his daughter that I +particularly wish she would come back to us?" +</p> + + +<h2><a name="2HCH0020"></a> + CHAPTER XX. +</h2> +<p> +The revival into which were merged the special meetings at Dr. Guide's +church continued so long that religion became absolutely and +enthrallingly fashionable in Bruceton. Many drinking men ceased to +frequent the bar-room of the town, some old family feuds came to an +end, and several couples who should have been married long before were +joined in the holy bonds of wedlock. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, the oldest inhabitants agreed that never before had life +in Bruceton been so pleasant. Everybody was on good terms with +everybody else, and no one, no matter how poor or common, lacked +pleasant greetings on the street from acquaintances of high degree. +</p> +<p> +There had been some wonderful conversions during the meetings; +hard-swearing, hard-drinking men had abandoned their evil ways, and +were apparently as willing and anxious as any one else to be informed +as to how to conform their lives to the professions which they had +made. All the other churches sympathized with the efforts which Dr. +Guide's flock had been making, for they themselves had been affected to +their visible benefit. +</p> +<p> +Dr. Guide himself became one of the humblest of the humble. Always a +man of irreproachable life and warm heart, it never had occurred to him +that anything could be lacking in his church methods. But he also was a +man of quick perceptions: so, as the meetings went on, and he realized +that their impetus was due not at all to anything he had said or done, +but solely to the personal example of Sam Kimper, he fell into deep +thought and retrospection. He resolutely waived all compliments which +his clerical brethren of other denominations offered him on what they +were pleased to call the results of his ministrations, and honestly +insisted that the good work was begun by the example set by Sam Kimper, +the ex-convict. +</p> +<p> +Dr. Guide was an honest believer in the "church universal," but he had +been trained to regard the Church of Rome as the "scarlet woman" of +Revelation, and whenever he met Father Black in the streets he +recognized him only with a dignified bow. The day before the closing +meeting, however, he encountered the priest at the turning of a +corner,—too suddenly for a change of manner. +</p> +<p> +"My dear brother!" exclaimed Father Black, extending both hands and +grasping Dr. Guide's hands warmly, "God bless you for the good work you +have been doing!" +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir," said the pastor, rallying all his powers to withstand +the surprise, "I am very glad that you are pleased to regard the work +as good." +</p> +<p> +"How can I help it?" said the priest, impetuously. "The spirit which +your church efforts have awakened has spread throughout the town and +affected everybody. There are men—and some women—of my flock whom +I've been trying in vain for years to bring to confession, so as to +start them on a new life. I've coaxed them, threatened them, prayed for +them with tears of agony, for what soul is not dear to our Saviour? The +worse the soul, the more the Saviour yearns to reclaim it. You remember +the parable of the ninety-and-nine?" +</p> +<p> +"Who can forget it?" said the reverend doctor, tears springing to his +eyes. +</p> +<p> +"No one, my dear brother,—no one," replied the priest. "Well, my lost +sheep have all come back. The invisible Church has helped the visible, +and—" +</p> +<p> +"Is my Church, then, invisible?" asked Dr. Guide, with a quick relapse +into his old-time manner. +</p> +<p> +"My dear brother," exclaimed the priest, "which is the greater? Which +exists only for the other?" +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon," said Dr. Guide, his face thawing in an instant. +</p> +<p> +"Again I thank you from the depths of my heart," said the old priest, +"and—" +</p> +<p> +"Father Black," interrupted the pastor, "the more you thank me the +more uncomfortable I feel. Whatever credit is awarded, except to +Heaven, for the great and unexpected experiences which have been made +manifest at my church, belongs entirely to a man who, being the lowest +of the low, has set forth an example of perfect obedience." +</p> +<p> +"That poor cobbler? You are right, I verily believe, and I shall go at +once to pour out my heart to him." +</p> +<p> +"Let me go with you, Father—<i>Brother</i>, Black. I—" here Dr. Guide's +face broke into a confidential smile,—"I want to go to confession +myself, for the first time in my life, if you will allow the cobbler to +be my priest. I want a reputable witness, too." +</p> +<p> +Then the two clergymen, arm in arm, proceeded to Sam Kimper's shop, to +the great astonishment of all the villagers who saw them. +</p> +<p> +That night, at the closing meeting of the revival series, Dr. Guide +delivered a short but pointed talk from the text, "Verily I say unto +you, the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before you." +</p> +<p> +"My friends," said he, "these words were spoken by Jesus one day when +the chief priests and elders, who were the types of the clergymen and +formal religious people of our day, questioned Him about His works and +His authority. They had a mass of tradition and doctrine by which they +were justified in their own eyes, and the presence, the works, the +teachings and the daily life of Jesus were a thorn in their flesh. It +annoyed them so that they crucified Him in order to be rid of His purer +influence. We, who know more of Him than they, have been continually +crucifying our Lord afresh by paying too much attention to the letter +and ignoring the spirit. 'These things should ye have done, and not +left the others undone.' I say these words not by way of blame, but of +warning. Heaven forbid that I ever shall need to repeat them!" +</p> +<p> +As the congregation looked about at one and another whom the cap might +fit, everybody chanced to see Deacon Quickset arise. +</p> +<p> +"My friends," said the deacon, "I'm one of the very kind of people +Jesus meant when He said the words that our pastor took for his text +to-night; and, for fear that some one mayn't know it, I arise to own up +to it myself. Nobody's stood up for the letter of the law and the plan +of salvation stronger than I, and nobody has taken more pains to dodge +the spirit of it. The scales have fallen from my eyes lately, but I +suppose all of you have been seeing me as I am for a long, long time, +and you've known me for the hypocrite that I now can see I've always +been. I've done a good many things that I oughtn't to have done. I've +told half-truths that were worse than lies. I've 'devoured widows' +houses, and for a pretence made long prayers,' as the gospel says. But +the worst thing I've done, and the thing I feel most sinful about, is +that when an unfortunate fellow-citizen of ours came back to this town +and tried to live a right life I did all I could to discourage him and +make him just like myself. I want right here, encompassed about by a +mighty cloud of witnesses, to confess that I've done that man an awful +wrong, and I'm sorry for it. I've prayed to God to forgive me; but I'm +not going to stop at that. Right here before you all I want to ask that +man himself to forgive me, as I've asked him in private. I'm not going +to stop at that, either. That man's life has opened my eyes, in spite +of myself, to all the faults of my own; and I want to show my sincerity +by promising, before you all, that I am that man's brother from this +time forth until I die, and that whatever is mine is his whenever and +however he wants it." +</p> +<p> +The deacon sat down. There was an instant of silence, and then a +sensation, as every one began to look about for the ex-convict. +</p> +<p> +"If Brother Kimper feels inclined to make any remarks," said Dr. Guide, +"I am sure every one present would be glad to listen to him." +</p> +<p> +People were slowly arising and looking towards one portion of the +church. Dr. Guide left the pulpit and walked down one of the aisles +towards the point where all eyes were centred. In a seat in the back of +the church he saw the ex-convict, with one arm around his wife and the +other around his daughter Jane: Sam looked smaller and more +insignificant than ever, for his chin was resting on his breast and +tears were chasing one another down his pale cheeks. Dr. Guide hurried +back to the altar-rail, and exclaimed, in his loudest and most +impressive voice,—"Sing +</p> +<p class="ctr"> + 'Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!'" +</p> + +<h2> + THE END. +</h2> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of All He Knew, by John Habberton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL HE KNEW *** + +***** This file should be named 14895-h.htm or 14895-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/9/14895/ + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Diane Monico and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/14895.txt b/14895.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f939c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/14895.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5044 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of All He Knew, by John Habberton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: All He Knew + A Story + +Author: John Habberton + +Release Date: February 4, 2005 [EBook #14895] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL HE KNEW *** + + + + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Diane Monico and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +ALL HE KNEW + +A Story + + +BY + +JOHN HABBERTON + +AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES," "BRUETON'S BAYOU," ETC. + + +MEADVILLE PENN'A +FLOOD AND VINCENT +Chautauqua=Century Press + +1890 + +MATTHEWS, NORTHRUP & CO., ART-PRINTING WORKS, BUFFALO AND NEW YORK. + + + + +ALL HE KNEW. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +As the Capital Express train dashed into the village of Bruceton one +bright afternoon, a brakeman passing through a car was touched on the +shoulder by a man, who said,-- + +"The man that left this in the seat in front got out three stations +back. You don't s'pose he'll want it again an' send back for it, do +you?" + +The brakeman looked at an object which the speaker held up as he spoke: +it was a small fig-box, such as train-boys sometimes succeed in +imposing upon the traveling public, and it still contained several +figs. + +"Want it again?" said the brakeman, with a scornful curl of the lip +that gave his black moustache a Mephistophelian twist, "of course not. +He left it there so's to get rid of it, like most of 'em do. I wouldn't +buy one of them boxes of--" + +The brakeman suddenly ceased talking, and put both hands on the +passenger's shoulders with the movement peculiar to train-men whose +duty it is to rouse sleeping passengers, the effect always being to +make the victim throw his head slightly backward. Then the brakeman +looked a moment into the face before him,--it was small, weak-eyed, and +characterless,--and continued,-- + +"Why, Sam Kimper, I didn't know you from Adam! That broad-brimmed low +hat makes you look like somebody else. When did you get out?" + +"This mornin'," said the passenger, dropping his eyes. + +"Did, eh? Well, you needn't feel so bad about it, old man. Anybody's +likely to get in trouble once in a while, you know. You got catched; +some other folks 'most always don't; that's about the difference. Let's +see; how long was you--how long have you been away?" + +"I was _sent_ for two years an' a half," said the passenger, raising +his head again and looking almost manly, "but, Mr. Briggs, I got all +the shortenin' of time that's allowed for good conduct,--ev'ry day of +it. If you don't believe it, I'll prove it to you. My term begun on the +11th of August, eighteen hundred an'--" + +"Never mind the figures, old man: I'll take your word for it." + +"But I wanted you to be sure; I thought mebbe you'd tell other folks +about it, seein' you're a good-hearted feller, an' know ev'rybody, an' +I never done you no harm." + +"I'll tell 'em anyway," said the brakeman, cheerily; "I ain't no saint, +but I'm always ready to help a fellow up when he's down. I've got to +get to the rear now, to uncouple a car we have to leave here. S'long, +Sam." + +"Say, Mr. Briggs," said the passenger, hurrying along behind the +brakeman, "you don't s'pose there's any chance for me to get a job in +the railroad-company's yard, do you?" + +The brakeman turned with a sharp look which speedily softened as he saw +an earnest appeal in the little man's face. + +"Well, Sam," he replied, his words dragging slowly along, "the yard's +always full, an' men a-waitin'. You'd have to give bonds for good +behavior, an' honesty, an'--" + +"Never mind the rest, Mr. Briggs," said the ex-convict, shrinking an +inch or two in stature. "I didn't know about that, indeed I didn't, or +I--" + +"Well, you needn't be a-Mr.-Briggs-in' me, anyhow," said the brakeman. +"I was only Jim before--you left town, Sam, an' I want you to go on +callin' me Jim, just the same. Do you understand that, confound you?" + +"Yes, Mr.--Jim, I do; an' may God bless you for sayin' it!" + +"Here we are; good luck by the car-load to you, Sam." Then the brakeman +looked back into the car and roared,-- + +"Bruceton." + +The discharged prisoner consumed a great deal of time and distributed +many furtive glances as he alighted, though he got off the train on the +side opposite the little station. The train remained so long that when +finally it started there was no one on the station platform but the +agent, whose face was not familiar to the last passenger. + +A gust of wind brought to the platform a scrap of a circus-poster which +had been loosened by recent rain from a fence opposite the station. The +agent kicked the paper from the platform; Sam picked it up and looked +at it; it bore a picture of a gorgeously-colored monkey and the head +and shoulders of an elephant. + +"Ain't you goin' to put it back?" he asked. + +"Not much," said the agent. "I don't rent that fence to the circus, or +menagerie, or whatever it is." + +"Can I have it?" + +"Findings are keepings," said the agent, "especially when they ain't +worth looking for; that's railroad rule, and I guess circus-companies +haven't got a better one." + +The finder sat down on the platform, took a knife from his pocket, and +carefully cut the monkey and the elephant's head from the paper. Then +he walked to the end of the platform and looked cautiously in the +direction of the town. A broad road, crossed by a narrow street, led +from the station; into the street the little man hurried, believing +himself secure from observation, but just then the door of a coal-yard +office opened, and Judge Prency, who had been county judge, and Deacon +Quickset emerged. Both saw the new arrival, who tried to pass them +without being recognized. But the deacon was too quick for him; +planting himself in the middle of the sidewalk, which was as narrow as +the deacon was broad, he stopped the wayfarer and said,-- + +"Samuel, I hope you're not going back to your old ways +again,--fighting, drinking, loafing, and stealing?" + +"No, deacon, I ain't. I'm a changed man." + +"That's what they all say, Samuel," the deacon replied, not unkindly, +"but saying isn't doing. Human nature's pretty weak when it don't lean +on a stronger one." + +"That's how I'm leanin', deacon." + +"I'm glad to hear it, Samuel," said the deacon, offering his hand, +though in a rather conservative manner. + +"Sam," said the judge, "I sentenced you, but I don't want you to think +hard of me and take it out of my orchard and chicken-coop. It wasn't +your first offence, you know." + +"Nor the tenth, judge. You did just right. I hope 'twas a warnin' to +others." + +"I think it was," said the judge, thrusting both hands into his pockets +and studying the wall of the station as if it were the record of his +own court. "I think it was; and here's my hand, Sam, and my best wishes +for a square start in life." + +As the judge withdrew his hand he left behind a little wad of paper +which Sam recognized by sense of touch as the customary American +substitute for the coin of the realm. The poor fellow did not know what +to say: so he said nothing. + +"Hurry along to your family, Sam. I hope you'll find them all well. +I've told my wife to see to it that they didn't suffer while you were +away, and I guess she's done it: she's that kind of woman." + +Sam hurried away. The deacon followed him with his eyes, and finally +said,-- + +"I wonder how much truth there was in him--about leaning on a higher +power?" + +"Oh, about as much as in the rest of us, I suppose." + +"What do you mean?" The deacon snapped out this question; his words +sounded like a saw-file at work. + +"Merely what I say," the judge replied. "We all trust to our religion +while things go to suit us, but as soon as there's something unusual to +be done--in the way of business--we fall back on our old friend the +Devil, just as Sam Kimper used to do." + +"Speak for yourself, judge, and for Sam, if you want to," said the +deacon with fine dignity, "but don't include me among 'the rest of us.' +Good-morning, judge." + +"Good-morning, deacon. No offence meant." + +"Perhaps not; but some men give it without meaning to. Good-morning." + +"I guess the coat fits him," murmured the judge to himself, as he +sauntered homeward. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Sam Kimper hurried through a new street, sparsely settled, crossed a +large vacant lot, tramped over the grounds of an unused foundry, and +finally went through a vacancy in a fence on which there were only +enough boards to show what the original plan had been. A heap of ashes, +a dilapidated chicken-coop, and a forest of tall dingy weeds were the +principal contents of the garden, which had for background a small +unpainted house in which were several windows which had been repaired +with old hats and masses of newspaper. As he neared the house he saw in +a cove in the weeds a barrel lying on its side, and seated in the mouth +of the barrel was a child with a thin, sallow, dirty, precocious face +and with a cat in her arms. The child stared at the intruder, who +stopped and pushed his hat to the back of his head. + +"Pop!" exclaimed the child, suddenly, without moving. + +"Mary!" exclaimed the man, dropping upon his knees and kissing the +dirty face again and again. "What are you doin' here?" + +"Playin' house," said the child, as impassively as if to have had her +father absent two years was so common an experience that his return did +not call for any manifestation of surprise or affection. + +"Stand up a minute, dear, and let me look at you. Let's see,--you're +twelve years old now, ain't you? You don't seem to have growed a bit. +How's the rest?" + +"Mam's crosser an' crosser," said the child; "Joe's run away, 'cause +the constable was after him for stealin' meat from--" + +"My boy a thief! Oh, Lord!" + +"Well, we didn't have nothin' to eat; he had to do it." + +The father dropped his head and shuddered. The child continued: +"Billy's goin' to school now; Jane's servant-gal at the hotel; Tom +plays hookey all the time, an' the baby squalls so much that nobody +likes her but Billy." + +The man looked sad, then thoughtful; finally he put his arm around his +child, and said, as he kissed and caressed her,-- + +"You're to have a better dad after this, darlin'; then maybe the +mother'll feel pleasanter, an' the baby'll be happier, an' Tom'll be a +good boy, an' we'll get Joe back somehow." + +"How's you goin' to be better?" asked the child. + +"Goin' to give us money to buy candy an' go to all the circuses?" + +"Maybe," said the father. "I must go see the mother now." + +The child followed her father to the house; there was not much +excitement in the life of the Kimper family, except when there was a +quarrel, and Mary seemed to anticipate some now, for she drawled, as +she walked along,-- + +"Mam's got it in for you; I heerd her say so many a time sence you war +took away." + +"The poor thing's had reason enough to say it, the Lord knows," said +the man. "An'," he continued, after a moment, "I guess I've learned to +take whatever I'm deservin' of." + +As Sam entered his house, a shabbily dressed, unkempt, forlorn looking +woman sat at a bare pine table, handling some dirty cards. When she +looked up, startled by the heavy tread upon the floor, she exclaimed,-- + +"I declare! I didn't expect you till--" + +"Wife!" shouted Sam, snatching the woman into his arms and covering her +face with kisses. "Wife," he murmured, bursting into tears and pressing +the unsightly head to his breast,--"wife, wife, wife, I'm goin' to make +you proud of bein' my wife, now that I'm a man once more." + +The woman did not return any of the caresses that had been showered +upon her; neither did she repel them. Finally she said,-- + +"You _do_ appear to think somethin' of me, Sam." + +"Think somethin' of you? I always did, Nan, though I didn't show it +like I ought. I've had lots of time to think since then, though, an' +I've had somethin' else, too, that I want to tell you about. Things is +goin' to be different, the Lord willin', Nan, dear--wife." + +Mrs. Kimper was human; she was a woman, and she finally rose to the +occasion to the extent of kissing her husband, though immediately +afterward she said, apparently by way of apology,-- + +"I don't know how I come to do that." + +"Neither do I, Nan; I don't know how you can do anythin' but hate me. +But you ain't goin' to have no new reason for doin' it. I'm goin' to be +different ev'ry way from what I was." + +"I hope so," said Mrs. Kimper, releasing herself from her husband's +arms and taking up the cards again. "I was just tellin' my fortune by +the keerds, havin' nothin' else to do, an' they showed a new man an' +some money,--though not much." + +"They showed right both times, though keerds ain't been friends to this +family, confound 'em, when I've fooled with 'em at the saloon. Where's +the baby, though, that I ain't ever seen?" + +"There," said the woman, pointing to a corner of the room. Sam looked, +and saw on the floor a bundle of dingy clothes from one end of which +protruded a head of which the face, eyes, and hair were of the same +tint as the clothing. The little object was regarding the new arrival +in a listless way, and she howled and averted her head as her father +stooped to pick her up. + +"She's afraid you're goin' to hit her, like most ev'ry one does when +they go nigh her," said the mother. "If I'd knowed you was comin' +to-day, I'd have washed her, I guess." + +"I'll do it myself now," said the father, "I've got the time." + +"Why, you ain't ever done such a thing in your life, Sam!" said Mrs. +Kimper, with a feeble giggle. + +"More's the shame to me; but it's never too late to mend. When'll Billy +get home, an' Tom?" + +"Goodness knows; Billy gets kep' in so much, an' Tom plays hookey so +often, that I don't ever expect either of 'em much 'fore supper-time. +They talk of sendin' Tom to the Reform School if he don't stop." + +"I'll have to stop him, then. I'll try it, anyway." + +"It needs somebody that can wollup him harder'n I can; he's gettin' too +big for my stren'th. Well, if here they don't both come! I don't know +when I've seen them two boys together before, 'less they was fightin'. +I wonder what's got into 'em to-day." + +The two boys came through the back yard, eying the house curiously, +Billy with wide open eyes, and Tom with a hang-dog leer from under the +brim of his hat. Their father met them at the door and put his arms +around both. + +"Don't do that," said Tom, twitching away, "that sort o' thing's for +women, an' gals an' babies." + +"But I'm your dad, boy." + +"Needn't make a baby of me, if you be," growled the cub. + +"I'd give a good deal, old as I am, if I had a dad to make a baby of me +that way, if 'twas only for a minute." + +"Oh, don't be an old fool," said Tom. + +"I heerd in the village you'd been let out," said Billy, "an' so I +found Tom an' told him, an' he said I lied, an' so we come home to see. +Did you bring us anythin'?" + +"Yes," said the father, his face brightening, as he thrust his hand +into his pocket and took out the fig box. "Here," as he gave a fig to +each of the children and one to his wife, "how do you like that?" + +"Good enough," growled Tom, "only I don't care for 'em unless I have a +whole box. I lift one out of a train-boy's basket at the station once +in a while." + +"Don't ever do it again," said the father. "If you want 'em any time so +bad you can't do without 'em, let me know, an' I'll find some way to +get 'em for you." + +"An' get sent up again for more'n two year?" sneered the boy. + +"I don't mean to get 'em that way" said the father. "But I've got +somethin' else for you." Here he took the circus pictures from his +breast, where they had been much flattened during the several +demonstrations of family affection in which they had been involved. +"Here's a picture for each of you." + +Billy seemed to approve of the monkey, but Tom scowled and said,-- + +"What do I care for an elephant's head, when I seen the whole animal at +the show, an' everythin' else besides?" + +"S'pose I might as well get supper, though there ain't much to get," +said the wife. "There's nothin' in the house but corn-meal, so I'll +bile some mush. An'," she continued, with a peculiar look at her +husband, "there ain't anythin' else for breakfast, though Deacon +Quickset's got lots of hens layin' eggs ev'ry day. I've told the boys +about it again an' again, but they're worth less than nothin' at +helpin' things along. The deacon don't keep no dog. Now you've got +home, I hope we'll have somethin'." + +"Not if we have to get it that way," said Sam, gently. "No more +stealin'; I'll die first." + +"I guess we'll all die, then," moaned Mrs. Kimper. "I didn't s'pose +bein' sent up was goin' to skeer all the spirit out of you." + +"It didn't, Nan, but it's been the puttin' of a new kind of spirit into +me. I've been converted, Nan." + +"What?" gasped Mrs. Kimper. + +"Thunder!" exclaimed Tom, after a hard laugh. "You goin' to be a +shoutin' Methodist? Won't that be bully to tell the fellers in the +village?" + +"I'm not goin' to shout, or be anythin' I know of, except an honest +man: you can tell that to all the fellers you like." + +"An' be told I'm a blamed liar? Not much." + +Mrs. Kimper seemed to be in a mournful revery, and when finally she +spoke it was in the voice of a woman talking to herself, as she said,-- + +"After all I've been layin' up in my mind about places where there was +potatoes an' chickens an' pigs an' even turkeys that could be got an' +nobody'd be any the wiser! How will we ever get along through the +winter?" + +"The Lord will provide," croaked Tom, who had often sat under the +church window during a revival meeting. + +"If He don't, we'll do without," said Sam, "but I guess we won't suffer +while I can work." + +"Dad converted!" muttered Tom. "Dad converted! d'ye hear that?" said +he, hitting his brother to attract attention. "I must go down to the +hotel an' tell Jane; she'll steal me a glass of beer for it. Converted! +I'll be ashamed to look the boys in the face." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The Kimper family thinned out, numerically, as soon as the frugal +evening meal was despatched. Tom and Billy disappeared separately +without remark; Mary put on a small felt hat which added a rakish air +to her precocious face, and said she was going to the hotel to see if +sister Jane had any news. Half an hour later, the cook, all the +chamber-maids, waiters, bar-keepers, and stable-boys at the hostelry +were laughing and jeering, in which they were led by Jane, as Mary told +of her father's announcement that he had been converted and would have +no more stealing done in the interest of the family larder. The fun +became so fast and furious that it was obliged to end in sheer +exhaustion; so when Tom came in an hour later, he was unable to revive +it sufficiently to secure the stolen glass of beer which he had +coveted. + +Sam Kimper did not seem to notice the disappearance of the more active +portion of the family. Taking the baby in his arms, he sat with closed +eyes while his wife cleared the table. Finally he said,-- + +"Nan, ain't you got nothin' else to do?" + +"Nothin', that I know of," said the wife. + +"Come an' set down alongside o' me, then, an' let me tell you about +somethin' that come about while I was in the penitentiary. Nan, a man +that used to come there Sundays found me a-cryin' in my cell one +Sunday; I couldn't help it, I felt so forlorn an' kind o' gone like. +I'd felt that way lots o' times before, when I was out an' around, but +then I could get over it by takin' a drink. There's always ways of +gettin' a drink,--sweepin' out a saloon, or cuttin' wood agin' winter, +when the saloon'll need it. But there wasn't no chance to get a drink +in jail, an' I was feelin' as if the under-pinnin' of me was gone. + +"Well, the man said he knowed a friend that would stand by me an' cheer +me up. His name was Jesus. I told him I'd heerd of Him before, 'cause +I'd been to revival meetin's an' been preached to lots by one man an' +another. He said that wasn't exactly the way he wanted me to think +about Him,--said Jesus used to be alive and go around bein' sorry for +folks that was in trouble, an' He once comforted a thief that was bein' +killed in a most uncomfortable way, though Jesus was havin' a hard time +of it Himself about that time. + +"That hit me where I lived, for I--well, you know what I was sent up +for. He said Jesus was God, but he came here to show men how to live, +an' he wanted me to think about Him only as a man, while I was in +trouble. He said the worse off a man was, the more sorry Jesus was for +him: so I said,-- + +"'I wish He was here now, then.' + +"'He _is_ here, my friend,' said the man. 