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sleep。 Sandy M'Naughton took his pipe out of his mouth； and sat up
straight and stiff； staring into vacancy； and Graeme； beyond the
fire； drew a short； sharp breath。 We had often sat； Graeme and I；
in our student…days； in the drawing…room at home； listening to his
father wailing out 'Lochaber' upon the pipes； and I well knew that
the awful minor strains were now eating their way into his soul。
Over and over again the Highlander played his lament。 He had long
since forgotten us； and was seeing visions of the hills and lochs
and glens of his far…away native land； and making us； too； see
strange things out of the dim past。 I glanced at old man Nelson；
and was startled at the eager； almost piteous； look in his eyes；
and I wished Campbell would stop。 Mr。 Craig caught my eye； and；
stepping over to Campbell； held out his hand for the violin。
Lingeringly and lovingly the Highlander drew out the last strain；
and silently gave the minister his instrument。
Without a moment's pause； and while the spell of 'Lochaber' was
still upon us； the minister； with exquisite skill； fell into the
refrain of that simple and beautiful camp…meeting hymn； 'The Sweet
By and By。' After playing the verse through once； he sang softly
the refrain。 After the first verse； the men joined in the chorus；
at first timidly； but by the time the third verse was reached they
were shouting with throats full open； 'We shall meet on that
beautiful shore。' When I looked at Nelson the eager light had gone
out of his eyes； and in its place was kind of determined
hopelessness； as if in this new music he had no part。
After the voices had ceased； Mr。 Craig played again the refrain；
more and more softly and slowly； then laying the violin on
Campbell's knees； he drew from his pocket his little Bible； and
said
'Men； with Mr。 Graeme's permission； I want to read you something
this Christmas Eve。 You will all have heard it before； but you
will like it none the less for that。'
His voice was soft； but clear and penetrating； as he read the
eternal story of the angels and the shepherds and the Babe。 And as
he read； a slight motion of the hand or a glance of an eye made us
see； as he was seeing； that whole radiant drama。 The wonder； the
timid joy； the tenderness； the mystery of it all； were borne in
upon us with overpowering effect。 He closed the book； and in the
same low； clear voice went on to tell us how； in his home years
ago； he used to stand on Christmas Eve listening in thrilling
delight to his mother telling him the story； and how she used to
make him see the shepherds and hear the sheep bleating near by； and
how the sudden burst of glory used to make his heart jump。
'I used to be a little afraid of the angels； because a boy told me
they were ghosts； but my mother told me better； and I didn't fear
them any more。 And the Baby； the dear little Babywe all love a
baby。' There was a quick； dry sob； it was from Nelson。 'I used to
peek through under to see the little one in the straw； and wonder
what things swaddling clothes were。 Oh； it was all so real and so
beautiful！' He paused； and I could hear the men breathing。
'But one Christmas Eve；' he went on； in a lower； sweeter tone；
'there was no one to tell me the story； and I grew to forget it；
and went away to college； and learned to think that it was only a
child's tale and was not for men。 Then bad days came to me and
worse； and I began to lose my grip of myself； of life； of hope； of
goodness； till one black Christmas； in the slums of a faraway city；
when I had given up all； and the devil's arms were about me； I
heard the story again。 And as I listened； with a bitter ache in my
heart； for I had put it all behind me； I suddenly found myself
peeking under the shepherds' arms with a child's wonder at the Baby
in the straw。 Then it came over me like great waves； that His name
was Jesus； because it was He that should save men from their sins。
Save！ Save！ The waves kept beating upon my ears； and before I
knew； I had called out； 〃Oh！ can He save me？〃 It was in a little
mission meeting on one of the side streets； and they seemed to be
used to that sort of thing there； for no one was surprised； and a
young fellow leaned across the aisle to me and said； 〃Why！ you just
bet He can！〃 His surprise that I should doubt； his bright face and
confident tone； gave me hope that perhaps it might be so。 I held
to that hope with all my soul； and'stretching up his arms； and
with a quick glow in his face and a little break in his voice； 'He
hasn't failed me yet； not once； not once！'
He stopped quite short； and I felt a good deal like making a fool
of myself； for in those days I had not made up my mind about these
things。 Graeme； poor old chap； was gazing at him with a sad
yearning in his dark eyes； big Sandy was sitting very stiff； and
staring harder than ever into the fire； Baptiste was trembling with
excitement； Blaney was openly wiping the tears away。 But the face
that held my eyes was that of old man Nelson。 It was white；
fierce； hungry…looking； his sunken eyes burning； his lips parted as
if to cry。
The minister went on。 'I didn't mean to tell you this； men； it all
came over me with a rush； but it is true； every word； and not a
word will I take back。 And； what's more； I can tell you this； what
He did for me He can do for any man； and it doesn't make any
difference what's behind him； and'leaning slightly forward； and
with a little thrill of pathos vibrating in his voice'O boys； why
don't you give Him a chance at you？ Without Him you'll never be
the men you want to be； and you'll never get the better of that
that's keeping some of you now from going back home。 You know
you'll never go back till you're the men you want to be。' Then；
lifting up his face and throwing back his head； he said； as if to
himself； 'Jesus！ He shall save His people from their sins；' and
then； 'Let us pray。'
Graeme leaned forward with his face in his hands； Baptiste and
Blaney dropped on their knees； Sandy； the Campbells； and some
others； stood up。 Old man Nelson held his eyes steadily on the
minister。
Only once before had I seen that look on a human face。 A young
fellow had broken through the ice on the river at home； and as the
black water was dragging his fingers one by one from the slippery
edges； there came over his face that same look。 I used to wake up
for many a night after in a sweat of horror； seeing the white face
with its parting lips； and its piteous； dumb appeal； and the black
water slowly sucking it down。
Nelson's face brought it all back； but during the prayer the face
changed； and seemed to settle into resolve of some sort； stern；
almost gloomy； as of a man with his last chance before him。
After the prayer Mr。 Craig invited the men to a Christmas dinner
next day in Black Rock。 'And because you are an independent lot；
we'll charge you half a dollar for dinner and the evening show。'
Then leaving a bundle of magazines and illustrated papers on the
tablea godsend to the menhe said good…bye and went out。
I was to go with the minister； so I jumped into the sleigh first；
and waited while he said good…bye to Graeme； who had been hard hit
by the whole service； and seemed to want to say something。 I heard
Mr。 Craig say cheerfully and confidently； 'It's a true bill： try
Him。'
Sandy； who had been steadying Dandy while that interesting broncho
was attempting with great success to balance himself on his hind
legs； came to say good…bye。 'Come and see me first thing； Sandy。'
'Ay！ I know； I'll see ye； Mr。 Craig；' said Sandy earnestly； as
Dandy dashed off at a full gallop across the clearing and over the
bridge； steadying down when he reached the hill。
'Steady； you idiot！'
This was to Dandy； who had taken a sudden side spring into the deep
snow； almost upsetting us。 A man stepped out from the shadow。 It
was old man Nelson。 He came straight to the sleigh； and； ignoring
my presence completely； said
'Mr。 Craig； are you dead sure of this？ Will it work？'
'Do you mean；' said Craig； taking him up promptly； 'can Jesus
Christ save you from your sins and make a man of you？'
The old man nodded；