"Not to-day, Mac, thanks," was the reply. "I've been to your place pretty often, and I thought I ought to make the end of this road to-day."
"Well, if you won't come in, I'll tell you what I was a-wanting to ask you. There's a fellow I'd like you to see awful well. Say! do you call on anybody else except Protestants? You do, eh? Well, I wish you'd see Jimmy Hayson. He's in a bad fix. They shipped him home from the camp. He was cookee there, and I guess he couldn't stand that kind of life. His stummick's gone on a holiday. Anyway, he's most all in. It ain't much of a trail to follow, but after you pass Marston's you'll see a wood road, and then, if you keep your eyes skinned, on the north side you'll see, about forty rod along, a foot track—Jimmy ain't got any team—just follow the track, and you'll stumble into his shack."
The second stop that afternoon was at Hayson's. It was a poor place for a sick man to be in. The entire furnishings of the home would not have been a bargain at five dollars. The wife was most grateful for the visit, and before the missionary had spoken to the invalid12, she said, "You are the only preacher ever in our house; and will you make a bit of a prayer for Jimmy?" A few flour sacks had been made into a curtain, and the faithful wife pulled them aside and gazed lovingly at the sick man, and then questioningly at the missionary. The missionary felt that not many prayers would have to be made for Jimmy, and perhaps there was an increased tenderness in the voice as it was lifted to the Friend of the weary and heavy-laden13. The five children were not very clear as to what was going on, and during the devotions the dog kept up a low growl14 of distrust at the whole procedure, but the wasted form of poor Jimmy, and the subdued15 sobs16 of the wife, overshadowed minor17 disturbances18.
It was the first of almost a dozen calls during the next two months. A round trip of thirty-two miles once a week meant something over unbeaten tracks; but Jimmy was in need, and there was only One Helper: other helpers had failed, and Jimmy was pathetically eager for something he had not hitherto received.
On the occasion of the fourth visit, the wife called the visitor as far away from the sick bed as the dimensions of the little shack permitted. "Would you"—the voice was agitated—"would you——. Oh! please, you won't mind me asking, but would you stay for dinner; we've never had a minister take a bite in our house, and Jimmy'd be so pleased?"
The invitation was most gladly accepted. What a time ensued! How the poor soul exerted herself to prepare that meal! It was over an hour before the "bite" was ready, and in that hour one child had gone over two miles. The preacher saw her fluttering rags as she ran across the snow. He saw her come back with a little newspaper package. It contained a knife and fork—two miles, that the preacher might have a knife and fork! The meal was not appetizing, but after the trouble it had cost, no man with a heart could leave a morsel19 which it was possible to dispose of.
Day by day Jimmy weakened, and it was evident that he needed attention and quiet, such as was not possible in the one-roomed shack. Could he gain entrance to the distant hospital, and was it possible to provide anything like a satisfactory conveyance20 in which the sick man could safely make the journey from that pioneer district? These possibilities especially occupied the mind of the missionary on a subsequent visit.
He talked to the now worn-out wife about the matter. Prejudices against hospitals were very real in that remote district, and it was some time before she could be convinced that such a course would be in the interest of the family. The few neighbours did much coming and going for the next two days, and such blankets and wrappings as the community afforded were provided for the cold journey. Bricks and hardwood sticks were to be heated and placed around Jimmy to keep him as warm as possible. Henry Wallis was to make the trip the day before to arrange for the replenishing of these, and for some nourishment21 for the sick man, at three selected stopping-places.
It was late in the evening when the sleigh pulled up in front of the hospital. The sufferer had stood the journey better than was expected. The "Sisters" soon had Jimmy in the most comfortable bed that he had occupied for years.
Two days later the missionary called at the hospital as early in the morning as he was permitted to. Jimmy knew his end was not far distant. He could speak but little, and in order to hear the feeble whisper it was necessary to put an ear close to the patient's lips. Very slowly the words came: "Say—about—Shepherd." Once more the Shepherd Psalm22 was repeated with its message for those whose lives are overshadowed. Jimmy's eyes spoke11 his thanks, and tenderly the student wiped the tears off the sunken cheeks. Something else was wanted. Again the whisper was with difficulty understood: "Tell—about—rest." It was the words that only the publican Matthew has recorded that Jimmy wanted to hear.