'He's here, though you can't +see Him. He ain't got nothin' to make out of you: neither have I: so +you needn't be afraid to take my word for it. I'll tell you some of the +things he said.' Then he read me a lot of things that did make me feel +lots better. Why, Nan, that man Jesus was so sorry for men in jail that +He went back on some high-toned folks that didn't visit 'em: just think +of that! + +"After a while the man said, 'You seem to be feelin' better.' + +"'So I am,' said I. + +"'Then believe in him,' says he, 'an' you'll feel better always.' + +"'I've been told that before,' says I, 'but I don't know how.' + +"The man looked kind o' puzzled like, an' at last says he,-- + +"'What's yer politics?' + +"'I'm a Jackson Democrat,' says I. + +"'All right,' says he, 'but Andrew Jackson's dead, ain't he?' + +"'So I've heerd,' said I. + +"'But you still believe in him?' says he. + +"'Of course,' said I. + +"'Well,' says he, 'just believe in Jesus like you do in Andrew Jackson, +and you'll be all right in the course of time. Believe that what He +said was true, an' get your mind full of what He said, an' keep it +full, remindin' yourself over an' over again for fear you forget it or +other things'll put it out of your mind, an' you'll be happier while +you're in jail, an' you won't get back here again, nor in any other +jail, after you've been let out.' + +"Well, that was encouragin', for I didn't want to get in no jails no +more. When the man went away he left me a little book that didn't have +nothin' in it but things Jesus Himself said. I read it lots; some of it +I didn't understand, an' I can't get it through my head yet, but what I +did get done me so much good that I found myself kind o' changin' like, +an' I've been changin' ever since. Nan, I want you to read it too, an' +see if it don't do you good. We ain't been what we ought to be; it's +all my fault. The children ain't had no show; that's all my fault too, +but it'll take all that two of us can do to catch up with 'em. I want +you to be always 'side o' me, Nan." + +"We can't let 'em starve," said the wife; "an' if what you're +believin' is goin' to keep you from pickin' up a livin' for 'em when +you get a chance, what are we goin' to do?" + +"I'm goin' to work," said Sam. + +"Sho! You never done three days' work hand-runnin' in your life." Then +Mrs. Kimper gave a hard laugh. + +"I've done it over two years now, an' I guess I can keep on, if I get +the chance. I can stick to it if you'll back me up, Nan." + +"There ain't much to me nowaday," said Mrs. Kimper, after a moment or +two of blank staring as she held her chin in her hands and rested her +elbows on her knees. "Once I had an idee I was about as lively as they +make 'em, but things has knocked it out of me,--a good many kind of +things." + +"I know it, poor gal," said Sam; "I know it: I feel a good deal the +same way myself sometimes; but it helps me along an' stren'thens me up, +like, to know that Him that the visitor in jail told me about didn't +have no home a good deal of the time, an' not overmuch to eat, an' yet +was cheerful like, an' always on His nerve. It braces a fellow up to +think somebody's who's been as bad off as himself has pulled through, +an' not stole nothin', nor fit with nobody, nor got drunk, but always +was lookin' out for other folks. Say, Nan, 'pears to me it's gettin' +dark all of a sudden--oh!" + +The exclamation was called out by the cause of the sudden darkness, +which was no other than Deacon Quickset, who had reached the door-way +without being heard. The deacon's proportions were generous; those of +the door were not. + +"Samuel," said the deacon, "you said this afternoon that you were a +changed man, and that you were leaning on a strength greater than your +own. I want to see you make a new start and a fair one; and, as there's +a prayer- and experience-meeting around at the church to-night, I +thought I'd come around and tell you that 'twould be a sensible thing +to go there and tell what the Lord's done for you. It will put you on +record, and make you some friends; and you need them, you know." + +Sam was pallid by nature, more so through long confinement, but he +looked yet more pale as he stammered,-- + +"Me--speak--in meetin'? Before folks that--that's always b'longed to +the church?" + +"You must acknowledge Him, Samuel, if you expect Him to bless you." + +"I hain't no objections to acknowledgin' Him, deacon, only--I'm not the +man to talk out much before them that I know is my betters. I ain't got +the gift o' gab. I couldn't never say much to the fellers in the +saloon along around about election-times, though I b'lieved in the +party with all my might." + +"It doesn't take any gift to tell the plain truth," said the deacon. +"Come along. Mrs. Kimper, you come too, so Samuel will have no excuse +to stay home." + +"Me?" gasped Mrs. Kimper. "Me?--in meetin'? Goodness, deacon, it gives +me the conniptions to think of it! Besides,"--here she dragged her +scanty clothing about her more closely,--"I ain't fit to be seen among +decent folks." + +"Clothes don't count for anything in the house of the Lord," said the +deacon, stoutly, though he knew he was lying. "Meeting begins at +half-past seven, and the sun's down now." + +"Nan," whispered Sam, "come along. You can slip in a back seat an' +nobody'll see nothin' but your face. Stand by me, Nan: I'm your +husband. Stand by me, so I can stand by my only friend." + +"Deacon ain't no friend o' yourn," whispered the trembling woman in +reply. + +"I'm not talkin' about the deacon, Nan. Don't, go back on me. You're my +wife, Nan; you don't know what that means to me now,--you reelly +don't." + +Mrs. Kimper stared, then she almost smiled. + +"I mean it, Nan," whispered the man. + +Mrs. Kimper rummaged for a moment in the drawers of a dilapidated +bureau, and finally folded a red handkerchief and tied it over her +head. + +"Good!" said the deacon, who had been watching the couple closely. +"We'll go around by the back way, so nobody'll see either of you, if +you don't want them to. I'll take Samuel along with me, and you can +drop in wherever you think best, Mrs. Kimper. I'm not going back on any +man who is going to turn over a new leaf. Come along." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The church at which Deacon Quickset worshipped was not large, nor was +it ever well filled when prayer and experience were the only +attractions. When Sam Kimper entered, however, the place seemed so +immense and the throng so great that nothing but the bulk of the +deacon, which had been prudently placed in the rear of the new convert, +kept him from turning about and escaping into the darkness. Even when +placed in a seat the outer end of which was occupied by the deacon, the +frightened man cast his eyes appealingly towards his keeper,--for such +was the relation he felt the deacon bore towards him. Finally he +slipped slowly along the seat and whispered,-- + +"Deacon, I can't speak; I can't think of a word to say. It's a shame to +have a fellow like me talkin' to good church-members about what they +know more about than him." + +"You'll have to acknowledge Him before men, Samuel, if you expect Him +to acknowledge you." + +"Well, I hain't any objections to ownin' up to ev'rybody I know. Didn't +I tell you an' the judge? Didn't I tell Nan and the children? I ain't +seen anybody else yet, or I'd told them too. But I can't say nothin' to +a crowd like this; I don't know how." + +"He'll give you words, Samuel, if you've got the right heart in you." + +"Is that a dead-sure thing?" + +"Certainly." + +Further argument and protest were ended by the formal opening of the +meeting. It appeared to the deacon that the first hymn was sung with +more sound and spirit than usual, and on looking around he saw the +cause: it was literally a "packed house,"--the first one the church had +ever known on a prayer-meeting night. The deacon immediately let his +own voice out a little more, for he felt personally complimented by the +large attendance. He had told a number of persons of Sam's conversion +and of his own intention to have the man "put himself on record" before +a number of witnesses; evidently this word had gone about and caused +the great gathering. + +Prayers, hymns, and short speeches and confessions succeeded one +another for a little while, and the deacon, glancing aside frequently, +saw his charge look more and more uncomfortable, helpless, and +insignificant as the exercises continued. This would not do; should +the fellow become thoroughly frightened, he might not be able to say +anything; this would be disappointing to the assemblage, and somewhat +humiliating to him who had announced the special attraction of the +evening. Sam's opportunity must come at once; he, the deacon, did not +doubt that his own long experience in introducing people to the public +in his capacity of chairman of the local lecture committee would enable +him to present Sam in a manner which would strengthen the weak knees +and lift up the feeble heart. + +"Brethren," said the deacon, arising during the closing cadence of a +hymn, "the consolations of our blessed religion often reach a man in +most unexpected ways, and we have among us to-night a living example of +it. One of our fellow-citizens who left us, against his will, I may +say, about two years ago, found the pearl of great price in the cell of +a prison. He has come here to-night to testify to the hope that is +within him. He feels that he is weak and halting of speech, but, +blessed be the spirit of our Master, that makes all of us brothers, it +does not take eloquence or superfluity of words to let out anything +that the heart is full of. I ask the attention and sympathy of all +present for our brother Samuel Kimper." + +As the deacon sat down he put his powerful arm under the shoulder of +his companion, and Sam Kimper found himself upon his feet. The +frightened man looked down at the cushion of the seat in front of him; +then he tried to look around, but there was so much hard curiosity in +each face upon which his eyes fell that he speedily looked down again +and leaned heavily upon the back of the bench upon which his hands +rested. Finally he cleared his throat and said,-- + +"Ladies an' gentlemen, I've been in State prison nearly two years. I +deserved it. Lots of folks talked kind to me before I went; some of +'em's here to-night, an' I thank 'em for what they done. A good many of +'em talked religion to me, but the more they talked the less I +understood 'em. I guess 'twas my fault; I never had much head-piece, +while some of them had. But when I was in the prison a man come along +that talked to me about Jesus like I never was talked to before. +Somehow I could understand what he was drivin' at. He made me feel that +I had a friend that I could foller, even if I didn't keep up with him +all the time, owin' to things in the road that I hadn't knowed about. +He told me if I'd b'lieve in Jesus as I b'lieved in Andrew Jackson, I'd +pull through in the course of time. I've been tryin' to do it, an' +while I was in the jail I got lots of new idees of how I ort to behave +myself, all from a little book that man left me, that didn't have +nothin' in it but Jesus' own words. I'm a-goin' to keep on at it, an' +if I can't live that way I'm goin' to die a-tryin'. I b'lieve that's +all I've got to say, ladies and gentlemen." + +There was an awkward silence for a moment after Sam sat down. The +minister in charge of the meeting said afterwards that the remarks were +not exactly what he had expected, and he did not know, at such short +notice, how to answer them. Suddenly a hymn was started by a voice +which every one knew, though they seldom heard it in prayer-meeting. It +belonged to Judge Prency's wife, who for years had been the mainstay of +every musical entertainment which had been dependent upon local talent. +The hymn began,-- + + Am I a soldier of the cross, + +and the assemblage sang it with great force and spirit. The meeting was +closed soon afterwards; and as Sam, in spite of an occasional kind +greeting, was endeavoring to escape from the hard stare of curious +eyes, Mrs. Judge Prency, who was the handsomest and most distinguished +woman in the village, stopped him, grasped his hand, and said,-- + +"Mr. Kimper, you gave the most sensible speech I ever heard in an +experience meeting. I'm going to believe in you thoroughly." + +Deacon Quickset, who was closely following his new charge, listened +with fixed countenance to the lady's remark. He followed Sam from the +church, snatched him away from the wife who had joined him, and said,-- + +"Samuel, that experience of yours rather disappointed me. It wasn't all +there. There was something left out,--a good deal left out." + +"I guess not, deacon. I said all I knowed." + +"Then you ought to know a good deal more. You've only got at the +beginning of things. No church'll take you into membership if you don't +believe more than that." + +"Maybe I'll know it in the course of time, deacon, if I keep on +a-learnin'." + +"Maybe you will,--if you do keep on. But you didn't say anything about +your hope of salvation, nor the atonement, nor your being nothing +through your own strength." + +"I couldn't say it if I didn't know about it," Sam replied. "All my +troubles an' wrong doin's have come of not livin' right: so right +livin' is all I've had time to think about an' study up." + +"You need to think about dying as well as living," said the deacon. + +"Him that took care of another thief that was dyin' 'll take care of me +if I get in that fix, I guess, if I hang on to Him tight." + +"Not unless you hang on in the right way," said the deacon. "You must +believe what all Christians believe, if you want to be saved. You don't +feel that you're prepared to die, do you?" + +"I felt it a good many times, deacon, when I was in that jail; an' +sometimes I half wished I could die right away." + +"Pshaw!" muttered the deacon. "You don't understand. You're groping in +darkness. You don't understand." + +"That's so, deacon, if you mean I don't understand what you're drivin' +at." + +"Don't you feel Christ in you the hope of glory?" + +"I don't know what you mean, deacon?" + +"Don't you feel that a sacrifice has been made to atone for your sins?" + +"I can't follow you, deacon." + +"I thought not. You haven't got things right at all. You haven't been +converted: that's what's the matter with you." + +"Do you mean, Deacon," said Sam, after a moment, "that what I'm +believin' about Jesus is all wrong an' there ain't nothin' in it?" + +"Why, no; I can't say that," the deacon replied, "but--but you've +begun wrong end first. What a sinner needs most of all is to know about +his hereafter." + +"It's what's goin' on now, from day to day, that weighs hardest on me, +deacon. There's nothin' hard about dyin'; leastways, you'd think so if +you was built like me, an' felt like I have to feel sometimes." + +"You're all wrong," said the deacon. "If you can't understand these +things for yourself, you ought to take the word of wiser men for it." + +"S'posin' I was to do that about everythin': then when Judge Prency, +who's a square man an' a good deal smarter than I be, talks politics to +me, I ought to be a Republican instead of a Jackson Democrat." + +"No," said the deacon, sharply, for he was a Jackson Democrat himself. +"I'll have to talk more to you about this, Samuel. Good night." + +"Good night, deacon." + +"He knows more'n you do about religion," said Mrs. Kimper, who had +followed closely behind, and who rejoined her husband as soon as the +deacon departed. + +"He ought to, seein' his head-piece an' chances; an' yet I've heerd +some pooty hard things said about him." + +When the couple reached home, Sam looked at the long heap of straw and +rags on which his children should have been sleeping, but which was +without occupant except the baby. Then, by the light of the coals still +remaining in the fire-place, he looked through some leaves of the +little book which the prison visitor had given him. When he arose from +the floor, he said to himself,-- + +"I'll stick to Him yet, deacon or no deacon,--stick to Him as if He was +Andrew Jackson." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Sam Kimper spent several days in looking about his native town for +work. He found many sympathetic assurances, some promises, and no work +at all. Everybody explained to everybody else that they were sorry for +the poor wretch, but they couldn't afford to have a jail-bird around. + +Meanwhile, Sam's stock of money, accumulated by overwork in the State +prison, and augmented by Judge Prency's present, was running low. He +kept his family expenses as low as possible, buying only the plainest +of food-material and hesitating long to break a bill, though it were +only of the denomination of one dollar. Nevertheless the little wad of +paper money in his pocket grew noticeably thinner to his touch. + +His efforts to save the little he had in his possession were not +assisted by his family. His wife, thanks and perhaps blame to the +wifely sense of dependence upon her husband, had fallen back upon him +entirely after what he had said about his intention as to the future of +the family, and she not only accepted his assurances as bearing upon +the material requirements of several mouths from day to day, but she +also built some air-castles which he was under the unpleasant necessity +of knocking down. The poor woman was not to blame. She never had seen a +ten-dollar bill since the day of her marriage, when, in a spasm of +drunken enthusiasm, her husband gave a ten-dollar Treasury note to the +clergyman who officiated on that joyous occasion. + +One evening Sam took his small change from his pocket to give his son +Tom money enough to buy a half-bushel of corn-meal in the village. As +he held a few pieces of silver in one hand, touching them rapidly with +the forefinger of the other, his son Tom exclaimed,-- + +"You're just overloaded with money, old man! Say, gi' me a quarter to +go to the ball game with? I'm in trainin', kind o' like, an' I ain't +afeard to say that mebbe I'll turn out a first-class pitcher one of +these days." + +"Tom," said his father, trying to straighten his feeble frame, as his +eyes brightened a little, "I wish I could: I'd like you to go into +anything that makes muscle. But I can't afford it. You know I'm not +workin' yet, an' until I do work the only hope of this family is in the +little bit of money I've got in my pocket." + +"Well," said Tom, thrusting out his lower lip, slouching across the +room, and returning again, "I don't think a quarter's enough to trouble +anybody's mind about what'll happen to his family afterwards. I've +heard a good deal from the mother about you bein' converted, and +changin' into a different sort of a man, but I don't think much of any +kind of converted dad that don't care enough for his boy to give him a +quarter to go to a ball game." + +"Food before fun, Tom," said the father, resolutely closing his hand +upon such remaining silver as he had, and then thrusting the fistful +into his pocket,--"food before fun. Ball isn't business to this family +just now, an' money means business ev'ry time. When I was away an' +couldn't help it, things mebbe didn't go as they ort to have gone, but +now that I'm back again, there shan't be any trouble if I know how to +stand in the way of it." + +This expression of principle and opinion did not seem to impress +favorably the eldest male member of the second generation. Master Tom +thrust out his lower lip again, glared at his father, took his hat, and +abruptly departed. There was no dinner at the Kimper table that day, +except for such members of the family as could endure slices of cold +boiled pork with very little lean to it. Late in the afternoon, +however, Tom returned, with an air of bravado, indulged in a number of +reminiscences of the ball game, and at last asked why supper was not +ready. + +"Tom," asked the father, "why didn't you come back to-day with what I +gave you money to buy?" + +"Well," said the young man, dipping his spoon deeply into a mixture of +hasty pudding, milk, and molasses, "I met some of the boys on the +street, an' they told me about the game, an' it seemed to me that I +wouldn't 'pear half a man to 'em if I didn't go 'long, so I made up my +mind that you an' the mother would get along some way, an' I went +anyhow. From what's in front of me, I guess you got along, didn't you?" + +"Tom," said the father, leaving his seat at the table and going around +to his son's chair, on the top bar of which he leaned,--"Tom, of course +we got along; there'll be somethin' to eat here ev'ry day just as long +as I have any money or can get any work. But, Tom, you're pretty well +grown up now; you're almost a man; I s'pose the fellers in town think +you _are_ a man, don't they? An' you think you're one yourself too, +don't you?" + +The young man's face brightened, and he engulfed several spoonfuls of +the evening meal before he replied,-- + +"Well, I guess I am somebody now'days. The time you was in jail, I +thought the family had a mighty slim chance o' countin'; but I tumbled +into base-ball, an' I was pretty strong in my arms an' pretty spry on +my feet, an' little by little I kind o' came to give the family a +standin'." + +"I s'pose that's all right," said the father; "but I want you to +understan' one thing, an' understan' it so plain that you can't ever +make any mistake about it afterwards. When I put any money into your +hands to be used for anythin', it don't matter what, you must spend it +for that, or you must get an awful thrashin' when you come back home +again. Do you understan' me?" + +The feeding motions of the eldest male of the Kimper collection of +children stopped for an instant, and Master Tom leered at his father as +he said,-- + +"Who's goin' to give the thrashin'?" + +"I am, Tom,--your father is,--an' don't make any mistake about it. +He'll do it good an' brown, too, if he's to die used up right away +afterwards. This family is goin' to be decent from this time on; there +ain't to be no more thieves in it, an' any member of it that tries to +make it diff'rent is goin' to feel so bad that he'll wish he'd never +been born. Do you understan'? Don't go to thinkin' I'm ugly: I'm only +talkin' sense." + +The cub of the family looked upward at his father from the corners of +his eyes, and then he clinched his fists and turned slightly in the +chair. Before he could do more, his parent had him by both shoulders, +had shaken him out of the chair, thrown him upon the floor, and was +resting upon him with both knees. + +"Tom," said Sam to his astonished son, "you was the first boy I ever +had, an' I'd give away my right hand rather than have any real harm +come to you, but you've got to mind me now, an' you've got to do it +until you're of age, an' if you don't promise to do it now, right +straight along, from this time forth, I'll give you the thrashin' now. +That ain't all, either, you've got to be man enough to stand by your +dad an' say somethin to the fellers, an' explain that you're goin' to +stop bein' a town loafer, an' are goin' into decent ways." + +Tom was so astonished by this demonstration of spirit that he made all +the desired promises at once, and was released. + +But Tom was not the only juvenile member of the family who was in need +of reformation. Mary, little Mary, not far beyond twelve years of age, +demanded money to replenish her own wardrobe. + +"Mary," said her father, "we're poor; we can't afford fancy fixin's. +This ain't very cold weather. You've good enough clothes on you to +keep you warm: what d'you want o' somethin' else?" + +"What do I want o' somethin' else?" echoed the child, going to the door +and tossing an imitation doll into the ash-heap, "why, I want better +clothes, so't the fellers about town'll pay some 'tention to me, like +they do to sister Jane." + +The slight, bent form of the father straightened up, as he asked, +quickly,-- + +"Does the fellers around town pay attention to your sister Jane?" + +"Why, of course they do," said little Mary, entirely unable to +translate the gaze which her father bent upon her. "Jane never gets +through her work at the hotel before there's a lot o' fellers hangin' +round the door an' wantin' to see her, an' takin' her out to get +ice-cream or sody-water, or to go to the circus if there's one in town, +or to go to the dramatic representation,--that's what they call it on +the bills,--if there happens to be one in the village that night." + +"Wife," said Sam, turning to his helpmate, "what wages does Jane get?" + +"Six dollars a month," said the wife. + +"Does she bring any of it home? Does the family get the good of any of +it?" + +"Not one cent," said Mrs. Kimper, with a pitiful whine. "She says she +has to wear decent clothes at the hotel or they won't keep her there +any more." + +Sam Kimper stayed awake all that night, although his manners to his +family next morning were those of a staid and respectable citizen who +had nothing upon his mind but the ordinary duties of the day. + +Nevertheless, he was out and about soon after breakfast, and he +wandered through every street of the village in which any business was +being done. Again and again he asked for work, and as often the offer +was refused or declined or relegated into the uncertain future for a +decision. The surplus in his pocket had grown lamentably small. As he +made his way homeward in a physical and mental condition which made it +impossible for him either to argue to himself or to express a sense of +hope to any extent, he passed the shop of Larry Highgetty. Larry was a +shoemaker. Sam had worked at shoemaking while he was in State prison. +He felt, although Larry might have been offended at the imputation, +that there ought to be a fellow-feeling between them; so he ventured +into the shop. Larry was sitting at his bench with a lady's shoe in one +hand and with his head leaning against the wall of the room. From the +stertorous noise which escaped his nostrils, it was quite evident that +he was asleep, and an odor which filled the room left the visitor in +no doubt as to the nature of the opiate which had induced Larry's +mid-day nap. + +"You seem to be takin' business very easy, Mr. Highgetty," said Sam, +with an apologetic air, as he closed the door behind him, and Larry +awoke. "Pay must be gettin' better?" + +"Better?" said Larry, rubbing his eyes. "I don't want it to be any +better than it is now. Besides, people's comin' in all the time faster +than I can tend to 'em; ev'rybody wants his work done first an' is +willin' to pay extra price to get it. Better, is it? Well, yes; I +should say that no such luck had struck shoemakers in this town in a +long while." + +"You haven't half finished what you're on now, Larry," said Sam, taking +the shoe from the cobbler's hand and looking at it. + +"That isn't all of it," said the cobbler, with a maudlin wink at his +visitor. "I don't know when I'll have it finished, if I keep on feelin' +as I do now. It's pretty tough, too, bekase that shoe belongs to Mrs. +Judge Prency, an' she's comin' for it this afternoon; but I'm that +sleepy that--" Larry's head gently sought the wall again. + +"An' a very good woman she is, Larry. Brace up, my boy, why don't you, +an' finish your work?" + +"Eh? Say 'Brace up' to somebody that's not got anythin' in him to +brace him down. She kin wait for her shoe while I'm havin' my aise an' +forgettin' all about work." + +"When did you promise the shoe to her?" asked Sam. + +"Oh, sometime this afternoon," said Larry, "an' she hasn't come in here +yet. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, ye know the good book +says, Sam. Maybe she won't come in till to-morrow; she's a busy woman; +nobody knows where she's goin' or what she's doin' throughout the day, +an', to tell ye the truth, I thought to myself I'd shut up the shop an' +go home, so if she came there'd not be anybody here to tell a loie +about it." + +"Well, Larry, wouldn't it do just as well if there was somebody here to +tell the truth about it?" + +"Oh, there, now, Sam," said the shoemaker, rallying himself for an +instant; "they tould me that you was converted in jail, an' that sounds +a good deal like it. Now, Sam, I want to tell ye if ye want to argy on +the subject of the truth, or any other of the moral sintiments, with +any man whatsoever, ye don't want to come to a shoemaker's shop an' +find a fellow who's just had three drinks in him at somebody else's +expense. Now go 'way; come 'round here to-morrow when I'm sober, an' +I'll own up to everything you say, no matter what it is." + +"That won't get Mrs. Prency her shoes," said Sam. "Go home an' go to +bed, an' let me finish that shoe in your hand, an' if she comes here +it'll be ready for her, an' if she don't you won't have anything on +your conscience,--not so far as she's concerned." + +The cobbler took possession of himself with a tremendous effort, and +looked sharply from his bleared eyes for an instant as he said,-- + +"An' what do you know about shoemakin'?" + +"As much as two years in State prison could learn me, Larry; though I +don't think you need to have asked me." + +"It's all right, me boy; I take it back; an' if ever I'm sent to State +prison myself you may ask it of me ten times over; that's the Bible +rule, I belave. Now I'll go home to my wife an' family, an' if you +choose to finish that shoe an' stay here until Mrs. Judge Prency comes +in to get it, why, you're quite welcome to do the work an' keep the +pay; I tould her fifty cints." + +Sam began work upon the bit of repairing which he had taken from the +shoemaker's hands, and although it was not of the routine nature which +all of his jail-work had placed in his hands, he knew enough of the +requirements of an ordinary shoe to do what was necessary. While he was +working, the room suddenly darkened, and as he looked up he saw Mrs. +Judge Prency herself. + +"Why it's Mr. Kimper! Are you working here?" + +"Only to finish a job that was promised for this afternoon, Mrs. +Prency." + +"Where's Larry?" + +"He felt very badly," said Sam, "an' he wanted to go home, an' I +promised to finish his work for him. I believe this is your job, +ma'am?" said he, holding the shoe in the air for an instant. + +"Yes," said the judge's wife. "I will sit down for a moment, if you +will allow me, while you finish it." + +"Certainly, ma'am," said Sam, plying the needle and awl vigorously. He +looked up only for a second at a time during the next few moments, but +what he saw impressed him very favorably. Mrs. Prency was not a young +woman, but apparently she had a clear conscience and a good digestion, +for she sat with an entirely satisfied and cheerful air, with her +shoulders against the back of the chair, as if it were a real pleasure +to rest against something, while her cheeks flushed, probably from the +exertion of a rapid walk from some other portion of the town. Like any +other woman of good health, good character, and good principles, she +was a pleasing object to look upon, and the ex-convict looked at her +as often as he dared, with undisguised and respectful admiration. But +suddenly the uplifting of his eyes was stopped by a remark from the +lady herself, as she said,-- + +"Sam--Mr. Kimper, I've heard some remarks about your speech at the +experience-meeting the other night. You know I was there myself; you +remember I spoke to you as you came out?" + +"Mrs. Prency, I know it; an' that isn't all; I'll remember it just as +long as I live. I'd rather have been the dyin' thief on the cross than +said what I said in that church that night, but I was asked to do it, +an' the more I thought about it the more I thought I couldn't say no. +But I didn't know what else to say." + +"You did quite right, Mr. Kimper: you spoke like a real, true, honest +man. If it's any comfort to know it, I can tell you that my husband, +the judge, thinks as I do. I told him what you said,--I remembered it +all, word for word,--and he said to me,--these are exactly his +words,--'I believe that is an honest man, and that he is going to +remain an honest man.'" + +Sam bent over the shoe a little closer, and said, in a faint voice, as +if he were talking to himself,-- + +"What Judge Prency says about human natur ort to be true. If there's +any other man in this county that's had more opportunities of knowin' +all about it, I don't know who he can be." + +There was silence for a moment or two. Sam quickened his labors upon +the shoe, and the lady bent her gaze closely upon the shoemaker. At +last she said,-- + +"Mr. Kimper, don't mistake the meaning of what I am going to ask you. I +am a member of the church, myself, and I have as hearty an interest in +you and sympathy for you as the best friend you have. But I want to ask +you one thing, merely out of curiosity. Has any one questioned you, +since, about what you said that evening?" + +"Nobody but Deacon Quickset, ma'am." + +"Ah? Deacon Quickset? Did he say anything that annoyed you in any way?" + +"I can't say that he did, ma'am; though he kind o' filled my mind with +doubts an' gave me a sort o' sleepless evenin'." + +"I'm very sorry for that. There's some one else who may trouble you +somewhat, and I'm sorry to say that if he does I shall be to blame for +it. He is a young lawyer. His name is Reynolds Bartram." + +"I know him, ma'am; at least, I know him by sight. He's of very good +stock, ma'am. His folks have been in this county a longtime, from what +I've heerd, off an' on." + +"Very true," replied Mrs. Prency; "but he has peculiar views, and when +he hears of any one who believes--believes in religion as you do, he is +quite likely to visit him and to ask a great many questions." + +"Well, ma'am, if he comes in on me anywhere, an' asks any questions, +an' they're on the subject I talked about that night at the church +meetin', why, I'll say anythin' I know an' everythin' I believe, an' if +he says anythin' on the other side, why, all I've got to say is, he +can't change my mind the least bit." + +"I'm very glad to hear you say so," said Mrs. Prency. "Ah, is the shoe +done, entirely done? Good. Very much obliged. It's quite as good as Mr. +Highgetty himself could have made it. Fifty cents, I believe? Is that +satisfactory?" + +"Quite satisfact'ry, ma'am," said the substitute, as he rose from his +bench and removed his hat, which had been on his head during the +interview. Mrs. Prency started towards the door, but stopped suddenly +and turned back. + +"Mr. Kimper, the young man, Mr. Bartram, of whom I spoke to you,--I +really believe he is inclined to come and talk to you, and perhaps talk +a great deal, about what you seem to believe very sincerely and what he +doesn't believe at all. I hope you won't change your mind through +anything that can be said to you by a person of that kind, or by any +person whatever?" + +"Mrs. Prency," said the cobbler's substitute, taking his hat from the +bench on which he had placed it and circling it in his hand as if he +were endeavoring to stimulate his mental faculties, "whatever I believe +on that subject I'm goin' to stick to, an' nobody, not even if he is +the best lawyer in the county, or your husband himself, or the judge of +the biggest court in the United States, is goin' to change my mind +about it." + +"Thank you, Mr. Kimper. I might have known as much from what I heard +during your remarks the other night. I only wanted to say to you that +Mr. Bartram is a very smart talker and very quick to see whatever +mistakes any one else may make." + +"If I make any mistakes," said Sam, "it's because of somebody who's a +great deal smarter than I am, who don't back me up as much as I need +for the time-bein'." + +"Good-day, Mr Kimper," said the lady. + +"Good-day, ma'am," said the ex-convict. + +He stood in the dingy shop looking out of the window at the retreating +form of the lady, and then at the gathering clouds over the evening +sunset, and at the houses on the opposite side of the street, +apparently that he might divert his mind from something. Then he +looked at the coin which he had received for the work, as if it were an +amulet or a charm. + +Suddenly his attention was distracted by the appearance, on the other +side of the street, of a very pretty young woman, accompanied by a +young man in good attire and of fine bearing. + +"Well, well," said the ex-convict, "I wonder if that's what it means? +That's Bartram himself, as sure as I'm born, an' with him is Mrs. +Prency's only daughter an' only child. Well, well!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +As the summer lengthened into early autumn, Sam Kimper became more and +more troubled by the necessities of his family. He had been working day +after day in the shop of his acquaintance the shoemaker, when there was +work enough for two, and earned enough to pay for the plainest food. +But casual pay was not sufficient to all the necessities of a family as +large as that for which Sam was responsible, particularly as the return +of the head of the family had reminded every one, from the mother down +to the youngest child except the baby, of a number of needs of which no +one seemed to have thought before. + +Mrs. Kimper herself, who was a feeble creature at best, shivered at +every wind that penetrated the broken windows, and insisted that unless +she had some warm clothing very soon she would fall into a decline. +Tom, who had not yet got his growth, was protruding physically from the +ends of his shirts and trousers, and assured his father that he never +again could get into his last winter's jacket without subjecting +himself to a series of remarks by the boys in the town, which would +make him feel very uncomfortable. Billy, who had gone barefooted all +summer, as was the custom with the boys in town, came home late one +evening and announced triumphantly,-- + +"Dad, you needn't bother yourself about me any more about shoes. I've +got a pair. See here!" + +The head of the family took the new shoes into his hand and examined +them. Then he dropped them with a sort of shiver, for they were of a +well-remembered pattern,--that upon which he had worked for two years +in the penitentiary. + +"How did you get 'em, Billy?" the father asked, at length. + +"Oh, I found 'em," said the boy, with a wink at his elder brother,--a +wink which was returned to him in the shape of an evil leer. + +"Found 'em! Where? Tell me all about it," said the father, very sharply +and sternly, for he remembered a time when he had "found" things +himself. + +Billy looked appealingly at his brother Tom, but the elder brother put +on a hang-dog look and sauntered out of the room and was afterwards +seen disappearing rapidly through the back yard. + +"Well," said Billy, at last, with the air of one who was entirely +unbosoming himself, "I'll tell you how it was, dad. Down at Price's +store there's a long string of shoes out at the door. They use 'em as a +sign, don't you know?" + +"Yes," said the father carelessly; "I've seen such signs. Go on." + +"Well, I need shoes awfully, you know, an' I've been tellin' the mother +about it for a week or ten days, an' she said she was tellin' you. But +my feet gets awful cold late at nights and early in the mornin's. An' I +didn't want to bother you, knowin' that you hadn't any money to spare, +'cause the mother told me 'bout that too, an' cried about it. Well, it +blowed like ev'rythin' this afternoon as I was goin' towards Price's, +an' that string of shoes just whirled around like a kite-tail, an' at +last the bottom pair flew off into the street. An' I picked 'em up." + +"Findin's is keepin's," said Mrs. Kimper. + +"Give me them shoes, my boy," said the ex-convict. + +"You're goin' to take 'em away from me? Have I got to have cold feet +some more?" said Billy, appealingly. + +Sam thrust his hand into his trousers-pocket, took out a very thin wad +of green paper, looked at it, and finally said, "No, I s'pose not." +Nevertheless he and the shoes disappeared from the house. + +In a short time Mr. Price, the owner of one of the village stores, +received a call from the ex-convict, who said,-- + +"Mr. Price, one o' my boys found a pair o' shoes in the street in front +o' your store this afternoon durin' the hard blow, an', as they just +fitted him, I came around to pay you for them. How much are they?" + +Several men were standing about the stove in Price's store, the fire +having just started for the autumn and winter season, and, as they +heard Sam's remark, one of them uttered a long combination of word and +whistle that sounded very much like "Whew-w?" Sam turned quickly, +recognized the man as one whom he knew to be not over-honest, and +said,-- + +"When _you_ pay for ev'rythin' you get it'll be time to make fun of +somebody else. But, Mr. Price, what I asked you was, what's the price +o' them shoes?" + +The storekeeper was so astonished at such a question from a member of +the Kimper family that, looking at shoes of the same quality which were +lying in a box behind the counter, he actually mistook the cost-mark +for the selling-price, and replied, "Only a dollar and a quarter, Mr. +Kimper." + +Sam laid down the money, received some change, and departed, while the +men who were lounging about the store began an active conversation as +to whether that man was the fool he looked or whether he was not +perhaps a regular sharper whose natural abilities and inclinations had +been cultivated during the two years he was in State prison. They +understood, those evening loafers, that prisons were nominally for the +purpose of reforming criminals, but they had known a great many +criminals themselves, and their astonishment at seeing one who +apparently desired to do better than in his past life, and to make +amends for the misdeeds of his family, was so great that the +conversation which ensued after the exit of the ex-convict was very +fragmentary and not at all to the point. + +The next morning Sam appeared bright and early at the shoe-shop of +Larry Highgetty. He had made an arrangement with the cobbler to do +whatever work might be assigned him and to accept as full payment +one-half the money which would be charged, most of it being for +repairs. As nearly as he could discover by a close questioning of the +proprietor of the establishment, the entire receipts did not exceed two +dollars per day, and the owner had so few responsibilities and so much +surplus that he would be quite glad if he might lounge at one or other +of the local places of entertainment while some one else should do the +work and keep the establishment open. Consequently Sam went at the work +with great energy, and little by little nearly all the work came to be +done by him. + +He had hammered away for a few minutes on a sole to be placed on the +bottom of a well-worn shoe belonging to a workingman, when a new +customer entered the shop. Sam looked up at him and saw Reynolds +Bartram. He offered a short, spasmodic, disjointed prayer to heaven, +for he remembered what the judge's wife had said, and he had known +Reynolds Bartram as a young man of keen wit and high standing as a +debater before Sam's enforced retirement; now, he knew, Bartram had +become a lawyer. + +"Well, Sam," said Bartram, as he seated himself in the only chair and +proceeded to eye the new cobbler, while the blows of the hammer struck +the sole more rapidly and vigorously than before,--"well, Sam, I +understand that you have been turning things upside down, and instead +of coming out of the penitentiary a great deal worse man than when you +went in, as most other men do, you have been converted." + +"That's my understandin' of it, Mr. Bartram," said the ex-convict, +continuing his inflictions upon the bit of leather. + +"Sam," said Bartram, "I am a man of business, and I suppose you are +from what I see you doing. I wish to make you a proposition: I will pay +you cash for two or three hours' time if you will tell me--so that I +can understand it--what being converted really amounts to." + +The new cobbler did not cease an instant his attention to the work in +his hand. He merely said,-- + +"Mr. Bartram, you're a very smart man, an' I'm a very stupid one. If +there's a stupider man in town the Democratic local committee has never +yet been able to find him. You want to know what bein' converted means? +You'd better go to Deacon Quickset, or the minister of some one of the +churches hereabouts. I can't explain anythin', I don't know anythin' +but what I feel myself, an' the more I feel it the more I don't know +how to talk about it. Deacon Quickset says it don't 'mount to much. I +s'pose it don't--to him, he bein' so much smarter than me. But, so far +as it goes, I can't be paid for talkin' about it, for it didn't cost me +nothin'." + +This was not what the visitor had expected; nevertheless, it is a +lawyer's business to know more than one way of putting a thing. + +"See here, Sam; I need a new pair of shoes,--soft leather, thin soles, +good cut; do you suppose you know how to measure me for them?" + +"Well, I guess I've found out that much, Mr. Bartram." + +"Go ahead, then; don't let me interfere with the measurement; but I +want to ask you some questions; tell me what you can as you go along. +You've been converted, they say, and you say so too." + +"Yes, sir," said Sam, dropping the tape-line for a moment; "what other +people say I'm not responsible for, but I say it myself that I'm a +different man. That's all I can say, Mr. Bartram; an', as I said +before, if you want to know more, you'd better ask somebody that's been +in that sort o' life longer than I have." + +"Nonsense, Sam! you are too modest. As they say in churches, the newest +convert has the strongest opinions. Now, you know what my business is. +Strong opinions amount to everything in the legal business, and so I +have come to you, just as squarely as I could go to any man in the +world about anything else that he understood, to ask you plainly what +you know about this new life that you are said to be leading now. Tell +it to me, out and out. Don't be afraid to keep back anything. Take all +the time you like at it. If you can't say just what you want to, try to +put it as clearly as you can. I didn't come in to worry you. Remember +that I really want some distinct information on the subject." + +Sam looked up keenly, and said, "Mr. Bartram, are you in earnest?" + +"Sam Kimper," said the young lawyer, "if I were not in earnest do you +suppose I'd come into this shop during the business hours of the day +and ask questions of this kind, when there are plenty of other people I +could go to and get the information I want, and perhaps a good deal +more? No, sir; I have come here to ask you because I thought that +whatever you could say you would say in the fewest possible words and +say it right to the point." + +"But, Mr. Bartram, I'm not used to talkin' to lawyers. I never talked +to any but once, you know, an' then I don't think they had very much +respect for what I said. I wasn't in a fix where anybody could have any +respect for me." + +"This hasn't anything to do with those times, Sam," said the lawyer. "A +friend of yours, who is a friend of mine, has told me that you talked +very straightforward and honestly on this subject a few nights ago. +That's more than I have been able to find anybody do in this town in a +long time. I don't mind saying to you that, according to what the +people who are the most prominent in the church say, I'm a pretty hard +character. Therefore whatever you have to say you needn't be afraid to +put very plainly. I simply want to know about myself; that's all." + +"Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler, "as I've already said, you had a good +deal better talked to somebody else. But, seem' you've come to me, I've +only this to say to you, an' I hope you can make somethin' out of it, +because I give you my word I've made more out of it than ever I did out +of anythin' else on the face of the earth. I went to jail for stealin'. +I hadn't ever been an honest man in my life. The only reason I hadn't +been in jail all my life was that I hadn't been caught. At last I was +caught, an' I was sent up, an' I don't mind sayin' that I think my +sentence was mighty light, considerin' all the heavy mischief that I'd +done durin' my life. While I was in jail I was talked to by a man that +used to come through there to talk to the prisoners on Sundays. An' +about all he said to me was to read me a lot o' things that Jesus +Christ said when He was alive in this world, an' told me to go ahead +an' do all them things just as well as I knowed how to, an' if I did +'em all well as far as I could I'd find out a good deal more in the +course of time." + +"Go on," said the lawyer. + +"I haven't anything to go on with, Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler, +"except that I took his advice, an' ain't ever been sorry for it, an' I +wish I'd got it a good deal sooner. I'm just the same old +two-an'-sixpence that I was before I went away. That is, I'm always +tired an' always poor an' always wishin' I didn't have to do any work. +But when there comes a time when I get a chance to do somethin' wrong +an' make somethin' by it, I don't do it, although there was a time when +I would have done it. I don't keep from doin' it for anything that I +can make, 'cause I always go home a good deal worse off than I might +have been. I hope you get something out of what I'm tellin' you, Mr. +Bartram?" + +"But, Sam, my dear fellow," said the young man, "all this doesn't mean +anything; that is, so far as religion goes. You are simply trying to +live right, whereas you used to live wrong. Haven't you learned any +more than that?" + +"Well, Mr. Bartram," said Sam, ceasing to jot down measurements, and +looking at his stubby pencil as if he had a question to ask, "that's +all I've learned. An' I s'pose you bein' the kind o' man you are,--that +is, well born an' well brought up, plenty o' money an' never done +nothin' wrong that you know of,--I s'pose that don't seem much to you; +but I tell you, Mr. Bartram, it's a complete upset to my old life, an' +it's such a big one that I've not been able to get any further since, +an' I don't mind talkin' honestly to any fellow-man that talks about it +to me. I don't mind sayin' honestly that it's so much more than I'm +equal to livin' up to yet that I haven't had any time to think about +goin' any further along. See here, Mr. Bartram, can you tell me +somethin' I can do besides that?" + +"Why, Sam," said the lawyer, "that's an odd question to ask me. I have +seen you in church frequently since you were first a young man, ten +years older than I. You have been told frequently what else you ought +to do; and what I came in particular to ask you was as to how far +you've done it, or been able to do it, or were trying to do it." + +"You come to the wrong shop, then, Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler. +"When a man's been livin' wrong all his life an' has had somethin' put +into him to make him feel like turnin' round an' livin' right, the +change that's gone on in him is so big that it'll take him about half a +lifetime to get to where he can think about anythin' else." + +"Pshaw!" said the lawyer. + +"You said you wanted these shoes made out of soft leather an' with +pretty thin soles, Mr. Bartram?" + +"Yes, yes; make them any way you please." + +Then the lawyer left the room and closed the door with a crash that +caused the new cobbler to look up apprehensively. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Little by little the Kimper family was made more comfortable and put in +better condition for the coming winter. Broken window-panes were +mended, though frequently only with bits of board closely wedged, +cracks in the wall were stuffed with dried grass and plastered with +mud, and clean straw replaced the dirty substitutes for beds and +mattresses. The head of the family worked hard at the cobbler's shop, +yet did not cease working when he reached home. + +Yet week by week Sam looked better than in old times. Conrad Weitz, the +manager of the most popular drinking-place in the town, predicted that +there would soon have to be a change for the worse. + +"He ain't drinkin' noding," said Conrad; "and a feller dat's been +drinkin' all his life can't get along midout it afterwards." + +The vender of stimulants said this to Deacon Quickset, for the two men +were incessantly arguing over the liquor question, and never lost an +opportunity of bringing up a new point about it when they met by any +chance. Weitz was a public-spirited and intelligent citizen, and the +deacon believed that if his opinions about the moral nature of his +business could be changed there would be a great gain for the +temperance cause in Bruceton. Besides, Weitz was a well-to-do man and +saved a great deal of money, some of which the deacon had invested for +him, and all of which the deacon desired to handle, for he was a man of +many enterprises, and, like most other men of the kind, always had more +ways than money. + +"You're all wrong about that, Weitz," said the deacon, sitting upon an +empty beer-barrel in front of the liquor-store. The deacon was +accustomed to say, with a grim smile, that he was one of the very few +men in business whose reputation would allow him to sit upon a +beer-barrel without giving rise to any suspicions. + +"Deacon," said the liquor-dealer, "you hadn't ought to talk about vat +you don't understand. How long since you stopped drinkin'?" + +"Now, see here, Weitz, what do you mean, to ask me a question like +that? You ought to know well enough that I never drank in my life. If I +haven't told you so again and again, I should think other people could +have done it." + +"Never drank anyding, eh? never in your life? Vell, vell!" said the +proprietor, caressing the beer-shop cat for a moment, "dat explains a +good many dings about you dat I never understood before. I tell you vat +I tink, deacon: if you'd been brought up in my country, mit all de +brains you've got in your head, and yoost could'a'had a lot of German +beer put inside of you besides, you'd been about de finest man in de +United States now. Den, besides dat, of course, you ought to belong to +my shurch, too." + +"Your church!" sneered the deacon. + +"Come, now, deacon," said the shopkeeper, abruptly dropping the cat, +"you can turn up your nose at my ideas all you vant, but you mustn't +turn it up at my shurch. I don't do dat to you, and don't you forget +it, eider." + +"That's all right, Conrad; I didn't mean to do it. Of course, every man +will believe the way he is brought up. But I hope you won't go to +telling anybody else in this town that that poor convict ought to be +drinking and will have to do it again; because it might get to his +ears, you know, and if it did it might break him down, and then he'd go +to lying and stealing and loafing and fighting again, and there is no +knowing whose chicken-coops and wood-piles would have to suffer. Yours +might be one of the first of the lot." + +"Vell," said the German, "is dat de vay you look at the question?" + +"It's a fact, isn't it?" + +"Yes, I s'pose it is. But I didn't tink dat vas de first ding for a man +like you to tink about ven you vas talkin' about a feller dat has broke +off all his bad habits and is tryin' to be yoost right." + +The deacon felt awkward for a moment. He did not like to be reminded of +any of his faults by a neighbor, much less by one who belonged to a +church so widely different from his own. + +"Why, of course not," said he; "of course, I am thinking about the +man's eternal salvation and about his future; but, to tell you the +truth, I haven't got much faith in his professions. A man that don't +get any further than he has done, and that don't seem willing to learn +from them that's his betters and has gone into such things a good deal +deeper than he has, ain't very likely to hold out. And the last +condition of that man will be worse than the first." + +"Vell," said the shop-keeper, "a good deal depends on dat. You vas a +member of von shurch and I vas a member of anoder, deacon, and we can +talk togeder like brudders,--a little vay, anyhow. Now, I tell you vat +it is: dere's a good many men in dis town dat's behavin' very decent +dat don't belong to any shurch at all, and you'd yoost as lief discount +deir notes as you vould any oder man's, and you'd go into business mit +dem yoost as qvick, and you'd take deir word for anyding yoost as +qvick. If dat's de vay mit dem men, vy isn't it true dat Sam Kimper is +a good deal better off mit vat he's got dan he vould be midout anyding +at all in de vay of religion?" + +"Oh, Conrad," said the deacon, "you were brought up in darkness and +error! You don't understand. I've got that Sam Kimper on my mind so +much that I'm just keeping our minister after him all the time." + +"Vell," said the shopkeeper, "I tell you vat I'll do, deacon. You let +your minister do all he can mit him, and ven he finds he can't do +noding yoost you come an' tell me, an' den I'll send our priest after +him. He's a good man. You can't say noding against him; you know you +can't. Neider can anybody else in dis town." + +"No," said the deacon, "I don't mind saying, for I've said it a good +many times before, that if Father Black belonged to my church, instead +of the one he does, I couldn't find a single thing to say or think +against him. He is certainly a very good man, and doing a great deal of +good among a lot of people that I didn't suppose ever could be kept out +of mischief; but--" + +"But he didn't keep 'em out of mischief in your vay. Dat's de trouble, +isn't it? Come now, own up, like an honest man, and I von't go tell +nobody else about vat you say. Own up, now; isn't dat de trouble? Dem +people dat you talk about as behavin' demselves is a good deal better +dan some dat's smarter and has got more money an' more advantages an' +more friends, an' dey don't make nobody any trouble, an' yet you ain't +satisfied mit 'em; an' mit deir shurch, yoost because dey don't do +everyding your vay." + +"Conrad," said the deacon, putting on a lofty air, "you're a good man +to do business with; you're a respectable citizen, except that you sell +rum. But there's some things you can't understand, and it's no use for +me to waste time talking to you about them. If your mind was clearer, +if it had been enlightened in the true way, you would not be selling +rum, for instance." + +"Vouldn't I, dough? Vell, I yoost vant you to understand dere's no +better business in dis town dan I am a-doin' right in dis shop. But if +I didn't tink it vas right, I vouldn't be doin' it at all. You talk in +dis country as if de rum-sellers vas de very vorst people in de vorld. +I vant you to understand over in my country, dat's a good deal older +dan dis, and vere de peoples has had a good deal more experience, a man +don't get no right to sell liquor unless he is a first-class citizen in +every respect. It's a sign dat a man is honest an' sensible an' knows +how to manage oder men, if he gets de right to sell liquor. Dat's more +dan you can say about _your_ business, Deacon Quickset. Any rascal can +go in de business dat you is doin' now." + +"Well," said the deacon, beginning to feel that he was on dangerous +ground, "this wasn't what we were talking about, anyhow. We began to +talk about Sam Kimper; and I want you to promise me that you won't talk +to anybody else about his needing liquor, and about his breaking down +in the course of time unless he gets it." + +"Of course I von't talk about it, deacon. Do you s'pose I'm a fool? Do +you s'pose I vant to see people get drunk? No, sir; people dat gets +drunk don't come to my shop. Dey know dey couldn't get anyding if dey +did." + +Meanwhile Sam Kimper went on, after the humble manner in which he had +begun, to try to bring his family to his new standard of +respectability. He introduced family prayers, much to the disgust of +his son Tom and the amusement of his daughter Mary. The privacy of +family affairs was not entirely respected by the Kimper family, for Sam +soon heard remarks from street loafers, as he passed along, which +indicated that the devotional exercises of the family had been +reported, evidently by his own children, and he heard quotations from +some of his weak and halting prayers pass from mouth to mouth and +elicit peals of coarse laughter. + +Nevertheless he found some encouragement. His son Tom was not quite so +much of a cub at home as he had been, and actually took to trying, in a +desultory way, to find work, although his father's offer to teach him +the trade which had been learned in the penitentiary was declined very +sharply and without any thanks whatever. Billy, the younger boy, had an +affectionate streak in his nature, which his father succeeded in +touching to such an extent that complaints of Billy's truancy were +nowhere near so numerous as they had been just after his father's +return. Mary, the youngest daughter, was a less promising subject. Her +precocity was of a very unpleasant order, and caused her father a great +deal of annoyance. + +When everything else failed him, Sam had the baby for consolation. The +little wretch had been so utterly uncared for since its appearance that +it seemed surprised for some time by its father's demonstrations of +affection, but finally the meaning of this seemed made known to it, +probably in the way the same meanings are translated to babies +everywhere else, and from being a forlorn and fretful child it +gradually became so cheerful that its own mother began to display some +interest in it and make a plaything of it, to her own manifest +advantage. + +But Jane, the elder daughter, who was a woman in stature and already +knew more of the world than is good for women in general, was a +constant source of anxiety to Sam. Many a night the unhappy father +lingered in the neighborhood of the hotel, seeking for an opportunity +to see his daughter and talk with her; not that he had much to say, but +that he hoped by his presence to keep more congenial company away from +her. When he heard any village gossip in the house, he always could +trace it to his daughter Jane. Whenever Mary broke out with some new +and wild expression of longing, he understood who put it into her mind. +Whenever his wife complained that she was not so well dressed as some +other women whose husbands were plain workmen, and expressed a wish for +some tawdry bit of finery, Sam could trace the desire, by very little +questioning, back to his daughter Jane. + +He prayed about it, thought about it, groaned over it, wept over it, +and still saw no means within his power to bring the girl back to an +interest in her family and to bring her up so that she should not +disgrace the name which he was trying to rehabilitate. But the more +thought and effort he gave to the subject, the less seemed his chance +of success. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Eleanor Prency was the handsomest girl in all Bruceton. Indeed, she so +far distanced all other girls in brilliancy and manners, as well as in +good looks, that no other young woman thought of being jealous of her. +Among her sex she occupied the position of a peerless horse or athlete +among sporting men; she was "barred" whenever comparisons were made. + +As she was an only child, she was especially dear to her parents, who +had bestowed upon her every advantage which their means, intelligence, +and social standing could supply, and she had availed herself of all of +them apparently to the fullest extent. She was not lacking in +affection, sense, self-control, and a number of virtues which some +girls entirely satisfactory to their parents possessed in less measure. + +Nevertheless the judge and his wife were deeply anxious about their +daughter's future. She was good--as girls go; she attended regularly +the church of which the family, including herself, were members; she +had no bad habits or bad tastes; her associates were carefully +selected; and yet the judge and his wife spent many hours, which should +have been devoted to sleep, in endeavoring to forecast her future. + +It was all a matter of heredity. At middle age the judge and his wife +were fully deserving of the high esteem in which they were held by the +entire community. They were an honest, honorable, Christian couple, +living fully up to the professions they made. In their youthful days +they had been different--in some respects. Well off, handsome, and +brilliant, they had both been among the most persistent and successful +of pleasure-seekers. Reviewing those days, Mrs. Prency could say that +utter selfishness and self-love had been her deepest sins. Her husband, +looking back at his own life, could truthfully say the same, but the +details were different. He had looked upon the wine-cup and every other +receptacle in which stimulants were ever served. He had tried every +game of chance and gone through all other operations collectively known +as "sowing one's wild oats." Respect for his wife caused him to break +from all his bad habits and associations, at first haltingly and with +many relapses, but afterwards by joining the church and conforming his +life to his faith. But the inheritance of the child was from her +parents, as they were, not as they afterwards became. + +Therefore the couple became anxious anew when they discovered that +their daughter had become very fond of Reynolds Bartram, for the young +man forcibly reminded both of them of the judge himself in his early +days, yet without Prency's strong and natural basis of character, while +the daughter was entirely devoted to the pleasures of the day. If +Bartram were to remain as he was, and his self-satisfaction to continue +so strong as to be manifest upon all occasions and in all circumstances +they foresaw a miserable life for their daughter. Hence Mrs. Prency's +solicitude about young Bartram. + +One day Mrs. Prency made a business excuse to call again on the +cobbler's assistant. + +"Mr. Kimper," said she after leaving a dainty boot with some +instructions about repairs, "Reynolds Bartram came to see you, I +suppose, as I warned you he would?" + +"Yes, ma'am, he came," said the cobbler, selecting some buttons from a +box and beginning to affix them to one of the lady's boots. + +"Did he talk with you on the subject that I supposed he would." + +"Yes," said Sam, "he did; quite a long time." + +"Did you change your views at all under his arguments?" + +"Oh, no, ma'am," said the man, looking up with an eager expression of +countenance. "How could I?" + +"I'm so glad," murmured the woman. "Well, what did he say?" + +"I can't repeat all his words, Mrs. Prency, because he talks a good +deal better than I do, you know, an' maybe I wouldn't give them the +sense that they had,--the way that he meant them." + +"How did he seem to take what you said to him?" + +"I'm afraid, ma'am," said Sam, "that what I said didn't entirely suit +him; because when I got through all he said was, 'Pshaw!'" + +Mrs. Prency looked at the shoe through which the needle was rapidly +passing back and forth, and finally said,-- + +"He hasn't come again, I suppose?" + +"Oh, yes, ma'am, he has,--several times. I never knew any other man to +be so much interested in the makin' of one pair of shoes as he has been +about them that he ordered of me that day. He says they're not in any +hurry, an' yet he comes in every day or two to talk about them." + +"Indeed!" said Mrs. Prency, her face brightening. "Doesn't he talk of +anything but his shoes?" + +"Yes, ma'am," sighed Sam; "he comes back to the old subject always; +an' it does seem to me as if the one thing he was thinkin' about an' +tryin' to do was to break me down in what I've learned to believe. It +don't seem, ma'am, to me that it's very big business for a smart feller +like him to be in, when he knows what a common sort of a feller I am, +an' what little I've got, an' how much I need all that I've got, if I'm +goin' to keep straight any more." + +"Mr. Kimper," said the lady, "try not to look at it in that way. He is +not trying to break you down; he is trying to satisfy himself. Don't +give way, and he dare not. If he did not believe a great deal of what +you have been saying to him, he would not keep up his interest in it. +Mr. Kimper, it may not seem possible to you, but there is a chance of +your doing better work in the missionary cause for that young man than +anybody and everybody else in this town has yet been able to do." + +"Oh, nonsense, Mrs. Prency!" said the cobbler, dropping the shoe and +looking up incredulously. "He's got a thousand times as much head-piece +as I have, an' if he can't learn what he wants to from other people +there ain't the slightest likelihood of my ever learnin' him anythin'." + +"Sam," said Mrs. Prency, earnestly, "in the book that you have been +reading so industriously, from which you have learned so much, and from +which I hope you will continue to learn a great deal, don't you +remember something that is said about the Lord having selected the +feeble ones of this world to confound the wise?" + +Sam looked down meditatively at the dropped shoe, and replied in a +moment,-- + +"Well, now you speak of it, ma'am, I think I do." + +"You certainly will believe that as much as everything else you have +read there?" + +"Why, of course; I'll have to." + +"Very well, then; apply it to yourself, and try to be patient the next +time that young man comes to annoy you." + +Sam rested his elbows on his knees and dropped the shoe again for a +moment, and at last, resuming his work, said,-- + +"Well, I'll take your word for it, ma'am: you know a good deal more +about such things than I do." + +Gradually the cobbler's face began to contract. His needle and thread +moved more and more rapidly through the buttons and the leather. At +last he laid the shoe aside with an air of desperation, looked up +defiantly, and said,-- + +"Mrs. Prency, I don't mean no offence, an' I ain't the kind of person +that meddles with other people's business, an' I hope you won't feel +hurt or angry at anythin' that I'm goin' to say to you, because there +is somethin' behind it. So I hope you won't think I'm meddlin' with +your affairs, if you'll listen to me just a little while. I--I--" + +"Well?" said the lady, for Sam seemed to be hesitating about what he +wanted to say. + +"I don't hardly know how to say it, ma'am, an' I'm awfully afraid to +say it at all; but--well, there, Mrs. Prency, I guess I know why you +are so very much interested in the religious welfare of that young +lawyer." + +The judge's wife had naturally a very good complexion, but her face +flushed deeper as she looked inquiringly at the cobbler but said +nothing. + +"I've seen him," said Sam,--"I can't help seein' things when I'm goin' +along in the street, you know, or happen to look out through the +windows,--I've seen him in company once in a while with that daughter +of yours, Mrs. Prency,--with that young lady that seems to me to be too +good to talk to any young man that lives in this town. He is very fond +of her, though; nobody can help seein' that." + +"I suppose he is," said Mrs. Prency, with an embarrassed manner. "Young +men have very quick perceptions and correct tastes in matters of that +kind, you know." + +"Yes, ma'am," said the cobbler, "and they don't differ much from young +women. Seems to me your daughter, ma'am, seems to think a good deal of +him, too. Well, I don't wonder at it, for he's the finest lookin' young +feller anywhere about here; an' if they go to thinkin' more and more of +each other as they go on, you would like him to be a good deal better +man than he is." + +The judge's wife dropped her eyes and seemed in doubt for an instant as +to whether to be angry or only amused. Finally she looked up frankly +and said, + +"Mr. Kimper, you're a parent and so am I. I see you have been putting +yourself in my place. It is quite natural that you should do so, and it +is very creditable to you that you have done it in the way you have. +You are quite right in your surmise; but may I ask why you have spoken +to me about it in this way?" + +"That's just what I was comin' to, ma'am," said the cobbler. "I've got +a daughter, too. I suppose you think she ain't fit to be mentioned in +the same day with that glorious gal of yours." + +"Oh, Mr. Kimper!" murmured the lady. + +"Well if you don't, I don't see how you can help doin' it; that's all. +Your daughter is a lady. She shows in her everythin' that there is in +her father and mother, an' everybody knows that they're the finest +people hereabouts. My child is the daughter of a thief an' a brawler +an' a loafer, an' she's a servant in a common hotel, which is about as +low down, I s'pose, as any gal can get in this town that don't go to +the bad entirely. Mrs. Prency, that gal has broke my heart. I don't +have no influence over her at all. You want me to help you out about +your daughter. I am goin' to do it just as far as heaven will give me +the strength to do it. Now I want to throw myself right at your feet +an' beg you, for the love of God, to try to do somethin' for _my_ +child." + +"Why, Mr. Kimper, certainly," said the judge's wife. "I am very glad +you spoke to me about her. But, really, I have tried to do a great deal +for her. While you were away I used to send clothing to your wife for +her, so that the child might be able always to make a proper appearance +at school." + +"Yes, ma'am, so you did," said the cobbler, "an' it's a shame that I +should ask anythin' else of you, for I know you're generous-hearted, +an' the Lord knows there's enough other poor an' wretched people in +this town that needs lookin' after, an' I know you're doin' a good deal +for all of 'em. But this ain't a matter of poverty, Mrs. Prency; it +goes a good deal deeper than that. I'm not thinkin' about her +appearance; she's better dressed now than she ort to be, though I don't +think she shows much good taste in what she buys to put on her. But I +want to have somebody take some interest in her that'll make her change +her thoughts an' feelin's about the way she's livin' an' the kind o' +company she's keepin'." + +The judge's wife looked thoughtful, and Sam contemplated her with +wistful eyes. There was a long silence. When at last Mrs. Prency spoke +she said,-- + +"Mr. Kimper, I think I know what you mean, but I am puzzled as to what +I can do and how I can do it. Can you suggest anything?" + +"That's just the trouble, ma'am," said Sam; "I can't; I don't know how. +I've thought an' cried an' prayed about that gal more than anybody'd +ever believe, I s'pose,--anybody that knows me an' knows her too. But I +can't get no light nor no sense about it. But I'm only a man, Mrs. +Prency, an' you're a woman. She's a woman too, an' it did seem to me +that maybe you, with all you're good sense an' all your +good-heartedness, could think of somethin', some way, that would bring +that gal back to what she ort to be before she goes an' does what her +mother done--marry some worthless fool before she's old enough to +marry at all, an' then be helpless and downcast all the rest of her +life." + +"I might," said the lady, after musing a little while, "I might +possibly make her a place among my own servants, but I imagine she +would not care for such a position, for I have always discovered that +the servants who have been in hotels are dissatisfied with any other +sort of service. Besides, you probably do not wish her to associate +with the servant class, and it would be far better for her if she did +not." + +"She'd have to go, ma'am, if you was willin' to take her," said the +cobbler, "but, as you say, whether she'd stay or not is a question. Oh, +Mrs. Prency," said he, resuming his work again with violent energy, +"it's the hardest question that ever come up to me in all my life. It's +harder than bein' in jail or breakin' off drinkin' or anythin' else +that I ever tried. It's even harder than goin' to work; I give you my +word it is." + +"Mr. Kimper," said the lady, "I'll tell you what I'll do. I give you my +word that I will think earnestly on the subject, and do it at once, and +give myself no rest until I have devised some plan to do what you have +asked me." + +"God bless you, ma'am! God bless you!" said the cobbler, dropping a +tear upon one of the grimy hands at work upon the shoe. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Reynolds Bartram was greatly annoyed by the results of the several +interviews he had imposed upon the new assistant cobbler at Bruceton. +He had silenced, if not conquered, all the other religious +controversialists of the town, and found the weak spots in the armor of +many good people not given to controversy, whom he had beguiled into +talking on religious themes. Why he should want to converse at all upon +such subjects puzzled the people of the town, all of whom had known him +from boyhood as a member of a family so entirely satisfied with itself +that it never desired any aid from other people, to say nothing of +higher powers. Sometimes the Bartrams went to church for social +purposes, but always with an air of conferring a favor upon the power +in whose honor the edifice was erected. + +But Bartram had good enough reasons for his sudden interest in +religion. He was in love with Eleanor Prency, and, after the manner of +his family regarding everything that interested them, he was +tremendously in earnest with his wooing. Like a judicious lawyer, he +had endeavored to make his way easier by prepossessing the girl's +parents in his favor; but when he began to pass the lines of pleasing +civility, within which he had long known the judge and his wife, he was +surprised to find an undercurrent of seriousness, the existence of +which in the Prency family he never had suspected. The judge appeared +to estimate everything from the stand-point of religion and +righteousness; so did his wife; so, though in less measure, did the +daughter. + +Such nonsense, as the self-sufficient youth regarded it, was annoying. +To visit a pleasant family with the intention of making a general +conquest and find himself confronted by a line of obstacles which he +always had regarded as trifling, yet which he was unable to overcome, +and to be told that religion was a reality because it had changed Sam +Kimper, one of the most insignificant wretches in town, from a lazy, +thievish drunkard to an honest, sober, industrious citizen,--all this +was to make war upon Reynolds Bartram's constitutional opinions as to +the fitness of things. + +A change of opinion somewhere was necessary: so it must occur in the +Prency family, and as soon as it could be brought about. This was +Bartram's first conclusion, after an hour of deep thought. He had +started upon a love-making enterprise, and he objected to a +complication of interests. If the Prencys chose to talk theology in the +privacy of their family life, they were welcome to do so, but he wished +none of it, and, unless his head had lost its cunning, he believed he +could devise a method of preventing further inflictions of it. + +He convinced himself that his best method would be to discover and +expose the weakness, perhaps hypocrisy, of the wretched cobbler's +professions. Maybe Kimper meant all he said, and thought he believed +something which was essential to religion; but had not scores of other +common fellows in the town done likewise, during "revivals" and other +seasons of special religious effort, only to fall back into their old +ways soon afterwards? It was all a matter of birth and training, argued +Bartram to himself: the feeblest and most excitable intellects, the +world over, were the first to be impressed by whatever seemed +supernatural, whether it were called religion, spiritualism, mesmerism, +or anything else. It was merely a matter of mental excitement: the +stronger the attack, the sooner the relapse. Sam Kimper would lose +faith in his fancies sooner or later; it might be somewhat cruel to +hasten this result, but what was a little more or less of the life of +such a fellow, compared with the lifelong happiness of one of the +Bartrams,--the last of the family, and, as the young man fully +believed, the best? Should the cobbler's fall be hastened, Bartram +would make it right; indeed, he would volunteer in his defense the +first time he should again be arrested for fighting or stealing. + +But his plan did not work. Day after day he had made excuses to drop +into the cobbler's shop and worry the ex-convict into a discussion, but +not once did he depart without a sense of defeat. As he said to +himself,-- + +"What can be done with a man who only believes, and won't argue or go +to the bottom of things? It's confoundedly ridiculous." + +During his last visit, he said,-- + +"Sam, if the power you profess to believe in can really work such a +change as you think He has done in you, He ought to be able to do +almost anything else. Don't you think so?" + +"That I do," said the cobbler, working away. + +"You believe He has power to any extent, I suppose?" + +"You're right again, Mr. Bartram." + +"Of course you think he loves you dearly?" + +"I'm ashamed to think it,--that any such bein' should love a +good-for-nothin' feller like me. But what else can I think, Mr. +Bartram, after all that's gone on in me, an' what He's said Himself?" + +"Very well; then, if He is so powerful and cares so much for you, I +suppose He brings you more work and better prices than any one else in +your business?" + +Sam did not reply to this at once, but after a while he said,-- + +"It amounts to the same thing: He makes me work harder than I ever +knowed how to do before. That brings me more money an' gives me a hope +of gettin' along better after a while." + +"Oh, well, you have a family,--quite a large family, I believe. Does He +do as much for your wife and children as for you?" + +"Whatever He's doin' for me is done for all of us, Mr. Bartram." + +"Just so. But do you mean to say that what you're making enables you to +do for your family all that you should?" + +The cobbler's face contracted, under the shade he wore over his eyes. +An evil smile overspread the lawyer's countenance. A little time +passed; the discussion was becoming sport,--such sport as the angler +feels when a wounded fish, a hundred times smaller than he, is +struggling and writhing in agony on his hook. + +"You don't seem certain about it, Sam," the tormentor finally said. + +"Mr. Bartram," the cobbler answered in a little while, "what He done +for me came about so quiet an' unknown like that I don't know what he +may be doin' for the wife an' children. God knows they need it; an', as +He came to look after them that was needy, I don't believe He can make +a mistake an' pass by my house." + +"But I should think you would be sure about it. You're so sure about +your own affairs, you know,--what are called your spiritual affairs." + +"I don't know, though," said Sam, simply. + +"Have all the children got good shoes and stockings and warm clothes? +Winter is almost here, you know." + +"No, sir, they haven't," Sam sharply replied. + +The lawyer quickly caught the change of tone, and made haste to +explain: + +"I didn't mean to disturb your peace of mind, Sam; I asked only in +order to learn how much foundation there was to your faith. They +haven't them, you say. How will they get them?" + +"I'll earn 'em," said the cobbler, with a savage dash of his awl which +one of his fingers barely escaped. + +"But suppose you can't; suppose trade slackens, or Larry takes a notion +to a new helper." + +"Then I'll beg, rather than have 'em suffer." + +"And if folks won't give?" + +"Then my folks'll have to go without." + +"In spite of your new, loving, strong friend,--your Saviour? If He's +all you take Him to be, aren't you sure He'll look out for your +family?" + +"Mr. Bartram," said the cobbler, resting for a moment, and +straightening his weary back, "if I was in trouble,--been doin' +somethin' wrong, for instance, an' was hauled into court, an' had you +for my lawyer,--though of course I couldn't expect to have so smart a +man,--I'd ort to believe that you'd do everythin' that could be done +an' ort to be done, ortn't I?" + +"Certainly, Sam, certainly," said the lawyer, with his customary +professional look of assurance. + +"But I wouldn't know all about it in advance, would I? Even if you was +to tell me all you meant to do an' how you'd do it, I couldn't take it +in. If I could, I'd be just as smart as you,--the idee!--an' wouldn't +need you at all." + +Both suppositions were so wildly improbable that the lawyer indulged in +a sarcastic smile. + +"Well, then," continued Sam, "here's somebody helpin' me more than any +man ever could,--somebody that's smarter than any lawyer livin'. I +s'pose you'll own up to that?" + +The idea that any being, natural or supernatural, could be wiser than +one of the Bartrams was not pleasing to the lawyer, when suggested so +abruptly, but it was conceded, after a moment of thought, by a +condescending nod of the head. + +"Then," Sam continued, "how am I goin' to be supposed to know all that +He's doin' an' not doin' for me, an' when He's goin' to do somethin' +else, or whether He's goin' to do it at all. If I was as smart as a +lawyer, I wouldn't need one; if I was as smart an' good as Him that's +lookin' after me, there wouldn't need to be any God or Saviour, would +there?" + +"Then you are satisfied He is God and Saviour, eh? Some wiser men have +believed differently." + +"I only know what I was told an' what I've read for myself, sir. The +man that put me up to it told me not to try to believe everythin' that +everybody else did, but to believe as much as I could an' live up to +it, bein' extra particular about the livin' up." + +"But you ought to know something--have some distinct idea--as to whom +you're believing in. What do you know about Him, after all?" + +"I know," said the cobbler, "just what I've told you before, when +you've asked me the same question. I know He was once in the world, an' +didn't do anybody any harm, an' done a good deal of good, an' taught +folks to do right an' how to do it. Everybody believes that, don't +they?" + +"I suppose it's safe to admit that much." + +"Well, sir, I'm tryin' to foller Him an' learn of Him. I'm believin' in +Him just like I believe in old Andrew Jackson." + +"Is that all?" + +"That's enough,--as far as I've got. You're a good deal smarter than I +be, sir: won't you tell me how to go further?" + +The lawyer shook his head and departed. The cobbler fell on his knees +and buried his face in his hands. The lawyer, chancing to look in the +window, saw the movement; then he drew his hat down over his eyes and +sauntered off. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The genuineness of the change which had come over Sam Kimper slowly +became the subject of general conversation in Bruceton. Judge Prency +frequently spoke of it; so did his wife; and, as the Prencys were +leaders of village society, whatever interested them became the +fashion. People with shoes which needed repairing visited the new +cobbler in great numbers, each prompted as much by curiosity as by +business, for they seldom haggled about prices. + +Sam's family, too, began to receive some attention. Mrs. Prency, having +first secured a promise from Sam that the children should go to +Sunday-school if they could be decently clad, interested several ladies +to the extent of bestowing some old clothing, which she hired a sewing +woman to make over into becoming garments for Billy and Mary. Mrs. +Kimper, too, was enabled to dress well enough to appear in church, +though she stipulated that she should go only to evening services. + +"I don't 'mount to much, Mrs. Prency," said she to the family's +benefactor; "there ain't much left of me as I once was, but I ain't +goin' to have people look at me the way they do, any more than I can +help." + +"The feeling does you credit, Mrs. Kimper," said the lady, "but you +won't long be troubled that way. The oftener you let people see you, +the less curious they'll be." + +Sam's new way of life, too, began to be discussed where men most +congregated. Loungers at stores, the railway station, and the +post-office talked of the town's only ex-convict who had not yet gone +back to his old ways. Most of the men who talked of him did it in about +the manner of spectators of the gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome: +they admired the endurance and courage of the man, but seldom did it +occur to them to stretch out a hand to help him. There were exceptions +to this rule, however. An old farmer who had brought a load of wheat to +the station listened to the tale, asked a great many questions about +the case, and said, finally,-- + +"I s'pose you're all doin' all you can to help him along?" + +The by-standers looked at one another, but no one answered in the +affirmative. One man at last found words to say, "Why, he's tryin' to +help hisself along, and we're watchin' to see how he'll succeed. Now, I +was along by his place this mornin', an' seen him carryin' in the last +wood from his wood-pile. 