Slowly they were repeated: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Once again the parched23 lips moved: "If—I—could—see children—that's all." The eyes were so irresistibly24 pleading that the student could only reply, "I'll try, Jimmy."
A few words were spoken to the nurse. How long would Jimmy be here? She thought he might go that night. Certainly within three days the end would come. It was no small undertaking25 to bring a family such as the Haysons into town. Clothing had to be procured26 in order that the little ones might be protected on the longest journey any of them had ever taken. Their own scanty27 attire28 would afford little protection from the cold wind. And so hurried visits were made to a few homes, and to the stores of one or two merchants. The case was briefly29 stated, and a dozen hearts instantly kindled30 into kindness for the needy31 ones in the lonely home. A wardrobe, such as the Hayson family had never dreamed of, was soon stowed away on the missionary's "jumper."
Inside of two hours the long, cold drive was commenced. At each shanty32 and shack word was given as to the sick man's condition, and what the present journey was for. Within five miles of the lonely home, which would soon be the abode33 of the fatherless and widow, the missionary stopped for the night. In the dimly-lighted shack of Sandy MacGregor Jimmy's last request was made known. MacGregor rose from a nail-keg on which he was sitting, and said slowly and emphatically, "Well, if Jimmy wants to see the children, he's a-going to see 'em."
The student grasped the roughened hand of the speaker gratefully. "I knew I could count on you, Mac. Thanks. I'm tired, so I'll say good-night. I can sleep now that that's settled."
Before the missionary appeared the next morning, Mac had everything ready for driving Jimmy's family into the town where the husband and father was rapidly nearing his end.
The horses were driven as hard as was consistent with mercy. Jimmy was still alive, the Sister told them as they stood in the hall. In a moment they were beside the bed. It was one of those scenes that live in the memory. The sobbing34 wife, kissing again and again the poor, wan10 face. The little ones weeping, perhaps more in sympathy with the mother than on account of their own realization35 of the coming sorrow. Quietly the large screen was placed around the group at the bedside, and for a few moments the family was left alone. The journey had been accomplished36 just in time. In less than an hour Jimmy was gone. His last request was for the passages of Scripture37 mentioned above. "Yes, that's it," he whispered, "rest—rest." The wasted arm was raised a little as if he would put it around the missionary's shoulder, but the poor Cookee's strength had departed. They saw he would say something more, and ears were alert to catch his every word. "I—think——" Then there was a long pause, and the sunken eyes turned from face to face as though seeking to tell them what the tongue refused to utter. They waited with tear-bedimmed gaze, but no other word was uttered. Ere long there was a rattling38 in the throat, and the death-pallor increased; a few short and long-separated gasps39 and the Cookee had finished his course. They laid him away in the quiet little cemetery40 during an almost blinding snowstorm.
With less than five dollars in cash, and a rough bit of land heavily mortgaged, the mother went back to the lonely shack to toil41 through weary days to provide for her five little children. With occasional help from other settlers, the struggle for existence was made a little less severe.
* * * * *
Ten years have passed away. The poverty-stricken pioneers of earlier days have cleared large sections of land, and the earth has brought forth42 her fruit. Prosperity abounds43. Where Jimmy Hayson's shack stood is an attractive modern farm-house. A mother looks proudly at her farmer son as she introduces him to a city pastor44 who is visiting the mission field of his student ministry45. A few hours later, in the quiet of eventide, she stands with the visitor exchanging incidents of bygone days.
"It's been a pretty hard road to travel, sir, but the neighbours were just as good as they could be after Jimmy went. But I often say to my boy Allan that there is only One who can help us in such times as I passed through then."
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1
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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thawed
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| 解冻 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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14
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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38
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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39
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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40
cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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41
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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43
abounds
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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45
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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