'Sam,' I hollered, 'don't you want to buy a +load of wood? I've got some I want to sell.' 'I need it,' said Sam, +'but I ain't got a cent.' Well, mebbe I'd have trusted him for a load +if he'd asked me, but it occurred to me to stand off an' see how he'd +manage it. It's cold weather now, an' if he don't get it some way, his +family'll go cold. I went by there again at noon-time, but he hadn't +got none yit." + +"He's as independent like," said another, "as if he hadn't never been +in jail." + +"You're a pack of heartless hogs!" roared the farmer, getting into his +wagon and driving off. + +"Can't see that he's any different from the rest of us," muttered one +of the by-standers. + +Could the group have known the trouble in the new cobbler's heart, as +he bent all day over his work and thought of the needed wood, their +interest in the subject would have been enhanced. Sam's wife was a +cold-blooded creature; the baby was somewhat ailing; it would not do +for the fire to go out, yet the fuel he had carried in at morn could +not more than last until evening. The little money that had come into +the shop during the day would barely purchase some plain food, of which +there was never in the house a day's supply. He had not the courage to +ask credit for wood; his occasional attempts to "get trusted" had all +failed, no matter how small the article wanted. He looked for Larry +Highgetty, his employer, to beg a small loan, but Larry, though he came +into the shop every morning for his share of the previous day's +earnings, could not be found that afternoon. + +Suddenly, when the sun was almost down, Sam remembered that a house was +being built several squares away. Carpenters always left many scraps +behind them, which village custom allowed anyone to pick up. The +cobbler devoutly thanked heaven for the thought, closed the shop, and +hurried away to the new building. The men were still at work, and there +was a great deal of waste lying about. + +"May I have some of these leavin's?" asked Sam of the master builder. + +The man looked down from the scaffolding on which he stood, recognized +the questioner, turned again to his work, and at last answered, with a +scowl,-- + +"Yes, I suppose so. It would be all the same, I guess, if I didn't say +so. You'd come after dark and help yourself." + +Sam pocketed the insult, though the weight of it was heavy. So was that +of the bits of board he gathered; but he knew that such thin wood +burned rapidly, so he took a load that made him stagger. As he entered +the yard behind his house, he saw, through the dusk which was beginning +to gather, a man rapidly tossing cord-wood from a wagon to a large pile +which already lay on the ground. + +"My friend," gasped Sam, dropping his own load and panting from his +exertion, "I guess--you've made a--mistake. I ain't ordered a load of +wood from nobody. Guess you've come to the wrong house." + +"Guess not," replied the man, who was the farmer that had freed his +mind at the railway station during the afternoon. + +"This is Sam Kimper's," explained the cobbler. + +"Just where I was told to come," said the farmer, tossing out the last +sticks and stretching his arms to rest upon them. + +"Who was it told you to bring it?" asked the resident. + +The farmer stooped and took a large package from the front of the wagon +and threw it on the ground; then he threw another. + +"Won't you tell me who sent it?" Sam asked again. + +The farmer turned his head and shouted,-- + +"God Almighty, if you must know; and He told me to bring that bag of +flour and shoulder of bacon, too." + +Then the farmer drove off, at a gait quite unusual in farm-teams. + +The cobbler burst into tears and fell upon his knees. When he arose he +looked in the direction from which came the rattle of the retreating +wheels, and said to himself,-- + +"I wonder if that man was converted in the penitentiary?" + +The story, when Sam told it in the house, amazed the family, though +little Mary giggled long on hearing the name of the supposed giver. No +sooner was supper ended than the child slipped out of the house and +hurried to the hotel to tell her sister Jane all about it. Within half +an hour the story had passed, through the usual channels, to all +lounging-places that were open, and at one of them--the post-office--it +was heard by Deacon Quickset. It troubled the good man a great deal, +and he said,-- + +"There's no knowing how much harm'll be done the fellow by that speech. +If he thinks the Lord is going to take care of him in such unexpected +ways, he'll go to loafing and then get back into his old ways." + +"Didn't the Lord ever help you in any unexpected way, deacon?" asked +Judge Prency, who nearly every evening spent a few moments in the +post-office lobby. + +"Why, yes,--of course; but, judge, Sam and I aren't exactly the same +kind of men, I think you'll allow." + +"Quite right," said the judge. "You're a man of sense and character. +But when Jesus was on earth did He give much attention to men of your +general character and standing? According to my memory of the +record,--and I've re-read it several times since Sam Kimper's +return,--He confined His attentions quite closely to the poor and +wretched, apparently to the helpless, worthless class to whom the +Kimper family would have belonged had it lived at that time. 'They that +are whole need no physician,'--you remember?--'but they that are +sick.'" + +"According to the way you seem to be thinking, Judge Prency," said the +deacon, coldly, "them that's most deserving are to be passed by for +them that's most shiftless." + +"Those who deserve most are those who need most, aren't they, +deacon?--that is, if anyone is really 'deserving,' as we use the word." + +"Your notions would break up business entirely, if they were carried +out," asserted the deacon. + +"Not at all; though I've never discovered that business is the first +interest of the Almighty." + +"You mean to say that because I work hard and get a little fore-handed +I ought to take a lot of shiftless folks and teach them to be lazy and +dependent on me?" + +"Certainly not, deacon. How you do jump at conclusions! There aren't a +lot of shiftless people in this town; there are very few; and even they +might be helped, and shamed into taking care of themselves, if you and +I and some more fore-handed people were to follow our Master's +example." + +"I've spoken to every unbeliever in this town about his soul's +salvation," said the deacon; "I've always made it a matter of duty. +Christ came to preach salvation, and I'm following His example, in my +humble way." + +"Didn't He do anything else?" asked the judge. "You remember what +answer He sent to John in prison, when the Baptist seemed to have lost +heart and wondered whether Jesus were really He who should come? He +said that to the poor the gospel was preached, but He gave half a dozen +other proofs, each of them showing special care for men's bodies." + +"Judge, you're talking materialism," said the deacon. "It's a spirit +that's getting too common everywhere." + +"Oh, no, I'm not; I'm talking the words of Jesus Himself. Aren't they +good enough for you? or are you like children at the table who will +take only what suits them, and ignore everything else?" + +"Such talks never do any good, judge," said the deacon, buttoning his +overcoat and turning up the collar. "I've spent a good deal of my life +thinking about sacred subjects and trying to lead my fellow-men in the +right way. You're not going to make me believe at my time of life that +I've been all wrong, and that Jesus Christ came on earth only to start +a charity society." + +"Nor to teach people to live right?" + +"He wants them first to know how to die right. I should think, judge, +that Sam Kimper had been converting you over again and doing it +backwards. That fellow has only got hold of one end of the +Scripture--one little jag end of it." + +"Too small an end to be worthy of your attention, I suppose, deacon?" + +"This is all wasted time and idle talk, Judge Prency," said the deacon, +leaving the place so quickly that he forgot to ask for his letters. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +One bright, breezy October afternoon, Sam Kimper's daughter Jane got +"an hour off" from her duties at the hotel, and proceeded to devote it +to her highest ideal of possible enjoyment. There were many other +pleasures for which she longed, but, as they were unattainable just +then, she made the most of that which was within her reach for the time +being. It was to array herself in her best and saunter to and fro in +the principal streets, look into shop windows, and exchange winks and +rude remarks with young men and women with whom she was acquainted. + +Although her attire was about what one would expect of a drunkard's +child who had spent her later years in the kitchen and corridors of a +hotel, Jane was not an unsightly creature. There must have been good +physical quality in one side or other of her family, in past +generations, which was trying to reappear, for Jane had a fine figure, +expressive eyes, and a good complexion. Had any one followed her during +her afternoon stroll, and observed her closely during her successive +chance meetings with young men and women of her acquaintance, he would +have seen hard lines, coarse lines, ugly lines, in her face; yet when +in repose the same face was neither unwomanly nor without an occasional +suggestion of soul. It was a face like many others that one may see on +the streets,--entirely human, yet entirely under the control of +whatever influence might be about it for the time being,--the face of a +nature untrained and untaught, which would have followed either Jesus +or Satan, or both by turns, had both appeared before it in visible +shape. + +During a moment or two of her afternoon out, Jane found herself +approaching Mrs. Prency and Eleanor, those ladies being out on one of +those serious errands known collectively as "shopping." + +"Do see that dreadfully dowdy girl!" exclaimed Miss Eleanor, whose +attire was always selected with correct taste. + +"She has never had any one to teach her to dress properly, my dear," +suggested the mother. + +"She might have some one who cared enough for her to keep her from +appearing in public in red hair and a blue ribbon," said the daughter. + +"Such girls have no one to keep them from doing anything they like, my +dear. Let us try to be sorry for them, instead of being disgusted." + +"But, mother--" + +"Sh-h! she'll hear you. I'm going to bow to her; I wish you'd do the +same." + +"Mother!" + +"To oblige me; I'll explain afterwards." + +The couple were now within several steps of Jane, who, with an odd +mixture of wistfulness and scare, had been studying Eleanor's attire. +When she saw both women looking at her, she began to take a defiant +attitude, but the toss of her head was met by one of Mrs. Prency's +heartiest smiles, accompanied by a similar recognition from Eleanor. +Short as was the time that could elapse before the couple had passed +her, it was long enough to show a change in Jane's face,--a change so +notable that Eleanor whispered,-- + +"Did you ever see any one alter looks so quickly?" + +"Never; but I sha'n't lose any opportunity to see it again," said Mrs. +Prency. + +"Mother, dear," said Eleanor, "I hope you're not suddenly going to +recognize every common person you may meet on the street. You're so +enthusiastic." + +"And so different from my daughter in that respect,--eh, dear?" + +"But, mother, you've always been so careful and fastidious about your +associations and mine. I remember the time, only a year or two ago, +while I was at school, when you would have been horrified if I'd had +anything to do with a creature like that." + +"You were a child then, my dear; you're a woman now. That girl is the +daughter of the poor fellow--" + +"Sam Kimper?--that you and father talk of so frequently? Yes, I know; +she was a horrid little thing in school, two classes below me. But, +mother, I don't see why we ought to recognize her just because her +father has been in the penitentiary and behaved himself since he came +back." + +"Because she _needs_ recognition, dear child; because she gets it from +plenty of people of her own class, and if she has it from no others she +never will be any better than she is; perhaps she will become worse." + +"Oh, mother!" exclaimed Eleanor, with a toss of her handsome head, +"such people never change. There were plenty of such girls in the same +class with me in the public school, and they've all gone off and +married common low fellows. Some of them were real pretty girls while +they were young, too." + +"All the more reason why others of the same kind should have some +encouragement to do better, my child." + +"But, mother," persisted Eleanor, "what possible good will it do that +Kimper girl for us merely to recognize her in the street?" + +"You may do as much more for her as you choose, if you think mere +courtesy is not enough. Eleanor, you are a healthy, happy girl; you +know--and I remember--all a girl's natural fancies and longings. Do you +imagine that being badly born and reared can keep that girl from having +the same feelings? She probably wishes she could dress as well as the +best, attract attention, be respected, have a real fine fellow fall in +love with her--" + +"The idea!" exclaimed Eleanor, laughing merrily. "But suppose it were +all true; how can mere notice from us help her? I'm sure the minute we +passed her she made a face and envied me my better clothes." + +"You will think differently when you have more experience, my dear. +When I was as young as you, I thought--" + +"Oh, mother, there she is again," said Eleanor, "crossing the street; +she's turning right towards us. And," murmured the young lady, after +assuring herself that it was really the same combination of red hair +and blue ribbon, "how different she looks!" + +"Because two women of some standing and position chanced to notice +her. Let's help the good work along, daughter." Then, before Miss +Eleanor had time to object, and just as the cobbler's daughter was in +front of them, Mrs. Prency stopped, extended her neatly gloved hand, +and said, with a pleasant smile,-- + +"How these girls do grow! You were little Jane only a year or two ago, +Miss Kimper." + +Never before had Jane Kimper been addressed as "Miss." The appellation +sent color flying into her face and brightness into her eyes as she +stammered out something about growing being natural. + +"You haven't grown fast enough, though, to neglect good looks," +continued Mrs. Prency, while Eleanor, endeavoring to act according to +her mother's injunctions, drawled,-- + +"No, indeed!" + +Then the cobbler's daughter flushed deeper and looked grateful, almost +modest, for girls read girls pretty fairly, and Jane saw that Eleanor +was regarding her face with real admiration. + +"You girls of the new generation can't imagine how much interest we +women who used to be girls have in you," said the judge's wife. "I'm +afraid you'd be vain if you knew how much Eleanor and I have looked at +you and talked about you." + +"I didn't s'pose any lady that was anybody ever thought anything about +girls like me," Jane finally managed to say. + +"You're greatly mistaken, my dear girl," said the lady. "Nearly every +one in this world talks a good deal about every one else whom they know +by sight. You really can't imagine how much good it does me to see you +looking so well and pretty. Keep right on looking so, won't you? The +girls of to-day must be our women a few years hence; that's what I keep +impressing upon my daughter day by day,--don't I, dear." + +"Indeed you do, mother." Eleanor said it with a look at Jane which was +almost a signal for sympathy: the cobbler's daughter was greatly +mystified by it. + +"I don't see," said Jane, after standing awkwardly for a moment in +meditation, "how a girl's goin' to be much of a woman that amounts to +anything one of these days if she's nothin' to do now but dirty work at +a hotel." + +"Maybe she could change her work," suggested the lady. + +Jane's lips parted into some hard and ugly lines, and she replied,-- + +"Some things is easier sayin' than doin'." + +"Should you like a different position?" asked Mrs. Prency. "I'm sure it +could be had if people knew you wanted it. For instance, I need some +one every day for weeks to come to help my daughter and me with our +sewing and fitting. There are always so many things to be done as +winter approaches. I sometimes feel as if I were chained to my +sewing-machine, and have so much to do. But I'm afraid such work would +seem very stupid to you. It would mean sitting still all day, you know, +with no one to talk to but Eleanor and me." + +Jane looked wonderingly at the two women before her. No one but them to +talk to! She never had imagined an opportunity to talk to such people +at all. She supposed all such women regarded her as part of the scum of +the earth, yet here they were speaking pleasantly to her,--Mrs. Prency, +a woman who naturally would fill the eye of an impulsive animal like +Jane,--Eleanor, the belle of the town,--two women whom no one could +look at without admiration. No one but them to talk to! All her +associates faded from Jane's mind like a fleck of mist under a +sunburst, as she answered,-- + +"If there's anything you want done that I can do, Mrs. Prency, I'd +rather work for you for nothin' than for anybody else for any money." + +"Come to my house as soon as you like, then, and we'll promise to keep +you busy: won't we, daughter?" + +"Yes, indeed," murmured Eleanor, who saw, in her mind's eye, a great +deal of her work being done without effort of her own. + +"You sha'n't do it for nothing, however; you shall earn fully as much +as you do now. Good day," Mrs. Prency said, as she passed on, and +Eleanor gave Jane a nod and a smile. + +The hotel drudge stood still and looked after the couple with wondering +eyes. The judge's wife dropped something as she walked. Jane hurried +after her and picked it up. It was a glove. The girl pressed it to her +lips again and again, hurried along for a few steps to return it, +stopped suddenly, thrust it into her breast, and then, passing the back +of her ungloved hand across her eyes, returned to the hotel, her eyes +cast down and her ears deaf to occasional remarks intended specially +for them. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Deacon Quickset was entirely truthful when he said to the keeper of the +beer saloon that he had worried his pastor again and again to call on +the repentant thief and try to bring him into the fold of the church; +but he probably did not know that the said pastor had opinions of his +own as to the time and manner in which such work should be done. Dr. +Guide, under whose spiritual ministrations the deacon had sat every +Sunday for many years, was a man of large experience in church work of +all kinds, and, although he was extremely orthodox, to the extent of +believing that those who already had united with his church were on the +proper road to heaven, he nevertheless realized, as a practical man, +that frequently there is more trouble with sheep in the road than with +those who are straying about. + +He had devoted no little of his time since he had been settled over the +Bruceton church to the reclamation of doubtful characters of all kinds, +but he frequently confided to his wife that one of the most +satisfactory proofs to him of the divine origin of the church was that +those already inside it were those most in need of spiritual +ministrations. He had reclaimed some sad sinners of the baser sort from +time to time with very little effort, but people concerning whom he +frequently lay awake nights were men and women who were nominally in +good standing in his own denomination and in the particular flock over +which he was shepherd. + +He had therefore made no particular haste to call on Sam Kimper, being +entirely satisfied, as he told his wife, his only confidante, that so +long as the man was following the course which he was reported to have +laid down for himself he was not likely to go far astray, whereas a +number of members of the congregation, men of far more influence in the +community, seemed determined to break from the straight and narrow way +at very slight provocation, and among these, the reverend doctor sadly +informed his wife, he feared Deacon Quickset was the principal. The +deacon was a persistent man in business,--"diligent in business" was +the deacon's own expression in justification of whatever neglect his +own wife might chance to charge him with,--but it seemed to some +business-men of the town, as well as to his own pastor, that the +deacon's diligence was overdoing itself, and that, in the language of +one of the store-keepers, he had picked up a great deal more than he +could carry. He was a director in a bank, agent for several insurance +companies, manager of a land-improvement company, general speculator in +real estate, and a man who had been charged with the care of a great +deal of property which had belonged to old acquaintances now deceased. +That he should be very busy was quite natural, but that his promises +sometimes failed of fulfilment was none the less annoying, and once in +a while unpleasant rumors were heard in the town about the deacon's +financial standing and about his manner of doing business. Still, Dr. +Guide did not drop Sam Kimper from his mind, and one day when he +chanced to be in the vicinity of Larry Highgetty's shop he opened the +door, bowed courteously to the figure at the bench, accepted a chair, +and sat for a moment wondering what he should say to the man whom he +was expected by the deacon to bring into his own church. + +"Mr. Kimper," said the reverend gentleman, finally, "I trust you are +getting along satisfactorily in the very good way in which I am told +you have started." + +"I can't say that I've any fault to find, sir," said the shoemaker, +"though I've no doubt that a man of your learnin' an' brains could see +a great deal wrong in me." + +"Don't trouble yourself about that, my good fellow," said the +minister: "you will not be judged by my learning or brains or those of +any one else except yourself. I merely called to say that at any time +that you are puzzled about any matter of belief, or feel that you +should go further than you already have done, I would be very glad to +be of any service to you if I can. You are quite welcome to call upon +me at my home at almost any time, and of course you know where I can +always be found on Sundays." + +"I am very much obliged to you, sir," said the cobbler, "but somehow +when I go to thinkin' much about such things I don't feel so much like +askin' other people questions or about learnin' anythin' else as I do +about askin' if it isn't a most wonderful thing, after all, that I've +been able to change about as I have, an' that I haven't tumbled +backwards again into any of my old ways. You don't know what those ways +is, I s'pose, Dr. Guide, do you?" + +"Well, no," said the minister, "I can't say that my personal experience +has taught me very much about them." + +"Of course not, sir; that I might know. Of course I didn't mean +anything of that kind. But I sometimes wonder whether gentlemen like +you, that was born respectable an' always was decent, an' has had the +best of company all your lives, an' never had any bad habits, can know +what an awful hole some of us poor common fellows sometimes get down +into, an' don't seem to know how to get out of. I s'pose, sir, there +must have been lots of folks of that kind when Jesus was around on the +world alive: don't you think so?" + +"No doubt, no doubt," said the minister, looking into his hat as if +with his eyes he was trying to make some notes for remarks on the +succeeding Sunday. + +"You know, sir, that in what's written about Him they have a good deal +to say about the lots of attention that He gave to the poor. I s'pose, +if poor folks was then like they are now, most of them was that way +through some faults of their own; because every body in this town that +behaves himself an' always behaved himself manages to get along well +enough. It does seem to me, sir, that He must have gone about among +folks a good deal like me." + +"That view of the matter never occurred to me," said the reverend +gentleman, "and yet possibly there is a great deal to it. You know, Mr. +Kimper, that was a long time ago. There was very little education in +those times, and the people among whom He moved were captives of a +stronger nation, and they seem to have been in a destitute and troubled +condition." + +"Yes," said Sam, interrupting the speaker, "an' I guess a good many of +them were as bad off as me, because, if you remember, He said a good +deal about them that was in prison an' that was visited there. Now, +sir, it kind o' seems to me in this town--I think I know a good deal +about it, because I've never been able to associate with anybody except +folks like myself--it seems to me that sort of people don't get any +sort of attention nowadays." + +The minister assumed his conventional air of dignity, and replied, +quickly,-- + +"I assure you, you are very much mistaken, so far as I am concerned. I +think I know them all by name, and have made special visits to all of +them, and tried to make them feel assured of the sympathy of those who +by nature or education or circumstance chance to be better off than +they." + +"That ain't exactly what I meant, sir," said the cobbler. "Such folks +get kind words pretty often, but somehow nobody ever takes hold of them +an' pulls them out of the hole they are in, like Jesus used to seem to +do. I s'pose ministers an' deacons an' such folks can't work miracles +like He did, an' if they haven't got it in 'em to pull 'em out, why, I +s'pose they can't do it. But I do assure you, sir, that there's a good +deal of chance to do that kind of work in this town, an' if there had +been any of it done when I was a boy, I don't believe I'd ever have +got into the penitentiary." + +Just then Dr. Brice, one of the village physicians, dropped into the +shop, and the minister, somewhat confused, arose, and said,-- + +"Well, Mr. Kimper, I am very much obliged to you for your views. I +assure you that I shall give them careful thought. Good day, sir." + +"Sam," said Dr. Brice, who was a slight, nervous, excitable man, "I'm +not your regular medical attendant, and I don't know that it's any of +my business, but I've come in here in a friendly way to say to you +that, if all I hear about your working all day and most of the night +too, is true, you are going to break down. You can't stand it, my boy: +human nature isn't made in that way. You have got a wife and family, +and you seem to be trying real hard to take care of them. But you can't +burn the candle at both ends without having the fire flicker out in the +middle all of a sudden, and perhaps just when you can least afford it. +Now, do take better care of yourself. You have made a splendid start, +and there are more people than you know of in this town who are looking +at you with a great deal of respect. They want to see you succeed, and +if you want any help at it I am sure you can get it; but don't kill the +goose that lays the golden egg. Don't break yourself up, or there +won't be anybody to help. Don't you see?" + +The shoemaker looked up at the good-natured doctor with a quick +expression, and said,-- + +"Doctor, I'm not doin' any more than I have to, to keep soul and body +together in the family. If I stop any of it, I've got to stop carryin' +things home." + +"Oh well," said the doctor, "that may be, that may be. But I'm simply +warning you, as a fellow-man, that you must look out for yourself. It's +all right to trust the Lord, but the Lord isn't going to give any one +man strength enough to do two men's work. I have been in medical +practice forty years, and I have never seen a case of that kind yet. +That's all. I'm in a hurry,--got half a dozen people to see. Don't feel +offended at anything I've said to you. It's all for your good, you +know. Good day." + +The doctor departed as rapidly as he had entered, and the cobbler stole +a moment or two from his work to think. How his thoughts ran he could +scarcely have told afterwards, for again the door opened, and the room +darkened slightly, for the person who was entering was Father Black, +the Catholic priest, a man whose frame was as big as his heart, he +being reputed to be one of the largest-hearted men in all Bruceton. +Everybody respected him. The best proof of it was that no one in any of +the other churches ever attempted to do any proselyting in Father +Black's flock. + +"My son," said the priest, seating himself in the chair and spreading a +friendly smile over his large, expressive features, "I have heard a +great deal of you since you came back from your unfortunate absence, +and I merely dropped in to say to you that if it's any comfort to you +to know that every day you have whatever assistance there can be in the +prayers of an old man who has been in this world long enough to love +most those who need most, you may be sure that you have them." + +"God bless you, sir! God bless you!" said the cobbler, quickly. + +"Have you connected yourself with any church here as yet?" asked the +priest. + +"No, sir," sighed the cobbler: "one an' another has been pullin' an' +haulin' at me one way an' another, tellin' me that it was my duty to go +into a church. But how can I do it, sir, when I'm expected to say that +I believe this an' that, that I don't know nothin' about? Some of 'em +has been very good tryin' to teach me what they seem to understand very +well, but I don't know much more than when they begun, an' sometimes it +seems to me that I know a good deal less, for, with what one tells me +in one way, an' another tells me in another way, my mind--and there's +not very much of it, sir--my mind gets so mixed up that I don't know +nothin' at all." + +"Ah, my son," said the good old priest, "if you could only understand, +as a good many millions of your fellow-men do, that it's the business +of some men to understand and of others to faithfully follow them, you +would not have such trouble." + +"Well, sir," said the cobbler, "that's just what Larry's been sayin' to +me here in the shop once in a while in the mornin', before he started +out to get full; an' there's a good deal of sense in what he says, I've +no doubt. But what I ask him is this,--an' he can't tell me, an' +perhaps you can, sir. It's only this: while my heart's so full that it +seems as if it couldn't hold the little that I already believe an' am +tryin' to live up to, where's the sense of my tryin' to believe some +more?" + +Father Black was so unprepared to answer the question put thus +abruptly, accompanied as it was with a look of the deepest earnestness, +that there ensued an embarrassing silence in the shop for a moment or +two. + +"My son," said the priest, at last, "do you fully believe all that you +have read in the good book that I am told you were taught to read while +you were in prison?" + +"Of course I do, sir; I can't do anything else." + +"You believe it all?" + +"Indeed I do, sir." + +"And are you trying to live according to it?" + +"That I am, sir." + +"Then, my son," said the priest, rising, "God bless you and keep you in +your way! Far be it from me to try to unsettle your mind or lead you +any further until you feel that you need leading. If ever you want to +come to me, you are welcome at any time of the day or night, and what +you cannot understand of what I tell you I won't expect you to believe. +Remember, my son, the Father of us all knows us just as we are, and +asks no more of any of us than we can do and be. Good day, my son, and +again--God bless you!" + +When the priest went out, Sam rested again for a moment, and then +murmured to himself,-- + +"Two ministers an' one doctor, all good people, tryin' to show me the +way I should go, an' to tell me what I should do, an' me a-makin' only +about a dollar a day! I s'pose it's all right, or they wouldn't do it." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +Reynolds Bartram and Eleanor Prency rapidly became so fond of each +other that the people of the village predicted an early engagement. The +young man had become quite a regular attendant at church,--not that he +had any religious feeling whatever, but that it enabled him to look at +his sweetheart for an hour and a half every Sunday morning and walk +home with her afterwards. Although he had considerable legal practice, +it was somehow always his fortune to be on the street when the young +lady chanced to be out shopping, and after he joined her there +generally ensued a walk which had nothing whatever to do with shopping +or anything else except an opportunity for two young people to talk to +each other for a long time on subjects which seemed extremely +interesting to both. + +Nevertheless, there were occasional clouds upon their sky. The young +man who loves his sweetheart better than he loves himself occasionally +appears in novels, but in real life he seems to be an unknown quantity, +and young Bartram was no exception to the general rule. In like +manner, the young woman who loses sight of her own will, even when in +the society of the man whom she thinks the most adorable in the world, +is not easy to discover in any ordinary circle of acquaintances. + +Bartram and Eleanor met one afternoon, in their customary manner, on +the principal street of the village, and walked along side by side for +quite a way, finally turning and sauntering through several residence +streets, talking with each other on a number of subjects, probably of +no great consequence, but apparently very interesting to both of them. +Suddenly, however, it was the young man's misfortune to see the two +Kimper boys on the opposite side of the street, and as he eyed them, +his lip curled, and he said,-- + +"Isn't it somewhat strange that your estimable parents are so greatly +interested in the father of those wretched scamps?" + +"Nothing that my father and mother do, Mr. Bartram," said Miss Prency, +"is at all strange. They are quite as intelligent as anyone of my +acquaintance, I am sure, and more so than most people whom I know, and +I have no doubt that their interest in the poor fellow has very good +grounds." + +"Perhaps so," said the young man, with another curl of his lip, which +exasperated his companion. "I sometimes wonder, however, whether men +and women, when they reach middle life and have been reasonably +successful and happy in their own affairs, are not likely to allow +their sympathies to run away with their intelligence." + +"It may be so," said Eleanor, "among people of your acquaintance, as a +class, but I wish you distinctly to except my parents from the rule." + +"But, my dear girl," said the young man, "your parents are exactly the +people to whom I am alluding." + +"Then do me the favor to change the subject of conversation," said the +young lady proudly: "I never allow my parents to be criticised in my +hearing by anyone but myself." + +"Oh, well," said the young man, "if you choose to take my remarks in +that way, I presume you are at liberty to do so; but I am sure you are +misunderstanding me." + +"I don't see how it is possible to misunderstand anything that is said +so very distinctly: you lawyers have a faculty, Mr. Bartram, of saying +exactly what you mean--when you choose to." + +"Well, I can't deny that I meant exactly what I said." + +"But you can at least change the subject, can't you?" + +"Certainly, if you insist upon it; but the subject has been +interesting me considerably of late, and I am really wondering whether +my estimable friend, the judge, and his no less estimable wife may not +be making a mistake which their daughter would be the most effective +person in rectifying." + +"You do me altogether too much honor, sir. Suppose you attempt to +rectify their mistakes yourself, since you seem so positive about their +existence. To give you an opportunity of preparing yourself to do so, I +will bid you good day." Saying which, the young woman abruptly turned +into the residence of an acquaintance to make an afternoon call, +leaving the young man rather more disconcerted than he would have liked +to admit to any of his acquaintances. + +He retraced his steps, moodily muttering to himself, and apparently +arguing also, for the forefinger of one hand was occasionally touching +the palm of the other, and, apparently without knowing in what +direction he was walking, he found himself opposite the shop of the +shoemaker who had been the indirect cause of his quarrel with his +sweetheart. + +"Confound that fellow!" muttered Bartram, "he's in my way wherever I +move. I've heard too much of him in the stores and the courts and +everywhere else that I have been obliged to go. I have to hear of him +at the residence of my own sweetheart whenever I call there, and now I +find Eleanor herself, who has never been able to endure any of the +commoner specimens of humanity, apparently taking up the cudgels in his +defence. I wish I could understand the fascination that fellow exerts +over a number of people so much better than himself. Hang it! I am +going to find out. He is a fool, if ever there was one, and I am not. +If I can't get at the secret of it, it will be the first time that I +have ever been beaten in examining and cross-examining such a common +specimen of humanity." + +Thus speaking, the lawyer crossed the street and entered the shop, but, +to his disgust, found both the cobbler's sons there with their father. +The boys, with a curiosity common to all very young people, and +particularly intense among the classes who have nothing in particular +to think of, stared at him so fixedly that he finally rose abruptly and +departed without saying a word. The boys went out soon after, and Billy +remarked to Tom, as the two sauntered homeward,-- + +"Tom, what do you s'pose is the reason that feller comes in to see dad +so much?" + +"Gettin' a pair of shoes made, I s'pose," said Tom, sulkily, for he had +just failed in an attempt to extract a quarter of a dollar from his +father. + +"The shoes that dad was makin' for him," said Billy, "was done two or +three weeks ago, 'cause I took 'em to his office myself. But he comes +to the shop over an' over again, 'cause I've seen him there, an' +whenever he comes he manages to get talkin' with dad about religion. He +always begins it, too, 'cause dad never says nothin' about it unless +the lawyer starts it first." + +"Well," said Tom, "seems to me that if he wants to know anythin' on +that subject he could go to some of the preachers, that ought to know a +good deal more about it than dad does." + +"Can't tell so much about that sort o' thing," said Billy. "There's +lots of men in this town that don't know much about some things that +knows a good deal about some others. You know when that dog we stole +last summer got sick, there was nobody in town could do anythin' for +him except that old lame nigger down in the holler." + +"Well, you're a sweet one, ain't you?" said Tom. "What's dogs got to do +with religion, I'd like to know? You ought to be ashamed o' yourself, +even if you ain't never been to church." + +"Well," said Billy, "what I was meanin' is, some folks seem to know a +good deal about things without bein' learned, that other folks will +give their whole time to, an' don't know very much about. Every place +that I go to, somebody says somethin' to me about dad an' religion. +Say, Tom, do you know dad's mighty different to what he used to be +before he got took up?" + +"Of course I do. He's always wantin' folks to work, an' always findin' +fault with everythin' we do that ain't right. He didn't use to pay no +attention to nothin'; we could do anythin' we wanted to; and here I am, +a good deal bigger, an' just about as good as a man, an' he pays more +attention to me than he ever did, an' fusses at me as if I was little +bit of a kid. An' I don't like it, either." + +"Well, as he said to me t'other day, Tom, he's got to be pretty lively +to make up for lost time." + +"Well, I wish, then," said Tom, meditatively, "that he hadn't never +lost no time, 'cause it's takin' all the spirit out o' me to be +hammered at all the time in the way he's a-doin'. I just tell you what +it is, Billy," said Tom, stopping short and smiting the palm of one +hand with the fist of the other, "I've half a mind, off and on, to go +to steady work of some kind, an' I'll be darned if I don't do it, if +dad don't let me alone." + +"Mis' Prency was talkin' to me the other day about dad," said Billy, +"an' she asked me whether he wasn't workin' awful hard at home after he +left the shop, an' I said, 'Yes,' an' she said, 'I hope you all do all +you can to help him?' an' I kind o' felt ashamed, an' all I could say +was that I didn't see nothin' I could help him about, an' she said she +guessed if I'd think a little while I could find out. Say, Tom, let's +go to work a-thinkin', an' see if there ain't some way to give dad a +lift. Seems to me he's doin' everythin' for us all the whole time, an' +we ain't doin' nothin' at all for him." + +"Oh, now, quit your preachin'," said the elder brother, contemptuously. +"If you don't, I'll lamm you." + +The younger brother prudently lapsed into entire silence, and the +couple soon reached home. Tom strolled about the room, his lower lip +hanging down, bestowing glares of different intensity upon every +individual and object present, and even making a threatening motion +with his foot towards the baby, who had crawled about the floor until +it was weary and fretful and was uttering plaintive cries from time to +time. His mother was out of the house somewhere, and the baby continued +to protest against its physical discomforts until Tom indulged in a +violent expletive, which had the effect of temporarily silencing the +child and causing it to look up at him with wondering eyes. Tom +returned the infant's stare for a moment or two, and then, moved by +some spirit which he was not able to identify, he stooped and picked +up the infant and sat down in a chair. When his mother returned, she +was so astonished at what she saw that she hurried out of the house, +down to the shop, and dragged her husband away and back to his home. +When the door was opened, Sam Kimper was almost paralyzed to see his +big son rocking the youngest member of the family to and fro over the +rough floor, and singing, in a hoarse and apparently ecstatic voice,-- + + "I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +"Well, doctor," said Deacon Quickset to his pastor one morning, "I hope +you have persuaded that wretched shoemaker to come into the ark of +safety and to lay hold of the horns of the altar." + +"My dear sir," said Dr. Guide to his deacon, "the conversation I had +with that rather unusual character has led me to believe that he is +quite as safe at present as any of the members of my own congregation." + +"Oh, doctor, doctor!" groaned the deacon, "that will never do! What is +the church to come to if everybody is to be allowed to believe just +what he wants to, and stop just when he gets ready, and not go any +further unless he understands everything before him? I don't need to +tell you, a minister of the gospel and a doctor of divinity, that we +have to live by faith and not by sight. I don't have to go over all the +points of belief to a man of your character to show you what a mistake +you are making, thinking that way about a poor common fellow that's +only got one idea in his head,--one that might be shaken out of it very +easily." + +"Deacon," said the minister, "I am strongly of the impression that any +belief of any member of my congregation could be as easily shaken as +the one article of faith to which that poor fellow has bound himself. I +don't propose to disturb his mind any further. 'Milk for babes,' you +know the apostle says, 'and strong meat for men.' After he has proved +himself to be equal to meat, there will be ample time to experiment +with some of the dry bones which you seem anxious that I should force +upon him." + +"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, with considerable dignity, "I didn't +expect this kind of talk from you. I have been sitting under your +ministrations a good many years, and, though sometimes I didn't think +you were as sharp-set as you ought to be, still I knew you were a man +of level head and good education and knew everything that was essential +to salvation; otherwise, why did the best college of our own +denomination make you a doctor of divinity? But I've got to let out +what is in my heart, doctor, and it is this, that there is no +stopping-place for any one that begins to walk the straight and narrow +way; he has got to keep on as long as he lives, and if he don't he is +going to be crowded off to one side." + +"You are quite right, deacon," said the minister; "and therefore I +object to putting any stumbling-blocks in any such person's way." + +"Do you mean to say, Dr. Guide," asked the deacon, earnestly, "that all +the articles of faith that you have always taught us were essential to +salvation are to be looked at as stumbling-blocks when they are offered +to somebody like that poor dying sinner?" + +"I mean exactly that, deacon," said the minister, "and I mean still +more, and I mean to preach earnestly on the subject in a short time, +and at considerable length, that they have been stumbling-blocks to a +great many members of my congregation who should by this time be better +men and women than they are. For instance, deacon," said the minister, +suddenly, looking very stern and judicial, "Mrs. Poynter has been to me +several times to explain that the reason that she does not pay her +subscription to the last collection for the Missionary Association is +that she cannot get the interest on the mortgage that you have been +holding for her for a long time, and which, she says, you have +collected." + +"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, icily, "religion is religion, and +business is business. You understand religion--to a certain extent; +though I must own that I don't think you understand it as far as I once +thought you did. But about business, you must excuse me if I say you +don't know anything, especially if it's business that somebody else has +to carry on. If Mrs. Poynter don't like the way I'm doing business for +her, she knows a way to get rid of me, and she can do it easily +enough." + +"Deacon," said the minister, "I don't wish to offend you, but matters +of this sort may develop into a scandal, and injure the cause for which +both of us profess to be working with all our hearts. And, by the way, +the Browning children are likely to be sent away from the academy at +which they are boarding, because their expenses are not paid, according +to the terms of the trust reposed in you by their father. I have been +written to several times by the principal, who is an old friend of +mine. Can't the matter be arranged in some way so that I shall not hear +any more about it? I have no possible method of replying in a manner +that will satisfy the principal." + +"Tell him to write to me, doctor; tell him to write to me. He has no +business to put such affairs before anybody else. He will get his +money. If he didn't believe it, he wouldn't have taken the children in +the first place. But I will see that you don't hear any more about +either of these matters, and, as I am pretty busy and don't get a +chance to see you as often as I'd like, I want to say that it seems to +me that now is just the time to get up a warmer feeling in the church. +It's getting cold weather, and folks are glad to get together in a warm +room where there's anything going on. Now, if you will just announce +next Sunday that there's going to be a series of special meetings to +awaken religious interest in this town, I think you will do a good deal +more good among those who need it than by worrying members of your own +congregation about things that you don't understand. I don't mean any +offence, and I hope you won't take any; but when a man is trying to do +business for a dozen other folks and they are all at him at once, there +are many things happening that he can't very well explain." + +"I already had determined on a special effort at an early date," said +the pastor. "And still more: after two or three conversations with the +man whom you were so desirous that I should call upon, I have +determined to invite him to assist me in the conduct of the meetings." + +"What?" exclaimed the deacon, "bring in that thief and drunkard and +ignorant fellow, that is only just out of jail, to teach the way of +life to people that need to know it? Why, Dr. Guide, you must be losing +your mind!" + +"As you intimated about your own business affairs, deacon, that is a +subject upon which I am better qualified to judge than you. The +meetings will be held, and Mr. Kimper will be asked to assist. In fact, +I already have asked him. I trust that his presence will not cause us +to lose such valuable assistance as you yourself may be able to give." + +"Well, I never!" exclaimed the deacon; "I never did! It beats all! Why, +if there was another church of our denomination in this town, I believe +I'd take my letters and go to it. I really would!" + +Nevertheless, the special meetings were immediately announced, and they +began directly afterwards, and, according to the pastor's announcement, +the ex-convict was asked to assist. His assistance did not seem to +amount to much to those who came through curiosity to listen. But after +he had made a speech, which, at the suggestion of Dr. Guide, had been +carefully prepared, but which was merely a rehearsal of what he already +had said to numerous individual questioners, there was impressive +silence in the lecture-room, in which the meetings were to be +conducted. + +"My friends," said the pastor, rising soon afterwards, "when our Lord +was on earth, He once raised His eyes to heaven and said, 'I thank +thee, Father, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent +and revealed them unto babes.' I confess to you that I never was able +to understand the full meaning of this expression; but, as I have +become more and more acquainted with our friend who has just spoken to +you, and have learned how fully his faith is grounded, and how entirely +his life has been changed by what seems to us the mere beginnings of a +religious belief, I am constrained to feel that I have yet a great deal +to learn about my own profession and my own duty as a minister. What +has just been said to you contains the essence of everything which I +have tried to preach from my pulpit in twenty years. I wish it were in +my power to re-state it all as clearly as you have heard it this +evening, but I confess it is not. I fear to add anything to what you +have already heard, for I do not see how in any way I could make this +important subject any more clear to your comprehension. I will +therefore say no more, but ask, as is the custom, that anyone here +present who desires to change his life and wishes the assistance of the +prayers of God's people will please rise." + +As is usual in all such meetings, there was a general turning of heads +from one side to the other. In an instant a single figure in the midst +of the little congregation arose, and a second later a hoarse voice +from one of the back seats, a voice which most persons present could +identify as that of Sam Kimper's son Tom, exclaimed,-- + +"Great Lord! it's Reynolds Bartram!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +The story that Reynolds Bartram had "stood up for prayers" went through +Bruceton and the surrounding country like wildfire. Scarcely anyone +believed it, no matter by whom he was told: the informer might be a +person of undoubted character, but the information was simply +incredible. People would not believe such a thing unless they could see +it with their own eyes and hear it with their own ears: so the special +meetings became at once so largely attended that they were held in the +body of the church instead of the little basement called the +"lecture-room." + +The most entirely amazed person in the town was Deacon Quickset. Never +before had he been absent, unless sick, from any special effort of his +church to persuade the sinners to flee from the wrath to come; but when +Dr. Guide announced that he should ask Sam Kimper to assist him in the +special meetings, the deacon's conscience bade him halt and consider. +Dr. Guide was wrong,--there could be no doubt of that: would it be +right, then, merely for the sake of apparent peace and unity, for him, +the deacon, to seem to agree with his pastor's peculiar views? The +deacon made it a matter of prayer, and the result was that he remained +at home. + +That Reynolds Bartram had been the first-fruits of the new special +effort was a statement which the deacon denied as soon as he heard it. +Frequent repetition of the annoying story soon began to impress him +with its probability, and finally a brother deacon, who had been +present, set all doubt at rest by the assertion that Bartram had not +only been converted, but was assisting at the meetings. When, however, +the attending deacon went on to inform his absentee brother that +Bartram had attributed his awakening and conversion to the influence of +Sam Kimper, Deacon Quickset lost his temper, and exclaimed,-- + +"It's all a confounded lie! It's a put-up job!" + +"Brother Quickset!" exclaimed the astonished associate, with a most +reproving look. + +"Oh, I don't mean that _you lie_," explained the angry defender of the +faith. "If you heard Bartram say it, he _did_ say it, of course. But +there's something wrong somewhere. The minister's rather lost his head +over Sam Kimper, just because the wretch isn't back in his old ways +again, and he's got a new notion in his head about how the gospel ought +to be preached. New notions have been plenty enough ever since true +religion started; there's always some man or men thinking out things +for themselves and forgetting everything else on account of them. There +were meddlers of that kind back to the days of the apostles, and +goodness knows the history of the church is full of them. They've been +so set in their ways that no sort of discipline would cure them; +they've even had to be hanged or burned, to save the faith from being +knocked to pieces." + +"But, brother Quickset," pleaded the other deacon, "every one knows our +pastor isn't that sort of a person. He is an intelligent, thoughtful, +unexcitable man, that--" + +"That's just the kind that always makes the worst heretics," roared the +deacon. "Wasn't Servetus that kind of a person? And didn't Calvin have +to burn him at the stake? I tell you, deacon, it takes a good deal of +the horror out of those times when you have a case of the kind come +right up before your eyes." + +"What? Somebody being burned?" exclaimed the other deacon, raising his +hands in horror. + +"No, no," testily replied the defender of the faith. "Only somebody +that ought to be." + +"But where does the lying come in, that you were talking about?" + +"I tell you just what I believe," said Deacon Quickset, dropping his +voice and drawing closer to his associate; "I believe Dr. Guide +believes just what he says,--of course nobody's going to doubt that +he's sincere,--but when it's come to the pinch he's felt a little +shaky. What does any other man do when he finds himself shaky about an +important matter of opinion? Why, he consults a lawyer, and gets +himself pulled through." + +"But you don't mean to say that you think Dr. Guide would go to a rank, +persistent disbeliever in anything--but himself--like Ray Bartram, do +you, in a matter of this kind?" + +"Why not? Ministers have often got lawyers to help them when they've +been muddled on points of orthodoxy. What the lawyer believes or don't +believe hasn't got anything to do with it: it's his business to believe +as his client does, and make other folks believe so, too. Ray Bartram +is just the sort of a fellow a man would want in such a case. He's got +that way of looking as if he knew everything, just like his father had +before him, that makes folks give in to him in spite of themselves. +Besides, he'll say or do anything to carry his point." + +"Isn't that putting it rather strong, Brother Quickset?" + +"Of course it isn't. Don't I know, I should like to ask? Don't I +always hire him myself?" + +"Oh!" That was the only word the other deacon spoke, but his eyes +danced, and he twisted his lips into an odd grin. + +"Oh, get out!" exclaimed the pillar of orthodoxy. "You needn't take it +that way. Of course what I ask him to do is only right: if I didn't +think so, I wouldn't ask him." + +"Of course not, brother. But think a moment: do you really believe that +any form of professional pride would persuade that young man--proud as +Lucifer, and just as conceited and headstrong, a young man who always +has argued against religion and against every belief you and I hold +dear--to rise for prayers in an inquiry meeting, and afterwards say it +was the Christian life of Sam Kimper,--a man whom a high-born fellow +like Bartram must believe as near the animals as humanity ever is,--to +say it was the Christian life of Sam Kimper that convinced him of the +supernatural origin and saving power of Christianity?" + +"I can't believe he put it that way: there must be something else +behind it. I'm going to find out for myself and do it at once, too. +This sort of nonsense must be stopped. Why, if men go to taking +everything Jesus Christ said just as He said it, everything in the +world in the way of business is going to be turned upside down." + +Away went Deacon Quickset to Bartram's office, and was so fortunate as +to find the lawyer in. He went right at his subject: + +"Well, young man, you've been in nice business, haven't you?--trying to +go up to the throne of grace right behind a jail-bird, while the +leaders and teachers whom the Lord has selected have been spurned by +you for years!" + +Reynolds Bartram was too new a convert to have changed his old self and +manner to any great extent: so he flushed angrily, and retorted,-- + +"One thief is about as good as another, Deacon Quickset." + +Then it was the deacon's turn to look angry. The two men faced each +other for a moment with flashing eyes, lowering brows, and hard-set +jaws. The deacon was the first to recover himself: he took a chair, and +said,-- + +"Maybe I haven't heard the story rightly. What I came around for was to +get it from first hands. Would you mind telling me?" + +"I suppose you allude to my conversion?" + +"Yes," said the deacon, with a look of doubt, "I suppose that's what we +will have to call it, for want of a better word." + +"It is a very short story," said Bartram, now entirely calm, as he +leaned against his desk and folded his arms. "Like every other man with +any brains, I've always been interested in religion, intellectually, +and have had to believe that if it was right, as I heard it talked, it +had sometimes got away from its Founder in a manner for which there +seemed to be no excuse. Everything was being taught by the servants, +nothing by the Master. When I want to know your wishes, deacon, about +any matter in which we are mutually interested, I do not go to your +back door and inquire of your servants: I go to you, direct. But when +people--you among the number--have talked to me about religion, they've +always talked Peter and Paul and James and John,--never Jesus." + +"The Apostle Paul--" began the deacon, but the lawyer snatched the +words from his lips, and continued: + +"The Apostle Paul was the ablest lawyer that ever lived. I've studied +him a good deal, in past days, for style." + +"Awful!" groaned the deacon. + +"Not in the least," said the lawyer, with fine earnestness. "He was +just the man for his place and his time; 'twas his business to explain +the new order of things to the hard-headed Jews, of whom he had been +so notable a representative, that to convert him it was necessary that +he should be knocked senseless and remain so for the space of three +days: you remember the circumstance? He was just the man, too, to +explain the new religion to the heathens and pagans of his day, for +those Greeks and Romans were a brainy lot of people. But why should he +have been quoted to me, or any other man in the community? We don't +have to be convinced that Jesus lived: we believe it already. The +belief has been born in us; it has run through our blood for hundreds +of years. Do you know what I've honestly believed for years about a lot +of religious men in this town, you among the number? I've believed that +Jesus was so good that you've all been making hypocritical excuses, +through your theology, to get away from this!" + +"Get away from my Saviour!" gasped the deacon. + +"Oh, no; you wanted enough of Him to be saved by,--enough to die by; +but when it comes to living by him--well, you know perfectly well that +you don't." + +"Awful!" again groaned the deacon. + +"When I heard of that wretched convict taking his Saviour as an +exemplar of daily life and conduct, it seemed ridiculous. If better men +couldn't do it, how could he? I had no doubt that while he was under +lock and key, with no temptations about him, and nothing to resist, he +had succeeded; but that he could do it in the face of all his old +influences I did not for an instant believe. I began to study him, as I +would any other criminal, and when he did not break down as soon as I +had expected, I was mean enough--God forgive me!--to try to shake his +faith. The honest truth is, I did not want to be a Christian myself, +and had resisted all the arguments I had heard; but I was helpless when +dear friends told me that nothing was impossible to me that was being +accomplished by a common fellow like Sam Kimper." + +"Nothing is impossible to him that believes," said the deacon, finding +his tongue for a moment. + +"Oh, I believe; there was no trouble about that: 'the devils also +believe,'--you remember that passage, I suppose? Finally, I began to +watch Sam closely, to see if perhaps he wasn't as much of a hypocrite, +on the sly, as some other people I know. He can't make much money on +the terms he has with Larry, no matter how much work reaches the shop. +I've passed his shop scores of times, early and late, and found him +always at work, except once or twice when I've seen him on his knees. +I've hung about his wretched home nights, to see if he did not sneak +out on thieving expeditions; I've asked store-keepers what he bought, +and have found that his family lived on the plainest food. That man is +a Christian, deacon. When I heard that he was to make an exhortation at +the meeting, I went there to listen--only for that purpose. But as he +talked I could not help recalling his mean, little, insignificant face +as I'd seen it again and again when I was a younger man, dropping into +justices' courts for a chance to get practice at pleading, and he was +up for fighting or stealing. It was the same face: nothing can ever +make his forehead any higher or broader, or put a chin where nature +left one off. But the expression of countenance was so different--so +honest, so good--that I got from it my first clear idea of what was +possible to the man who took our Saviour for a model of daily life. It +took such hold of me that when the pastor asked those who wanted the +prayers of God's people to rise, I was on my feet in an instant; I +couldn't keep my seat." + +"Then you do admit that there are some God's people besides Sam +Kimper?" sneered the deacon. + +"I never doubted it," replied the lawyer. + +"Oh, well," said the deacon, "if you'll go on, now you've begun, you'll +see you've only made a beginning. By the way, have you got that Bittles +mortgage ready yet?" + +"No," said the lawyer, "and I won't have it ready, either. To draw a +mortgage in that way, so the property will fall into your hands quickly +and Bittles will lose everything, is simple rascality, and I'll have +nothing to do with it." + +"It's all right if he's willing to sign it, isn't it?" asked the +deacon, with an ugly frown. "His signature is put on by his own free +will, isn't it?" + +"You know perfectly well, Deacon Quickset," said the lawyer, "that +fellows like Bittles will sign anything without looking at it, if they +can get a little money to put into some new notion. A man's home should +be the most jealously guarded bit of property in the world: I'm not +going to deceive any man into losing it." + +"I didn't suppose," said the deacon, "that getting religious would take +away your respect for the law, and make you above the law." + +"It doesn't: it makes me resolve that the law shan't be used for +purposes of the devil." + +"Do you mean to call me the devil?" screamed the deacon. + +"I'm not calling you anything: I'm speaking of the unrighteous act you +want done. I won't do it for you; and, further, I'll put Bittles on his +guard against any one else who may try it." + +"Mr. Bartram," said the deacon, rising, "I guess I'll have to take all +my law-business to somebody else. Good-morning." + +"I didn't suppose I should have to suffer for my principles so soon," +said the lawyer, as the deacon started; "but when _you_ want to be +converted, come see me and you'll learn I bear you no grudge. Indeed, +you'll be obliged to come to me, as you'll learn after you think over +all your affairs a little while." + +The deacon stopped: the two men stood face to face a moment, and then +parted in silence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +When Eleanor Prency heard that her lover had not only been converted +but was taking an active part in the special religious meetings, she +found herself in what the old women of the vicinity called a "state of +mind." She did not object to young men becoming very good; that is, she +did object to any young man of whom she happened to be very fond +becoming very bad. But it seemed to her that there was a place where +the line should be drawn, and that Reynolds Bartram had overstepped it. +That he might sometime join the church was a possibility to which she +had previously looked forward with some pleasurable sense of +anticipation. She belonged to the church herself, so did her father and +mother, and she had long been of the opinion that a little religion was +a very good thing for a young man who was in business and subject to +temptation. But, as she regarded the events of the past few evenings as +reported by people who had been to the meetings, she became more than +ever of the opinion that a little religion would go a long way, and +that Reynolds Bartram had more than was necessary. + +To add to her annoyance, some of her intimate acquaintances who knew +that if the two young people were not engaged they certainly were very +fond of each other, and who regarded the match as a matter of course in +the near future, began to twit her on the possibility of her lover +becoming a minister should he go on in his present earnest course of +trying to save lost souls. The more they talked about her, in her +presence, as a minister's wife, the less she enjoyed the prospect. +Minister's wives in Bruceton were sometimes pretty, but they never +dressed very well, and Miss Eleanor was sure, from what she saw of +their lives, that they never had any good times. + +Fuel was added to the fire of her discontent when her mother announced +one morning that Jane Kimper had arrived and would assist the couple at +their sewing. To Eleanor, Jane represented the Kimper family, the head +of which was the cause of Reynolds Bartram's extraordinary course. +Eleanor blamed Sam for all the discomfort to which she had been +subjected on account of Bartram's religious aspirations, and she was +inclined to visit upon the new seamstress the blame for all the +annoyances from which she had suffered. + +Like a great many other girls who are quite affectionate daughters, she +neglected to make a confidante of her mother; and Mrs. Prency was +therefore very much surprised, on entering the room after a short +shopping-tour, to discover the two young women in utter silence, +Eleanor looking greatly vexed and the new sewing-woman very much +distressed about something. The older lady endeavored to engage the +couple in conversation. After waiting a little while for the situation +to make itself manifest, but getting only very short replies, she left +the room and made an excuse to call her daughter after her. + +"My dear child, what is the matter? Doesn't Jane know how to sew?" + +"Yes," said Eleanor, "I suppose so; but she knows how to talk, too, and +she has done it so industriously and made me feel so uncomfortable that +I have not had any opportunity to examine her sewing." + +"My daughter, what can she have said to annoy you so much?" + +"Oh," exclaimed Eleanor, savagely snatching to pieces a bit of delicate +silk she held in her hand, "what every one else is talking about. What +does any one in this town have to talk about just now, I wonder, except +Reynolds Bartram and the church? Why is it that they all think it +necessary to come and talk to me about it? I am sure I am not specially +interested in church work, and I don't believe any one who has talked +to me about it is, but I hear nothing else from morning till night +when any visitor comes in. I was congratulating myself that I had an +excuse to-day, so that I need not see any one who might call, but that +dreadful girl is worse than all the rest put together. She seems to +think, as her folks at home haven't anything else to talk about, and as +her father is so delighted at the 'blessed change,' as she expresses +it, that has come over Bartram, that I should feel just as happy about +it." + +"Well, daughter, don't you?" + +"No, mother, I don't. I suppose it's perfectly dreadful in me to say +so, but I don't feel anything of the kind. It's just horrid; and I wish +you and father would take me away for a little while, or else let me go +off on a visit. People talk as if Ray belonged entirely to me,--as if I +had something to do about it; and you know perfectly well I haven't." + +"Well, dear, is that any reason why you should be jealous of poor Sam +Kimper?" + +"Jealous!" exclaimed Eleanor, her eyes flashing: "he is the worst enemy +I ever had. I haven't had so much annoyance and trouble in all my life +as have come to me during the past two or three days through that +wretched man. I wish him almost any harm. I even wish he had never gone +to the penitentiary" + +Mrs. Prency burst out laughing. The young woman saw the blunder she +had committed, and continued, quickly,-- + +"I mean that I wish he had never got out again. The idea of a fellow +like that coming back to this town and talking and working on people's +sympathies in such a way as to carry intelligent people right off their +feet! Here you and father have been talking about him at the table +almost every day for a long time!" + +"Well, daughter, you seemed interested in everything we said, and +thought he might do a great deal of good if he were sincere and +remained true to his professions." + +"Great deal of good? Yes; but, of course, I supposed he'd do it among +his own set of people. I had no idea that he was going to invade the +upper classes of society and make a guy out of the very young man +that--" + +Then Eleanor burst into tears. + +"My dear child," said the mother, "you are making altogether too much +of very little. Of course, it's impossible that everybody in the town +sha'n't be surprised at the sudden change that has come over Mr. +Bartram, but it ought to comfort you to know that all the better people +in the town are very glad to learn of it, and that his example is +making them very much ashamed of themselves, and that, instead of the +meetings being conducted almost entirely by him and Sam Kimper, +hereafter--" + +"Him and Sam Kimper! Mother! the idea of mentioning the two persons in +the same day!--in the same breath! How can you?" + +"Well, dear, they will no longer manage the meetings by themselves, but +a number of the older citizens, who have generally held aloof from such +affairs, have resolved that it is time for them to do something, so +Reynolds will very soon be a less prominent figure, and I trust you +will hear less about him. But don't--I beg of you, don't visit your +displeasure on that poor girl. You can't imagine that she had anything +to do with her father's conversion, can you, still less with that of +Mr. Bartram? Now, do dry your eyes and try to come back to your work +and be cheerful. If you can't do more, you at least can be human. Don't +disgrace your parentage, my dear. _She_ has not even done that as yet." + +Then Mrs. Prency returned to the sewing-room and chatted a little while +with the new seamstress about the work in hand. Eleanor joined them in +a few moments, and the mental condition of the atmosphere became +somewhat less cloudy than before, when suddenly a stupid servant, who +had only just been engaged and did not entirely know the ways of the +house, ushered directly into the sewing-room Mr. Reynolds Bartram. + +Eleanor sprang to her feet, spreading dress-goods, and needles, and +spools of silk, and thread, and scissors, and thimbles, all over the +floor. Jane looked up timidly for an instant, and bent her head lower +over her work. But Mrs. Prency received him as graciously as if she +were the Queen of England sitting upon her throne, with her royal robes +upon her. + +"I merely dropped in to see the judge, Mrs. Prency. I beg pardon for +intruding upon the business of the day." + +"I don't suppose he is at home," said the lady. "You have been at the +office?" + +"Yes, and I was assured he was here. I was anxious to see him at once. +I suspect I have a very heavy case on my hands, Mrs. Prency. What do +you suppose I have agreed to do? I have promised, actually promised, to +persuade him to come down to the church this evening and take part in +the meetings." + +Eleanor, who had just reseated herself, flashed an indignant look at +him. The young man saw it; but if the spirit of regeneration had worked +upon him to a sufficient extent to make him properly sensitive to the +looks and manners of estimable young women, he showed no sign of it at +the moment. + +"I am sure I wish you well in your effort," said the judge's wife; +"and, if it is of any comfort to you, I promise that I will do all in +my power to assist you." + +Then Eleanor's eyes flashed again, as she said,-- + +"Mother, the idea of father--" + +"Well?" + +"The idea of father taking part in such work!" + +"Do you know of any one, daughter, whose character more fully justifies +him in doing so? If you do, I shall not hesitate to ask Mr. Bartram to +act as substitute until some one else can be found." + +Then Eleanor's eyes took a very different expression, and she began to +devote herself intensely to her sewing. + +"If you are very sure," said Bartram, "that your husband is not at +home, I must seek him elsewhere, I suppose. Good day! Ah, I beg pardon. +I did not notice--I was not aware that it was you, Miss Kimper. I hope +if you see your father to-day you will tell him that the good work that +he began is progressing finely, and that you saw me in search to-day of +Judge Prency to help him on with his efforts down at the church." + +And then, with another bow, Bartram left the room. + +If poor Jane could have been conscious of the look that Eleanor bent +upon her at that instant, she certainly would have been inclined to +leave the room and never enter it again. But she knew nothing of it, +and the work went on amid oppressive silence. Mrs. Prency had occasion +to leave the room for an instant soon after, and Jane lifted her head +and said,-- + +"Who would have thought, Miss, that that young man was going to be so +good, and all of a sudden, too?" + +"He always was good," said Eleanor, "that is, until now." + +"I'm sorry I mentioned it, ma'am, but I s'pose he won't be as wild as +he and some of the young men about this town have been." + +"What do you mean by wild? Do you mean to say that he ever was wild in +any way?" + +"Oh, perhaps not," said the unfortunate sewing-girl, wishing herself +anywhere else as she tried to find some method of escaping from the +unfortunate remark. + +"What do you mean, then? Tell me: can't you speak?" + +"Oh, only you know, ma'am, some of the nicest young men in town come +down to the hotel nights to chat, and they take a glass of wine once in +a while, and smoke, and have a good time, and--" + +Eleanor looked at Jane very sharply, but the sewing-girl's face was +averted, so that questioning looks could elicit no answers. Eleanor's +gaze, however, continued to be fixed. She was obliged to admit to +herself, as she had said to her mother several days before, that Jane +had a not unsightly face and quite a fine figure. She had heard that +there were sometimes "great larks," as the young men called them, at +the village hotel, and she wondered how much the underlings of the +establishment could know about them, and what stories they could tell. +Jane suddenly became to her more interesting than she had yet been. She +wondered what further questions to ask, and could not think of any that +she could put into words. Finally, she left the room, sought her +mother, and exclaimed,-- + +"Mother, I'm not going to marry Reynolds Bartram. If hotel servants +know all about his goings-on evenings, what stories may they not tell +if they choose? That sort of people will say anything they can of him. +I don't suppose they know the difference between the truth and a lie; +at least they never do when we hire them." + +The mother looked at the daughter tenderly and shrewdly. Then she +smiled, and said,-- + +"Daughter, I can see but one way for you to relieve your mind on that +subject." + +"What is that?" asked the daughter. + +"It is only this: convert Jane." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +As the special meetings at the church went on, Deacon Quickset began to +fear that he had made a mistake. He had taken an active part in all +previous meetings of the same kind for more than twenty-five years. The +results of some of them had been very satisfactory, and the deacon +modestly but nevertheless with much self-gratulation had recounted his +own services in all of them. + +"Whoso converteth a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul +from death and cover a multitude of sins; that is what the good book +says," said the deacon to himself one day, as he walked from his house +to his place of business; "and considering the number of people that I +have helped to snatch as brands from the burning, it does seem to me +that I must have covered a good many sins of my own,--such as they are. +I'm only a human being, and a poor, weak, and sinful creature, but +there's certainly a good many folks in this town that would not have +started in the right way when they did if it hadn't been for what I +said to them. Now, here's the biggest movement of the kind going on +that ever was known in this town, and I'm out of it. What for? Just +because I don't agree with Sam Kimper. I mean, just because Sam Kimper +don't agree with me. I don't suppose the thing would have come to +anything, anyhow, if it hadn't been for that fool of a young lawyer +setting his foot in it in the way he did. Everybody likes excitement, +and it's a bigger thing for him to have gone into this protracted +meeting than it would be for a circus to come to town with four new +elephants. It's rough." + +The deacon took a few papers from his pocket, looked them over, his +face changing from grave to puzzled and from puzzled to angry and back +again through a whole gamut of facial expressions. Finally, he thrust +the entire collection back into his pocket, and said to himself,-- + +"If he keeps on at that work, I may have as much trouble as he let on +that I would. I don't see how some of these things are going to be +settled unless I have him to help me; and if he's going to be as +particular as he makes out, or as he did make out the other day, +there's going to be trouble, just as sure as both of us are alive. Of +course, the more prominent he is before the public, the less he'll want +to be in any case in court that takes hard fighting, particularly when +he don't think he's on the popular side. And there's that Mrs. Poynter +that's been bothering me to death about the interest on her mortgage: I +keep hearing that she's at the meetings every night, and that she never +lets an evening pass without speaking to Bartram. Maybe all she's +talking about is some sinner or other that she wants to have saved; but +if she acts with him as she does with me, I'm awfully afraid that she's +consulting him about that interest. + +"I didn't think it was the right time of the year to start special +meetings, anyhow; and I don't know what our minister did it for without +consulting the deacons. He never did such a thing in his life before. +It does seem to me that once in a while everything goes crosswise, and +it all happens just when I need most of all to have things go along +straight and smooth. Gracious! if some of these papers in my pocket +don't work the way they ought to, I don't know how things are going to +come out." + +The deacon had almost reached the business street as this soliloquy +went on, but he seemed inclined to carry on his conversation with +himself: so he deliberately turned about and slowly paced the way +backward towards his home. + +"I shouldn't wonder," said he, after a few moments of silence, in +which his mind seemed busily occupied,--"I shouldn't wonder if that was +the best way out, after all. I do believe I'll do it. Yes, I will do +it. I'll go and buy out that shoe-shop of Larry Highgetty's, and I'll +let Sam Kimper have it at just what it costs, and trust him for all the +purchase-money. I don't believe the good-will of the place and all the +stock that is in it will cost over a couple of hundred dollars; and +Larry would take my note at six months almost as quick as he'd take +anybody else's money. If things go right I can pay the note, and if +they don't he can get the property back. But in the meantime folks +won't be able to say anything against me. They can't say then that I'm +down on Sam, like some of them say now, and if anybody talks about +Bartram and the upper-crust folks that have been helping the meetings +along, I can just remind them that talk is cheap and that it's money +that tells. I'll do it, as sure as my name's Quickset; and the quicker +I do it the better it will be for me, if I'm not mistaken." + +The deacon hurried off to the shoe-store. As usual, the only occupant +of the shop was Sam. + +"Where's Larry, Sam?" asked the deacon, briskly. + +"I don't know, sir," said Sam, "but I'm afraid he's at Weitz's +beer-shop." + +"Well, Sam," said the deacon, trying to be pleasant, though his mouth +was very severely set, "while you're in the converting line,--which I +hear you're doing wonders at, and I'm very glad to hear it,--why don't +you begin at home and bring about a change in Larry?" + +"Do you know, deacon," said Sam, "I was thinkin' about the same thing? +and I'm goin' to see that priest of his about--" + +"Oh, Sam!" groaned the deacon. "The idea of going to see a Catholic +priest about a fellow-man's salvation, when there's a special meeting +running in our own church and you've taken such an interest in it!" + +"Every man for his own, deacon," said Sam. "I don't believe Larry cares +anythin' about the church that you belong to, an' that I've been goin' +to for some little time, an' I know he thinks a good deal of Father +Black. I've found out myself, after a good deal of trouble in this +world, that it makes a good deal of difference who talks to you about +such things. Now, he thinks Father Black is the best man there is in +the world. I don't know anythin' about that, though I don't know of +anybody in this town I ever talked to that left me feelin' more +comfortable an' looked more like a good man himself than that old +priest did one day when he come in here an' talked to me very kindly. +Why, deacon, he didn't put on any airs at all. He talked just as if he +was a good brother of mine, an' he left me feelin' that if I wasn't +good I was a brother of his anyhow. That's more than I can say most +other folks in this town ever did, deacon." + +The deacon was so horrified at this unexpected turn of the conversation +that for a little while he entirely forgot the purpose for which he had +come. But he was recalled to his senses by the entrance of Reynolds +Bartram. His eyes met the lawyer's, and at once the deacon looked +defiant. Then he pulled himself together, and, with a mighty effort, +remarked,-- + +"Sam, some folks say I am down on you, and that I don't sympathize with +you. Some folks talk a good deal for you, and to you, and don't do +anything for you. But I just came in this morning for the sole purpose +of saying this: You've had a hard row to hoe, and you've worked at it +first rate ever since you got out of jail. I've been watching you, +though perhaps you don't know it, and I came here to say that I believe +so much in your having had a change--though I do insist you haven't +gone far enough--I came around to say that I was going to buy out this +place from Larry, and give it to you at your own terms, so that you can +make all the money that comes in." + +Sam looked up in astonishment at the lawyer. The lawyer looked down +smilingly at the deacon, who was seated on a very low bench, and +said,-- + +"Deacon, we're all a good, deal alike in this world in one respect: our +best thoughts come too late. I don't hesitate to say that some good +thoughts, which I have heard you urge upon other people but which you +never mentioned to me, have come to me a deal later than they should. +But, on the other hand, this matter of making Sam the master of this +shop has already been attended to. I've bought it for him myself, and +made him a free and clear present of it last night in token of the +immense amount of good which he has done me by personal example." + +"Bless my soul!" exclaimed the deacon. + +"I don't mind saying," continued the lawyer, "that if _you_ will go to +work and do me half as much good, I will buy just as much property and +make you a free and clear present of it. I am open to all possible +benefits of that kind nowadays, and willing to pay for them, so far as +money will go, to the full extent of my income and capital." The deacon +arose and looked about him in a dazed sort of fashion. Then he looked +at the lawyer inquiringly, put his hand in his pocket, drew forth a +mass of business papers, shuffled them over once more, looked again at +the lawyer, and said,-- + +"Mr. Bartram, I've got some particular business with you that I would +like to talk about at once. Would you mind coming to my office, or +taking me around to yours?" + +"Not at all. Good luck, Sam," said the lawyer. "Good day." + +The two men went out together. No sooner were they outside the shop +than the deacon said, rapidly,-- + +"Reynolds Bartram, my business affairs are in the worst possible +condition. You know more about them than anybody else. You have done as +much as anybody else to put them in the muddle that they're in now. You +helped me into them, and now, church or no church, religion or no +religion, you've got to help me out of them, or I've got to go to the +devil. Now, what are you going to do about it?" + +"Is it as bad as that?" murmured the lawyer. + +"Yes, it's as bad as that, and I could put it a good deal stronger if +it was necessary. Everything has been going wrong. That walnut timber +tract over on the creek, that I expected to get about five thousand +dollars out of, isn't worth five thousand cents. Since the last time I +was over there some rascal stole every log that was worth taking, and +the place wouldn't bring under the hammer half what I gave for it. I +have been trying to sell it, but somehow everybody that wanted it +before has found out what has been going on. This is an awfully mean +world on business-men that don't look out for themselves all the time." + +"I should not think you had ever any right to complain of it, deacon," +said the lawyer. + +"Come, come, now," said the deacon, "I'm not in any condition to be +tormented to-day, Reynolds,--I really ain't. I'm almost crazy. I +suppose old Mrs. Poynter has been at you to get her interest-money out +of me, hasn't she?" + +"Hasn't spoken a word to me about it," said the lawyer. + +"Well, I heard she was after you every night in the meeting--" + +"She was after me, talking about one sinner or another of her +acquaintance, but she didn't mention you, deacon. It's a sad mistake, +perhaps, but in a big town like this a person can't think of everybody +at once, you know." + +"For heaven's sake, Bartram, shut up, and tell me what I have to do. +Time is passing. I must have a lot of ready cash to-day, somehow, and +here are all these securities; the minute I try to sell them people go +to asking questions, and you're the only man they can come to. Now, +you know perfectly well what the arrangements and understandings were +when these papers were drawn, because you drew them all yourself. Now, +if people come to you I want you to promise me that you're not going to +go back on me." + +The deacon still held the papers in his hand, gesticulating with them. +As he spoke, the lawyer took them, looked at them, and finally said,-- + +"Deacon, how much money do you need?" + +"I can't get through," said the deacon, "with less than nine hundred +dollars ready cash, or first-class checks and notes, this very day." + +"Humph!" said the lawyer, still handling the papers. "Deacon, I'll make +you a straightforward proposition concerning that money. If you will +agree that I shall be agent of both parties in any settlement of these +agreements which I hold in my hand, and that you will accept me as sole +and final arbitrator in any differences of opinion between you and the +signers, I will agree personally to lend you the amount you need, on +your simple note of hand, renewable from time to time until you are +ready to pay it." + +"Ray Bartram," exclaimed the deacon, stopping short and looking the +lawyer full in the face, "what on earth has got into you?" + +"Religion, I guess, deacon," said the lawyer. "Try it yourself: it'll +do you good." + +The lawyer walked off briskly, and left the deacon standing alone in +the street. As the deacon afterwards explained the matter to his wife, +he felt like a stuck pig. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +"Tom," said Sam Kimper to his eldest son one morning after breakfast, +"I wish you'd walk along to the shop with me. There's somethin' I want +to talk about." + +Tom wanted to go somewhere else; what boy doesn't, when his parents +have anything for him to do? Nevertheless, the young man finally obeyed +his father, and the two left the house together. + +"Tom," said the father, as soon as the back door had closed behind +them, "Tom, I'm bein' made a good deal more of than I deserve, but +'tain't any of my doin's, and men that ort to know keep tellin' me that +I'm doin' a lot o' good in town. Once in a while, though, somebody +laughs at me,--laughs at somethin' I say. It's been hurtin' me, an' I +told Judge Prency so the other day; but he said, 'Sam, it isn't what +you say, but the way you say it.' You see, I never had no eddication; I +was sent to school, but I played hookey most of the time." + +"Did you, though?" asked Tom, with some inflections that caused the +cobbler to look up in time to see that his son was looking at him +admiringly; there could be no doubt about it. Sam had never been looked +at that way before by his big boy, and the consequence was an entirely +new and pleasurable sensation. After thinking it over a moment, he +replied,-- + +"Yes, I did, an' any fun that was to be found I looked after in them +days. I don't mind tellin' you that I don't think I found enough to pay +for the trouble; but things was as they was. Now I wish I'd done +diff'rent; but it's too late to get back what I missed by dodgin' +lessons. Tom, if I could talk better, it would be a good thing for me; +but I ain't got no time to go to school. You've been to school a lot: +why can't you come to the shop with me, an' sit down an' tell me where +an' how I don't talk like other folks?" + +Tom indulged in a long and convulsive chuckle. + +"When you've done laughin' at your father, Tom," continued Sam, "he'll +be glad to have you say somethin' that'll show him that you ain't as +mean an' low down as some folks think you be." + +"I ain't no school-teacher," said Tom, "an' I ain't learned no fancy +ways of talkin'!" + +"I don't expect you to tell me mor'n you know," said the parent, "but +if you've got the same flesh an' blood as me, you'll stand by me when +I'm bothered. The puppies of a dog would do that much for their parent +in trouble." + +Tom did not answer; he sulked a little while, but finally entered the +shop with his father and sat down, searched his mind a few moments, and +then recalled and repeated two injunctions which his last teacher had +most persistently urged upon her pupils,--that they should not drop +letters from the ends of words, nor say "ain't" or "hain't." Then Sam +devoted himself to practice by talking aloud, and Tom became so amused +by the changes in his father's intonation that he finally was obliged +to go home and tell his mother and Mary. + +"Stop that,--right away!" exclaimed Mrs. Kimper, as soon as Tom got +fairly into his story. "Your father ain't goin' to be laughed at in his +own house, by his own family, while I'm around to stand up for him." + +"Oh, stuff!" exclaimed Tom, in amazement. Then he laughed as he +reverted to his father's efforts at correct pronunciation, and +continued his story. Suddenly he was startled by seeing his mother +snatch a stump of a fire-shovel from the hearth and brandish it over +his head. + +"You give up that talk right away!" exclaimed the woman. "Your father +is astonishin' the life out of me ev'ry day by the new way he's talkin' +an' livin'. He's the best man in this town; I don't care if he _has_ +been in the penitentiary, I'm not goin' to hear a bit of fun made of +him, not even by one of his own young ones." + +All the brute in Tom's nature came to the surface in an instant, yet +his amazement kept him silent and staring. It was such a slight, +feeble, contemptible figure, that of the woman who was threatening to +punish him,--him, Tom Kimper, whom few men in town would care to meet +in a trial of strength. It set Tom to thinking; he said afterwards the +spectacle was enough to make a brickbat wake up and think. At last he +exclaimed, tenderly,-- + +"Mother!" + +The woman dropped her weapon and burst into tears, sobbing aloud,-- + +"You never said it that way before." + +Tom was so astonished by what he saw and heard that he shuffled up to +his mother and awkwardly placed his clumsy hand upon her cheek. In an +instant his mother's arms were around his neck so tight that Tom feared +he was being strangled. + +"Oh, Tom, Tom! what's got into me? What's got into both of us? +Ev'rythin's diff'rent to what it used to be. It's carryin' me right off +my feet sometimes. I don't know how to stand it all, an' yet I +wouldn't have it no other way for nothin'." + +Tom could not explain, but he did something a great deal better; for +the first time since he ceased being a baby and his mother began to +tire of him, he acted affectionately to the woman who was leaning upon +him. He put his strong arm around her, and repeated the single word +"Mother" often and earnestly. As for Mrs. Kimper, no further +explanation seemed necessary. + +After mother and son had become entirely in accord, through methods +which only Heaven and mothers understand, Mrs. Kimper began to make +preparations for the family's mid-day meal. While she worked, her +daughter Jane appeared, and threw cold water upon a warm affectional +glow by announcing,-- + +"I'm fired." + +"What do you mean, child?" asked her mother. + +"Just what I say. That young Ray Bartram, that's the Prency gal's +feller, has been comin' to the house almost ev'ry day while I've been +workin' there, an' he's been awful polite to me. He never used to be +that way when him an' the other young fellers in town used to come down +to the hotel an' drink in the big room behind the saloon. Miss Prency +got to askin' me questions about him this morning, an' the less I told +her the madder she got, an' at last she said somethin' that made me get +up an' leave." + +"What's _he_ ever had to do with _you_?" asked Mrs. Kimper, after a +long, wondering stare. + +"Nothin', except to talk impudent. Mother, what's the reason a poor gal +that don't ever look for any company above her always keeps findin' it +when she don't want it?" + +Mrs. Kimper got the question so mixed with her culinary preparations +that she was unable to answer, or to remember that she already had +salted the stew which she was preparing for dinner. As she wondered and +worked, her husband came in. + +"Wife," said Sam, "everything seems turning upside down. Deacon +Quickset came into the shop a while ago. What do you suppose he wanted? +Wanted me to pray for him! I said I would, and I did; but I was so took +aback by it that I had to talk to somebody, so I came home." + +"Why didn't you go talk to the preacher or Ray Bartram?" asked Mrs. +Kimper, after the natural expressions of astonishment had been made. + +"Well," said Sam, "I suppose it was because I wanted to talk to +somebody that I was better acquainted with." + +Mrs. Kimper looked at her husband in astonishment. Sam returned his +wife's gaze, but with a placid expression of countenance. + +"I don't amount to much, Sam," Mrs. Kimper finally sighed, with a +helpless look. + +"You're my wife; that's much--to me. Some day I hope it will be the +same to you." + +There was a knock at the door, and as soon as Sam shouted "Come in!" +Judge Prency entered. + +"Sam," said he, "ever since I saw you were in earnest about living a +new life, I've been trying to arrange matters so that your boy Joe--I +suppose you know why he ran away--could come back without getting into +trouble. It was not easy, for the man from whom he--took something +seemed to feel very ugly. But he has promised not to prosecute." + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Sam. "If now I knew where the boy was--" + +"I've attended to that, too. I've had him looked up and found and +placed in good hands for two or three weeks, and I don't believe you +will be ashamed of him when he returns." + +Sam Kimper lapsed into silence, and the judge felt uncomfortable. At +last Sam exclaimed,-- + +"I feel as if it would take a big prayer and thanksgiving meeting to +tell all that's in my mind." + +"A very good idea," said the judge; "and, as you have the very people +present who should take part in it, I will make haste to remove all +outside influence." So saying, the judge bowed in his most courtly +manner to Mrs. Kimper and Jane, and departed. + +"Let us all pray," said Sam, dropping upon his knees. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Eleanor Prency was a miserable young woman during most of the great +revival season which followed the special meetings at Dr. Guide's +church. She did not see Ray Bartram as much as of old, for the young +man spent most of his evenings at the church, assisting in the work. He +sang no wild hymns, nor did he make any ecstatic speeches; nevertheless +his influence was great among his old acquaintances and upon the young +men of the town. To "stand up for prayers" was to the latter class the +supreme indication of courage or conviction; and any of them would have +preferred to face death itself, at the muzzle of a gun, to taking such +a step. But that was not all; Bartram had for some years been the +leader of the unbelievers in the town; the logic of a young man who was +smart enough to convince judges on the bench in matters of law was good +enough for the general crowd when it was brought to bear upon religion. +As one lounger at Weitz's saloon expressed himself,-- + +"None of the preachers or deacons or class-leaders was ever able to +down that young feller before, but now he's just the same as gone and +hollered 'enough.' It's no use for the rest of us to put on airs after +that; nobody'll believe us, and like as not he'll be the first man to +tell us what fools we be. I'm thinkin' a good deal of risin' for +prayers myself, if it's only to get through before he gives me a +talkin' to." + +When, however, the entire membership of the church aroused to the fact +that work was to be done, and Judge Prency and other solid citizens +began to take part in the church work, Bartram rested from his efforts +and began again to spend his evenings at the home of the young woman +whom he most admired. A change seemed to have come over others as well +as himself. Mrs. Prency greeted him more kindly than ever, but Eleanor +seemed different. She was not as merry, as defiant, or as sympathetic +as of old. Sometimes there was a suggestion of old times in her manner, +but suddenly the young woman would again become reserved and distant. + +One evening, when she had begun to rally him about something, and +quickly lapsed into a different and languid manner, Bartram said,-- + +"Eleanor, nothing seems as it used to be between you and me. I wish I +knew what was wrong in me." + +The girl suddenly interested herself in the contents of an antiquated +photograph album. + +"I must have become dreadfully uninteresting," he continued, "if you +prefer the faces in that album, of which I've heard you make fun time +and again. Won't you tell me what it is? Don't be afraid to talk +plainly: I can stand anything--from you." + +"Oh, nothing," said Eleanor, continuing to pretend interest in the +pictures. + +"'Nothing' said in that tone always means something--and a great deal +of it. Have I said or done anything to offend you?" + +"No," said Eleanor, with a sigh, closing the book and folding her +hands, "only--I didn't suppose you ever could become a prosy, poky old +church-member." + +The reply was a laugh, so merry, hearty, and long that Eleanor looked +indignant, until she saw a roguish twinkle in Bartram's eyes; then she +blushed and looked confused. + +"Please tell me what I have said or done that was poky or prosy," asked +Bartram. "We lawyers have a habit of asking for proof as well as +charges. I give you my word, my dear girl, that never in all my +previous life did I feel so entirely cheerful and good-natured as I do +nowadays. I have nothing now to trouble my conscience, or spoil my +temper, or put me out of my own control, as used frequently to happen. +I never before knew how sweet and delightful it was to live and meet my +fellow-beings,--particularly those I love. I can laugh at the slightest +provocation now, instead of sometimes feeling ugly and saying sharp +things. Every good and pleasant thing in life I enjoy more than ever; +and as you, personally, are the very best thing in life, you seem a +thousand times dearer and sweeter to me than ever before. Perhaps you +will laugh at me for saying so, but do you know that I, who have +heretofore considered myself a little better than any one else in the +village, am now organizing a new base-ball club and a gymnasium +association, and also am trying to get enough subscribers to build a +toboggan slide? I never was in such high spirits and in such humor for +fun." + +Eleanor looked amazed, but she relieved her mind by replying,-- + +"I never saw religion work that way on other people." + +"Indeed! Where have your blessed eyes been? Hasn't your own father been +a religious man for many years, and is there any one in town who knows +better how to enjoy himself when he is not at work?" + +"Oh, yes; but father is different from most people." + +"Quite true; he must be, else how could he be the parent of the one +incomparable young woman--" + +"Ray!" + +"Don't try to play hypocrite, please, for you're too honest. You know +you agree with me." + +"About father? Certainly; but--" + +"'About father?' More hypocrisy. You know very well what I mean. Dear +little girl, listen to me. I suppose there are people scared into +religion through fear of the wrath to come, who may become dull and +uninteresting. It is a matter of nature, in a great many cases. I +suppose whatever is done for selfish reasons, even in the religious +life, may make people uncertain and fearful, and sometimes miserable. +But when a man suddenly determines to model his life after that of the +one and only perfect man and gentleman the world ever knew, he does not +find anything to make him dull and wretched. We hear so much of Jesus +the Saviour that we lose sight of Jesus the man. He who died for us was +also He whose whole recorded life was in conformity with the tastes and +sympathies of people of His day. Do you imagine for an instant that if +He had been of solemn, doleful visage, any woman would ever have +pressed through a crowd to touch the hem of His garment, that she might +be made well? Do you suppose the woman of Samaria would have lingered +one instant at the well of Jacob, had Jesus been a man with a face +like--well, suppose I say Deacon Quickset? Do you think mothers would +have brought their children to Him that He might bless them? Do you +imagine any one who had not a great, warm heart could have wept at the +grave of his friend Lazarus, whom He knew He had the power to raise +from the dead? Didn't He go to the marriage jollification at Cana, and +take so much interest in the affair that He made up for the deficiency +in the host's wine-cellar? Weren't all His parables about matters that +showed a sympathetic interest in the affairs which were nearest to the +hearts of the people around Him? If all these things were possible to +one who had His inner heart full of tremendous responsibilities, what +should not His followers be in the world,--so far as all human cheer +and interest go?" + +"I've never heard him spoken of in that way before," said Eleanor, +speaking as if she were in a brown study. + +"I'm glad--selfishly--that you hear it the first time from me, then. +Never again will I do anything of which I think He would disapprove; +but, my dear girl, I give you my word that although occasionally--too +often--I have been lawless in word and action, I never until now have +known the sensation of entire liberty and happiness. You never again +will see me moody, or obstinate, or selfish. I'm going to be a +gentleman in life, as well as by birth. You believe me?" + +"I must believe you, Ray; I can't help believing whatever you say. But +I never saw conversion act that way upon any one else, and I don't +understand it." + +Bartram looked quizzically at the girl a moment, and then replied,-- + +"Try it yourself; I'm sure it will affect you just as it does me." + +"Oh, Ray, no; I never can bring myself to stand up in church to be +prayed for." + +"Don't do it, then. Pray for yourself. I don't know of any one to whom +Heaven would sooner listen. But you can't avoid being prayed for by one +repentant sinner: have the kindness to remember that." + +"Ray!" murmured Eleanor. + +"And," continued Bartram, rising and placing an arm around Eleanor's +shoulders, "the sooner our prayers can rise together, the sooner you +will understand me, believe me, and trust me. My darling,--the only +woman whom I ever loved,--the only woman of whom I ever was fond,--the +only one to whom I ever gave an affectionate word or caress--" + +There are conversations which reach a stage where they should be known +only to those who conduct them. When Bartram started to depart, his +love-life was unclouded. + +"Ray," said Eleanor, at the door, "will you oblige me by seeing Sam +Kimper in the morning and asking him to tell his daughter that I +particularly wish she would come back to us?" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The revival into which were merged the special meetings at Dr. Guide's +church continued so long that religion became absolutely and +enthrallingly fashionable in Bruceton. Many drinking men ceased to +frequent the bar-room of the town, some old family feuds came to an +end, and several couples who should have been married long before were +joined in the holy bonds of wedlock. + +Nevertheless, the oldest inhabitants agreed that never before had life +in Bruceton been so pleasant. Everybody was on good terms with +everybody else, and no one, no matter how poor or common, lacked +pleasant greetings on the street from acquaintances of high degree. + +There had been some wonderful conversions during the meetings; +hard-swearing, hard-drinking men had abandoned their evil ways, and +were apparently as willing and anxious as any one else to be informed +as to how to conform their lives to the professions which they had +made. All the other churches sympathized with the efforts which Dr. +Guide's flock had been making, for they themselves had been affected to +their visible benefit. + +Dr. Guide himself became one of the humblest of the humble. Always a +man of irreproachable life and warm heart, it never had occurred to him +that anything could be lacking in his church methods. But he also was a +man of quick perceptions: so, as the meetings went on, and he realized +that their impetus was due not at all to anything he had said or done, +but solely to the personal example of Sam Kimper, he fell into deep +thought and retrospection. He resolutely waived all compliments which +his clerical brethren of other denominations offered him on what they +were pleased to call the results of his ministrations, and honestly +insisted that the good work was begun by the example set by Sam Kimper, +the ex-convict. + +Dr. Guide was an honest believer in the "church universal," but he had +been trained to regard the Church of Rome as the "scarlet woman" of +Revelation, and whenever he met Father Black in the streets he +recognized him only with a dignified bow. The day before the closing +meeting, however, he encountered the priest at the turning of a +corner,--too suddenly for a change of manner. + +"My dear brother!" exclaimed Father Black, extending both hands and +grasping Dr. Guide's hands warmly, "God bless you for the good work you +have been doing!" + +"My dear sir," said the pastor, rallying all his powers to withstand +the surprise, "I am very glad that you are pleased to regard the work +as good." + +"How can I help it?" said the priest, impetuously. "The spirit which +your church efforts have awakened has spread throughout the town and +affected everybody. There are men--and some women--of my flock whom +I've been trying in vain for years to bring to confession, so as to +start them on a new life. I've coaxed them, threatened them, prayed for +them with tears of agony, for what soul is not dear to our Saviour? The +worse the soul, the more the Saviour yearns to reclaim it. You remember +the parable of the ninety-and-nine?" + +"Who can forget it?" said the reverend doctor, tears springing to his +eyes. + +"No one, my dear brother,--no one," replied the priest. "Well, my lost +sheep have all come back. The invisible Church has helped the visible, +and--" + +"Is my Church, then, invisible?" asked Dr. Guide, with a quick relapse +into his old-time manner. + +"My dear brother," exclaimed the priest, "which is the greater? Which +exists only for the other?" + +"I beg your pardon," said Dr. Guide, his face thawing in an instant. + +"Again I thank you from the depths of my heart," said the old priest, +"and--" + +"Father Black," interrupted the pastor, "the more you thank me the +more uncomfortable I feel. Whatever credit is awarded, except to +Heaven, for the great and unexpected experiences which have been made +manifest at my church, belongs entirely to a man who, being the lowest +of the low, has set forth an example of perfect obedience." + +"That poor cobbler? You are right, I verily believe, and I shall go at +once to pour out my heart to him." + +"Let me go with you, Father--_Brother_, Black. I--" here Dr. Guide's +face broke into a confidential smile,--"I want to go to confession +myself, for the first time in my life, if you will allow the cobbler to +be my priest. I want a reputable witness, too." + +Then the two clergymen, arm in arm, proceeded to Sam Kimper's shop, to +the great astonishment of all the villagers who saw them. + +That night, at the closing meeting of the revival series, Dr. Guide +delivered a short but pointed talk from the text, "Verily I say unto +you, the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before you." + +"My friends," said he, "these words were spoken by Jesus one day when +the chief priests and elders, who were the types of the clergymen and +formal religious people of our day, questioned Him about His works and +His authority. They had a mass of tradition and doctrine by which they +were justified in their own eyes, and the presence, the works, the +teachings and the daily life of Jesus were a thorn in their flesh. It +annoyed them so that they crucified Him in order to be rid of His purer +influence. We, who know more of Him than they, have been continually +crucifying our Lord afresh by paying too much attention to the letter +and ignoring the spirit. 'These things should ye have done, and not +left the others undone.' I say these words not by way of blame, but of +warning. Heaven forbid that I ever shall need to repeat them!" + +As the congregation looked about at one and another whom the cap might +fit, everybody chanced to see Deacon Quickset arise. + +"My friends," said the deacon, "I'm one of the very kind of people +Jesus meant when He said the words that our pastor took for his text +to-night; and, for fear that some one mayn't know it, I arise to own up +to it myself. Nobody's stood up for the letter of the law and the plan +of salvation stronger than I, and nobody has taken more pains to dodge +the spirit of it. The scales have fallen from my eyes lately, but I +suppose all of you have been seeing me as I am for a long, long time, +and you've known me for the hypocrite that I now can see I've always +been. I've done a good many things that I oughtn't to have done. I've +told half-truths that were worse than lies. I've 'devoured widows' +houses, and for a pretence made long prayers,' as the gospel says. But +the worst thing I've done, and the thing I feel most sinful about, is +that when an unfortunate fellow-citizen of ours came back to this town +and tried to live a right life I did all I could to discourage him and +make him just like myself. I want right here, encompassed about by a +mighty cloud of witnesses, to confess that I've done that man an awful +wrong, and I'm sorry for it. I've prayed to God to forgive me; but I'm +not going to stop at that. Right here before you all I want to ask that +man himself to forgive me, as I've asked him in private. I'm not going +to stop at that, either. That man's life has opened my eyes, in spite +of myself, to all the faults of my own; and I want to show my sincerity +by promising, before you all, that I am that man's brother from this +time forth until I die, and that whatever is mine is his whenever and +however he wants it." + +The deacon sat down. There was an instant of silence, and then a +sensation, as every one began to look about for the ex-convict. + +"If Brother Kimper feels inclined to make any remarks," said Dr. Guide, +"I am sure every one present would be glad to listen to him." + +People were slowly arising and looking towards one portion of the +church. Dr. Guide left the pulpit and walked down one of the aisles +towards the point where all eyes were centred. In a seat in the back of +the church he saw the ex-convict, with one arm around his wife and the +other around his daughter Jane: Sam looked smaller and more +insignificant than ever, for his chin was resting on his breast and +tears were chasing one another down his pale cheeks. Dr. Guide hurried +back to the altar-rail, and exclaimed, in his loudest and most +impressive voice,--"Sing + + 'Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!'" + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of All He Knew, by John Habberton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL HE KNEW *** + +***** This file should be named 14895.txt or 14895.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/9/14895/ + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Diane Monico and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/14895.zip b/14895.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..afada0e --- /dev/null +++ b/14895.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d0f5263 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14895 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14895) |